Happy New Year! New beginnings are a great and exciting opportunity to renew and restart our commitments. Even Joseph’s family was excited to start their new lives. Read Genesis 46:29-34. you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ that you may live in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians.” Genesis 46:34 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.46.34.NASB Joseph is helping them navigate some of the tricky political things of their new home. The first of which is actually where their new will be. Having someone who knows the “lay of the land” when dealing with…

Following. A lot of people have made a big deal about the importance of leadership in today’s culture, but without followers, there would be no leaders. Now, even Jacob becomes a follower. Read Genesis 46:8-28. Now he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out the way before him to Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. Genesis 46:28 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.46.28.NASB As the Bible lists all the people who are making this trip from Canaan into Egypt, we see them following Jacob into this new country. Yet Jacob is simply following God’s command to him that we read about yesterday. Now, Jacob even follows his son Judah.…

When faced with a decision, do we check with God? Often we just decide to go in a certain direction and assume that God will tag along for the ride. Read Genesis 46:1-7. So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. Genesis 46:1 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.46.1.NASB Jacob begins his journey, but he doesn’t head to Egypt, at least not a first. He heads to Beersheba where he can worship and pray and ask God what to do. When we are faced with a decision, we are not the ones who need to make it, that is…

Making right a wrong. It’s a whole lot easier if you aren’t the one who made it wrong in the first place. Unfortunately for Joseph’s brothers, they were the ones who made it wrong. Now they are headed back to tell their father the truth. Read Genesis 45:25-28. They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But he was stunned, for he did not believe them. Genesis 45:26 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.45.26.NASB I’m sure that was a fun conversation. “So, Dad, remember how we told you that Joseph must have died and that whole bloody coat thing several years ago? Um,…

Word has spread! Joseph’s brothers are here! The Egyptians see and hear all that has happened and now even the Pharaoh tells Joseph that he must invite them all to live here in Egypt. Read Genesis 45:16-24. So he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the journey.” Genesis 45:24 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.45.24.NASB So Joseph sends them back to get Jacob and the rest of the family. Then he gives them this interesting command. No fighting or arguing. That’s a long trip and they have gone through a lot and they shouldn’t fight or argue about what is going on. How often…