Today’s Verse: Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. ~Genesis 40:23 Are you someone who is forgetful? Do you forget where you put your keys? Do you forget your username and password for login purposes? I think most forgetfulness is not malicious but is due to distraction, information overload, or the lack of concentration. Joseph was in prison for a crime that he was unjustly accused of. An opportunity came about where he could possibly be released. He

Today’s Verse: And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. ~Genesis 39:6 What would you do if someone put you in charge of everything that he owns? Could you be trusted to protect what has been entrusted to you? Our devotion this morning looks at the life of a man who is one of the best examples of stewardship in the Bible. We are considering Joseph and the bles

Today’s Verse: After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. ~Genesis 15:1 Abraham was in deep distress. He had just returned from a very successful conquest of the five kings who had taken his nephew Lot as a captive. He became anxious that those kings might consider taking revenge on him and his household. He thought about his small army in comparison to their much larger milita

Today’s Verse: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. ~Genesis 35:3 One of the essentials for a strong spiritual life is a daily walk with God. A daily walk with God involves spending an allocated time in the Word of God and in prayer. Jacob had many problems in his life and family due to having neglected a place and time in which he would meet with God

Today’s Verse: Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. ~Genesis 49:13 Zebulun is one of the smaller and lesser-known of Jacob’s sons and of the tribes of Israel. He is the sixth son of Leah. Only one verse describes Jacob’s parting words and blessing upon this son. Zebulun represents a good testimony and a solid future. He represents for us a son who did not cause his father much trouble or hearta

Today’s Verse: O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. ~Genesis 49:6 Jacob lived a ripe and good life. God blessed him with 147 years of life. At one point, he described his years as being few and full of sorrow. However, he ended his life in peace and thankfulness. Before he left this life, he gathered his sons together and made some fr

Today’s Verse: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; ~Genesis 49:4a A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. ~James 1:8 I enjoy looking at the ocean water from the shoreline. When the water is placid, it tends to be calm and predictable, and it appears safe. However, ocean water moves about according to the tides. Ocean water can be safe-looking at one moment, and then, it can become turbulent and treacherous. Jacob described his eldest son, Reuben, as being as uns

Today’s Verse: And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee.... ~Genesis 45:10-11a Most immigrants come to the United States as the land of opportunity. They envision a life where success is possible with hard work and seizing upon opportunities. In our devotion this morning, Joseph is making possible the oppo

Today’s Verse: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. ~Genesis 49:10 Our text this morning points us to the advent and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world. It is an important verse relative to Bible prophecy and Jesus' first coming. It is often an overlooked and forgotten verse. Nevertheless, it describes for us a powerful statement regarding Jesus' arrival

Today’s Verse: For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. ~Genesis 24:65 Our church is an exciting place to be at every service. We have first-time and returning visitors at almost every service. It is very special for me whenever members bring a visitor to church, and as soon as they see me, they hurriedly bring the visitor over and make a

Today’s Verse: And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. ~Genesis 29:20 Jacob made his way to Padanaram, where he met Rachel. From the first moment he set eyes on her, he thought, “She’s the one my mother and father have been praying for.” When he came to her home and met her father Laban, Jacob asked for her hand in marriage. When Laban told Jacob that he would have to work for him for seven years before he

Today’s Verse: And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. ~Genesis 28:12 The United States Coast Guard will sometimes use a rescue device referred to as Jacob’s Ladder. This ladder is let down from a helicopter to a person who is struggling in rough ocean water. The helicopter will descend as low as possible without placing the pilot and crew at risk, and then, the

Today’s Verse: And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. ~Genesis 27:22 A masquerade is an event where people gather in costume and pretend to be someone else. Typically, an event like this is meant to be a fun game of guessing who is really underneath each disguise and costume. It is an intentionally false, outward show, pretense, and façade. The sin of hypocrisy is just like that. I

Today’s Verse: And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? ~Genesis 25:32 Until the last few months, the real estate market in the Bay Area was very hot for sellers. Most properties were sold and off the market in less than thirty days. It was not unusual to see “for sale” signs on almost every block. The very sight of a "for sale” sign perks the interest of potential buyers and investors by suggesting a possible bargain pr

Today’s Verse: And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. ~Genesis 37:8a Joseph had an incredible dream that depicted his brothers bowing down to him. He did not know when and how this would happen. However, the dream was very clear, and Joseph was a faithful messenger in conveying this dream to his brothers. Their reaction to this dream was hosti

Today’s Verse: And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? ~Genesis 47:8 Today marks the birthday of one of my daughter’s and several good friends in church. It is amazing that all of them share the milestone of another year of life and blessings from the Lord. I am very happy that today is their special day. It was a special moment when Jacob came to Egypt and saw Joseph after a very long absence. He presumed Joseph was killed and eaten up by a wild beast many years befor

Today’s Verse: So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. ~Genesis 20:7 Did you know that you are a VIP? By this, I am asking do you grasp the power of intercessory prayer. Within the context of our devotion this morning, I would like for us to consider what it means to practice “Valuable Intercessory Prayer.” There is the principle of intercession. Intercession means to petition on behalf of another perso

Today’s Verse: Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. ~Genesis 40:23 Are you someone who is forgetful? Do you forget where you put your keys? Do you forget your username and password for login purposes? I think that most forgetfulness is not malicious but due to distraction, information overload, or lack of concentration. Joseph was in prison for a crime that he was unjustly accused of. An opportunity came about where he could possibly be released. He t

Today’s Verse: And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. ~Genesis 19:16 One of the most powerful phrases in Scripture is when Isaiah says repeatedly, “His hand is stretched out still.” The hand of God speaks of His strength, involvement, power, and omnipotence. The very fingers of God speak of His grea

Today’s Verse: Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. ~Genesis 40:23 Are you someone who is forgetful? Do you forget where you put your keys? Do you forget your usernames and passwords? I think most forgetfulness is not malicious but due to distraction, information overload, or lack of concentration. Joseph was in prison for a crime he was unjustly accused of. An opportunity came about where he could possibly be released. He told the chief butler, “But