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Genesis 14:1-24
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…
Genesis 42
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…
Judges 6:(1-10), 11-32, (33-40)
Angles, insights, and illustrations as entry points into the text and sermon Theological themes that should not be missed: The God of Israel is faithful and responsive to Israel’s cries even when Israel is not faithful. The God of the Exodus who delivered his people out of Egypt will raise another leader who will rescue…
Genesis 39:1-23
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…
Exodus 5:1-9
Comments and Observations Adding insult to injury. We have phrases like this in our English usage, which remind us that sometimes life gets worse before it gets better, if it gets better at all. It’s a fact of life that there are times when we think things can’t get any worse, and yet they can,…
Joshua 4:1-24
Observations The people of God are called to remember. To remember how good God is, how he maintains his purposes and how he keeps his promises. The people of God have already been told to tie the word on their wrists and put it on their doorposts, that they might remember the Lord their God…
Nehemiah 1:1 – 2:6
If one reads the Bible with a view for the whole it is clear that God has a heart for the city. Jesus talks about cities as he says to his followers, “you are the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.” He says that in the city there…
Genesis 41:1-40
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…
Exodus 40
Comments and Observations Take a moment, close your eyes, and imagine a time in your life where you have most noticeably seen or experienced the glory of God. I suspect that most our answers could be grouped into four categories. The first group (and probably the largest of us), likely imagined something from the created…
Judges 4
Comments and Observations The refrain is common in the book of Judges: “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (4:1). The pattern repeats itself over and over again in Judges: the Israelites abandon God, God delivers them into the hands of their enemies, Israel cries out to God, God sends a…
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