Posts

Servitude

The popular version of the Joseph story runs that Jacob spoils his son and is at fault for the brother’s jealousy.  This is exacerbated by Joseph’s arrogant boasting about his dreams.  However, being sold into slavery changes Joseph making him good, wise and just.  Is that a fair rendition? Well, there have been clues along… Continue reading Servitude

Signposts to home

We are moving to the end of the book of Genesis, the foundation of the whole Bible story of God’s redemptive plan. This also means that w are moving towards the end of Jacob’s life story.  Remember that whilst our focus has been on Joseph, this is really the story of “what became of Jacob… Continue reading Signposts to home

Haggai and Nehemiah – background

This autumn our church are going to be looking at two books of the bible which take us into the period of history after the Jews return from exile in Babylon and Persia where they had been dispersed to due to their sin and rebellion against God. A bit of historical background to show how… Continue reading Haggai and Nehemiah – background

Training revisited

I recently exchanged some correspondence via Evangelicals Now’s letters to the editor with John Brand, the Principal of Edinburgh Bible College). You can read his original letter here, my response here and his comeback here. I was tempted to respond in detail  and in fact, drafted something but realised there was little benefit in a… Continue reading Training revisited

Any dream will not do

I expect many readers here in the UK will be familiar with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, Joseph and his technicolour dream coat.  You should at least have heard the main song “Any dream will do.” In fact, there is a risk that a lot of people will know the story and have learnt the supposed… Continue reading Any dream will not do

Home and away

There is one small matter that we might risk overlooking but would have been muvh more on Jacob’s radar.  Departure from the land has tended and especially to Egypt has tended to be seen as negative in Genesis. Read Genesis 46 Jacob begins the journey down to Egypt.  He pauses at Beersheba to offer sacrifices.… Continue reading Home and away