Month: August 2016

“Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve His present end, the survival of many people.” —Genesis 50:20 Following forty days of embalming and the seventy days of mourning in Egypt, Joseph went to Canaan and buried his father with “a very great and solemn memorial service” (50:10). After … Read More

“Jacob called his sons and said: ‘Gather around, that I may tell you what is to happen to you in days to come.’ ” —Genesis 49:1 Jacob (Israel) had death-bed prophecies for each of his twelve sons. He blessed Judah, the lion (49:9), and Joseph, the colt (49:22), but prophesied that the other brothers would … Read More

“Your two sons, therefore, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I joined you here, shall be mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine as much as Reuben and Simeon are mine.” —Genesis 48:5 Before Israel died, he made his grandsons, Manasseh and Ephraim equal in inheritance to his sons. Moreover, … Read More

“Take us and our land in exchange for food, and we will become Pharaoh’s slaves and our land his property.” —Genesis 47:19 “Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. There they acquired property, were fertile, and increased greatly” (47:27). In contrast, everyone else in Egypt, except for the priests, had … Read More

“Joseph hitched the horses to his chariot and rode to meet his father Israel in Goshen.” —Genesis 46:29 After fifteen years of depression and chaos, Israel (Jacob) was reunited with his son Joseph. When Joseph saw his father, “he flung himself on his neck and wept a long time in his arms. And Israel said … Read More

“I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.” —Genesis 45:4-5 Joseph’s brothers were shocked when he revealed his identity. … Read More

“Then your servant our father said to us, ‘As you know, my wife bore me two sons. One of them, however, disappeared, and I had to conclude that he must have been torn to pieces by wild beasts; I have not seen him since.’ ” —Genesis 44:27-28 Joseph made it look as if Benjamin stole … Read More

“When Joseph’s eye fell on his full brother Benjamin, he asked, ‘Is this your youngest brother, of whom you told me?’ ” —Genesis 43:29 Joseph was reunited with his full brother Benjamin. “Joseph had to hurry out, for he was so overcome with affection for his brother that he was on the verge of tears. … Read More

“They said: ‘Alas, we are being punished because of our brother. We saw the anguish of his heart when he pleaded with us, yet we paid no heed; that is why this anguish has now come upon us.’ ‘Didn’t I tell you,’ broke in Reuben, ‘not to do wrong to the boy? But you wouldn’t … Read More

” ‘I hear it said of you that the moment you are told a dream you can interpret it.’ ‘It is not I,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God Who will give Pharaoh the right answer.’ ” —Genesis 41:15-16 Joseph started off the day rotting in prison. A guard came to take Joseph from his … Read More