With the theme of biblical redemptive history in mind, I recently preached a series of messages from the book Genesis. My intent was not to do a thorough study through the book but to help my congregation see that God’s redemptive plan started as far bac... Read More »

Gen. 49:29-50:26 Locate the passage The book of Genesis closes with Egyptian funerals for two Hebrew Patriarchs. Both will be permanently buried outside of Egypt. This pericope closes the book and finishes with the family of Israel (Jacob) completely committed... Read More »

Gen. 49:1-28 Locate the passage As Joseph faced the end of his life, he gathered his sons to him and delivered a prophetic oracle related to their future. The “blessings” did not always contain positive declarations, as we tend to understand blessing today... Read More »

Gen. 47:27-48:22 Locate the passage As great as it must have been for Joseph to have all of his family in Egypt with him, the final 17 years of Jacob’s life must have gone by quickly for him. The narrator fast-forwards through those final years of Jacob’s ... Read More »

Gen. 46:31-47:26 Locate the passage As Joseph’s family arrived in Egypt, he initiated a meeting with Pharaoh. He instructed them on the official protocol when addressing the king. This pericope is rich in detail. Whereas only one verse (47:11) would have suf... Read More »

Gen. 45:16 – 46:30 Locate the passage The initial work of reconciliation between Joseph and his brother has occurred and now Joseph has instructed them to bring their father and their families to live in Egypt. Soon, word began to travel throughout Phara... Read More »

Gen. 45:1-15 Locate the passage As Joseph witnessed his brothers begin to take responsibility for their previous mistreatment of him and demonstrate maturity in their concern for Benjamin, he could no longer constrain himself. He could not endure the ruse one ... Read More »

Gen. 43:1-44:34 Locate the passage After an unspecified amount of time, the grain that the brothers had purchased from Egypt was depleted. However, the narrator informs the reader that the famine was still severe on the land. Now, the tension of the text is Ja... Read More »

Gen. 42:1-38 Locate the passage In this passage, Joseph’s brothers, with a little help from Joseph, are finally forced to confront their sin in selling their brother into slavery. For 13 years, they lived with their unconfessed and unaddressed sin. How God u... Read More »

Gen. 39:1-23 Locate the passage After a brief interlude following Judah’s sexual mispursuits, this passage resumes the Joseph cycle. The interlude shows that after Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph into slavery, they went on about their lives, perhaps not even... Read More »

Gen. 33:1-20 Locate the passage After his night alone wrestling with God, Jacob awoke to the same reality—Esau was coming. Only now, he faced his brother no longer constrained by his own strategies. Moreover, even as Jacob’s heart was changed, so also was ... Read More »

Gen. 41:1-57 Locate the passage To this point in Joseph’s life, he has experienced his own dreams and also interpreted the dreams of the Cupbearer and Baker for Pharaoh. At this point in the story, his dream interpretations will be put to the ultimate test. ... Read More »