Genesis

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Seven.

Everything that was made was good. The Bible says, God is good and the creator of goodness.

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First day : God made light and dividing light and darkness&emsp&emsp

second day: God made an expanse(sky?) and divide water into the water above it and the water below it

third day: The water of the world gathers together to reveal dry land. God let the earth produce plants of all kinds

forth day: God made light bodies to shine day and night

fifth day: allowing life to flourish in the sky and in the water. fish and birds

sixth day: Bringing animals to the ground and making humans in the image of God

He prepared everything, but prepared one by one to create an environment where humans could live when they were made.

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How were they made? (v20-21, v24-25, v26-27)

God made animals with HIs words. (v. 20-21, 24-25) The sea and the earth were commanded to bring forth animals. But for human, God made a man by himself, and in the image of God.

What did God do to them? (v22, v28)

He blessed animals and humans to grow and thrive. (verses 22, 28) It is the intention of God to bless.

God’s provision for them: (v29-30)

God gave them plants as food. All creatures exist are dependent on food to survive. In the Bible, eating is one of the important topics. Don’t we also celebrate the Lord’s death through a ritual of eating?

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Man is made in the image of God. God breathed a life to Adam’s nostril.

The common thing is that both Adam and animal were made of earth. (Verse 7.19)

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God made it.

You made good trees grow.

Four rivers flow and wet the whole land

He ordered Adam not to eat the tree of good and evil.

Not eating the fruit of knowledge of good and evil means that Adam should not decide himself which is good or evil for him. He should entrust God’s definition of good and evil for his life. Like a little kid, who always asks mom what to eat and what to wear. Anything mom says ok, it would be good for her kid.

However, since Adam has eaten the fruit of good and evil, humans has been deciding good and evil by themselves and how to be happy.

The faith God wants from us is that we should leave the judgment of good and evil to the Lord, about what is beneficial and harmful to us. Even if it seems a loss to my viewpoint, if God tells me to do it, it is faith to believe that it will be beneficial to me and obey. On the contrary, no matter how good it seems to me, if God does not give it to me, faith tells it is evil to me, and thus I no longer cling to it.

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God.

God is the one who made everything good, but still, He can make it even better. Are you satisfied with your life? Go to the Lord, though. There will be greater satisfaction and joy.

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This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh

This is the first song in the Bible in response of God’s works.

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Lack of knowing God’s words (&emsp&emsp)

Doubt about God’s intention (&emsp&emsp)

Desire to be like God, which is being independent of God. (&emsp&emsp&emsp)

Verse 3, verse 5, verse 6.

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one’s own experience and judgment based on what one sees

the word of the snake

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Eyes brightened (you find yourself naked),

Fear of God, pain of childbirth and family discord, having to work hard to make ends meet (but still not so successful),

Being kicked out of God’s presence.

Death: returning to dust

I often see people criticizing God for destroying the Canaanites. It was primarily the judgment of their sins. More fundamentally, it should not be forgotten that humans were supposed to die because of sin, but God delayed the execution of punishment. Despite we deserve to die right now because of our sins, God has been granting us each day by His grace. Therefore, no one can blame God with the execution of His punishment

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The descendant of the woman will injure the snake’s head

God blocked the way to the tree of life to prevent them from living forever in a sinful state.

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In verse 17, the ground (‘Adama’ in Hebrew) is cursed instead of Adam. And the snake is cursed. (V. 14) God didn’t curse Adam in a thought that He wanted to save him from this trouble.

Later, Jesus took charge of the curse because of our sins.

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His anger at the fact that his offering was not accepted tells he was under the sin.

God warned him, but he ended up killing his brother. He was not able to resist the temptation of sin

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Abel’s blood flowed to the ground, so he could not settle in one place (the land) and became a sojourner here and there.

Grace: God saved Cain from blood revenge.

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showing off one’s brutality and sin “Who would dare punish me?”

William Ernest Henley sings about a humanism that elevates human self. “Invictus”

Out of the night that covers me,

&emsp Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

&emsp For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

&emsp I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

&emsp My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

&emsp Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

&emsp Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

&emsp How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

&emsp I am the captain of my soul.

When God put you under his punishment, if you refuse to accept His discipline, you are clueless. Remember that a group of Jewish people did when Jerusalem fell by Babylon. They fell because of their sins and their fathers’ sins. Furthermore, God promised restoration after 70 years. However, they refused to take God’s treatment for their sins and went down to Egypt, explicitly against God’s command. There, they worshipped the idols of Sun, Moon, and stars, perished there, and never returned to Jerusalem.

Accepting God’s whip is an act of faith.

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from the time of Enos

In the midst of sinful generations, God preserved the people of God who seek God. Today, churches collapse, the truth is distorted, and evangelism is rare. However, don’t blame such environment. Instead, call on the name of the Savior of the world.

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They lived to have children and died. Such a narrative implies that only meaningful thing in their lives was to have children until the Savior will be born.

The Bible shows that God values their trials to keep their lineage and to keep their inheritance. Also, God punished those who neglect their duty to keep their family line.

Onan was killed as he didn’t want to keep his brother’s family line. Judah was accused of not giving Shelah to Tamar. Meanwhile, Tamar was praised even for her deception to keep her deceased husband’s line.

How much do you take it seriously to devote your life for God’s kingdom and His plan?

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Enoch, Noah

Enoch: it is a way of life to talk with the Lord. Even though death had been sentenced to him as Adam’s descendant, he didn’t die as he had walked with God

Noah: it tells another way of life: through grace. He was saved amid God’s judgment.

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They chose any woman beautiful to their eyes to marry. Though it is a man’s nature to marry a beautiful girl, there is a reason that the Bible especially mentioned it. The author pointed out that they married in accordance with their will not God’s will. This is the same reason how Eve had eaten the fruit.

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Two times (6,7) Because the inclination of their hearts was evil always from birth.

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Shem, Ham, Japhet

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Noah got God’s grace and walk with God.

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TO preserve his life by entering the ark.

Know that when God’s salvation comes, His judgment also comes. How not to be under God’s judgment when salvation comes?

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Becaues of Noah. God’s salvation is not only to save the one person, but also his family and anyone who belongs to him. His family was delivered from the flood because of Noah’s righteousness (given by grace). This is the same logic that we are saved through Jesus Christ as we belong to Him.

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three. 6:22, 7:5, 9.

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Six hundred years old. Forty days and nights

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V17-20: Water covered all the earth.

V21-22: All the living on the earth died

V23: The Lord destroyed everything, but only Noah and those with him survived.

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One year ten days. (600 yr 2/17 ~ 601 yr 2/27)

Seven months and ten days (7/17 ~ 2/27) Though the date was according to Jewish calendar.

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Noah sent out a raven and a dove several times to know if the land had been dried. However, he was able to get out of the ark only after the Lord told him to do.

The Lord makes us wait longer than we expect. No matter how much we struggle, God’s answer comes to us in His time. Relax and wait.

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He promised not to curse the ground again because of human. (Remember the ground was cursed because of Adam in Gen 3:17) The cause of their evil is in their hearts not in the ground the material they were made of. In NT, Jesus took the curse of human sins. We can see God’s heart that He didn’t want to curse human for their sins.

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1:28-29 vs 9:1-3: the command to multiply and to be fruitful is the same. But, animals were allowed for food after the flood, while only plant had been allowed before. Thus animals will fear human after the flood, while animals were entrusted to Adam for governing.

2:8-9 vs 8:22: In Eden, food was provided from fruit trees. Now, they need to work hard in sweat to survive.

2:17 vs 9:4: At first, the Lord asked not to eat the fruit of knowledge of good and evil. After the flood, eating blood was forbidden.

The only command the Creator gave man for the first time was the commandment about eating. And this command about food regulates how to survive for a creature whose life depends on food. We need to obey God’s command to survive. “Man does not live by bread alone….”

God provided a way of survival by providing food for us. However, as we pursue something beyond satisfying our needs for survival through eating (or desiries), like the glory of God, it will lead us to sin.

We should follow God’s way in satisfying our desires.

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The promise not to judge the earth again with water. The rainbow was a confirming sign of the promise (v13). God will remember the promise as He saw the rainbow (v15). People should believe this.

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Though noah was saved from the flood, there was still a seed of sin in his heart. He could not be a savior of mankind. Therefore, they should wait for the true savior. For he was saved by grace.

Patriarchs in Genesis blessed their children and let God’s blessings go down through generations. But, here, Noah made a big mistake.

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Nimrod, Ham is his ancestor

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The Canaanites who were living in the land of Canaan have descended from Canaan.

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Shem.

The genealogies in the Bible trace down to Jesus Christ from Abraham to Jesus.

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To make a name and avoid scattering.

It did not seek the glory of God, but of its own. And it was against God’s command to grow and thrive and fill the whole land.

The way to follow God’s command is the way to glory. But they were wrong because they did not follow the path and wanted to reach glory in their own way.

God wants us to be honored, not in our ways and in our time, but in his ways and in his time.

Satan presents us with an easy and fast path of glory, not the glory of the cross.

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To prevent people from doing their plans.

It wasn’t just to stop building the tower. It is God’s providence to protect humans by preventing what a fallen man plans to do. Therefore, life does not happen as we want and it is good for us.

In my life, I see God’s interference in blocking me.

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Babel-Confusion. That’s why life is a confusion. The world is chaos itself, intertwined with the struggle of humans to fulfill their desires and God’s interference in preventing humans from leading to sin and destruction.

They tried to make their name great, but they left the name Babel. God did not tear down the tower, but the pile of bricks and abandoned construction site clearly proved a human being who was chaos itself.

This is like the result of eating the fruit of good and evil in Genesis Chapter 3. Adam ate the fruit and wanted the glory of God, but got shame of the flesh.

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She had no children. God’s promise is to call Abraham, who has no children, and give him children like the stars. Perhaps Abraham’s lack of children and being old is one of the reasons God chose him (although it is not clearly revealed in the Bible).

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“I will make you a great nation and bless you. You will become the blessing for all nations”

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Lot. Taking Lot, his nephew, did Abram obey the command to leave his father’s household and relatives?

“I will give this land to your descendants.”

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Famine. In following God’s will, you encounter situations that seem contrary to His promise. It was not wise for Abram to go down to Egypt without asking God.

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Because of God’s promise to Abram: the blessing for the nations through the descendants of Abram.

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There was not enough place for their flock. Sometimes unmanageable wealth rather causes conflict.

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With Canaanites living in the neighborhood, separating with Lot could endanger both of them. And Lot has lost the chance to join God’s covenantal blessing through Abram. On the other hand, Abram became more dependent on God.

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He saw it with his own eyes and judged it by the standards of the world. He was so spiritually dark that didn’t care about staying with the corrupt town. By what standards do you choose your job and city to live in?

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“I will give you and your descendants the land you see. Your descendants will be as many as the dust of the earth.”

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Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim, Zoar

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Hobah. It’s over 200 miles from Hebron. It takes 70 hours on foot. Abram must have had many thoughts in his pursuit.

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God will bless and make Abram rich. If he takes the plunder of the king of Sodom, he will say he has made him rich, and that will deprive God of his glory. Look at Abram’s belief that he will only take what God gives him.

He had received a gift from Pharaoh in Chapter 12, but now I reject unintended wealth in Chapter 15.

Money is not always good for you. Anything that God gives you is good.

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Like the stars in the sky, there will be many descendants: God’s ability and God’s will (to keep his promise)

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God swears, “I will make it happen,” because Abram is half-confident about his promise to get the land. Abram and God did not walk through the split animals, but God alone. This shows that God will definitely keep what God said regardless of human failure or efforts.

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“Your descendants will become slaves and sojourners in foreign land for four generations (400 years?). God will punish the country and bring out the Israelites and bring them back to this land. You will close your eyes in peace.”

God’s promise to Abraham was unilaterally given. Abraham walked a life of journey in faith of the promise. His faith was finally proven when Isaac was offered in Genesis 22.

The promise was fulfilled for the generation of Joshua, not of Moses. God said to the people of Israel entering Canaan, “If you keep this commandment, the Abrahamic promise will be fulfilled to your generation,” meaning, “If you do not keep the Lord’s commandment, it will be fulfilled at other generation of your descendants, not you.”

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God will judge them for their sins.

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She knew it was God who had not given her a son. Then, she should have entrusted it to God. But she tried to get a son by all means. You should not waste your time and energy to get something God has not allowed to you.

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God heard it. He was born by Abraham’s mistake, but God’s mercy was there.

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Beer Lahai Roi

God promised blessing through Abraham. However, Abraham’s failure would cause un-happy life for Hagar. But, our God is faithful to His promise and brings His grace upon this slave girl and her child.

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“I am the Sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless.”

God is almighty. Abraham should have waited for God’s power to work instead of taking Hagar. This was God’s plan. They should be childless until they get too old to have a baby. When all human hopes are gone, God’s power will be revealed at the birth of Isaac.

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6 ~ 8 (I will, my covenant)

God also said repeatedly that He will confirm the covenant with Abraham’s descendants. Abraham had tried to make his offering numerous by taking Hagar, but now, the Lord confirmed that He Himself will accomplish the promise.

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It is a confession that giving descendants is not within human power, but rather according to God’s will, and circumcision was commanded in order to remember this for generations. It is God who fulfills His promises. Therefore, what we must do is to act blamelessly and perfectly before God, as He says (verse 1). This means always remembering God’s word, being conscious of God, loving God, and living accordingly.

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Abraham: Father of many nations
Sarah: Mother of many nations

The Lord wants them to stand firm in their faith. Also, the Lord wants to make sure the descendants will come through Sarah.

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He laughed. ‘If only Ishmael might live under Your blessing!’ It seems that Abraham had almost given up on the promise that God would make him into a great nation

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She laughed to herself.

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To teach Abraham about “judgment against evil”…
Since God’s righteousness must be spread through Abraham, He had to inform Abraham about His judgment and salvation. This was to show by what standard God judges and by what standard He grants salvation. God judges when sin reaches a point where it can no longer be ignored, and He is the one who provides salvation to sinners because of the righteous.

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10.

In Jeremiah 5, Jerusalem was not forgiven because there was not a single person who acted justly or sought the truth in the city.

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He offered his daughters in place of the two guests in order to protect them. In trying to stop evil, he attempted to use another form of evil.

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Look up each verse.

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Lot’s wife. Because she looked back out of longing for what she left behind.
She perished because she harbored regret and attachment to those under God’s judgment.

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Lot. This is the outcome of Lot’s choice to live in the materially wealthy cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

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Because of Abraham.
By meditating more on the Lord’s righteousness (His obedience and the grace of forgiveness shown through the sacrifice of the cross), we gain courage to approach God.
Who are the people around me that need to receive the Lord’s mercy through me? The people I have tried to avoid or condemn are the very souls whose feet I need to wash with the Lord’s heart

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He feared that the Philistines did not fear God and that he would be killed because of Sarah.
He relied on human methods to survive.

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Because it was God’s plan to bless nations through Abraham.
Since many nations were to be established through him, it was essential to continue the line and carry on the covenant until the promised offspring (the offspring of the woman, Abraham’s descendant) would come.
What is an essential mission in the New Testament era? Awaiting the Lord’s return, sharing the gospel, and making disciples.

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25 years.

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Listen to Sarah. Your offspring will be called through her descendants.
I will also bless Ishmael, so do not worry about him.
When we handle things according to our human thoughts, God will eventually set things right, and that process often involves pain.
Despite our mistakes, God does not forget His mercy. (In Deuteronomy, it says not to strike a person more than 40 times when administering punishment, out of consideration for their dignity.)
Galatians cites this event, urging us to cast off the old slavery to the law (Gal 4:21-31). We must abandon the belief that we can remain in God’s grace by keeping the law or rules. If we continue in sin, God will bring discipline. But even in that, we are given the privilege of approaching God, not because our lives have changed, but because of the blood of Christ.

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(v13), 17, 19, 20.

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Because they saw that God was with Abraham.
We can see the flow of God’s blessing. Abraham’s sacrifice and patience were necessary to reach this point.

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To test whether Abraham loved God more than Isaac.
To see if Abraham truly feared (revered) God.
In the Old Testament, the word “know” often implies experience.
Did God really not know this before?
We can see that the faith from Genesis 15:6 was matured and confirmed in Genesis 22 after many years of trials. One of the key mysteries of salvation in the Bible is that faith is validated through actions.
James 2:21: “Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?”
James 2:22: “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”
James 2:23: “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend” (Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7).
Through actions,

Abraham could confirm the reality of his faith (whether he truly believed and what it meant to believe).

He demonstrated his faith to his adversaries and the world, showing that he deserved God’s reward (also honoring God’s reputation).

As a result, Abraham’s relationship with God became even stronger.

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Early, 3, servants.
This shows his firm resolve to obey God’s word.

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Isaac asked, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham replied, “God Himself will provide.”

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Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord will provide).
The direct translation of “Jehovah-Jireh” is “The Lord has appeared” or “The Lord has shown Himself.” Most English translations interpret it as “The Lord will provide.” The King James Version and TNK (Jewish translation) are closer to the literal meaning.
“Abraham named that site Adonai-yireh, whence the present saying, ‘On the mount of the Lord there is vision'” (TNK: Gen 22:14).
“Abraham called that place Jehovah Jireh, which means ‘The Lord’s will has been revealed on this mountain'” (Genesis 22:14).
The command to sacrifice Isaac presented a different picture of God than Abraham had known before. ‘God promised to make a great nation through Isaac, but now He is asking for Isaac to be sacrificed. What is God’s plan?’ With this question, Abraham traveled for three days to the mountain, where he learned that God was testing him.
When God’s will is given, hesitating only leads to excuses for disobedience. Even when we cannot understand God’s commands or how He will fulfill His promises (such as using us as channels of blessing through the gospel), immediate obedience is the quickest path. In the place of obedience, we can see new and amazing aspects of God’s will that we had not known before. Through these steps, we begin to understand the Creator’s mysterious wisdom beyond our knowledge.

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Because you offered your only son: Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars and will possess the gates of their enemies (victory).
Through obedience: All nations will be blessed through Abraham’s name. The principle of receiving blessings through obedience.”

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From Ephron, for 400 shekels of silver.

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Foreigner, cave.

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Do not take my son back to that land because God promised this land to us.
God will send His angel before you.

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Three times (v12, v27, v52).
The blessings of Abraham flowed to the servant.

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v46, v47, v58.

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175, Ephron, Isaac.
The continuation of the promise: We see that the covenant of blessing given to Abraham is passed on to his descendants, just as promised in Genesis 17:7-8.
The promise that all nations will be blessed through Abraham continues through Isaac, and its ultimate fulfillment will come through Jesus Christ.

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12 nations.

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Two nations will come from them, and the older will serve the younger.

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Jacob: Grabs the heel.
Esau: Red.

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He was famished and considered his birthright insignificant.
The birthright, which included the blessing passed down from Isaac, was part of the inheritance of Abraham’s covenant. Esau treated the inheritance of God’s kingdom lightly in exchange for worldly things. The Bible emphasizes this.

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God told Isaac to stay in the land, and He reminded him of the blessings He promised to Abraham.
God blessed Isaac because of Abraham’s obedience.

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He did not trust God’s protection and said his wife was his sister.

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Twice (v16, v22).

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Because they saw that God was with Isaac and blessed him, they were afraid and wanted to ensure Isaac would not harm them.
We can see how God’s blessing flowed to the Philistines through Isaac.

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Three wells (Esek, Sitnah, Rehoboth).

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Rebekah, Esau, young goat skins.

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Three times.

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The blessing of material prosperity (v28), victory and honor (v29), and being a source of blessing (v29).

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She sent Jacob to her brother Laban’s house in Paddan-Aram for safety.
In this chapter, Rebekah’s actions reveal human frailty, trying to fulfill God’s promise through deceit despite already knowing God’s blessing on Jacob. When Isaac, unaware or ignoring God’s will, planned to bless Esau, Rebekah intervened with trickery. This led to enmity between the brothers. To resolve it, instead of seeking God, she used human methods again.
God called Abraham from Aram to Canaan, yet Rebekah sent Jacob back there. While Jacob built a large family in Paddan-Aram, he experienced spiritual struggles. Reflecting on this, one might wonder what could have happened if Isaac’s wife had been chosen from Abraham’s household. In Genesis 24, the servant sent to find Isaac’s wife, though not Abraham’s son, was a man of faith who knew God’s promise and the gospel. Despite human imperfections, God remains faithful and blesses

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Isaac sent him to take a wife from his relatives in Paddan-Aram, not from the Canaanite women.

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I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.

Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth.

Through you and your descendants, all peoples on earth will be blessed.

I will be with you and protect you until I have fulfilled all of these promises.

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Bethel. This place later became a site of idolatry.
King Jeroboam set up idols there, and the people of Northern Israel worshiped at this place.

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If I return safely, God will be my God. This place will be the house of God. I will give a tenth of all I receive.
Jacob may have made this vow to confirm God’s promise to him.

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Because of the promises He made to Abraham and Isaac.

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Because she was beautiful.

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Laban made Jacob work for seven years under the pretense of giving him Rachel as his wife. However, on the night of the wedding, Laban gave him Leah instead, so Jacob had to work an additional seven years for Rachel. This trick mirrors how Jacob deceived his father Isaac. It involved swapping siblings (Rachel and Leah), and it occurred during the night when vision was limited.

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14 years.

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Because Leah was unloved. God is merciful.

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Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah

Bilhah: Dan, Naphtali

Zilpah: Gad, Asher

Rachel: Joseph, Benjamin

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Because Laban recognized that God had blessed him through Jacob.

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Any sheep or goat that was speckled or streaked would belong to Jacob.

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He placed peeled branches in front of the healthy sheep during mating, hoping they would give birth to streaked or spotted offspring. It’s unclear if this method truly worked, but it demonstrates Jacob’s reliance on his own methods, even though God had already promised to bless him.

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Laban’s attitude toward Jacob had changed, and the Lord told Jacob to return home.
Jacob’s initial desire to leave was based on personal reasons, as was his decision to stay. His second desire to leave was also based on personal considerations. When Jacob was vacillating with human reasoning, God intervened and told him to return. This shows God’s grace in reminding Jacob of the covenant with Abraham, and it teaches us that without holding onto God’s word, we may live a life of uncertainty.

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Ten, God, quickly (now).

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He sowed discord between them.

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Because he was afraid Laban would stop him or harm him and take away his possessions.

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God.

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Rachel.
Rachel’s theft of the idols indicates that she still valued them.

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Jegar-Sahadutha (in Aramaic) or Galeed (in Hebrew), meaning “heap of witness.”
Mizpah, meaning “May the Lord watch between us” (serve as a watchman).

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He based his request on God’s promise to make his descendants numerous like the sand of the sea.
Jacob is humbled as he reflects on his life.
He admits his fear of Esau and courageously faces it. This might be external persecution or internal confrontation with his own sin.
Jacob holds onto God’s promise and entrusts the outcome to Him.

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200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 female camels and their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys.

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He prepared gifts, divided them into three groups to present to Esau, and wrestled with God in prayer.

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Because Jacob persisted and would not let go. His new name was Israel.

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Peniel, meaning “Face of God.”

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The servant wives and their children, Leah and her children, Rachel and her children.
Jacob’s favoritism sowed seeds of envy and jealousy between the siblings and tribes.

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Seir.

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He didn’t trust Esau.
Jacob may not have been sincere in seeking Esau’s forgiveness, and he didn’t seem particularly interested in fully restoring their relationship.

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Shechem.

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They agreed on the condition that all the men of Shechem undergo circumcision, after which they would permit intermarriage and become one people.
Jacob’s sons acted in the way they had learned from him. In this situation, what would have been pleasing to God? They should have sought God in prayer, gone to Bethel as Jacob had promised, and waited for God’s direction on how to live. They should have also sought God’s guidance regarding the Dinah incident.
Considering that God’s will is for all nations to turn to Him, was it entirely impossible to lead the people of Shechem to genuinely believe in God? Both in the Old and New Testament, one of the biggest problems for the saints was selfishness. Selfishness is contrary to the essence of faith, which is about self-denial.

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Simeon and Levi.
As a result, Simeon and Levi did not receive a favorable blessing from Jacob. The tribe of Simeon would eventually fade into obscurity, being absorbed by Judah. However, the tribe of Levi became servants of God when they took a stand against idolatry during the golden calf incident in Exodus 32.
In Numbers 25, during the Baal of Peor incident, Simeon’s tribe declined even further, while Phinehas from Levi’s tribe acted in zeal and God granted him the covenant of peace.
In Deuteronomy 33, there is no mention of Simeon in Moses’ blessings.

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Get rid of foreign gods, purify yourselves, and change your clothes.
At that time, people’s clothing and jewelry were closely related to the images and symbols of the idols they worshiped. These gods were seen not just as objects of worship, but as a way to understand and explain the forces of nature and life itself—such as gods of rivers, wind, the sun, and rain.
In today’s terms, we must put aside modern scientific and philosophical worldviews that contradict God’s Word. For example, sayings like “In for a penny, in for a pound” may be cultural wisdom, but they are not found in the Bible.

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You will be called Israel.

Nations and kings will come from you.

I will give the land I promised to Abraham and Isaac to you and your descendants.

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Rachel’s death and Reuben’s sin of sleeping with his father’s concubine, Bilhah.
Was it God’s will for Jacob to remain in Bethel? His household continued to experience trouble.

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Adah, Oholibamah, and Basemath. The Bible notes that Esau married Canaanite women.

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He reported his brothers’ wrongdoings.

Jacob (their father) favored Joseph.

They hated him because of his dreams.

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First dream: 11 sheaves of grain bowed down to Joseph’s sheaf.

Second dream: The sun, moon, and 11 stars bowed down to Joseph.

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Reuben stopped them from killing Joseph.

Judah suggested selling him.

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(v32) They showed Jacob Joseph’s coat covered in animal blood, leading him to believe Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.
Jacob was deceived by his sons.

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Er, Onan, Shelah.

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Er: He was wicked in God’s sight.

Onan: He was wicked in God’s sight.

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Perez and Zerah.

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Judah should have given Shelah to Tamar to fulfill the duty of providing an heir, but he feared Shelah might die, so he withheld him.

Judah committed adultery, believing he was with a prostitute, yet he hypocritically condemned Tamar for her pregnancy.

Judah’s story seems to interrupt the narrative of Joseph (Chapters 37-50), but it is part of Jacob’s family history. From Jacob’s perspective, Joseph is gone, and Judah’s sons are dying (due to God’s judgment), leading to the potential extinction of the family line. In the Old Testament, the loss of descendants is a serious issue, as it threatens the fulfillment of God’s covenant blessings.
Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, committed adultery with his father’s concubine (Chapter 35). Simeon and Levi killed the men of Shechem (Chapter 34), and Judah showed indifference toward continuing the family line, committing adultery with a prostitute.
Both extreme hostility toward the Canaanites and assimilation into their culture were problematic.
As Jacob’s family began losing their sense of identity as God’s chosen people, God intervened by sending them to Egypt, where they could grow as a distinct and isolated nation.

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Potiphar.

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Because the Lord was with Joseph. Wherever Joseph was, God’s presence brought blessing.
God’s presence with us, in any situation, is a blessing.

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Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he fled, resisting her advances. As a result, she falsely accused him, and he was thrown into prison.

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Prison.

Sometimes, even when we live righteously and follow God’s will, we may face hardship. However, if we are living according to God’s plan, we can find peace knowing that even prison is part of God’s greater purpose for our lives.

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Cupbearer: He saw a vine with grapes, which he squeezed into Pharaoh’s cup.

Baker: He was carrying bread for Pharaoh, but birds came and ate the bread from the basket on his head.

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He forgot about Joseph.
According to God’s timing, Joseph remained forgotten in prison for two more years.

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Two full years.

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Seven healthy cows came out of the Nile, followed by seven thin cows, which devoured the healthy cows. Yet, the thin cows remained thin.

Seven healthy ears of grain were consumed by seven thin and scorched ears.
In Joseph’s story, Joseph interpreted dreams for others. However, his own dreams had not been interpreted until the end of the story. Joseph’s dreams held special significance, as dreams and visions were one way God communicated His will in those times. The repetition of dreams confirmed that they were not coincidental. While Joseph’s brothers were angered by his dreams, Jacob kept them in mind.
In the story of Joseph, all the dreams pointed to future events. However, Joseph likely did not fully understand the meaning of his own dreams at the time. Even though he was destined for greatness, his immediate circumstances didn’t seem to reflect that interpretation. If Joseph had clearly understood the dreams as a promise of greatness, he might have struggled to trust God’s faithfulness during his hardships.
Sometimes, God may deliberately leave parts of His plans hidden, leading us through challenges that help us grow in trust. Joseph only fully understood his own dreams when his brothers bowed before him many years later (42:9). At that moment, he realized God had been orchestrating events from Chapter 37 onwards. This understanding helped Joseph forgive his brothers and recognize that God had planned everything for good (45:7, 50:20).
In our lives, there are times when events remain unexplained. God may conceal their meaning for a greater purpose, leading us to trust in His providence. In the end, we may find deeper grace and understanding.

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To reveal what God was about to do.

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Because the Spirit of God was with him.

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Manasseh and Ephraim.

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Through Joseph, God blessed Potiphar’s household and, as prime minister, saved Egypt from famine, ensuring the nation’s survival.

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(v4) He feared something might happen to Benjamin.

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Simeon.

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They ignored Joseph’s pleas for mercy and sold him into slavery.
The brothers recognized their sin not just in selling Joseph, but in hardening their hearts against his cries for help.

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He believed that Simeon and Benjamin would both be lost and refused to send Benjamin to Egypt.

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Israel.
This reminds us of Jacob’s prayerful struggle at the Jabbok River (v14).

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Reuben.

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He entrusts everything to God, surrendering to His will. It was only when the family faced starvation that Jacob fully submitted to God’s plan.

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1-2-5-3-4 or 2-1-5-3-4.

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Benjamin.

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Judah.

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Judah’s concern for their father rather than himself. Since Joseph had also experienced their father’s love, he could relate to Judah’s love for their father, which may have softened Joseph’s heart toward his brothers.
(Note: Consider reviewing v16 for further context.)

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God, your lives.
Why didn’t Joseph reveal his identity immediately and instead held Benjamin as a hostage? There is wisdom in how reconciliation is approached. The incident with Benjamin allowed Joseph’s brothers to show they had matured since their earlier behavior. This way, 1) the brothers’ apology appeared sincere, not merely out of fear of Joseph’s retaliation, and 2) Joseph was able to preserve their dignity.

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Beersheba. Now we see Jacob seeking God’s guidance before making decisions.

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66 + 4 = 70.

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Goshen.

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130 years old.

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After they ran out of money, they brought their livestock, and eventually sold their bodies and land, becoming Pharaoh’s slaves.
It is emphasized that all the land and people became Pharaoh’s possessions, except the land belonging to the pagan priests.

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1/5.

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Lives, kindness, slaves.
We see God’s providence in using Joseph to save many lives.

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To be buried not in Egypt, but in the land where his ancestors were buried.

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Ephraim, Manasseh.

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That the covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would continue through Ephraim and Manasseh.

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12.

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The scepter shall not depart from Judah. It was a prophecy that kings would come from Judah’s lineage.

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A blessing of abundance. Joseph received a double portion through his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, making them two tribes in Israel. Joseph received the physical blessing of the firstborn. Judah received the spiritual blessing, as the line of kings, including David and Jesus Christ, came from Judah.

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Judah – lion, Issachar – donkey, Dan – snake, Naphtali – doe, Benjamin – wolf.

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40 days for embalming, 70 days for mourning.

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In the cave of Machpelah near Mamre.

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Harm (evil), good, lives.

Reflection on Good and Evil in Genesis and the Entire Bible:
The story of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a theme that runs through Genesis and the entire Bible. When God created everything good, His command to Adam not to eat from the tree was a message: “Do not decide for yourselves what is good and evil; leave that to God.”
However, humanity followed what seemed good in its own eyes, but the result was death. From then on, everything humans pursued brought destruction and death. Though they tried to become like God, they instead realized their nakedness and were driven from His presence.
In the Tower of Babel, they sought glory, but only left behind a shameful name—Babel, meaning “confusion.” Many figures in the Bible pursued what seemed good to them, but the outcome was often evil. Yet God, in His sovereignty, turned those evil actions into something good. God is truly the sole creator of good, and His thoughts are always good, bringing life to us.
The world constantly judges what is beneficial (good) or harmful (evil) to them. However, Christians confess that God’s will is what is ultimately good for them, and they live to know and follow His will.
The world believes certain actions are good or evil based on moral and ethical standards—helping others and living sacrificially is seen as good. But for Christians, the distinction is between “God’s will” and “my will.” Since no one is good except God alone, His will brings about good (life), while our will, even when it seems good to others, is useless in gaining life. In the Hebrew Scriptures, idols are equated with vanity (emptiness).

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Joseph asked that when God led the people of Israel to the land He had promised to their ancestors, they should take his bones with them.

Joseph believed in God’s promise, though he did not live to see its fulfillment. His request to have his bones taken to the promised land showed his desire to be part of the future fulfillment of God’s covenant—”To you and your descendants, I will give this land.” For the fulfillment of that promise, Joseph’s bones needed to rest in that land. Though God had not explicitly spoken of resurrection, Joseph, knowing the Almighty God, had a sense that one day God’s greater work (perhaps even the resurrection) would occur, and he wanted to be present in the land at that moment. This reflects Joseph’s faith in the ultimate realization of God’s promise and his hope to dwell in the promised land, possibly in view of the afterlife or resurrection.

This will shows the depth of Joseph’s faith in God’s future accomplishment, even beyond his death.