Pastor's Blog (Page 18)

“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.…

Is it just me or do these statements about Joseph strongly parallel and foreshadow Him who was to come? Is Joseph a symbol of Someone future and distant? Is he an example prepared and evidently designed by God to prefigure our Lord? Did God place in Joseph an anticipation of Christ? Whether or not Joseph fits the precise definition of a type of Christ, I am stirred the…

They say real men don’t cry. But I don’t think I’ve ever met a more real man than Joseph, who was certainly not ashamed to weep: Was he just an emotional wreck of a man? Or do we insufficiently comprehend the crushing weight of his brothers’ betrayal? the sheer terror of having been trafficked into slavery? the monumental grief and sadness of “losing” his father? To say…

When my ship comes in… Last Sunday we explored the lives of two biblical heroes whose ship had most certainly come in: Mary, mother of Jesus, and Joseph, son of Jacob—two model young people who were suddenly thrust into greatness. Their stellar character and integrity had been noted by God and He was pleased to favor them with choice roles in His story. And there are many…

She was pretty, smart, and confident. So she started out with the winsome approach: smiling, dressing attractively, pleasantly perfumed, making intentional eye contact, speaking admiringly, flirting innocently… She aimed to have Joseph. And Potiphar’s wife was used to getting what she wanted.  But it wasn’t working. So she upped the ante: dressed seductively, gazed…

Some say the intensity of a Hurricane Ian is God’s judgment upon a sinful people. In fact, the Bible states clearly that God did bring judgment on wicked humanity at the Flood and also upon Sodom and Gomorrah. That He brought the storm against Jonah (Jonah 1). And that at certain times He has called for the locust, famine, and drought (Amos 7:1; 2 Kings 8:1;…