Outline: God’s Peace, Presence, Promise, Provision, and Protection. God’s Peace (v1-3) Verse 1: When Jacob, on his journey to Egypt arrives at Beersheba, he makes a sacrifice to God, and God visits him there. It is interesting that Beersheba is where both Abraham and Isaac lived for a time during their sojourning. And now Jacob […]
Christ
A Substitute for the Guilty: Commentary on Genesis 44
There are three elements to the narrative that will guide our thought concerning this passage here: Joseph’s Test, The Brother’s Guilt, and Judah’s Plea. Joseph’s Test Verse 1: The passage begins with Joseph filling the brother’s sacks full and putting their money back in their sacks. In other words he continues to pile on the gifts […]
There Again: Feasting in Famine – Commentary on Genesis 43
In Genesis 43 there are three overarching themes that will guide our consideration of this passage: the famine grows in severity, the brothers grow in honesty, and Joseph grows in mercy. The Famine Grows in Severity In the last chapter we noted how God uses means to accomplish his purposes; and sometimes those means are […]
From Drug Addiction to Pastoral Ministry
We don’t typically post testimonies on Rags for Riches. However, an exception had to be made. Recently our dear brother and friend to Rags for Riches wrote out a bit of his testimony. It was particularly moving to me, being that I had no idea about his past. Though every Christian has a “rags to […]
Psalm 85: Revive Us Again
What is Revival? Revival is a period of restoration. The root word means to restore something back to the fullness of life. Revival is also a rekindling of spiritual life in individual Christians and local churches which have fallen on sluggish times. True revival brings a fresh emphasis on the holiness and righteousness of God, […]