Ex 6:2 – 9:35

Last weeks reading ended with Moses crying out to the Lord. Since he went to Pharaoh, things for the sons of Israel got worse and there was no deliverance for his people (Exodus 5:22-23). God responded, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh under compulsion” (Exodus 6:1)…

Ex 1:1 – 6:1

Exodus is the story of the birth of the nation Israel through God’s providential care and direct intervention. Their condition before the exodus out of Egypt is described in…

Gen 44:18 – 47:27

Sometimes we cannot clearly see what is right before our eyes. My wife, Jennifer, often reminds me of this fact, remarking on my remarkable inability to find something for which I am looking, even when it’s directly in front of me.

Gen 37:1 – 40:23

This week’s reading takes us through one of the most amazing stories of God’s providence and protection, the story of Joseph. The story of Joseph in his youth brings out two matters that tempted his brothers to both jealousy and anger. The first is his father’s favoritism. (Israel loved him more than all his brothers because he was the son of his old age. Gen. 37:3) Joseph was the first son of his favorite wife Rachael. Jacob made a special coat of many colors in some translations or long sleeves in others. The second is that Joseph “dreamed a dream” and then foolishly told his brothers. The essence of the dream was that the brothers were binding sheaves, and their sheaves gathered and bowed down to his sheaf. The brothers were incensed. They understood the interpretation of the dream, that they would bow down to him. Eventually they plotted to kill Joseph. Perhaps there is a lesson here about wisdom in dealing with prophecy!