Category: Genesis
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The Types God Chooses
God has made a certain promise a few times now to Abraham. He will have a son by Sarah. From that son will come many nations, so many descendants that if anyone can count the stars, they can also count Abraham’s descendants. Abraham and Sarah are both beyond childbearing years. Yet, God assures them about…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 50:1-26
Jacob is buried in Canaan, and Joseph dies. Before he dies, Joseph’s brothers beg his forgiveness for their evil against him in Canaan. Joseph explains that he is not in the place of God. What his brothers meant as evil against him, God meant for good in order to bring about the salvation of many…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 49:1-33
Jacob gives his final blessings to his children, telling them what will come of them. His words are prophecy. Reuben, the firstborn, will not have preeminence. Again, the forsaken firstborn motif presents. This motif typifies the incarnation of Christ. Adam, the firstborn man and federal head of creation was unable to be righteous and bring…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 48:1-22
Jacob is still considering his immanent death. He blesses Ephraim over Manasseh even though Manasseh is Joseph’s firstborn. The forsaken firstborn motif is present in Genesis, starting with Cain and Abel, and will present throughout the entire Old Testament. This motif typifies the incarnation of Christ. Adam, the firstborn man and federal head of creation…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 47:1-31
Jacob talks to Pharaoh and prepares for his death. Joseph acquires nearly all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh and many of the people as Pharaoh’s slaves because they sold themselves for food during the famine. As Jacob nears death, he says of his own life, “The years of my sojourning are one hundred and…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 46:1-34
Joseph’s family arrives in Egypt, seventy people altogether, and settle in Goshen. Reading through the genealogy provided in Chapter 46, I recognize that the wives of Joseph are Egyptian women. Yet his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim—half Egyptian—are counted with the house of Israel without reservation. Not only are Joseph’s sons half-Egyptian, they are descendants of…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 45:1-28
After Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, he sends them with Pharaoh’s blessing to retrieve their father and return to Egypt to live. Theologically, the most important detail in this chapter is Joseph’s recognition of God’s providence (v. 7-9). Joseph claims that it is not his brothers who sent him to the land of Egypt…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 44:1-34
Joseph sets Benjamin up. Judah pleads for Benjamin’s freedom and offers to take his place—to be punished for wrong he did not commit. This is love. Joseph sees his brothers love sacrificially instead of deal selfishly with others. Love and entitlement are incompatible. Love garners self-sacrifice. Love brings about redemption. In this case, Judah offers…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 43:1-34
Upon his brothers’ return, Joseph treats them like honored guests. They prove to be honest men. Still, he maintains his ruse. Joseph gives Benjamin the most food. Recall that Joseph was the youngest, and his brothers jealous of him—which is why they sold him into slavery. If Joseph is going to see whether his brothers…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 42:1-38
I do not know what Joseph’s motivation is for treating his brothers harshly instead of revealing himself from the outset. We can see, in the text, that Joseph is grieving and not spiteful. This is likely one of those “shrewd as a serpent, innocent as a dove” situation. He truly wants to see if his…