Life's Inanities and Ironies

The final words of a man often reveal the deepest convictions of his heart. For Joseph , a patriarch who navigated betrayal, slavery, imprisonment, and eventually, the highest seat of power in Egypt , his dying declaration in Genesis 50:22-26 is a powerful testament to an unwavering faith. It's a passage that, when we truly dig into it, illuminates three foundational truths for every believer: the unyielding faithfulness of God, the unstoppable power of His promises, and the glorious hope of the resurrection . Let's unpack these vital truths. I. The Unwavering Faithfulness of God Joseph’s life was a masterclass in divine sovereignty . Remember his story: sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned. Any ordinary man would have crumbled, perhaps grown bitter and resentful. Yet, Joseph, in a moment of profound grace and understanding, tells his brothers, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, a...

In the pages of Scripture, we find stories that are not just historical accounts but living words that speak to our hearts today. Genesis 21:9-21 , the story of Hagar and Ishmael ’s expulsion into the wilderness, is one such passage. It reveals the unchanging truth of God’s sovereignty , compassion, and faithfulness, even in the midst of human conflict and despair. As believers who hold fast to the inerrancy of God’s Word , let us dive into this text to uncover its timeless lessons for our lives. A Family Divided: The Context of Genesis 21 The story begins in the household of Abraham , the father of our faith, whose obedience to God is a model for us all ( Heb. 11:8 ). Yet, even Abraham’s family was not immune to the effects of sin. Sarah , seeing Ishmael , the son of Hagar, mocking Isaac , the child of God’s promise, demands their expulsion: “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac” ( Gen. 21:10 ). This is a heart-wre...

As Christians, we hold fast to the inerrant Word of God, taking every verse literally and seriously as the blueprint for history, prophecy, and our eternal hope. Today, let's dive into a often-overlooked passage in Genesis that reveals God's grand design for redemption—not just for Israel, but for all nations through Abraham's seed. These "hidden peoples," the sons of Abraham and Keturah , are no mere footnote in Scripture. They point to the fulfillment of God's covenants, the ingathering of the Gentiles, and the ultimate triumph of Yeshua the Messiah in the end times. Using the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) for its faithful rendering of the Hebrew roots , we'll uncover how these descendants fade from the narrative only to reemerge in powerful prophecies of blessing and redemption. Abraham's Later Family: A Foundation of Many Nations Our story begins in Genesis 25:1-6 (CJB): 25:1 Avraham took another wife, whose name was K’turah. 25:2 She bore him Zimra...