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 […]

Has God spoken a word over your life? Then brace yourself, for that very word will be challenged with relentless intensity. All opposition rises against the divine plan. Darkness threatens to engulf the promises the Lord has bestowed. In such moments, we may find ourselves bewildered and disheartened, questioning if we misunderstood or if God has changed His mind.

But let me assure you, the Word of the Lord never returns void! (Isaiah 55:11)

Through his suffering, Jacob learned the way of obedience, just as we do. In Laban, he confronted not only external mistreatment but also the reflection of his own character flaws. Jacob’s inclination toward deception and cheating was mirrored by Laban’s similar disposition. It was in the crucible of enduring mistreatment, caused by his own mirrored flaws, that Jacob was apprehended by the fear of the Lord.

Jacob made many mistakes. He usurped his brother’s birthright and deceived his father, stealing Esau’s final blessing. There isn’t much commendable in his actions. Jacob was conniving and deceitful, willing to hurt others for personal gain.

And yet! And yet, something else was stirring within him. He desired the blessing, esteemed the birthright, and longed to be chosen. That desire for God’s blessing holds significance.

In my childhood, uncertainty used to trouble me. I longed for a clear plan and sought assurance. When I asked about the plan, my father would often respond with the word “probably.” Oh, how I despised that word! I was too young to articulate it correctly and would reply, “Please don’t say ‘pobity’.” “Probably,” or “pobity,” lacked the certainty I craved.

We believed the Word. We trusted the process. We endured the delay. And now… Now, it’s time to lay the promise and the journey at His feet. Every fear and doubt from within and outside crowd in close. “What a waste! It makes no sense!” Accusations encircle us, attempting to ensnare and destroy us with the very Word of promise we’ve believed…

Genesis 21 16 She then went and sat down opposite him, at a good distance away, about the span of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not witness the death of the child.” And as she sat across from him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 God heard the voice of the […]