Exodus 26-27; Matthew 16; Psalm 112 In these tumultuous times, the greatest sign of our union with God, of His love for us, may very well be our steadiness. It’s a profound thought. There is grace available not just for running our race or pressing into God’s love, but also for enduring and remaining steadfast […]
Exodus 20-21; Matthew 13; Psalm 109 In the simplicity of our faith, there’s a profound truth: Our God desires no extravagant offerings of gold or silver. Instead, He asks for something far more humble yet infinitely more precious – an altar made of earth. Exodus 20 23 “You shall not make gods of silver to […]
Exodus 14-15; Matthew 10; Psalm 106 Deliverance is dangerous business! Coming out of slavery, being chased down by your angry captors, is not for the faint of heart. Of course, you already know that! I know you remember those days when you were finally and suddenly liberated from some addiction that had nearly destroyed your […]
January 8 Genesis 34-35; Matthew 7; Psalm 103 “Who is waiting on whom? Are you waiting on God, or is God waiting on you?” Years ago, I received a special invitation to attend a gathering featuring a wise, nearly 100-year-old man who would speak about Jesus. As we entered a small, intimate living room, about […]
We need to come back to the fundamentals—the close-in stuff. We need to look at the way we live and the way we love. I wonder if most of our prophetic mandates and assignments have more to do with pursuing distraction than we want to admit. Our desire to do something important, to be part […]
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 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.