When God spoke most of the universe into place, it took five days (See here and here for more details). It was an abundance of creation: light and darkness, the sun, moon, and stars, the boundaries of land and ocean, the flourishing of plant life, the birds winged in flight, the flashing of the fish in the sea…
Read MoreAbram’s life was in shambles. He was seventy-five years old when his father had died. He was living in Haran, far from the land of Canaan, the place where his father Terah had hoped to go. His beloved wife remained barren, which brought deep shame to her from everyone in their society.
Read MoreJacob had escaped from his uncle with all of his wives and children, their servants, flocks, and tents. Ten days into their journey back to the Promised Land, Laban and the men of his household caught up with them.
Read MoreJoseph spent year after year in the prison dungeon, humbled to one of the lowest positions in life. Yet he continued to faithfully and loyally serve God. His God was with him in the middle of his suffering, and he trusted that his Lord had a purpose in it.
Read MoreAs soon as they arrived at Joseph’s house, they saw his steward, the main servant of the household. He was standing at the entrance of Joseph’s beautiful and elegant home, a palace fit for the most powerful ruler serving the king.
Read MoreAfter years of separation, Joseph’s brothers were sitting in his own home in Egypt. How strange and wonderful it must have seemed. When he saw Benjamin, he was filled with great sobs of tears. He had to leave the room to pull himself together again.
Read MoreWhen Joseph told his brother who he really was, they were too terrified to say a thing. So many years before, when he was defenseless and alone, they had thrown him in a cistern and sold him to be a slave.
Read MoreGod’s blessing for the next son was totally different from the ones given to Reuben, Simeon, and Levi. This son was Judah. We will read as he is given broad and wide blessings that would transform the nation of Israel and the world. These remarkable blessings will continue into eternity!
Read MoreThe next blessing Jacob gave was for his son, Joseph. Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh had already been blessed, and each of them would be considered equal to the rest of Jacob’s sons and their tribes. Joseph would be counted as two, receiving the double portion of inheritance from his father.
Read MoreJacob blessed each of his sons with words of prophecy about the tribes that would come from each of them to make God’s holy nation. These were words of breathtaking faith. Jacob trusted that God would do what he had promised even though he could not see it. Jacob knew that he was growing old.
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