THE DREAMER GIVES GOD THE GLORY Joseph had thoughtlessly shared his dreams with his older brothers, predicting how they would one day bow down to him. In their jealousy, they sold him into slavery. Yet after years in slavery and prison, Joseph had changed. He was humbled, giving God all the glory for any power
WHICH IS HARDER TO BELIEVE? Jesus affirmed two miraculous events in one verse. First, what many call fable, Jesus treated as fact. Jesus not only affirmed the Jonah story in Scripture, but saw it as a Messianic sign. Second, He prophesies His own death and resurrection. Modern man may discount the stories of the Bible
STAYING NEAR THE TOWER OF THE FLOCK Jacob, whom God had named Israel, finally found a place to pitch his tent. The place was called “Migdal-eder,” which means “Tower of the Flock.” It described a hill with a tower where the shepherds could watch over their sheep. Migdal Eder was located between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
A NEW NAME AND A NEW IDENTITY Jacob got a new name after wrestling all night with God. The name “Jacob” means “grasping the heel” or “pulling the leg.” It was given to him because he was born grasping his twin brother Esau’s heel at birth. Perhaps we get the cliche, “you’re pulling my leg,”
WHO GETS YOUR PRIORITY LOVE? This statement from Jesus to His disciples is very disconcerting, until you understand it’s significance. Jesus is claiming the priority love that belongs to God alone. He is not saying you cannot love your family and be His follower too. No, far from it. He is saying that we must
THE LORD SEES AND HEARS AND RISES UP TO RESCUE We tend to turn our eyes away from the helpless, fearing they may ask us for help. We cover our ears to the groans of the poor, hoping they will knock on someone else’s door. Yet, the Lord sees and hears them. He does not
SEEING THROUGH GOD’S EYES When Jesus looks at us, what does He see? He sees a world of people who are “confused and helpless.” What is His response? He has “compassion” for us because we are “like sheep without a shepherd.” Do you see what Jesus sees? Have you ever asked the Lord to
BIBLE HISTORY AND CURRENT EVENTS Isaac and Ishmael buried their father, Abraham, in the same tomb he had bought to bury Sarah. These two sons became two great peoples. The Jewish nation came from Isaac and the Arab nations from Ishmael. They stood united at their father’s funeral, but enmity has existed between them until
FINDING A WIFE FOR THE FATHER’S SON Abraham instructed his most faithful servant to go to his homeland and find a wife for Isaac, his son. In this narrative a picture of God the Father sending the Spirit to the Bride of Christ, which is the Church, might be seen. Like the Spirit, the servant
THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS God told Abraham to sacrifice his son on a mountain in the land of Moriah. Early the next morning, Abraham took his son Isaac and his servants and headed out. As they approached Mt. Moriah, Abraham told his servants to stay behind and taking the wood from their donkeys, he