In Genesis 48 Jacob is ill and Joseph brings his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him to be with Jacob. Jacob claimed Manasseh and Ephraim as his own. “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be…

In reading Genesis 47 I can’t help but think about the power that Pharaoh had. The famine continued and got so severe that the people sold their livestock to Joseph to gain food. When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact…

Jacob and his adult children and their children and all they had were now embarking on a journey to Egypt during a famine in the land that would last five more years. So much had happened, so many surprises. Joseph was alive and sending for him. And God spoke to Israel in a vision at…

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21. Genesis 45 reminds me of a future reunion…

Genesis 44 shows how our hearts can change. “Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.” v. 34. Judah’s heartfelt plea to Joseph. Judah and his brothers were willing to carelessly bring misery to their father Jacob when they sold Joseph into slavery. Maybe that’s why Joseph tested them. Were…

When the famine continued and the grain had run out Jacob told his sons to go back to Egypt to buy more grain, Genesis 43:1-2. It was Judah who stepped up and insisted his father understand they would not get to see the man’s face until they brought Benjamin, the youngest son, with them. It…

12 brothers. In Genesis 42 the painful past catches up to Joseph and his brothers. The famine had spread even to Canaan and Jacob sent 10 of his sons to Egypt to buy grain so they could survive. The dreams Joseph had while they were still living together (Genesis 37:6-9), were being played out in…

Pharaoh ruled all of Egypt. Think of our “rulers” today. When he had two powerful dreams one after another, he couldn’t comprehend them. In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them. Genesis 41:8.…

One of the lessons I learned in my episodes of fainting is that I am not in control. Whatever physiological processes were happening, my body took over and the part of me that thinks I am in control felt helpless. I couldn’t reason my body to do what I wanted. What else am I not…

As I read about Joseph in Genesis 39, I can’t help but think about the powerful witness he had from his great grandfather Abraham, his grandfather Isaac and his father Jacob, the Patriarchs of the faith in God. They would have shared their stories of their personal encounters with the Lord. We know from Genesis…