QT 12/19/2025 Gen 41:50–57, Being a player, not a spectator

Genesis 41:50–57 (ESV) —

50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”

56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

 

NOTE: Joseph was not part of the line of the Messiah. He had two sons who would become major tribes in Israel, so in a sense, he got a double portion of the inheritance. From a financial position, his gain was multiple times greater than what he would have received as the eleventh son. But, that is not what is important. His role in bringing the messiah into the world was to save his family. Judah carried the seed, but Joseph was the key to their survival. Of course, God could have used any number of ways to save Israel, but he chose Joseph. And later, in an incredible display of power, he would uses Moses to bring his people back to the land.

 

God has a role for each of us. It may not seem like the most important because it is only a supportive role, but even those roles are tremendously important, as was Joseph's role. What is my role in the kingdom? Am I leading or supporting? Or worse, am I sitting on the sideline and just spectating?

 

PONDER:

1. What is my role in the kingdom?
2. What am I doing today to further the kingdom?

 

PRAYER: Father, my role today seems very minor. But I believe it is important and you are using me for good in the kingdom. Thank you and help me to remain faithful to your calling.

QT 12/18/2025 Gen 41:41-49, Sometimes life requires a long wait

Genesis 41:41–49 (ESV) —

41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.

 

NOTE: Over the years, I have wondered why Joseph did not go back to visit his family after 13-14 years away. There are a number of explanations. "Out of sight, out of mind" can be a job killer. And given the political intrigue in a capital and Joseph's "Heber" background, the safest course of action was to always be available to the Pharaoh. A second explanation is that Joseph was still struggling with bitterness toward his brothers, and he was not sure what they might do. Ultimately he does realize that God has placed him in Egypt to save his family (Gen 50:20). A third explanation, and the most likely is that Joseph knew from his other dreams that his family would be coming to him in time, and bowing down. He knew that his family would run out of food. And he knew that Egypt would be the only place in the entire region with food. So he waited for the seven years of abundance, and was probably in the second year of famine when Israel ran out of food. He waited an additional nine years to know if there was any remorse in his brothers. He would end up waiting 22 years to see his father and full brother again.

 

I don't know that Joseph realized how much pain his Father was struggling with or he might have sent a message.

 

It is hard to wait, especially for good things. Twenty-two years seems like a lifetime, but if it results in healing or reconciliation, it is worth it. When we are in those estranged situations, we need to keep praying, the Lord does marvelous things in answer to our prayers, but usually it does not happen as quickly as we desire. Trust him. Persevere in prayer.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have some estranged situations in my life?
2. Am I praying and waiting upon God for reconciliation and healing? It may take considerable time.

 

PRAYER: Father, there are a few estranged situations in my own family. Our mother has not always helped to keep peace but has instigated things that did not need to be. I pray for healing. I pray for reconciliation. I pray for you to open eyes and bring true repentance.

QT 12/17/2025 Gen 41:33-40, God working through history

Genesis 41:33–40 (ESV) —

33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”

 

NOTE: I did some reading on the subject of yield. I grew up on a farm but I never saw a famine in Ohio. Apparently, 30 percent above normal is a good year and 60 percent is a great year. Exceptional yields are as high as 130 percent above the average. And world records have been achieve at multiple times the average. In our story, a God of miracles is promising seven great years. If we assume God provides world record levels, then 2 1/2 times the production during the good years and the years of famine at half the normal yield, the total production of the 14 prophesied years is equivalent to 14 years of normal production. And that is without any belt tightening on the part of the population. With belt tightening and some reduction in farm animals (which could then also provide additional food), the story is clearly within possibility.

 

But, proving this story is possible is actually a meaningless exercise, because God can do whatever he chooses. This is not a cop-out, it is a fact. And God was doing something here in order to move his people out of the land temporarily while he allowed the sin of the inhabitants to reach their limit.

 

Genesis 15:16 (ESV) — And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

 

Likewise, God is working in our lives. Maybe it does not seem miraculous but it is just as purposeful. We need to trust the promises God has made to believers in Jesus Christ. He knows our needs, and he is working through our pain to do something good.

 

PONDER:

1. Are we looking for God's hand in our life?
2. More importantly, do we know God? Because the promise only extends to his children (we are NOT all children of God), those adopted into his family by belief in the savior's work on the cross.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for those who only go through the motions that they would wake up and seek you. Jesus, your son, revealed you to us through his life. He died to give us eternal life and to bring adoption into the family of God. Open the eyes of the blind to see truth.

QT 12/16/2025 Gen 41:17-32, Using our skills and gifts for God

Genesis 41:17–32 (ESV) —

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. 18 Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 19 Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, 21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. 23 Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.

 

NOTE: The only differences between the first explanation of the dream and Pharaoh's rehashing is that the use of more extreme nouns and adjectives at various points in the retelling. Obvious, Pharaoh himself has spent some time analyzing his own dream. I don't know to what extent God uses dreams today. I would be cautious of anyone who had a dream or felt they could interpret dreams. That being said, there are a few principles that come out of dreams in the OT. Repeated dreams generally mean something is going to happen soon. As to the idea of days or years, Joseph notices the seasons implied in the dreams and correctly notes that the period of time is years. In the previous case with Pharaoh's officials, the stories did not include anything that took time, also, since Pharaoh's birthday was three days away, Joseph correctly inferred days. But of course, it is not Joseph's analysis, but rather God working though the Holy Spirit who clearly resides in Joseph. Another aspect of these dreams from God is that they are vivid and remembered. Most dreams that we have, are forgotten, especially the details. That is not to say, dreams that are remembered in detail are from God, quite the contrary. I am leery of dreams. God has spoken to us directly in his word. There is very little reason for him to use dreams today to accomplish his will.

 

So what do we take away from this passage? I think it is hard to miss the hand of God. This part is completely God as he gives dreams to two officials to set up the dreams that he gives Pharaoh. Also, as we will see tomorrow, God's training of Joseph from his days at home to Potiphar's house to the jail has given him tremendous skills of organization and administration. The years, 14 plus, have put him in the right position at the right time for God to use him.

 

PONDER:

1. What are the skills and spiritual gifts that God has given me?
2. How am I using my skills and my gifts for his glory?
3. Or do I only use my skills for my own self?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for these days and the skills you have given to me. Continue to give me wisdom to recognize opportunities to use your skills and gifts to advance your kingdom.

QT 12/15/2025 Gen 41:1-16, Learning to trust God and not our own actions

Genesis 41:1–16 (ESV) —

1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

 

NOTE: The cupbearer had forgotten Joseph for two years. Most likely he did not want to bother the Pharoah or anybody else with the concerns of a prisoner (Joseph). But God gives to Pharaoh, two very specific dreams. At this point the cupbearer speaks up, but it was God which set everything up. He used sinful actions (Potiphar's wife), forgetful actions (the cupbearer), and miraculous actions (two dreams of Pharoah) to bring about his will and ultimately the deliverance of the nation.

 

For his part, Joseph shows amazing courage and humility. This was his chance, he stood before the highest ranking individual he had ever known, and probably the most important man in the western world of his time. When Pharaoh asks him if he could interpret dreams, he basically replies "No," but followed by a quick "God will give an answer."

 

Having worked with numerous 4-star generals (to include a Chief of Staff of the Air Force) and a couple of Secretaries of the Air Force, the temptation is to build yourself up, or take credit for the work. It takes tremendous courage to answer "no" or to disagree/correct a comment made by the high ranking person. But I have found, that the person who can do that earns more trust from the high-ranking individual than someone who agrees or parrots back everything the high-ranking person says.

 

For the believer, we need to trust God that he is at work. We need to be obedient, honest, and humble. We don't need "to create our career," God will take care of those things.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I give honest answers even when it is not what others want to hear?
2. Am I trying to build my career or am I trusting God to take care of those things?

 

PRAYER: Father, we need to trust you in all areas of life. We need to take prudent steps and be responsible to the things you have given, but always in an attitude of trust and dependence on you, giving to you in prayer the ultimate results.

QT 12/12/2025 Gen 40:16-23, Finding real, absolute truth in a day and age of echo chambers

Genesis 40:16–23 (ESV) —

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” 18 And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.”

20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

 

NOTE: In one of Paul's last letters before his death, he tells Timothy that in the latter days people will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening truth.

 

2 Timothy 4:3–4 (ESV) — 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

 

These are called echo chambers and they are happening across the information spectrum. We find news that we like and friends that we agree with. Of course, we have been doing that for quite a while as evidenced by the chief baker who only told Joseph his dream after hearing a positive outcome to the chief cupbearer. I do wonder if the chief baker was guilty, which is another reason he withheld his dream.

 

We've taken this concept to its ultimate degree in these latter days. Partly because of corruption in our news sources, we have sought other news sources. The result is an increasingly hostile political atmosphere where everybody has their "truth."

 

There is only one truth, and it is found in the person of Jesus Christ, whom John calls the Word. John also records Jesus' statement:

 

John 14:6 (ESV) — Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

Jesus preached an exclusive faith. It was inclusive in the sense that it was for all people who would believe, but it was exclusive in that it did not include all religions and belief. If we truly seek TRUTH, it will be found in certainty in Jesus.

 

PONDER:

1. What are my sources of information?
2. Do I spend time in the bible seeking ABSOLUTE TRUTH?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to wash my mind in absolute truth. Cleanse it, clean it, renew it in truth. Help me to discern the lies of the culture and the world. Help me to share truth with others so they can escape the darkness that is in the world.

QT 12/11/2025 Gen 40:1-15, Learning not to blame others

Genesis 40:1–15 (ESV) —

1 Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.

5 And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” 8 They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”

9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, 10 and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” 12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”

 

NOTE: The phrase "some time" indicates "years," why, because in two years, Pharaoh will have a dream, and we know that Joseph will be elevated at the age of 30. Since he was 17 at the time of abduction into slavery, we have 13 years of slavery or prison. And still another 7 years until he sees his family. In the case today, the cupbearer, after his elevation, will forget Joseph for two years.

 

Joseph takes advantage of the situation to request help. But, he does not blame his brothers nor Potiphar's wife. He gives no bad reports. And to be honest, it was not necessary, and in most cases, it really is water under the bridge in terms of how the situation came about. The facts are that he is in prison and it was unjust. I suppose most prisoners would argue the same thing, but it shows strong character to not blame others for misfortune.

 

We do like blaming others or rules or whatever. I did the same thing a couple of days ago in my QT notes. A far better response would have been to say, I was wrongly accuse of discrimination and almost fired. But fortunately, my boss went to bat for me at her personal risk. The other details were not important and really was just an attempt to place blame. I do appreciate my boss who supported me in the false accusation.

 

PONDER:

1. Are their situations where I am still blaming others for a misfortune?
2. Do I harbor bitterness against someone for their sin against me?
3. Do I need to forgive someone who has hurt me?

 

PRAYER: Father, I haven't thought about the situation in years until this week. I don't want to be bitter. Forgive me for my attitude and help me to truly forgive my employee. The person gave their best. My actions disappointed them. Maybe I should have been more direct so as not to cause false expectations. Give me wisdom for now and the future.

QT 12/10/2025 Gen 39:13-23, Living by faith is not always very easy

Genesis 39:13–23 (ESV) —

13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” 16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. 18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”

19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

 

NOTE: There is nothing humorous about the story if you were Joseph, but I do find the motif on cloaks humorous, first with his brothers, and now with Potiphar's wife grabbing it off of him. Joseph just can't seem to keep his cloak. This is a very typical "she said, he said" scenario. I discussed this yesterday in my quiet time, and it is very painful to the innocent party. There is so little one can do. I don't blame the women in the world, because I know there are numerous instances of men taking advantage of women throughout history, and they had no evidence, or any sympathetic authority to rise to their defense. But what Potiphar's wife does is terrible. And Joseph goes to prison because of her lie. But we must remember that God is in charge. Already, Joseph has met the chief of the guard and the chief of the jail for Pharaoh. He will soon meet the chief cupbearer and chief baker. And even though he is at the bottom and near despair, God is there working in ways he could never understand nor believe.

 

God knows your situation. He knows what you are going through. He is using hard times for your good. He will rescue you. We must believe by faith that he loves his children (those who have confessed Jesus as their savor).

 

There was a time in my life when I thought the pain (hard times) would never end. I could never have dreamed I would be where I am today. He is in charge and whenever we start to dwell on a problem, we need to give it to God by faith.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I going through a hard time in life?
2. Do I believe that God is still working to bring good out of the pain?

 

PRAYER: Father, hard times come in many different forms. Hard times can be physical, emotional, financial, and relational. They all hurt. And one is not easier than the other, at the time. Father, help me not to give up. I want to be a good example to others of trust and service to you.

QT 12/9/2025 Gen 39:1-12, The realities of life under the sun

Genesis 39:1–12 (ESV) —

1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.

11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.

 

NOTE: It is no accident that Joseph is sold in slavery to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard. Joseph is successful in whatever he does. His father saw it and now Potiphar sees it, but with success comes temptations from the evil one. Joseph does the right thing, but still is caught in a situation where he will be charged with something he didn't do. It is an ancient case of "woke" and sexual harassment where the female is always right. It is so discouraging for you career to be curtailed by a lie.

 

I've experienced the same thing once in life. It was a lie by a disgruntled employee who felt two years of experience qualified her as a full scientist. When I did not promote her, she went to Employee Relations claiming discrimination and I was almost fired by the male VP. Fortunately, by God's grace, my immediate boss was a female Asst VP, and she stood up for me and against her own boss. She knew it was a lie. God used the situation to teach me a lot of things. I still pray at times for that employee who left the company sometime afterwards.

 

PONDER:

1. When things go against us, do we stop and ask God for wisdom?
2. Rather than being bitter, have we prayed for God to help us understand what he was doing for us during those bitter times?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am thankful for what you were doing in my life. I learned a lot about leading people in a non-military situation. I thought you just took care of people, but I have learned to be more discerning. I can still be a witness for Christ, but it takes special care and careful steps and documentation when working.

QT 12/8/2025 Gen 38:20-33, Recognizing God's will in all circumstances

Genesis 38:20–30 (ESV) —

20 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. 21 And he asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim at the roadside?” And they said, “No cult prostitute has been here.” 22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I have not found her. Also, the men of the place said, ‘No cult prostitute has been here.’ ” 23 And Judah replied, “Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her.”

24 About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.” And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” 25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.” 26 Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again.

27 When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. 28 And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.

 

NOTE: Judah is ready to have Tamar burned for her immorality, but as for his, he is worried about his reputation when they can't locate the cult prostitute to pay her back. It most certainly is a double standard. The only thing to say in Judah's behalf is that he admits Tamar was more righteous than him because he would not give her his third son in accordance with levirate marriage customs. His recognition of his own sin seems to be the start of a transformation in the life of Judah. He was caught, he admitted his guilt, and slowly he begins to be the leader in Jacob's family (42:2; 44:18-34). His son Perez is the next in the line of the Messiah.

 

God works through our failures when necessary to accomplish his will. There are a number of ways he could have provided the next in line, but he allowed this situation to occur. Was it for Tamar or was is for Judah or both? We don't know. We will fall at times. Do we repent, admit our sin to God, and then grow? We need to be reviewing our life and our goals regularly? Where are we and what does the Lord want me to do?

 

PONDER:

1. When was the last time I did a spiritual accountability check on myself?
2. Am I in Gods' will or am I in my will (doing what I want to do)?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do pray for leading and guidance. I want to do your will, not my will. Help me to know when things change or when I am living for myself.

QT 12/5/2025 Gen 38:12-19, God's will cannot be thwarted

Genesis 38:12–19 (ESV) —

12 In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua’s daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And when Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,” 14 she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 He turned to her at the roadside and said, “Come, let me come in to you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17 He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood.

 

NOTE: Apparently Judah is not good at recognizing those he should know. He will also not recognize Joseph, but none of the brothers did. Also, giving his seal and staff appears to be a particularly naïve action. Under the culture of the time, if the sons could not fulfill the levirate responsibility, then it fell to the father. It was clear that Judah was not going to give his third son, so in some ways, Tamar was only trying to acquire what was her legal (according to the laws of that day) right. Ultimately, Tamar is an important part of the line of the Messiah. Judah is at fault here, twice over. One, he would not give his son in marriage to Tamar, and two, he seeks a prostitute. Even though prostitution may have been accepted by the culture in Canaan, it was not accepted in Israel because of the instructions by God going back to Adam and Even. We will see later that Judah will be very discreet when he tries to pay back the prostitute to get his things back, because he knows it is wrong.

 

What do we learn? God is at work. Tamar after only one contact with Judah is pregnant, and yet that did not happen with the first son. The events seem too miraculous to throw it off as chance. God was planning to use Tamar in the line of the Messiah, which would come through Judah. He did not use the two sons because of their (apparently extreme) wickedness. He used Judah's sin and was not thwarted by the two son's wickedness, to complete his work. His will is not circumvented by our actions. His wisdom oversees and brings about his will.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I truly seek God's will in my life?
2. Or in my sinful flesh, am I actively trying to thwart God's will for my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am not always seek your will as I should. I too often seek the comfortable life, rather than the life of obedience.

QT 12/4/2025 Gen 38:1-11, Cultural practices

Genesis 38:1–11 (ESV) —

1 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, 3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him.

6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother’s wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. 10 And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father’s house.

 

NOTE: First, the law had not been written yet, so there is no commandment from God on the subject. Second, God would include this requirement 400 years later (Deut 25:5-10). At the time, it was custom, called the levirate marriage. In the future law, the son-in-law could refuse and the sister-in-law was free, but also alone. The practice was intended to provide for the well-being of the widow as well.

 

The heart of the story is the overall evil and wickedness in what will be royal line, Judah. The first son Er was wicked in the sight of the Lord. Onan's actions in regards to Tamar (spilling seed on the ground) was wicked in the sight of the Lord. Both men die early for their wickedness. Judah, himself, acts wickedly in pretending to give his third son to Tamar. He does protect Tamar by keeping him in his house. I have to wonder if Judah's wife influenced his actions. In any case, it is a sad story, and typical of the moral failures in the family of the patriarch.

 

What do we learn? This cultural practice, while later affirmed by God, was considered the right thing to do (again, culturally). There are many cultural practices which are right and good. Fortunately today, we have God's word to review practices against the truth. I find that today's culture seems to allow destroying / attacking another person's goods if their views are in opposition to your own. Most people would see that as wrong, but a growing progressive faction is adding violence as an acceptable cultural practice when the ideas are not what they like. This does not agree with God's word.

 

PONDER:

I know the phrase "polite society" seems out of place today, but it is closer to Jesus' command to love one another, even your enemy. How am I doing at loving others?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to see where I am following practices which are against your word. And help me to see where I am not practicing actions that you command.

QT 12/3/2025 Gen 37:23–36, The start of a very long pity party

Genesis 37:23–36 (ESV) —

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.

29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes 30 and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” 31 Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” 33 And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.

 

NOTE:  There is some irony as the brothers sit to eat, while Joseph is in the cistern presumably to die of hunger, and yet Joseph would someday feed the entire group. Once again, not all the brothers are present at the same time (I believe some were watching the flock, at all times). Judah is present as the trade caravan passes by and convinces the other brothers who were there as well to sell the boy rather than have blood on their hands. Some commentators suggest that Judah was only interested in the profit to gain from Joseph's life. And that, this is the reason for Joseph returning the gold in their baskets later in the story, to test them. I could be wrong but I disagree. I don't believe Judah or Reuben were interested in the boy's death, and both looked for ways to keep him from death. Judah's plan protected himself from his brother's reprisal, whereas Reuben risked the anger of the other brothers if he was to rescue the boy and return him. Reuben's plan may have been an attempt to redeem himself in the eyes of his father, after Reuben's own earlier sin.

 

Jacob's response to Joseph's death is a 22-year pity party. The passage says he mourned for many days, but many of his responses during the coming famine suggest that he still was not over the loss, even after 22 years.

 

It is good to mourn. It is very good to feel pain. It is good to shed tears. I believe, it is okay even to be angry at God (for a time). But ultimately, we cannot live in an eternal pity party. There comes a time, when you (I) must rise from the ashes and start living again. Yes, there will be reminders. Christmas seems like one of those times where a previous pain, maybe even one that came during the holidays, attacks once again. It's okay to feel hurt. But I say again, at some point we must return to the land of living. We must be back in the "giving" and not living in the "getting" of pity.

 

PONDER:

1. What pain have I not let go?
2. Am I living or only grieving? When will I be ready to move ahead in life?

 

PRAYER: Father, I have been there. I know that pain. It hurt. I was mad. But thankfully, at some point, I began to live again, instead of waiting for another shoe to fall in my apparently miserable life. Thanks for lifting me out of despair and giving me hope, and life once again.

QT 12/2/2025 Gen 37:12-22, The will of God cannot be thwarted

Genesis 37:12–22 (ESV) —

12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” 14 So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” 16 “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father.

 

NOTE: At any one time, not all of the brothers are at the base camp. In order to watch the flock, I am sure they took shifts, and depending on the size, some could beyond eye sight. So the term "brothers" may not refer collectively to every one of the brothers. This is supported by verse 21, "But when Reuben heard it …," where he is clearly not involved in the initial discussions. In fact, his plan to rescue him later, puts him in a different group. In my mind, the four brothers of the two servant women were most likely the ring leaders. Potentially, Simeon and Levi, who were known for their violence, could possibly be added. Except for Judah, the two remaining brothers (not counting Benjamin) are younger and went along with the crowd. Reuben disagrees but does not really voice his disagreement. In the next passage, we see that Judah had second thoughts as well when he proposes selling him to a Midianite traveler.

 

God had a plan in this but God does not encourage sin. God uses the sin and brings about something good despite our sin. He is never caught off guard. The dreams of Joseph shared prior, show that God knew all along how things would work out.

 

What do we learn? "No one" does something to you that hurts you in a way that God does not know or will not use for your good. Yes, people do hurt us, but they cannot hurt the will of God. He will bring about good in any and every situation.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I blame others for my misfortune?
2. Am I looking to see how God can bring good out of the evil brought about on me?

 

PRAYER: Father, your plan cannot be shaken. Your will cannot be thwarted. It may take circuitous routes, but never out of your will. Help us to trust and obey, even when we seem defeated.

QT 12/1/2025 Gen 37:1-11, Don't show favoritism

Genesis 37:1–11 (ESV) —

1 Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan.

2 These are the generations of Jacob.

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

 

NOTE: The first thing to note is that his bad report concerned four brothers, all born of Bilhah and Zilpah (I'm never sure whether to call them wives or concubines. The son's names are Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. The four oldest sons (Reuben, Levi, Simeon, Judah) of Leah, as well as two younger (Issachar and Zebulun) are not involved in the bad report. Joseph would be the oldest of the working boys, Benjamin is still quite young.

 

This problem of favoritism is compounded by the fact that the twelve sons split in four groups depending upon their mother. Rachel was the preferred mother by Jacob and he appears to have made Joseph his favorite with Benjamin a close second. This is clearly noticed by the brothers and begins to produce a lot of jealousy and anger. The special gift, a cloak, makes it considerably worse. It does not sound like a coat that one would do any physical work wearing.

 

Joseph, as seen later in life, is an intelligent young man with a passion for organization and business. I would not call him a leader because he does not show any of those skills. In fact, sharing his dreams to his family certainly is not a good way to lead.

 

I have always felt that Joseph was prideful. I think his father is guilty of encouraging a false sense of pride. The dreams are true dreams and maybe should have been shared in private with his father.

 

What do we learn from this? We learn the same lesson Jacob should have learned watching his parents, favoritism is not a good way to raise your children. Your children should never know you favor one over the other. Likewise, neither should the mother or father favor a child. I think it is natural for daughters to do certain things with only the mother and the sons to do certain things with only the father. But beyond that, both parents must make a concerted effort to include each and every child as special.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I treat each of my children? If they are older, then I would add, even now?
2. Do I show any favoritism?
3. For those who have grandchildren, the same rules apply. How do I treat each of my grandchildren?

 

PRAYER: Father, give us (my wife and I) wisdom and we help raise our two young grandchildren. Help us to establish a strong foundation based on biblical concepts, rooted in love.