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After our brief interlude to celebrate Independence Day, we return to the story of Jacob in Genesis 49:1-20. As we pick up the story, he has come to Egypt with his large family to see Joseph before he dies. God has visited Jacob to reassure him that He will be with him in Egypt and keep His promise to bless the nations of the world through him. Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years, and at one hundred and forty-seven, told Joseph to return his remains and bury him in […]

What do you want to do or see happen before you die?  Do you have a “bucket list” of places you want to visit or events you wish to attend before you take your final breath? Is there a relationship you want to “mend” or a will you need to finish before it’s too late? Are you delaying doing a generous deed or giving an encouraging word to someone you love? Is there someone you daily pray for who doesn’t “know” the Lord, and you want to see them accept […]

One of the most challenging things the Lord instructs us to do is to forgive those who have hurt us. Our trust in others makes us vulnerable to being deeply hurt by their words, actions, or inaction. The closer we are to the person, the deeper the wound can be. One example, children who suffered physical or emotional abuse from parents or siblings often struggle with forgiving and developing a healthy relationship with them. Forgiveness is a big step, requiring that we absorb the pain inflicted on us without attempting […]

One of the many interesting things I’ve discovered in my study of God’s promises in Genesis is the relatively small coverage given to some events in comparison to others. For example, the seven years Jacob worked for Rachel are covered in two verses in Genesis 29:20-21, while five chapters, Genesis 42-46, are devoted to Joseph’s brothers’ initial visit to Egypt to buy food and Jacob’s eventual moving with his seventy family members to Goshen. What do we make of this? Here are some reasons I believe so much detail is […]

As we resume the story of Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt, the seven years of “abundance” have ended, and the effects of the famine are beginning to be felt in Egypt and elsewhere.  Surrounding countries did not foresee the impending disaster and were unprepared for the food shortage that would threaten their survival. Here is how Genesis 41:54 and 41:57  frame the situation: “And the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all other lands, but in the whole land of  Egypt […]

Joseph was thirty when Pharaoh put him in charge of the land of Egypt. What an incredible rise to power this was for Joseph; sold into slavery thirteen years ago, imprisoned for two years, and made ruler over a powerful nation after interpreting Pharaoh’s disturbing dreams! The fact that only God could orchestrate such a development was not lost on Joseph. Joseph was a consummate leader, and what he did during the “seven years of abundance” saved Egypt and the surrounding countries from disaster. Four verses in Genesis 41:46-49 summarize […]

Several months ago, I began this series of blreogs on “Biblical Promises” in Genesis, not knowing where it would take us and what we would discover about God along the way. During this trek, I’ve often been reminded that I belong to an awesome God who loves me and has patiently worked through imperfect human instruments to keep His promise to provide a Savior for me and all who will believe. Today, we will revisit the marvelous story of Joseph and the part he played in God’s plan to save […]

Why is Joseph’s story appealing and inspiring to so many people? If you asked folks familiar with Biblical stories, ” What are some of your favorite Old Testament stories?”, they would likely mention this one. The Bible’s main character is God, and the story of Joseph is one of many in which God teaches us something about Himself. He is our Creator and Redeemer, and the Bible is an instrument He uses to reveal Himself to us, to instruct us how to live, and invite us to participate in His […]