January 13-17
[M] Genesis 28-29; Mark 11
[T] Gen 30-31; Psalm 11; Mark 12
[W] Gen 32-34; Psalm 145; Mark 13
[T] Gen 35-37; Psalm 12; Mark 14
[F] Gen 38-40; Mark 15
Dwell Plan Day 11-15 | CSB | Digital PDF | Printable PDF
Notes from Jon & Chris
Monday
Genesis 28:6-9 | Even when Esau tries to do what pleases his mom and dad, he misses the mark. He thinks he gets it, by now going to get a wife from extended family, but that isn’t what they really want. Even his best efforts are still wrong. You will see this kind of “missing the mark” in folks who are trying to be religious, but not out of faith. This is here to create questions in our hearts. Do we have real faith?
Genesis 29:15-25 | If you have time listen to this Tim Keller sermon.
Mark 11:9-10 | Hosanna actually means “save us” which is quite an ironic thing for all of these folks to be shouting. That’s what He’s doing, saving them—even though these same voices will be shouting “crucify Him” in a few days. He answers both cries in His sacrifice. God will not be mocked, He accomplishes everything—even through, and despite, and in our cursing souls.
Mark 11:12-26 | This passage is what we call a “Mark Sandwich.” The technical term is chiasm. A chiasm involves two stories. The author takes one story, splits it in half, and jams another story in the middle, in order to make a point. Here, the story of the fig tree is split with the cleansing of the temple as the meat of the sandwich. The fig tree was a national symbol of Israel (kinda like a bald eagle for the USA). So Jesus curses the fig tree. Cleanses the temple. Then the fig tree is dead. The religion of Israel was always meant to point to Christ. Now that he was here as the true and better lamb of God, it was no longer necessary.
Tuesday
Genesis 30 | Multiple Wives? It is very important not to confuse the didactic with the descriptive. Or to put it more plainly, don’t confuse the parts of the Bible where we are taught the law and will of God with the parts of the Bible that simply describe what happened with sinful people. In the teaching parts of scripture, it’s clear that God’s plan for marriage is for a loving relationship between a woman and man (see Ephesians 5:22-33). In the narrative parts of scripture, in every instance where someone goes along with the cultural norm in the ancient world of having multiple wives (or concubines), it goes horribly wrong. It happens here with Jacob’s sons. It happened with Abraham (Sarah and Hagar). And it’ll happen with David and Solomon too.
Genesis 31 | Where does success come from? And when it comes, what do we do with the problems it creates? How do we handle jealousy in God’s kingdom? These are the kinds of questions that are presented to us. Prosperity brings liabilities and jealousies. We should not be surprised by this sort of thing. But Jacob does everything he can to do the right thing and to be a blessing to Laban, even though Laban is using him. God protects and blesses Jacob anyway. We can see these kinds of dynamics at work, where our labors are taken advantage of, as folks get rich off of our diligence. Don’t be afraid of that stuff. Trust God’s promise to Jacob which also comes to you, reiterated and doubled down on by Jesus: “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Mark 12:13-40 | In the ancient Near East, there was this method of debate that was very similar to our modern rap battles. Two theologians or scribes would debate in front of the crowd and the crowd would decide when it was over and who won. This section is one of those theological rap battles, and Jesus clearly comes out on top.
Mark 12:36 | Jesus quotes Psalm 110:1. This is the single most quoted or alluded to Old Testament verse in the New Testament. The apostles really loved this verse.
Wednesday
Genesis 32 | Jacob gets a new name from God: Israel. Jacob means “liar” and Israel means “one who wrestles with God.” What kind of character arc is Jacob on here? He leaves this encounter wounded for the rest of his life. This reminds me of the wounds that Christ bears even after His resurrection. The ways that God wounds us in our intimacy with Him are precious, they are wounds that shine into eternity with God’s glory. There are parts of our brokenness here in this world that are going to mark us, and the way they mark us and the way we carry them, these all point to the glory and work of Jesus in us.
Genesis 34 | This chapter is extraordinarily sad. G.K. Chesterton once said, “It is surprising that people have rejected the doctrine of original sin because it is the only doctrine that can be empirically verified.” We see that clearly here.
This is also a bit of foreshadowing. The people of God would again and again use the covenant, which had as its sign circumcision, as an excuse for being wicked. The judgment on them is obvious, taking the very sign of God’s loving relationship with them, and using it as a surprise tactic to destroy others. The people of God haven’t materially changed all that much, have we?
Mark 13 | The Olivet Discourse is one of the more confusing and misinterpreted passages in the scriptures. Remember, we aren’t after an exhaustive knowledge in our 2025 read-through. Don’t feel bad that this is confusing. Just read it through prayerfully and let your questions sit there. That’s ok.
However, if you want to dive in a little more and have some free time today, the late great theologian R.C. Sproul preached this passage in two sermons.
https://learn.ligonier.org/sermons/mark-olivet-discourse-part-1
https://learn.ligonier.org/sermons/mark-olivet-discourse-part-2
Thursday
Genesis 35 | Jacob does an idol inventory and gets rid of them all—and this is long after he’s expressed faith and worship. He sees the idols as obstacles now, as something offensive and impure. He tolerated them before, but now he’s repenting. This describes something we all need to be doing, especially as we grow in Christ and begin to see, as we draw close to Him, what really offends Him in our lives.
Genesis 36 | There’s a lot of these lists coming in the Bible, endless names and genealogies that mean nothing to us. Why do we read these then? It’s a reminder: These lists meant something very practical to the original readers. They explain the politics and complex relationships all around them in Palestine. There are ongoing stories all around them and the point is this: God is also God of those who don’t know Him or follow Him. And every person is important, however anonymous they seem. Their generations are under His care in every detail. What these lists do for us is remind us of our own lists. You could write up a list too, of everyone you know and everyone you’re somehow related to. God cares for that list as much as the one here in Genesis! If we can read these ancient lists and know they’re in God’s word, how much more can we also pray through our own lists of people and hope for God’s work in them! Pray through your lists—lists please God!
Genesis 37 | Joseph must have been so annoying as a teenager, so much so that even his dad has to tell him off. It creates quite a character arc for “daddy’s little favorite,” doesn’t it?
Psalm 12 | Be encouraged that the words you’re reading, they’re perfect words. But notice that the poet doesn’t teach the purity of God’s word to win an argument. Not at all! The purpose of God’s inspiration of Scripture is so the needy and the pushed down have sure and certain promises! The perfections of God’s words are the great personal treasure of those who need God’s promises the most!
Mark 14 | Jesus has been predicting horrible things will happen to Him, and time after time the disciples don’t get it. They’re mystified and confused. How is it then, that this anonymous woman anoints Him for burial? How does she get it? One of the glories of God’s kingdom is how He reveals things to the folks no one is listening to, who no one feels are important. What an invitation to seek the work of God’s Spirit in us, even if we’re nobodies!
Friday
Genesis 38 | This chapter takes a break in the Joseph story to give us this incredibly disturbing story of Judah and Tamar. As we read this story, a big question arises, “Why include this here? What’s the point of this story?” Well, there is a lot here, but the big idea can be seen at the end of the chapter.
Tamar has twins from prostituting herself with her father-in-law, Judah. And following the pattern of God’s upside-down kingdom, it’s the second twin, not the first, who is blessed. That second boy was named Perez. He was an ancestor of Boaz, the great-grandad of King David. And even more importantly, he is listed in both Matthew 1:3 and Luke 3:33 as an ancestor of Christ himself. And so, again, we see that God is faithful to use sinful people and circumstances to bring about a fulfillment of Genesis 3:15. Through the sinful descendants of Eve, a redeemer would come and put this broken world back together.
Genesis 39 | Frequently in Joseph’s story, even as things go very wrong for him, God blesses him. God gives him favor in everything he does. This idea of God’s favor is very powerful, and it creates a longing in those who know God: to seek the favor of our God above everything else. Joseph is a picture of that, to encourage us to seek first God’s kingdom and all of these other things—they will be added to you. He’s an ancient picture of what Christ would teach about His kingdom! Track the way Joseph humbly walks, serves, and loves. He’s a picture of flourishing, faith, and faithfulness in a place of idolatry and immorality. He’s a sojourner who invests himself in where God has put him, a model to us and for us in our walk of faith. We have so much more than he did, knowing our favor with God is something secured by Jesus at the cross. Let’s walk in that favor everywhere we go!