Reading: Genesis 50:1-6 and 15-26. Genesis records the great struggle between sin and grace; death and life. Will sin and death prevail? Or will grace and life be victorious? Cain kills Abel, leaves his parents and goes “out from the presence of the Lord” (Gen 4:16). Adam and Eve grieve; one son is physically dead,… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 50
Reading: Genesis 49:1,2, 8-12 and 28. Jacob blesses his 12 sons, one by one; they are under God’s special care, unlike all other nations. More details are revealed about God’s covenant blessings: for example, Canaan will be pleasant, fertile and rich in food (vs 11, 20). Israel will be preserved against enemies (vs 8, 17).… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 49
Reading: Genesis 48:1-16 Jacob gives Manasseh and Ephraim (Joseph’s sons) God’s covenant blessings. Joseph is the second most powerful person in Egypt; his wife is daughter of an Egyptian priest; his sons are Egyptian princes; their Egyptian education is excellent. From a human viewpoint Joseph’s two sons have a very secure future and do not… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 48
Reading: Genesis 47:1-12 and 27-31 Jacob’s family arrives in Egypt and are allowed to live in Goshen, which is well away from the Egyptians. God separates the church from the ungodly Egyptians and their culture to prevent dangerous mixing of the people. The family must remain strangers in Egypt and free to serve God and… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 47
Reading: Genesis 46 Jacob realises he must go to Egypt due to the famine, but it is hard to leave the Promised Land. The land is evidence of God’s blessings and His faithfulness to all His covenant promises. Must Jacob now leave the inheritance? The Lord understands Jacob’s struggle and assures him in a vision:… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 46
Reading: Genesis 45:1-11 Joseph has seen enough. His brothers have repented from their sins. They have genuine sorrow and are determined to do what is right. Now is the moment for truth, and what a dramatic moment it is. He orders all Egyptians out of the room, weeps aloud and reveals himself as their brother… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 45
Reading: Genesis 44:1-5 and 18-33 Joseph is not completely satisfied that the brothers have repented and that there is true love. So he tests them further. When the brothers go home he has his royal cup placed in Benjamin’s sack and has him seized. This brings a serious crisis for the brothers. They had promised… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 44
Reading: Genesis 43:1-14 and 24-31. Jacob sends his sons to Egypt, but does not want Benjamin to go. Judah convinces Jacob that Benjamin must accompany the brothers. Judah promises to be surety for Benjamin and bear the blame forever if something goes wrong (vs 9). How Judah has changed. Previously he too showed hatred to… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 43
Reading: Genesis 42:1-23 and 29. We saw previously that the church (Jacob’s family) is threatened. Enemies threaten them from the outside. Internally the church is filled with hatred, division and deception. The very existence of the church is in danger. Jacob does not act, therefore God must intervene. He remains faithful to His covenant promises.… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 42
Reading: Genesis 41:14-49 In Genesis 40 Joseph interprets the baker and butler’s dreams. Two years later Pharaoh has two dreams. Joseph tells Pharaoh and his court there will be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Joseph also wisely adds: “let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man” to reserve enough food… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 41
Reading: Genesis 40 In the darkness of a prison various threads from different lives come together to form an amazing tapestry, revealing to our human eyes God’s wonderful providence. First God leads events so that Joseph, a man from a family in another country, is put into this Egyptian jail. Second, the palace butler and… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 40
Reading: Genesis 39 This chapter describes the rise and fall of Joseph. By the Lord’s blessing Jacob is made overseer of Potiphar’s house. However, through sinful actions of Potiphar’s wife Joseph lands in jail. But there the same thing happens. Through the Lord’s mercy Joseph becomes the jail’s manager. Clearly, God has given impressive management… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 39
Reading: Genesis 38 Tamar is an ancestor Jesus Christ; her name appears His genealogy in Matthew 1. How does this heathen women get such honour? This is what happened: Judah departs from his brothers, visits a heathen family and marries one of the family’s girls named Shua. This triggers a very sinful and disgraceful chain… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 38
Reading: Genesis 37:1-10 and 23-28 The main thought in this chapter is that God sent Joseph to Egypt so that later he would save his family. In Genesis 36 Moses described the genealogy of Esau, in 37 he returns to the history of Israel. Jacob’s sons were jealous of their younger brother Joseph because… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 37
Reading: Genesis 36:1-8 Genesis 35:29 says that Esau and Jacob buried Isaac. It seems the brothers have peace. Esau decides to move to “a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob” (vs 6). This was guided by the secret providence of God. Esau did not want to serve the Lord. Furthermore God has… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 36
Reading: Genesis 35:1-15 God has chosen Jacob’s family to build his church. Jacob’s family does not only receive God’s blessings; his family must also obey God and struggle to be a holy family. In the previous chapter we learned that Jacob’s family have fallen from holiness. They live too close to the people of Shechem;… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 35
Reading: Genesis 34 In chapter 33 we saw that the church had settled in the Promised Land. But before long it was attacked, from inside and outside. First Dinah seeks out the company of unbelievers and is violated by a young man. This is followed by an invitation for intermarriage between Jacob’s sons and the… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 34
Reading: Genesis 33 Jacob has learned humility and dependence. He still has some fear for Esau who before had decided to kill Jacob. But Jacob knows he should make peace with his brother. In faith he goes to meet him. He is very humble to Esau and is reconciled with him. Why is Esau kind… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 33
Reading: Genesis 32:1-12 and 22-32 Jacob’s trip to Canaan is very dramatic. He meets angels, he fears Esau who is coming; Jacob prays fervently, wrestles with God and becomes lame. What is happening? Jacob is sinful. Instead of trusting the Lord, he always takes control of his own life, even using deception. Instead of… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 32
Reading: Genesis 31:1-3, 17-24. Jacob’s family (the church at that time) has grown. But it faces dangers. Jacob was in Padan Aran for over 14 years and is very wealthy. It is appealing to stay. But living in a heathen environment is dangerous; Laban’s family, including Rachel, serve idols (vs 30). Soon the church will… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 31
