Life’s challenges, like Joseph’s trials, can feel like an endless cycle of setbacks. Yet in moments of suffering, God is with us, forming our character, growing our faith, and preparing us for His purpose as we trust Him to bring us through each wave.
It’s been a minute since Joseph’s original prophetic dreams as a kid. Now, as Master of all of Egypt, the only place that has food, Joseph’s betraying brothers come looking for help. In this dramatic story we see much about faith, forgiveness and family reconciliation.
In our study of Genesis on Sundays, we’ve walked through some difficult passages together. Chapter 34 may be the most difficult passage of all because of the sexual violence it details. To give this story the care and attention it deserves, we’ve recorded a podcast episode in place of a shorter Sunday morning sermon. Doing so allowed more time to honor the content and the opportunity for multiple trusted and qualified voices to join the discussion.
God’s decision not to omit this story from His Word demonstrates His commitment to provide grace and care even in the harshest realities of life this side of heaven. We hope this discussion will shine light into places that remain dark and that the Lord will use it for healing and reconciliation.
This conversation was led by:
Amy Lathrop - Licensed Counselor specializing in trauma, Co-Lead of Reach Counseling Center
Erin Sanchez – Pastor at Reach, Licensed Counselor specializing in women’s trauma
Josh Loy – Pastor at Reach, Licensed Counselor, Co-Lead of Reach Counseling Center
Moderated by Scot Pollok - Interim Teaching Pastor at Reach
Don't Be Surprised
November 3, 2024 • Zach Hendricks • Genesis 39
Joseph had every reason to doubt the goodness of God. But he didn’t. In adversity, he knew the love of the covenant-keeping God. It was that same love that compelled him to trust and obey.
Judah and Tamar
October 27, 2024 • Scot Pollok • Genesis 38
In one of the hardest chapters of the entire book, Genesis 38 confronts us with sin, death, immorality, hypocrisy, repentance and birth all hanging in the particulars of a culture quite distant from ours. But there is much to learn and see as we faithfully engage even the ugly parts of the human story God is writing. Our Father never sweeps sin under the rug or dismisses it. Instead, even within its consequences, He wisely overrules it, faithfully keeping His promise and enduring with sinners in loving pursuit and grace.
After concluding the story of Esau, we finally come to the longer story of Jacob’s sons, beginning with Joseph. In this text we first see Joseph’s gift of prophetic dreams and the sibling rivalry that ends with him as a slave in Egypt. With ten older brothers, practical jokes go too far, but God’s sovereign hand overrules it all for good.
What’s In a Name?
October 13, 2024 • Damon Strom • Genesis 35
This week we return to our study of Genesis. As we continue to examine the life of Jacob, we’ll see how God’s truth is able to heal our brokenness and how it enables us to become conduits of his healing love for others.
God of Reconciliation
September 8, 2024 • Scot Pollok • Genesis 33
As Esau rapidly approaches Jacob, his rascal brother, the drama of a long estrangement comes to a close. On the one side we have Esau, foolish and angry. On the other we have Jacob, tricky and manipulative, yet on the heels of a fresh encounter with the Living God.
Defining Moment
August 25, 2024 • Scot Pollok • Genesis 32
In Genesis 32, we encounter a pivotal moment in Jacob's life—a night of wrestling with God that would forever change his identity and destiny. As Jacob prepares to meet his estranged brother Esau, he finds himself alone, fearful, and uncertain. It is in this solitude that he engages in a mysterious and intense struggle with a divine figure.
The God Who Dwells with the Waiting
August 18, 2024 • Stephen Garcia • Genesis 30:25–43, Genesis 31
God is with you in your waiting, even if you’re not waiting on Him. His presence is the true fulfillment of all your longings, because having Him with you is better than getting what you’re waiting for. In the presence of Jesus, even the weight of your waiting will bow its knee.
Sowing and Reaping
August 11, 2024 • Scot Pollok • Genesis 29:1–30
Running from a revengeful brother, armed with a dramatic vision of God, Jacob arrives in modern day Iraq. What was intended as a short stay becomes twenty years as Jacob gains a large family. Yet the seeds of deception the younger Jacob sowed are coming to ironic fruit as the new Patriarch and father of a tiny nation is humbled and changed.
Encountering God in Unexpected Places
August 4, 2024 • Erin Sanchez • Genesis 28:10–22
As Jacob flees for his life, God slows down the story to encounter Jacob and reveal the heavenly reality of His presence.
The Deceiver & The Impulsive
July 28, 2024 • Dan Challapalli • Genesis 27:1
Genesis 27 brings us to an uncomfortable story of deception and theft. Yet despite human unfaithfulness, we see how God is still orchestrating all things for the covenant to continue.
Generational Decisions
July 14, 2024 • Josh Loy • Genesis
As the twins (Jacob and Esau) are born, we see the generational impact of their family across 3 different stories of 1) A parent’s favoritism, 2) A grandfather’s faithfulness, and 3) A son’s weakness.
The Father Sleeps
July 7, 2024 • Scot Pollok • Genesis
We finally come to the account of Abraham's death. This short text will allow us to review and relive Abraham's journey and the story of his faith, from which there is much to learn and live ourselves.
