QT 1/21/2026 Gen 49:14-21, Raising our flag

Genesis 49:14–21 (ESV) —

14 “Issachar is a strong donkey,

crouching between the sheepfolds.

15 He saw that a resting place was good,

and that the land was pleasant,

so he bowed his shoulder to bear,

and became a servant at forced labor.

16 “Dan shall judge his people

as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way,

a viper by the path,

that bites the horse’s heels

so that his rider falls backward.

18 I wait for your salvation, O Lord.

19 “Raiders shall raid Gad,

but he shall raid at their heels.

20 “Asher’s food shall be rich,

and he shall yield royal delicacies.

21 “Naphtali is a doe let loose

that bears beautiful fawns.

 

NOTE: At this point, most of the tribes receive short blessings with some warnings or danger points. All of the tribes are blessed, but not all of the tribes use that blessing for good. One obvious point is that Issachar's land was pleasant and good, and they chose slavery rather than freedom. They were probably one of the tribes who repeatedly mentioned going back to Egypt when times got rough. It is an interesting dichotomy for the believer. I think we can become over engaged and enthused by politics, when our real kingdom is not here yet, and people still do not know the savior. Good laws do not cause people to seek God. Removing corruption does not cause people to seek God. These things are important but we must not forget that the gospel message is of supreme importance. If we are heavily involved in politics but we are not sharing Jesus with others, then I would say we are wrong. The gospel needs to be first importance, not our checkbook or even our freedom.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I know non-Christians and have I ever bothered to share Jesus?
2. Have I even raised my "flag" among non-Christians? Raising a "flag" is when you identify with God or with going to church or that you believe the bible.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray we could be more courageous with our faith. I pray we might start with the easy stuff, raising some type of "flag" that identifies us with Jesus. Give  us courage to take those first steps.

QT 1/20/2026 Gen 49:8-13, Promises made, promises fulfilled

Genesis 49:8–13 (ESV) —

8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;

your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;

your father’s sons shall bow down before you.

9 Judah is a lion’s cub;

from the prey, my son, you have gone up.

He stooped down; he crouched as a lion

and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,

nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until tribute comes to him;

and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

11 Binding his foal to the vine

and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,

he has washed his garments in wine

and his vesture in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes are darker than wine,

and his teeth whiter than milk.

13 “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;

he shall become a haven for ships,

and his border shall be at Sidon.

 

NOTE: This is the first place in scripture that we see Judah prophesied as the line of the Messiah (verse 10). The three older brothers have disqualified themselves. We have already seen Judah take on the leadership of the family over that of Reuben, and even Jacob. Joseph appears as a type of Christ in his life, but Judah carries the seed of Christ, the Messiah.

 

Judah was not perfect either. There are no perfect humans. David, the epitome of Judah's line is far from perfect, but he does one thing no one else does, he truly loves God with all of his heart.

 

We see God's plan beginning to take shape. It certainly was not orchestrated by human hands since the first king of Israel was from Benjamin before ultimately ending up in the tribe of Judah. God knows the future and he revealed it to Jacob. I'm sure Israel's tribes doubted God many times in the 400 years that followed their journey from the land into Egypt. God's timing is not our timing. All of God's promises get fulfilled in their time. There is a snatching up, a tribulation, and a second coming promised. There is a millennial rule of Christ on the earth coming. These are not idle promises even though almost 2000 years have passed since they were made. God's timeline is different, but God's fulfillment of those prophecies are 100 percent (in their time).

 

PONDER:

1. Am I doing all I can to be a witness to a spiritually dying generation?
2. Do I look for opportunities to leave a person with a verse or some truth?

 

PRAYER: Father, I want to be faithful to your calling. Help me to see where you are using me in the world. Help me to see the opportunities. Give me boldness to share the good news as I should.

QT 1/19/2026 Gen 49:1-7, A new birth and a new course

Genesis 49:1–7 (ESV) —

1 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.

2 “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,

listen to Israel your father.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,

preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.

4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,

because you went up to your father’s bed;

then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers;

weapons of violence are their swords.

6 Let my soul come not into their council;

O my glory, be not joined to their company.

For in their anger they killed men,

and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,

and their wrath, for it is cruel!

I will divide them in Jacob

and scatter them in Israel.

 

NOTE: Actions have consequences. You can be forgiven, but it may not take away the consequences. I'm sure Reuben, Simeon, and Levi regretted the steps they took. But Levi redeems himself to a degree 400 years later when it stands together against the sinful activities of its brothers and sisters. It is still scattered in Israel, but it becomes God's representative to the people. They will be entrusted with priestly duties, and caring for the tabernacle (and later the temple). So, the latter generations redeem themselves from the curse of their father. The bible does say that a Father's action can affect their children for many generations. But it also says, that a son is not held guilty for a father's actions. We can change the pattern, we don't have to remain identified by our earthly fathers. We can be different. We can be redeemed by the blood of the lamb and freed to live a different type of life.

 

PONDER:

1. Is there a history in my family that needs to be broken?
2. We are not defined by our family but by our actions. We can write our own history. Are we seeking God to redeem our lives for his glory?

 

PRAYER: My family history is dominated by out-of-wedlock births, multiple marriages, and alcoholism. But by the grace of God that has all changed in my life and my children. Among my siblings, it continues. I pray for grace to protect my family, and the new grandchildren. I pray that we are all setting a new course. By your mercy, redeem us from our father's sins.

QT 1/16/2026 Gen 48:17-22, God is greater than our situation

Genesis 48:17–22 (ESV) —

17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,

“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,

‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’ ”

Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”

 

NOTE: Joseph is quite disturb that his aged and mostly blind father has put his right hand on the second-born and not the first-born. Jacob was also a second-born and he was blessed over Esau. Isaac was second-born to Ishmael. For some reason, of God's own choosing, God, in at least two cases, elevates the second-born over the first. From Joseph's perspective, it was an example of an old man who can't even see. But apparently not, Jacob is clear that he knows what he is doing, and he is right. Half the tribe of Manasseh will settle on the other side of the Jordan, and ultimately disappear. Ephraim ends up in the middle of the land and becomes one of the largest tribes despite being a generation behind the others. When Israel splits into two, the norther kingdom of ten tribes is often called Ephraim while the southern kingdom of two tribes is known as Judah.

 

So what does it have to do with us? Our station or position in life does not determine our future. I grew up in a large family. Most of the time we were poor for a variety of reasons. In the best of times, we were lower middle class. No one in my known ancestry had gone to college and it was never discussed or encouraged. Quite frankly, I didn't spend much time thinking about it, and yet still imagined myself in some important job. Due to some strange circumstances (which I believe God orchestrated), I ended up in college. I got a BS in math and later an MS in operations research. I was commissioned in the Air Force. I retired as an Air Force squadron commander. I then worked for a world-renowned think tank. I left that work after over a decade to try out the corporate world. I led a Fortune 100 enterprise data science team which built AI models for the worker. I mention all that to say that one looking at me when I was young would have never predicted such a career. God can use anyone in life. We are not defined by our family or our upbringing. I suppose that is why I detest DEI and other such programs. I had no white privilege and could have easily failed. But I did work hard and God was my privilege, though I didn't know it.

 

PONDER:

1. Where are you in life? Are you using excuses to define yourself?
2. Are you willing to work and seek God in new ventures this year? What will it take?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know I was blessed by you. My circumstances were not good growing up, and the deeper story is even more difficult. But for some reason, you plucked me out of my situation so that I could hear the gospel. And you changed my life for the good. Thank you. I thank you not for the positions I held but for the opportunities to share the gospel and to disciple so many men over the years.

QT 1/15/2026 Gen 48:1-16, Taking care of children

Genesis 48:1–16 (ESV) —

1 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5 And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

8 When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said,

“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,

the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,

16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;

and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;

and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

 

NOTE: We really don't bless our children often enough. There was a practice in Victorian England of the nobility blessing the children when they greeted their parents, but that is long gone. Of course, that only suggests that the rich spent little time with their parents and that certainly was not good. But today, parents don't spend much time with their children either. Both parents work and come home exhausted. Dinners are takeout spent in front of the TV because the parents are exhausted. Grandparents live in different parts of the country and are traveling. Children spend their formative years in daycare centers with strangers caring for them. And we wonder what happened when our children rebel -- deep down they are rebelling against a lifestyle that did not include them, even if they did not realize it.

 

PONDER:

1. What will it take to spend more time with our children and grandchildren?
2. What will we have to give up for them?

 

PRAYER: Father, this is why you have me running a daycare for our two grandchildren. We have put aside traveling and many other tasks to spend time with our children. I know it is the best thing we could be doing right now.

QT 1/14/2026 Gen 47:13-22, Showing Grace to the dead and dying

Genesis 47:23–31 (ESV) —

23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.” 25 And they said, “You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh.” 26 So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh’s.

27 Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.

29 And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” 31 And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.

 

NOTE: Technically, where we are buried makes little difference. But as I saw in Amos recently, how we treat a dead body is a measure of the respect we have and a belief that the body was also made in the image of God. Our burial place does not change our relationship to God or any of the promises that God has made to us. But it is important to the dying and for that reason it should be important to us. In the coming years, I will face more death than what I have seen in the last ten. I tend to skip funerals unless the person was very close. I have gone to two funerals in the last ten years. The next ten years will be probably be more people that I know very well. I need to make these things a priority.

 

PONDER:

How can we show respect to the memory of the dead?

 

PRAYER: Father, I listen to my mother on the phone and it is hard to determine if she hears me. I know my relationship with my mom has not been what it ought to be. I pray in these last years, I would show her more grace, and that she would feel important.

QT 1/13/2026 Gen 47:13-22, Following God's will not your own desires

Genesis 47:13–22 (ESV) —

13 Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. 15 And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.” 16 And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. 18 And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent. The herds of livestock are my lord’s. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”

20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh’s. 21 As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had a fixed allowance from Pharaoh and lived on the allowance that Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their land.

 

NOTE: Joseph certainly made Pharaoh rich by his management of the famine. And it looks like he provided his own brothers with quite a bit of work since Pharaoh's livestock would have grown. So, God's people made Pharoah rich, and God's people will devastate Pharaoh and Egypt when they leave. I say God's people, but it was (will be) God. In the latter case, the punishment will be deserving given how they treat Israel during the 400 years of their sojourn/slavery in Egypt. They could have returned after the famine ended, but the work provided by caring for Pharaoh's ample livestock probably made it much lucrative to stay in Egypt. By the time they would consider leaving, they were probably too embedded to leave.

 

What is the message to us? God's plan was for Israel to be out of the promised land 400 years -- that was the time allowed for the Canaanites to repent, which they do not. God had to keep the Jewish people in Egypt. Even though it is not the promised land nor necessarily their (Israel's) desire (especially when they become slaves), it was God's will for them to remain in Egypt. Sometimes we think that God's will has to agree with our desires. We say that God gave me this desire, therefore it must be God's will. That is not true. It is nice thought and God does give us our desires at times, but do not fall into the trap of following your desires because you believe it is God's will for you.

 

PONDER:

1. What is God's will for my life?
2. How have I determined God's will for my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray we would use wisdom and prayer as we seek your will. I pray we would use mature counsel and the commands from your word to seek your will. Lead and guide us in your way.

QT 1/12/2026 Gen 47:1–12, Understanding the value of wisdom

Genesis 47:1–12 (ESV) —

1 So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” 2 And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” 4 They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” 5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”

7 Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

 

NOTE: I have to start with this interaction of five brothers with Pharaoh, because it is so real to me. Originally, Joseph had told his brothers only to mention that they are shepherds, but they go beyond that to ask if they can live in Goshen. I've been in this situation before. I know how a particular senior leader will react and I've instructed others on the limit of what they should say. Even though Joseph wanted them to stay in Goshen, you don't want to appear to be forcing the senior leader's hand. Joseph tells Pharaoh that they are currently in Goshen, the perfect place for sheep, but only temporarily. He plants a seed knowing that it makes the most sense. The brothers go beyond because they did not know to interact with senior leaders. Fortunately it does not blow up in their faces. And in fact, the Pharaoh is very disposed toward Joseph, and even wants to take advantage of whatever skill God (he might say the gods) has blessed this family with in regards to flocks.

 

The second important thing is Pharaoh's interest in Jacob's age. At that time, many civilizations believed a person was blessed to live long, and that an older person should be held in high esteem for his wisdom. The eldest in the family usually ruled or led the tribe. Today, we have lost the value of wisdom incurred with age. We have a lot of stupid young people leading major corporations. We also discriminate against the aged, pursuing a younger work force. There are reasons to make those decisions on an individual basis. Technology is rapidly changing. The energy level of the person is not sufficient for the job. And finally, the cost of older individuals is higher than younger. But I think our society has made, and is making a mistake by not using older people to lead our companies.

 

How does this apply to us? Don't discount the aged or the wisdom of the aged. Treat them with respect. And don't think you know it all when meeting with a high-ranking person and you go off script because you think you know what you are doing better than the person with experience.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I value comments coming from older individuals?
2. Do I show arrogance when I do things my way rather than the way I was instructed?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am not old and I am not young. I look younger than I should, but this year I will be 68 years old. I've seen much. I know a lot because I know what I don't know. Thank you for the opportunities to serve as a role model and mentor to many different men. I pray that I would do it with humility, gentleness, and respect. Continue your graciousness to me.

QT 1/9/2026 Gen 46:28-34, The great healer

Genesis 46:28–34 (ESV) —

28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

 

NOTE: Joseph, despite his position, presented himself to his father. Even though Joseph had royal power, to his father, he was just a son, and his father would always demand the respect due him as his father. The moment is very touching. It is the first time they have seen each other in 20-plus years. What is not said, is how he escaped the wild beasts, and how he ended up in Pharaoh's court? Did they lie? Did they gloss over those details? It doesn't really matter. There was healing, and the love of the whole family is renewed. I suppose it could be that Jacob knew all along, but it doesn't matter. What matters is renewal, and restoration, and moving back to God.

 

We all go through difficult periods of life. It is time to let go of the past, and move forward. You can only do it through Jesus Christ -- all other paths will fail. Don't waste your time in human paths. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through me."

 

PONDER:

1. Has life thrown you wrenches?
2. Are you still recovering or wondering if you will ever recover?

 

PRAYER: Father, you are the great healer -- the great physician. You can heal the things that no one else can. Dig deep into our souls and show us our greatest need, and lead us into the path of healing, restoration, and salvation.

QT 1/8/2026 Gen 46:8-27, God is looking for people who will be his witness on earth

Genesis 46:8–27 (ESV) —

8 Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, 9 and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three.

16 The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, with Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons.

19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, bore to him. 21 And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob—fourteen persons in all.

23 The son of Dan: Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob—seven persons in all.

26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

 

NOTE: Commentators have a lot of difficulty with the last two verses (26-27). When I add verses 8-25, I get 70. The writer then says that 66 traveled to Egypt. Joseph was already in Egypt as were his two sons, and Jacob may not have included himself, since 66 is the number "belonging" to Jacob. In any case, the most significant aspect of the number 70 is that it is the number of nations that were scattered at the tower of Babel in Genesis 10.

 

Why is that significant? Because this 70 people represents a new beginning for God's creation. The previous 70 nations did not pursue God, so God chooses one nation, a very insignificant group of people. They were not the largest, and they were not the smartest. Their technology was always weak. But God blesses them and protects them. For now, they will be an entire nation of slaves until they number nearly 700,000 men.

 

There were also 70 disciples (some versions translate 72) of Jesus who went out two-by-two and shared the gospel. They also represent another new beginning in history. This third group of 70 is the last group that God will start until he comes again to restore all things. This last group represents Grace. This is the nation we want to be a part of. It actually isn't a nation but rather the body of Christ. All other groups ultimately fail, but this last group will continue until the rapture.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I a part of the body of Christ?
2. Or am I just a religious person or worse, just a spiritual person? Christ is the only way to God!

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you that I know you and have seen my life transformed by the Holy Spirit. I want to continue to walk in this new life. Help me to be a good witness, and do all within my power to advance the kingdom.

QT 1/7/2026 Gen 46:1-7, He is with his children

Genesis 46:1–7 (ESV) —

1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”

5 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, 7 his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.

 

NOTE: It must have been hard for Jacob to leave the land. Abraham was so fearful of his son leaving, that he sent a servant to fetch a wife from relatives. God encouraged Jacob to come back after he left and found himself in Haran. And now God encourages Jacob to leave the land. There was good reason. They were beginning to assimilate into the  culture of Canaan. In Egypt, because of Egypt's attitude toward Shepherds, Israel will remain a tight community.

 

But Jacob also knew of the prophecy when they leave the land.

 

Genesis 15:13 (ESV) — Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

 

While things were starting well, they would end up being slaves. So God met with him -- this is the sixth time God spoke to Jacob, and this is the fifth "Do not be afraid" consolation that God gives in Genesis (the previous four were given to Isaac and Abraham). This was a huge move. The only positives were that he would see his son Joseph again, and they would have food for his family.

 

We all face big events in our life: a new job, a move, marriage, family, etc. Sometimes these moves takes us far away from home and family. But they never take us away from God. He is always with us. He may seem far at times, but he is not. He is with those who are his children by adoption always.

 

PONDER:

1. Are you in a new season in life? God is there!
2. Are you facing tremendous pressure and struggles? He is there.
3. Go to him in honesty. He will hear.

 

PRAYER: Father, Life is not always how we want it, but it is always as you allow. You are in charge despite the evil against you. God has not forgotten you. Stay with him and he will bring you through.

QT 1/6/2026 Gen 45:1-28, Moving on -- Spiritual revival

Genesis 45:1–28 (ESV) —

1 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

21 The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”

25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

 

NOTE: Oops, I think I messed up yesterday and redid the same passage from last week. Oh well.

 

This is the climax of the story, and Joseph can barely hold in his emotions. There are a few responses to this truth. 1) Joseph is in tears to be reconciled to his step-brothers and his brother. They were different. They held no grudges nor bitterness but were truly repentant. 2) His brothers were stunned, almost unbelieving that the person they feared was actually their brother. Joseph's dreams had been true. And he held no grudge. And they could relax a little knowing that their actions had not killed their step-brother. 3) Benjamin recognizes Joseph in some special way since he was too young to really have known Joseph. There is a special connection between the brothers. 4) The spirit of this father revived. For over 20 years, much like his 20 years with Laban, he dealt with personal struggles. He never seems to get over the loss of Joseph because he brings it up so often. I call this a 20-year funk that Abraham never moves on. But now he is revived which should have happened sooner.

 

Are we in some kind of funk where we are reliving years that did not happen, a promotion that got away, the death of a loved one, an embarrassing decision, or something / anything that has zapped us for years. It is time to move on. It is time to be revived in spirit. It is time to return to God.

 

PONDER:

1. What is it that I cannot let go of?
2. Where do I need to move on?
3. What will it take to revive my spirit? It starts with repentance and seeking God wholeheartedly again?

 

PRAYER: Father, sometimes I fall into a morass where I relive something that did not happen as I wished. Forgive me. I am right where you want me to be, doing exactly what you have planned for me. I am grateful for my lot in life, it has fallen in pleasant places.

QT 1/5/2026 Gen 44:12-20, Facing injustice

Genesis 44:12–20 (ESV) —

12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. 15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” 16 And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

18 Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ 20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’

 

NOTE: Joseph never says that he practices divination, only "a man like me can indeed practice divination." I doubt Joseph practiced divination since he clearly said to Pharaoh, only God can give to Pharoah the answer he seeks. The law had not been written yet, and it is possible no one saw divination as evil. Apparently, men in high positions like Joseph in Egypt, did indeed practice it. In any case, by calling it what Joseph did, it undercuts the argument that they had brought back the previous money and certainly are not greedy for gold.

 

All of this brings us to our climax. The search from eldest to youngest (with each passing man, the men either were more relieved or more worried) increases the stress. The finding of the cup in the last bag of the youngest was the worst possible outcome.

 

In my opinion, Judah's comment, "God has found out the guilt of your servants" seems more like a reference to the general guilt of the group (because of what they did to Joseph) than Benjamin's specific act of taking the cup. He doesn't say that but why does he say God has found out the guilt when none were guilty. Why not lead off with a "I swear we did not do this thing, someone has framed us?"

 

Judah takes the lead over his three older brothers, partly because he was the one who swore to his father to bring back Benjamin and partly because he has become the new leader in the family. He then very expertly explains their whole family story in the next paragraphs (tomorrow's reading).

 

How does this apply to us? Rather than fighting for their innocence, Judah humbly begins to ask for mercy. There have been times where we have been dealt with unjustly. Joseph was, and now all the brothers are facing an unjust verdict. One can be bitter. Or one can rest upon God who is in charge of all things. We do what we can, we do the best we can, and we remain confident in God's ultimate control.

 

PONDER:

1. How have I responded to injustice in work or in relationships?
2. Do I seek to justify myself or clear myself, or do I cling to God?

 

PRAYER: Father, my life has been easy compared to others. I have faced injustice but never on the scale that others have. I pray that even so, I would cling to you and to your mercy knowing that this life is not even a drop in the bucket compared to eternity.

QT 1/2/2026 Gen 45:1-11, Seeing God's hand for good

Genesis 45:1–11 (ESV) —

1 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’

 

NOTE: Leupold writes, “The simple statement, ‘I am Joseph,’ must have come like a thunderclap out of a clear sky on these unsuspecting men.” The emotion of the story is overwhelming. As Joseph listens to Judah's affection plea, he can see the sincerity of their repentance.

 

When Joseph says "it was not you, but God who sent me here," that is not to say that God caused them to consider an evil scheme, first death, then slavery. There are many ways God could have saved his people. God does not sin nor cause people to sin, but God can even use sin and turn it to good for the believer.

 

Romans 8:28 (ESV) — And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

 

God can work through any situation to bring you to where he wants you to be. He can allow very terrible things to happen and not intervene because he sees a way to something great.

 

In the story of Job, I find it interesting that Satan does not bring up Job's name, but rather God brings up the name. Satan complains about the hedge and argues that if Job face tough times his faith would fail. God allows Satan to do as he pleases with the one restriction on his life. Twice God allows this. How does Job respond? Well, initially he puts on his stoic face and responds very well, but after time, he demands an audience God to set him straight, and calls his justice wrong. In chapters 38-42, we learn the real reason for God allowing Satan to inflict suffering. God has two points and in both cases Job repents. First, God shows the man who used to have people come to him for council and wisdom, that God is the source of all wisdom, and to run his life, he needs God's wisdom (Job 38-39). Secondly, God shows the richest man on earth, that no matter how powerful he might feel, he needs to trust in God's power, not his (Job 40-41).

 

WISDOM

Job 1:4–5 (ESV) —

4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

Job 4:3–4 (ESV) —

3 Behold, you have instructed many,

and you have strengthened the weak hands.

4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,

and you have made firm the feeble knees.

Job 29:7–10 (ESV) —

7 When I went out to the gate of the city,

when I prepared my seat in the square,

8 the young men saw me and withdrew,

and the aged rose and stood;

9 the princes refrained from talking

and laid their hand on their mouth;

10 the voice of the nobles was hushed,

and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.

Job 29:21–25 (ESV) — 21 “Men listened to me and waited

and kept silence for my counsel.

22 After I spoke they did not speak again,

and my word dropped upon them.

23 They waited for me as for the rain,

and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence,

and the light of my face they did not cast down.

25 I chose their way and sat as chief,

and I lived like a king among his troops,

like one who comforts mourners.

 

POWER

Job 1:1–3 (ESV) —

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.

 

Job's story was never a battle between Satan and God. From the beginning of God's question to Satan, "Have you consider Job?" God knew what he was going to do with Job.

 

Likewise, God knows what he is doing in our life. We need to trust him no matter how things might look.

 

PONDER:

1. What situations am I facing?
2. Where am I struggling with God's sovereignty?

 

PRAYER: Father, in this new year, I pray to listen to you. I don't desire to learn lessons the hard way. I want to be one who hears and who responds. Have mercy on me, a sinner.