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Scripture Reading — Numbers 21:4-9 Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. Numbers 21:9 Israel had a lot to learn about being the people of the holy and faithful God. In our story today the people...

Scripture Reading — Psalm 22:1-31 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from . . . my cries of anguish? Psalm 22:1 Let’s be honest. Life can be hard. There are times when the only sounds we can make are silent cries and laments. And we may wonder, “Where is the faithful...

Scripture Reading — Exodus 32:1-14 The LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. Exodus 32:14 While Moses met with God and received the law for the people, he was away for a long time—40 days and nights (Exodus 24:18). The people of Israel grew tired of...

Scripture Reading — Exodus 20:1-21 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Exodus 20:2 When we think about the faithfulness of God, the Ten Commandments are probably not among the first things that come to mind. After all, one of the main uses of...

Scripture Reading — Exodus 12:31-42 The LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt. . . . Exodus 12:42 It was not easy to convince the Pharaoh of Egypt to release the people of God from slavery. Finally, after a series of ten plagues that brought suffering, destruction, and even...

Scripture Reading — Exodus 3:1-15 "Now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." Exodus 3:10 While tending sheep in the wilderness, Moses saw a burning bush that did not burn up. As he went closer to try to see what was happening, a voice called out from...

Scripture Reading — Exodus 2:11-25 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham. . . . Exodus 2:24 Life in the palace was a privilege. Moses had a privileged position, and he could go out to see whatever he wanted to. Then he could return to enjoy the comforts of palace...

Scripture Reading — Exodus 2:1-10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. Exodus 2:10 A time of persecution for God’s people in Egypt led to a unique plan. God would raise up a leader for his people and eventually deliver them from slavery. A baby...

Scripture Reading — Exodus 1:1-22 Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. Exodus 1:21 In our story today, at the beginning of the book of Exodus, we learn that many years have passed since Jacob and his family went to live in Egypt. Joseph, who had ruled at the...

Scripture Reading — Genesis 50:15-21 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 Joseph brought his father and all his brothers and their families to live in Egypt so that they would have plenty during...

Scripture Reading — Genesis 45:1-20 “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” Genesis 45:7 Joseph had tested his brothers and had learned that they wanted to protect Benjamin, his younger brother, and to spare their father...

Scripture Reading — Genesis 42:1-17 “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us. . . .” Genesis 42:2 Like many others during the seven years of famine, Jacob’s family and flocks were running out of food. So Jacob sent his sons to go and buy food in Egypt...

Scripture Reading — Genesis 41:41-57 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:41 Joseph remained in prison for two years before the king’s cupbearer remembered him. One night Pharaoh had two dreams that troubled him deeply, and when he...

Scripture Reading — Genesis 40:1-23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. Genesis 40:23 Joseph’s experience in Egypt took many twists and turns. One moment he was trusted by Potiphar, one of the king’s officials, and the next moment he was imprisoned because of...

Scripture Reading — Genesis 37:12-36 “Let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” Genesis 37:20 Jacob sent Joseph to check up on his brothers. They saw him coming from a distance, and their...

Scripture Reading — Genesis 32:22-23 “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Genesis 32:28 Jacob was a schemer. It came naturally. His mother was a schemer, and so was his father (see Genesis 26-27). Scheming was...

Keeping Fueled & Aflame [ 1 min read ★ ] Take your everyday, ordinary life . . . and place it before God as an offering—Romans 12:1 The author of Hebrews laid down a challenge: “. . . let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). Eugene...

Scripture Reading — Genesis 21:1-21 “Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Genesis 21:18 God is faithful beyond our ability to think or imagine. Some years earlier, Sarah (formerly Sarai) had come up with a plan to produce an heir for Abraham...

What God’s Like [ 1 min read ★ ] I believe; help my unbelief—Mark 9:24 What should we believe about God? We’re told he’s big and powerful—so big and so powerful, in fact, he created . . . everything (Colossians 1:16). We’re told he sees everything and knows everything and can...

Scripture Reading — Genesis 15:1-21 “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Genesis 15:1 How long can you live on a promise? Abram and Sarai had lived with God’s promise of a child for many years. Their faith was being tested, and their hope was beginning to fade...