Nov 20
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Brotherly loveJoseph's heart yearned for his brother. I believe it was always Joseph's intention to get his brother back. He was concerned for his father, but really cared very little for the brothers who betrayed him. If they went back home and never knew the truth it would be fine with him, as long as he had his brother with him. The extra food on Benjamin's plate also demonstrates these feelings. That is why later on Joseph puts the stolen item in Benjamin's sack. It would be t… Read more »
Nov 18
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Facing the pastJoseph is now facing his brothers for the first time since they sold him into slavery. It's been close to 15 years. He deals harshly with them at first. I'm sure he has some pent up anger. I don't think he knows exactly what he is going to do yet. But I am sure he wanted to see his younger brother, his full brother who had nothing to do with that terrible day. He puts them all into prison for three days. He needs time to think through things, to deal with all the hurt and p… Read more »
Nov 17
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Forget about it!Children are a blessing, and family is a beautiful thing. After years of betrayal, slavery, injustice, and imprisonment Joseph finally begins a new life and has a family of his own. He is now surrounded by life and joy. So much joy that it made up for all the pain and suffering of the past and made him forget about it. So much life that now the loneliness and longing for his father and home no longer has a grip on him. That's what heaven is going to be like but to the infinity degree… Read more »
Nov 15
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Two whole yearsTwo years of waiting. I'm sure by now Joseph had given up on the cupbearer. When he was finally called out of prison, I am sure he had no idea of the magnitude of what lay ahead. Then again he must have thought about his own dream of his brothers, mother, and father bowing down to him. He had probably daydreamed about a million different scenarios by now. God is good, but we must never forget that Satan is real. My mom died this past summer. I just found out that my brother has ter… Read more »
Nov 14
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Perfect TimingI can imagine Joseph sitting in prison anxiously waiting to see what would happen after the cupbearer left. He had to be hoping and praying that he would somehow be delivered. But he was forgotten. Forgotten by the cupbearer, but not forgotten by God. Even if the cupbearer had remembered Joseph and put in a good word for him, it is hard to say what affect if any this would have had on Joseph's situation. But God set everything up perfectly, so by the time the cupbearer did remember him… Read more »
Nov 13
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Jehovah's PlanYes, Joseph had character. Yes, Joseph had perseverance. But clearly what really made the difference in his life was that Jehovah was with him. Jehovah had a plan. His plan would have materialized whether Joseph cooperated or not. But Joseph ended up with the blessing because he never lost faith. He knew God had great things in store for him. God has revealed his plan to us as well. No matter what this life holds for us, He has greater things in store for us for eternity. NEVER LOSE FAI… Read more »
Nov 12
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Righteous TrickeryClearly this whole story is a little twisted. I don't think people realize how much marriage, and even more so having children, meant to women in that culture. Judah wronged Tamar, but she got what she wanted in the end. Of course her plan would have never worked if Judah wasn't a cheater. This stands in stark contrast to Joseph's integrity. Yet Jesus came from the line of Judah. Go figure! God is always going against the grain. But that is His prerogative. After all He&#… Read more »
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godpraise60 added a text contribution A brother's dutyI've always wondered what the real sin was in this story. Some have said that this proves that God is against birth control. But I seriously doubt that is the case. It seems to me that the real problem was enjoying the benefits, without fulfilling his duty and honoring his dead brother. The culture in those days took family obligations very seriously. Apparently so does God. Family is very important. Read more »
Nov 10
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Playing FavoritesPlaying favorites. I wonder where Jacob got that from. Some say Joseph was spoiled, but I doubt he could have went through all the trials of Egypt if that were the case. He definitely was a man of character, which made his brothers even more jealous. Read more »
Nov 8
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godpraise60 added a text contribution RefocusIn the midst of everything gone wrong, God speaks to Jacob. He pulls his attention away from the situation and gives him new direction. Time to clean up his act, and get back on track. God will never leave us or forsake us. I am so glad He is always there ready to help, ready to guide, ready to heal. Especially when I have made a mess of things on my own. Read more »
Nov 7
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godpraise60 added a text contribution ConsequencesJust because God had changed Jacob's name to Israel doesn't mean he's perfect. No more than we are perfect just because we are saved. We still fall. We still make mistakes, but we should never justify them. Still it makes it hard to throw the first stone. All of this mess could have been avoided if Jacob had just obeyed God. He wasn't even supposed to be there. He was supposed to go home, but his fear of his brother kept him away. Of course fear did seem to run in his… Read more »
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godpraise60 added a text contribution NaiveAs a woman, and mother of 4 girls, I completely understand Dinah's desire to visit the daughter's of the land. Imagine growing up with 11 brothers, and living in the same town for your whole life. She had lived a very sheltered life up until now, and in her ignorance and haste she left without any protection. She probably had a false sense of security since her father had apparently done business with Shechem when he bought the land. She may have even caught a glimpse of his son.… Read more »
Nov 6
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godpraise60 added a text contribution God is personalJacob named the altar El-Elohe-Israel, which means the mighty God of Israel, or God of Israel is God. What Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, is really saying is that his God is the true, one and only, almighty God. Each and every child of God can say that about God. The mighty God of Gail, or God of Gail is God. Put your own name there. God is personal. He is Israel's God. He is my God. And I hope He is your God. David says that God's thoughts toward us are too many to… Read more »
Nov 3
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Wrestling with GodDeep, passionate, and desperate prayer is like Jacob's wrestling match with God. It is a level of prayer that I have never reached -holding on to God the whole night through, holding on until I am blessed. It feels like a fight, because indeed prayer is where spiritual battles take place. The longer we pray, the closer we get to God's desires. Our own pride, selfishishness, ambitions, and logic are stripped away and we are left only with an overwhelming desire to be blessed by Go… Read more »
Oct 29
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Spiritual SightSometimes I long to really see God's heavenly host. To know they are working. To know I'm not alone. To know I'm heading in the right direction. These angels confirmed to Jacob that he was on the right path. I'm not sure if they came to meet him, or he came to meet them. The second seems more likely. May angels always be in my path. Especially when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Read more »
Oct 17
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godpraise60 added a text contribution God rememberedSometimes it does seem like God has forgotten. Rachel desperately wanted a child. God had purposely blessed Leah with children because she was not loved. Often those who seem to have a hard life are blessed in other ways. But having Jacob's love was not enough for Rachel. Not being able to have a child with the one you love can be very disheartening. The popularity of fertility treatments today testify to that fact. Now the tables have turned. Rachel is the one that is broken, and in… Read more »
Oct 16
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godpraise60 added a text contribution He seesHere and through out the Bible, God shows himself to be concerned with the unloved, downtrodden, and outcasts of society. Many times they are women. (Hagar, Sarah, Leah, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, etc.) As women we have a unique opportunity to witness a fair and just God. He is trustworthy. He is our hero. Cast your burdens on Him, and wait for God to move. When I have truly trusted Him, and waited on Him everything worked out for the good. It's when I take control that things get messed… Read more »
Oct 13
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godpraise60 added a text contribution VowsIn response to God's promise, Jacob makes a conditional vow that he will return to Bethel and sacrifice a tenth of all that he has. This vow is fulfilled in Genesis 35, as Jacob is returning to his father's house more than 14 years later. He builds an altar and sacrifices to the Lord. I assume he offered a tenth of all his possessions, or flocks. That probably took a long time. I am sure that Jacob took the time to relate to his family the story of Bethel and how God had revealed… Read more »
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Making it personalGod is reaffirming a promise made to Abraham to his grandson, Jacob. He's making it personal. He made it personal to my children and they responded with faith. I pray that when He makes it personal to my grandchildren that they will respond with faith as well. I would love to see a godly inheritance passed on to many, many generations until the Lord's return. Read more »
Oct 12
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Crossing the lineRebecca apparently did not trust her husband. Even though she was told by God that Jacob was the one whom God would bless, she suspected that Isaac would bless Esau. She found out first hand what Isaac was planning, and made secret plans to thwart his actions. She also had spies in her household because they reported to her what Esau planned to do to his brother. The real problem was she did not trust God, and took matters into her own hands. She felt that God somehow needed her help. Her… Read more »
Oct 10
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godpraise60 added a text contribution For Abraham's SakeGod appeared onto Isaac to make the blessing personal. Isaac received the blessing for Abraham's sake. It was Abraham's faith that secured a blessing for his son. God says that he visits the sins of the father onto the third and fourth generation, but also blesses the children of the righteous for many generations. I am sure that Abraham's life and example influenced Isaac greatly. I mean after all the whole sacrifice thing must have made some kind of impression on him. Bu… Read more »
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Like Father, like SonIn Genesis 26, we see Isaac following in his father's footsteps and lying about his wife for fear of his own life. I say what a coward. Still God honored Sarah before this for obeying her husband, and now does the same for Rebecca. Read more »
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Playing FavoritesIn Genesis 25: 27-28 we see parent playing favorites. This always leads to trouble. Here it causes friction between two brothers and separates them for many years. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers because of jealousy created by favoritism. It is easy for us to judge Isaac & Rebecca, but as a mother of five I understand how easily this can happen. In this case the favoritism arose from similar interests and likes. Isaac love Esau because he was a hunter and brought home hi… Read more »
Oct 7
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godpraise60 added a text contribution BlessedBlessed means to have God's favor. It means that God favors us-we are the apple of his eye. He watches over us and prospers us. After Abraham died, God turned his attention to Isaac. Now he was the head of the family and needed God's favor. He needed God's protection and provision to care for his family. Before this time having Abraham's favor was enough. Now anyone can have God's favor. Anyone who has the faith of Abraham which he proved by his works. Anyone wh… Read more »
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godpraise60 added a text contribution Family FeudAlmost all of the children, born to Abraham apart from Sarah, became nations that one day would cause some sort of trouble for Israel. All of these children were given gifts and just sent away. Only Isaac recieved the full inheritance, probably causing insance jealousy for his half brothers. In fact the turmoil continues even today in the Middle East between Israel and the Arab nations. Talk about a family feud. Read more »