Jacob’s prophecies

Jacob, aware of his age and frailty and knowing that he had not got long left to live, called together his twelve children and had a word of prophecy for each one of them (Genesis 49:1-2). We can learn the lessons from these prophecies if we are prepared to evaluate...

That hard lesson: it really isn’t about me

Now we see how Joseph had risen to power (Genesis 47:13-31). God had given him years of training; he had experienced rejection, been abandoned in the depths of a well, sold into slavery. He had to resist temptations, known life in prison and learnt to handle his own...

It’s never too late to go on an adventure with God

Sometimes God calls us to new ventures with Him at a time when we think we are going to be settled for the rest of our life. I understand that, as I write I am sixty three, nearly sixty four. I have been thinking about my retirement and what that might look like. I...

The extent of forgiveness

Joseph was now satisfied that the time had come to tell his brothers who this ‘Prince of Egypt’ really was. We are in Genesis 45. The story of what his brothers had done was likely to become widely known if Joseph revealed himself in front of an Egyptian court, so he...

Is it a trick?

Joseph has released his brothers to travel back to Canaan with the all the food they can carry (Genesis 44:1). Their money has also been returned to them but, Joseph has paced his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. It’s a set up! Soon, Joseph’s men catch up with them and...

Sometimes it’s just tough

Many years ago I went through a period of time when God was clearly dealing with me. It was painful, hard and frankly not nice. I knew God was speaking but the process of sanctification was not easy because I was having to deal with things about me that I did not want...