THOUGHT FOR TODAY, JANUARY 26, 2019: THE PATH TO GRACE [Gen 41-42] The seven years of plenty ended and seven years of famine came on the entire region (Gen 41:56-57). Hearing that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob sent 10 of his sons there to buy grain. Fearing that harm might befall his youngest son, he did not send Benjamin with them. When the brothers presented themselves to Joseph, he…Keep Reading

Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” I had gone to visit a man on his farm. Just as I pulled into the driveway I saw a young man being assaulted by one of the farm residents. That…Keep Reading

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, JANUARY 25, 2019: A WOMAN SCORNED [Gen 38-40] “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” has been in our English vocabulary at least since the late 17th century. Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers from other mothers, but the overruling hand of God had caused Joseph to rise to the position of overseer of all that was in his master Potiphar’s house, except…Keep Reading

Building Christian Character “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24 There are two ways to have the tallest building in town: You can tear down everyone else’s building, or you can work hard to build your own. Most of us are not interested in having the tallest building, but we…Keep Reading

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, JANUARY 24, 2019: JACOB’S CONFLICT-HABITUATED FAMILY [Gen 35-37] Jacob has returned to the land of his father’s sojournings. He had left as a bachelor and returned with a huge conflict-habituated family and much wealth (30:43; 32:10). The stage had been set for the conflict between Jacob’s sons years before when Laban had tricked Jacob into marrying the homely Leah instead of the lovely Rachel. The sisters had…Keep Reading

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, JANUARY 22, 2019: JACOB FINALLY GETS IT RIGHT [Gen 30-31] Obediently following his mother’s lead, Jacob had stolen his brother’s birthright. He spent the next 20 years trying to match the duplicity of his father-in-law as each tried to outwit the other. Some see Jacob’s selective breeding methods as the Bible’s endorsing of superstitions (Gen 30:37-43), but Jacob knew the truth. Speaking to his wives about their…Keep Reading

“Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.” 1 Corinthians 8:13 We live in a world where values and cultures butt heads like mountain goats. What I feel is sin for me may not be considered sin by another Christian. (Now sin is sin, there is no doubt; but…Keep Reading

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, JANUARY 23, 2019: HAVE YOU HAD ANY WRESTLING MATCHES LATELY? [Gen 32-34] In Genesis 32:22-32, a wrestling match began in the night and continued until the break of day. The participants were Jacob the supplanter, the schemer (Gen 27:30-36)and an angel, but not just any angel. It was the angel of the Lord, the Word which would later become flesh (John 1:1-4): “The Lord has an indictment…Keep Reading

“Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” Psalm 119:133 The journey could have been short, perhaps a few weeks; but it took forty years. God was leading them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He supplied their every need; but it was never enough for their “we want better” demands. At the first sign of trouble they were…Keep Reading

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, JANUARY 21. 2019: DUPLICITY [Gen 27-29] “Duplicity comes from a Latin word meaning “double” or “twofold,” and its original meaning in English has to do with a kind of deception in which you intentionally hide your true feelings or intentions behind false words or actions. If you are being duplicitous there are two yous: the one you’re showing and the one you’re hiding. And—key to the idea…Keep Reading