Genesis: Beginning, part of the middle, and a blurry view of the End

Genesis 50  — 15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what [...]

Shards

He said God looks into this mirror- He is love, and His reflection, the image of his love, is in this mirror. Imagine that God has shattered this mirror now- it’s in billions of little bits, each little shard showing a small size view of the whole- the image of God’s love. And He puts that little shard in each person- each act of love you experience from somebody is a shard- a piece of God’s love for you.

Abel Wasn’t the First Shepherd

Genesis 48 — 11 Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.” — 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said,    “May the God before whom my fathers 
   Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, 
the God who has been my shepherd [...]

Through the Generations

Genesis 47: — 23 Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. 24 But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for [...]

Again? and Again? and Again…

Genesis 46 — 1 So Israel set out with all that was his,  . . .   2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied.  3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to [...]

A Campfire in a Rainstorm

Genesis 45 — 1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about [...]

The Last Word

  Genesis 44 — I must confess that the last several chapters- this story of Joseph playing cat and mouse with his siblings is rather torturous.  Is this Joseph playing a somewhat mean-spirited game with his brothers?  Why does Joseph draw this out so long?  Especially given the age of his father, who he hasn’t [...]

Back Up a Little Bit…

On the surface, these stories appear to be about Joseph, or about his brothers, or about Jacob. But really, this whole book, and every story in it, is about God the Father, the Creator, the Promiser, the LIFE lover, and Busted-Stuff-Repairer. Sometimes, you just have to back up a little bit to see it.

Slow Hand…

Would You Choose the Famine?

Genesis 41: — 1 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: — 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere. — Genesis.  In the beginning.  Genesis is all about beginnings- some good, some terrible.  One of the beginnings that Genesis confronts [...]