Tag: jesus

Week 42 of the Devotional Series

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***Note – We have completed the book of Job and the book of Genesis! This is our sixth week in the book of Exodus! 

Focus: Exodus Chapter Six

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Exodus Chapter Four – “God Is Faithful Even When We Can’t See It”

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse:

“Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians… and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments.”

Exodus 6:6

Exodus Chapter 6:

“God Is Faithful Even When We Can’t See It”

(Read Exodus Chapter 6 First)

We left off in our last chapter with the Hebrew people upset with Moses. He had told them God was going to set them free, but so far all that had happened was Pharaoh making their lives even harder. Instead of things getting better, they got worse.

But God was in control.

This chapter opens with the LORD saying to Moses,

“Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.” (Exodus 6:1)

One phrase that really stood out to me was “strong hand.” Looking it up in the Blue Letter Bible, the word “strong” can mean mighty, stout, firm, severe, or powerful. We are going to learn why the LORD must use a strong hand with Pharaoh and the Egyptians. 

As I continued reading, I noticed something else. God keeps reminding Moses of who He is.

“I am the LORD.”

He says it again and again throughout this chapter.

I noticed that before God tells Moses what He’s going to do, He reminds him who He is.

We sometimes want God to explain the plan, but He often begins by reminding us of His character. And when you stop and think about it, that makes perfect sense. The better we know someone, the easier it is to trust them.

Think about a child. A little child doesn’t usually understand why a parent tells them to do certain things. They don’t know the whole plan, but because they know their parent loves them and wants what’s best for them, they learn to trust them. 

The same is true with the LORD. We won’t always understand what He’s doing or why He’s allowing certain things in our lives. But the more we get to know Him through His Word, the more we’ll trust His heart, even when we can’t see His plan.

Then God tells Moses,

“I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” (Exodus 6:3)

The name Jehovah speaks of the self-existent, eternal God..The One who always was, always is, and always will be. It also points to His faithfulness to keep every covenant He has made.

God goes on to remind Moses that He made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give them the land of Canaan.

Then I came to one of my favorite parts of this chapter.

God says,

“I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel…and I have remembered my covenant.” (Exodus 6:5)

The word groaning can also mean sighing or crying out because of deep suffering.

I don’t know about you, but I’m so thankful we serve a God who hears our sighs.

He hears the prayers we so desperately pray.

He sees every burden we carry.

He never forgets His promises.

Psalm 34:17 says,

“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”

Did you notice that over and over in this chapter, God says…

I will.

“I will bring you out.”

“I will rid you out of their bondage.”

“I will redeem you.”

“I will take you to me for a people.”

“I will be to you a God.”

“I will bring you in unto the land.”

“I will give it you.”

I love that God was faithful to do all of these things even though Israel had no strength to do anything for themselves. What a comfort that is for us today. There are seasons when we don’t have much strength, but thankfully our hope doesn’t have to rest in our own strength. We can depend on our God who says, “I will.”

The last thing God tells Moses is that He will bring Israel into the land He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

I believe God fully intended for them to enter that Promised Land.

Yet as we’ll continue studying Exodus and the books that follow, we’ll see that an entire generation misses out because of unbelief and disobedience.

What a sobering reminder for us!

Sin and unbelief can keep us from experiencing the blessings He desires for us.

Moses faithfully delivers God’s message to the Israelites, but they don’t listen because they are so overwhelmed by their cruel bondage.

Can you imagine?

They had prayed for deliverance for years, and now they were so discouraged that they couldn’t even hear the good news.

Have you ever had that kind of pain? The kind that can be so strong that it drowns out your hope? I’m sure they had lost all expectation of ever being free.

But God intervened.

That’s so encouraging for us because maybe you feel like that today, and you needed the reminder that God can still work in the most hopeless circumstances. 

Then the LORD tells Moses to go speak to Pharaoh again.

Moses responds by saying, in essence, “If the Israelites won’t listen to me, why would Pharaoh?”

I have to admit…this part amazes me.

God is speaking directly to Moses, telling him exactly what to do, but Moses is still filled with doubt.

Then I realized…

How often do I do the same thing?

Has God ever impressed something on your heart, only for you to immediately start listing all the reasons it won’t work? All the reasons you’re not qualified and why someone else would do a better job?

Moses questioned God, just like we sometimes do, but I love how God responded.

He doesn’t argue with Moses or change His plan.

Verse 13 says He gave Moses and Aaron a charge. In other words, He gave them their orders. God simply called them to obey.

I think that’s something we all need to remember. I don’t think God is looking for people who have all the answers or feel completely confident. He’s looking for willing hearts to trust Him and obey. He already knows our weaknesses. He isn’t surprised by our insecurities or our fears. He simply asks us to take the next step in obedience and trust Him with the results.

When I came to verses 14-27, I wondered why there was a genealogy right in the middle of everything that’s happening with Moses and Pharaoh.

But the more I read it, the more I realized why I think it’s there. 

The genealogy begins with Jacob’s oldest sons but quickly narrows its focus to the tribe of Levi until we arrive at Amram and Jochebed, the parents of Aaron and Moses.

Then the passage ends by saying,

“These are that Aaron and Moses…” (Exodus 6:26)

Almost as if God is saying,

“These are the very men I have chosen.”

God had been working long before Moses was ever born.

His plan to rescue Israel had been unfolding for generations.

Every person listed in that genealogy played a part in God’s story, even if they never lived to see how it all came together.

That can be so true for us too! 

Sometimes we only see what’s right in front of us. We wonder why God seems quiet or why His timing feels so slow.

But God sees the whole picture.

I also love that God chose to record all of those names in His Word. Most of them are people we know very little about, but God knew every one of them.

And He knows us too. He knows our names, our stories, our struggles..and He knows exactly where we fit into the story He’s writing.

Maybe that’s one of the greatest lessons from Exodus 6.

Our lives are part of a much bigger story than we can see.

Just like Moses, we may not understand everything God is doing today, but we can trust that He has been faithfully working all along.

His plans didn’t begin with us, and they won’t end with us.

But what a privilege it is to be part of the beautiful story He is writing! 

Week 37 of the Devotional Series

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The Study of Exodus: Post One

***Note – We have completed the book of Job and the book of Genesis! This is our first week in the book of Exodus! 

Focus: Exodus Chapter One 

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Exodus Chapter One– “ When Oppression Doesn’t Win”

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse:

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.  

Exodus 1:12  

Exodus Chapter 1 

“When Oppression Doesn’t Win”

(Read Exodus Chapter 1 First) 

We have made it to our next book of the Bible…Exodus! I’m so excited to dive into this second book of Moses with you.

In chapter one, we read about something heavy right away…The oppression of the children of Israel.

Oppression means harsh and unfair treatment meant to break people down, control them, and burden them on purpose.

The chapter begins by reminding us of the sons of Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, and Joseph. We remember Joseph was already in Egypt, but the rest of the family came later.

Over time, that entire generation passed away. But before they did, look what God did with that family. The Bible tells us…

And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Exodus 1:7

God was already blessing them.

A new king rose up in Egypt who did not know Joseph. But what he did see was how numerous and strong the Israelites had become and it made him afraid.

He decided he wanted to control them. 

So the Egyptians placed taskmasters over the Israelites to afflict them with heavy burdens. They were forced into slavery, doing the hard labor of building cities and working the land.

But here’s the part I love:

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. Exodus 1:12 

When God is in control, what was meant by others to weaken you…won’t! What is meant to break you…won’t work! 

Since the harsh treatment wasn’t working, the Egyptians put on more pressure. Verse 13 tells us they were made to serve with rigour. That word means… harshness, cruelty, and oppression. Their lives became bitter with hard labor.

Now I know we are not in physical slavery, but we do know what it feels like to be:

  • Talked down to
  • Taken advantage of
  • Burdened by people or situations
  • Made to feel “less than”

Sometimes the goal of others is the same. It’s meant to break us down, control us, or make themselves feel superior.

But here’s the truth we can hold onto:

What people mean for harm, God can turn for good.

Just like the Israelites, what should destroy you doesn’t have to when God is in control. And you can allow God to use it to make you better and stronger! 

We also meet two Hebrew midwives in this chapter named Shiphrah and Puah.

The king of Egypt commanded them to kill the Hebrew baby boys at birth. But they refused.

Why?

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.  Exodus 1:17 

They chose to fear God more than man.

And God honored that.

He blessed them.

Real-Life Application:

This chapter gives us some nuggets of truths to live by:

  • Oppression doesn’t stop God’s plan
  • What is meant to break you doesn’t have to win.
    God can strengthen you in the very place meant by others to weaken you.
  • You choose who you fear
    Like the midwives, we will face moments where we must choose obedience to God over pressure from people.
  • God sees your faithfulness

Journaling Questions:

Take a few quiet minutes and really think about these questions and write them in your journal if you wish.

  1. Where in my life do I feel burdened, overwhelmed, or “oppressed” right now?
  1. Have I been allowing someone else’s words or actions to “break me down”?
  1. How have I seen God strengthen me in difficult seasons before?
  1. Am I more concerned with pleasing people or obeying God?
  1. What is one area where I need to trust that God is still in control?

Final Thought:

The enemy, or even people, may try to make things harder, heavier, and more overwhelming.

But trust that God WILL take the very thing meant to break you and use it to grow you.

Just like Israel, you can still multiply, grow, and become stronger even in hard places.

Week 36 of the Devotional Series

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The Study of Genesis: Post Twenty-Four (The Final Post in Genesis)

***Note – We have completed the book of Job and this is our final devotion in the book of Genesis! We will continue our studies into the book of Exodus next week! 

Focus: Genesis Chapter 50

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Genesis Chapter 50 – “ Overcome Evil with Good”

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse:

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

-Romans 12:21 

Genesis Chapter 50

“Overcome Evil with Good”

(Read Genesis Chapter 50 First) 

We have made it to the last chapter in Genesis.

Jacob (Israel) has just spoken his final blessings over his sons, and now he’s gone. Scripture says that Joseph fell on his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him. His heart was broken.

Then the very next verse says Joseph commanded his servants…the physicians.

Can we just pause there for a second? Joseph is commanding his servants… the physicians. The same man who was once thrown into a pit and sold into slavery is now in a position of authority and honor. Only God can write a story like that.

Joseph tells them to embalm his father. In those days, the embalming process took 40 days (verse 3). It involved removing the organs, drying the body with salt and spices, and wrapping it in layers of linen. It was done as a way to honor the one who had passed. And the Egyptians mourned him for 70 days.

When the mourning period ended, Joseph asked Pharaoh for permission to go bury his father in Canaan just like Jacob had made him promise. In the cave where his wife Leah was buried, along with Isaac and Rebekah, and Abraham and Sarah.

And Pharaoh said yes.

So Joseph went and he didn’t go alone.

All the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of Egypt, Joseph’s household, his brothers, and his father’s house went with him. The only ones left behind were the little ones and the livestock.

That’s a lot of people.

When I stop and picture that, this massive group traveling together just to honor one life and support one grieving family. They didn’t mourn alone. They went together and wept together. They felt deeply, openly, and fully.

Verse 10 says when they came to the threshing floor of Atad, they mourned with a “great and very sore lamentation” for seven days. It was so significant that the people of the land noticed and named the place Abel-mizraim, which means “the meadow of Egypt.”

After they buried Jacob, everyone returned to Egypt.

Joseph’s brothers start to get nervous. 

They begin to think, “Now that our father is gone… what if Joseph finally decides to pay us back for what we did to him?”

So they send a message to Joseph, saying that their father told him to forgive them.

And when Joseph hears this… he weeps.

We’re not told exactly why Joseph weeps. Maybe he was hurt that they still didn’t believe his forgiveness. Maybe he couldn’t understand why they were still carrying that fear. Maybe it was all of it.

Then his brothers come and fall before him, offering themselves as his servants.

And Joseph responds in one of the most powerful ways in all of Scripture:

“Fear not… ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good…”

He tells them not to be afraid. He promises to provide for them and their families. And the Bible says he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Look closely at his character:

They were evil to him… but he forgave them.

They left him for dead… but he said fear not.

They hated him… but he said I will nourish you.

They threw him in a pit… but he comforted them.

They took 22 years from him… but he spoke kindly to them.

That kind of response doesn’t come from human strength. That comes from a heart shaped by God.

It reminds me of these verses:

Matthew 5:44

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

Luke 6:27-28

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”

Romans 12:20-21

“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink…

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:17

“Recompense to no man evil for evil…”

1 Peter 3:9

“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing…”

Proverbs 25:21-22

“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat…”

Don’t let someone else’s wrong change who you are.

When you respond with good, you protect your own heart. You reflect God’s character. And sometimes… you soften theirs too.

Journaling Questions:

1. Is there someone in my life I’ve “forgiven”… but still hold at a distance in my heart?

2. What would it look like to respond with kindness instead of protection or pride?

3. Do I truly trust that God can turn what was meant for evil into something good?

4. Where might God be asking me to say “fear not” instead of “you owe me”?

We close out Genesis with Joseph living to be 110 years old. He got to see his children, grandchildren, and even some of his great-grandchildren. What a gift.

Before he died, he told his brothers that God would surely bring them out of Egypt and back to the land He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And he made them swear to carry his bones with them when they went.

And the last verse tells us he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

But don’t let that feel like the end of the story.

Because God isn’t finished.

We’re about to begin in Exodus… and yes, Joseph’s bones will make it to the Promised Land.

God always keeps His promises.

Week 34 of the Devotional Series

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The Study of Genesis Post Twenty-Two

***Note – We have completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 22nd devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 34 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next couple of weeks.

Focus: Genesis 48

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Chapter 48 –“More Than I Thought I’d See”

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse — “And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.”  

Genesis 48:11

Genesis Chapter 48

“More Than I Thought I’d See”

(Read Genesis Chapter 48 First) 

Joseph was notified that his father, Israel (Jacob), was sick, so he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to go see him. When they arrived, someone told Jacob they were there, and he strengthened himself enough to sit up in the bed.

I love that his first thought when he sat up was on God.

The first thing he tells Joseph is how God appeared to him long ago, blessed him, and promised to make him fruitful, multiply him, and give him the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession. Even though they were in Egypt instead of Canaan, Jacob had no doubt in what God had spoken. In verse 21, he reminds Joseph that God would bring him again to the land of his fathers.

That is great faith! Jacob still believed and trusted what God told him, even when his life didn’t look like what was promised. 

Let’s pause right here and journal or reflect: 

Sometimes our lives can look more like Egypt than Canaan.

We may find ourselves in places we didn’t expect and time passes. It can become easy to question if what God said will really come to pass.

But look what Jacob shows us. It’s powerful! He didn’t base his faith on what he saw, he based it on what God said.

So, what about us?

• Are we allowing what we can only see to shape what we believe?

• Have we let time or disappointment weaken our confidence in what God   told us?

• Are we still holding onto His promises with the same faith we had when   we first received them?

• Is there something God has spoken over your life that doesn’t look like   it’s come to pass yet?

• What would it look like to trust Him anyway?

Jacob does something interesting next. He tells Joseph that he wants to claim his two sons as his own so that he can leave them an inheritance just like his other sons. Then he briefly reflects on the loss of Rachel, reminding Joseph of his mother.

When Jacob notices Joseph’s sons, he brings them close, hugs them, and kisses them. And then he says something so powerful:

“I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.”

Just look at what God can do!

Jacob never thought he would see Joseph again and not only did he see him, but he saw his children too. What God restored went beyond what Jacob could have imagined.

Reading this also reminded me of this verse…“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” – Ephesians 3:20

God often goes beyond what we even thought to ask for.

Journaling & Reflection

• Has there been a time in your life where God did more than you   expected?

• Are you limiting what God can do based on what you’ve seen so far?

Next, Joseph brings his sons before Jacob and bows himself. He positions them intentionally with his oldest at Jacob’s right hand and the youngest at his left, following the tradition that the greater blessing would go to the eldest.

But before Jacob blesses them, he begins with these words:

“The God which fed me all my life long unto this day… the Angel which redeemed me from all evil…”

Before he asks God to bless them, he acknowledges who God is.

He gives Him honor and reflects on God’s faithfulness. He remembers how God carried him his entire life.

That’s something for us to take note of.

God is not just someone we come to with our requests. He is more than worthy of our recognition, gratitude, and our praise.

Journaling & Reflection

• Do you take time to acknowledge who God is before asking Him for   things?

• What are some ways God has “fed you all your life long unto this day”?

What Jacob does next was a bit unexpected. He crosses his hands, placing his right hand on the younger son instead of the older. Joseph tries to correct him, but Jacob makes it clear that this was intentional.

God’s ways are not always what we expect. 

The younger would be greater. The blessing didn’t follow tradition, but it did followed God’s purpose.

Journaling & Reflection

• Has God ever worked in a way that didn’t make sense to you at the time?

• Are you open to God moving differently than you expected?

This part really made me think about legacy.

Both boys would become so influential that people would one day speak a blessing over others, saying, “God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh.” (Genesis 48:20 KJV)

That made me stop and ask a deeper question…what kind of legacy am I leaving behind?

Not just in what I say, but in how I live. In what I model. In what I pass down without even realizing it.

I pray that one day my children and grandchildren will see something in my life worth following that points them closer to God. I want to live the kind of life that encourages others to grow, do better, and become better.

Journaling & Reflection

• What kind of legacy are you building right now?

• If someone followed your example, where would it lead them?

Jacob’s final words to Joseph are full of faith:

“Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.”

Even at the end of his life, Jacob points back to God’s promise that He once made him. 

Then he gives Joseph a double portion, an inheritance that would carry on through his sons.

Joseph had lived through years of hardship, uncertainty, and waiting. But God’s faithfulness brought him through and it overflowed into something greater than he could have imagined.

Final Reflection:

• Can you see ways God has been faithful to you, even through hard   seasons?

• Where might God be working in your life right now in ways you don’t fully   see yet?

Closing Thoughts:

As we close out Genesis 48, I keep coming back to that one simple but powerful line…“I had not thought to see…”

Jacob didn’t expect to see Joseph again. In his mind, that chapter was closed and the finality of that loss was accepted. The grief was something he had learned to live with.

And yet…God.

God restored what was lost, and He brought Jacob into a fuller, richer, and more meaningful life than he ever imagined possible.

He does that with us too! 

There are things in our lives we think… “that will never happen.” Prayers we’ve stopped praying. Hopes we’ve tucked away and forgotten. Situations we’ve accepted as “this is just how it is now.”

But God is not limited! He can still work and write stories for our lives that we never imagined possible. 

And sometimes, just like Jacob, we don’t fully see it until we’re in the middle of something we never thought we’d experience again…or maybe never thought we’d experience at all.

What I love most is that Jacob didn’t waste that moment. He used it to bless and speak life to the next generation toward God.

Don’t miss the invitation for us too.

We need to recognize God’s faithfulness and respond to it, to live in a way that reflects it, and to pass it on.

So wherever you are today…wether it be in a season of waiting, trusting, or finally seeing something come together, hold onto this truth:

God is able to do more than you think, see, or dare to hope for. 

And when He does…don’t miss it.

Let it deepen your faith, shape your legacy, and remind you that His story for your life isn’t finished yet.

Week 32 of the Devotional Series

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The Study of Genesis: Post Twenty

***Note – We have completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 20th devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 32 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next couple of weeks.

Focus: Genesis 46

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Chapter 46 – “Stopping at Beersheba” 

(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse — And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. – Genesis 46:3-4

Genesis Chapter 46

“Stopping at Beersheba”

(Read Genesis Chapter 46 First) 

Have you ever been on the verge of making a big decision and felt unsure about what comes next? Maybe a new season is beginning, and part of you is hopeful, but another part of you feels a little nervous about the unknown. In Genesis 46, Jacob finds himself in that very place. Before moving his entire family to Egypt, he stops at Beersheba to seek the Lord. That stop before the journey holds a beautiful lesson for us.

If you remember from our previous Genesis devotions, Beersheba wasn’t just any stop along the road. It was a place with history. His grandfather Abraham had worshiped God there, and his father Isaac had also built an altar there when the Lord appeared to him.

Jacob stopped at a place that reminded him of God’s faithfulness before going into something unknown.

Sometimes that’s exactly what our hearts need too. Before moving into a new season, it helps to pause and remember the times and places where God has already been faithful in our lives.

Before we make big decisions. Before we go through uncertain seasons. And for sure before stepping into something new.

When we stop to remember God’s faithfulness in the past, it can help prepare our hearts for whatever lies ahead.

Journal Questions:

• What “Beersheba” places do you have in your life? These could be moments where God clearly showed His faithfulness?

• When you face something uncertain, how can remembering those moments strengthen your trust in Him?

• Is there a place, memory, or season where God met you that you can return to in your heart when you need reassurance?

I love that Jacob stopped to seek God first…and AFTER that, God speaks to him. It reminded me of Jeremiah 29:13 – 

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Jacob must have been seeking God with all of his heart because God calls his name, “Jacob, Jacob,” and tells him not to be afraid to go down to Egypt. Then He gives him this beautiful promise: I will go down with you.

God is the perfect travel partner! He will give us directions, AND He will go with us on our journey! 

Jacob didn’t know what the future would hold in Egypt, but he knew one thing for sure…God would be there.

Isn’t that often how the Lord leads us too?

There are many times in our lives when we will be stepping into something new. A new season, a hard decision, or a path we didn’t expect. We may not see the whole plan, but God gently reminds us the same thing He told Jacob: Don’t be afraid. I’ll go with you.

That comforts me. Does it you?

Because when God goes with us, even those unfamiliar places and uncomfortable starts can become part of His good plan.

Maybe today you’re facing something that feels uncertain. Do you have a big decision to make? Is there a change in your life that needs to take place? Is God asking you to do something and you know you need to take that first step of obedience? 

If the Lord is leading you there, you can trust that He’s already gone ahead of you, and He’ll walk with you every step of the way.

A Few Questions to Think About: 

  • Is there an area of your life right now where you feel unsure about what’s ahead?
  • What might it look like for you to stop and seek the Lord before moving forward the way Jacob did?

• Can you think of a time when God led you somewhere unexpected but later showed you His purpose?

Remember friend, we may not know the whole plan, but we can know the one who is walking with us. Do you know him personally? If not, I want to share with you how you can…

The Bible tells us that every person needs salvation, and it also clearly shows us how we can be saved.

We Are All Sinners

Romans 3:23 

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Every one of us has sinned. No one is perfect, and our sin separates us from a holy God.

Sin Has a Consequence

Romans 6:23 

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Sin leads to spiritual death, but God offers us a gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Christ Died for Us

Romans 5:8 

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Even while we were sinners, God showed His love by sending Jesus to die in our place.

We Must Believe and Confess

Romans 10:9–10 

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Salvation comes when we truly believe in our hearts and confess Jesus as Lord.

Anyone Who Calls on the Lord Can Be Saved

Romans 10:13 

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Salvation is available to anyone who calls on Jesus in faith.

Seek the LORD. Talk to Him. He loves you. 

Week 31 of the Devotional Series

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The Study of Genesis – Post Nineteen

***Note – We have completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 19th devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 31 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next couple of weeks.

Focus: Genesis 45 

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Chapter 45 – “Here Comes the Wagons”

(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse — “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.”   – Genesis 45:5

Genesis Chapter 45

“Here Comes the Wagons”

(Read Genesis Chapter 45 First) 

After Judah begs to take Benjamin’s place, something in Joseph finally breaks. The Bible says he could not refrain himself. He cries out for everyone to leave the room except his brothers. This moment is too personal for spectators.

Then Joseph weeps so loudly that the Egyptians and even the house of Pharaoh hear him outside the room.

Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers. 

“I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?”

His brothers are terrified. Scripture says they could not answer him. Have you ever felt so guilty, shameful, or fearful that it silences you?

So Joseph gently tries again.

“Come near to me, I pray you.”

And when they draw closer, he says something so life-giving! 

“Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves… for God did send me before you to preserve life.”

Joseph doesn’t deny what they did.

But he also explains what God did. God sent him. God used it.

That’s such a lesson for us.

Sometimes people truly wrong us. Deeply. And no, God never excuses sin, but He is wonderful at weaving redemption through it. Joseph was able to see the bigger picture: the famine was coming, peoples lives were at stake, and God positioned him where he needed to be even through betrayal.

So what are we supposed to do when we’re wronged?

1. Forgive

Ephesians 4:32 – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Forgiveness isn’t only for when it feels fair or when someone deserves it. The standard is Christ who is tenderhearted, forgiving, and extends grace we ourselves live on daily.

2. Don’t Repay Evil for Evil

Romans 12:17–19 – “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

This is hard. Especially when justice feels delayed or nonexistent. But God makes it clear: vengeance is His department, not ours.

3. Overcome Evil with Good

Romans 12:21 – “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

You don’t win by matching their behavior. You win by refusing to let bitterness settle in and change your heart.

4. Pray for Them

Matthew 5:44 – “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

Look at these verbs (actions) we are to do in that verse… Love. Bless. Do good. Pray. Those four words don’t mean what happened was okay, but they do mean you’re refusing to stay chained to it.

5. Leave Room for God to Work

Proverbs 20:22 – “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.”

Waiting on the Lord can feel weak, but it actually takes tremendous strength. Self-control is harder than retaliation and far more powerful when you let the LORD fight for you. 

Back in the story, Joseph makes it clear: “It was not you that sent me hither, but God.” In other words, don’t stay stuck in what you did to me. Look at what God has done with it. He’s made me ruler over Egypt. He’s turned what you meant for evil into good! 

Then, Joseph falls on Benjamin’s neck and weeps. He kisses every brother. They cry together and they talk together.

Pharaoh hears what’s happening and is pleased. He sends wagons and tells them, “Don’t worry about your stuff, I’ll give you the good and the fat of the land.”

Joseph sends clothing, food, silver…and extra for Benjamin.

I always smile when Joseph tells his brothers not to “fall out by the way.” 

When the brothers finally make it home and tell their Father, Jacob, the news, he doesn’t believe them at first…But then he sees the wagons.

And the Bible says,

“The spirit of Jacob their father revived.”

He had probably been holding his breath for years. Afraid to hope. Afraid to believe. But then the wagons of provision showed up. The evidence showed up. The proof showed up right in front of him.

Isn’t that such a picture of Christ and us?

We can’t see Him, but the Holy Spirit carries the message. And then wee see the wagons…provision we didn’t earn, peace we can’t explain, gifts we don’t deserve. They tell our hearts that He is alive!

Joseph was alive and he was governing in another land. He sent wagons to bring his family home.

Jesus is alive too. He’s reigning in His Kingdom, and He’s already sent what we need to get there.

Journal Questions: 

• Is there someone in your life you’ve “forgiven” but not fully released in   your heart?

• Write down the “wagons” God has sent you to remind you He is alive and   faithful?

• Are you holding your breath in an area of life, afraid to hope again?

• What would it look like to trust that God can use even the painful parts of   your story for life?

Week 30 of the Devotional Series

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The Study of Genesis: Post Eighteen 

***Note – We have completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 18th devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 30 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next few weeks.

Focus: Genesis 44 

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Chapter 44 – “Running Over”

(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse — Luke 6:38

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

Genesis Chapter 44

“Running Over”

(Read Genesis Chapter 44 First) 

After sharing a meal with his brothers, Joseph gives an unexpected instruction to the steward of his house:

He told him to fill their sacks, and not just enough to get by. Fill them as much as they can carry!

That’s generosity.

That’s love.

That’s forgiveness.

Joseph could have given them the bare minimum and said, “They don’t deserve abundance.”

But instead? He overfilled their bags.

And if I’m honest, sometimes I’m a careful giver. I’ll do something kind… but let it be the minimum so I’m not inconvenienced too much. I’ll help, but only if it fits within my schedule for that day.  

Joseph is showing us something different, and I want to learn to be more like this. Less self centered and more giving! 

He shows us a very generous heart.

It made me want to dig deeper into what the Bible has to say about giving…

  • A Cheerful, Willing Heart

2 Corinthians 9:7

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Generosity isn’t meant to be driven by guilt or pressure even though sometimes it may feel that way. 

Paul says we are to give as we have purposed in our heart. That means it’s a settled, prayerful decision instead of impulsive, manipulated, or forced.

This doesn’t mean generosity will never make you feel stretched.

Often it costs us time and energy, and yes it may inconvenience our day.

But this stretching is what shapes us into a better christian. 

But there’s a difference between being stretched and being resentful.

God isn’t looking for giving that causes frustration or complaining on the inside. He delights in a willing heart. A heart that says, “Lord, I want to reflect You in the things I do.”

You don’t have to feel like you have to say yes to everything.

It’s not about draining yourself to prove you care.

It’s about staying connected to the Source so that when you give, it flows from love. If you feel resentment when you are giving then stop and let the LORD tend to your heart first. Spend some time in his word, tell Him you’re doing this WITH him because you can’t pour out from overflow unless you’re connected to the source. .

  • Generosity Leads to Blessing

Proverbs 11:25

“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

The word liberal here means blessing, gift, prosperity.

And that phrase “shall be made fat” doesn’t mean what we think in modern language. It means enriched, satisfied, thriving, made full.

A soul that blesses others becomes spiritually rich.

And I love the second half:

“He that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

The word water in this verse means to drench, saturate, refresh, satisfy, give abundantly.

That’s not the kind of giving that simply checks a box or feels like an obligation. It’s the kind that spills over from a heart that has already been filled.

It reminds me of Ephesians 3:20:

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” 

And that’s how God gives to us. Over and above.

When I think about watering, I picture our garden. We use a hose, or sometimes the rain waters it. Either way, the water comes from a source.

If the hose isn’t connected, then nothing flows out.

The same is true spiritually.

If we’re not connected to the Source, to God, then we cannot water anyone else. Without Him, we’ll be bone dry.

But here’s the promise:

The one who waters will himself be refreshed and satisfied. 

It’s reciprocal.

God replenishes those who pour out.

  • Living Open-Handed

Luke 6:38

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

How do we “get?” We give! 

  • Generosity Reflects God’s Character

James 1:17

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

We give because He first gave to us.

And there’s so much more to give than just give money.

We can give:

• A listening ear

• Godly counsel

• Patience

• Prayer

• Time

• Encouragement

• A seat at our table

2 Corinthians 8:12

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”

What you have to give is not measured or weighted to see if it’s acceptable or good enough. God looks at the willingness of the heart. 

Let’s get back to Joseph’s story in Genesis 

…Joseph isn’t finished.

He tells the steward to place his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack.

They barely leave the city before the steward catches up to them and they’re accused of stealing it.

And I couldn’t help but wonder…

Is Joseph testing them?

Years ago, they left him in a hole and walked away.

Now the question is:

Will they repeat history and abandon Benjamin? 

Or will they stand together as family?

When they were accused or stealing the cup, they passionately deny it. They even say:

If it’s found with one of us, let him die and the rest of us will all be servants.

That statement alone shows something in them has changed because they are willing to suffer together.

When the cup is found in Benjamin’s sack, they tear their clothes, which is a sign of grief, and they all return to Joseph’s house. 

Joseph explains that only Benjamin must stay for stealing the cup and the rest are free to go back home. 

And here it is.

The moment of truth.

Will they leave him?

Judah steps forward and explains to Joseph their father’s grief. He explains how losing one son nearly destroyed him. He begs Joseph to let him take Benjamin’s place.

“I pray thee… let thy servant abide instead of the lad.”

What a picture.

Judah offers himself as a substitute.

For his father’s sake.

Out of love.

His heart has surely changed! 

And can you see it?

This is a picture of Christ.

A man stepping forward.

Offering himself in place of another.

For the sake of the Father.

It really made me think that before redemption could come, their hearts had to soften.

Conviction came first.

Then humility.

Then sacrifice.

God changed their hearts before He restored their family.

That’s how He works with us too.

He convicts us.

He softens us.

Then He redeems us.

Real-Life Reflection:

Sometimes God allows a test to reveal what He has already changed in us.

Joseph was trying to reveal whether they were different men.

And maybe God does that in our lives too.

To show growth.

Journaling Prompts

• Am I giving generously, or cautiously?

• Am I connected to the Source or trying to pour from empty?

• Where might God be testing my growth?

• Would I step forward for someone else the way Judah did?

• Is there someone I need to extend generosity toward?

Maybe for you this week, generosity isn’t about money.

Maybe it’s:

• Forgiveness.

• Time.

• Compassion.

• A second chance.

• A seat at your table.

Joseph filled their sacks beyond what they deserved.

And God does the same for us.

And we can do that for others!

Week 29 of the Devotional Series

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The Study of Genesis: Post Seventeen 

***Note – We have completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 17th devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 29 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next few weeks.

Focus: Genesis 42 – 43

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Chapter 42 – “The Past Meets the Present”

Chapter 43 – “Surrender”

(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse — “And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.    -Genesis 43:14

Genesis Chapter 42

“The Past Meets the Present”

(Read Genesis Chapter 42 First) 

The last time we heard from Jacob, he was broken and grieving the supposed death of his beloved son Joseph. His other sons had deceived him, claiming Joseph was mauled by an animal. Now years have passed, and famine has settled over the land.

Jacob knows there is corn in Egypt, and he sends ten of his sons to buy food so their families can live. He keeps his youngest son, Benjamin, at home because he’s fearful of losing another son. What Jacob doesn’t realize is that God is already arranging a divine meeting where healing can happen! This reminded me that God is so good at working behind the scenes to help us even if it’s been years of hurt.  

Joseph, the brother they betrayed, is now governor over Egypt. He controls the corn. When his brothers come before him,they bow and unknowingly fulfilling the dream Joseph had so long ago. They do not recognize him, but he recognizes them immediately.

Joseph questions them and accuses them of being spies even though he knew they weren’t. This was part of his plan to get the whole family together. In their defense, they explain that they are twelve brothers: one is at home with their father, and one is dead. You know that statement had to hurt Joseph. 

Joseph insists they must prove their honesty and places them all in prison for three days.

There is something significant about those three days. Throughout Scripture, we see “three days” connected with testing, proving, and often transformation. I think of Jonah, Lazarus, and Jesus Himself rising on the third day. It is often after the third day that God reveals some kind of truth, brings clarity to a situation, or allows redemption to take place.

On the third day, Joseph offers them a way to be released from prison. He said one brother will remain imprisoned while the others return home with corn, but they must bring Benjamin back to prove that they are not spies.

In verse 21, the brothers finally confess their guilt. They remember Joseph’s anguish, how he begged for mercy, and how they refused to listen. Now, they believe the distress they’re facing is the consequence of the sin they committed. 

Maybe it happened years ago or perhaps it had just begun there in the prison, but I can hear their hearts begin to soften in their confession. Reuben reminds them that he warned them not to harm Joseph, but they wouldn’t listen. Now, they fear they are being punished for what they did.

Joseph used an interpreter so the brother’s believed he couldn’t understand them. They spoke freely amongst each other. When Joseph heard their regret and confession, it overwhelmed him, and he leaves them to weep.

Joseph returns and tells them he’s going to keep Simeon imprisoned as collateral. He sends the others home with corn and something else.… He secretly returns their money and provides food for their journey.

This is mercy!

Instead of revenge Joseph chose kindness. He allowed God to lead his actions rather than letting his emotions lead him. His mercy reminds me of the mercy God gives to us…undeserved and unexpected.

One of the brothers discovers his money was returned into his bag and they become extremely fearful. “What is this that God hath done unto us?” they ask. Notice that someone did something kind unto them and their reaction is fear..that sounds like they are carrying heavy guilt. 

When they return home and tell Jacob everything, his grief resurfaces. To him, it feels like he just keeps experiencing losses: first Joseph, now Simeon, and the threat of losing Benjamin too.

Reuben offers his own sons as a guarantee that he will bring Benjamin back home safely, but Jacob refuses. His heart is still full of fear and sorrow. He cannot bear the thought of losing Benjamin, the last living son of Rachel.

Genesis 42 shows us that God does not rush. He patiently brings out the truth, allows conviction to do its work, and offers plenty of mercy.

The famine brought the brothers to Egypt, but it was God who brought their past into the light. In their judgment, we still see grace. God is not finished with this family. He is just beginning to heal what was broken between them. 

Reflection / Journaling Questions: 

• What buried guilt or unresolved sin might God be gently bringing to the surface?

• How do you respond when kindness feels undeserved?

• Are you allowing fear to speak louder than faith, like Jacob did?

________________________________________________________________

Genesis Chapter 43

“Surrender”

(Read Genesis Chapter 43 First) 

Some time has passed. The corn is gone from Jacob (Israel’s) household, but the famine is not.

Jacob and his family find themselves right back where they started. They are in need of more food.

I can’t help but notice… they left Simeon in prison this whole time! Jacob tells his sons to return to Egypt for more food, but Judah reminds him of the condition: “The man” told them they would not see his face again unless Benjamin came back with them.

Jacob’s response is..

Why did you even tell him you had another brother?

This made me think..Have you ever looked for someone to blame when situations got tense? I’m sure we’ve all been there. 

The brothers explain they were asked directly and they had no way of knowing he would make a request like that. Judah steps forward and takes responsibility. He offers himself as surety. He says if Benjamin doesn’t return, he will bear the blame forever.

Change is happening within this family.

Jacob (Israel) finally agrees to let Benjamin go. But before they leave, he does something important.

He prepares wisely:

• Gifts from the best of the land

• Balm, honey, spices, myrrh

• Nuts and almonds

• Double money

And then he prays.

“And God Almighty give you mercy before the man…”

“If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

I can almost hear the surrender in his heart.

For years Jacob tried to protect Benjamin by holding him close. The moment he releases Benjamin, he places him fully into God’s hands.

This made me think that sometimes blessing is waiting just on the other side of surrender.

Sometimes we have to loosen our grip before God will move.

Journal Prompt:

• What am I holding onto tightly because I’m afraid?

• Is God asking me to trust Him with something I’ve tried to control?

When the brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin, Joseph immediately arranges for them to eat at his house.

Instead of relief, they feel panic.

They assume they’re being brought in to be punished over the returned money. When we carry guilt, even someone’s generosity can feel suspicious.

They felt the need to talk to someone about the situation, so they explain everything to the steward, confessing they found their money and brought it back. I love his response:

“Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks…”

And do you know what makes this statement so powerful? 

Someone outside their covenant, an Egyptian steward, recognized God’s hand in their lives.

Even people who don’t claim to know God personally can see when He is working in someone’s life and situation.

Real-Life Application:

Sometimes we assume every closed door or confusing situation is possibly God’s judgment. But what if it’s His provision? What if what feels scary is actually His grace but we just can’t see it yet. 

Joseph asks about their father. He notices his younger brother. And then he says:

“God be gracious unto thee, my son.”

The word gracious means:

• To show favor

• To extend mercy

• To grant kindness

• To give unearned blessing

I love how God used Joseph, who had many reasons to be bitter, but instead chose to speak blessings over people.

He allowed God to heal his heart. 

A Prayer We Can Pray:

“Lord, be gracious unto my children.”

“Lord, be gracious unto my family.”

“Lord, be gracious unto me.”

The next verse tells us Joseph’s “bowels did yearn” for his brother. That means his heart was overwhelmed with deep compassion. He had to rush away and weep privately in his bedroom. He composes himself and returns.

They all eat in the same room, however, they were culturally separated at different tables. The brothers are arranged in the exact order they were born. They marvel at how this ruler could know such details?

Joseph is beginning to reveal that he sees more than they think.

And what moves me most is that a meal is shared. 

In Scripture, and still today,  meals often signal a covenant, peace, reconciliation, blessing, and life. To eat together is intimate. It’s vulnerable. It’s life-giving.

Reflection Questions:

• How do I react to kindness? Does it make me feel guilty or good?

• Who could I invite to my table this week as an act of peace?

Maybe this week, you don’t just read about reconciliation.

Maybe you practice it.

Invite someone to your table. Cook a meal. Pray over your family. Release what you’ve been holding onto.

And whisper the same blessing Joseph did:

“God be gracious unto thee.”

Week 28 of the Devotional Series

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The Study of Genesis: Post Sixteen 

***Note – We have completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 16th devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 28 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next few weeks.

Focus: Genesis 41 

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Chapter 41 – “Prepared for the Famine”

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse — “And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”   Genesis 41:16

Genesis Chapter 41 – 

“Prepared for the Famine”

(Read Genesis Chapter 41 First) 

We left off in our last devotion with Joseph interpreting dreams for the king’s butler and baker while he was still in prison. His interpretations came true, and he asked the butler to remember him when he was restored to his position… but he didn’t.

Fast-forward two years.

Genesis 41 opens with Pharaoh having a dream that he knew meant something. He saw seven beautiful, healthy cows come up out of the river and graze in a meadow. Then seven skinny, sickly, almost frightening cows came up after them and began to eat the healthy ones. Pharaoh woke up, unsettled, but went back to sleep.

Then he dreamed again.

This time it was seven full, good ears of corn swallowed up by seven thin, withered ones. Now he knew that he must figure out what the dreams meant. The Bible says his spirit was troubled. So Pharaoh called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt, but none of them could interpret the dreams.

I want to pause right here and say this: it matters who you seek counsel from.

The men who “specialized” in dreams had no answers, but an insignificant prisoner who trusted God completely would soon have exactly the answers Pharaoh needed.

That’s when the butler finally remembered Joseph.

He told Pharaoh about the young Hebrew man in prison who had correctly interpreted both his dream and the baker’s. Pharaoh immediately sent for Joseph. After a shave, a bath, and a change of clothes, Joseph stood before the most powerful man in Egypt.

Pharaoh said, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.”

Joseph’s response is one of my favorite lines in Scripture:

“It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

In other words…it’s not me, it’s God. I love this response so much. I want to be quick to give God credit just like Joseph did.

Pharaoh told him the dreams, adding one detail we hadn’t heard before…even after the skinny cows ate the healthy ones, they were still just as thin.

Without hesitation, Joseph gave the interpretation:

God was showing Pharaoh what He was about to do.

Seven years of great abundance were coming… followed by seven years of severe famine. The famine would be so great that people would forget the years of plenty. God repeated the dream twice because the matter was settled and would come to pass quickly.

Then Joseph offered Pharaoh a plan. He advised him to appoint a wise and discreet man to oversee the land, collect one-fifth of the harvest during the years of plenty, and store it for the famine to come.

I couldn’t help but notice what Joseph didn’t say. He didn’t try to promote himself. He didn’t push to be hired for the position. He spoke with humility and wisdom.

But Pharaoh and his servants recognized the Spirit of God in him.

Pharaoh said there was no one as wise and discerning as Joseph. He placed his ring on Joseph’s hand, clothed him in fine linen, put a gold chain around his neck, and made him ruler over all Egypt.

Joseph was thirty years old.

During the seven years of abundance, the land produced in great measure, and Joseph faithfully stored the grain. Before the famine came, he and his wife had two sons.

He named the first Manasseh, which means, “For God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.”

And the second they named Ephraim, which means, “For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

What a testimony!

Even after betrayal, slavery, prison, and years of waiting… Joseph allowed God to heal his heart and make him fruitful again.

Then the famine came, just as God had said. It covered all the land. But Egypt had food.

And when the people became famished, Pharaoh told them, “Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.” Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain, not only to Egypt, but to the nations around them.

Because one man listened to God and prepared, millions lived.

Where there is preparation, the people flourish.

Let’s look at some Scripture on Preparation: 

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Proverbs 21:5

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

Proverbs 16:3

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Proverbs 24:3

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

Psalm 112:5

A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

Proverbs 24:27

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Lessons on Preparedness from Joseph:

1. Prepare in the “fat years,” not the famine

Genesis 41:29–36

Joseph didn’t wait for trouble to start planning.

What are our seasons of plenty?

• good health

• steady income

• strong faith

• peace in our homes

Build habits before crisis:

• savings

• prayer life

• Bible knowledge

• healthy relationships

2. Spiritual preparedness (oil in the lamp)

Pair this chapter with:

• Matthew 25:1–13 (the wise and foolish virgins)

• Amos 4:12 – “Prepare to meet thy God”

Ask yourself:

• Am I storing God’s Word in my heart?

• Do I pray only in emergencies or daily?

3. Emotional & relational preparedness

Joseph had already:

• learned forgiveness

• endured betrayal

• remained faithful in private

So when a leadership opportunity came, his character was ready.

What should we be storing up?

• patience

• humility

• integrity

• self-control

5. Prepared to help others

Joseph’s preparation helped to save Egypt, other nations, and we will soon see that it reunited his family.

Who benefits when we are prepared?

• our children

• our church

• the people God sends into our lives

God may be filling your storehouse so you can become someone else’s help in their time of need. 

Remember…“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness…” (Proverbs 21:5)

Forgotten by Man, Remembered by God

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Week 27 of the Devotional Series

The Study of Genesis: Post Fifteen

***Note – We have completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 15th devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 27 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next few weeks.

Focus: Genesis 38 – 40

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Chapter 38 – “Sin, Consequences, and Repentance”

Chapter 39 – “The Lord was With Joseph”

Chapter 40 – “The Butler and the Baker”

(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse — “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” – Hebrews 6:10

Genesis Chapter 38

“Sin, Consequences, and Repentance”

(Read Genesis Chapter 38 First) 

Genesis 38 is one of those chapters we don’t naturally gravitate toward. It’s uncomfortable, full of poor choices, broken promises, and selfishness. But we can still learn a lot of lessons from this chapter. We will see that God can still bring redemption out of human failure.

We left Joseph being sold into Egypt by his own brothers. One of those brothers was Judah. He’s the one who suggested selling Joseph instead of killing him. Around that same time, Judah walked away from his family and settled among the Canaanites. He married a Canaanite woman, started a family, and drifted even farther from the heritage he had been given. We can see how one compromise led to another. We can experience the same in our relationship with God…distance from God rarely happens all at once, it usually happens step by step.

Judah’s first son, Er, was wicked and died under God’s judgment. His second son, Onan, refused the responsibility God had designed to protect Tamar, his brother’s widow. Long before it was written into the Law, God’s heart was already clear: “If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her… that the firstborn may succeed in the name of his brother which is dead” (Deuteronomy 25:5–6).  But Onan wanted the pleasure and benefit  without the sacrifice or burden, and God took his life too. So Tamar experienced years of injustice. Judah promised her his third son, Shelah, but he never kept that promise. He let time pass, allowed her wait until his son was old enough to marry, let her grow older, and when the time came, he left her without a family or future.

Tamar’s response was bitter and sinful. She was deceiving and that is never justified. When Judah finally realized the truth, that he himself was the father of her child, his words were surprising… “She hath been more righteous than I.” She was not innocent, but he felt she was less guilty than him since he withheld what was right and allowed sin to grow in her heart because of his neglect. 

And Scripture tells us, “he knew her again no more.” It shows that Judah’s repentance was not just words said because he was embarrassed. This is the beginning of a different Judah. We will see in the chapters ahead that he’s the one who will later offer himself in Benjamin’s place, and he’s the one whose line will carry the promise forward.

Next, we read about Judah and Tamar’s twins. One hand reaches out first, and the midwife marked his finger with a scarlet thread. But the other breaks through and is born first. His name is Pharez, which means “the breach, the breakthrough.” From this broken chapter, full of sin and pain comes the family line of King David… and eventually, Jesus.

God did not excuse the sin in this chapter. But He did not abandon the people in it either. So if you have a sinful or painful situation going on in your life, God can work through it too. 

Journaling Questions

  1. Are there areas where I’ve slowly drifted instead of deliberately walked away?
  2. Have I ever chosen convenience over responsibility, even knowing better?
  3. Is there a promise, apology, or responsibility I’ve put off that God is asking me to face?
  4. What would true repentance look like for me? Not just feeling sorry, but changing direction?
  5. Where do I need to trust that God can still bring good, even from chapters I wish weren’t written?

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Genesis Chapter 39

“The Lord was With Joseph”

(Read Genesis Chapter 39 First) 

In the last chapter, Joseph’s story was paused while we studied the difficult account of his brother Judah. Now Genesis 39 brings us right back to Joseph. We left off with him being sold into Egypt and placed in the house of Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard.

One sentence stands out over and over in this chapter:

“The LORD was with Joseph.”

Because the Lord was with him, Joseph prospered. He was shown mercy. He was given favor.

This isn’t something only Joseph could experience. We can pray for the Lord to be with us too.

Verse 3 tells us something powerful. Other people could see that the Lord was with Joseph. They could see that God made everything he touched prosper. When God’s hand is on someone’s life, it doesn’t stay hidden for long.

Scripture tells us:

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him…” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

God loves to honor those who honor Him.

What stands out to me most in this chapter is Joseph’s character.

He had every reason to be bitter. He had been betrayed by his own brothers, sold like property, carried into a foreign land, and made a servant. Yet the Bible says he served.

Being a willing servant is a picture of humility and love. If we are willing to serve people faithfully, we are showing that we are willing to serve God faithfully too.

“By love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)

Scripture also tells us Joseph was “goodly and well favoured,” meaning he was handsome. That explains why Potiphar’s wife was drawn to him. When she tried repeatedly to tempt him, he refused. He spoke of trust. He spoke of loyalty. And most importantly, he said:

“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)

That is integrity.

Joseph worked hard, stayed faithful, and honored God when no one would have blamed him for giving up. Potiphar noticed and he made Joseph overseer of everything he owned. One day Potiphar’s wife grabbed Joseph by his garment. He didn’t hesitate and consider sinning. He ran. Leaving his robe behind in her hands. That alone is a lesson. Joseph knew not to tiptoe around temptation. We are called to flee from it. “Flee also youthful lusts.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Because she had his garment, she had what she needed to form a lie. She accused Joseph of trying to disgrace her.

Here is a hard truth many of us learn sooner or later:

When people cannot get you to do wrong, sometimes they will lie about you instead.

Joseph was punished for a sin he did not commit. Potiphar had him thrown into prison. But again, Scripture says: “The LORD was with Joseph.” God showed him mercy and gave him favor even in a prison cell.

That encourages me because it means we can be in situations that feel too low, too unfair, and we can even feel hopeless, but God’s favor can still reach us. “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” (Psalm 5:12)

The chapter closes with these simple words:

“And that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.”

That is my prayer.

That wherever He places me… whatever season I’m in… whatever task is in front of me…

the Lord would be with me, and make it prosper.

Journaling Questions

  1. Where has God placed me to serve right now, even if it isn’t where I hoped to be?
  2. What does integrity look like in my daily choices when no one is watching?
  3. Are there situations I need to stop entertaining and start running from?
  4. Do others see evidence of God’s presence in how I live and work?

“The LORD was with Joseph.”
May that be true of us too.

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Genesis Chapter 40

“The Butler and the Baker”

(Read Genesis Chapter 40 First)

While Joseph is in prison, God is still using him.

One day Pharaoh’s chief butler and chief baker are thrown into the same prison. Joseph, who has already been made overseer, is serving them and looking after them. One morning he notices something…they look sad.

He asked them why they were sad and they tell him they both had dreams, but there’s no one to interpret them.

And I love Joseph’s response. “Do not interpretations belong to God?” In other words: I can’t do this on my own… but I know the One who can. Joseph doesn’t take credit, but instead he lifts God’s name first.

The butler tells his dream. A vine with three branches is in front of him, budding and producing grapes. He pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup. God gives Joseph the interpretation clearly and confidently:

In three days, you’ll get your job back.

Then Joseph tells the butler, “But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.”

The baker hears the good news and wants his dream interpreted too. But this time the truth is hard. He dreamed of three baskets upon his head and birds eating from them. And Joseph doesn’t soften it. He tells him plainly…

In three days, you will be hung and the birds will eat your flesh.

And three days later, on Pharaoh’s birthday, everything happens exactly as God revealed to Joseph. The butler is restored and the baker is executed. Joseph was right. God was faithful. But the butler forgot Joseph. 

Sometimes God will use you and the people you helped will still forget you.

Sometimes you’ll be faithful and not given any credit. 

Sometimes you’ll do everything right and still stay in the ‘prison’ longer than you should.

But we can learn this from Joseph…

Your calling is not dependent on people giving you credit. 

Your story doesn’t have to be read or noticed for God to be using it. 

God remembered Joseph, even when the butler didn’t. 

Journaling Questions:

1. Where in my life do I feel forgotten or overlooked right now?

2. Am I still serving others well even when life feels unfair?

3. Do I give God credit first or only when things are going well?

4. Is there a hard truth God is asking me to speak in love?

5. What would it look like to trust God with my timing instead of trying to force my own?