27_Wrestling with God Gen 32:24-32 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 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. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon. Hos 12:3,4 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his mature strength he contended with God. 4 Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and implored His favor. Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian who sheltered Jews during Hitler’s reign of terror. Betrayed, she and her sister endured the horrors of Nazi concentration camp life during World War II. Despite numerous trials and miseries, they shared the good news of Christ with others in the camps. Many found God’s forgiveness and love in that setting of horror. After her release, she traveled the world, sharing her testimony of God’s grace and forgiveness. At one meeting, as she stood to receive people after her message, she recognized the man in front of her as a particularly brutal guard in one of the camps. This man had even beaten up her frail sister Betsie for not being able to work as hard as the others. Betsie died just before Corrie was released. Now the ex-guard smiled as he joyfully repeated what she had just spoken about - that God’s love could overcome any sin, no matter how great. But as he held his hand out for her to shake, her heart was in a wild tumult of anger, pain, and bitterness. How dare he smile at her after doing such evil? How could she forgive such a man? In that moment of inner turmoil, she clung to just one thought. She promised God that she would hold out her hand even though she felt only hatred for him. God would have to do the rest. As she took his hand, the miracle happened. She was filled to overflowing with love and forgiveness for her former enemy. She experienced the power of Christ to forgive his enemies in that moment. This striking story reminds us of what it means

28_Picture of a carnal Christian Gen 33:1-3 Then Jacob raised his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel, and the two slave women. 2 He put the slave women and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times until he came near to his brother. Heb 12 1 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking only at Jesus, the originator, and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before He endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Imagine a garden hose lying in a mass of tangled loops. It is designed to carry water and nourish plants. Yet it lies dry and ineffective. Its purpose is clear. Yet, without being untangled, it is useless and cannot fulfill its potential use. Every believer who lives in the flesh, entangled in worldly pursuits, does not fulfill God’s purpose. The potential for spiritual growth is there, but it is choked by self-reliance and distractions. Only with the removal of the “kinks” can the living water of God flow freely through such people. Only then can they experience and share his life and be fruitful. Jacob often provides a vivid picture of a carnal believer, even though he was a man of faith. Genesis 33 demonstrates one of the struggles between his faith and his flesh. in this chapter. This man had just wrestled with the angel of the Lord. In his helplessness, after the angel disabled him, he clung to him until his supplication for blessing was granted. He came face to face with his weakness, but he also saw God face to face. Crippled, he could no longer flee nor fight. He was weaker than ever before, just as he was about to meet Esau - a confrontation he had dreaded for years. Now Jacob could rely only on God for protection. Yet, transformation is not instant, but a lifelong journey. Despite the Lord’s blessing and despite his new name of Israel, Jacob quickly reverted to old patterns of fear and self-reliance. He still schemed to protect himself and his family, dividing his household into groups so that if one was attacked, the others might escape. God had promised to be with him. He had proven his faithfulness in protecting him from Laban. But Jacob’s faith faltered. Instead of resting in God’s promises, he clung to his human strategies. This tension between faith and fear mirrors the struggles many Christians face today. Many times we, like Jacob, forget God’s past faithfulness when faced with a new crisis. The God who delivered us before is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yet, when challenges arise,

 29_The price of broken vows Gen 33:18-34:2 Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-Aram, and camped before the city. 19 He bought the plot of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money. 20 Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land. 2 When Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he took her and lay with her and raped her. In the days of king Ahab, there was a severe famine in Israel that lasted three and a half years. During this time, God spoke to the prophet Elijah, saying, “Go from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Kerith, east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” Imagine if Elijah had ignored God’s command. The ravens would still have brought bread and meat, morning and evening, but there would have been no one by the brook to receive the provision. This example highlights an important truth: God’s blessings require our obedience to his express instruction. He will not compromise with other places and paths that He has not commanded, for his plans are eternally fine-tuned to the moment and the place. When we stray from His will, we risk forfeiting the blessings He has prepared for us. Jacob’s story tells us so. This was a man who, despite experiencing God’s faithfulness, chose to deviate from the path God had marked for him—and the consequences were devastating. Jacob had finally returned to Canaan, the land of promise, after years of hardship and separation. He had vowed to God that he would return to Bethel, the place where he first encountered God in a dream, and worship Him there. Bethel represented Jacob’s spiritual homecoming—a place of gratitude, fulfillment and renewed commitment. But instead of continuing to Bethel, Jacob settled near the city of Shechem, in Canaan. He purchased land, pitched his tent, and even built an altar there. Outwardly, this may have seemed like a pious act, but it was rooted in disobedience and a lack of trust. Jacob chose convenience and comfort over obedience to God’s call. His justification for buying land might have sounded reasonable—after all, wasn’t it for the purpose of worshiping God? But this rationalization could not erase the underlying disobedience. Jacob’s forefathers had wandered as pilgrims in the land without buying property, building altars on land they did not own. Jacob’s decision was a compromise, one that opened the door to unforeseen consequences. The consequences of Jacob’s compromise began to unfold with his daughter Dinah. Dinah, curious about the culture of the people around her, ventured out to visit the women of the land. This seemingly innocent act exposed her to danger. She was taken and violated by Shechem, the

 30_Coming back to God Gen 35:1-4 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Remove the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; 3 and let’s arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me on the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem. In a small village nestled in the Swiss Alps, a centuries-old church stands as the heart of the community. Within this church stood a famous pipe organ, its tones so enchanting that people from far and wide would come to hear it. But as years passed, the organ began to falter. Its rich melodies gave way to jarring notes. Nobody knew how to repair it. The organ was deemed beyond restoration. Frustration slowly turned into resignation. One day, an old man visited the village. Entering the church, he looked around for the organ. Noticing that it was no longer in use, he asked, “Why don’t you play the organ anymore?” “It has broken down, it cannot be repaired any longer,” came the reply. “Let me try,” the man said confidently. For the next two months, he worked over it in silence. He had many tools and materials brought in. His days were spent in delicately adjusting and repairing the organ. When he finally announced that it was ready, the church was filled with music even more beautiful than they remembered. The astonished crowd asked how he had achieved this. With a gentle smile, the man replied, “Fifty years ago, this organ was designed and crafted in my workshop. I know it in and out, and I’ve now restored it.” This story reflects our relationship with God. He is our Creator, the one who knows us down to our smallest details. When our lives fall into disrepair—when sin, regret, or sorrow creates discord—only God can restore us fully. Genesis 35:1-4 tells such a story, as God calls Jacob back to Himself. Jacob’s life up to this point had been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Known for his cunning, Jacob relied on deceit and self-reliance to get ahead. Within a few years of living near Shechem, his family was marked by tragedy and chaos. His daughter Dinah was violated by the prince of the city, and his sons retaliated by a massacre and sack of the town. Jacob feared greatly that this act of revenge had put himself and his family in grave danger from neighboring tribes. He found himself at an impasse, overwhelmed by the consequences of his choices and inaction. It was at this low point that God spoke to Jacob. He was to complete

31_A dysfunctional family Gen 37:Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. 25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt. Gen 42:21 Then they said to one another, “Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; for that reason, this distress has happened to us.” In the heart of a quiet forest, a tribal chief named Seattle once stood before settlers who sought to buy the land his people had cherished for centuries. His words echoed with wisdom: "How can you buy or sell the sky, the earth? This idea is strange to us. If we do not own the purity of the air or the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?" This is the right way to view our enjoyment of God’s free gifts. The Creator gives rain and sun and air and earth to the righteous and the wicked alike. Yet, human beings often manipulate the right to enjoy these blessings. They use them to buy or show favor and fuel selfish ambition, and to divide people into classes and sects. This tendency doesn’t just corrupt our societies. It can reach deep into the innermost spaces of our lives—our families. Jacob’s family was no exception. His deep love for Joseph, the first son born to his beloved wife Rachel, became the root of division and despair. It led to jealousy among Joseph’s brothers and to tragedy. To be fair, the seeds of dysfunction had been sown

32_Passion for the promise Gen 29:35 And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. Gen 37:26 And Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Gen 38:1 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, 3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him. 26 And Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again. St. Augustine, the revered fourth-century theologian, lived a very sinful life as a young man. His mother, Monica, prayed with tears for him. Once she met with Bishop Ambrose, a devout man of God. She implored him, weeping, to intervene with her son. Moved by her unwavering faith, Ambrose spoke: “It is impossible that the son of so many tears shall perish.” Within a year, Augustine came to understand his sin and turned in deep and lifelong repentance to Christ. He spent the rest of his life studying and teaching others the scriptures. Genesis 38 shows Judah, a man who started out in repeated failures but finally ended in agreement with the truth. This chapter, though often considered an interruption in the Joseph narrative, is anything but a digression. Judah, whose name means “praise,” takes a path far removed from his heritage as the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. The chapters of Judah’s life tell a story of missteps, failures, and drifting away from God. It is a vivid, instructive account of human sin and divine grace. It does not cover up the flaws of God’s chosen people, but displays His redemptive purposes. Judah’s journey begins with a departure from his brothers. He then teams up with an Adullamite named Hirah. Corruption often begins when we distance ourselves from godly influences. Away from his family and their covenantal values, Judah married a Canaanite woman. This is a choice that defied the example of his forefathers, who avoided alliances with the idolatrous Canaanites. Judah’s disregard for God’s commands bore bitter fruit. His two sons, Er and Onan, grew up without the fear of God. Their wickedness led to their untimely deaths. Judah’s marriage choice not only affected his life but the character of his offspring. Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, is a pivotal figure in this

33_Walking in the presence of the Lord Gen 39 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Dwight L. Moody once remarked, “Character is what you are in the dark.” When no one is watching us, what shapes our decisions, sustains us through trials, and keeps us steadfast in our convictions? In the life of Joseph, it was the constant awareness of God’s presence. His story in Genesis 39 testifies to the power of walking with God. The presence of God transforms us. All we need to do is to live faithfully, regardless of circumstances. Joseph's life took a dramatic turn when he was sold into slavery by his own brothers. Once the favored son of Jacob, he now found himself alone in a foreign land. He was stripped of his family, freedom, and status. But the Scriptures say, “The Lord was with Joseph.” This repeated phrase reveals the secret of Joseph’s strength and prosperity. The presence of God in Joseph’s life was not accidental or incidental. It was the foundation of his character and actions. Joseph actively sought to walk before God. Psalm 1 describes the blessed man as one who delights in knowing and doing the law of the Lord. This love for God drives him to think about living by his law day and night. This unshakable focus on God’s will nurtures a life that is faithful, fruitful, and steadfast. . Even as a slave, the lowest of men, Joseph prospered. He was at peace in the worst of situations because he knew that God was sovereign and God was good. His trust in God left no room for either bitterness toward his brothers or despair over his situation. Instead, Joseph did what he should as a servant. Greatness in God’s kingdom comes through humility and service. “For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). Potiphar, Joseph’s Egyptian master, recognized that Joseph had the Lord with him. This was because his actions consistently reflected God’s character and power. Joseph’s faith was mirrored in his integrity, diligence, and faithfulness. This was rewarded

34_The fruit of the Spirit is patience Gen 39:20 - 40:4 And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. Gen 40:1 Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody. In the 1950s and 60s, Christians in China endured unimaginable persecution. Among them was Chen Minying, later known as George Chen. This devout believer was subjected to horrific treatment in prison. The authorities assigned him to compost human waste. While carrying out this humiliating task, Chen turned it into an opportunity for worship. In his own words, "I was actually happy. I could pray and sing loudly because the stench kept everyone away." This powerful testimony reminds us of Joseph, who transformed bitter experiences into hope and patience. Joseph, betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, rose to become the trusted manager of Potiphar's household. But when falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, he found himself thrown into prison—a place that could have crushed his spirit. Yet, the account in Genesis tells us repeatedly, "The Lord was with Joseph." This divine presence sustained him constantly. Whether a slave in Potiphar’s house or a prisoner in Pharaoh’s jail, Joseph trusted God to fulfill His promises. He did not turn away from his faith when personal gain or comfort were threatened or lost. His eyes were on the Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth. His trust gave him courage and hope for each day. In the prison, Joseph’s diligence and character brought him into favor with the warden. He was put in charge of the other inmates. Proverbs 22:29 echoes this, “Do you see a man diligent in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men” Even in physical chains, Joseph’s life proceeded according to God’s plan. Joseph’s patience came from his spiritual sight of God’s greater plan, beyond his immediate suffering. His clear vision of God left him free to love others. In prison himself, he noticed and enquired about the sadness of his fellow-captives, the royal butler and baker. His kindness and discernment,

35_The beauty of God’s timing Ps 105:16And He called for a famine upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread. 17 He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18 They forced his feet into shackles, He was put in irons; 19 Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord refined him. 20 The king sent and released him, The ruler of peoples, and set him free. 21 He made him lord of his house, And ruler over all his possessions, Ps 113 7 He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the garbage heap, 8 To seat them with noblemen, With the noblemen of His people. 9 He has the infertile woman live in the house As a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord! Gen 41:1 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. Alexander Cruden, a Christian from 18th-century Scotland, experienced profound injustice when he was repeatedly committed to an asylum under dubious claims of insanity. Yet, in those trying times, Cruden completed his monumental work—a concordance of the Bible that has since guided countless believers in their study of Scripture. It was through this season of seclusion and hardship that God’s plan unfolded, using Cruden’s affliction to bring about a blessing that would last generations. Similarly, Joseph, in Genesis 41, found himself in a prolonged period of waiting and suffering. Forgotten in prison for two years after the cupbearer's release, Joseph could have felt abandoned. Yet God was working—not just in Joseph's life, but in the grand narrative of Egypt and Israel. As Psalm 105 tells us, God orchestrated a famine to fulfill His purpose of bringing Israel to Egypt. Through Joseph’s trials, God was preparing him for a role that would change history. Dreams have always been a unique medium through which God reveals His plans. However, discernment is key. Only when we walk humbly with God and align our hearts with His will can we confidently discern His voice in our dreams and aspirations. Joseph’s life exemplifies this humility. Despite the ingratitude of the cupbearer, Joseph placed his trust in God, not in people. Human forgetfulness or injustice never disrupts God’s sovereign plans. While the cupbearer may have forgotten Joseph, God never did. The waiting period was not wasted. Just as David, another of God’s chosen leaders, spent years in preparation—first serving Saul and later as a fugitive—Joseph’s years of hardship were refining him. David learned to lead men, to show justice, and to act with mercy. When Saul and Jonathan died, David mourned with grace and honored their memory without bitterness or revenge. Such spiritual maturity is forged in the crucible of waiting, where God molds and shapes His servants for His purposes. In Genesis 41, we see God using Pharaoh, a pagan king, to further His divine plan. God revealed the impending famine not to Jacob or Joseph, but to Pharaoh. This revelation set in motion the fulfillment of a

36_Repentance_the_foundation_of_faith Gen 41 56 -42:3 When the famine was spread over the entire face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Then the people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth. Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” 2 Then he said, “Look, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die.” 3 So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. Repentance lies at the very heart of our faith journey. D. L. Moody once observed, "Man is born turning his back on God. When he truly repents, he turns completely and faces God." Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for what we have done. It is a complete change of heart and mind towards God. God, in His boundless wisdom, often disrupts the comfortable status quo in our lives to draw our attention to sin and disobedience. In the story of Joseph, we see this divine disruption vividly. Genesis 42 recounts how famine forced “all the people of the earth” to Egypt to buy grain. This included Joseph’s brothers, who, however, encountered unexpected obstacles, unlike others. The difficulties we face are often God’s way of calling us to remember unconfessed sins. As his brothers approached Egypt, none could have imagined that they would face the brother they betrayed years ago. But God, in His sovereignty, brings our buried sins to light. Proverbs 28:13 declares, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” The brothers claimed to be honest men, yet their past was a litany of lies, betrayal, and hard-heartedness. They deceived their father, sold their brother into slavery, and showed callous disregard for God’s moral laws. Their sins were not just isolated acts—they revealed a deeper condition of the heart. Joseph’s actions apparently disrupted the wellbeing of his brothers. However, he was not driven by a desire for vengeance. His goal was to lead his brothers to repentance and thus to restore the relationship. Otherwise, he could have thrown Potiphar and his wife into prison, punished the butler for his neglect, or condemned his brothers to prison for life. We often fail to recognize our own sinfulness until God mercifully breaks our hardened hearts. Only when we see ourselves as we really are do we thirst for his grace. The Lord’s dealings with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 mirror this process. She eagerly responded to his offer of living water, saying, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty.” But he did not immediately respond by telling her he was the Messiah. He addressed the deeper issue: “Go and call your husband.” He gently but firmly exposed her hidden history. Before forgiveness

37_Before honour comes humility Gen 43:8 So Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me and we will arise and go, so that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones. 9 I myself will take responsibility for him! You may demand him back from me. If I do not bring him back to you and present him to you, then you can let me take the blame forever. ” Gen 44:32 For your servant accepted responsibility for the boy from my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then my father can let me take the blame forever.’ 33 So now, please let your servant remain as a slave to my lord instead of the boy, and let the boy go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear that I may see the evil that would overtake my father.” Gen 45:28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to guide him to Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. The Moravian movement, one of the largest gospel-based missionary movements in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, was founded on sacrificial love. Given to fervent prayer, the Moravians greatly desired to reach those in distant lands with the good news. Two men, John Leonard Dober and David Nitschmann, devoted themselves to the slaves isolated on West Indies plantations. To reach them, these brave men sold themselves into slavery. There was no other way to bear the good news. As they boarded the ship from Copenhagen, their loved ones heard their departing cry, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering.” This phrase became a rallying cry for the Moravian mission and a testament to their grateful devotion to Christ. Genesis 44 shows one more step on Judah’s path through humility and servant-like sacrifice. offered himself as a slave to save his younger brother Benjamin. In humility is the path to honor, and it reflects the heart of Christ. The story unfolds during a time of crisis for Jacob’s family. Famine had driven them to seek grain in Egypt. On their earlier trip, Simeon, one of the older sons of Jacob, was held hostage on suspicion that the brothers were spies. They had to prove the truth of their story by bringing their youngest brother Benjamin back with them on their next journey. Benjamin was the last remaining tie to Rachel, Jacob’s dead wife. Years earlier, Rachel’s firstborn son, Joseph, had gone missing and Jacob thought him dead. Without Benjamin, his brothers would not be allowed to buy grain in Egypt. Yet if he went, he might fall into danger. Faced with the need to make a decision, Jacob was paralyzed by fear and grief. It is in this moment that Judah steps forward. His three older brothers had already disqualified themselves from their father’s trust by their actions, leaving Judah as the de facto eldest son. Judah’s past was also far

38_Seeing the hand of God in everything Gen 45:1-11 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. 4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsy were imprisoned in Ravensbrück, a Nazi concentration camp infamous for its cruelty. Amidst unimaginable suffering, they encountered a particularly frustrating and repulsive problem: their barracks were infested with lice. Betsy, deeply grounded in faith, reminded Corrie of 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks.” She said, “Corrie, we must thank God even for these lice.” Corrie resisted. How could one possibly thank God for such an unpleasant situation? However, Betsy’s conviction didn’t waver. She believed that God’s purposes extended even to these tiny, bothersome creatures. As the days passed, Corrie and Betsy discovered something astonishing. The barracks guards avoided their quarters entirely because of the lice infestation. This gave the sisters unprecedented freedom to hold Bible studies, share the gospel, and encourage the women around them. Many came to know the Lord in those dark and desperate times. Corrie acknowledged the truth of Betsy’s words: even the lice were used by God to carry out his glorious plan. The same principle is illustrated by Joseph’s life. In Genesis 45, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, who had sold him into slavery. His words are deeply moving:

39_Confidence in the Lord Gen 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also assuredly bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes.” Count Zinzendorf, the founder of the Moravian gospel movement, was in a Düsseldorf art gallery when he saw a painting representing Christ on the cross. Beneath the image were the words: “I did this for you. What have you done for me?” These words pierced his heart and led him to yield his life wholly to the Lord. Interestingly, the painting itself reflects the artist’s own pursuit of perfection. After his first attempt to depict the face of the Redeemer, he showed the work to a young girl. She simply said, “This is a good man.” Realizing he had failed, the artist destroyed his sketch. He tried again, pouring his prayers and skill into a second effort. This time, the girl remarked, “This is a man who has suffered much.” Still unsatisfied, the artist prayed and began afresh. Finally, the third attempt succeeded. When the girl looked at the painting, she exclaimed, “That’s the Lord!” Christ was not merely a good man, a wise teacher, or a revered prophet come to earth. His birth marked the arrival of God as the Word become flesh. Immanuel. God with us. The realization of this truth transforms lives and fills us with confidence in God’s presence and guidance, just as it did for Jacob in Genesis 46. Jacob had just received astonishing news: his beloved son Joseph, whom he had thought dead for over 20 years, was not only alive but was the ruler of Egypt. And he called his father to move with his clan to Egypt, to be provided for there by him through the five years of famine remaining. Eager yet cautious, Jacob began the journey but stopped at Beersheba, a place rich in his family history. There he sought the Lord’s guidance. At Beersheba, Abraham called upon the name of the Lord after making a covenant with Abimelech. It was here that Isaac was reassured of God’s covenant promise and built an altar in worship. Now, standing at the southern boundary of the Promised Land, Jacob enquired of the Lord before making his choice. Should he leave Canaan, the land God had promised to his descendants, and move to Egypt where God had sent Joseph ahead to prepare a haven for them? Unlike his earlier life, Jacob did not act impulsively or rest on his own understanding, Jacob had learned to prioritize God’s will over his own desires. Even the joyful prospect of reuniting with Joseph did not outweigh his need for God’s guidance. Jacob’s caution was understandable. Both Abraham and Isaac had frequently left Canaan for a time when famine struck the land. One time, Abraham went

40_Nothing but the grace of God Gen 47:7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. Ps 119:54 ¶ Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. When Colonel Samuel Logan Brengle of the Salvation Army was once introduced as "the great Colonel Brengle," he wrote in his journal: "If I appear great in their eyes, the Lord is most gracious in helping me to see how absolutely nothing I am without Him. He does use me. But I am conscious that He uses me, and that it’s not of me that the work is done. The axe cannot boast of the trees it has cut down. It could do nothing without the woodsman. He made it, he sharpened it, he used it, and the moment he throws it aside it becomes only old used iron. Oh, that I may never lose sight of this." These words remind us of the central truth of the Christian life: we are nothing apart from the grace of God. This truth is beautifully illustrated in the life of Jacob, particularly in Genesis 47:7-9, where Jacob meets Pharaoh. Jacob and his family had entered Egypt, seeking refuge from a devastating famine. Despite his earlier wealth, Jacob arrives as a refugee, a man diminished by years of hardship and loss. In stark contrast, Pharaoh sits as the ruler of the most powerful kingdom of that era, surrounded by wealth and abundance. Yet, when these two men meet, Jacob does something extraordinary—he blesses Pharaoh. How could this frail, battered man have the spiritual authority to bless the most powerful monarch in the world? The answer lies in the grace of God. Jacob’s life, as he himself admits, was “short and evil” compared to his fathers, Abraham and Isaac. His days had been marked by struggle, sorrow, and the consequences of his own poor decisions. From his early days, Jacob’s life was riddled with conflict and deceit. He tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright and deceived his father to steal the blessing. These actions earned him his brother’s wrath, forcing him to flee to his uncle Laban’s home, where he would spend years in toil and manipulation. Even in Laban’s household, Jacob’s life was far from peaceful. He loved Rachel but was tricked into marrying Leah as well. There was rivalry among his wives and deep strife within his family. Much later, his sons, born into this environment, sold their brother Joseph into slavery and lied about it for nearly two decades. On top of all this, Jacob endured the loss of his beloved wife Rachel and

41_Faith is seeing the hand of God Gen 48:8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? 9 And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 1Chr 5:2 Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph. Faith is not a leap into the dark. It is stepping forward confidently into God’s way, hand in hand with the God who sees all and knows all. As we navigate life's uncertainties, the words from the poem “The Gate of the Year” are so meaningful: "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown," and the reply: "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way." This faith is the heartbeat of Scripture. It is the essence of lives transformed by God's promises, seen clearly in Jacob's final days. His life, marked by human struggle and divine grace, testifies to the enduring faithfulness of God and the power of His promises. Jacob’s journey of faith reaches its pinnacle in Genesis 48, where he blesses Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. At the outset, Jacob is introduced as an old man nearing death, yet his faith burns brighter than ever. Seventeen years earlier, he had stood before Pharaoh describing his life as “few and unpleasant” (Genesis 47:9). Yet, in these final moments, we meet a man satisfied with God and assured of his promises. Jacob’s last words testify his trust in the promises of God, a faith that remained steadfast through years of hardship and uncertainty. As death approaches, Jacob summons Joseph to ensure that his body would be buried in the land that God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and their descendants. This was not just sentimentality; it was a declaration of faith. Jacob knew that God's covenant was not tied to Egypt’s riches but to the Promised Land, the inheritance of his people. He died in faith, just as Abraham and Isaac before him, confident in God's unchanging promises. Joseph brought his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to Jacob. Their names reflect Joseph’s journey. Manasseh, meaning “forgetting,” symbolizes God’s grace in helping Joseph move past the pain of betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment. Ephraim, meaning “fruitfulness,” celebrates the abundance God provided in Joseph’s life, making him a preserver of life to Egypt, his family, and the surrounding nations during famine. These names testify to God’s power to turn all things to good for those who love him. Jacob’s encounter with these grandsons is remarkable. Though they were born in Egypt and had little connection with Jacob’s family, he adopts them as his own, saying, “They are mine, like Reuben and Simeon.” In doing so, Jacob bestows upon them the rights of

 42_Judgement of our sin is a blessing Gen 49:1-7 Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come. 2 “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel. 3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. 4 Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it. 5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers— their swords are weapons of violence. 6 Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. 7 Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel. 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him. On October 6, 1980, a crime shook the conscience of Kerala, India. It was the infamous Karikkanvilla massacre in Thiruvalla, where Reni George, a young man born into a Christian family, committed an unthinkable act. Desperate for money to fund his addiction and drug trade, he brutally murdered his uncle and aunt, a retired couple who had lovingly cared for him. Arrested and sentenced to death, Reni’s life seemed destined for a tragic and irreversible end. However, something extraordinary happened. When his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment due to his young age, the public responded with outrage, calling it an injustice. Yet, in the darkness of his prison cell, Reni encountered the light of God’s truth. He repented, confessed his sins, and surrendered to Jesus as his Savior. Today, Reni runs a rehabilitation center near Bangalore for children and families of prisoners, dedicating his life to giving others the second chance he received. His transformation reminds us that when we humbly accept God's judgment and turn to Him in repentance, He can redeem our lives for His glory. This powerful story echoes the theme of today’s devotion. Jacob, nearing the end of his life, gathers his sons to speak words of blessing—or, as they might seem to us, word of judgment. Jacob, at 148 years old, was a man shaped by trials and divine encounters. Once a deceiver, he had become Israel, a prince of God. As he addressed his sons, his words were not merely a father’s farewell but the inspired truths of God Himself. “Listen to your father Israel,” he urged. His blessings were rooted in truth, devoid of flattery or sentimentality. Even his beloved son Benjamin was described as a “ravenous wolf.” Jacob’s words reveal that God’s blessings are not always comfortable; they are grounded in truth, designed to bring life, growth, and transformation. Take, for example, his words to Reuben, Simeon, and Levi. To Reuben, the firstborn, Jacob declared, “You are unstable as water; you shall not excel.” Simeon and Levi were condemned

43_Lord_I_wait_for_your_salvation 16“Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way, A horned viper in the path, That bites the horse’s heels, So that its rider falls backward. 18 For Your salvation I wait, Lord. Billy Graham once recounted a profound meeting with Konrad Adenauer, the German chancellor who helped rebuild his shattered country after World War II. Adenauer, a man of deep insight and conviction, asked Graham a startling question: “Mr. Graham, do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead?” Graham affirmed his belief without hesitation, and Adenauer responded, “Outside of the resurrection of Jesus, I do not know of any other hope for this world.” This statement echoes through time, resonating with the human heart’s cry for a salvation that transcends the brokenness of our world. It is the same hope that Jacob clung to when he beheld the future of his children, marred with failures and fraught with tragedies. His cry, “For Your salvation, I wait, Lord,” stands as a beacon of faith amidst uncertainty. Dan, one of Jacob’s sons, was born to Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, during a time of personal turmoil for Rachel. Unable to bear children herself, Rachel saw Dan as a symbol of vindication and justice. His name, meaning “he judged,” reflected her sense of relief at being freed from the stigma of infertility. However, as time unfolded, the tribe of Dan came to embody a complex and often troubling legacy. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, the tribe of Dan was allotted territory near the Mediterranean coast. Yet, they struggled to secure their inheritance, hemmed in by stronger foes like the Philistines. Dissatisfied with their lot, they sought new territory, ultimately migrating north and seizing the peaceful town of Laish. Along the way, they stole idols and adopted idolatrous practices, demonstrating their cunning but also their disloyalty to God. Judges 18 paints a vivid picture of their descent into spiritual apostasy, as they set up graven images and followed a path of idolatry that would mark their history. The Danites' fall can be traced to two key failures. First, they were discontent with God’s sovereign provision. Instead of trusting in His goodness and fighting in His strength to claim their inheritance, they relied on their own might and cunning. Their unwillingness to submit to God’s authority left them spiritually impoverished and vulnerable to idolatry. Second, they failed to repent when faced with frustration and adversity. Rather than examining their hearts and returning to God, they persisted in their self-will, leading to their eventual exile and downfall. This pattern stands in stark contrast to the example of Caleb from the tribe of Judah. Caleb, filled with faith and courage, took possession of the mountain of Hebron, overcoming formidable foes to claim his inheritance. His victory was not just physical but spiritual, as Hebron became a city of refuge and a place of fellowship with God. Caleb’s story underscores the power of faith and obedience, while the Danites' story serves as a cautionary tale of what happens when we

44_Joseph is a fruitful branch Gen 49: 22-26 22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall. 23 The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him severely, 24 yet his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), 25 by the God of your father who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that crouches beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. 26 The blessings of your father are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents, up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. In 1921, a Swedish couple, David and Svea Flood, embarked on a daring mission to bring the light of the gospel to the Belgian Congo. Leaving behind comfort and security, they journeyed to a remote African village, praying for a spiritual awakening. However, the villagers, led by their chief, refused to let them preach. Their only contact with the community was a young boy who sold them eggs. Despite the discouraging circumstances, Svea shared the message of Jesus with the boy, who eventually accepted Christ as his Savior. Tragedy soon struck the couple. Svea succumbed to malaria shortly after giving birth to her second child, and David, overwhelmed by grief, returned to Sweden, leaving the infant, Agy, in the care of an American missionary family. Years later, Agy, now married, stumbled upon a Swedish magazine featuring a story about her mother. The article detailed the transformation of the village through the young boy Svea had evangelized. The boy had grown up to establish a school, leading many students—and later their parents and even the village chief—to Christ. The village now had 600 Christians. Svea Flood’s life, though short, was remarkably fruitful because she was faithful in her limited circumstances. Similarly, the story of Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob, teaches us profound truths about living a fruitful and victorious life amidst trials. In Jacob’s final blessing, he likened Joseph to a fruitful branch by a spring, whose branches climbed over walls—a symbol of resilience, abundance, and divine blessing. Joseph’s fruitfulness sprang from his relationship with God. Repeatedly in Genesis, we read the phrase, “God was with him” (Genesis 39:2-3, 21, 23; 41:38). This same assurance was given to Ishmael, Abraham’s son by Hagar, yet their lives diverged drastically. While Joseph embraced God’s presence with faith and humility, Ishmael allowed pride and envy to sever his connection with the living God. Envy is a corrosive force, as Ishmael’s story illustrates. Though Abraham loved him dearly and God preserved his life in the wilderness, Ishmael harbored bitterness toward Isaac, the child of promise. His envy led him to mock Isaac, creating enmity and ultimately alienating him from Abraham’s household and God’s covenant. Despite receiving promises of greatness, Ishmael did not seek a relationship

45_Benjamin is a ravenous wolf Gen 49:27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he devours the prey, And in the evening he divides the spoils.” Psalm 68:24 Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary— 25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines: 26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!” 27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali. D.L. Moody, the great evangelist, once had a journalist assigned to uncover the secret of his success. Sent to observe Moody’s meetings in England, the journalist was tasked with discerning what enabled this man, with no formal education and a less-than-polished demeanor, to bring multitudes to Christ—nobles and commoners alike. After thorough observation, the journalist concluded, “I can see nothing in Moody that can explain this astonishing work.” When Moody read the report, he simply smiled and said, “This is the secret: It is God’s power working in me. It is God’s work, not mine.” Moody’s life is a vivid reminder that God’s power shines most brightly through human weakness. Moody was not the kind of man the world would choose to lead a spiritual revival. Yet God used him to shake two continents for Christ. His life invites us to consider how God can work mightily through anyone willing to surrender their inadequacies to Him. The story of the tribe of Benjamin, described by Jacob as a “ravenous wolf” in Genesis 49:27, echoes this profound truth. Benjamin’s story begins with sorrow. His mother, Rachel, died giving birth to him and named him “Benoni,” meaning “son of my sorrow.” But his father, Jacob, renamed him “Benjamin,” or “son of my right hand.” This change in name reflects a powerful lesson: Jacob, despite his grief, chose to focus not on what he had lost but on what God had given him. In naming his son Benjamin, Jacob embraced God’s promise and the strength that came with it. This perspective invites us to surrender our losses and weaknesses to God and trust Him to transform them for His purposes. Throughout Benjamin’s history, we see a tribe full of natural strength and fierce determination, but also prone to destructive tendencies when operating in the flesh. Benjamin’s warlike nature is evident in stories like that of Ehud, the left-handed judge who assassinated the Moabite king with a deadly strike, and the infamous incident at Gibeah, where the tribe’s refusal to punish evildoers led to civil war and near extinction. Their raw power, unsubmitted to God, often led to pride, self-will, and strife. James’ words, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” aptly describe Benjamin’s unrestrained tendencies. Yet Benjamin’s story is also one of redemption and grace. Moses’ blessing over Benjamin in Deuteronomy 33:12 portrays a tender picture of God’s love: “May the beloved of the Lord dwell in security beside Him, who shields him

46_I am to be gathered unto my people Gen 49:28-33 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. As the apostle Paul approached the end of his life, he wrote in 2 Timothy 4:6: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.” Paul saw his life as being poured out to accompany the offering up of the Gentile believers, the fruit of his mission. They were the ones to whom God had sent him to preach the gospel of Christ. The word he used for "departure"—analusis—is rich in imagery. It evokes the lifting of a ship’s anchor as it prepares to set sail, an army breaking camp to march onward, or even a prisoner being released from chains. These metaphors speak of movement, freedom, and transition. Death, as described in the Bible, is not the end. It is breaking free from earthly bonds and setting sail for a glorious destination—the heavenly shore. Jacob, like Paul, lived in the confident hope of this transition. Genesis 49:28-33 paints a picture of his final moments, filled with faith and serenity. After blessing his sons, he said, “I am to be gathered to my people.” This phrase is deeply significant. It reflects Jacob’s unwavering belief that death was not a lonely exile, but a homecoming, a reunion with those who had gone before him in faith. Jacob lived a long and eventful life, filled with hardship and joy. When he met Pharaoh, he described his life as a “pilgrimage” of 130 years, marked by trials. Yet, at the end, he faced death with composure and faith. His blessings to his sons were not merely paternal wishes but prophetic declarations aligned with God’s promises. His confidence in God's plan allowed him to approach his final moments with peace. The phrase “gathered to my people” is an ancient and profound metaphor for death. It emphasizes the continuity of life beyond the grave for those who trust in God. Abraham, who died far from his ancestral land, was yet described as being “gathered to his people.” (Genesis 25:8). This does not refer to the place of burial but to his joining the

47_Finishing well Gen 50:1-3Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. 15-21 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Forgiveness, love, and faith — these are not just virtues but pillars of a life lived well. Consider the words of Gladys Staines after the horrific killing of her husband Graham Staines and their two young sons. She said, “I forgive them because I first received forgiveness from Jesus Christ. I feel the presence of Jesus in my life directly, and this is the ideal that I share. When we forgive others, there is no bitterness, and with God-given grace and peace, we carry on with our lives and carry out the responsibilities entrusted to us.” The strength that enables someone to forgive in the face of such overwhelming loss is the same grace seen in Joseph’s life. This man lived and died in faith, demonstrating faith, love, and forgiveness despite betrayal, slavery, and separation from family. Genesis 50:15-26 presents the final chapter of Joseph’s journey. It spotlights a man who navigated life’s greatest challenges with unwavering reliance on God. His story reminds us that finishing well depends on whether our hearts remain grounded in God, in pain and prosperity. Joseph’s love for his father, Jacob, was evident in the way he mourned his death. His grief was profound and honest,

 48_Standing for what is right Ex 1:7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong so that the land was filled with them. 15-22 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.” In the late 1960s, Sergey Kordakov, a rising star in the Soviet Navy, was handpicked to be part of the Soviet secret police. His mission? To infiltrate and persecute underground Christian gatherings. One such raid brought him face to face with Natasha Zhdanova, a young woman whose resilience and joy struck a deep chord in him. Despite being repeatedly beaten, Natasha radiated a peace and courage that was impossible to ignore, returning undeterred to secret meetings after every release. At one of these raids, Kordakov tore apart a handwritten Bible, discarding the fragments in disdain. A torn page caught his attention—a passage from Luke 11, where Jesus teaches His disciples to pray. The words lingered in his heart: "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us." That simple but profound teaching began to chip away at the walls of hostility within him. Eventually, Kordakov fled the Soviet regime. During the last part of his escape, he leapt into the freezing waters off the American coast and swam to Canadian shores to seek refuge. He gave his life to Christ, leaving behind a haunting yet beautiful testimony encapsulated in his memoir, “Natasha, Forgive Me”. Like Natasha, Exodus 1:15–22 testifies to two women who stood for what was right, despite the cost. Jacob and his family had moved to Egypt under God’s guidance during a severe famine. After a honeymoon period of peace and plenty, and after the death of Joseph, a new Pharaoh, one who neither knew Joseph nor cared for his legacy, came to power. The clan of 70 soon multiplied into a mighty nation, fulfilling God’s covenant with Abraham. This growth was perceived by Pharaoh as a threat. The Israelites were a potential fifth column in times of war. Driven by insecurity, Pharaoh oppressed the

49_And he was beautiful to God Ex 2:1-10 Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. 5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews' children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” 8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child's mother. 9 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” Acts 7:17 “But as the time of the promise which God had assured to Abraham was approaching, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until another king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. 19 It was he who shrewdly took advantage of our nation and mistreated our fathers in order that they would abandon their infants in the Nile, so that they would not survive. 20 At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful to God. He was nurtured for three months in his father’s home. 21 And after he had been put outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. 22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was proficient in speaking and action. Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. An American tourist browsing in a trinket shop in Paris found an amber necklace and bought it as a souvenir. On returning to New York, he was surprised at the unusually high customs duty on it. Intrigued, he had the necklace appraised. To his astonishment, the jeweler offered $25,000 for it. When he sought a second opinion, the second jeweler offered $10,000 more. "What makes this old necklace so special?" he asked. The jeweler replied, “Look closely.” Through the magnifying

50_Be careful what you choose Exodus 2:11-15 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well. Heb 11:24-27 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. C.T. Studd was one of England's finest cricketers, a man admired for his talent and celebrated for his success. Yet, he gave it all up to become a missionary in Africa. This choice was not impulsive. It was born of the conviction that serving Christ was the only thing of value in this life. His words express his faith: "Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what is done for Christ will last." Despite frail health and immense challenges, Studd served the Lord tirelessly until his death. The full impact of his choice will be revealed only in eternity. Our choices define our lives. They reveal our priorities and shape our character. Hebrews 11:24-27 holds up Moses as one who chose to live by faith, casting aside the temptation of fleeting gain. His story compels us to consider the weight and eternal significance of our own choices. Moses was born in a time where he had no official right to live. Pharaoh had decreed death for all Hebrew male infants. Moses’ survival was an act of divine intervention. Rescued from the Nile by Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses grew up in the lap of luxury, a prince of Egypt. He was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became a man of influence and power. Yet, Moses faced a defining question: Who was he? Was he the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, with all the privileges, power, and wealth that entailed? Or was he a Hebrew, one of the slave people? Not to remain in Pharaoh’s household would seem not only ungrateful but also irrational, for the Hebrews had no visible hope of freedom or prosperity. But Moses chose to identify as a Hebrew,

51_Encounter with God Exodus 3:1-11 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. 7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. 11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? Moses’ life is a story of unexpected turns and intense personal transformation. It has three distinct phases. For the first forty years, he lived in Egypt as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, trained in Egypt’s wisdom and having ready access to its wealth and power. Despite his privileged position, he retained his personal identity as a Hebrew. At the age of forty, Moses began to visit the oppressed children of Israel. When he saw one of them beaten by an Egyptian overseer, his blood boiled. In his zeal, he killed the Egyptian. The killing was discovered, and he was in danger. Forced to flee from Egypt for his life, Moses spent the next forty years as a shepherd in Midian. This was a season of obscurity and preparation. He was no longer a prince but a humble shepherd, unknown to the rest of the world, alone yet safe. During these apparently useless years, Moses continued to be trained for his calling. God often works in hidden ways, shaping His chosen ones in silence before calling them to the forefront. This period culminated in an encounter with God that revealed his destiny. In the wilderness of Horeb, God’s presence appeared to Moses in

52_Concerns don’t excuse disobedience Exodus 3:11-16 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 And He said, “Assuredly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.” 13 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 God furthermore said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is the name for all generations to use to call upon Me. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt. Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’” Exod 4:10-17 Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11 But the Lord said to him, “Who has made the human mouth? Or who makes anyone unable to speak or deaf, or able to see or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now then go, and I Myself will be with your mouth, and instruct you in what you are to say.” 13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. 15 So you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I Myself will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will instruct you in what you are to do.” A newlywed wife, a freshly purchased piece of land, and a new team of oxen—what do they have in common? These were the excuses given by invitees to a royal wedding feast, in the Lord’s parable in Luke 14. Excuses often reveal misplaced priorities, or a reluctance to embrace what truly matters. Exodus 3 depicts another story where excuses took

53_Learning to communicate God’s way Heb 1:1-2 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. The Message translation of Proverbs 25:11 beautifully captures the essence of communication: “The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry.” There is an undeniable beauty and value in a fitly spoken word. God, the Creator of all things, practices this art with a master hand. Throughout Scripture, we see Him communicating in varied ways. As Hebrews 1:1 tells us, in these last days, He has spoken to us through His Son. This reveals not only the depth of His message but also His unparalleled skill as a communicator. The conversations between God and Moses in Exodus 3 and 4 illustrate the fact that communication is far more than just a verbal exchange. It is more than sharing ideas or views. It is the sharing of one’s heart. In these chapters, God demonstrates principles that are timeless and transformative, both for spiritual growth and for practical application in our relationships. God begins by capturing Moses’ attention. In a seemingly ordinary wilderness, He uses a burning bush that is not consumed by the fire. This unusual sight draws Moses in, and he says, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” God’s method reminds us that effective communication begins with connection. He speaks to us in ways that resonate with our experiences and capture our curiosity. Similarly, when Nathan confronted David about his sin against Uriah and Bathsheba, he didn’t start directly. Instead he told a story that drew David in and elicited his judicial response, leading up to Nathan’s accusation. The Lord also often used parables, like the story of the two debtors, to connect with His listeners and convey deep truths. When we approach someone after a long absence or for the first time, it helps to establish common ground. Finding a shared connection opens the door for meaningful communication. God did this by introducing himself to Moses, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” This assured Moses of God’s identity and authority, setting the stage for their dialogue. Empathy is another hallmark of God’s communication. He acknowledged Moses’ fear, and the suffering of the Israelites, saying, “I have certainly seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their outcry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.” God’s words show deep compassion and understanding, creating a safe space where Moses could engage with him. Similarly, after His resurrection, Jesus calmed the disciples’ fears by showing them His hands and feet and eating with them. Empathy builds trust and opens hearts. Clarity of communication is another essential element. God clearly explains His mission: “I have come down to rescue them from the power of

54_Leading in the will of God Ex 4:18-20 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand. Someone once said, “When God bolts the door, don’t try to get in through the window. The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.” This encapsulates a truth repeatedly emphasized in the Scriptures: the journey of faith often involves trusting God's guidance and grace at every step. This journey is rarely smooth, but it is always purposeful, and its ultimate destination is the fulfillment of God’s divine plan. Moses’ journey, as seen in Exodus 4:18-20, offers a vivid example of this principle. Initially hesitant and full of objections to God’s call, Moses eventually yielded in the humility of faith. Once he committed, there was no turning back. True faith is expressed not just in words but in action and obedience. Moses took his first step by informing his father-in-law, Jethro, that he wanted to return to Egypt. Notably, Moses didn’t elaborate on his divine mission. Jethro, a Midianite priest, didn’t share Moses’ history with Jehovah. We must be wise in sharing God’s plans, especially with those who may not fully understand or support them. Jesus’ caution not to cast pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6) remains a timeless principle for navigating delicate conversations about our actions of faith. Moses’ obedience did not depend on fully knowing the outcome. God assured him, saying, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” (Exodus 4:19). Interestingly, this reassurance may have come after Moses had already begun his journey. God often asks us to step out in faith before He removes all obstacles. It is in these moments that we can unhesitatingly put our trust in His sovereignty. This pattern is echoed throughout Scripture. Abraham left Ur without knowing where he was going. Peter stepped out of the boat to walk on water. Each act of obedience began with a single step of faith, not a detailed roadmap. A striking detail in this story is of Moses carrying “the staff of God.” Initially an ordinary shepherd’s staff, it became an instrument of divine power in God’s sovereignty. We cannot transform our abilities into spiritual gifts. However, if God chooses to use something he has given us, the results can be extraordinary. It can become an instrument for His purposes. Moses’ staff, which once guided sheep, played a role in parting the Red Sea, bringing water from a rock, and delivering a nation. All we have—our skills, interests, possessions, abilities and talents, or just a simple act of kindness—should

55_Thus_says_Jehovah_Thus_says_Pharaoh Ex 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” 10, 11 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. 11 Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” We have all seen a policeman raising his hand to stop a massive 32-tire truck speeding toward him. The scene seems implausible—what could stop such immense power? Yet the truck halts, not because of the policeman’s physical strength, but because of the authority he represents. The weight of the government stands behind his gesture. Authority triumphs over brute power. This image is reflected in the confrontation between Pharaoh’s earthly power and Moses’ divinely given authority in Exodus 5:1-10. Moses and Aaron, the representatives of the enslaved Israelites, enter the grand court of Pharaoh. Moses, once a prince of Egypt, now returns as the voice of God to demand freedom for his people. They deliver the message with crisp authority: “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.” These words are a direct command from God, underscoring the source of Moses’ authority. Pharaoh’s response is a defiant question: “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” Pharaoh’s ignorance reflects his hardened heart and the arrogance of power unchecked by reverence for God. He refuses to acknowledge Israel’s God and obey the divine command because then he would have to acknowledge his sin in oppressing the children of Israel unjustly. This question—“Who is the Lord?”—becomes the crux of the plagues that follow. Through them, God answers Pharaoh emphatically: “That you may know that I am the Lord.” Moses and Aaron repeat their request, giving Pharaoh good reasons for his acquiescence: “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” Their tone is humble, their argument reasonable. They request only a temporary reprieve, not a permanent departure, and point to the impossibility of disobeying the instructions of their God. Yet Pharaoh remains unmoved. To him, the Israelites are mere laborers, valuable only for the wealth they produce. He views their request as a sign of idleness and responds with cruelty. In response to their request, Pharaoh increases their burden, no longer allowing his people to provide the Israelites with straw. Straw being an essential component in brick-making, it would be impossible for the Israelites to both gather enough of it by themselves and still meet their daily quota. The world attempts to stifle the spirit’s cry for freedom by piling on more work. When

56_Which “I” do we listen to Ex 5:2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” Ex 5:22,23 Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.” Ex 6:6-8 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’” Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Listen in silence because if your heart is full of other things you cannot hear the voice of God.” This is a timeless truth: the voices we listen to shape our faith, our decisions, and ultimately our destiny. In Exodus 6:6-8, Moses finds himself caught in a cacophony of voices. On the one hand, God’s voice proclaimed His promises: “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians…” On the other hand was the defiant voice of Pharaoh, declaring, “I will not let Israel go.” There was Moses’ own voice, filled with despair: “Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people.” These three voices are representative of our own experiences in life. There is the voice of opposition from the world, the voice of doubt within ourselves, and the voice of assurance from God. The question is, which “I” do we listen to? Pharaoh’s voice is the voice of rebellion. It represents resistance to the will of God, a refusal to follow His plans. This voice can come from those around us—friends, adversaries, or those in power. It seeks to intimidate us, breed fear, and discourage us from obeying God. We need to expect this, so that we do not become discouraged. The Lord has warned us, “In the world you will have tribulation.” We should not expect the world, which is in rebellion against God, to encourage us in doing His will. Then there is our own voice—the voice of self-doubt. Like Moses, we can easily become disheartened when our efforts seem to make things worse. “Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name,” Moses lamented, “he has done evil to this people.” When we focus on our limitations or the immediate outcome of our

57_Dangers of procrastination Ex 8:5-10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!’” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt. 8 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” 10 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. J.C. Ryle, the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool, once said, "Tomorrow is the devil's day, but today is God's. Satan does not care how spiritual your intentions are, or how holy your resolutions, if only they are determined to be done tomorrow." These words reveal one of the most dangerous spiritual pitfalls—procrastination. We may have the best intentions. Our desire may be to obey God. But the depth and sincerity of that desire are suspect if we delay. Delay can cause us to miss the opportunities He places before us. Procrastination is more than poor time management; it often indicates unbelief, fear, or laziness, which has eternal consequences. In Exodus 8:5-10, we encounter a striking example of procrastination. Pharaoh, ruler of Egypt, was in the middle of a national crisis. Frogs had invaded the land. His palace, his officials' homes, and even the very beds of his people were infested. This was no minor inconvenience but a severe disruption of daily life. Convinced that this was a divine plague in retaliation for his deliberate disobedience to God’s command, Pharaoh summoned Moses and begged him to pray that God would remove the frogs. But when Moses asked Pharaoh to specify the timing for this deliverance, the astonishing answer was “Tomorrow.” Why would Pharaoh wait another day to be freed from such torment? It is baffling, yet this reflects a deeply ingrained human tendency. Pharaoh’s procrastination demonstrates the deceptive power of sin. Often, the evil one does not urge us to outright reject God but subtly persuades us to delay our obedience. “Tomorrow” becomes our default answer. As day follows day, our hearts grow harder, and our opportunities to respond diminish. Procrastination is no new phenomenon. In Acts 24, we read of the procrastination of Felix, the Roman governor of Judea. Felix was familiar with the ways of the Jews and convinced of Paul's innocence. Yet, instead of freeing Paul, Felix postponed the decision initially. Later, Felix and his wife Drusilla

58_Beware of half-measures Ex 8:24,25 And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants' houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies. 25 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” Picture a bird in a cage. Imagine the captor taking the cage outside and leaving the door wide open, knowing that there is a string attached to the bird’s leg. The bird feels the call of freedom, hops out of the cage, spreads its wings, and tries to fly towards the open sky. But the cruel string abruptly halts its flight. The door is open, but it is still bound to the cage. This vivid picture reflects Pharaoh's behavior when God commanded him to let Israel go. Moses carried a clear command from God as he stood before Pharaoh: "Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness." This command is layered with divine truths. First, the Israelites did not belong to Pharaoh, for they were bound by covenant to the Lord. Second, their release was a divine decree from the King of Heaven to the king of Egypt. Third, everything the Israelites possessed—family, livestock, and lives—was wholly devoted to God, and could not be left behind. Lastly, they could not worship God in Egypt, where cattle were looked down upon. Only outside it, in the wilderness, could they sacrifice freely to the Lord. At first, Pharaoh refused point-blank to let them go. After the plague of flies, Pharaoh conceded their claim slightly: "You may go, but don’t go very far." Later, as hail destroyed the land, he made another false promise to let them go. The next concession in the face of God’s power was to let the Israelites worship God but only within Egypt’s borders. Still later, when locusts threatened to consume Egypt, Pharaoh’s servants begged him to relent. His response was permission for only the men to leave. Later, he offered to let the men go, while the women, children, and livestock remained in Egypt. By the time darkness engulfed Egypt, Pharaoh grudgingly agreed to let the families go but demanded the livestock stay behind. God’s claim over His people was absolute. He had a right to their worship, their separation, and their service. But Pharaoh, a man entrenched in pride and power, sought to bargain with God. Each compromise was Pharaoh’s attempt to retain control, even as God displayed His unmatched power. Pharaoh cunningly designed an illusion of freedom while keeping the Israelites tethered to his bondage. Pharaoh's half-measures reflect our enemy’s mode of operation. Satan doesn’t always block us outright from worshiping God; instead, he offers compromises. He persuades us that we can truly worship God with strings attached. Like Pharaoh holding back the livestock, the enemy tempts us to hold something back from God. He reassures us that we can be enslaved in some areas while professing freedom in Christ. He whispers, “Go ahead and serve God, but stay tied

59_Vessels of wrath or Vessels of mercy Ex 9:15-17 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. 16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. Rom 9: 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory? Both diamonds and coal are formed from carbon, but their outcomes are determined by the difference in pressure and time. Pharaoh, like coal, chose the path that was easier for his flesh. He resisted repentance and remained in his natural state—hardened, fuel for the fire. In contrast, Moses submitted his dearest dreams of being Israel’s deliverer to God, and remained a humble and unknown shepherd in the back of the desert for forty long years. He came out as a raw diamond. Truly, those who submit to God's refining process, like carbon under intense pressure, are his chosen vessels of mercy. They are precious and become radiant jewels for God’s glory. The parable of carbon shows that the very same material is transformed into very different forms depending on the process it undergoes. The story of Pharaoh, as recounted in Exodus 7–10, serves as a sobering example of a vessel of wrath, a man who deliberately chose not to submit to God’s known will and express commandment. Ultimately, he became an example of God’s judgment to the world, like one set apart to demonstrate His power and justice. The question that many people ask at once is: If God hardens the hearts of some, how can they be held accountable? How can He justly condemn them? Against the context of God’s goodness and love, already set forth plainly in the previous chapters, Romans 9:18-21 asserts God's sovereign right to do as he wishes, as long as he does no injustice. “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor?” God cannot do anything unjust or wrong. The right of the just and good Creator to create everything according to his plan is indisputable, and to be reverently acknowledged by all creation without murmuring and rebellion. It is crucial to note the distinction between the preparation of vessels for wrath and vessels for mercy. In Romans 9:22, the phrase "vessels of wrath fitted to destruction" is in the passive voice, implying that these vessels are prepared for destruction, not directly by God, but through their own choices and actions. In contrast, Romans 9:23 speaks of "vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory," using the active voice, where God is the one actively working. While God is sovereign,