STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY SPECIAL FAVORS FORGOTTEN

GENESIS 40:16-23 Joseph’s faithfulness is seen even in his interpretation of the baker’s dream. As sad as it was to deliver such a message, Joseph would not swerve from the truth for one moment, even for his own advantage. He realized that it was his responsibility to pass on what...

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STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY SERVING WILLINGLY AND FAITHFULLY

GENESIS 40:1-8 Service was one of the main links in the remarkable chain of events that God brought about in Joseph's life. Now he was made responsible for the king's butler and baker, for "he served them" (Gen. 40:4). Joseph was made responsible for them because his godly character had...

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STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY GOD’S MYSTERIOUS WAYS

GENESIS 37:5-11 The Scriptures record that there was a twofold response to Joseph’s dreams: His brothers “envied him; but his father observed the saying” (Gen. 37:11). His brothers were jealous of him, but his father pondered and heeded what Joseph said. He began to reflect on how all this might...

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STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY INFLUENCE DURING FORMATIVE YEARs

GENESIS 37:1-4 After the record of Joseph’s birth in Genesis 30:23-24, very little is said of him until he was 17 years of age. Genesis 37 begins the detailed record of his life. In addition to the children of Bilhah and Zilpah, the children of Leah were also Joseph’s early...

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STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY A BELIEVER DIES

GENESIS 49:28-33 “When Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people” (Gen. 49:33). This was the final scene for this man who had become great in the sight of God...

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STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY ALONE WITH GOD

GENESIS 32:22-26 Some battles must be fought alone. There are times when no one can help us. This was just such a time in Jacob’s life. Jacob’s trouble was himself—his self-will, self-purpose, self-defense, self- desire and self-righteousness. Jacob’s self-life had to be dealt with, and God chose to do so...

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STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY A COVENANT OF SEPARATION

GENESIS 31:43-49 This passage of Scripture is often used as a covenant of fellowship or a benediction. However, the context clearly indicates that it was not a covenant of fellowship but a covenant of separation. Laban said to Jacob, “This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I...

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STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY NOTHING BY CHANCE

GENESIS 29:1-12 His experiences at Bethel began a new life for Jacob. After he had established a memorial to God, “Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east” (Gen. 29:1). The phrase “Jacob went on his journey” is literally “Jacob lifted up...

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STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY GOD KNOWS US THOROUGHLY

GENESIS 28:10-17 As Jacob lay under the stars while away from home that first night, he was alone with his own thoughts. No doubt he reflected on all that had happened. Perhaps he asked himself, Was it really worthwhile? Will I ever return to claim the birthright and blessing for...

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STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY BRINGING OUT THE BEST

GENESIS 28:1-5 After Rebekah’s plea to Isaac that Jacob not be allowed to marry a Hittite woman, Jacob was sent away with Isaac’s blessing. Isaac probably did not know that Esau had sworn to kill Jacob after Isaac’s death. However, Isaac lived several years after this time, and nothing ever...

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