Genesis 48-50, Faith & Patience

 “Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die,  but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land he swore to give to Abraham,  Isaac,  and Jacob.”  So Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath: “When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from here.” ”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭50‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Joseph was in Egypt at least 90yrs…the Israelites would be there another 300 before God comes to save them.  That is such a long time to have faith, to trust that God is at work.

Lord, build my faith to trust that You are at work especially when You are slower than I would want.

Genesis 46-47, Supernatural Provision

 “Then Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s family with food for their dependents.  

…Joseph acquired all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh, because every Egyptian sold his field since the famine was so severe for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, and Joseph made the people servants from one end of Egypt to the other.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭47‬:‭11‬-‭12‬, ‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The stark comparison between how God treated the family of Israel to the people of Egypt is amazing.  Gods hand of provision was on His chosen people even through the most severe drought that literally enslaved the people of Egypt.

Gods protection for His people is incredible but also in an unexpected way.  I can’t help but see similar assistance from God in ways that seem to be trials or at very least confusing situations.  Things that don’t make sense in the moment, but further down the road are obviously Gods handiwork.

God, your protection and provision are obvious and we are blessed by all of it!  Help me to see your fingerprints even in the chaos, or give me faith when your work isn’t so obvious!

Genesis 43-45, Gods Plan

 “Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt.  And now don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.  For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.  Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, Lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭45‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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I am so thankful that God is able to work through even sinful situations to bring about His plan.

Genesis 41-42, Myopic Suffering

 “Their father Jacob said to them, “It’s me that you make childless. Joseph is gone, and Simeon is gone. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything happens to me! ” But Jacob answered, “My son will not go down with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left.  If anything happens to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭42‬:‭36‬, ‭38‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Poor Jacob, dealing with a trial of famine, then feeling like he is being persecuted, targeted, singled out and that his family is being taken from him.

How similar is our tendency to get so self focused when we are plunged into a trial.  Everything becomes about me,  our only thoughts are about fairness, and the impact on the things we care about to the neglect of all the people around us.

Lord, help me to keep my eyes up to see those around me, to understand the impact of the trial on others and to remember that You are still in control!

Genesis 38-40, Humbly Intelligent

“But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him.  He granted him favor with the prison warden.  The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph’s authority,  because the Lord was with him, and the Lord made everything that he did successful. ”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭21‬, ‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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I love how the narrator is repeatedly telling us that Joseph was successful because the Lord was with him.  There is no question about where the accomplishments originated…surly Joseph was an intelligent man, but it is always properly assigned to God as the source.

I have always attributed my skill and intelligence to God, but my pride often took credit for the results.  My pride began to dominate my thinking to a point it was finally exposed for what it was…one of the best things that has ever happened to me (and also the most embarrassing and painful).

Lord, help me to give You all the glory for any success or victory I am a part of. Allow me to see when my pride is active and give me the strength to surrender it to You!

Genesis 35-37, Transforming Knowledge

 “God said to Jacob, “Get up! Go to Bethel and settle there.  Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”  So Jacob said to his family and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you.  Purify yourselves and change your clothes.  We must get up and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to the God who answered me in my day of distress.  He has been with me everywhere I have gone.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭35‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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It’s interesting that Jacob is transformed by a brief command of God.  This interaction stirs Jacob to lead his family into significant changes like getting rid of idols and living a holy life.  I believe that is the power of knowing God.  It not only impacts the thing He asks of us, but it also spills into all other aspects of life as well…it is not just one little adjustment.  I wonder if this is a hallmark of Gods transformation vs my own efforts to change?

Lord, help me to know you more!  Transform every part of my life to honor You, even areas I am not thinking about…

Genesis 32-34, Reminders of Faithfulness

 “I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. Indeed, I crossed over the Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two camps. Please rescue me from my brother Esau, for I am afraid of him; otherwise, he may come and attack me, the mothers, and their children. You have said, ‘I will cause you to prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to be counted.’

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭32‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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These moments come up quite often where people are, in humility, reminding God of His past promises.  It is interesting because God doesn’t need the reminders, it’s almost as if they are reminding themselves (and the reader) to bluster their own faith.

This is actually the same strategy we can use to build our faith in God as well.  Reminding ourselves of what promises are shown for us in scripture as well as remembering Gods past faithfulness in our own life.  These memories demonstrate Gods character and scream to us that He can be trusted!

Lord, help me to purposefully think on Your demonstrated faithfulness in my life and the people I know.  Help me to meditate on scripture so that Your faithfulness is always on the front of my mind.  In these ways, fight against my inclination to forget and start to lean on my own abilities…

Genesis 30-31, Injustice Overridden

 “If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, certainly now you would have sent me off empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and my hard work,  and he issued his verdict last night.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭31‬:‭42‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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What a story that rages against our modern morality! Every twist and turn seems marred by sketch activity…but God shows that he is looking out for the underdog.  He is caring for the weaker and the oppressed.  He sees all the mistreatment and injustice going on and reaches into the situation to help.

Lord, help me to live this characteristic to reflect You.  Show me when I am taking advantage of a situation selfishly and help me to graciously bless others instead.

Lord also build my faith to trust you when I am in a situation where I feel like I am not being treated fairly.  Remind me that You are over all things and have my good and Your glory in mind at every turn!

Genesis 27-29, Self-Centered

“Then Jacob made a vow:  “If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safely to my father’s family,  then the Lord will be my God.  This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Jacob is a hard character to read about.  He is such a scoundrel and absolutely has the wrong perspective of God.  He basically meets God, then tells Him, if You bless me, then You can be my God!  As if it is some sort of privilege…

It struck me how self centered this thinking is.  How much of my own prayer life is self focused?  

Lord, allow my mind to be filled with the needs of others during prayer.  Help me to see what You are doing around me and let thanksgiving be constantly pouring out.  You have blessed me in a million ways, allow me to be a blessing to others!

Genesis 25-26, Intentional Reminders

“From there he went up to Beer-sheba, and the Lord appeared to him that night and said, 

“I am the God of your father Abraham.  Do not be afraid, for I am with you.  I will bless you and multiply your offspring because of my servant Abraham.” 

So he built an altar there, called on the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there. Isaac’s servants also dug a well there. ”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭26‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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I love this little obscure passage where Jacob is just going about life. Doing nothing in particular when God shows up to remind him of truth.  God reminds him of past promises and tells him that He is still working to fulfill them.  

God didn’t need to send that reminder…He could have continued to keep His word, and allow it to become evident over time.  But God chose to show up and provide further confirmation and give Jacob confidence in Him…building his faith.

Lord, thank You for caring for us in just the way we need, using Scripture to hold out Your promises whenever we need them.  Help me to trust You and listen to your promises, especially when they feel far from possible!

Genesis 22-24, Conversions w/ God

 “After these things God tested Abraham  and said to him, “Abraham! ”

 “Here I am,” he answered. 

“Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love,  go to the land of Moriah,  and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” 

So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Reading this passage makes me yearn to have conversations with God like this.  What a privilege and blessing to hear directly from Him and know exactly what He is calling you to do!

I would like to believe that this clarity would make obedience easier…maybe that is true…but it feels like having confidence in Gods specific call would be amazing!  

Lord, help me to hear Your instruction to me.  Tune my heart to hear Your voice and my mind to read Your Word with clarity!

Genesis 19-21, Consequence of Sin

 “As soon as the angels got them outside, one of them  said, “Run for your lives! Don’t look back and don’t stop anywhere on the plain! Run to the mountains, or you will be swept away! ”  But Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭19‬:‭17‬, ‭‭26‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Obeying God seems very straightforward…but that does not mean it always makes sense, nor is it easy.  I know that I am very familiar with what sin is and what God is calling me to do, yet sometimes I treat these commands as recommendations…guidelines or very flexible suggestions.  I occasionally choose sin, choose to ignore what I know is right…just like Lot’s wife.

Lord, I want to follow You in every detail of my life.  I don’t want to pretend your commands are suggestions but want to obey Your every word!  Strengthen me to consider obedience in everything a life or death decision and strengthen my by Your Spirit to choose to follow You!

Thank You also, for Your mercy.  You are so patient and kind and I do not deserve any of it.  Keep my mind and heart filled with thankfulness to You!!!

Genesis 12-15, “Helping” God

 “When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me but let you live.  Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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I wish that Abram’s actions to “help” God were less familiar.  I feel like I default to attempting to accomplish “Gods will” in my life…looking for ways to force things to work out in a way that gets me what I want.  It’s sad to look back and see how common this has been for me.

Lord, thank You for helping me to see this pattern of faithlessness.  Thank You for gently correcting me and removing my blinders.  Help me to trust You to accomplish Your will…give me patience to wait for Your perfect timing and Your plan. Build my faith in You, and You alone!

Genesis 8-11, Captivating Chaos

“And they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky.  Let’s make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered throughout the earth.” Then the Lord came down  to look over the city and the tower that the humans  were building. The Lord said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The Tower of Babel is a story that seems to play out in miniature throughout history and in our own lives.  Many people today point to AI as the next iteration of humanity creating a technology that eliminates the need for God.  But on a small scale, I know that I can get just as fixated on some shiny new idea that distracts me from my relationship with God.  I can easily put so much attention toward whatever it is that I neglect my family and other responsibilities.

Lord, help me to keep You at the center of my attention so that I don’t pridefully chase after something that becomes an idol.  Help me to see clearly when there are distractions from my rightful priorities so that I can surrender them to You!

Genesis 4-7, God of Mercy

“Everything with the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils   #— #everything on dry land died. He wiped out every living thing that was on the face of the earth, from mankind to livestock, to creatures that crawl, to the birds of the sky, and they were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. ”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭7‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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God saving one family was a pure act of mercy.  He was not required to, and would have been just to destroy even them.  Yet, that is not what He did…He demonstrated who He is by choosing one family to be saved and the giving them the plan for what to do.  Their salvation hinged on following Gods plan.

They believed God and built a boat, and made preparations for something seemingly unknown to them…

God made a way to save  us too!  Jesus work of salvation on the cross, we just need to believe God and trust in Jesus.  What a God of grace and mercy!

Genesis 1-3, Creation for Man

“So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.  God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you,  for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth #— #everything having the breath of life in it #— #I have given  every green plant for food.”  And it was so. 

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed.  Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬-‭31‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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It strikes me that as God created the universe, Earth and everything in it, he was already taking care of the needs of His creation.  Humanity was not an afterthought or a sudden whim of creation…all that He created prior was in support of mankind.

That is the exact opposite of the theory of evolution.

Finally, I love that we were made as a reflection of God…having creativity, responsibility and agency.  When used according to Gods design, they bring glory to Him.  But those are so easy to abuse and use them to fulfill our own desires…every time drawing us away from God.

Lord, help me to use my whole person according to Your plan, for Your Glory to honor You!