Category: Bible & Theology
Cover to Cover Reading: Genesis 44:1-47:12 Focus: Genesis 45:3-11 The blessing of hindsight is one I’m sure we wish we could replace with foresight. It’s all fine and well to look back and see how it all fits together, but to go through all the pain and struggles during the journey is not something many of us enjoy—after all, it’s hard! Yet, I’ve come to realise, where does faith come into play? Where does character development come into play? Where does the journey come into play if we know how things are going to turn out? The story of Joseph…
Cover to Cover Reading: Genesis 42:1-43:34 Focus: Genesis 42:1-9 You’ve been betrayed, you’ve been burnt, but you move on in life and you start a new life with the past behind you. But then, somewhere down the line, the past catches up… often at the most inconvenient times and you have to deal with it in the face of your new environment with all your friends, who are at a loss as to what is happening and what they can do to help. You find yourself stuck between the past and your glittering future, which is slowly slipping out of…
Cover to Cover Reading: Genesis 39:1-41:57 Focus: Genesis 39:2-6, 20-23 There is an ancient Greek myth about a king who wished that everything he touched turned to gold. The story of King Midas is often told with the moral that selfishness, greed and prosperity does not always bring happiness. However, the story of Joseph is one story of a golden touch used selflessly and generously for the benefit of others. It is no surprise to see the progression in Joseph’s life as he eventually became the second-in-command of Egypt.
Cover to Cover Reading: Genesis 35:16-38:30 Focus: Genesis 38:1-26 The final chapters of Genesis focus upon the story of Joseph and the preservation of the growing tribes of Israel. One chapter that is often missed in the Joseph story, as it is not about Joseph himself, is the story of his elder brother, Judah. This particular event in Judah’s history is told after our introduction to the dreamer and betrayal into slavery by his brothers, in some ways, it seems a bit odd to include this story. However, the overall story is not about Joseph so much as it is…
Cover to Cover Reading: Genesis 32:1-35:15 Focus: Genesis 32:1-12 There is hope! For all of us siblings who grew up fighting and arguing, there is hope! What would seem one of the most difficult situations to reconcile, we find that age and maturity changes things. The story of Jacob and Esau is one that certainly shows that there is opportunity for reconciliation. Even after Jacob deceived Esau into selling his birthright, then to go and steal Esau’s blessing… you’d think they’d be a bloody feud breakout when the two brothers met once again. Instead, we find a joyful, maybe a…
