In the fourth plague that initiates the second cycle, the flies come up from the water. In keeping with the pattern of judgment associated with water, land, and sky/atmosphere, the fifth plague in chapter 9 is against the land. The Lord strikes down the livestock of the Egyptians but spares those of the Herbews.
Read MoreIn Exodus 8, the first cycle of plagues ends and the second cycle begins. The first plague targeted the water of the nile, the second plague targets the land with an invasion of frogs which come up from the water.
Read MoreDuring a leap year, the Daily Office Lectionary takes us out of our sequential reading on February 29.
In 2 Kings 2, the great prophet Elijah is preparing for his departure and Elisha’s succession to his ministry. The chapter’s geography is significant as it retraces important locations in Israel’s history.
Read MoreMoses will be like God to Pharaoh and Aaron will be God’s/Moses’ prophet who speaks to Pharaoh. Pharaoh will not listen, but the Lord will bring Israel out of Egypt anyway through acts of judgment.
Read MoreThe only required day of fasting in the Law of Moses was the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). Fasting, however, became associated with prayer and repentance. On Ash Wednesday, this reading orients us to the sort of fasting and spiritual practice that the Lord desires.
Read MoreToday is the Feast of Matthias the Apostle. After the Ascension of Jesus, the disciples returned to the upper room. Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthews, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James were all present. Judas, who betrayed Jesus, “shared in this” ministry, Peter relates.
Read MoreMoses is living in Midian as a shepherd over Jethro’s flocks. He comes to Mt. Horeb, which is also called Mt. Sinai, where the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush, in a flame of fire. Moses moves in to see the mysterious sight of the burning bush that is not consumed when the Lord calls out to him: “Moses, Moses!”
Read MoreThe story of Moses’ life begins as a rescue from Pharaoh’s tyranny through water. Moses, born of a Levite mother and father, is recognized as “fine,” but this is the word “good,” as in the the creation that God calls good in Genesis 1.
Read MoreExodus opens names the “Sons of Israel who came to Egypt,” who were only 70 in number. But we’re told that they “multiplied and increased greatly.” Here we have an echo of the creation mandate (Gen. 1:26-30).
Israel, in Goshen, was fruitful and multiplied.
Read MoreJesus has just finished his sermon to the great astonishment of the crowds. As soon as he comes of the mountain, Jesus heals a leper by stretching out his hand to touch him.
Read MoreJacob gives a “blessing suitable” to each son. Each blessing reveals something of the experience of the son. The “blessings” are not all positive, in fact, some feel like prophetic curses.
Read MoreJoseph has been faithful to his father, even to his deathbed. Joseph was made something of a son to Pharaoh, given the authorities and the privileges of a royal son, but he still honors his true father. And Jacob honors Joseph.
Read MoreJacob’s brothers do as he instructed them in telling Pharaoh that they are shepherds and require land for their flocks. Pharaoh gives them the fertile land of Goshen and even commands that their “able men” should take care of Pharaoh’s flocks.
Read MoreBefore Jacob takes his sons into Egypt, he stops at Beersheba and offers sacrifices to “the God of his father Isaac.” Beersheba was the place Isaac and Abimelech made a covenant (Gen. 26:33). Jacob is honoring the God of his fathers who gave a promise of land of Canaan. But they would temporarily leave that land in search of refuge. What would happen?
Read MoreJoseph states his identity a second time: “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.” The brothers’ guilt regarding their brother has grown, but Joseph assures them he will not retaliate. He will not enslave his brothers.
Read MoreJoseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. Now in a position of power over his brothers, he could have sold them into slavery. Joseph, however, uses his position of authority not to enslave but to bring reconciliation. This reconciliation unfolds through a dramatic process and test.
Read MoreThe sons have still not returned to Egypt. We’re told they could’ve made the trip there and back again twice! This time, Judah pleads with his father to let him take Benjamin with him. Jacob yields and sends them back with “double the money” to return what had been put in their saddles.
Read More“All the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain...” (Gen. 41:57). Joseph is God’s servant who will feed the world. That includes feeding his own family.
Read MoreIn Genesis 37:24, Joseph’s brothers throw him into a pit. They raise him up out of the pit and sell him to the Midianites. In Genesis 41, Pharaoh raises Joseph up from another pit—the pit of prison where he has been for two years.
Read MorePharaoh's chief cupbearer and baker are sent to prison and put in Joseph's charge and these two new inmates have dreams that Joseph interpreted. Joseph tells them that interpretation of dreams below to God.
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