SCRIPTURE: Genesis 37 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: God is setting the stage for another prediction, unknown to Joseph or his brothers (Genesis 15:13-16). The Israelites, reading this, would know where this story is going. They might even be thinking, “don’t do it, sons of Israel, don’t send Joseph to Egypt, you will regret it!”.
God loves the Sennemites
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 36 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: A long list of names. Not a passage I would turn to for inspiration. We need to ask why Moses would include this for the Israelites. It helps to remember the ‘blessing’ of Isaac to Esau (Genesis 27:39-40) where he predicts that Esau and his descendents the Edomites will not live in a…
He doesn’t give up on us
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 35 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: God renews His commitment to us again and again, despite our flaws and follies. God has chosen to live among His chosen servants, i.e. the house of God (Beth-el) is with us, in us, among us (John 14:23). The amazing this is that this is true even despite us. Jacob and his family…
God must weep
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 34 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: God must weep. Rape, deception, use of His covenant seal for evil purposes, slaughter and pillaging. This is the world that we have made. This is the world that we live in, and the world that lives in us. Even though we may not be guilty of these specific sins, we have…
seeing God
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 33 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: God works ahead of us, without our even knowing it. Jacob was driven by fear, not faith. He was certain that Esau was still out to get him, and that is a logical assumption. But he did not reckon on God. God is at work in situations that we think are impossible….
God stoops
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 32 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: People who live by their own wits eventually bump up against something too big for them to handle. God uses these moments to humble us, to show us His strength and our dependence. Even so, the default habit of relying on self usually kicks in. Jacob is afraid of Esau (rightly so,…
eyes to see
A friend recently showed me this very interesting video clip. One that makes us think. Have a look, then let us know what you think.
the jezebel spirit?
“Can you tell me if you’ve ever heard of the “Jezebel Spirit”, and if so, what you know of it?”
God provides and protects
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 31 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: As God’s much-loved children, we can be assured of His provision and protection as we fulfill our task for Him. God calls Jacob back to his purpose, to bring God’s blessing to the world from the promised land. He has multiplied his wealth. He has given him a large family. God has…
God smiles, sadly
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 30 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This scene is almost comical, and sad. Here we have Rachel and Leah scrambling to have babies. Imagine this in fast-forward, and poor Jacob bouncing between these women, with baby after baby being presented to him – another boy! Rachel and Leah bartering bed time and mandrakes. And the kids being named…