Jan 23, 2011
In Genesis 42:29-43:14, the focus of Genesis moves back from Joseph, from Joseph’s brothers, to their father, the patriarch Jacob. Growing up, Jacob was a man who was most likely blessed to know about the power of God directly from his grandfather Abraham and his father Issac. And then, God came to him reaffirming His love and His protection in person!...
Jan 16, 2011
In Genesis 42, the focus of the Biblical record turns back to Joseph’s sin hardened brothers, the ones who threw Joseph into a pit and sold him into slavery. Over 20 years have passed, and these men have never confessed their sin against their brother. They may have justified it in their minds or sought to forget it, but it never really went away. In some...
Jan 9, 2011
Genesis 41 brings to life the familiar story of Joseph’s rise from the darkness of prison to the splendor of the palace. In less than 24 hours, Joseph rises from prisoner to Prime Minster of the ancient kingdom of Egypt. For those who have been following this series, we have seen Joseph as a man of sterling character. Unlike those who have gone before, he...
Jan 2, 2011
Genesis 40 presents quite a challenge for us as we enter into a new year. We see how Joseph deals with the difficulties in his life. Unlike us, he doesn’t waste time lamenting at desperate situation. Instead, he invests his life and his gifts in others. We see in Joseph a man who serves others before himself and who is compassionate to the needs of those...
Dec 26, 2010
Genesis 39 gives us a glimpse into Joseph’s life in captivity. What we find is that he faced similar situations as us. Joseph’s early days as a slave were very troubled. He was unable to control the many challenges around him, everything seemed to be out of sorts. We have times like that. Then, Joseph enjoyed a time of prosperity and promotion, where...
Dec 19, 2010
Genesis 38:1-30 presents one of the most troubling narratives in the whole book. Judah, Jacob’ son, the heir of the covenant promise, fails as a son, as a husband, and as a father, and, because of his great sin, puts the fulfillment of the covenant promise at risk. But not even the sinfulness of man can thwart the plan of God. There are a number of lessons...
Dec 5, 2010
Genesis 37:1-36 is the narrative of one of the most famous stories in the Bible – that of Joseph, the “coat of many colors,” and how his brothers sell him into slavery. There are many lessons for us to learn from this chapter: a warning about parental favoritism, a warning of guarding our tongues, and also warnings about how envy and bitterness...
Nov 21, 2010
Genesis 36:1-42 gives us the account of Esau, Jacob’s brother who turned his back on God and His promises. However, Esau does not seem to live a life of heartache. He seems to have a decent family, a prosperous business, and even a pretty successful political machine. While he lives a life of ease, it seems Jacob struggles. Why is it that those who stand...
Nov 14, 2010
Genesis 35:1-29 finds God coming to a sin-laden and backsliding Jacob with a message of restoration and renewal. God, the one who initiated the Covenant is the one who keeps the Covenant. He proves Himself faithful, even when we are faithless. And this was the way it was with Jacob. God, in this chapter, gives us an understanding of how He pulls us out of the...
Nov 7, 2010
Genesis 34:1-31 This is one of the darkest chapters in the whole Bible. A number of commentaries bypass this account. Pastors steer clear of this section of the biblical narrative. Why is that? It is because of the gross sin conveyed in this chapter. Rape, deception, murder, abuse, and rebellion are discussed in graphic detail. And the most disturbing part is...
