The Perspective of Joseph

I remember exactly the first time I ever heard someone teach from Genesis 39 – the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. I was in Junior High Youth Group and it changed my perspective on the Bible significantly at that time. I remember thinking – “Whoah. There is stuff like THIS in the Bible? Maybe […]

Divine Wounding

It was one of those mornings where I read a passage and thought “I really want to understand this.” I prayed for understanding and dug in. The story of Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32:22-32 seems so bizarre and out of place, that is until you dig into it, of course. For context, Jacob […]

The first counseling session – Gen 4

The story of Cain murdering Abel is very widely known, but perhaps what came before it is not so widely known. They both bring offerings to the Lord, and for whatever reasons, the Lord honors Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. At first glance one might think that it’s because Abel’s offering was from the best […]

New Year, New Bible, New Reading Plan – Same Truth!

I’m going to read thru the Bible again this year…pretty sure this is my 5th consecutive year and I have every intention on continuing. I’m also (somewhat publicly for the 6 people who will read this) going to try to move to blogging (somewhat) daily thoughts from it. Thanks to my mom for my sweet new ESV […]

Jacob | Weasel

OK. Done with Job…now back to Genesis. We are now well into Abraham’s story, his calling by God to create a nation…eventually from which the Messiah will come. Abraham had Isaac and Isaac had Jacob and Esau. Esau was born first, followed by Jacob who came out all hairy & red faced grabbing his brother’s […]

God is…

Happy New Year! Here we go again – Genesis Chapter 1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.” A few things: The word “created” is “bara” which means “created from NOTHING” – the word “asah” is not used which means “to fashion or shape, make something suitable.” (Driscoll: Doctrines pg 82). […]

A Change of Heart

Chronological Reading: Gen 43-45 The story of Joseph is pretty amazing. He was basically hated by his brothers and left for dead in a hole, when brother Judah thought it was an even better idea to sell him as a slave to folks on their way to Egypt. (Gen 37:26-27) The thing is that in Egypt, Joseph proves himself worthy […]

the old double cross

Chrono read: Gen 25-28 So, Jacob. For 25:26 my ESV study note says this: The name “Jacob” (cf. esv footnote) not only resembles the Hebrew term for “heel” (‘aqeb) but also has the connotation of “deceiver.” To grasp someone by the heel was apparently a figure of speech meaning “to deceive.” The motif of deception […]

Modeling Obedience and Worship

OK folks, we are well into Genesis – today was Genesis 22-24. So much good stuff in here! I almost didn’t know what to write about, but I’m going to write about the part that hit me the hardest. The part about Abraham’s servant and how he went to secure a wife for Issac – […]

Melchizedek

Yes, you heard me. I did a quick Google search for him and this image popped up that seemed to capture some of his “mystique.” I’m in Genesis 14 and suddenly Melchizedek appears to Abram and blesses him and then POOF! he is gone — 17After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings […]