Genesis 42 – Genesis 45

Our reading today in Genesis is a reunion full of so many emotions. It’s been years since Joseph was with his family. We might easily ask:

• Did Jacob and the rest of the bothers regret that Simeon was left behind?
• Was there fear in sending Benjamin on the second trip?
• Why didn’t the bothers question the odd way they were being treated by the Egyptian Ruler (known to us the reader as Joseph)?
• Was there joy when Simeon was reunited with the bothers?
• Didn’t the think it was odd, when they were seated at the table in their birth order, who else would have known that?
• How far did their hearts sink when Benjamin was caught with the chalice?
• Wouldn’t they have heard Joseph weeping? And, wonder why?
• At what point did the bothers finally recognize Joseph as their long lost bother?
• What was going through their mind when they figured it out? Fear? Joy?

What a roller coaster of emotion. Yet, in all the ups and downs, we have to take note of Joseph’s response. Essentially, “this was all God’s doing!” There is true praise and adoration.

The family reunion continues as we read on to Genesis 46-47. Also, don’t forget, it’s Wednesday night. Join me if you can in the Chapel at 6:30 p.m. as we review and reflect together on this past weeks’ readings.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Genesis 41 – Genesis 42

From the depths of Hell, to the joys of paradise. That’s what it must have felt like for Joseph as he was released from prison only to find himself elevated to Pharaoh’s right hand man. Talk about a redemption story!

And, its much more than that, its a salvation story as well. Salvation for Jacob and his sons. After seven years of plenty, the famine settles in. Jacob and his family begin to starve. Unbeknownst to them, Joseph has prepared everything they need in Egypt. Even as they gravel at his feet, the sons of Jacob do not recognize who is right in front of them. How could they, for Joseph should have been as good as dead. Yet here he is, about to provide the food and protection they desperately need. As we read on, to Genesis 43-45, we will quickly find, that redemption and salvation are both at hand!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Genesis 35 – Genesis 37
Genesis 38 – Genesis 40

It got to be about 7 p.m. last night and I realized that I hadn’t made any comments on my daily reading. Then, I honestly said, “oh well” I’ll catch everyone up tomorrow. Its not that I didn’t do my daily reading, I just never made the time to share with each of you. I’m sure this won’t be the last day that I miss along the way, and the first one had to happen somewhere. So on with my reflections . . .

In chapter 35, Jacob returns home, he’s given a new name, which is a sign of a new beginning, Isaac dies, the the story of Genesis is about to make a major shift. That shift happens as we enter chapter 37 and the story of Joseph. Other than the odd insertion of the story of Judah and Tamar in chapter 38, the story of Joseph is the longest continuous story found in the Book of Genesis, spanning from chapters 37 through 50 .

Of course, I can’t think of Joseph without singing,

“Go, go, go Joseph, you know what they say 
Hang on now, Joseph, you’ll make it some day 
Shalala, Joseph, you’re doing fine 
You and your dreamcoat, ahead of your time . . .”

Great musical, saw it in Chicago years ago. It certainly tells the story well, as story that we will continue to venture into reading as Joseph dreams, is betrayed and sold by his brothers, becomes Potiohar’s right hand man, and finds his way into prison. What great story, I hope you keep reading with me. For now, I’m going to leave you as I continue singing, “Go, go, go Joseph!”

See you tomorrow as we read Genesis 41-42.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Genesis 31 – Genesis 34

Today, is our oldest’s son’s birthday! Happy Birthday John! Maybe its fitting that today’s reading focuses on brotherly love! Having two boys in our house we know all about that. Sometimes, they love each other very much. Sometimes, they are the worst of enemies. In the end, they mutually respect, love each other, and get along really well. Thanks be to God for that!

Jacob and Esau are much the same. Full of brotherly love! If we remember back to chapter 28, Jacob ran away to live in fear that Esau would be out to get him for tricking him out of his birthright. Now as Jacob is about to come home, he sends gifts to Esau to soften his return. Much to our surprise, there is no malice, no spite, no rejection, no hatred. Jacob is welcomed home to a loving embrace. A true model of brotherly love!

Now on to read, Genesis 35 – 37.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

If you haven’t noticed, things got shifted around a bit on our web-page today. I’m still learning, but one thing I didn’t like was seeing the blog on the home page. So, I’m hoping you found this, and were able to navigate your way around.

As always, I look forward to sharing more with you as we venture forth!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Genesis 30 – Genesis 31

I’m not sure if we should feel sorry for Jacob or not. One cannot help but wonder if he realizes that he is being used as a pawn between Leah and Rachel to have children. Add into the mix, their two servants, Zilpah and Bilhah, and you might wonder how Jacob got any sleep! All in all, we end up with the birth of the twelve tribes of Israel, which we’ll get to soon enough, but for now we know that God’s blessing to Abraham is about to be realized as Jacob is now the father of:

Reuben
Simeon
Levi
Judah
Dan
Naphtali
Gad
Asher
Issachar
Zebulun
Joseph
Benjamin
And we can’t forget Dinah!

More to read for tomorrow! See you after we read on to Genesis 32-34

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Genesis 27 – Genesis 29

First and foremost, we had a great small group conversation last night. Many thanks to those who came out to share in this journey with me. One little gem that I shared with the group was a video from thebibleproject.com . If you are interested check out the video here . Together we watched the “Read Scripture, part 1” and it was a great summary of the first 11 chapters. Next week, we’ll look at part 2 as we finish up our journey through Genesis.

In last night’s reading, we moved into the stories of Jacob. The childhood song, “We are climbing, Jacob’s ladder” may have come to mind as you read about Jacob’s dream at Bethel. What a vision that must have been for him! I’m not sure if I would have been overjoyed or terrified! Then we are on to the story of Jacob and Rachel. Jacob meets Laban, and agrees to seven years of labor for the one he loved. Finally, when the time comes, Jacob head over heals in love, only to realize that he had been shared the wedding tent with the wrong sister. How could you not have known? A week later, Jacob is married again, this time to Rachel, only to serve Laban for seven more years. Oh the cost of love!

More to share tomorrow as we read on to Genesis 30 & 31.

Genesis 25 – Genesis 26

The story of Genesis shifts as Abraham’s long life comes to a close, and Isaac becomes the heir and descendant of Abraham. As I was reading, I couldn’t help be chuckle, as I was reminded that ‘the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree,’ or that ‘like father, like son’ quickly applies to Isaac. “She is my sister,” he states to King Abimelech, regarding his wife Rebekah. It didn’t work well for Abraham, and it doesn’t work for Isaac. Perhaps we will see that the cunning nature of Abraham is an inherit trait. Then again, we don’t even have to look that far as Jacob tricks Esau out of his birth right. What a convoluted story! Let’s just keep in mind the big picture, the entire story, which tells about God’s divine love and our salvation.

Lastly, an invitation, beginning tonight we will meet in the Chapel for conversation and reflection. We gather at 6:30 p.m. if you are in the area, stop in and join in the conversation.

Hope to see you there,
Pastor Bailey

Genesis 22 – Genesis 24

If I were to give a theme or a title to these three chapters, it might be something like “Abraham’s commitment to God and family.” Commitment, Respect, and honor are all a big part of these three chapters. Think of it this way:

Chapter 22: We witness Abraham’s commitment to God. What a test! After waiting years for God’s promise to be realized, Isaac is born, and not God test’s Abraham with Isaac’s Sacrifice. “God will provide,” Abraham states to his son, who is now beginning to figure things out. In the end, God does provide a ram, caught in the thicket, just as the blade was ready to strike. This is a fitting sacrifice given by God as a gift of thanksgiving, for God now know Abraham is fully committed to his faith.

Chapter 23: We witness Abraham’s commitment to his wife. Sarah is now dead and what is the one thing that Abraham wants? A proper place to bury her body. Many try to gift him land, caves, and other locations, but Abraham will have nothing to do with “free” gifts. There is pride. There is a deep sense of commitment. In buying a burial location, Abraham could easily say, “This is ours! Its not borrowed, leased, or given. I purchased it to do what is right, so that we may all find eternal peace and rest.” There is a deep sense of honor in that, a sign of his commitment to Sarah.

Chapter 24: We witness Abraham’s commitment to his son Isaac. Time has passed, Isaac is of the age to be married, but it must be the right woman, from the right location. “Go to my country,” Abraham says to his servant. Go, so that you might find someone of our own traditions, our own background, our own faith values. Abraham is committed to see that his family, the one that will someday be a numerous as the stars in the heavens, will inherit the same blessings that he once did. Even as we wish all the best for our own children. Abraham is showing his commitment to this as Rebekah meets the servant at the well.

So we see various aspects of Abraham’s commitment. Does is model our own? Now one week in to a Year of Scripture, are we still all committed? See you tomorrow as dig deeper into Genesis 25 – 26.

God’s peace,
Pastor Bailey

Genesis 19 – Genesis 21

Part of today’s reading feels like deja vu when we think of Abraham and Sarah. Haven’t we heard, “she is my sister before” as a means to provide Abraham safety and security. Didn’t I mention that Abraham is a bit cunning? Well, yes, Abraham used those same lines with Pharaoh back in chapter 12. Didn’t seem to work then, doesn’t seem to work now either in the presence of King Abimelech. Here is the laughable part, maybe you forgot that as we were reading along, Sarah is now 90 years old. I mean no offense to our 90’s something women, you are beautiful in your own way, but desirable for a childbearing relationship? I think not! Despite the deception, amazingly Abraham’s life is never put in danger, he is richly rewarded, and Abimelech too for his own faithfulness. Seems odd, but that’s the way God’s story goes. The reassuring thing is, if God continue to love and walk with the oddities of Abraham, then certainly, God can continue to love the oddities of you and me. Let’s read on as we venture onto chapters 22-24.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey