Clutching What We Fear to Lose

Genesis 42 Jacob clings to Benjamin. He refuses to send him to Egypt. He cannot risk losing him. “His brother is dead, and he is the only one left” (Gen. 42:38). Benjamin isn’t simply another son — he is Rachel’s son. The last living reminder of Jacob’s deepest love and deepest loss. But here’s the … Continue reading Clutching What We Fear to Lose

Prepared in the Prison, Proven in the Palace

Genesis 41 reminds us that God’s preparation often happens in hidden places. The seasons that feel like delay may actually be divine development. The prison may be the classroom. The waiting may be the qualification.

Faithful in the Forgotten Place

Genesis 40 “Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.” (Gen. 40:23) Few verses feel heavier than that one. Joseph has done everything right. He resists temptation. He serves faithfully in prison. He comforts discouraged men. He boldly testifies, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” And when he asks for one small … Continue reading Faithful in the Forgotten Place

The Robe That Tore a Family Apart

Genesis 37 When Jacob gave Joseph the richly ornamented robe, it was more than a gift—it was a declaration. “You are my favorite.” And the result? “They hated him and could not speak peacefully to him” (Gen. 37:4). Favoritism didn’t just hurt feelings. It fractured fellowship. It created comparison where there should have been brotherhood. … Continue reading The Robe That Tore a Family Apart

Facing the Temptations to Shrug and Scheme

Jacob and Esau. Two brothers who demonstrate two responses to the promises of God. Esau despised his birthright. He traded eternity for a bowl of stew. He lived for what he could taste, touch, and feel in the moment. Spiritual things felt distant. Immediate comfort felt urgent. Hendrick ter Brugghen’s Esau Selling His Birthright (c. … Continue reading Facing the Temptations to Shrug and Scheme