Being Godly in a Comfortable World Genesis 50:22–26 You shall carry up my bones from here. Genesis 50:25 Joseph’s dying words declare whose side Joseph was on. Joseph lived in Egypt ninety-three years. During that time he must have seemed to be conformed to Egypt in every outward way. He served an Egyptian king. He…

Lion of Judah Genesis 49:8–12 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Genesis 49:10 It is impossible to overlook the fact that the blessings on Judah—praise, preeminence, and prosperity—are fulfilled supremely in…

God with Us Genesis 48:12–22 I am about to die, but God will be with you. Genesis 48:21 Jacob is dying. His testimony is that God has been with him all his days. That is a great thing. But as he dies, he looks on Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh, who would also soon have their…

Prospering in Egypt Genesis 46:31–47:12, 27 And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. Genesis 47:27 If you were entrusted with arranging the circumstances under which the people of God could best be “fruitful and multiply,” what circumstances would you provide? Probably you would choose Canaan—a land of some depravity, to…

Reunion Genesis 46:28–30 Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive. Genesis 46:30 Nothing makes a good parent’s joy greater than the success, particularly the spiritual success, of a son or daughter. And conversely, nothing makes a parent’s heart break more irreparably than the spiritual shipwreck…

Come to Jesus Genesis 45:1–13 Come near to me. Genesis 45:4 Joseph called his brothers when they would have preferred to run from him, and he called effectively. Joseph had told them who he was, and they were terrified. But he commanded them to “come near” to him; and although they must have feared that…

The Purge of Self-Confidence Genesis 44:16–34 God has found out the guilt of your servants. Genesis 44:16 It was precisely at this point, when their own self-confidence and selfrighteousness were broken—not a moment before—that Joseph’s brothers were healed. Notice what happened. First, their relationship to God was transformed. Before this they had been running from…

Reflecting on Sin Genesis 42:17–22 Surely we are being punished because of our brother. Genesis 42:21 (NIV) Solitude! It is a valuable gift of God. In solitude people meet God. One thing solitude did for these guilty brothers of Joseph was cause them to reason spiritually. They thought as most worldlings do, namely: “It’s a…

Having Our Mind on God Genesis 41:25–40 Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. Genesis 41:39 When Pharaoh placed Joseph in charge of all Egypt, he did so because of two rare qualities in Joseph. First, he noticed that Joseph was “discerning and wise.” This…

God’s Faithfulness Genesis 40:9–23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. Genesis 40:23 The story of Joseph’s being forgotten by Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer leads to certain lessons, and the first is to stop trusting in men, all of whom are ultimately undependable. The Bible says, “Stop regarding man, in whose nostrils…