Please read Genesis 40, Genesis 35:28-29, and Genesis 41, and then let’s visit!  Here’s what I’m thinking about today:

What a whirlwind Joseph’s life is!  We haven’t mentioned where he came from, but let’s hit the highlights now: a favored son, a baby brother, entrapped, sold, a slave, a prisoner, now second in command over Egypt…. At every opportunity to take offense at his circumstances, Joseph kept his sight on the Lord’s faithfulness.  At every opportunity to promote or defend himself, Joseph kept his sight on the Lord’s faithfulness.  Remember when he was brought in to interpret Pharaoh’s dream?  Pharaoh thought it would be Joseph who interpreted the dream.  Joseph could have easily taken credit, manipulated the situation to try and gain favor – but he knew the Lord’s faithfulness and he answered, “Not I, but God. God will set Pharaoh’s mind at ease” (Genesis 41:16).

Joseph did not have to say anything on his own behalf – the Lord was on his side: “Pharaoh said to his officials, ‘Isn’t this the man we need? Are we going to find anyone else who has God’s spirit in him like this?’ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “You’re the man for us. God has given you the inside story—no one is as qualified as you in experience and wisdom.” (Genesis 41:38-40).  

God doesn’t work on our timelines, and He never forgets. Though it can be hard to let God be your only defense, He can be trusted!

Please read Genesis 37, Genesis 38, 1 Chronicles 2:3-6, 1 Chronicles 2:8 and Genesis 39.  You know, it’s not my goal to make a comment on every thing that happens each day – if something stands out to me, I’m sharing it.  I’m just hitting a few “highlights”.  Make your own notes (comment here if you like – I’d love to have a dialogue with you!), and let the Word settle in your own heart.  Here’s what stands out to me today:

I think it’s interesting that [what I consider] to be the beginning of Joseph’s story starts with these words: “This is the story of Jacob. The story continues with Joseph….” (Genesis 37:2 MSG). It’s continuing Jacob’s story because we are talking about Jacob’s family.  Family is important to God!

Genesis 39:23 tells us that “because God was with him; whatever he did God made sure it worked out for the best”.  Joseph doesn’t defend himself (“the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” like we’ll learn in Exodus 14:14 later on). Hard sometimes to let the Lord be your defense – but He can be trusted!

Please read Genesis 36:1-19, 1 Chronicles 1:35-37, Genesis 36:20-30, 1 Chronicles 1:38-42, Genesis 36:31-43, 1 Chronicles 1:43-54, 1 Chronicles 2:1-2 (whew!).  When you’re ready, come on back – maybe make a comment of your own here!  This is what I’m thinking this morning:

Even though the descendants and begats can seem tedious, it’s interesting and important when we see them come back and are able to remember.  For example, we’ll see the Amalekties again (1 Chronicles 1:36).  Make a note – they descended from Esau. We also  see the 12 tribes (Jacob’s sons, 1 Chronicles 2:1-2), and we’ll have them with us for a long time. God is faithful!

Please read Genesis 32, Genesis 33, Genesis 34, and Genesis 35:1-27.  Once you’ve finished, head on back – want to know what stood out to me this morning?

Gen 35:14-15 tells us that Jacob made an offering and left a memorial at Bethel because God had spoken to him there.  Jacob “dedicated the place where God had spoken with him”. Every time the Lord speaks to us, it’s so precious!

Father, please don’t let me take Your voice in my life for granted!  Your presence and Your voice are something to be cherished and remembered and sought after.

Please read Genesis 30:25-43, and Genesis 31.  When you’re done, head on back!  I hope you are finding that these readings are only taking 10-15 minutes each day.  Hang in there, you are making great progress! 🙂 Here’s what I am thinking about today:

So many things going on – difficulties between Leah and Rachel, difficulties between Laban and Jacob.  Knowing how important Jacob is, it’s interesting to see him from his beginning, a young man married and raising his family.  Joseph is born – put a bookmark by his name!  AfterJacob flees from Laban and Laban catches up, they come to peace.  I think maybe a strained peace, what do you think?  Laban can’t really condemn Jacob and he is unwilling to admit his own wrongdoing, so I think he just makes peace and enters a covenant with Jacob (I think) for the sake of his daughters.  At least it’s something!

God can bring true peace, if we let Him guard our hearts. Ask the Lord to bring peace to your relationships – and recognize that we have a part in keeping peace as well!

Please read Genesis 28:6-22, Genesis 29, Genesis 30:1-24, and come on back!  Here’s what stands out to me today:

What an awesome responsibility we have to pray over our children. It stood out to me in Jacob’s dream when God told him He would bring him back and stay with him until all the promises were fulfilled.  I am struck by Jacob’s response to the dream in Genesis 28:16 – “God is in this place – truly.  And I didn’t even know it!”  This won’t be the last time we read about someone not recognizing the Lord.  I pray that I’ll always be able to sense when He is near!

God is all about restoration and returning, and He is always faithful. We have to be faithful too if we are to see His promises come to pass in our lives (and sometimes it takes what seems to us like a long time!).

Good morning, friend! 🙂 Please read Genesis 25:27-34, Genesis 26, Genesis 27, and Genesis 28:1-5, and come on back.  Here’s what I am thinking about this morning:

The history of Jacob and Esau, and how Esau relinquished his birthright is a familiar and sad one.

At the beginning of chapter 26, we are told there was a severe famine, so Isaac moved to Gerar. His intention must have been to continue on to Egypt (I’m guessing because God tells him not to go in Genesis 26:2).  Even in a place where he was a stranger (lonely perhaps), God tells him to stay there and he would be blessed there.  So, in obedience to the Lord, Isaac stayed.  In keeping with His promise to Abraham, God blessed and prospered Isaac there.

Even in times of loneliness or fill-in-your-own blank-here, there is a blessing in following the Lord.  We can’t act based on emotions, we must act on obedience. God is so faithful, every single time!

Please read Genesis 25:1-4, 1 Chronicles 1:32-33, Genesis 25:5-6, Genesis 25:12-18, 1 Chronicles 1:28-31, 1 Chronicles 1:34, Genesis 25:19-26, Genesis 25:7-11, and come on back!  Share your comments below if you like – I’d love to hear what you are thinking too! 

Abraham’s family did expand through Isaac as God promised, and He blessed Ishmael as well.  The genealogies are important, fight the urge to “skim” over them! 🙂 Even though Isaac and Ishmael’s history was atypical at best, they were still brothers. It doesn’t seem like there is animosity between the two of them – they come together at the end of Abraham’s life to  bury him next to Sarah.  The Message translation reads, “he died happy at a ripe old age, full of years” (Genesis 25:8). What a nice way to end a life, happy. The Lord kept His promises to Abraham!

Now on to the next generation – Jacob and Esau!  See you tomorrow!

Please read Genesis 21:8-22, Genesis 22, Genesis 23, Genesis 11:32, Genesis 24, and head on back here.  Want to know what stood out to me today?

Once again, Hagar is turned out.  It must have been hard on Abraham – even though Isaac is the promised child, Ishmael is also his child and he must love him.  Hagar learns in the wilderness that God not only sees her (16:13), but He also hears her (Genesis 21:17).   I always think of Peter saying that God is “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34) when I see His tenderness in action – so, it follows that if God saw and heard Hagar then, He sees and hears us today.

In Genesis 22, God tests Abraham’s faith…. “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (22:2). Knowing the purpose of the trip, Abraham “rose early in the morning…. and arose and went” (22:3).  Go hasn’t told him where he’s going, but He did tell him why he was going there – to sacrifice his promise.  Abraham had no idea that God would spare Isaac, but he trusted and and “went”.  That’s remarkable.

God is always so faithful. His promises endure for generations. ❤ 

Please read Genesis 18, Genesis 19, Genesis 20, Genesis 21:1-7, and then come on back!  Here’s what I’m thinking about today:

Big day! Lots happened in today’s reading! Isn’t it sad – before Isaac was conceived (and after Sarah had received the promise of a child), Sarah abused Hagar to a point where she ran away.  Her frustration and anger was so great, Hagar was abandoned when it was Sarai herself who had made the mistake.  Emotion is so easily displaced – fight the temptation to take out your disappointments on the people around you. Sarah did receive her promise, though she had to wait for it. Isaac was born in chapter 21!

With Sodom, God was so merciful – willing to save the entire city for the sake of a few, yet even a few could not be found.  It is important to notice what happened to Lot’s wife when they were leaving – turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).  When God asks you to move on, please move on!

“Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised” (Genesis 21:8).  After all that!  We have the benefit of hindsight, we know the entire story.  Sarah lived, every day, with her uncertainty.  We had no doubt Isaac would be born!

God’s thoughts are higher for sure – it’s so important that we follow the Lord (and not try to come up with our own plans) even when we might not understand.