This morning, while reading Genesis 50, we learn that Jacob has died. Joseph threw himself on him and wept and kissed him. He tells the physicians to embalm him, a process that takes 40 days. Then we read the Egyptians mourned Jacob for 70 days. That stopped me in my tracks. In Genesis 46, we…
In reading Genesis 49, Jacob is on his deathbed. He delivers a prophetic message to his descendants and gives them instructions for burial. The message in verse 31 hit me this morning. ‘31There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried. There Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, are buried. And there I buried Leah. ‘Genesis 49:31…
This morning, I am studying Genesis 46 and Acts 22. In Genesis 46:2, God spoke to Jacob, and Jacob responded, “Here I am.” Then in Acts 22:7-8, God speaks to Paul. They both received instructions from God; they listened, trusted, and obeyed. ‘2And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob!…
Reading Genesis 45 this morning. Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. He broke down and cried as he told them. They were speechless, dumbfounded. Joseph had to tell them again; they were shocked. ‘4 “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your…
A few things stood out to me this morning, reading Acts 20. He’s talking to the Ephesian elders; it’s his farewell address. He talks about not shrinking back from telling them what they needed to hear, about his focused message. He tells them to be on guard, for themselves and God’s people. I had to…
Pharaoh had 2 disturbing dreams in Genesis 41, and none of his magicians or wise men could interpret them. The chief cupbearer knows a guy, and Pharaoh sends for Joseph. Pharaoh tells Jacob, I heard you can interpret dreams. Jacob, in verse 16, says, “It’s beyond my power to do this, but God can tell…
This morning, while I was reading Acts 18, verses 9 and 10 hit me pretty hard. Paul was in Corinth, and he’s already been beaten and stoned. Now, more people are opposing him; he must have felt uneasy. ‘9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak…
The mob strikes again, chasing Paul all over the place in Acts 17. Paul and Silas wind up in Berea, and the Bereans set a great example in verse 11. ‘11Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see…
In Acts 16, we learn that Timothy’s mom was a Jewish believer and his dad was a Greek. Timothy is circumcised before he goes with Paul. I wondered about that, since the previous chapter was pretty clear on those requirements. My study Bible and BibleRef state that Paul believed Timothy would play a major role…
In Genesis 35, God tells Jacob get ready to move to Bethel to settle. In verse 2, Jacob told everyone in his household, “Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothes. He takes the idols and earrings, buries them under a tree, and moves on out of the area….