Genesis 47:27-31, Snapshot #8 Jacob makes his last request to his son Joseph. Underlying this short text is an entire lifetime. Jacob has learned and grown as a person. He has made lot’s of mistakes. He has known great sorrow and great joy. He has wrestled with God. He has known what its […]
Genesis 47:1-10, Snapshot #7 Joseph now brings selected family members in to meet Pharaoh, who at this time, happens to be the most powerful person on the planet. There are two meetings. First, Joseph introduces five of his brothers followed by the introduction of his father. Common to both occasions is the collision […]
Genesis 46:29-34, Snapshot #6 “Coming Home” is a phrase that naturally warms our hearts. As we observe the father/son embrace of verse 29 we are choked with emotion. We want to dwell to savor the moment. What follows is an abrupt intrusion jerking us out of the scene. We want to say, “Not […]
Genesis 46:28, Snapshot #5 What qualifies a man to lead? Why was Judah chosen to guide the family to Joseph? Last time we reviewed three junctures in Judah’s life. We discovered “skeletons in the closet.” As most of us are aware, skeletons possess power to dramatically shape the kind of man we become. […]
Genesis 46:28, Snapshot #5 Today we take a short break from Jacob to focus our attention on Leah’s fourth oldest son, Judah. I’m calling this session and the next, “The Day the Lion Roared” in reference to the Biblically based correlation of Judah and The Lion. Judah has a colorful past. Over the […]
Genesis 46:1-7, Snapshot #4 continued Jacob was approximately 130 years old when he moved to Egypt. We know of course that his motivating factor was to be reunited with his long lost son, Joseph. However, what about the promise of the land? Yes, we know there is famine in the land but regardless […]
Genesis 46:1-7, Snapshot #4 On two prior occasions, within the land of Canaan, the Lord spoke to Jacob regarding His promise and plans for the nation of Israel. Both took place at Bethel. The first was when Jacob was a young man while on his way out to Haran. The second was much […]
Genesis 44:25-28, Snapshot #3 Today we continue our look at Jacob’s second half of life through snapshot #3. It’s a joyous occasion in the Jacob household as the sons return with great news. Joseph is alive! Aside from the fact the boys have a lot of explaining to do, they deliver the news […]
Genesis 42:1-43:15, Snapshot #2 The context for snapshot 2 is famine in the land and the return of the brothers from Egypt. Their sacks are full of grain. Their money has been mysteriously returned. The bad news is they arrive home without their brother Simeon who is being held captive in Egypt. This […]
Genesis 37:1-4, Snapshot #1 For the remainder of this study we will be looking at selected portions of the text beginning here in Genesis 37. The reason is because at this juncture, Jacob’s story becomes part of a much larger story entitled, “The Families of Jacob” Genesis 37:2. In order for us to […]
Genesis 36-50 Overview Today we begin a new section by introducing an overview comparison of Jacob’s first half of life with his second half. The line of demarcation, from my perspective is when Jacob verbally acknowledges his fear (Genesis 31:31). His acknowledgement was a big step. Coming to grips with one’s own limitations […]
Genesis 35:22 “What Growth Looks Like, part 11” Stage six is illustrated through Jacob’s actions at the close of chapter 35 where he cooperates with his brother to bury their father (Genesis 35:29). This action indicates a harmony that now exists only through facing and working through a very rough past. This is […]
Genesis 35:22 “What Growth Looks Like, part 10” After a short review we wrap our study of stages four and five by viewing selected clips from the movie, “Company Men.” What we hope to observe is the transformational process as described in stages four and five illustrated through Bobby Walker’s (Ben Affleck) experience. […]
Genesis 35:22 “What Growth Looks Like, part 9” A major growth step takes place in one’s life when he or she is able to, as we call it, “embrace the negative.” In our model, this is indicative of stage four. Once this occurs I am able for the first time to face “the […]
Genesis 35:22 “What Growth Looks Like, part 8” In this session we continue our examination of stage four. After a brief review we will follow Bobby Walker’s process as shown from the full length motion picture “The Company Men.” This will be followed by table discussion prompted by the questions on slide #5. […]
Genesis 35:22 “What Growth Looks Like, part 7” Stage four in one’s growth is first prompted by what I call “internal longings.” It’s when one wakes up to the idea that the world they have created for themselves is just not working anymore. This has little to do with externalities such as success, […]
Genesis 35:22 “What Growth Looks Like, part 6” Today we review stages one through three of our growth model. These three stages are foundational within all human beings. They are foundational because they create what is needed for lasting change to occur beginning in stage four. As we will discover, the core […]
Genesis 35:22 “What Growth Looks Like, part 5” Today we continue our study by looking back into Jacob’s life and comparing instances from his life to what I am calling seven stages of growth. Today our focus is on stage 3. As you will see stage 3 is about power. How a man […]
Genesis 35:22 “What Growth Looks Like, part 4” Today we look at the implications of a stage two construct. As we explore I think you will find it to be strangely familiar as seen through current events. Much of what we see happening around us today is motivated from stage two thinking. We […]
Genesis 35:22 “What Growth Looks Like, part 3” After a review of last session we continue with stage two of our seven stage model for growth. As we look back into Jacob’s early life and reflect upon the stolen blessing as described in Genesis 27 we hope to gain a more complete understanding […]