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In this series, Pastor Trenton Cruse continues our journey through the Bible by discussing the life of Joseph son of Jacob (Israel). Life is full of ups and downs, but we can't let the down times keep us from achieving our potential. God is able to use the tough times in life to mold us into the person He has called us to be...(Genesis 43:1-34)
In this series, Pastor Trenton Cruse continues our journey through the Bible by discussing the life of Joseph son of Jacob (Israel). Life is full of ups and downs, but we can't let the down times keep us from achieving our potential. God is able to use the tough times in life to mold us into the person He has called us to be...(Genesis 42)
In this series, Pastor Trenton Cruse continues our journey through the Bible by discussing the life of Joseph son of Jacob (Israel). Life is full of ups and downs, but we can't let the down times keep us from achieving our potential. God is able to use the tough times in life to mold us into the person He has called us to be...(Genesis 41:39-57)
Overcoming Family Dysfunction Scripture: Genesis 37:20 ESV “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.””Family Dysfunction In This ChapterGenesis 37:4 (ESV) But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.Genesis 37:5 ESV “Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.”Genesis 37:8 ESV “His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”Genesis 37:11 “And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”Genesis 37:18 ESV “They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.”Genesis 37:20 ESV “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.””Genesis 37:23-24 ESV “So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.”Genesis 37:26-27 ESV “Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.”Genesis 37:31-33 ESV “Then they took Joseph's robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son's robe or not.” And he identified it and said, “It is my son's robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.””Generational Dysfunction Before This Chapter1. Abraham's GenerationDeception/Lying: Abraham twice claimed his wife, Sarah, was only his sister out of fear for his own life, putting Sarah in danger (Genesis 12:10–20; Genesis 20:1–18).Sexual Sin/Lack of Faith: Sarah encouraged Abraham to sleep with her maidservant, Hagar, to produce an heir, an act outside of God's original plan for marriage, leading to significant strife (Genesis 16).2. Isaac's GenerationFavoritism: Both Isaac and Rebekah practiced favoritism toward their sons, which laid the foundation for future division and conflict in the family.Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed his wild game, while Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:28).3. Jacob's GenerationDeception/Lying: Rebekah and Jacob conspired to deceive Isaac, who was old and blind, so that Jacob could steal the spiritual and material blessing intended for his older brother, Esau (Genesis 27).Sibling Rivalry/Malice: The deception led to intense hatred, causing Esau to vow to kill Jacob, forcing Jacob to flee the land (Genesis 27:41).4. Jacob (Israel)'s Sons' GenerationViolence and Malice: Simeon and Levi committed a treacherous act of murder against the entire male population of Shechem in revenge for the rape of their sister, Dinah (Genesis 34). Jacob later condemned their anger and violence on his deathbed (Genesis 49:5–7).Sexual Sin/Violation of Authority: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, slept with his father's concubine, Bilhah. This gross violation of patriarchal authority and sexual purity resulted in him losing his preeminence and birthright (Genesis 35:22; Genesis 49:3–4).Favoritism, Hatred, and Violence:Jacob repeated the sin of his parents by practicing blatant favoritism, loving Joseph more than his other sons and giving him the famous "robe of many colors" (Genesis 37:3).The brothers' jealousy and hatred grew, leading them to plot to kill Joseph and ultimately selling him into slavery to passing traders (Genesis 37:4, 18–28).Deception/Lying: To conceal their crime, the brothers dipped Joseph's robe in goat's blood and lied to their father, causing him prolonged grief (Genesis 37:31–35).Deception and Sexual Sin (Judah): Judah, one of the brothers, had his own history of sexual sin when he mistakenly slept with his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, who disguised herself as a prostitute after he had refused to give her his third son in marriage (Genesis 38).DYSFUNCTION: Misalignment With God's WordWe All Unknowingly Grow Up In A Level Of DysfunctionWe Recognize It When It “Gets On Us”We Struggle To Recognize When It “Gets In Us”Part Of Discipleship Is The Transformation Of Our DysfunctionOvercoming Family Dysfunction: Live In The WordThe Word Brings Spiritual Life - Matthew 4:3–4 (ESV) And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' ”Manna - Exodus 16:19–21 (ESV) And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.The Word Reveals Dysfunction Within You - James 1:23–25 (ESV) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.Following Jesus, some of it will just fall offThe Word will reveal a manageable load at a time that is still attacjedDaily reading is like the finest of sandpaper - it hurts lessBeing in a Bible preaching/teaching church will expose chunksPodcasts/Books will help to fine tuneThe Word Reveals Dysfunction Around You - Hebrews 4:12–13 (ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.Lies believed will influence behaviorWe are being lied to on a level that is shockingIt is more effective now because of SM proximityDouble Speak - The phrase "double speak" is a general term often associated with, and influenced by, George Orwell's famous dystopian novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984).In modern usage, "doublespeak" is an unofficial, umbrella term used to describe language that deliberately obscures, disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words. It is commonly used as a way to make the bad seem good, the negative appear positive, or to avoid taking responsibility for actions.Pro-Choice - a forced choice to embrace the death of a childInclusivity - the exclusion of Biblical principles, and the celebration of things disallowedGender affirming care - Gender RejectionAffirmative Action - Opposition ActionUndocumented IndividualsOvercoming Family Dysfunction: Live In The Holy SpiritFour Types Of Followers: Positional, Cerebral, Emotional or SpiritualPositional - admission of Jesus' LordshipCerebral - arguing Jesus' LordshipEmotional - feeling Jesus' LordshipSpiritual - engaging Jesus' LordshipThe Holy Spirit will reveal, guide, and empower you.Spiritual Revelation: 1 Corinthians 2:10 (NIV) - "These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."Guidance and Truth: John 16:13 (NIV) - "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."Teaching and Remembering: John 14:26 (NIV) - "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."Prayer Directed At The ISSUE (Intercession): Romans 8:26 (NIV) - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."Freedom/Transformation 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ESV “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
Scripture: Genesis 37:4 (ESV) But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.DYSFUNCTION: Misalignment With God's WordWe All Unknowingly Grow Up In A Level Of DysfunctionWe Begin To Recognize It As It “Gets On Us”We Struggle To Recognize When It's Gotten Inside Of UsGod Wants To Remove It With Our ParticipationFamily Dysfunction In This ChapterGenesis 37:5 ESV “Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.”Genesis 37:8 ESV “His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”Genesis 37:11 “And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”Genesis 37:18 ESV “They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.”Genesis 37:20 ESV “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.””Genesis 37:23-24 ESV “So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.”Genesis 37:26-27 ESV “Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.”Genesis 37:31-33 ESV “Then they took Joseph's robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son's robe or not.” And he identified it and said, “It is my son's robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.””Generational Dysfunction Before This Chapter1. Abraham's GenerationDeception/Lying: Abraham twice claimed his wife, Sarah, was only his sister out of fear for his own life, putting Sarah in danger (Genesis 12:10–20; Genesis 20:1–18).Sexual Sin/Lack of Faith: Sarah encouraged Abraham to sleep with her maidservant, Hagar, to produce an heir, an act outside of God's original plan for marriage, leading to significant strife (Genesis 16).2. Isaac's GenerationFavoritism: Both Isaac and Rebekah practiced favoritism toward their sons, which laid the foundation for future division and conflict in the family.Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed his wild game, while Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:28).3. Jacob's GenerationDeception/Lying: Rebekah and Jacob conspired to deceive Isaac, who was old and blind, so that Jacob could steal the spiritual and material blessing intended for his older brother, Esau (Genesis 27).Sibling Rivalry/Malice: The deception led to intense hatred, causing Esau to vow to kill Jacob, forcing Jacob to flee the land (Genesis 27:41).4. Jacob (Israel)'s Sons' GenerationViolence and Malice: Simeon and Levi committed a treacherous act of murder against the entire male population of Shechem in revenge for the rape of their sister, Dinah (Genesis 34). Jacob later condemned their anger and violence on his deathbed (Genesis 49:5–7).Sexual Sin/Violation of Authority: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, slept with his father's concubine, Bilhah. This gross violation of patriarchal authority and sexual purity resulted in him losing his preeminence and birthright (Genesis 35:22; Genesis 49:3–4).Favoritism, Hatred, and Violence:Jacob repeated the sin of his parents by practicing blatant favoritism, loving Joseph more than his other sons and giving him the famous "robe of many colors" (Genesis 37:3).The brothers' jealousy and hatred grew, leading them to plot to kill Joseph and ultimately selling him into slavery to passing traders (Genesis 37:4, 18–28).Deception/Lying: To conceal their crime, the brothers dipped Joseph's robe in goat's blood and lied to their father, causing him prolonged grief (Genesis 37:31–35).Deception and Sexual Sin (Judah): Judah, one of the brothers, had his own history of sexual sin when he mistakenly slept with his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, who disguised herself as a prostitute after he had refused to give her his third son in marriage (Genesis 38).Can You Identify Family Dysfunction On/In HYou?Affectionless RelationshipsDemeaning CommentsParents Who Undermine One AnotherPoor Financial DecisionsAddictions That Rob The FamilyViolenceHelicopter Parents"Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times."Identity via Child - manipulate children, outcomes are “theirs”Virtue via Child - manipulate children, valuations are theirsStockholm syndromeCrossdressing syndromeWhy Is It There Family Dysfunction?Lack Of KnowledgeEntrenched Dysfunction (not mental health)External Influence (relational, cultural or spiritual)A Failure To Lead Overcoming Family DysfunctionFollow Jesus Engaged With The Holy SpiritFollowing Jesus gives you and your family to best chance of abundant lifeFour Types Of Followers: Positional, Cerebral, Emotional or SpiritualThe Holy Spirit will reveal, guide, and empower you.Spiritual Revelation: 1 Corinthians 2:10 (NIV) - "These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."Guidance and Truth: John 16:13 (NIV) - "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."Teaching and Remembering: John 14:26 (NIV) - "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."Prayer Directed At The ISSUE (Intercession): Romans 8:26 (NIV) - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."Freedom/Transformation 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ESV “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
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In this series, Pastor Trenton Cruse continues our journey through the Bible by discussing the life of Joseph son of Jacob (Israel). Life is full of ups and downs, but we can't let the down times keep us from achieving our potential. God is able to use the tough times in life to mold us into the person He has called us to be...(Genesis 41:1-38)
In this series, Pastor Trenton Cruse continues our journey through the Bible by discussing the life of Joseph son of Jacob (Israel). Life is full of ups and downs, but we can't let the down times keep us from achieving our potential. God is able to use the tough times in life to mold us into the person He has called us to be...(Genesis 40:1-23)
In this series, Pastor Trenton Cruse continues our journey through the Bible by discussing the life of Joseph son of Jacob (Israel). Life is full of ups and downs, but we can't let the down times keep us from achieving our potential. God is able to use the tough times in life to mold us into the person He has called us to be...(Genesis 39:1-23)
Audio reading: Gen 45:28-46:27, Matt 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Prov 2:6-15Join us on an exciting bible study journey as we walk through the entire Bible in one year!In this episode of our Daily Audio Torah series, we delve into the transformation of “fearful Jacob” into “fighting Israel”. How did this take place? Why did he seem to go back and forth between these two personas?Whether you're looking to deepen your relationship with Jesus or stay consistent in your daily listening Bible devotions,this podcast offers insightful reflections and an engaging walk through the Bible.Visit us at: 1YearAudioBiblePodcast.com
In this series, Pastor Trenton Cruse continues our journey through the Bible by discussing the life of Joseph son of Jacob (Israel). Life is full of ups and downs, but we can't let the down times keep us from achieving our potential. God is able to use the tough times in life to mold us into the person He has called us to be...(Genesis 37)
Full Text of Readings [DAY TITLE] The Saint of the day is Holy Innocents The Story of the Holy Innocents Herod “the Great,” king of Judea, was unpopular with his people because of his connections with the Romans and his religious indifference. Hence he was insecure and fearful of any threat to his throne. He was a master politician and a tyrant capable of extreme brutality. He killed his wife, his brother, and his sister's two husbands, to name only a few. Matthew 2:1-18 tells this story: Herod was “greatly troubled” when astrologers from the east came asking the whereabouts of “the newborn king of the Jews,” whose star they had seen. They were told that the Jewish Scriptures named Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah would be born. Herod cunningly told them to report back to him so that he could also “do him homage.” They found Jesus, offered him their gifts, and warned by an angel, avoided Herod on their way home. Jesus escaped to Egypt. Herod became furious and “ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under.” The horror of the massacre and the devastation of the mothers and fathers led Matthew to quote Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children…” (Matthew 2:18). Rachel was the wife of Jacob (Israel). She is pictured as weeping at the place where the Israelites were herded together by the conquering Assyrians for their march into captivity. Reflection The Holy Innocents are few in comparison to the genocide and abortion of our day. But even if there had been only one, we recognize the greatest treasure God put on the earth—a human person, destined for eternity, and graced by Jesus' death and resurrection.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media
IntroductionMatthew's genealogy prompts listeners to think about family legacy, reputation, and spiritual lineage. Just as we may judge someone by their family's reputation, Matthew opens with Jesus' lineage to show both the brokenness and faithfulness found in God's people. He highlights deeply flawed individuals. There are high performers and not-so-high performers. Matthew shows us that God works through an imperfect line and people to bring about the Messiah. The discouraging side of the genealogy reminds us that sin runs through human history since the fall. However, the encouraging truth is that God knows the family he needs to redeem. Who Is Joseph?Joseph enters the narrative at the hinge between Israel's history and Christ's birth. His name itself recalls the patriarch Joseph, the son of Jacob. He recalls a very broken history.Joseph was betrayed, cast down, and yet exalted for the preservation of God's people. Joseph's predicament is a result of his brothers, who sold him into slavery. He was sold because of the rivalry that raged in Jacob/Israel's house. We recall the tragedy of Jacob's story, but the Lord does not give up on his people. Joseph, in Matthew's story, also plays his role in the covenant story. He is the unsung hero. He is righteous and seeks to do what is right to honor the Lord. God's story of redemption continues through generations, proving that His purposes never depend on perfect people but on His steadfast covenant faithfulness. How Is Joseph the Son of David?The genealogy reveals Joseph's descent from David's royal line. It is not through biological perfection, but through God's covenant promise. The angel addresses him deliberately as “Joseph, son of David,” affirming his role as the legal father of Jesus. The Lord vowed that the Lord would build David's house forever (2 Samuel 7). Joseph testifies that God kept his promise. Matthew arranges his genealogy in three sets of fourteen generations. This assures us that God's deliberate design, from David to Jeconiah, from exile to restoration, climaxing in Christ, the “seventh seven,” is God's plan. God has been with his people every season. Joseph's righteousness is not defined by faultless moral performance but by his desire to discern what is pleasing to God. When he wrestles with anger, betrayal, and uncertainty, he displays righteousness by seeking to honor God's will rather than his own emotions. The faithfulness of David's line, despite its failures, reaches fulfillment in Christ's advent. Joseph assures us that God's people will bear fruit of their redeemer's power. God will prevail despite his people. Why Is This Marriage So Important?Here lies the crisis of the narrative: God's redemptive plan seems fragile, hinging on whether Joseph will trust the messenger's word and take Mary as his wife. If Joseph fails to take her, then God's plan falls flat. The messiah did not come through the line of Judah and David's line. Joseph takes Mary as his wife and names the child Jesus, acknowledging Him as his legal son. Joseph secures Christ's standing in the Davidic line. His naming Jesus, Yahweh Saves, shows his submission to God's plan. Joseph embraces public shame by taking Mary as his wife. Joseph forfeits his paternal right by naming the child Jesus. Truly, Jesus is God's Son. Joseph submits to God's plan. This is why Joseph is a righteous man. He seeks to do what pleases the Lord by walking humbly before our God. (Micah 6:5)ConclusionMatthew's account calls us to contemplate the beauty of divine sovereignty expressed through frail humanity. God entrusts His promises not to the powerful or perfect but to those who wait upon the Lord. The ones who believe the promises of God. The ones who seek to please their God as live out of gratitude. Joseph's story teaches that righteousness is not about mastery of the law but humble trust in God's redemptive plan. The genealogy of Christ tells us one thing: God triumphs over human sin and carries His covenant promises despite every human failure. Through Emmanuel, “God with us,” the fractured family of humanity becomes redeemed and restored. Just as Joseph obeyed in faith, we too abide in confidence that God's promises will never fall flat. He saves His people from their sins, fulfills His covenant, and draws us into His eternal family. Let think about the joy of being called into God's family.
When God said He would scatter the descendants of Jacob/Israel, and they would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand of the sea, He wasn't kidding! Combining biblical and historical records, mythology and DNA, there are enough breadcrumbs to follow this tribe all over the globe; from Greece to Spain, on to Ireland, and all across Europe. VF-2358 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved
Unlock God Mode is the most powerful work I've ever created — a 30-day journey designed to help you embody your highest self. Inside, you'll find transmissions that lift your state of being and practical exercises that help you live with more clarity, integrity, and intention. It's everything I've integrated from my own spiritual path, psychedelic explorations, and the wisdom of my teachers and mentors, distilled into one powerful framework.Think of it as walking side by side with me — not just listening to my guests, but experiencing the exact practices that have transformed my life.
God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham. He blessed him and gave him the promise of land and seed, which would go on to become a great nation. Abraham passes on his possessions and all of these promises as an inheritance to his son Isaac, and Isaac to his son Jacob/Israel. But after Jacob/Israel dies, people get confused about how this inheritance, which includes the promises of seed, land, and kings, is passed on. A careful study of the biblical record can clear up a lot of confusion, specifically regarding the land of Israel, and who should lay claim to it. VF-2351 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved
God said to the children of Israel that He would not utterly destroy them nor cut them off completely. There is prophetic significance in the blessings that were given to Jacob/ Israel's sons. As we trace the history of God's people, we find that God is faithful to His word. VF-2350 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com God told the children of Israel that He would not utterly destroy them nor cut them off completely. There is prophetic significance in the blessings that were given to Jacob/ Israel's sons. As we trace the history of God's people, we find that God is faithful to His word. Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved
Summary: Life often brings us to crossroads where the path forward seems uncertain. We stand at the border between what we know and what lies ahead, torn between the pull of our hearts and the wisdom of waiting. In these moments, we need more than good intentions—we need divine direction. Jacob (Israel) will be given Divine direction in our passage today as he takes the whole family down to Egypt; and along the way the Lord will give us insights on how to seek His Divine direction when we are making our life decisions.
Jacob Israel returns to Nephilim Death Squad for a mind-expanding conversation about prophecy, the coming revival, Christian nationalism, and the hidden nature of heaven and the kingdom within. From Trump as Nebuchadnezzar and King Cyrus, to the illusion of religion, to the deeper truth of what it means to be baptized by fire — this episode dives deep into scripture, symbolism, and the spirit of awakening in modern times. Jacob shares how prophecy repeats, how faith transcends institutions, and why the kingdom of God isn't coming — it's already within us.
Welcome to our first sermon diving deep into the text of Exodus! Today, we're in chapter one, asking the right questions to unlock its meaning. We'll explore why Israel is in Egypt, why the mighty Pharaoh is unnamed, and how two overlooked midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, become the unlikely heroes of the story.Scripture ReferencesExodus 1: The enslavement of Israel in Egypt.Genesis 12:1-3: God's promise to make a great nation from Abraham.Genesis 46:3-4: God's command for Jacob (Israel) to go to Egypt, promising to be with him.Genesis 1:28: The creation mandate to "be fruitful and multiply."Genesis 3:1, 15: The "shrewd" serpent and the promise that the woman's offspring would crush its head.Key Points1. Israel in Egypt: An Act of ObedienceThe book of Exodus starts like a sequel, connecting directly to Genesis. The Israelites are in Egypt not by mistake, but because God led them there during a famine, promising to be with them. This is a crucial reminder: following God often leads us into hard places, not just easy ones.2. The Unnamed Pharaoh: A Symbol of EvilPharaoh is left unnamed for three reasons:It's an insult: "May his name be forgotten," while the Hebrew midwives are named forever.He's a symbol: He represents the oppressive evil of every empire built on exploitation.He's the serpent: He acts "shrewdly" (the same word used for the serpent in Genesis 3) against God's people, who are fulfilling the Genesis 1 mandate to be "fruitful and multiply." This is a cosmic battle, not just a political one.3. The Midwives: A Blueprint for GreatnessShiphrah and Puah are the heroes because they show us what true greatness looks like in God's kingdom. They were servants to the servants, yet their actions changed history.ConclusionTrue greatness isn't found in power, status, or worldly authority like Pharaoh's. It's found in the quiet, courageous faith of the overlooked. The midwives feared God more than the most powerful man on earth, and that reverence produced a fearlessness that allowed them to defy evil, serve others, and suffer well. Their legacy is a testament that God esteems the humble and uses the seemingly weak to overthrow the proud.Calls to ActionServe the Servants: Look for opportunities to serve those who are overlooked. Greatness starts with humility.Fear God, Not Man: Let a holy reverence for God be the driving force that frees you from the fear of human opinion or authority.Practice Righteous Resistance: When instructed to do evil, practice civil disobedience for the sake of others, not for personal gain.Abandon "If/Then" Thinking: Don't wait for perfect circumstances to be obedient. Serve, give, and act now, right where you are.Suffer Well: When God feels distant, don't let your reverence for Him fade. Trust Him even when deliverance seems far away. Support the show*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.
Having received his Ph.D. in mathematical logic at Brandeis University, Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb went on to become Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. Today he is a senior faculty member at Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem. An accomplished author and lecturer, Rabbi Gottlieb has electrified audiences with his stimulating and energetic presentations on ethical and philosophical issues. In Jewish Philosophy with Rabbi Dr. Gottlieb, we are invited to explore the most fascinating and elemental concepts of Jewish Philosophy. https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ podcasts@ohr.edu
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Tuesday, 5 August 2025 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. Matthew 12:18 “You behold! My Servant whom I chose, My beloved in whom it approved, My soul, I will place My Spirit upon Him, and judgment to the Gentiles, He will proclaim” (CG). In the previous verse, Matthew noted that Jesus' actions were prophesied by Isaiah. To support this, he quotes Isaiah, saying, “You behold! My Servant whom I chose.” The word hairetizó, to make a choice, is found only here. It signifies to select as one's own. The words are a loose rendering of Isaiah 42:1 – “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold.” The Greek translation of Isaiah rewrites the Hebrew to indicate that Isaiah was speaking of Jacob, saying, “Jacob is my servant, I will help him.” Israel is called the Lord's servant in Isaiah 41:8 – “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen.” This is probably why the Greek changes Isaiah 42:1 to read Jacob. However, there is a developed thought being made between Jacob (Israel) and the coming Messiah in the words of Isaiah, where the Messiah is given as representative of Israel. As for Matthew's citation, he continues with, “My beloved in whom it approved, My soul.” The Hebrew is close, reading, “In Him, My Chosen, it accepted, My soul” (CG). The Lord God is saying that He is fully pleased with the One He has chosen to represent His people. Therefore, Matthew continues with, “I will place My Spirit upon Him.” The Hebrew of Isaiah 42:1 says, “I gave My Spirit upon Him” (CG). The Lord, looking forward in time, speaks in the perfect aspect, as if it is already done, knowing that the Messiah would perfectly fulfill His will. This event occurred earlier in Matthew – “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'” Matthew 3:16, 17 God ordained that Jesus would come and that He would fully and adequately deal with what was necessary to redeem man, restoring him to a right relationship with his Creator once again. Everything given in type and shadow under the Mosaic Covenant would be perfectly realized in Jesus Christ. As such, Matthew continues with, “and judgment to the Gentiles, He will proclaim.” The Hebrew reads, “Verdict to the Gentiles, He must cause to bring out” (CG). The word verdict, mishpat in Hebrew, signifies the system of law and truth, “especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty” (HELPS Word Studies). A comparable word is given in the Greek cited by Matthew, krisis, a decision. That extends to a tribunal and, thus, justice rendered by such a tribunal. Isaiah's words refer to what the Messiah would come to do, including bringing out a verdict to the Gentiles, meaning the non-Jewish people. Matthew says that Jesus is the One who fulfilled these words through His ministry. The Pulpit Commentary rightly states – “The thought here, therefore, is not of Christ's power to punish and avenge (though he refused to use it as yet), but of his bringing a revelation which should eventually spread, not only to the Jews who now rejected him, but to the Gentiles whom they despised.” Life application: Because of prophecies, such as those from Ezekiel and especially Daniel, a timeline is set in the Old Testament concerning the timing of the coming of the Messiah. There is a very precise and limited time in which He could have come. Further, other prophecies give the necessary genealogy of the coming Messiah, such as being from Judah. Israel is still waiting for their supposed Messiah to show up. This negates the timeline provided by Daniel, but it also negates the prophecies of lineage. This is because it is impossible to prove such a lineage today. There are no existing records to prove from which tribe a person descends. There is a claim that some genetic markers help isolate the priestly class of Israel, but that is not what is necessary to prove a Messiah, because priests descend from Levi, not Judah. As the timing of the coming of the Messiah is known to have occurred already, and as the genealogical records of those who could be the Messiah were destroyed after a certain point in time, either the prophecies are wrong and the Hebrew Scriptures are not the word of God, or the Messiah has come at the set time and with the proper credentials. Looking back on history, there is only One who is documented to have met those requirements. And more, there is a written record of His coming found in the four gospels. Comparing what those writers say to what was prophesied before His coming, we can be perfectly confident that Jesus is, in fact, the fulfillment of God's plans in this regard. If we believe in Jesus, we have put our eggs in the right basket. Be sure to believe the gospel, the good news, concerning Jesus Christ! Lord God, with a bit of study, we can be wholly confident that what was prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. As You sent Him to not only be the Messiah of the Jews, but to be the One who would render right judgment to the Gentiles, we praise You because of Him and through Him. Thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Choice of Rebekah; Virgin?; Pardons; Corruption; Civil government; "Ur"; Nimrod and Terah; Melchizedek - righteous king of peace; Tithing; Rebekah's entourage; Organizing the people; Providers; Lot's place in the gates of Sodom; Judging enemies; Learning to be Israel; Separation; "City"; Unrighteous sacrifice; Meekness of sheep; Willing sacrifices; Understanding Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - Israel; Entrusting power to the people; Covering beauty; Walking in faith; Possession; Becoming merchandise; Welfare snares; Tribute; Protection; Power corrupts; Exercising authority; Freewill contributions; "Tithes"; Love = Charity; Genesis 25 - Abraham's death; Katurah; "Leummim" ; Seeking Holy Spirit; Loving light; Incense?; Driving out evil; Pilate's incense; Tiberius; Living in bondage; Are you Israel?; Abraham's inheritance; "live" = chet-yod; Isaac's half-brothers; Temptation; Abraham's blessing; Importance of wives; Pure Religion; Nahor; Doers of His word; Well Lahairoi - revelation of Holy Spirit; Helping with unbelief; Thinking differently than the world; Effectual prayer; God's blessing to Isaac; Gen 17:20; "Before Egypt"; Rulers; Deceitful meats; The Christian way; Repentance; Covetous practices; Modern doctrines; Barren Rebekah; Twins!; Man/Woman differences; Ministry?; Gen 25:23; Lamad-aleph-mem-yod-mem = people(s); Esau and Jacob; Esau cunning "hunter" (provider); Considering the society; Allowing choice; Letting children grow; Roman and Pharisaical tribute; Forced offerings; vs Charity; "Manners" of people; Cain and Abel; Esau lacking provisions; Selling your birthright; Dependencies of Esau and Jacob; Pure Religion; Which manner of people are you?; Golden calf?; Temple of Ephesus?; Seeing the light of truth; Come to serve.
After the tragic events surrounding the assault of Dinah and the violent retaliation that followed, Jacob's life is once again turned upside down. In mercy and patience, God repeats His command for Jacob to go to Bethel, not just to visit, but to dwell there and build an altar. In obedience and perhaps an increase in faith and trust, Jacob purges his household of foreign gods and idols and takes responsibility for his family's spiritual welfare. At Bethel, God appears again, just as He had before, and reaffirms His covenant promises. God renames Jacob “Israel” again, a reminder not of God's forgetfulness, but of His persistent grace. Once more, we see that God's love and mercy far outweigh our sins. The Rev. Dr. John Rickert, retired pastor in South Carolina, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 35. Genesis isn't just the start of the Bible; it's the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal. In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you've read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith.
Is it possible to correct your vision to a perfect state merely after meditating?Just the possibility of it sounds fantastic but very true, as Dr. Jacob Israel Liberman shares how a single session of meditation led to 20/20 vision and a far greater awareness of being able to see what's invisible to most people (due to their conditioning) this week on Spirit Gym.Learn more about Jacob's work and consulting services on his website. Find Jacob on social media via Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.Timestamps5:57 “Awareness is curative.”18:21 Despite machines telling Jacob that he had visual impairments, he could see without glasses.26:13 Thoughts, beliefs and ideas we identify as ours are reflected in our biology.29:44 Mindfulness or mindlessness?39:42 “Depth perception is about seeing deeply and that's what my life's work is all about.”48:53 People don't understand that belief means the opposite of truth.58:03 Humans are designed to see the invisible, yet the way we are conditioned blocks our sight.1:07:17 Can you hear well after taking your glasses off?1:20:00 “Knowing is different than thinking.”1:30:43 When the field of vision begins to collapse.1:35:22 “The answers come by themselves.”1:41:17 The power of experiencing something rather than reading about it.1:49:01 In an enlightened state, often, two is becoming one.2:03:39 Jacob's next book: A memoir.2:11:15 Desperation is the absence of inspiration.2:27:57 “What if our life is a prayer?”ResourcesWisdom From an Empty Mind by Jacob Liberman and Erik LibermanLuminous Life: How the Science of Light Unlocks the Art of Living by Jacob Isreal Liberman, with Gina and Erik LibermanTake Off Your Glasses and See: A Mind/Body Approach to Expanding Your Eyesight and Insight by Jacob LibermanLight: Medicine of the Future: How We Can Use It to Heal Ourselves Now by Jacob LibermanThe work of Candace Pert, Iain McGilchrist, Zhuang Zhou and Dr. Daniel SiegelFind more resources for this episode on our website.Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz) by Brave as BearsAll Rights Reserved MusicFit Records 2024Thanks to our awesome sponsors:PaleovalleyBiOptimizers US and BiOptimizers UK PAUL10Organifi CHEK20Wild PasturesCHEK Institute HLC 1 LiveCreating and Living Your Myth online workshop We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links.
A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Lent Galatians 4:21-31 by the Rev'd Dr. Matthew Colvin Our epistle lesson this morning comes from Galatians 4. I know that Pastor Bill preached on it just recently, but I would like to look at it too, from a different angle. It is one of the most controversial chapters in the NT, both for its view of Judaism and for its hermeneutical maneuvers. Paul is concerned for Christians in Galatia. The Judaizers were taunting Gentile Christians with the manifest visible superiority of Judaism: its splendid temple; its priesthood; its Torah; all the society's esteem and honor. And against this, what did Christians have to show? They were hiding for fear of the Jews; they were subjected to persecution and arrest; they had been kicked out of the synagogue and subjected to the ban, excommunication. Above all, there was the disgrace of worshipping a criminal who had been killed by the most shameful sort of execution, crucifixion by the Romans. All this was exploited by Paul's enemies in Galatia, the Judaizers or the circumcision party. Their strategy was to exalt themselves by trying to get the Gentiles to envy them - “They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.” – The verb zeloō means both to be zealous and to be jealous. Paul's enemies are behaving like spiteful middle school girls — not like the righteous women of this church, but like the ones I knew when I was in school — trying to exclude a hated rival by social shunning, in order to magnify their own status. To stop them and shut them down, Paul needs to do more than just answer their case logically. He also needs to undermine their ethos; he needs to subvert the system of value that makes their case so plausible at first glance. They are counting on Paul's readers sharing their value system. Paul wants to make sure his readers do not share it. It is a task that he undertakes in many of his letters. In Romans he addresses the Jews as those who “rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.” He is setting forth the Jewish system of value, the grounds of their boasting. And it was a very good grounds for boasting. The longest book in the Bible, Psalm 119, is one continuing paean of praise to the Law, the Torah. It is full of statements like, “I love thy commandments above gold and precious stones” and “The law of thy mouth is dearer unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” But Paul rips this point of boasting away by asking, “Yes, the Law is wonderful — but do you actually obey it?” In Philippians 3, Paul gathers together all the things that he could have been proud of as a Jew: “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;” That stuff that the Jews think is so valuable? Their circumcision, their membership in one of the two faithful tribes (Benjamin and Judah)? Their zeal, their lawkeeping? It's all worthless. In fact, it's so worthless that I threw it all away. I have something of real value that none of that stuff can give you. In the book of Hebrews, Paul or someone from his circles who thought an awful lot like him has the difficult task of undermining Jewish boasting about the Temple, the priesthood, and the sacrifices — a task that might seem impossible, since these things were instituted by God and everybody knew it. The temple was imposing, gleaming with gold. Paul calls it a “tent”, the sort of makeshift, flimsy structure that you go camping in, and you lie down in it, and there's nothing but a thin layer of cloth between you and the outside, and if it's too windy, the thing is in danger of collapsing; and anyway, it's that way because you're going to take it down and pack it up anyway. That's what he thinks of your fancy temple. Besides, the real temple is in heaven. Your tent is made by human hands; the only Temple worthy of the name is made by God. The priests' ministry was observable; they were dressed in robes; everyone could see their work, and that they had been instituted by God. Paul says, “They keep on dying, which is proof that their work isn't much good. And they have to offer sacrifices for their own sins, not just the people's.” The sacrifices were there for all to see: they had been commanded by God himself. The blood of the sacrifices flowed continually at the temple, on a daily basis. Paul says, “See how they have to do it over and over again? That's because it doesn't really work. They need Jesus. That's the only sacrifice that works, and that's why Jesus only needed to be sacrificed once.” Yes, Paul is a genius at overthrowing his opponents' strongest arguments. He loves to take their most powerful evidence and use it against them. He is a master of rhetorical jujitsu, throwing his opponents to the mat by using the momentum and force of their own attacks. He is like Elijah in the contest with the prophets of Baal, one man against 450, “And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.” In Galatians 4, it is a terribly difficult rhetorical task that Paul faces: his opponents appear to have the Torah, the OT, on their side. It does, after all, command circumcision; it does prohibit the eating of unclean foods; it does tell the stories of Ishmael, Moab, and Ben-Ammi, the ancestors of the rival nations surrounding Israel, all of whom are deprecated as the offspring of incest, slave marriage, or concubinage. These stories account for the origins of the Gentiles around Israel. Israel itself, however, was descended from Isaac, the legitimate son and heir of Abraham. These stories underscore the chosenness of Israel, and the fact that these other nations were not chosen. “Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated” was not just a statement about two sons. It was a statement about two nations: the Edomites and Israel. It says that Israel is the covenant people that God loves, and Edom is not. So it is Paul's opponents, not Paul, who have the easier case to make here: Jewish people are (most of them) descended from Jacob (Israel) and Gentiles are not. And they might have made this case most plainly from the story of Isaac, Abraham's son miraculously conceived by the power of God in Abraham's old age. This is strong rhetorical ground for the circumcision advocates in Galatia. Circumcision is commanded in the Torah for God's people. It is breathtakingly audacious for Paul to argue that a proper understanding of the Torah will lead you to the conclusion that circumcision doesn't matter. Paul calls the Torah a yoke of bondage. I'm not sure we appreciate how bold a move this is. The exodus was Israel's independence day. It's when they came out of slavery in Egypt and became a free nation. Paul says that the circumcizers advocating Torah-obedience in Galatia are like those who wanted to go back to Egypt. It would be like an American saying that the Declaration of Independence is the document in American history that made everyone slaves. But that is what Paul says about the Torah, given on Mount Sinai: that covenant has led to the present state of affairs: Jerusalem that now is, and is in bondage with her children. Now, we know from elsewhere in Paul's letters, especially Romans, that he considered the Law a good gift of God and the reason why the Law was now leading to slavery was because Israel was using it wrongly, not because the Law was bad. The slavery results from Israel's sinfulness, not something wrong with the Law. But here, he doesn't go into that, because he is focused not on the Law as it was given by God, but on the Law as it was used rhetorically by his opponents. You have heard the expression, “He is wrapping himself in the flag”? That is what the Judaizers in Galatia are doing with the Torah: using it as a uniform to distinguish true, Jewish Christians from second-rate, Gentile Christians. And Paul says: You think that you look cool with your bling; but it's really chains to keep you enslaved. Above all, Paul takes the bull by the horns and uses an audacious maneuver to deal with the Judaizers' most powerful weapon: the taunt of illegitimacy. That is the point of the Ishmael story as used by Jews: the Ishmaelites, the Arabs, are illegitimate offspring of Abraham, just as the Moabites and Ammonites were stigmatized as the offspring of Lot's daughters after the destruction of Sodom. Only Jews were the children of Isaac; they had been called into existence by the power of YHWH himself. They were not the product of an ill-conceived attempt at surrogate pregnancy, and with a slave wife. Be aware that the Judaizers have centuries and centuries of social and legal precedent for their view. That line that Paul quotes from Sarah — “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman” — that was a line that Paul's opponents loved to quote. When Sarah said it to Abraham, she wasn't just being mean. The lawcodes of Ur-Nammu and Lipit-Ishtar, from around the same time as Abraham, contained rules about exactly this sort of situation, and they are formulated with exactly the same sort of phrasing: “If a man has a wife a free woman who has born children to him, and he takes a slave wife and she also bears children to him, the children of the slave wife shall not share in the inheritance with the children of the free wife.” Sarah is saying, “Husband, you know the law from when we lived in Ur. This is what we have to do.” And the heretics in Galatia were taking up this two-thousand year tradition of legal and social stigma against children of slavery, and applying it to Gentile Christians. It's a powerful tool of shaming and social marginalization, and it is based on a very foundational text of the covenant: the story of the birth of Isaac. Both the Judaizers and their Galatian Gentile victims believed this text was the word of God. Both believed that the Jews were descendants of Isaac. Paul knows all this. He has chosen to fight them on their strongest ground; he gives them home field advantage. He pours water so that it fills up the trench. And then he incinerates their whole argument like Elijah. The stigma of illegitimacy? He turns it back on the Judaizers. They are the bastards now, the “children of the flesh”; they are “in bondage” with their slave-mother. The Gentile Galatian Christians? They are “children of the promise.” And just as it was back then, the child of the slave woman is persecuting the child of the promise. The two sons are marked not by their circumcised or uncircumcised status but by the slave/free polarity that distinguishes their mothers. Paul has to reach a little bit here. The LXX Greek translation that Paul used here doesn't actually say, “persecuting”. What the LXX says is that Sarah “saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian who had been born to Abraham playing with her son Isaac (paizonta meta Isaac tou huiou autes).” That's the most straightforward way to take it. But the word “playing” can also mean “mocking”. And that's probably how Paul took it. And then he magnifies it into the sibling rivalry from hell by glossing “mocking” as “persecuting”. Where did he get this from? It is transferred from the situation between the Judaizers and the Gentile Christians in Galatia. By casting the rivalry as a conflict between the flesh and the promise, Paul undercuts the Judaizers' use of the Torah. That is why he says, “These are two covenants” — the boldest piece of clever interpretation in the Bible. It is all part of his rhetorical strategy concerning the Torah that he has laid in the previous chapter, Galatians 3. The two covenants are NOT the Old and the New. They are the Torah covenant and the covenant with Abraham (which turns out to find its fulfillment in Christ). And the covenant with Abraham is more original, more foundational, more important, more primary. The law was added 430 years later. The Torah was a stop-gap measure to keep things under control until the fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham. And for Paul, Gentile Christians are that fulfillment: “in you, all the nations — the ethnê — shall be blessed.” This aligns the Gentile Christians with the whole purpose of the Covenant with Abraham, and means that Paul can cast them as the true children of the promise. They are citizens of the only Jerusalem that counts, the “Jerusalem above”. And by citing the line of Sarah, “cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman”, Paul makes clear what the stakes are here: the Judaizers and those who trust in the Torah to be their badge of membership in the covenant are not merely mistaken. They are Ishmaels and they will not inherit. They will be cast out. The Gentile Christians — and faithful Jewish Christians who did not pressure them to get circumcized — will be counted as true members of the covenant with Abraham, and the Judaizing circumcision-pushers will not. Who are the bastards now? Paul revels in what God has done. It is perfectly in accordance with his way of working: "He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is brought to a quick end.” (Job 5). The Judaizers have fallen into the pit that they have dug: their taunts of illegitimacy rebound on their own heads; the glory of the title of “true children of Abraham” is wrapped around the Gentile believers whom they had stigmatized. Paul's jujitsu victory is complete and total, because it is the victory of Christ, who led captivity captive and triumphed by being crucified. In the end, Paul's fierce warfare over the Galatians has to do with vindicating the honor of Christ, with proving that He has really accomplished all that Paul says he has; with showing that the covenant with Abraham is truly fulfilled in Jesus, because he is the yes and amen. To go back to the Torah is to turn the clock back and engage in historical reenactment; to live a life of live-action-role-playing instead of reality. It is a costly and foolish attempt to gain privilege and honor by denying the completeness and finality of Jesus' work, and attempting to supplement it with another identity in terms of the Torah. The true Exodus is via Christ, not via the Torah. That is part of the meaning of our gospel lesson this morning from John 6. Here the true bread from heaven, Jesus, works a miraculous feeding like the manna of old. But he does it not in order to cause the crowd to envy his disciples; he has no desire for his followers to act like the Judaizers, zealous courting others to provoke them envy. No, his disciples are to be the means by which the bread of life is given to the multitudes — and the two small fish, symbol of Gentiles and of fishing for men, of the fulfillment of Jeremiah 16:16: “Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the Lord, and they shall catch them.” In the end, the nations are to be blessed through the disobedience of Israel. Our time is short, so I will not try to prove this exhaustively, but I want you to see the pattern: Joseph's brothers disobey and sell him into slavery, so that he is carried off to a Gentile land, Egypt, and becomes assimilated to Egyptian ways. But God works it all out so that Joseph's imprisonment in an Egyptian prison works out for the salvation of Joseph's brothers and all Egypt, “to save many alive.” When Jesus touches dead bodies, a woman with a 12 year flow of bleeding that made her unclean, or a leper, what happens? The usual laws of uncleanness work backward: rather than becoming unclean, Jesus makes these people clean. That is the way God has designed the exile of Israel to work: rather than the exiled members of Israel becoming lost and destroyed, they have mingled with the nations and thereby brought it about that in order to keep His promises to Israel, God will save the Gentiles as well. As a result, “In Abraham's seed, all the nations shall be blessed.” Isn't it funny how Satan's schemes always backfire? He is truly the Wile E. Coyote of the Bible. He will have his church be Israel for the sake of the world; thus we are to be true heirs of Abraham, fulfilling the purpose for which He was called. Amen.
Jacob's wrestling match; Jacob's sons' rebellion; Intermarriage?; Family lineage; Melchizedek? (Righteous king of Salem); Walking with many souls; Building altars; Binding together by love; Forgiveness; Wedding feast?; Birthright; Shem's long life; Jacob's sight; Jacob -> Israel, Abrahm -> Abraham; Joseph's path; Learning to be Israel; Bondage?; Human resources; Tax exemptions; Jesus' appointed 70; Sanhedrin; "Beersheba"; Corrupt judiciaries; are you in bondage?; Gen 49:1; Last days?; Ex 1:5; The way of Moses; Freewill offerings; Fair shares?; Problems exist over time; Bible about government; Ex 16:3; Fleshpots?; Civil government; Cities of blood; Jacob's warnings to his children; Ruben; Unstable water?; Leban's deals; resh-aleph-hey-beit; Treachery; Biela?; Envy of power; Cities of refuge; Simeon and Levi - instruments of cruelty (Hamas); mem-kuf-resh-resh-tav-hey-mem; Opposing faith; Oppression; Circumcision?; Socialism; "Instrument" - kuf-lamad - "vessel"; NGO?; Temples and daily bread; Oppression/Leaven; Judah - praise; No force allowed; Matt 20:25; Luke: 22:25; Covetous practices; Scattering; Zebulon; Issichar; Burying talent; Dan - judge; Gad; Asher; Naphtali; Joseph - blessed; Benjamin - wolf; Jacob's death and burial; The burial cave; Gen 13:2; Abraham's wealth; Sacrifice of the Red Heifer; Courage; Paying your way; Recompence; Ex 20:23; Ex 32:3 golden calf; What's God's plan for you?; Prov 1:10 One Purse; First fruits; Burning up for God; Levites = living stones of the altar; Social safety net; Charity alone; AOC Speech?; Ignorance; Foolishness; 1 Sam 8; John the Baptist; Exercising authority; Saul's folly; Useful idiots; Doing what Christ said; Bribery; Communist manifesto; False Christians and Jews; Learning righteousness; Seeing God's message; Power of choice; Honor the Lord.
Follow my new podcast here: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | All platforms This month, come join me each morning in a daily morning prayer & activation, designed to align your soul, mind, and body with the Infinite Spirit.
Welcome back to Nephilim Death Squad! In this mind-bending episode, hosts David Lee Corbo (The Raven) and Top Lobster sit down with the one and only Jacob Israel—YouTube creator, former WWE head writer, and seeker of truth. From unraveling the simulation we might be living in to exposing the spiritual battles behind wrestling's biggest moments, Jacob drops bombshells you won't believe. Ever wonder how the "Right to Censor" shook up WWE or why politics feels like a scripted theater? We've got answers.We dive deep into Jacob's wild journey: writing for The Rock and Undertaker, selling mattresses, and decoding scripture to challenge everything you thought you knew about hell, Christ, and the matrix we call reality. Is Elon Musk setting up a prison planet? Are we on the event horizon of a black hole? And what's with that Jacob's Ladder escalator to the heavens? This convo goes full Nephilim—conspiracy, faith, and a sprinkle of chaos.JOIN THE PATREON FOR AD FREE EPISODES BEFORE THEY DROP AND BECOME PART OF THE GROWING COMMUNITY OF DANGEROUS RTRDs ON TELEGRAM:https://www.patreon.com/NephilimDeathSquadFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:NEPHILIM DEATH SQUAD:Nephilim Death Squad | ALL LINKShttp://nephilimdeathsquad.comNephilimDSquad@Gmail.comX Community: Nephilim Watchhttps://twitter.com/i/communities/1725510634966560797TOPLOBSTA:(@TopLobsta) / Xhttps://x.com/TopLobsta(@TopLobsta) / Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/toplobsta/TopLobsta.com / Merchhttps://www.toplobsta.com/RAVEN: (@DavidLCorbo) / Xhttps://x.com/DavidLCorbo(@ravenofnds) / Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/ravenofnds/DANGEROUS RTRD'S: Dangerous RTRD Linkshttps://linktr.ee/DangerousRTRDsWEBSITES:Nephilim Death Squad | Merchhttps://www.toplobsta.com/pages/nephilim-death-squadnephilimdeathsquad.com OUR SPONSORS:15% OFFRife Technology – Real Rife Technologyhttps://realrifetechnology.com/PROMO CODE : NEPHILIM FOR 10% OFFParasiteMovie.com - Parasite Cleanse and Detox – Parasite Moviehttps://www.parasitemovie.com/PROMO CODE: NEPHILIM 10% OFFBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nephilim-death-squad--6389018/support.
What Joseph was really up to; Understanding Israel; Peculiar people; Genesis 44 review; Inspiring humility; Confronting yourself; Family = building block of society; "Religion"; Abraham's faith; Tribute; Judah's pleas; Awakening from darkness?; Insurrectionist Jesus?; Welfare snares; Col 3:5 Covetousness is Idolatry; One purse?; Cities of blood?; Socialism; Conforming to Christ; Eph 5:5; Israel going into bondage; Bible connections; What made Jacob Israel?; Hearing the cries of our brothers; Sacrificing for our father; 1 Sam 8; Hebrew alphabet; Gen 45:1; Joseph revealing himself to his brothers; "behal" = Troubling; Harbingers; Advocating righteousness; Divine spark (yod); Being Israel; Famine; Knowing to whom to listen; Sitting in darkness; Corruption; Calling no man "father"; Social safety net; Generational kingdom; Mayfly example; Drawing near Joseph; Understanding inspired by God; "Goshen" = drawing near; God working through Joseph; Doing what Jesus said; Gift-giving; Chapter 46 - Tribes of Israel; Bondage of Egypt; Benjamin's bigger share; Your place in History; USAID; Follow the money; Offices of power; Seeking God's kingdom and righteousness; Deut 17:14; No king in Isreal; Freewill offerings only; Multiplying horses?; Returning to Egypt; Your choice for king; The solution; Melchizedek; Peace vs force; What to change to; Jeremiah 42:13; Social security; Unjust weights and measures; Golden calves; Acts 7:38; Gal 5:1; Civil cauldrons; Unrighteous mammon; Mt 20:25; Loving your neighbor; Mark 10:42; Blind leading the blind; Who is your father?; Lk 22:25; Sureties for debt; Be willing to sacrifice for others.
Understanding Numbers 1 – A Simple Explanation What is Numbers 1 about? Numbers 1 is the first chapter of the book of Numbers in the Bible. It tells the story of how God instructed Moses to take a census (a count) of the Israelites while they were in the wilderness. This happened after they had escaped from Egypt and were preparing to enter the land God had promised them. Key Points from Numbers 1: 1.God Commands a Census •God tells Moses to count all the men who are 20 years old or older and able to fight in the army. •The counting is done by tribes, which were named after the 12 sons of Jacob (Israel). 2.The Twelve Tribes are Counted •Each tribe had a leader who helped with the counting. •The tribes were: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, Gad, and Naphtali. •The total number of fighting men counted was 603,550. 3.The Levites Were Not Counted •The tribe of Levi was not included in the census because God gave them a special job—to take care of the Tabernacle (a holy tent where God's presence was). •Instead of fighting in the army, the Levites were responsible for the worship and service of God. Why Is Numbers 1 Important? •It shows that God was organizing the Israelites before leading them into the Promised Land. •It teaches obedience—Moses and the leaders followed God's instructions exactly. •It reminds us that everyone has a specific role—some were warriors, while the Levites were caretakers of worship. How Does It Apply Today? •God is a God of order, and He prepares people for what is ahead. •Just like the Israelites had different roles, we all have unique purposes in life. •Following God's guidance leads to success and protection. Numbers 1 may seem like just a list of names and numbers, but it teaches us trust, organization, and obedience—things that are still important today!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.
Sunday Morning Message - "Exodus: Setting the Stage"In this message from January 19, Pastor Kyle begins a series walking through the book of Exodus with a message titled, "Setting the Stage". Exodus is so essential to the story of God and the first place where some aspects of our faith come into clarity. Themes like….Redemption, Deliverance, Hope, Listening to God, Experiencing His Presence, Covenant Keeping… Moses inspired by the Holy Spirit intentionally starts with Jacob-Israel to remind the reader of the context of the story.
https://storage.googleapis.com/enduring-word-media/ewpodcast/genesis44.mp3 Welcome to part 48 in Pastor David Guzik's in-depth study of the book of Genesis, teaching here through chapter 44. Joseph, as an Egyptian official, puts his brothers to the test in order to determine their hearts and attitudes towards family, their youngest brother Benjamin, and their father Jacob/Israel. The post Genesis 44 – Joseph Tests His Brothers appeared first on Enduring Word.
Full Text of ReadingsFeast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs Lectionary: 698The Saint of the day is Holy InnocentsThe Story of the Holy Innocents Herod “the Great,” king of Judea, was unpopular with his people because of his connections with the Romans and his religious indifference. Hence he was insecure and fearful of any threat to his throne. He was a master politician and a tyrant capable of extreme brutality. He killed his wife, his brother, and his sister's two husbands, to name only a few. Matthew 2:1-18 tells this story: Herod was “greatly troubled” when astrologers from the east came asking the whereabouts of “the newborn king of the Jews,” whose star they had seen. They were told that the Jewish Scriptures named Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah would be born. Herod cunningly told them to report back to him so that he could also “do him homage.” They found Jesus, offered him their gifts, and warned by an angel, avoided Herod on their way home. Jesus escaped to Egypt. Herod became furious and “ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under.” The horror of the massacre and the devastation of the mothers and fathers led Matthew to quote Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children…” (Matthew 2:18). Rachel was the wife of Jacob (Israel). She is pictured as weeping at the place where the Israelites were herded together by the conquering Assyrians for their march into captivity. Reflection The Holy Innocents are few in comparison to the genocide and abortion of our day. But even if there had been only one, we recognize the greatest treasure God put on the earth—a human person, destined for eternity, and graced by Jesus' death and resurrection. The Holy Innocents are the Patron Saints of: Babies hbspt.cta.load(465210, 'd99a67d0-a0c4-4bd7-a44f-8222783cfe9f', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media
Question: What can you tell us about a group who say they are Christians, but tell us that Paul's epistles should not be in the New Testament? Also, they say that we must learn the Scriptures through Hebrew eyes and culture. Finally, the names “Hebrews,” “Israel,” “Israelites,” and “Jews” have different meanings in today's context and that “Israel” and “Jews” don't mean the same people.Response: From what you have said, you very likely have met a cultist who is presenting himself as the authority when it comes to learning Scripture. The intent to help Christians understand better the Scriptures through Hebrew eyes and culture is not in itself “bad.” But, if any group places emphasis upon these aspects, such as how someone is saved, we're only seeing through their eyes and their assumed culture.To them the Bible “must” be in error, because it contradicts what they teach. Yet, if they won't include Paul as a part of the New Testament, consider what Peter said in 2 Peter 3:16: “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they doalso the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (emphasis added).Further, the Lord has promised to preserve His Word, as in Psalm 12:6-7: “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.”Regarding your question about the meaning of “Hebrews,” “Israel,” “Israelites,” and “Jews,” all speak of the descendants of Jacob (Israel). The Lord distinctly said that “...though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished” (Jer 30:11).As to their importance as “signs of the times,” the prophet Joel recorded that “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land” (Jl 3:2; see also Zechariah 7, 8, 12, 14, etc.). Finally, the apostle Paul also noted that God was far from finished with the nation of Israel (Rom 11:1-25).
Jacob Israel
If you practice this excerpt, you can expect a change in your life… Neville Goddard Lecture: February 12, 1963“But the prophecy is that the victory belongs to the younger; it belongs to Jacob, and Jacob is your ability, your skill, in rearranging things so as to determine or predetermine an outcome. How would I feel tonight were I… and I name it? What would I see were it true? Well then, see it. How would I feel were it true? Well then, feel it. What would I say to my friends were it true? Well then, say it. Not audibly, for this being is a psychological being; you say it inwardly. So you talk to yourself inwardly as though you spoke outwardly. You carry on these inner mental conversations from premises of fulfilled desires. And you talk to all your friends from these premises. That is Jacob.”Join us:Mon-Fri 7am EST Morning INSPIRATION Mon-Fri 10pm EST Soothing Bedtime LectureSaturdays 3pm EST Traditional Chinese Medicine home remedies$60 One Time Fee***Exclusively On the FANBASE APP***https://linktr.ee/PositivelyAnge?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
Today we'll see where Jacob Israel goes with his new limp. Israel (person aka Jacob) brings Israel the new nation (16 people) to Israel (place). All three of the promises to his grandfather Abraham are starting to come together. There, he builds an altar. It's a ME altar. It is the altar OF ME, but it is not the altar FOR ME. It is the altar FOR GOD, who has been so gracious TO ME. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNijvDWAn2Wv2KFun2AnvCA
Dr. Jacob Israel Liberman's discoveries in the fields of light, vision, and consciousness have been enthusiastically endorsed by luminaries in the fields of health, science, and spirituality from Deepak Chopra and Bruce Lipton to Eckhart Tolle. His newest book, Luminous Life: How the Science of Light Unlocks the Art of Living, reveals how light guides our every step, so we may fulfill our reason for being. Website: https://www.jacobliberman.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJacobLiberman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjacobliberman/ Contact: info@jacobliberman.org Books: Sold through Amazon Light: Medicine of The Future Take Off Your Glasses See Wisdom From An Empty Mind Luminous Life: How The Science Of Light Unlocks The Art Of Living Our Sponsors: - Caldera Lab is the leader in men's skincare and is here to save the day. Use our exclusive code KKP at calderalab.com/KKP to enjoy 20% OFF their best products. - GO to MagicBag.co which is DOT CO, and use code: KKP at checkout! - Monetary Metals is providing a true alternative to saving and earning in dollars by making it possible to save AND EARN in gold and silver. Click the link below for a great discount! monetary-metals.com/kkp This is your last chance to take a leap of transformation with Fit For Service. Our last Sedona summit is happening in September. Would love to see you there! Connect with Kyle: I'm back on Instagram, come say hey @kylekingsbu Twitter: @kingsbu Fit For Service Academy App: Fit For Service App Our Farm Initiative: @gardenersofeden.earth Odysee: odysee.com/@KyleKingsburypod Youtube: Kyle Kingbury Podcast Kyle's Website: www.kingsbu.com - Gardeners of Eden site If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & leave a 5-star review with your thoughts! We always love to hear feedback and are interested in what you want to learn. Reach out to us on social media!
An old friend sent me a note after my husband’s death: “[Alan] was . . . a grappler with God. He was a real Jacob/Israel and a strong reason why I am a Christian today.” I’d never thought to compare Alan’s struggles with the patriarch Jacob’s, but it fit. Throughout his life, Alan struggled with himself and wrestled with God for answers. He loved God but couldn’t always grasp the truths that God loved him, forgave him, and heard his prayers. Yet his life had its blessings, and he positively influenced many. Jacob’s life was characterized by struggle. He connived to get his brother Esau’s birthright. He fled home and struggled for years with his kinsman and father-in-law Laban. Then he fled Laban. He was alone and afraid to meet Esau. Yet he’d just had a heavenly encounter: “The angels of God met him” (32:1), perhaps a reminder of his earlier dream from God (28:10–22). Now Jacob had another encounter: all night he wrestled with a “man,” God in human form, who renamed him Israel, because he “struggled with God and with humans and [overcame]” (32:28). God was with and loved Jacob despite and through it all. All of us have struggles. But we’re not alone; God is with us in each one. Those who believe in God are loved, forgiven, and promised eternal life (John 3:16). We can hold fast to Him.