Word in Five

Joseph isn't just' existing' in prison. He still has a heart for people because he is confident that God is good and he does good. He witnesses for God. The 'third day' features in the dreams - as it often does in the Bible - preparing us for the greatest 'third day' ever when Jesus rose from the dead.

There is a cost to following Jesus. Joseph would rather rot in an Egyptian prison than sin against God. Yet even in prison, he acts with integrity and works hard because he knows God is good. Jesus was falsely accused and viciously tempted by Satan, yet he said 'no' to sin and willingly paid the price for our sin. May we keep going whatever the cost as we fix our eyes on Jesus.

Joseph believes that the God who is King is a good God and does good. Therefore he serves well as a slave. What a challenge and encouragement that is to us to work hard with integrity even in the jobs we don't like doing. Joseph showed gratitude and it helped him to say 'no' to sin. He saw sin for what it is. May we have such an attitude, remembering our deep gratitude to Jesus who bore our sin.

What should we think about Tamar? The Bible seems to want us to be sympathetic towards her and to see her as someone who acted quickly, shrewdly and wisely. She shows greater concern about Jesus the Messiah even though she is an 'outsider' from Canaan than her father-in-law Judah does. Her witness seems to be a turning point in Judah's life as we will see in the ongoing story of Joseph. There's amazing grace for Judah's and there's encouragement to keep walking by faith like Tamar.

Another grim and dark chapter. What is God doing? We often ask that question so it's good that we have these Bible stories showing how God works out his plan and purpose through broken and dysfunctional families. We don't need to despair. And there's grace for Judah too! Jesus is willing and able to save completely all who trust in him.

Wow! Joseph brutally slave. His brother Judah doesn't come over as very kind even though he ends up 'saving' Joseph. Reuben is weak despite being the older brother. Jacob is broken hearted. What a dark chapter! But there's a 'meanwhile' at the end so there is hope. In fact, Joseph is exactly where the Lord needs him to be! Jesus was sold, let down by a weak Roman governor, crucified by wicked men, but it was exactly what God had planned should happen to save us! Hallelujah!

This part of the chapter shows the evil that lurks in the human heart - let's not allow bitterness and anger to fester. We need to take these powerful emotions to the only one who can handle them - our Lord. Remember Jesus who willingly and publicly went to Jerusalem knowing he would be betrayed and handed over to be crucified for us.

In this chapter we see Jacob has picked up bad habits from his parents about showing favouritism. We teach by our example so we need to take great care. We need to be slow in criticising Joseph when the Bible doesn't. God was kind in giving Joseph the dreams - how he would need to cling to that vision in the coming days. How we need to remember that every knee will bow before Jesus - so keep going!

In the second part of this chapter we see the contrast between Jacob and Esau. Esau looked impressive, but what he produces ends up being used through the Bible to picture people going against God and facing his judgment. But even there we can see grace, because the prophet Amos talked about their being forgiveness for Edomites. Let us hear God's voice and live, trusting in Jesus day by day.

In the this chapter we see a man moving away from the LORD and yet seeming to be blessed. We can be tempted to envy the wicked, but the name Esau made for himself was Edom which would come to nothing. Jacob remained where God wanted him to be, in the land of promise, trusting and following the LORD and through his family, God brought Jesus.

In the second half of this chapter we read some sad things, but we continue to see God's kindness in action. His kindness to Rachel despite the sadness. One day we will be able to fully see just how kind God has been to us. We see how we need to shelter under Jesus' blood because he sees all that we do and there will be a day of justice. We see his kindness to Isaac who had stuttered and stumbled, but God kept him and enabled him to finish the race, bearing fruit. May we know the God of Bethel, Jesus, Immanuel with us giving us our daily bread.

In the first part of this chapter one word comes to mind and that is 'grace'. The kindness which God lavishes upon us which we do not deserve. We see it given to Jacob. God will do what he always planned to in Jesus Christ - to fill his good earth will people who will trust him, follow him and enjoy him forever.

In the second part of this dark chapter we see people doing bad things in God's name and not acting like the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus shed his own blood to bring forgiveness and his resurrection on the third day he brings life. Simeon and Levi were right to be angry and for there desire for justice, but they needed to do in God's way. Thank God that he builds his church relentlessly even in the midst of such messy darkness and evil.

There is such sadness in the broken world in which we live. We have a compassionate God who through his Son Jesus transformed godless, wicked societies to bring equaility and concern for the weak - things we take for granted. We have a God who is concerned for the widow, orphan and oppressed.

God does what he says. Jacob is brought safely back to the promised land of Canaan where he finds shelter and builds an altar. Like Jacob, we can shelter in Jesus and his life and death and resurrection for us, knowing he will bring us safely to the new creation.

Don't trouble your troubles in your mind - bring them to the LORD in prayer. God is so kind to us and we can come boldly before him in the name of Jesus.

We need to learn to wrestle in prayer like Jacob and like Jesus. We need more than being active and well planned. Sometimes we only learn to really pray when we're given some kind of limp or scar. How remarkable that the One who wrestled with Jacob, one day wrestled in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before he laid down his life for us! This is our God - may we trust him.

Beware about fearing the worst and troubling our own thoughts. It's good to plan, prepare and do what we can in a situation - that's spiritual - but it's never enough. We need the LORD's help and Jacob gives us a great example of what prayer looks like - taking hold of God's promises and bringing our fears to him.

Laban teaches us that one day every knee will bow before Jesus and confess that he is Lord. It's so encouraging that the LORD can draw a straight line with a crooked stick, so we mustn't despair even when we mess up. Following Jesus, we will never be empty handed and nothing can separate us from God's love.

When it seems like God is nowhere to be seen, we can be certain that he is watching over us just as he said he would. Jesus was crushed for our sins and has totally defeated Satan so we can be absolutely confident in him.

If God is for us, who can be against us? We know he is for us because he has not spared his Son, but has given him for us. Therefore we can serve him by working hard and doing the right thing in every situation knowing that he sees and cares about injustice.

Beware of blind spots - that's why we need church life! Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. He gives rather than takes. He is gentle and kind.

Even if we are faithless, God remains faithful, he cannot deny himself. He can draw straight lines with crooked sticks which is good news for crooked sticks.

God is so kind. He moves towards us and enables us to serve him even when we have made some unwise decisions in the past. We need to remember his kindness and not have an attitude of being entitled. He has forgiven us such a huge debt in his great goodness.

Leah learned about the One who loves her with an everlasting love and will not let her go. May we know and experience his loving care - the God who sees and hears.

Jesus is coming again and we will all hear his voice and be raised to either life or death. We need to hear his voice now and cross over from death to life.

Jesus has ascended! He has all authority as our king. Therefore we can pray boldly, be confident of our security and keep going telling people about him because he will build his church.

Remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead. It impacts everything!

Hallelujah! What a Saviour! He bore the curse for us.

What a friend we have in Jesus. He gives and gives and gives of himself and is concerned for us as his people.

We have a gentle king who says "come to me for rest". He is not a taker, but a giver. He did not come to be served, but to serve. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

God is for us! What a truth. But how do we know? Because he gave Jesus up to die for us. Does guilt trouble you? Look up and see Jesus at God's right hand in heaven. We are more than conquerors!

Five big words - foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified - true of us in Jesus Christ!

Let's have the right view of our suffering. It is never hopeless and in it we can be sure that it will one day be far outweighed by the good life to come of God's glory. We join with creation in groaning as we await Jesus' return and as we do, God's Spirit turns our groans into prayers that God hears!

What a privilege to be adopted into the family of God and be his children! What rights we have and what responsibilities. And he wants us to know we are his children.

We do not face any condemnation if we are in Christ Jesus. We have been set free to do good works for God and one day our bodies and souls will be completely delivered from all the effects of sin!

The Christian life is an ongoing battle with sin. We love Jesus and want to do what is right, yet so often find ourselves doing wrong things. How we need to ask him for help to do the right thing, remembering that we have his Spirit and can say "no" to sin. And one day we will be fully delivered from every sinning again when Jesus returns!

God's commandments (and any law) can make us think about doing the wrong thing. The problem isn't with the commandments - it's exposing our hearts - and that's actually a good thing because it should drive us to Jesus!

In Jesus we have been released from being married to our old way of life that leads to death - we have died to that marriage. We are now married to Jesus so our desires totally change and we can love God and love our neighbour! May it be so in our lives.

We are under new management in Christ. Set free from a cruel commanding officer who promises a lot but only pays us death to belong to a new master who gives us the gift of everlasting life.

We need to know who we are in Jesus and then be who we are in the strength he gives us!

We are queued up in one of two lines - either Adam's line or Jesus' line. The lines couldn't be more different. One is a 'dead' line. One is full of abundant life. Praise God that he sent a second and last Adam, Jesus Christ!

We have peace with God. We have a hope that will never disappoint. God has poured his love into our hearts - and what a love it is!

Unity is so important as God's people - we have one faith - the faith of Abraham. His faith wasn't a blind leap in the dark and neither is ours. It is based upon who we know God to be - his track record and most of all, what he has done in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

God loves to give good gifts to his children. He has given us the greatest gift of all - being with right with him through Jesus. It's always been a gift, even for people like Abraham and David. They had faith in Jesus too because Jesus is the only Rescuer.

How can good things happen to bad people? How can I a sinner have peace with God and be called good by him? Because of Jesus, our sacrifice and goodness. God is totally fair and just. In fact, because we are in Jesus, it would be unjust for him to condemn us! Glory!

Wow! These verses are so convicting. None of us are good in and of ourselves. We need one who is good to rescue us! Thank the Lord that the next verse (v21) begins, 'but now'.

The whole Bible is 'the very words of God'. What a privilege it is to have the Bible and hear it read and explained. What a responsibility to have ears to hear! God is just in punishing sin. We are responsible for our sin and need the rescuer, Jesus Christ.

Why can we pray? How can we know God? How can we stand before him in judgment? Only because he has given us new life in Jesus. It's not knowing stuff or doing stuff - but trusting in Jesus! Knowledge and good works are important in the Christian life, but they flow from being connected to Jesus.

God is passionate about justice. There is a great day of judgment to come where there will be a great righting of everything. We can rest in knowing he will do all things well and know that on that day, we can stand because of the great day of judgment upon the cross when Jesus died in our place!