Genesis – The Arnold Journey

Offensive!

Mark 10:7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,’ There are so many cultural hot-button issues these days. You know, the topics that when discussed can cause tempers to rise and even fists to land on cuffs. These flashpoints are at the divide of veryContinue reading “Offensive!”

Stewardship

Gen 39:5-6 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left everything he had inContinue reading “Stewardship”

Deserved?

Genesis 26:12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. One of the common ways to think about life is this: if you do some good stuff, good stuff will come your direction. It is almost like a math equation. Good stuff in, good stuffContinue reading “Deserved?”

Framing

Genesis 15:2-3 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” I paint. Walls, ceilings, exterior surfaces. But IContinue reading “Framing”

Naming

Genesis 2:19-20 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to allContinue reading “Naming”

Genesis 48:19 Reversal

Genesis 48:19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.” Plans often don’t turn out the way we suppose. Even inContinue reading “Genesis 48:19 Reversal”

Genesis 46:33-34 Two Sides

Genesis 46:33-34 When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.” There are often two sidesContinue reading “Genesis 46:33-34 Two Sides”

Genesis 45:17 Undeserved at a Cost

Genesis 45:7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. There are some moments that are so saturated with the undeserved lovingkindness of the LORD that they shock us in their abundant generosity. We don’t see them very often,Continue reading “Genesis 45:17 Undeserved at a Cost”

Genesis 42:28 Plot Twists

Genesis 42:28 “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.” Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” I love plot twists. This is what keeps stories engaging and fun. Without the twists, youContinue reading “Genesis 42:28 Plot Twists”

Genesis 40:23 Forgotten

Genesis 40:23 23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. Often injustice happens when people who should be doing something, or can do something, do nothing! In action causes more problems than action would in so many cases. Just take a look at Ukraine and the inaction of countries that could beContinue reading “Genesis 40:23 Forgotten”