“And he turned himself about from them, and wept;” (Genesis 42:24)    God used Joseph to warn Pharaoh of a seven-year famine to come. Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of preparation. The famine has come: “…and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.” (Genesis 41:54) “And all…

   “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)    Christmas is a celebration of eternal hope. Yet it has been secularized for a long time. It is often called the “holiday” season, where schools get a “winter” break or…

“Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?” (Genesis 41:38)    “And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.” (Genesis 41:1) The chief butler has forgotten Joseph. God has not. One night,…

   “And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold,…

 “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;…

 Joseph was sold to the Ishmeelites, then to Potiphar, an Egyptian captain. Genesis 39:2 says, “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man;” Joseph was in a place of adversity. He was not in Egypt by choice, but God was still with him. Like Joseph, you may be in a place…

“Now Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” (Genesis 37:3-4)…

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my…

“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among…

“And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he [Pilate] saith unto the Jews [regarding Jesus], Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but…

“By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.” (Proverbs 25:15) To persuade someone is to win them over to another way of thinking or path of action. Persuasion is done with patient reasoning, even if it takes time. That’s the idea of “long forbearing.” Our verse speaks of persuading…

“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.” (Genesis 35:1) Jacob and Esau were twins. Esau was born first, but Jacob had obtained a blessing deceitfully from his father…