Covenant Keeper
20 years ago, Leigh and I took our daughters to the Del Coronado in San Diego. Beri and her family were there last week.
Covenant Keeper
Joseph, lesson 17
The purpose of the story of Joseph goes back to God’s covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To Jacob, (Joseph’s father), God said:
‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.’ Thus, he called him Israel. God also said to him, ‘I am God almighty; Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come forth from you. The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you.” Genesis 35:9-12. Read more
The Moral of the Story
Happy Anniversary to our dear friends, Kim and Martin Nealey.
The Moral of the Story
Genesis 41
Joseph, lesson 16
Pharoah said to Joseph, ‘see, I have set you overall the land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck. He had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, ‘bow the knee!’ And he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘though I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt.
What a difference a day makes. One day Joseph is languishing in jail. The next day he is before the king. The next day after that, he rises to second in power in the most powerful nation in the world. He rides around in a royal chariot and the people bow before him. Why did God orchestrate these events? What did Joseph do to earn this? Read more
Good Times
Grandson's Ryker on the right, Nate in the middle and cousin Mason.
Good Times
Genesis 41
Joseph, lesson 15
This is a long chapter, 57 verses, but a very interesting narrative. It tells a fascinating story but doesn’t provide any color commentary. In sports, a color analyst will give his thoughts on what might be going on in the heads of the players, what the coach is thinking about or speculating what might be driving a particular play or overall strategy. He will also say whether he agrees with the coaches/players decisions or not. We don’t have such commentary in this chapter from the author. He never says something like, “this pleases God’ or “their hearts are far from God,” or something similar. Read more
The Greatest Day
My friend Nate Olsen snapped this pic on his recent trip to the Holy Land
The Greatest Day
John 20
It’s almost Easter morning! To us, knowing what we now know, it’s a glorious day of celebration, as it should be. He is risen.
But what about the disciples and the followers of Jesus? It’s not a celebration...yet.
A lot has happened in a few days.
- Thursday Supper: Jesus spends several hours with the disciples teaching them, comforting them and preparing them to continue His ministry on earth.
- Thursday evening: Jesus takes His disciples to the garden where He encounters Judas and several hundred soldiers with torches and weapons. They arrest Jesus while the disciples scatter.
- Late Thursday evening and early Friday morning: There are several interrogations during mock trials with the High Priests and Pilate. The Jews insist Pilate execute Jesus and Pilate sends Him back to the Jews saying ‘I find no guilt in Him.’ Pilate eventually acquiesces and condemns Jesus to be crucified.
- Friday morning and afternoon: Jesus is taken to Golgotha. He is nailed to a cross and He endures another six hours of excruciating pain and suffering. About 3pm, He gives up His spirit and breathes his last breath. It is finished.
- Late Friday afternoon: Joseph of Arimathea, a secret follower of Jesus, asked Pilate if he could take the body and bury it. Because the Sabbath and Jewish day of preparation for Passover was about to begin at sunset on Friday, a tomb nearby was found. They bound the body in linen wrappings with spices and place the body in the tomb and sealed it.
- Sunset Friday until early Sunday morning: This is the Jewish Day of preparation and Sabbath. The disciples of Jesus and His followers were in shock and mourning.
- Very early Sunday morning: Mary Magdalene came to the tomb while it was still dark and discovered the stone was moved, the linen wrappings were laying there and the body was gone. She finds Peter and John and tells them. They ran to the tomb and verified Mary’s claim. The tomb is empty, linens are there and Jesus’ body is gone. Thye are shocked and bewildered. Who took Him?
Passion Week
This post is from last year's study of John
Passion Week
This I Know
John 19
John's writing is different from the other three gospel accounts. His account of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus is very succinct. His brief account of it is to prove a premise rather than give a detailed description of the event.
They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified Him..., 19:17, 18.
I would prefer more specific details to create context, color and emotion. John doesn't do that. He provides a view into a few events with the purpose of emphasizing the Deity of Jesus. As part of his purpose, John emphasizes fulfilled prophecy rather than creating deeper emotion within his readers by describing the details of Jesus’ brutal and inhumane suffering. Before their eyes, Jesus was fulfilling prophecies written of Him hundreds of years before. Fulfilled prophecy is a validation of Jesus’ claims! Read more
God the Communicator
God the Communicator
Genesis 41
Joseph, lesson 14
Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changes his clothes, he came to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream, you can interpret it.’ Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.’ 41:14-1
There were various ways that God communicated during the era of the Old Testament. God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son... Hebrews 1:1,2. In the case of Joseph, God made Himself known through dreams. This is similar to what He did through Daniel. Joseph was before the king of Egypt and Daniel the king of Babylon. In both cases, God used humble, men of God. I’ll come back to that thought... Read more
The Outcome is Yours
My grandson, Nate
The Outcome is Yours
Genesis 40 & 41
Joseph, lesson 13
Joseph is in jail where the king's prisoners are held. Joseph interprets the dreams of the king’s cupbearer and the king’s baker. The cupbearer will be raised by up to serve the king again within three days. The baker will be hanged to death in three days. Joseph’s interpretations come true. He asks the cupbearer to remember him and speak to the king on his behalf. The text says; However, the cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Two years later, in God’s perfect timing, the Pharoah has a dream and is perplexed. The cupbearer remembered Joseph and tells Pharoah about him. The king calls Joseph, he interprets his dream and the king honors him with great responsibilities and gifts. Read more
Depression
Depression
Psalms 77
The very interesting thing I’ve realized about journaling my spiritual insights from my personal Bible studies, (and sharing them with you) is that my writings are affected by the ups and downs of my emotions. I’ve been journeying on this blogging adventure for about three years now. When I am emotionally strong and feeling optimistic about life and God, my writing soars and the process can be exhilarating. During these times, I usually get affirming comments from my readers and the exhilaration extends even further. Read more
Fancy Meeting You Here!
Fancy Meeting You Here!
Genesis 40
Joseph, lesson 12
When Leigh and I meet new couples, we love to ask about the situations surrounding their initial meeting of each other. It is always interesting and unique. Yes, sometimes they give a quick and routine response; we met at church, we met at a bar; we meet through an on-line dating service; friends introduced us, etc. But if we add a few questions and take the conversation of their “routine” chance meeting further, we always discover an amazing story of providence and destiny.
On certain occasions, I will pick up my copy of Louis Berkhof’s Systematic Theology. As you may know, I fancy myself as a Theologian of miniscule proportion. So, on occasion when I enthusiastically pick up this nearly 800 page volume of scholarly Theology written in the late 1940’s, my first priority is to make it look somewhat used and maybe mark it up a little with underlines and notations. That way, if someone is ever glancing at my library, they will notice the worn volume and marvel at my scholarly aspirations and theological acuity. (I hope you appreciate my attempt at sarcasm and self-deprecating humor. However, as you know, there is usually a grain of truth in most attempts at sarcasm and now you know one of my deeply hidden vulnerabilities of vanity). Read more