Pastor’s Blog (Page 10)

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.…

Is it just me or do these statements about Joseph strongly parallel and foreshadow Him who was to come? Joseph was hated by his brothers. (cf. Luke 19:14; Acts 3:14) Joseph’s brothers sold him for 20 pieces of silver. (cf. Mt 26:15) Joseph went down to Egypt. (cf. Matt 2:13) Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. (cf. Luke 3:23) The land of…

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: He wept as he overheard his brothers acknowledging their guilt from 22 years prior when they sold him into slavery. (Gen 42:24) He wept when he saw his younger brother Benjamin for the first time in 22 years. (43:30) He wept very loudly when he…