His Faith Grew Stronger Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. Romans 4:20-22 (NLT) The apostle Paul reminds…
No Flies “If you refuse to let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and all the houses of Egypt. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be covered with them. But on that day I will give special treatment to the…
Oppression “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment.’” Exodus 6:6 (NLT) The people of Israel lived under the oppression of Egypt, carrying…
Rod and Hand Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. Exodus 4:2 (NLT) When God called Moses to deliver His people, He did not ask him to have all the resources in the world or to possess extraordinary knowledge. He only asked what he had in…
When He Received the Message So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to…
Establish, Prosper, and Grow Meanwhile, the people of Israel settled in the region of Goshen in Egypt. There they acquired property, and they were fruitful, and their population grew rapidly. Genesis 47:27 (NLT) The people of Israel experienced three steps that marked their destiny: first they established themselves in a land, then they prospered, and…
Controlled After washing his face, he came back out, keeping himself under control. Then he ordered, “Bring out the food.” Genesis 43:31 (NLT) Joseph, as governor of Egypt, had to face a moment filled with emotions when he saw his brothers after many years. However, before making decisions, he stepped away, washed his face, and…
Buying and Selling When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Genesis 39:1 (NLT) The story of Joseph reminds us that even in the midst of painful or seemingly unjust events, God is…
Prepare Yourself and Establish Yourself Then God said to Jacob, “Get ready and move to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau.” So Jacob told everyone in his household, “Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put…
Kidron and Olives After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. John 18:1 (NLT) The Word shows us that before being arrested, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley to reach the grove of olives. Kidron means “darkness,” while the olives represent oil, anointing, life, and…