August 2024

There is no question that out of all the sins that were committed in Genesis, Simeon and Levi’s slaughter of the Shechemites in Genesis 34 is one of the worst. It’s brutal, calculating, deceitful, and murderous. Jacob rebuked them heartily for their transgressions as soon as he found out, informing his sons that they have […]

If it feels like Jacob is referencing his death a lot, it’s not just your imagination. In Genesis 48:21, he references his upcoming death for the fourth time. In other places, he’ll tell them what to do with his bones (Genesis 47:30), wishes to see Joseph before he dies (Genesis 45:28), and then, once he

One of the things I know about the Bible – and that I have to keep reminding myself of often – is that the Word doesn’t tell us everything we want to know. Instead, it tells us everything we need to know. It gives us everything, as 2 Peter 1:3 says, “pertaining to life and

It’s funny how things come full circle, isn’t it? When we first meet Jacob back in Genesis 25, he is known as the “supplanter” (Genesis 25:26). He came out of his mother’s womb literally grabbing the heel of his older brother, Esau – an action that foreshadows how Jacob would constantly be trying to take

Adoption is a beautiful thing. I have seen several families that decided to adopt a child for various reasons (or multiple children), and almost always it’s a blessing that pays itself back time and time again. Normally though, in those circumstances, it’s because the biological parents aren’t able to care for the child. Jacob’s “adoption”

At 147 years old, Jacob knows that his time to leave this earth is drawing near. As such, he does what most people do in that situation: Outline their wishes for themselves and their possessions after they die. I’ve sat at the bedside of lots of different people as they pass from this life, and

In addition to his coat of many colors, Joseph also wore many hats. In just what we know about him from Scripture, he’s filled the role of a brother, a son, as a prisoner, a haver of dreams, and an interpreter of dreams.  We’ve seen him in all those roles; in fact, the Text highlights

I’ll admit, before I started blogging the Bible, I didn’t know much about Jacob. I knew he was a patriarch, of course, but outside of that time he stole the birthright from Esau, I wasn’t as familiar with his life as I was with other major characters in Scripture. Now, he might just be my

The relationship between Egyptians and Israelites is frosty, to say the least. The Egyptians don’t like shepherds (Genesis 46:34) and refuse to even eat a meal with them (Genesis 43:32). But Joseph and Pharaoh? That’s a completely different story. From the beginning, Pharaoh treated Joseph with the utmost of respect. He recognized from the beginning