GOD in the Old Testament - Genesis - Part 24

Genesis 48:1-4  

     Some time later Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to see you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.

    Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me and said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.' "

 

Genesis 48:8-9  

    When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, "Who are these?"

    "They are the sons God has given me here," Joseph said to his father.

    Then Israel said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them."

 

Genesis 48:11  

    Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too."

 

Genesis 48:15-22  

    Then he blessed Joseph and said,

"May the God before whom my fathers

    Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,

the God who has been my shepherd

    all my life to this day,

the Angel who has delivered me from all harm

    --may he bless these boys.

May they be called by my name

    and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,

and may they increase greatly

    on the earth."

    When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. Joseph said to him, "No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." 

    But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become groups of nations." He blessed them that day and said, 

    "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing:

        'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.' "

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

    Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers. And to you I give one more ridge of land than to your brothers, the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow." (Shechem)

(see all Genesis 48)   

  

(parentheses are mine) 

 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Limited to 15 verses per post.

GOD in the Old Testament - Genesis - Part 23

Genesis 43:19-23

    So they went up to Joseph's steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. "We beg your pardon, our lord," they said, "we came down here the first time to buy food. But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver--the exact weight--in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don't know who put our silver in our sacks."

    "It's all right," he said, "Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver." Then he brought Simeon out to them. 

 

Genesis 43:29-30  

    As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.

(see all Genesis 43 and 44)

 

Genesis 45:6-9  

"For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve you for a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

    "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay.' "

(see all Genesis 45)

 

Genesis 46:1-4  

    So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

    And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!"

    "Here I am," he replied.

    "I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes."

(see all Genesis 46 and 47)     

  

(parentheses are mine) 

 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Limited to 15 verses per post.

GOD in the Old Testament - Genesis - Part 22

Genesis 41:37-41

    The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?"

    Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."

    So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt."

 

Genesis 41:50-52  

    Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh (may be derived from the Hebrew for "forget") and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." The second son he named Ephraim (sounds like the Hebrew for "twice fruitful") and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."  

(see all Genesis 41) 

 

Genesis 42:18-21  

    On the third day, Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, then let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die." This they proceeded to do.

    They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come on us." 

 

Genesis 42:27-28  

     At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. "My silver has been returned," he said to his brothers. "Here it is in my sack."

    Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, "What is this that God has done to us?" 

(see all Genesis 42) 

  

(parentheses are mine) 

 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Limited to 15 verses per post.

GOD in the old Testament - Genesis - Part 21

Genesis 40:6-8

    When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh's officials who were in custody with him in his master's house, "Why do you look so sad today?" 

    "We both had dreams," they answered, "but there is no one to interpret them."

    Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."

(see all Genesis 40)

 

Genesis 41:14-16  

    So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. when he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

    Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."

    "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh," but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."

 

Genesis 41:25-33  

    Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years: It is one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine. 

    "It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will savage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows will be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

    "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt."  

(continued tomorrow)

  

(parentheses are mine) 

 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Limited to 15 verses per post.

GOD in the Old Testament - Genesis - Part 20

Genesis 39:2-16  

    The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph's care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

    Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"

    But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "My master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. 

     One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

    When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, she called her household servants. "Look," she said to them, "this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house."

    She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home.  

    (see all Genesis 39) 

  

(parentheses are mine) 

 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Limited to 15 verses per post.

GOD in the Old Testament - Genesis - Part 19

Genesis 33:4-5

    But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. "Who are these with you?" he asked.

    Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant."

 

Genesis 33:10-11  

    "No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need." And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.  

(see all Genesis 33 and 34)

 

Genesis 35:1  

    Then God said to Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau."

 

Genesis 35:3 

"Then come, let us go up to Bethel (which means "house of God"), where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone."

 

Genesis 35:5  

Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.

 

Genesis 35:7  

There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel (which means "God of Bethel"), because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother. 

 

Genesis 35:9-15  

    After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. God said to him, "Your name is Jacob (which means "he grasps the heel" a Hebrew idiom for "he deceives"), but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel (probably means "he struggles with God")." So he named him Israel.

    And God said to him, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you." Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him. 

    Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel (which means "house of God").  

(see all Genesis 35 through 38)

    

(parentheses are mine) 

 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Limited to 15 verses per post.

GOD in the Old Testament - Genesis - Part 18

Genesis 32:1-2

    Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When he saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim (meaning two camps).

 

Genesis 32:7-12  

    In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds of cattle as well. He thought, "If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape."

    Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD, you who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,' I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.' " 

 

Genesis 32:24-30  

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."

    But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

    So the man asked him, "What is your name?"

    "Jacob," he answered.

    Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob (meaning "he grasps the heel" a Hebrew idiom for "he deceives."), but Israel (probably means "he struggles with God."), because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome."

    Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."

    But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.

    So Jacob called the place Peniel (meaning "face of God"), saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."  (see all Genesis 32) 

  

(parentheses are mine) 

 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Limited to 15 verses per post.