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…

There are times when I read the Bible and the events are so strange to me living in 2022. It’s difficult to understand ancient customs. Yet, nestled right in Genesis 38 is “prostitution” which lends understanding to it being the “oldest profession”. In Luke 20:27-40 Jesus was confronted by the Sadducees about the very question…

Do you take your body for granted? I do. I depend on it to get me through the day and do all that is scheduled and needed. Yesterday, my body didn’t do that for me. I experienced two syncopal episodes (fainting) close together with weakness, sweating, disorientation. Surgery I had prepared for was cancelled. After…

Last night as I dreamed, my dream was so nebulous as I was trying to pinpoint and explain God in a sentence and each effort produced a vacuum of empty space where God was not. Every phrase was like mist dissipating revealing nothingness. This morning my heart felt so heavy. Reading Genesis 35 added to…

I can’t help but wonder in reading Genesis 34 what would have happened if Jacob had turned to God to ask for His help when his daughter, Dinah, was raped. The rapist Shechem, son of Hamor who was the ruler of that area, kept Dinah and spoke tenderly to her. And Shechem said to his…

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13. In Genesis 33 Jacob finally reunites with Esau. Seeing him with 400 men riding toward him, Jacob divided his wives and children behind him. He had no idea…

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8. And dance! Let the barriers that prevent your heart opening to God come tumbling down and let His love fill you and lift you up in hope…hope in a God who loves you and is merciful…