Content related to Genesis

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Genesis 45

HDJ
Heidi De Jonge

The Joseph narrative comes to a climax in Genesis 45.  In reflecting on Joseph’s story up to this point, one can see that Joseph was both a wounded man and a broken man.  He was wounded, certainly, by the loss of his mother, by the mistreatment of his brothers, by the mischaracterization by Potiphar’s wife,…

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Genesis 13:1-18

Chelsey Harmon
Chelsey Harmon

Have you ever returned to a special place from your past? The place you got engaged, for instance, your old dorm room, your first job. What about a place where you distinctly heard the voice of the Lord? Even sadder places seems to pull us back or make us speed up as we pass them:…

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Genesis 38

Chelsey Harmon
Chelsey Harmon

Genesis 38 has to be near the top of the list of least-preached texts in Scripture. There’s death (by the hand of God no less), sex—both in marriage and outside of it, and lots of things that parents might not be ready to have their kids understand (i.e. parents are too embarrassed to have to…

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Genesis 48:1-22

Chelsey Harmon
Chelsey Harmon

The scene: The whole crew is in Egypt: Jacob, their patriarch, his twelve sons and all their families, servants, possessions. Jacob is at the end of his life. As is the custom, all male heirs went to his deathbed to receive their blessing. Joseph, Jacob’s long lost son, the one he believed he would never…

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Genesis 14:1-24

MN
Marc Nelesen

Reflections and connections for 1-11, 12-16, and 17-24 Years ago, we would ask a family friend who was part of the “Greatest Generation” about his experience in World War II.  Part of our inquiry was the result of our curiosity; another part was our interest in honoring him.  His memories and his narration were always…

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Genesis 42

MN
Marc Nelesen

Textual points Outline of some not-to-miss items in the essential story • Jacob sends 10 sons to Egypt to buy grain during a time of famine and protectively keeps Benjamin close to home. • Little did anyone know that the Egyptian in charge of grain to whom the brothers would go was none other than…

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Genesis 39:1-23

SP
Sam Perry

Power, Sex, and Serving God in Prison This passage has all of the drama of a soap opera.  The scene opens with Joseph having moved from his abysmal treatment at the hands of his brothers to serving the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. It is likely that Potiphar is the head of Pharaoh’s armed forces.  In…

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Genesis 41:1-40

KP
Kory Plockmeyer

Comments and Observations We all love a good rags-to-riches story. The nobody-from-nowhere who makes it big. Folks like Steve Jobs, who, despite being a college dropout beat the odds and become world-famous. Stories like that of Tim Tebow, whose parents were told before he was born that he would most likely be born with severe…

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Genesis 19:1-29

AP
Al Postma

There’s a good chance that if you selected the entire chapter of Genesis 19 for your upcoming sermon, you’re questioning your choice. After all, reading these words in front of the entire congregation is rightfully uncomfortable; at the very least, it may feel best read after the children have been dismissed for Sunday School. Those…

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Genesis 40:1-23

MS
Mary Stegink

Comments and Observations The narrative of Pharaoh’s Cupbearer and Baker falls within the broader narrative of the story of Joseph.  It’s hard to pull this out and look at it without placing it in the context of Joseph’s trials and tribulations thus far.  So, let’s review where Joseph’s been when we get to this chapter…

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