The Highlighter [Genesis 37-Exodus 20]

Since you last heard from me I have read Genesis 37 through Exodus 20. Here's what stuck out to me:

Genesis 39:21 - But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

Throughout the last 15 or so chapters in Genesis, you see the phrase "The Lord was with him [or her]" quite frequently. That especially stuck out to me in the life of Joseph. Here, God is particularly protecting Joseph for doing the right thing. I think this is a fantastic lesson for all of us. Doing the right thing doesn't mean we will never have anything bad happen to us. However, God will watch over us when we do the right thing.

Genesis 46:3-4 - "I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes."

God is speaking this to Israel [Jacob] in a vision. I mentioned last week that God's promises are particularly sticking out to me this time through. I can't really say why, but I'm sure the Holy Spirit has something to do with it.

Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Exodus 4: 24 - At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.

When I hear the story of Moses talked about or preached about, this is often left out. You are reading that correctly, God was about to kill Moses. This verse shows how important circumcision was (context tells us the reason God was about to kill Moses was because his son had not been circumcised). Before Moses could go any further in his mission to free God's people, he had to fulfill the conditions of God's covenant.

Exodus 14:14 - The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.

I preached on this verse last year, it was one of my favorite sermons that I've done thus far. Even having already preached on it though, it still sticks out to me. The LORD fights for us, we just need to be still! Being still is one of those "easier said than done" tasks in a world of constant movement. But how comforting it is to know that God will fight for us. That phrase is full of hope.



God bless!