Moses Confronts Pharaoh Exodus 4:18 – 7:13 After the infamous encounter with Yahweh on Mount Horeb, Moses returned to his father-in-law Jethro to secure permission for him to leave for Egypt (remember when Jacob did not secure blessing from Laban, his wife’s father, to leave?). After receiving Jethro’s blessing, Moses packed up his family and […]
The Burning Bush Exodus 3:1 – 4:17 Moses was faithfully tending the flocks of his father-in-law on the far side of the desert. He came to a mountain, which is referred to as the mountain of God. It was there on this mountain that God called to Moses out of a burning bush. The text […]
Moses is Exiled Exodus 2:11-25 From Moses’ growing up years till now, he has been a resident and quite possibly a “prince” in the land of Egypt living in the household of Pharaoh (much of these years are subject to conjecture on behalf of storytellers, but some of it can be held to be assumed). […]
Birth of Moses Exodus 2:1-10 The backdrop for this story occurs in the chapter preceding (obviously). The king of Egypt has issued a decree that all Hebrew boys upon birth are to be thrown into the Nile River (Exod 1:22). The Israelites are doing all they can to prevent such a tragedy to their children, […]
Israelites in Slavery in Egypt Exodus 1:1-22 The book of Exodus opens up after some 400 years since the close of the book of Genesis. During the time and rule of Joseph alongside of Pharaoh king of Egypt, Jacob (otherwise known as “Israel”), came to Egypt to live during the extreme famine of the day. […]
Joseph’s Family Comes to Egypt Genesis 42:1—46:7 Joseph is second-in-charge of Egypt—Vice-Pharaoh. The land had just recently undergone seven years of great abundance and was now just a little into the seven years of severe famine. The Lord had warned the Pharaoh of Egypt of the abundance and famine in a dream which Joseph interpreted. […]
Joseph’s Slavery Ends Genesis 41:1-57 Joseph’s life has been a wild roller coaster ride—up and down, up and down, loopy loop. Will things ever work out for the man the Lord has favor on? Two full years pass since the cup-bearer and the baker had their dreams come true. The cup-bearer is still in his […]
Joseph’s Slavery in Jail Genesis 39:20—40:23 Joseph just cannot catch a break! His brothers threw him in a well and sold him as a slave, was elevated to “head” slave only to be demoted to bottom-of-the-totem-pole prisoner after a completely false accusation was leveled against him. Could Joseph’s life get any worse?! Curriculum y1_w18 – Josephs […]
Joseph’s Slavery at Potiphar’s House Genesis 39:1-20 Joseph is stuck in slavery. How would you be feeling? Your brothers hated you so much that they threw you into a pit and sold you off to some traveling merchants heading to Egypt. Would you be upset? Would you be complaining? Perhaps. Joseph ended up being passed […]
Joseph’s Journey to Slavery Genesis 37:1-36 Jacob was third in line from the promise of God. The first was Abraham who the Lord told would have descendants as many as the sand on the seashore and as the stars in the heavens. Isaac was the second. The promise was passed on to him because he […]
Jacob Goes Back to the Land and Wrestles Genesis 31:1—33:20; 35:1-15 I wonder if deception is a theme in the life of Jacob? It seems to crop up a lot in the biblical stories about him. He deceived his brother Esau, his father Isaac, and now in the following story he continues this cunning practice. […]
Jacob’s Dream and Marriage Genesis 29:1— 30:24 Esau is after Jacob. If everything that was rightfully yours was stolen from you, you’d be pretty upset. Jacob had lied and deceived and tricked his father, Isaac, into giving him all the rightful blessings of the firstborn son to him instead of Esau. Esau, understandably, is kind […]
Jacob and His Brother Esau Genesis 25:19-34; 27:1-41 Isaac and Rebekah were married when Isaac was forty years old. Rebekah, however, was not able to have children “because she was barren” (Gen 25:21). Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife’s womb and the Lord answered his prayer. Rebekah became pregnant. It was a very […]
Isaac Marries Rebekah Genesis 24:1-67 Abraham was getting very old and his son Isaac did not have a wife. So, Abraham sent a servant on a mission to find Isaac a mate. Abraham was very specific: “I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you […]
Sacrifice of Isaac Genesis 22:1-19 “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. “God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell […]
Birth of Isaac Genesis 21:1-21 This story is very simple, yet extremely powerful. Abraham and Sarah had a son and they named him Isaac. While that may seem very normal and uneventful, let me fill you it on the back story. Abraham and Sarah were around 100 years old and 90 years old, respectively. They […]
Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 18:1—19:29 One day while Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day, he saw three men standing nearby. He went to them humbly and asked if he may serve them, give them something to eat and refresh them. The three visitors graciously accepted. The […]
God’s Covenant with Abraham Genesis 15:1-21 There was a problem. Abram and Sarai did not have any children. Any blessing from God would pass on to a servant in their household. But God already had that problem thought through. “…a son coming from your own body will be your heir. Look up at the heavens […]
Call of Abraham Genesis 12:1—14:24 Up to this point in the story of Genesis, the LORD God has been dealing with mankind on a global, worldwide scale. Chapter 12 is the turning point in the story. It signals the end of the prologue (introduction) to the story and focuses on a person. And so begins […]
Tower of Babel Genesis 11:1-9 Thus far in the story, human beings have been thwarting the Lord God, our Creator, from the beginning of time—Adam and Eve’s disobedience, the murder of Abel by Cain, and the worldwide Flood in response to rampant evil. Things aren’t looking good for a turn-around. Curriculum y1_w06 – Tower of Babel […]