My old identity has been co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives.  And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me—we live in union as one!  My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so […]

Eternal life means to know and experience You as the only true God and to know and experience Jesus Christ as the Son whom You have sent. — John 17:3 Prayer isn’t a subgroup or some department of the church. Relating to God is the whole point. Experiencing God is the big picture. Eternal life […]

Throughout history, there have been regional outpourings of God that reshaped the landscape of time and space. Little forgotten places, where the Lord has poured out His Spirit in such a way that there was no denying His presence and sovereign choice. He chooses a place. A time. A people. And in a moment, everything […]

Exodus 2 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he […]

Genesis 48 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you […]

Genesis 46 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 […]

Genesis 43

9 I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. 

Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), and like all good authors, He foreshadows His purposes and the means through which they unfold. Jesus, our Messiah, is destined to come from the line of Judah, whose account is recorded in the book of Genesis.

Looking back, we witness in Judah the beginnings of this glorious storyline. Faced with certain death and encroaching famine, the sons of Israel devise a survival plan. It involves embarking on a perilous journey to Egypt to purchase grain. To complicate matters further, they must bring along their youngest brother, Benjamin, who is deeply cherished by their father, Israel. This decision carries great risk.

Genesis 44 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, […]

Genesis 40 14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put […]

Genesis 37 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer.” 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” Dreaming is a dangerous business. Dreamers are […]