Genesis - Part 2
Fall 2023
Am I in the Place of God? 11am
November 26, 2023 • Dennis Whitcher • Genesis 50:15–26
Disagreements, harsh words, and even physical abuse have torn apart many families. The hurts can go beyond families. False rumors, bullying, cruel comments (behind your back and on line!). People are selfishly used, friendships broken, trust betrayed. Some of us bear scars from our past: bitterness, anger, or desire to get even somehow. How can we get past that? Is it even possible? The story of Joseph offers hope. https://www.bibleref.com/genesis/50/genesis-50-15.html reveals that Joseph's brothers are consumed with guilt and fear after their father's death. They worry Joseph has been waiting for Jacob to die before taking revenge. This would not be unexpected, as they cruelly sold Joseph into slavery as a teenager (https://www.bibleref.com/genesis/37/genesis-37-26.html). The brothers attempt to appease Joseph with a message, supposedly from Jacob, but he tells them not to be afraid. In one of Scripture's most pivotal remarks, Joseph explains his conviction that, though their intent was evil, God's good purposes were behind everything that had happened. Despite their bad intentions, God used their acts to save many lives. Joseph assures them he will not harm them. Joseph is a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus. Beloved of the Father, hated by His brethren, betrayed by those He knew and loved, only to be used of God to save His people from death and destruction before being placed in the highest position in the land, carrying out the will of the Father. God uses all things to work together for good so that even when others intend things for evil, God will use it for good - not only for our eternal benefit, but for the benefit of others and to bring glory to His name.
Am I in the Place of God? 9am
November 26, 2023 • Dennis Whitcher • Genesis 50:15–26
Disagreements, harsh words, and even physical abuse have torn apart many families. The hurts can go beyond families. False rumors, bullying, cruel comments (behind your back and on line!). People are selfishly used, friendships broken, trust betrayed. Some of us bear scars from our past: bitterness, anger, or desire to get even somehow. How can we get past that? Is it even possible? The story of Joseph offers hope. https://www.bibleref.com/genesis/50/genesis-50-15.html reveals that Joseph's brothers are consumed with guilt and fear after their father's death. They worry Joseph has been waiting for Jacob to die before taking revenge. This would not be unexpected, as they cruelly sold Joseph into slavery as a teenager (https://www.bibleref.com/genesis/37/genesis-37-26.html). The brothers attempt to appease Joseph with a message, supposedly from Jacob, but he tells them not to be afraid. In one of Scripture's most pivotal remarks, Joseph explains his conviction that, though their intent was evil, God's good purposes were behind everything that had happened. Despite their bad intentions, God used their acts to save many lives. Joseph assures them he will not harm them. Joseph is a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus. Beloved of the Father, hated by His brethren, betrayed by those He knew and loved, only to be used of God to save His people from death and destruction before being placed in the highest position in the land, carrying out the will of the Father. God uses all things to work together for good so that even when others intend things for evil, God will use it for good - not only for our eternal benefit, but for the benefit of others and to bring glory to His name.
Joseph Puts His Plan into Action 10am
November 19, 2023 • Curt McFarland • Genesis 47:13–31
This Sunday is our once-a-year Stewardship dedication Sunday. We are answering the question, “how can I (we) take good care of, be grateful for, all God has given me (us)?” In a real sense every Sunday is Stewardship Sunday. Each week we bring what we have, who we are, and we offer ourselves to God as a way of saying thanks. The amount we bring is not as important as the heart we bring. Our days, our future, our eternity, belong to God. Through our prayers, our songs, our presence, we declare that God is the source of every blessing, every moment, each love, each kindness, every instance of beauty and wonder that leads us to mystery and awe. Our pledge cards indicate our financial commitment to Grace of Christ. The pastors, staff, session members, volunteers, do not see your pledge card. Our financial manager is the only one who does. She summarizes the numbers and passes the total along. Using that, leaders in the church put together what they pray will be a faithful, wise, and trusting, budget for the coming year. We live by faith, trusting God. And, we use the wisdom God has given us to invest your generous giving so that the Kingdom of God grows in hearts and lives across our valley and world. In Genesis this morning we read about how Joseph trusted God, and used his God-given wisdom, to accomplish far more than he could have thought or imagined. We pray God will do that here too, through what we offer on this Stewardship Sunday, and every day!
Joseph Revealed Himself ... With Tears 9am
November 12, 2023 • Curt McFarland • Genesis 45:1–15
Joseph wept. Joseph was a man of strength. Joseph was a man of wisdom. Joseph was a man with a lofty title, and life & death responsibilities. Joseph was a man whose faith had been tested by heartache and mistreatment. Joseph wept. When was the last time you cried, sobbed, wept? I’m going to be vulnerable here … to the point some of you may feel uncomfortable next time you see me … I’m an emotional guy. I cry regularly. A well written scene in a movie, or TV show, can set me off. I hear a heart-wrenching song and tears flow. Even a sappy holiday commercial can turn the faucet on. I cry when I catch a glimpse of real life, real beauty, real sorrow. Sobbing, weeping, comes when those I care about are harmed, pierced, in pain, or have died. Tears do not always come, even when I expect them … but I’m an emotional guy. This is even more surprising because tears were not encouraged, or even tolerated, as I was growing up. Some of that, I’m certain, was the result of my father’s WW2 experience, and the loss of his mom at age 2, and his father at age 18. For him tears = weakness. I brought a measure of that to my own parenting … I wasn’t zero-tolerance, but I wish I had encouraged, rather than questioned, the tears of both of my kids, and my wife. I arrived late to tears and emotions. But I’m thankful I’m more comfortable now expressing both. How about you? Our Lord wept. Jesus wept. How did I miss that? … or miss that He gave us permission to weep. He validates our emotions and tears.
Joseph Revealed Himself ... With Tears 11am
November 12, 2023 • Curt McFarland • Genesis 45:1–15
Joseph wept. Joseph was a man of strength. Joseph was a man of wisdom. Joseph was a man with a lofty title, and life & death responsibilities. Joseph was a man whose faith had been tested by heartache and mistreatment. Joseph wept. When was the last time you cried, sobbed, wept? I’m going to be vulnerable here … to the point some of you may feel uncomfortable next time you see me … I’m an emotional guy. I cry regularly. A well written scene in a movie, or TV show, can set me off. I hear a heart-wrenching song and tears flow. Even a sappy holiday commercial can turn the faucet on. I cry when I catch a glimpse of real life, real beauty, real sorrow. Sobbing, weeping, comes when those I care about are harmed, pierced, in pain, or have died. Tears do not always come, even when I expect them … but I’m an emotional guy. This is even more surprising because tears were not encouraged, or even tolerated, as I was growing up. Some of that, I’m certain, was the result of my father’s WW2 experience, and the loss of his mom at age 2, and his father at age 18. For him tears = weakness. I brought a measure of that to my own parenting … I wasn’t zero-tolerance, but I wish I had encouraged, rather than questioned, the tears of both of my kids, and my wife. I arrived late to tears and emotions. But I’m thankful I’m more comfortable now expressing both. How about you? Our Lord wept. Jesus wept. How did I miss that? … or miss that He gave us permission to weep. He validates our emotions and tears.
The Rocky Road to Reconciliation 11am
October 29, 2023 • Robin Stuber • Genesis 42
This is a big story! But everyone in a family (that would be all of us) are a part of a big story. We are bound together by history and shared experiences of both joy and pain. We are entwined on this journey called life by both choice and blood; and often the path is not easy. As we venture on in Genesis to see the amazing end of Joseph’s story, we are confronted with the difficulty of reconciliation. His path takes many twists and turns but, just like our story, God will bring about His holy purpose in spite of the mess. Join me this week as we see how a disaster – famine – can lead brothers back together. And for both better and worse they keep finding God in the middle of it! In Christ, Robin Stuber
From Prisoner to Prime Minister 11am
October 22, 2023 • Rick Murray • Genesis 41:37–57
In the Joseph stories we have seen a young man move from the annoying little brother, to the pit, to slave, to prisoner. Today having come out of prison and interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams we see him take action on behalf of the sovereign. He is now essentially the prime minister of one of the most powerful countries in the world at that time. In his story we become aware of the promise of God’s providence.
From Prisoner to Prime Minister 9AM
October 22, 2023 • Rick Murray • Genesis 41:37–57
In the Joseph stories we have seen a young man move from the annoying little brother, to the pit, to slave, to prisoner. Today having come out of prison and interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams we see him take action on behalf of the sovereign. He is now essentially the prime minister of one of the most powerful countries in the world at that time. In his story we become aware of the promise of God’s providence.
From Pit to Prison to Palace 11am
October 15, 2023 • Dennis Whitcher • Genesis 41:1–40
Joseph rose from the pit in the desert to the Pharaoh's palace not because of what he did, but because of who he knew. We all know that it’s always good to know someone in high places, right? How much higher can you get than God? Joseph trusted that God would use his circumstances for ultimate good. We see it in Joseph’s life in today's lesson and we will see that God will use him for His ultimate good in the future. Yes, Joseph thrived in his lifetime and was instrumental in reuniting his family. Yet, God’s plan for Joseph’s life wasn’t fulfilled until hundreds of years after his death. In Exodus we read that after Joseph died, the Israelites grew in number in Egypt. Moses was born and years later the 12 tribes and God’s chosen nation of Israel was established. And you can trace it all back to Jacob, his sons, the truly ultimate faithfulness of Joseph. Not a bitter and resentful Joseph. Not a revengeful and hateful Joseph, but the faithful Joseph, through both good and the bad, the successes and failures, all of the circumstances and events throughout his life. God still uses people in incredible ways. He changes lives when we least expect it. He uses people and situations for His good. God is sovereign. Think about where you are in your lives today. The people who have helped to mold you, and to shape you. The good and the not so good. The life changing situations you may encounter and have already experienced - God uses them all and will continue to do so if we just trust in Him. God always makes a way when there seems to be no way.
From Pit to Prison to Palace 9am
October 15, 2023 • Dennis Whitcher • Genesis 41:1–40
Joseph rose from the pit in the desert to the Pharaoh's palace not because of what he did, but because of who he knew. We all know that it’s always good to know someone in high places, right? How much higher can you get than God? Joseph trusted that God would use his circumstances for ultimate good. We see it in Joseph’s life in today's lesson and we will see that God will use him for His ultimate good in the future. Yes, Joseph thrived in his lifetime and was instrumental in reuniting his family. Yet, God’s plan for Joseph’s life wasn’t fulfilled until hundreds of years after his death. In Exodus we read that after Joseph died, the Israelites grew in number in Egypt. Moses was born and years later the 12 tribes and God’s chosen nation of Israel was established. And you can trace it all back to Jacob, his sons, the truly ultimate faithfulness of Joseph. Not a bitter and resentful Joseph. Not a revengeful and hateful Joseph, but the faithful Joseph, through both good and the bad, the successes and failures, all of the circumstances and events throughout his life. God still uses people in incredible ways. He changes lives when we least expect it. He uses people and situations for His good. God is sovereign. Think about where you are in your lives today. The people who have helped to mold you, and to shape you. The good and the not so good. The life changing situations you may encounter and have already experienced - God uses them all and will continue to do so if we just trust in Him. God always makes a way when there seems to be no way.
Dark Times 11am
September 10, 2023 • Curt McFarland • Genesis 39:20—40:23
As we continue in our study of the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis, we encounter the uncomfortable, raw, troubled lives, of God’s people. Most assumed then that being chosen by God would bring them a life of comfort, success, and uninterrupted happiness. Many believe that today. Instead (and my own personal experience confirms this) trouble, family conflict, and injustice, are always in the mix. There is good news with the bad news. The stories in the Bible, the lives of God’s people, our lives today … declare there is something, Someone, more significant, more powerful, more dependable, with us, even in the worst of times. That Someone finds us in the darkness and bring us through to the other side. Tomorrow, 9/11 is one of those defining dark times. He finds us there too.
Dark Times 9am
September 10, 2023 • Curt McFarland • Genesis 39:20—40:23
As we continue in our study of the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis, we encounter the uncomfortable, raw, troubled lives, of God’s people. Most assumed then that being chosen by God would bring them a life of comfort, success, and uninterrupted happiness. Many believe that today. Instead (and my own personal experience confirms this) trouble, family conflict, and injustice, are always in the mix. There is good news with the bad news. The stories in the Bible, the lives of God’s people, our lives today … declare there is something, Someone, more significant, more powerful, more dependable, with us, even in the worst of times. That Someone finds us in the darkness and bring us through to the other side. Tomorrow, 9/11 is one of those defining dark times. He finds us there too.
Wrongly Accused 10AM
September 3, 2023 • Alex Rule • Genesis 39:1–19
Adultery was considered a great sin in ancient times, and punished with the maximum penalty. Joseph knew this and he protected himself from the temptation to be seduced by the sinful woman. He did not want to ruin God's plans for his life, nor his integrity nor the confidence and power that his Egyptian Master had given him. In this story, Joseph's rejection of Potiphar’s Wife’s seduction cost him his freedom and a long period of suffering, but in the midst of the storm and tribulation. Joseph knew that God was always with him, that he would keep him from all harm, and that in the end. God would give him the victory, because the Lord was with him, and whatever he did the Lord made it succeed.