Read Genesis 50:15-21 After Jacob’s death, his brothers had a lot of reasons to fear what he might do to them. They even go so far as to put words into their father’s mouth (which was a bit foolish since Joseph was there when Jacob died). Joseph’s answer reflects an earthly forgiveness, but it does… Read More »

Read Genesis 42:1-11 You really should read this entire part of the narrative (Genesis 42-47). It has some tremendous stuff in it, including a fascinating passage about the consolidation of power in Egypt (ch 47). But for now, let’s just focus on the way Joseph dealt with his brothers. This is a clear anticipation of… Read More »

Read Genesis 40:1-23 Often, our expectations exceed our ability. In Joseph’s case, he seems to have had little in the way of expectations and yet his abilities allowed him to see every dream fulfilled. Joseph had extraordinary abilities, but he also faced extraordinary opposition. His rise to power included being sold into slavery, being falsely… Read More »

Read Genesis 39:1-23 Joseph is just one of those guys who rises to the top. Whether it was because of the training his father gave him or just his innate abilities, he consistently becomes the top man: in Potipher’s house (vv 2-4), in prison (vv 22-23) and later over all of Egypt (41:40-41). Sometimes we… Read More »

Read Genesis 37:12-36 The old sin of Cain repeats itself here. Cain killed his brother Abel because Abel pleased the Lord. Joseph’s brothers want to kill him because he has their father’s favor. If it were not for the independent interventions of Ruben and Judah, they would have done it. Instead, he is sold into… Read More »

Of all the narratives in Genesis, perhaps none has captivated people as much as that of Joseph. It has been fictionalized and allegorized almost to death. Let’s try to set aside what we think we know about the story. Although he had eleven older half brothers, he was Jacob’s firstborn by his favored wife Rachel.… Read More »

Read Genesis 48:1-22 This passage is one of the strangest in Scripture. For one thing, it ends the story of Jacob’s preferred son and sets up a rivalry between two groups in the later Divided Kingdom of Israel (10th century BCE). Throughout the history of ancient Israel, this rivalry existed between Judah and Ephraim. All… Read More »

Read Genesis 37 Consider Jacob’s role in this part of the narrative. What did Joseph’s brothers experience, having been put aside for this son of Jacob’s favorite wife? How would they have felt, knowing all their lives that they could never live up to their father’s expectations because of who their mothers were? Was Jacob… Read More »

Read Genesis 35:1-15 In the previous chapter, two of Jacob’s oldest sons (Simeon and Levi) avenged their sister’s rape by killing the men of the city of Shechem. As Jacob puts it, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink…” (Gen 34:30) Jacob’s people have to run to Bethel, and on the way,… Read More »

Read Genesis 29:31-30:24 Jacob had two wives – two sisters named Leah and Rachel. In reading this passage, you cannot help but notice that while Rachel was beautiful (Gen 29:17), she was also envious and manipulative. In fact, in a later passage (Gen 31:34) she deceives her own father to advance Jacob’s agenda. While Leah… Read More »