"Genesis is a long story -- and the beginning of a much longer story -- about an omnipotent, benevolent God with undeserved and omnipotent blessings. With a few exceptions here and there, the patriarchs are not a wonderful set of role models. Abraham and Isaac lie about their wives, Sarah laughs at God, Lot's wife turns to a pillar of salt, Jacob is a conniving manipulator: he tricks Laban and he tricks Esau and his mom helps him, Laban is a cheat, Joseph is boastful, his brothers are jealous and they sell him into slavery, Simeon and Levi slaughter the Shechemites. Reuben sleeps with his father's concubine, Judah sleeps hith his daughter-in-law, and this is the good side of the family.
"The biggest obstacle to the promised blessing is not famine or barrenness or hostile armies. The biggest obstacle to God blessing his people is God's people. But...they belong to God. And he chose them and redeems them and reforms them and continues to bless them despite themselves."
Kevin DeYoung
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