Posts by Josh Moody

Genesis 42-43, Psalm 19, Matthew 8:14-22, Acts 11:19-30 Genesis 42-43: The dreams that came to Joseph (Gen. 37:5-11) now began to come true. His brothers are sent to Egypt to buy grain because there is a famine in the land (42:1-5). When they arrive, they are taken to Joseph, but they do not recognize him—though he recognizes them…

Genesis 41, Psalm 18:25-50, Matthew 8:1-13, Acts 11:1-18 Genesis 41: The famous story of Joseph takes another dramatic turn. The cupbearer, prompted by different but equally disturbing dreams of his master the Pharaoh (41:1-8), remembers Joseph, and commends his dream-telling abilities to the Pharaoh (41:9-13). Joseph is promptly called into Pharaoh’s presence, not without first scraping off the…

Genesis 39-40, Psalm 18:1-24, Matthew 7:15-29, Acts 10:24-48 Genesis 39-40: Joseph is now having his character tested, and in the midst of all this, it is being shown to Joseph and to us by the skill of the narrator that the Lord is with Joseph (39:2-3, 21, 23). He is a slave in Potiphar’s house (39:1), and yet…

Genesis 37-38, Psalm 17, Matthew 7:1-14, Acts 10:1-23 Genesis 37-38: And so the dreamer comes! The well-known story surrounding Joseph’s life is filled with intrigue and drama from start to finish. Perhaps rather unwisely, Joseph begins (boldly?) to share his dreams of his preeminence over his brothers with his brothers (37:5-10), and not only that he also shares…

Genesis 36, Psalm 16, Matthew 6:25-34, Acts 9:20-43 Genesis 36: Not the most inspiring list of names, or natural place to go, for a piece of devotional literature! It gives us an opportunity, though, to remind ourselves of some hermeneutical (=right approach to interpreting the Bible) tools. When we come across a passage in Scripture, we ask ourselves…

Genesis 34-35, Psalm 15, Matthew 6:16-24, Acts 9:1-19 Genesis 34-35: At this point in the unfolding story of Genesis, it is well to take stock and remember what the arc of the narrative is and how it connects to some of the rather disturbing elements of these and surrounding chapters. In the beginning, we remember, God created everything…

Genesis 32-33, Psalm 14, Matthew 6:1-15, Acts 8:26-40 Genesis 32-33: In the middle of this story of the apparent reconciliation between Jacob and Esau, there is the well-known mysterious account of Jacob’s wrestling with God (32:22-32). He is wounded by that wrestling (32:25, 31) and is told that because he has wrestled both with God and with men…

Genesis 31, Psalm 13, Matthew 5:33-46, Acts 8:1-25 Genesis 31:  If things could not get any stranger in Jacob’s wandering dealings with his family and relatives, they are nonetheless getting to the point where Jacob is finding his way back to Canaan (31:3). Jacob notices (“quelle surprise,” what a surprise!) that Laban no longer regards him in the…

Genesis 29-30, Psalm 12, Matthew 5:21-32, Acts 7:39-60 Genesis 29-30: So Jacob runs away from the wrath of his brother Esau to his mother’s brother, Laban (29:1-14). The deceiver (Jacob), however, is about to get some of his own medicine as he is deceived by Laban (29:15-30). In familiar form, to those who have read the story of…

Genesis 27-28, Psalm 11, Matthew 5:13-20, Acts 7:1-38 Genesis 27-28: Jacob, the deceiver, well-named, now deceives Isaac at the prompting and urging of his mother (27:1-29). Is this a mother playing favorites? Or is it a mother trying to ensure that what God had promised regarding Jacob as the seed-bearer for the promise of God would actually come…