HOPE…in God’s dominion
The prophetic portion of Daniel is full of wild imagery that is meant to point those currently facing earthly oppression to look forward to God’s victory. Being careful not to lose the message in the medium, we wade through the vision of the four beasts.
Why evil?
As we finish the book of Genesis and the story of Joseph, we are able to look back and consider what God was doing in Joseph’s life. In response to this, Joseph says: you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. The evil in this world does not exist apart from God’s […]
How can God use suffering?
Jacob dies and we see his family in mourning. In this, we are able see healthy grief. This leads us to look into what role grief plays in the Kingdom of God and how we should respond to grief based on our place in this Kingdom.
Who am I?
Jacob blesses his sons, and in these blessings we see encouragement, inheritance, and prophecy. As all of these are being given, we also see something about ourselves and how we relate to God and His creation.
Is God fair?
As we read the Bible, we are faced with a God who is not easy and comfortable. Specifically, He seems to operate in a way that is inconsistent with our way of understanding justice. In this story, we see that this is both intentional and purposed. God does not want us to be able to […]
Can I handle it?
Joseph has been reunited with his family, but he still faces a famine in the land. The way that Joseph handles himself in a foreign nation, in the midst of a time of great distress, gives some guidance on how we should live in a world that is not out home, under varied struggles and […]
What is going on?
Pastor Jim Fikkert
Joseph reveals to his brothers that this Egyptian official that they have come to buy food from is actually the brother they sold into slavery. In this, he makes it clear that all that has happened is from God; He is the reason he ended up in Egypt and is now in a position to […]
Can I trust?
Pastor Jim Fikkert
Joseph’s brothers have a lot of relational healing to do. At this point, their father blames them for his pain and they are the reason for Joseph’s many years of struggle. We see the first steps taken in this story, through the humble vulnerability of Judah, and the openness of Joseph to give his brothers […]
How should I respond?
Pastor Jim Fikkert
Joseph is reunited with his brothers. The same brothers who hated him and sold him into slavery. This chapter gives us the beginnings of the process of restoration and what it looks like for us to seek healing in our relationships.
What does God want from me?
Pastor Jim Fikkert
Joseph gets pulled from prison and is brought before the Pharaoh. He interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and quickly rises up the ranks to being second-in-command over all of Egypt. In this, we see God blessing a foreign nation through His chosen people. This tells us a bit about how God expects us to live; he isn’t […]
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