Genesis 36

This chapter lists the descendants of Esau, the Edomites who were life-long enemies of Israel. I’m sitting here wondering why God included this genealogy in His Word. What can we learn of Jesus here, or of God’s plan of redemption? Since the Bible doesn’t explain the reason, I am left to form an opinion. So here it is:

I am reminded of the name of God spoken by Hagar – El Roi – the God who sees me. We often divide the world into two camps – believers and non- believers, or friends and enemies.

We talk about the “them,” and as a result the “they” lose their individuality, maybe their humanity in our minds.

What I see here in Genesis 36 is the God who sees every individual, that He died for every person, that He knows them by name.

God, forgive me when I lump all non-believers into a group I am separate from, a group I can keep at arm’s length because “they” are not like me. May I see them as moms and dads, sons, daughters, boys, girls for whom Jesus died…

Every single one of them.