Genesis
The Servant Closes the Deal for Isaac’s Wife.
We are introduced to Rebekah’s brother Laban who on the surface was willing to pay lip service to God (v. 31) but without any real interest in spiritual things. When he heard about the gifts that Rebekah had received he became very interested and ran out to see the servant (vv. 29-30). Later …
Jacob Tricks Isaac In To Blessing Him
In today’s passage, all participants were at fault: 1. Isaac knew that it was God’s plan for the elder Esau to serve the younger Jacob, but he chose to ignore it. Esau was his favorite son and he intended to give him his blessing …
Joseph Tests His Brothers With a Silver Cup
Joseph had still another test for his brothers. He had his servant fill up their sacks with grain and again put their money back in the sacks (v. 1). Then he had him put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack (v. 2). The next morning the eleven men left to return to their father with the grain (v. 3) …
Pharaoh’s Dream
Two years had gone by, and Joseph was still in prison (v. 1). Then one day Pharaoh had two dreams that caused him great distress (vv. 2-7). He dreamed that he was standing by the Nile River, and he saw seven fat healthy cows coming up out of the water (vv. 1-2). They ate grass in a field. Then …
Jacob Runs Away to Laban’s House
When Esau returned home and discovered his expected blessing had been given to Jacob, he was furious. Jacob had twice deceived Esau, by taking his birthright (Gen. 25:27-34) and now by taking his blessing. It meant that Esau’s descendants (the Edomites) would occupy a land less fertile than …
Noah Builds the Ark
Exactly who were “the sons of God” and “the daughters of men” (vv. 1-4)? Here are two common views: (1) The sons of God were the godly line of Seth, and the daughters of men were descendants of Cain. (2) The sons of God were rulers controlled by fallen angels who intermarried with wicked …
The Brothers Preparing to Return to Egypt
The famine continued and Jacob’s family needed more grain. Jacob said to his sons “You must go to Egypt again and buy us some more food” (v. 2). His sons replied, “We cannot go unless you will let Benjamin go with us.” Jacob then scolded them (v. 6) for telling the man they had a brother …
Jacobs Last Words With Family
Jacob continues to give his last words to his sons as they gather around his bed. The next in line is Dan (verses 16-18) who was a son of Bilhah the maid of Rachel. As Jacob gazed at Dan he saw coming out of his tribe the mightiest of all the judges from which Samson was to come. …
The Brothers Return Home to Jacob
The brother’s predicament caused them to discuss their guilt concerning Joseph (vv. 21-22), not realizing that he could understand them because he had been speaking to them through an interpreter (v. 23). They concurred that this was a punishment for the way they had treated Joseph …
The Brothers Bring Benjamin to Joseph
The story now focuses on Joseph’s plans. The brothers again went to Egypt and this time Benjamin was with them. As soon as they arrived, they were taken to Joseph’s house (vv. 16-17). They were frightened because they did not know what he would do to them (v. 18). Soon a servant brought …