Pastor's Blog (Page 10)

In our journey through Genesis, have you noticed how frequently God bypassed the 1st-born?Seth was chosen… instead of Cain.Isaac… instead of Ishmael.Jacob…. instead of Esau.Joseph… instead of Reuben.Ephraim… instead of Manasseh. The pattern continues beyond Genesis: Moses, Gideon, David, Solomon… Why would God bypass the first-born so often, when He very clearly defends…

If Jacob was anything, he was intentional. Earlier in life he very intentionally wrangled his way for the birthright and his father’s deathbed blessing (Gen 25:31, ff.; 27:1-29). Then there was his determined, seven-year quest to marry Rachel (29:15-20); the meticulously executed plan to increase his spotted and speckled flocks (30:32, ff.), and the covertly…

A year ago when I began studying in earnest for our journey through the book of Genesis, I came across an author who said Genesis proclaims that “All of life is repentance.” * I have been pondering that statement and evaluating it ever since. Is it true? Were the people of Genesis genuinely repentant? Did they recognize and own their actions before Holy God as morally…

Cultivate the habit of considering what has been given rather than what has been withheld…. We can promote a cheerful heart by dwelling on the bright things of our lot, by counting up the mercies which are left, rather than dwelling on what we have lost. To trust when the light has burned to its socket in the house of life, and the heart is as lonely as Job’s…

Have you ever wondered why God determined that our Savior should descend from Judah rather than from Joseph? Consider how brilliantly Joseph’s star shines, no matter how bitterly the archers attacked him and shot at him and harassed him (Gen. 49:23). Time and again he responded with grace. In spite of mistreatment and injustice, he never returned evil for evil or sought…

“Do this and you will live, for I fear God.” Joseph had imprisoned his 10 brothers, accusing them of being spies. To prove they weren’t, one brother was to fetch Benjamin from their father, while the other brothers remained confined. But after 3 days in prison he came to them and said, “Look, I understand your families are back in Canaan starving from the famine.…