BITTERNESS OR FORGIVENESS Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” But Reuben replied: “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!” —Genesis 42:21-22             Twenty years have gone by since Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers.  That could have been a long time to simmer in bitterness.  He had the opportunity to now bring revenge on his brothers, but he did not.  Joseph…

BEWARE— GOD JUDGES AND DISCIPLINES But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death…. What he did was evil in the LORD’s sight, so He put Onan to death as well.   —Genesis 38:7, 10 On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened… At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and found her dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.  —Acts…

TRUST GOD IN JOYS AND SORROWS So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. —Genesis 37:28 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. —Genesis 37:36 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. —Acts 7:9-10 They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he…

DENIAL DOES NOT DETERMINE TRUTH In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God… He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.” —Psalm 10:4, 11             False views about God do not change the truth of who He is.  A person can deny the reality of gravity, but let him step off any high place and he will find out that his false belief has consequences.  So it is with those who hold false views about God.  They may think He does not see their actions, but they are dead wrong.  They…

GO IMMEDIATELY! “Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.”—Genesis 31:13             Jacob immediately responded, but he did not tell uncle Laban that he was leaving.  Later when Laban caught up with Jacob he said, “What have you done? You’ve deceived me, and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war. Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels and harps? You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing. I have the power…

FAMILY CONFLICT Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)  Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”  “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”  But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.  Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.  So Esau despised his birthright. —Genesis 25:29-34 But he…

BE THANKFUL FOR HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS! —You Have None of Your Own I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High. —Psalm 7:17             Yes, let us give thanks to the Lord for His righteousness.  He always does what is right.  He alone is perfectly right in all He does.  He makes no mistakes.  His plans do not ever fail.  He acts totally righteous toward you and toward everybody and everything.  He alone is blameless.  He alone is “the LORD Most High.”  He alone is perfectly just.  Yes, He always does what is right… always!  He…

JUDGMENT WILL COME… YES, IT WILL! Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous.”  —Genesis 18:20 Before they had gone to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house. They called out to Lot, saying, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have relations with them! —Genesis 19:4-5 Then the LORD rained down brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He destroyed these cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities…

NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR THE LORD! Is anything too difficult for the LORD? —Genesis 18:14             Sarah was barren.  God told Abraham that Sarah would have a child.  When hearing this “Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”              I remember telling this historical story to my neighbors.  They were both in their late 80’s at the time.  How the wife laughed when hearing that a woman Sarah’s age and barren would have a child!  But when God is in it nothing is “too difficult…

HE IS ALWAYS WORKING!  “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  —Genesis 12:2-3 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”  Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.  —Genesis 15:5-6 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and…