In the closing chapters of Genesis, Joseph dies at the age of 110, and his father, Jacob, dies at the age of 147. Before Jacob dies, he gathers his twelve sons around him to pronounce paternal and prophetic blessings or rebukes upon his sons that are largely influenced by the lives they have lived up to that point. What we learn is that "the life we live will be the legacy we leave." But there is one exception to this rule that reminds us of the redeeming work of Jesus who gives us a new legacy in Him! Join us today for our Bible study from Genesis 49.
Joseph hasn't seen his family in 22 years. But God is providentially working behind the scenes to reunite him with his brothers who had betrayed him and sold him into slavery. The reunion will be one of forgiving and being forgiven, and will serve as a reminder to us that God calls us to do our part to "be at peace with all men" (Rom. 12:18). Are there people in your life that you need to forgive? Are there people in your life that you need to ask their forgiveness? Join Pastor Gary for today's Bible study from Genesis 42-45.
Between Genesis 40-41, Joseph interprets four dreams from God. The book of Genesis mentions more dreams from God than any other book of the Bible. All together there are more than 100 dreams from God throughout the Bible. Can God still speak to us through dreams today? How can we tell a natural dream from a supernatural one? Join Pastor Gary Hamrick today as we take a look at what the Bible has to say about dreams from God.
Pastor Gary Hamrick concludes this two-part message on the topic of Temptation. Once we understand temptation-how it operates and how we are all subject to it (part 1)-we must then vigilantly fight against it! The world teaches us to indulge ourselves and to cover it up. But the Bible teaches us to resist temptation, then God will be honored and we will be blessed. Join us today as we continue to look at the life of Joseph who modeled some of these fighting principles from Genesis 39.
Everyone is subject to temptation. We all share common struggles. The key to resisting temptation is to first understand what it is and how it operates. The story of Joseph in Genesis 39 gives us some biblical help in this area and shows us a wonderful example of a man who remained true to God in the face of temptation. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick for part one of a two-part series on Temptation.
When we come to the life of Joseph in Genesis 37, we are introduced to a young man of tremendous virtue and character. He is a model of integrity, purity, and holiness. He's an example of faithfulness in the midst of adversity and of forgiveness in the face of mistreatment. We are also introduced to the "Doctrine of Providence" as we see the hand of God working in mighty ways "behind the scenes" to promote His good purposes. Join us today for our Bible study in Genesis 37.
As Jacob returns to the place where he first encountered God, he realizes that he has allowed his life and his home to become compromised. He calls his family to rid themselves of the ungodly influences that have crept into their hearts and into their home. Then Jacob buries the idols once and for all. This passage is a good reminder to all of us that we must regularly assess the sinful things we allow to creep into our lives, or carry over from our past, and bury them! Husbands and fathers must especially fight for their families and be the spiritual leaders God has called them to be.
Jacob continues to mature in the Lord and become a more surrendered man of God, but he still struggles with being deceptive. God is going to visit him and wrestle with him to teach Jacob something about "submission." There is a point in all our lives when Jesus must be more than "Savior"; He must also be our "Lord." Jacob is learning something about "Lordship", and he will not let go of God! Take your Bibles and turn to Genesis 31 as we study today about "Wrestling with God."
While God is hammering out some character flaws and sin issues in Jacob's life, He is also working on other people in Jacob's family. In particular, God takes note of the fact that Jacob's wife, Leah, was unloved. She will go through the painful realization that only God can satisfy the deepest longings of her soul for love and acceptance. Turn in your Bibles to Genesis 29 for today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick entitled, "For the Love of Leah."
Jacob is on the run from his angry brother, Esau. On the way to Haran, Jacob has an encounter with God through a dream. The dream is of a stairway, or ladder, from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending, and the Lord at the top of the stairway. Through this divine dream, Jacob learns a few things about the character and nature of God that remain good lessons for us today about the PURSUIT, the PRESENCE, and the PROVISION of God. Turn in your Bibles to Genesis 28 as Pastor Gary Hamrick shares "Lessons from a Ladder."
After Esau was treated with such deception and dishonesty by his brother, the Bible tells us that he "held a grudge" against Jacob. It was so severe that Esau even had thoughts of murdering his brother. Maybe you haven't been angry enough to want to kill someone, but all of us have had to deal with feelings of anger, resentment or bitterness over the way someone has treated us. Unfortunately, we often become prisoners of bitterness when we hold a grudge. But there is a way to experience freedom from resentment! Join Pastor Gary Hamrick today as we tackle this subject from the closing verses of Genesis 27.
"What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." The story of Isaac's family in Genesis 27 is a clear illustration of this saying. Every person is manipulating or deceiving another member of the family either to hinder the work of God or to hasten the work of God for personal gain. Unfortunately, they serve as examples of how NOT to behave. We will learn more lessons from this flawed family in today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick entitled, "A Web of Deception."
After twenty years of infertility, God blesses Isaac and Rebekah with twins--Jacob and Esau. Unfortunately, we learn quickly that the entire family is flawed with favoritism, manipulation, deception, and fleshly desires. They are not unlike ourselves. Still, amazingly, this family is part of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob. It's another example of how God uses flawed, ordinary people to accomplish His perfect, extraordinary work. Let's learn lessons together from Genesis 25 as Pastor Gary teaches on "Jacob and Esau: Double Trouble."
The wedding story of Isaac and Rebekah is not only a literal love story, but it's a spiritual picture of Christ's love for the Church. In addition, it provides for us important principles for relationships and marriages that honor God. Divorce rates are high and single households now out number married households in America. Still, marriage was ordained by God and His Word gives us principles for holy and healthy relationships. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick for today's study in Genesis 24.
After twenty-five years of waiting, Abraham and Sarah finally got what God had promised-a baby born to them in their old age. Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born! God waited until they were past their prime so that everyone would know the birth of Isaac was a supernatural event. But then God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. And just when Abraham was about to carry through with this obedient act, God provided a ram as a substitutionary sacrifice. Find out in today's study how Isaac is a picture of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament as Pastor Gary teaches on "A Sacrifice of Love."
