Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” (Genesis 37:9 CSB) Joseph had two dreams from God in this chapter. These dreams showed how he, the...
For their possessions were too many for them to live together, and because of their herds, the land where they stayed could not support them. So Esau (that is, Edom) lived in the mountains of Seir.” (Genesis 36:7-8 CSB) Reading through a list of genealogies may not be the most...
God said to Jacob, “Get up! Go to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” (Genesis 35:1 CSB) Bethel was the place where the Lord met with Jacob in chapter 28. At that place, the...
On the third day later, when they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and killed every male. (Genesis 34:25 CSB) Today we see how God continues to be with His people despite imperfections and screw-ups....
But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept. (Genesis 33:4 CSB) The power of God can change the human heart. When Esau and Jacob were last together, Esau wanted to murder Jacob! These brothers were separated from one another...
“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28 CSB) The re-naming of Jacob here is similar to when Abraham’s name was changed from Abram. God is consistent in His plan and...
So Laban searched, but could not find the household idols. (Genesis 31:35b CSB) Laban heads home without his household gods. Do you wonder how Laban could have false, non-living gods when he knew full well that Jacob’s God was real -- alive and talking to Jacob, telling him to watch...
Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God? He has withheld offspring from you!” (Genesis 30:2 CSB) In Matthew Henry’s commentary on this passage, he says: “Whatever we want, it is God that withholds it, a sovereign Lord, most wise, holy, and just, that...
When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him, hugged him, and kissed him. Then he took him to his house, and Jacob told him all that had happened. (Genesis 29:13 CSB) Out in the open land, Jacob heads over to the shepherds and...
Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safely to my father’s family, then the Lord will be my God.” (Genesis 28:20-21...