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"the bible is not a book; it's a library."

Genesis 50:20

"You planned something bad for me, but God produced something good from it, in order to save the lives of many people, just as he’s doing today."

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"I've come to a richer understanding of the Bible not by thinking abstractly...but by living w/it, reading it, praying it..." - Lauren Winner

Genesis 48

In his old age, Jacob reminds Joseph of the covenant agreement God has made.

Notice that he is nearly blind, as was his father Isaac when he blessed Jacob and Esau. Notice also, how the younger grandson and the older grandson are mixed up. The younger one will be "greater" than his older brother. There seems to be a pattern of this in Genesis, doesn't there?

Genesis 46-47

In today's reading, we hear of the promise again. What promise? The promise God made to Abraham and Sarah. The promise God continued with their son - Isaac. And the promise that extended to their grandson Jacob. Jacob's favorite, Joseph, had been presumed dead - thrown into a cistern and then sold to foreigners. But Joseph isn't dead - he's alive in Egypt. And in Genesis 46, Jacob will make his way to Egypt. 

But did you catch verses 3-4:

³ So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. ⁴ I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again;and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”

There's the promise. The promise of being a great nation. The promise of being in the "promised land" ("I will also surely bring you up again"). 

Jacob is going to be temporarily in Egypt - with all his family, including the one he thought was dead. But he will be reunited. They will live in Egypt. For a period. But God has bigger plans. Plans that began way back in Genesis 12. 

Joseph!

Have you ever known someone young, cocky, self-assured, and maybe over-confident? That's Joseph! He was his dad's favorite and he had 10 older brothers. And he knew pain in his life. He knew estrangement from his family. He knew sexual temptation. He knew being in prison. He knew what it was like to be forgotten by others - even those who had promised to help him! Come this Sunday as we explore the life of Joseph! 

The Story of Joseph

Genesis is the saga of four generations of one family - it begins with Sarah and Abraham. Next, we have the quick story of their son Isaac. Isaac's son's Jacob and Esau make up the third generation. And Jacob's sons including Joseph comprise the fourth generation.

It's helpful in our reading if we know how to divide up the story. Unfortunately, the Bible in our earliest manuscripts do not do that for us. Modern day Bibles do so by having chapters and verses, but as I have pointed out they don't always mark the beginning and endings neatly.

The newest Bibles often have notes provided by scholars. Often in the introduction to each book of the Bible, you can find a summary of its contents and an outline. The outline is very helpful.

We are wrapping up the story of Jacob. Next up is the story of Joseph.