Deuteronomy 2-3; Luke 15; Job 31 Luke 15 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Jesus responds to this indictment with three of the most remarkable parables: The Lost Sheep, The […]

Micah 1-3; Hebrews 13; Ecclesiastes 9 First of all, I think Hebrews may be my new favorite book. Reading it through The Passion Translation has been absolutely wonderful this time around. As you may have noticed, the book is not signed by an author. I’ve heard theologians attribute it to Paul, and recently I heard […]

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.