The Ten Commandments – Exodus 19:1-20:21 Whether in courthouses, town halls, or on the front lawns of public buildings; in the last century there has been plenty of debate and discussion about the public display of the Ten Commandments.  Along with nativity scenes and “Christmas” trees, it’s easy to get the soldiers riled up and…

Crossing the Red Sea – Exodus 13:17-14:31 “…though that way was shorter…” I’m struck by these words, early on in today’s reading.  Even though it would have been shorter to go through Philistine territory, God chose to take the Israelites by the scenic (desert) route.  He takes them the long-way-round! Why?  Certainly not because God…

Passover and Exodus – Exodus 12:1-42 “Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.”    The Exodus account is the central event of Old Testament history.   It is the event that defines Israel as a nation, and the series of events that demonstrates God’s unfailing faithfulness to His children.  The Israelites…

The Ten Plagues – Exodus 6:28-11:10 Saying “no” to God Yesterday we read about Moses, and although he was reluctant, Moses eventually said “Yes, Lord, Yes.” Today, we learn about Pharaoh, who not only consistently said “no” to God, but whose heart became increasingly hardened through the process.  In addition, we discover that though Pharaoh…

The Burning Bush – Exodus 3:1-4:17 But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”  – Genesis 4:13 If we’re not careful, we read the story of Moses, glossing over these words.  We jump to the exciting parts: snakes in Pharaoh’s court, the Nile turning to blood, repeated confrontations with Pharaoh, and…

Birth of Moses – Exodus 1:1-2:25 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread – Exodus 1:12a If you didn’t know that this verse was found in the Old Testament, you might assume that it was from the book of Acts, describing the spread of the Early (yet persecuted) Church.  Indeed,…

Joseph Reveals His Identity – Genesis 45:1-46:7 Before we look at this next part of Joseph’s story, let’s think back to last Friday’s lesson.  Jacob was preparing to meet his brother Esau, loading up all sorts of gifts in order to sweeten his apology.  And yet, it was Esau, the brother who was most wronged,…

The Brothers Return – Genesis 43:1-44:34 The games people play… I suppose we could give Joseph a “pass” on this.  After all, his brothers had done him wrong, and he may have wanted to see if they had changed at all.  Would they give up on Benjamin as easily as they had given up on…

Ten Brothers Go to Egypt – Genesis 42:1-38 “Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.” It happens to me all the time.  Just the other day I was at the mall, and a clerk called out to me. “Jon Twitchell,” she said… as I stood there and stammered, trying to subtly catch…

Prison and a Promotion – Genesis 39:1-41:57 “Life’s not fair!” “No… you’re right.  It’s not.” That sounds like a typical exchange between a child and a parent, doesn’t it?  Somewhere along the way we all discover that life doesn’t seem fair.  Our internal sense of justice doesn’t always line up with the reality in the…