Word in Five

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...

In the second part of this chapter we see the contrast between Jacob and Esau. Esau looked impressive, but what he produces ends up being used through the Bible to picture people going against God and facing his judgment. But even there we can see grace, because the prophet Amos talked about their being forgiveness for Edomites. Let us hear God's voice and live, trusting in Jesus day by day.

In the this chapter we see a man moving away from the LORD and yet seeming to be blessed. We can be tempted to envy the wicked, but the name Esau made for himself was Edom which would come to nothing. Jacob remained where God wanted him to be, in the land of promise, trusting and following the LORD and through his family, God brought Jesus.

In the second half of this chapter we read some sad things, but we continue to see God's kindness in action. His kindness to Rachel despite the sadness. One day we will be able to fully see just how kind God has been to us. We see how we need to shelter under Jesus' blood because he sees all that we do and there will be a day of justice. We see his kindness to Isaac who had stuttered and s...

In the first part of this chapter one word comes to mind and that is 'grace'. The kindness which God lavishes upon us which we do not deserve. We see it given to Jacob. God will do what he always planned to in Jesus Christ - to fill his good earth will people who will trust him, follow him and enjoy him forever.

In the second part of this dark chapter we see people doing bad things in God's name and not acting like the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus shed his own blood to bring forgiveness and his resurrection on the third day he brings life. Simeon and Levi were right to be angry and for there desire for justice, but they needed to do in God's way. Thank God that he builds his church relentlessly even i...

There is such sadness in the broken world in which we live. We have a compassionate God who through his Son Jesus transformed godless, wicked societies to bring equaility and concern for the weak - things we take for granted. We have a God who is concerned for the widow, orphan and oppressed.

God does what he says. Jacob is brought safely back to the promised land of Canaan where he finds shelter and builds an altar. Like Jacob, we can shelter in Jesus and his life and death and resurrection for us, knowing he will bring us safely to the new creation.

Don't trouble your troubles in your mind - bring them to the LORD in prayer. God is so kind to us and we can come boldly before him in the name of Jesus.

We need to learn to wrestle in prayer like Jacob and like Jesus. We need more than being active and well planned. Sometimes we only learn to really pray when we're given some kind of limp or scar. How remarkable that the One who wrestled with Jacob, one day wrestled in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before he laid down his life for us! This is our God - may we trust him.

Beware about fearing the worst and troubling our own thoughts. It's good to plan, prepare and do what we can in a situation - that's spiritual - but it's never enough. We need the LORD's help and Jacob gives us a great example of what prayer looks like - taking hold of God's promises and bringing our fears to him.