God’s Man Genesis 37:28–36 Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt. Genesis 37:36 “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” The gist of that saying could have been spoken to Joseph, telling him that since he was in Egypt, he might as well do as the Egyptians did and adopt Egypt’s religion and…

Limping Forward Genesis 32:22–32 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Genesis 32:31 The picture here is of the patriarch limping forward to meet Esau, limping because of the wound inflicted on his hip. I ask, is this a pitiful picture? It is not, as anyone with perception…

The Gate of Heaven Genesis 28:10–17 There was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! Genesis 28:12 Two thousand years after Jacob’s vision of the stairway, or ladder, reaching to earth from heaven, a Jew…

Surrendering to God Genesis 27:27–33 I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed. Genesis 27:33 In the midst of this disgraceful episode, when Jacob stole his brother’s blessing, there is a spot that stands out so brightly that one can end only by praising the wisdom and mercy of God, who brought it…

Faith on Trial Genesis 22:1–19 I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you. Genesis 22:5 As Abraham made plans to obey God and sacrifice his son, Isaac, he not only exercised faith, but worked with it, pondering the situation, trying to figure out what was happening. I think…

The Names of God Genesis 21:33–34 There he called upon the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. Genesis 21:33 (NIV) In this verse, we come to one of the names for God. It is Jehovah El Olam (meaning “The Lord, the Eternal God”). The key word in this name, olam, translated “eternal,” originally meant…

Pilgrim’s Regress Genesis 20:1–18 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Genesis 20:2 The cause of Abraham’s sin was lack of faith in God. He did not believe that God could take care of him in this new situation. That lack of faith disturbed everything. When Abraham began to doubt God,…

Sinning “Just a Bit” Genesis 19:15–26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26 I wonder if anyone is thinking that the sins of Lot seem small. If you are thinking this way, I fear for you. Can’t you see that one of the reasons why you…

God Does Right Genesis 18:16–33 But Abraham still stood before the Lord. Genesis 18:22 Abraham’s pleading that Sodom be spared destruction is a remarkable example of a prayer of intercession! It is remarkable on God’s part that he would allow Abraham so to entreat him. It is remarkable on Abraham’s part too. It shows the…

Sign of the Covenant Genesis 17:9–14 It shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. Genesis 17:11 The same God who joined his breath and name to Abraham as evidence that he could live as God wanted him to live and do what God wanted him to do is also joined to…