Even a casual reader of the Old Testament will notice that people took spoken words—blessings and curses—more seriously back then. Genesis is filled with powerful blessings spoken over people. Each patriarch blesses his sons: Abraham blesses Isaac, Isaac blesses Jacob and Esau, Jacob blesses his twelve sons, and more. Some of Jacob’s blessings are poetic:Continue reading “Bless Your Children.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
“It Was Not You, But God…”
By God’s grace, terrible things can have positive outcomes. Romans 8:28 says “God causes all things to work together for good….” God is sovereign—He is the Ruler and King of the universe. He fashions the worst things into good. More than twenty years after they sold him into slavery, Joseph revealed his identity to hisContinue reading ““It Was Not You, But God…””
A “TYPE OF CHRIST” (Have You Heard the Phrase?)
At the age of 147, Jacob is in his final days. He calls his sons to himself and blesses each one—although some of the blessings sound like curses as he notes their colossal failures. Jacob reserves the greatest blessing for Judah, which reads in part: “The SCEPTER will not depart from Judah or the STAFFContinue reading “A “TYPE OF CHRIST” (Have You Heard the Phrase?)”
Forgiving is Easy When You See God’s Hand.
When Joseph insists on keeping the “thief” Benjamin as his slave, Judah asks to take his place: “My father’s life is wrapped up with the boy’s life. When he sees that he is not with us, he will die…. Now please let your servant [Judah] remain here as my lord’s slave in place of theContinue reading “Forgiving is Easy When You See God’s Hand.”
How’s Your Professionalism?
During 13 years in Egypt, Joseph was slave to Potiphar, falsely accused, left in a dungeon, forgotten. Suddenly he is summoned: “Take a bath. Shave that beard. Put on fresh clothes. Whatever Pharaoh says, do your best to answer.” Suddenly Joseph is standing before the king. He interprets Pharaoh’s dream and gives God the credit. Continue reading “How’s Your Professionalism?”
Time Flies When You’re Working Hard.
Imagine sitting in a dungeon all day, nothing to do, nothing to read, no one to talk to. Time crawls. Joseph was sold into slavery at 17. He served Potiphar, was falsely accused, spent years in prison, then was elevated to second-in-command of Egypt. But Joseph had never stopped working. God did not send himContinue reading “Time Flies When You’re Working Hard.”
The Blessing of God.
In Egypt, Joseph gave his sons names that indicated God had blessed him “in the land of my affliction.” Genesis 41:51-52. But Joseph was not the only one who knew God’s hand was on him. It was obvious to Egypt’s idol-worshipping pagans: “And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that theContinue reading “The Blessing of God.”
The Lord is With You. Genesis 39 and 40.
Who is your favorite person in the Bible—excluding Jesus, the God-Man? Mine has always been Joseph, and I began reading his story today: a gifted dreamer, super-talented, picked-on, and misunderstood. And righteous. What a man of INTEGRITY. But though sold into slavery in a foreign, pagan land, he was never alone, not even in theContinue reading “The Lord is With You. Genesis 39 and 40.”
Dirt Farmers and Horse Thieves: Dregs. Genesis 38.
My dad used to joke, “My ancestors were all dirt farmers and horse thieves.” Actually, his farmer-ancestors were hard-working, honest, kind, and willing to reserve judgment until they had heard all the facts. Yet my grandfather’s nine siblings were not untouched by scandal and rumor. Every family tree has rotten limbs—it’s a mathematical certainty. ForContinue reading “Dirt Farmers and Horse Thieves: Dregs. Genesis 38.”
Keep the Matter in Mind. Genesis 37:11.
Sometimes parenting feels like a rerun of a TV show I already watched. But more often, the themes are similar, but the stories are quite different. And the way God speaks to me about those stories is also different. When I struggled with algebra, God spoke to me and led me through the minefield. WhenContinue reading “Keep the Matter in Mind. Genesis 37:11.”
Household Words: 