Word in Five

This chapter shows God's kindness in the most amazing way. We won't live trouble free lives following Jesus, but one day we will have a trouble free life when we see Jesus face to face. He was willing to face the most troubled life and death to rescue us and all of his creation from the curse. How kind God was to Rachel in honouring her name. He honours our names and will do so publicly. L...

These verses teach us how God is able to keep his people and provide for them even when it seems they will be crushed. We can trust him in church life to go on building whatever comes our way. Jacob was old and had lived a tough life, but God really used him in those last 17 years in Egypt. We might think we can't be used now - our useful days are in the past - but God can use us now in wonder...

The LORD keeps his promises. He kept his people, providing for them, building his church in the middle of a famine. Jacob blessed the Pharaoh - may our churches be a blessing throughout our communities as we lift up the name of Jesus. We can be confident of Jesus' victory and that he will do everything he has said.

We can only know God through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus the Lamb of God. Jacob knew that and showed it. How kind God is. He reassures us when he calls us to step out in faith. We can trust him to build his church. He brings his perfect purposes out of the mess of everyday life. Praise him!

Don't quarrel on the way! Joseph knew what they needed to here! Thank God that he knows us and is able to speak into our lives in such a relevant way. Jacob was down and defeated. Now he is full of hope because Joseph lives. May we remember Jesus Christ raised from that dead and have that living hope!

Joseph can contain himself no longer and he has this close reunion with his brothers. How can he forgive them? Because he sees their hearts and he sees that it was God's plan that he should be in Egypt. Joseph has been given great knowledge which he uses to bless others. May we not be hoarders of blessing, but use it to bless others. Jesus was put to death by wicked men, but they only did what...

In this episode we see one of the most Jesus-like actions in the Bible. Judah is willing to become a slave so that his brother can go free. The LORD used tragedy in Judah's life so that he could sympathise with his father potentially losing two sons. We have a Saviour who sympathises with us in all our weakness. We have a Saviour who became sin for us so that we can be free from guilt alive to...

We might be tempted to think that Joseph is being devious and harsh. But we need to remember how kind he has been to his brothers in feeding them, setting a meal before them and giving them back their silver. He continues to be kind to them in helping them to see their guilt so that they can be truly made right with God. Thank God that in Jesus he is committed to finishing the good work he has beg...

We need to beware of thinking the worst possible outcome - doomsday thinking - it's showing a lack of faith in God Almighty. In the case of the brothers, it was partly driven by guilty consciences. The chapter ends with the brothers all eating together freely. Jesus brings his people into the family of God - let's maintain the unity he gives.

In this episode we see Jacob committing his family into the hands of God Almighty. There is nothing better to do. It's what Jesus did throughout his life on earth and especially in his death. Let's walk like him as people of integrity who do what we say we are going to do.

May we be more like Jesus then Reuben. Jesus who doesn't say "I told you so", but "arrest me, let these others go". It might seem like everything is against us, but remember the truth. Our God is for us so who can really be against us?

Our God wants to bring about a complete change in us so that we turn from our sin and hate it. Sometimes the way he does that might seem severe, but we need to remember his goodness towards us. If we doubt it, remember he did not spare his Son, but give him up for us.

In these verses we see that as Proverbs teaches, we sometimes need the faithful wounds of a friend. Joseph wants to bring about true reconciliation and a change of heart in his brothers. His actions are triggered by him remembering his dreams and show the same wisdom of God as when he listened to Pharaoh's dreams. Jesus wants to bring about changed hearts in us and true, complete reconcilation...

These verses show us that God does what he says and he blesses all the peoples of the earth through Jesus who truly is the Saviour of the world. May we have confidence in him and his word. And may we remember him and serve him well.

Joseph has been made ruler over 3 different houses in Egypt. How will he get on as ruler of Egypt? Pharaoh changes his name. Will Joseph remember who he is? Who his God is? Like Joseph, Jesus was humiliated before being lifted up to the highest position. One day every knee will bow before Jesus.

In this chapter Joseph gets tested straight away with big praise from Pharaoh that could have gone to his head. But Joseph gives all the praise to God. The God who has given Joseph everything he has needed to serve him in Egypt. God shows Pharaoh that he is not overall in charge of Egypt - God is. We can be encouraged that our God rules over everything now, through Jesus our King who finished the...

Joseph was forgotten for 2 years - but he wasn't forgotten by God. He was exactly where God wanted him to be. God uses even our big disappointments for good. We see this in the life of Jesus who experienced the great disappointment of betrayal - but it was for the good of saving the world!

Joseph isn't just' existing' in prison. He still has a heart for people because he is confident that God is good and he does good. He witnesses for God. The 'third day' features in the dreams - as it often does in the Bible - preparing us for the greatest 'third day' ever when Jesus rose from the dead.

There is a cost to following Jesus. Joseph would rather rot in an Egyptian prison than sin against God. Yet even in prison, he acts with integrity and works hard because he knows God is good. Jesus was falsely accused and viciously tempted by Satan, yet he said 'no' to sin and willingly paid the price for our sin. May we keep going whatever the cost as we fix our eyes on Jesus.

Joseph believes that the God who is King is a good God and does good. Therefore he serves well as a slave. What a challenge and encouragement that is to us to work hard with integrity even in the jobs we don't like doing. Joseph showed gratitude and it helped him to say 'no' to sin. He saw sin for what it is. May we have such an attitude, remembering our deep gratitude to Jesus who bor...

What should we think about Tamar? The Bible seems to want us to be sympathetic towards her and to see her as someone who acted quickly, shrewdly and wisely. She shows greater concern about Jesus the Messiah even though she is an 'outsider' from Canaan than her father-in-law Judah does. Her witness seems to be a turning point in Judah's life as we will see in the ongoing story of Joseph...

Another grim and dark chapter. What is God doing? We often ask that question so it's good that we have these Bible stories showing how God works out his plan and purpose through broken and dysfunctional families. We don't need to despair. And there's grace for Judah too! Jesus is willing and able to save completely all who trust in him.

Wow! Joseph brutally slave. His brother Judah doesn't come over as very kind even though he ends up 'saving' Joseph. Reuben is weak despite being the older brother. Jacob is broken hearted. What a dark chapter! But there's a 'meanwhile' at the end so there is hope. In fact, Joseph is exactly where the Lord needs him to be! Jesus was sold, let down by a weak Roman governor,...

This part of the chapter shows the evil that lurks in the human heart - let's not allow bitterness and anger to fester. We need to take these powerful emotions to the only one who can handle them - our Lord. Remember Jesus who willingly and publicly went to Jerusalem knowing he would be betrayed and handed over to be crucified for us.

In this chapter we see Jacob has picked up bad habits from his parents about showing favouritism. We teach by our example so we need to take great care. We need to be slow in criticising Joseph when the Bible doesn't. God was kind in giving Joseph the dreams - how he would need to cling to that vision in the coming days. How we need to remember that every knee will bow before Jesus - so keep g...