Genesis 39:1-5

Genesis 39:1-5 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. The Ishmaelites sold Joseph to Potiphar, who was an important man in Pharaoh’s government. Joseph was a lowly slave, but God was with him because he was an honest man. Joseph was promoted over and over again and given more and more responsibilities. Soon, Potiphar didn’t even think about what was going on in his house because he knew that Joseph would take care of everything. He trusted Joseph completely. Potiphar didn’t believe in God, but he knew that Joseph was trustworthy. And God blessed everything that Joseph did. Are you like Joseph? Are others glad to have you around? Are others blessed because God is with you? I hope so.

Genesis 37:12-14

Genesis 37:12-14 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I. And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. Joseph’s ten older brothers had to travel some distance to find good grass and water for their flocks of sheep. Jacob sent Joseph to check on them. But when Joseph found them, the brothers realized that this was their chance to get rid of their braggy little brother once and for all. They ripped off his special coat given to him by his father, planning to kill him. Ruben suggested to throw him down a dry well where he would die so they would not be guilty of killing their own brother. He planned to come back and get Joseph later. But a passing caravan of Ishmaelites gave Judah an idea. Why not sell Joseph as a slave and make money on him. And so Joseph was sold as a slave and on his way to Egypt. The brothers splattered sheep blood all over Joseph’s special coat and showed it to their father, Jacob. Jacob assumed that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Meanwhile, Joseph was on his way to Egypt. But God knew where he was. Things were right on schedule. God was working and in control of Joseph’s life. And don’t forget, God is in control of your life too!

Genesis 37:3,4

Genesis 37:3,4 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. Jacob was favored by his mother Rebekah and he favored his son, Joseph. But that caused trouble for Joseph. His older brothers were jealous of him. And it didn’t help that Joseph had uppity dreams. Joseph told his family that he dreamed about eleven stars and the sun and moon bowing down to his star. That meant that everyone was going to worship Joseph. Boy, that made his brothers mad. And then he had another dream that the harvested sheaves of grain were standing up in the field. All of the brothers’ sheaves bowed down to Joseph’s sheaf. That made the brothers even madder. But all of this was in God’s plan. Soon God would use the brothers’ anger and jealousy to put Joseph just where God wanted him to be. And God has us just where He wants us to be too. We are all in God’s plan and in his control. It is good that God is in control.

Genesis 35:1-3

Genesis 35:1-3 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. God spoke to Jacob and told him to go to Bethel and live there. That was no problem for Jacob because he lived in tents. Since he was a shepherd, he traveled from place to place to find grass and water for his sheep and cattle. Jacob instructed his family to get rid of any idols that they had and to put on clean clothes. They were going to build an altar to the Lord in the same place where Jacob’s grandfather Abraham had an altar. It was a special place of memory for Jacob. Even though Jacob had been a troublemaker all of his life, he remembered his family and how that His father and grandfather had served Almighty God. It is good to remember the good times from the past. If you don’t have good times to remember, you can start good memories right now. God has blessed you and will bless all of your family – if you let Him.

Genesis 33:1-4

Genesis 33:1-4 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. After Jacob finished his years of service with his Uncle Laban, he gathered up everything and left for home. His home ws in Canaan. But Jacob had a problem. When he left Canaan he was fleeing from the anger of his brother Esau. Do you remember why Esau was angry? Jacob had tricked him out of his birthright and had tricked Isaac into giving him the blessing too. Esau had been furious, but that had been over twenty years ago. Had he calmed down? Had he forgiven him? Jacob was getting some of the grief that he deserved. God has a way of giving us justice. Justice is what we deserve for the things that we do. Jacob sent a gift of cattle and sheep to Esau first. Then he sent his family. Finally, Jacob himself came to Esau. And Jacob bowed himself low to the ground seven times. But all of Jacob’s worrying was wasted. Esau had forgiven him long ago. But Jacob didn’t know that. God let Jacob worry and worry to teach him a lesson. We deserve to get the punishment that is coming to us. But God will forgive us if we but ask. I am glad that God doesn’t give us the punishment that we deserve. That is God’s Mercy. And I am glad that God gives us good things that we don’t deserve. That is God’s grace. God’s mercy and grace was there for Jacob, and God’s mercy and grace is there for us too!

Genesis 29:13,14,18

Genesis 29:13,14,18 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. When Jacob got to Haran, his mother’s home town, his Uncle Laban was thrilled to see him. Laban was looking for a husband for his daughters. Jacob loved Rachel and worked seven years to get to marry her. But Laban tricked Jacob into marrying his oldest daughter, Leah first. So Jacob had to work another seven years to get to marry Rachel. Jacob ended up with four wives and twelve sons. God tells us in the New Testament that we should marry one wife for life. Jacob’s four wives caused him much trouble during his lifetime. But God blessed Jacob. God changed his name to Israel. His sons and all of their descendants were known as the Children of Israel.