I woke up @ 4:30 am thinking about changes for the blog.
I want to make it more reader friendly and less lengthy.

There will be five areas covered or headings.
1*The passage of scripture being studied
2*Significant events-description of what's happening.
3*Relavent historical facts from Nelson's commentary.
4*Interesting cultural items.
5*A daily challenge or prayer based on the study.

Let's start this today and see how it works. I would welcome your comments, please let me know what you think about the changes.

Genesis-33-36
After 20 years in northern Mesopotamia, Jacob returned to Canaan. He encountered the angels of God at Mahanaim and wrestled with a messenger of God in Peruel.

Significant Events:
Chapter 33: Jacob and Esau Meet (1-17)
(Jacob finds favor with Esau)
Jacob comes to Canaan (18-20)

Chapter 34: The rape of Dinah, daughter of Leah (1-31)
(the city plundered, the men killed and the women and children are taken captive by Dinah's brothers)

Chapter 35: Jacob's return to Bethel to worship (1-22)
(Jacob's name is changed to Israel)
The death of Rachel (16-22)
(she died during the birth of Benjamin)
Jacob's twelve sons (23-26)

Benjamin was the youngest son of the biblical patriarch Jacob. Among the twelve tribes of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin bears his name as its tribal ancestor. Members of this tribe are thus called "Benjaminites" or "Benjamites," among whom the most famous were Saul, the first king of Israel (I Samuel 9:1,2), and paul the apostle (Phil. 3:4,5)

The death of Isaac, Jacob's father (27-29)
(the family comes together-Jacob & Esau bury Isaac)

Chapter 36: The family of Esau (1-14) his genealogy
(Esau and his sons married Canaanites, Jacob and his sons did not)
The chiefs of Edom (15-19)-the sons of Esau.
The sons of Seir (20-30)
The Kings of Edom (31-39)
The chiefs of Esau (40-43)

At one time, Seir and Edom were possibly two separate geographical regions. Seir was a mountainous region; Edom was part of the Transjordanian plateau. Eventually Seir became a part of the Edomite state, and the names "Seir" and "Edom" came to be used interchangeably.

Today, one of the themes for the scripture we have read seems to be forgiveness. When Jacob left his home, Esau was about to kill him.
But we saw in chapters 33-35; their relationship healed.

In today's culture, this is one thing that is woefully lacking. People find it very hard to humble themselves, swallow their pride and choose to forgive. Even in families where love is supposed to overcome conflict, it has become more the norm for families to remain angry and astranged from one another. In many instances no one can even remember what the original dissagreement was about.

Can I just say? "Life is too short for such foolishness."
Begin today to reach out to those in your family or whom you call your friends and begin to heal those relationships.

Lord, give me the desire, the energy, and the love that is necessary to reach out to those in my life, whether family or friends, and offer forgiveness. Make us humble servants so that we may glorify you in all that we say and do. AMEN