The Family Bible Journey Podcast

Moses has all sorts of questions when a mysterious God speaks to him from a bizarrely burning, oh wait, not burning, bush. God answers his questions with affirmation and promises, pledging to use Moses to redeem His people from slavery. Here we learn that God will not be overcome by our questions or doubts, but will rather overcome them by His mighty power to save.

At the Transfiguration, the Father spoke a blessing over His Son, who was determined to go the cross. "You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased." What powerful words of affirmation to carry Jesus to and through His time of suffering. This blessing gives us strength as well, because we know that in Jesus, God is well-pleased with us.

The Exodus begins by highlighting two women as saviors of God's people, in particular, saviors for the Hebrew boys who were sentenced to death by Pharaoh simply for being born to the wrong parents. Despite the Egyptians doing all they could to oppress God's people, Israel grew to become a great nation. Moses was one of the Hebrew boys born an outlaw. Against all odds, by the end of chapter two, Moses, a fugitive and an outcast, would be well prepared for leadership among God's people.

Joseph's dying wish was that Israel take his bones to Canaan when they depart Egypt. This bold request was an expression of his deep faith in the God Who was faithful to him and prospered him despite his afflictions. Little did he know it would be some 400 years before Israel would leave Egypt, but his dying wish was a bold testimony of faith to the nation that would go from being loved to loathed by the Egyptians. From Joseph we learn how to leave an enduring legacy of faith.

Peter stars in this chapter as both a hero and a villain. He is the first disciple to proclaim Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. But in the very next passage, he rebuked Jesus when told that Jesus must suffer and die. In Peter, we receive encouragement for when we get it right, and grace when we get it wrong.

In this episode, Jacob blessed each of his sons before his passing. These blessings contained many prophecies about the tribes who became Israel. Some wouldn't be fulfilled for thousands of years, yet they testify to us that God had the plan for His people laid out long before they realized. These prophecies are a great encouragement to us because we see God's faithfulness proven as He keeps His promises even when His people don't deserve it.

Jacob grows reflective in his dying days, recounting how God had faithfully shepherded him through all his sojourning. A shepherd himself, he appreciated the closeness and love between shepherd and sheep. This metaphor of close care and concern resounds now as well as it did then because God is still the Shepherd of His people.

Is your faith more form than substance? In this passage, Jesus condemned the Pharisees for a false faith while commending a woman of the "wrong" practice and ethnicity. Here we have opportunity to reflect on what truly matters when it comes to faith and practice.

Jacob and Joseph are reunited in most dramatic fashion with the two grown men collapsing and weeping on each other. The day Jacob never dared hope for had come and his spirit was revived by his long lost son. Joseph immediately plans to set his family up for success by planting seeds in his brothers' minds and Pharaoh's that will land his family in the best part of the land. His brothers even get to manage Pharaoh's own flocks. Here we learn how to use cunning and planning in a positive way, by seeking the welfare of all parties, as Joseph did in this story.

Joseph, overcome by his brothers' changed character, breaks down and reveals his true identity to his brothers. They thought they were dead men. But Joseph had forgiven them. He saw how God had used their treachery to save his family. After the initial shock, all rejoiced in God's favor and glorious provision. When word reached Jacob, he couldn't believe it at first. Amazed and perplexed, he decided he was going to Egypt to see his long lost son.

Jesus hears of the death of His cousin John and crosses the sea for some rest and spiritual refreshment. But the crowds heard of it and were waiting for Him. Before He could rest, Jesus healed, taught and fed them all. When the day had passed, we see Jesus make that alone time He needed to be refreshed by His Father. In this passage, we again see Jesus' care and receive divine permission to stop and rest when we need personal time with the Lord.

Joseph gets an opportunity to seek revenge on his brothers for selling him into slavery so many years ago. When they return to buy grain, the youngest, Benjamin is with them. He sets Benjamin up for a crime, demanding he be imprisoned for theft. The brothers plead with Benjamin, defending his cause and willingly offering themselves up on behalf of their younger brother. Joseph sees his brothers have changes and are no longer the ruthless men who had sold him into slavery. How will Joseph respond?

The famine presses in on Jacob and his family so much so that he has no other choice than to send his youngest son Benjamin to Egypt with his brothers to buy grain. The last time he sent the youngest to his brothers, it was Joseph, who didn't return from the trip. Jacob hopes against hope that all of the boys return. He had run out of options and ends up trusting the Lord to take care of them all. Here Jacob is like all of us who will only turn to the Lord after we've exhausted every other option.

How do you know if you are in or out of the Kingdom of God? This podcast explores parables of God's wrath bracketing two parables of great mercy. We will learn the wisdom of focusing on the revealed will of God in Christ Jesus when exploring mysteries of the faith instead of getting lost in the hidden will of God.

Jacob and his sons are reduced to poverty by the famine that has spread from Egypt and into the Promised Land. Jacob sends ten of his sons down to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph recognizes his brothers, interrogates them, imprisons Simeon and lets the others go, threatening that if they don't bring Benjamin with them next time, that they won't be allowed to buy more grain. When the brothers return and tell their father Jacob what had happened, his depression deepens. The loss of yet another son and the prospect of losing Benjamin, his only living reminder of his beloved Rachel, was too much for him to bear.

Joseph's friend in Pharaoh's court remembers Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams when Pharaoh has a troubling vision. Summoned from the prison, Joseph is dressed and gets to meet Pharaoh. In interpreting the dream, Joseph gives God all the credit for the interpretation. He offers a solution to Pharaoh's problems along with the interpretation of the dream that pleases Pharaoh. In this chapter, Joseph experiences a true rags-to-riches rise from prisoner to Governor of all Egypt.

We learn the blessing of God's generous love sown into our lives. We consider the dangers that come from trying to understand Jesus' parables from a 21st century perspective, without taking into account the people, places and culture of Jesus' ministry. May we be blessed to see and hear as Jesus taught.

Joseph, languishing in prison for a crime he didn't commit finds himself the favored inmate of the warden and put in charge of the prison. He makes friends of a couple of prisoners who had served among Pharaoh's most trusted officers. When they had troubling dreams, he interpreted them. All he asked for in return is that when one of the men was restored to his position that he put word in with Pharaoh so that he can get out of jail. The man forgets Joseph, leaving him to rot in prison. Here we learn of endurance, especially when those who could help you forget you instead.

Joseph finds favor in the eyes of his master Potiphar, who makes Joseph steward of everything in his house. Not only did Joseph please his master, Potiphar's wife fell head over heels for Joseph, trying to seduce him on many occasions. Joseph refused her advances as sin against Potiphar and God. In a lustful rage, Potiphar's wife striped Joseph naked and accused him of rape, for which Joseph was thrown into prison. Joseph, now twice betrayed, found himself in Pharaoh's prison, jailed for doing right the right thing.

Here the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of the prince of demons. By refusing Him, they refused the blessing of His love. His disciples, on the other hand, he welcomed gladly not only as His disciples, but as members of His immediate family, so great was His love for them!

In this podcast, we reflect on the righteousness of those in a story where everyone does wrong. Jacob's son Judah gives his two eldest sons in marriage to Tamar. Both die young, and so Judah decides not to give his third son as a husband to her, sending her away as a widow. This is an injustice. To get even, Tamar poses as a prostitute to subdue her father-in-law. When she is discovered pregnant, Judah demands she be killed for adultery. But Tamar had kept Judah's staff and signet as a pledge, and when she sent them back to Judah, he repented of his sin, acknowledging he had not taken care of Tamar as she deserved.

Joseph's brothers find an opportunity to act on the murderous hatred stoked by their jealousy when Joseph goes to look for them out in the field. Instead of killing him, they sell him into slavery. Covering their tracks, they took Joseph's coat of many colors, tear it and dip it in blood, telling their father that Joseph was dead. Jacob laments his loss, mourning the loss of his beloved son, the son of his favored wife Rachel who had died giving birth just recently.

Jesus takes the Pharisees to task for making a god of their rules. He came to show mercy. Learn how easy it is for us to be inconsistent in how we apply the rules to ourselves and others. We do well to learn from Him how to receive mercy ourselves while showing mercy to others.

Jacob, now named Israel, loses two pillars of his life when his beloved Rachel and faithful father Isaac die in this chapter. We will learn how God's promises sustained Jacob as he resettled his family. While considering how the faith is passed to the next generation, we will take an excursus to learn how the human brain processes digital vs. paper media and how this difference impacts cognition, retention and how we relate to one another today.

The rape of Dinah was a terrible injustice forced upon her and her family shortly after they settled in the Promised Land. Her brothers Levi and Simeon couldn't stand her pain, so they slaughtered an entire community in vengeful wrath. Were they justified as her protectors or did their anger consume them and corrupt their moral compass? Either way, Jacob's family was now in jeopardy, as word about their conquest of a local village spread.

When John the Baptist is imprisoned, he sends his disciples to see and hear what Jesus is doing. Jesus commends John, as the last great prophet of the Old Testament. He encourages all who receive him in faith, recognizing that He has come to bless and give life. "Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest!"

In this chapter, Jacob shows us how to live wisely by praying for the best and preparing for the worst. Jacob returns to the Promised Land seeing his brother Esau coming to meet him with an army of 400 men. When Esau approaches, instead of exacting murderous revenge, he embraces his brother in love, with the two grown men falling on the ground weeping and embracing each other.

Jacob, fearful of Esau's fury, does all he can to protect his young family from the murderous wrath of his brother. In this episode, Jacob offers us a great pattern for prayer. He begs God for mercy, appealing to God's character, not his personal righteousness. God Himself appears to answer his prayer and the two end up wrestling all night long. Jacob prevailed over God, refusing to let go of Him until he received a blessing. God left Jacob with a painful reminder of his stubbornness and a promise to work all things out despite Jacob's fear and wrestlings.

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Jesus continues his encouragement to the disciples by sharing with them the blessings of openness, honesty, and the rewards for righteousness. There is a reward for righteousness, but it may not be realized on this side of eternity. Whether we see this blessing now or later, all of Jesus's disciples look forward to receiving an eternal blessing when we set our heart and mind to do the Lord's work.

Jacob and his wives have had enough of Laban and his tricks, so they flee towards Jacob's family in the Promised Land. As soon as Laban hears of it, he pursues and quickly overtakes them. Although it's tense at first, the family is reconciled and all go in peace. Laban heads back to Haran, and Jacob home to meet his brother who, last Jacob knew, wanted to kill his deceitful little brother.

Jacob is deceived on his wedding night when Laban gives him Leah instead of Rachel to be his life. I know. How in the world did he not realize he was sleeping with the wrong woman? Whatever the reason, he was given a dose of his own medicine by his father-in-law. God continued to bless Jacob as he received his beloved Rachel for a wife after making another deal with Laban. Even though he got the daughter he wanted, Jacob's relationship with Laban cooled to the point that their time together was soon coming to a close.

Jesus sends His disciples into the world as sheep among wolves. It's too bad that often times the church, the place people come for healing and peace, is often filled with hurt and conflict. There are many Christians around the world who are persecuted by enemies of the Gospel. In our context where there is often no common enemy, Christians often make enemies of each other. Jesus equips his disciples with encouragement to be shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves when dealing with difficult people, pain, and the rejection that many experience when they set out to do the work of the Lord.

Jacob flees for his life, and to find a wife in his mother's homeland. Along the way, God appears to him in a vision of angels ascending and descending a ladder to heaven. He hears God's promises for him and his family, and dedicates the rest of his life to following His God.

Jacob, the deceiver and schemer, cooks up a plan with his mother to steal Isaac's blessing from Esau. We will learn of the depth of their treachery and consider how it is that those we love the most have the capacity to hurt us the most. Because of this cunning, Jacob will flee for his life, to avoid the murderous wrath of his elder brother Esau.

Matthew inserts himself into his gospel by showing us that he was the sort of character that Jesus came to redeem. We learn how the plight of humanity tugs at God's heartstrings. In response, He reaches out to those who need His love and yearn for the life, love, and forgiveness that is only found in Him.

God blesses Isaac a hundredfold in one year, even though he repeats the folly of his father by trying to pass his wife Rebecca off as his sister. When God affirms him, He affirms us, because we are blessed for the sake of another, just as Isaac was affirmed for the sake of his father Abraham.

Ever have God answer your prayers, but not how you wanted or expected Him to? If so, you know how Rebecca felt when God granted her prayer for a child, only to become pregnant with twins who were wrestling with each other within her womb. Today we learn of the burden of infertility, how God can create family, and the dynamics within this family that were evident before the boys were even born.

Healing and peace are the themes of Jesus ministry when he returns home to Capernaum, following his Sermon on the Mount. He demonstrated His mighty power to heal, to cast out demons, and calm a storm. We are both encouraged by the centurion's humble faithful and challenged by the fearful hearts of the disciples in this chapter.

Abraham sends a servant back to Haran to find a wife for his son Isaac. God blesses his servant's journey by leading young, kind, faithful and strong Rebecca to go with him to the land of promise to marry Isaac. In Isaac and Rebecca, we see a loving and committed couple, who will be a great blessing to us all.

Jesus concludes his sermon on the mount by encouraging his disciples to put his words into action in the familiar parable of the man who built his house on the rock. If we are to receive the benefit of God's Word, we must learn to listen to it for ourselves and apply it to our lives. If we fall into the trap of looking down on those who are suffering for not putting God's Word into practice, we are setting ourselves up for failure instead of the faithfulness God asks of His beloved saints.

Abraham loses the love of his life, Sarah. His wife was so devoted and loving that she even went along with some of his crazy schemes. Her death gives us opportunity to reflect on how we mourn. We watch Abraham, in the midst of his grief, making a deal to procure for his wife a burial place. Here, we consider the place of God's people in the economy. As weird as some customs may seem, God blesses us to participate in the lives of those around us, regardless of the cultural and social norms of the place we find ourselves.

When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved Isaac, He tests the old man by seeing if he will listen and obey. In asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the patriarch demonstrates how God is going to redeem humanity by sacrificing his only Son. There are so many parallels to what Jesus did on the cross that this is one of the clearest Old Testament types in the Bible. The writer of Hebrews informs us that Abraham was able to go through with God's command because he believed that if went all the way through with God's request that God would raise Isaac from the dead, because of the promise that Isaac would be his heir. This legendary chapter of the Bible gives us opportunity to compare three types found in the New Testament as we grow in our knowledge and understanding of these powerful prophecies.

When we put first things first, God orders our lives for us. When we give in to the three temptations of lust, greed, or worry, we diminish our own joy. Here Jesus teaches how seeking God and his righteousness fills us with peace.

Abraham repeats his folly by passing Sarah off as his sister and giving her to yet another king as a wife. Thankfully, God intervenes and rescues them all from Abraham's foolishness. Following this foolish episode, Abraham and Sarah are blessed with their son Isaac. This great news for Abraham and Sarah is bad news for Hagar and Ishmail, who are sent off into the desert. But God is there for them too, as he appears to Hagar and blesses them. This is good news for all who are neglected or abandoned, because God doesn't forget us when others cast us off.

The angels sent to investigate the immorality of Sodom find a warm welcome from Lot, who offers them a place to spend the night. But when evening comes, all the men of the city come to sexually assault these visitors. Lot tries to fend them off, but the angels must rescue Lot and his family from the men of Sodom and lead them out of Sodom before they destroy the city. This chapter deals with sexual assault, moral decay of society and incest. People tend to make a mess of things, but God's mercy prevailed for Lot and his daughters, who were the only survivors of His wrath poured out upon evil Sodom.

Hypocrites. One of the biggest turn-offs for people who don't like the church. Jesus takes issue with hypocrisy, showing that the way of God is the opposite of human pride. It is a humble faith. When we follow the Lord humbly, we are blessed to be a blessing.

When God promised Abraham that he would have a son with Sarah, he falls on the ground in laughter. Sarah also laughed at this impossibly good news. But God wasn't joking, He was serious. But before promising Abraham that he would have a son with Sarah, God instituted circumcision as a tangible reminder of faith for all the males of Abraham's household. The child they thought was impossible would be one of the first Hebrew males circumcised in this new rite, on the eighth day after his birth. The promise, and this very personal reminder of faith, was about to be passed to the next generation.

Abram and Sarai concoct a plan to get pregnant, but their plan is not that they have a child together, but rather that Abram have a child with her servant Hagar. No surprise all hell breaks loose in their family after they take matters into their own hands following God's promise to bless Abram with a son. Hagar gets kicked out of the family. Pregnant and alone in the desert, God appears to her and promises to bless her and her son. The family is restored. We can join in Hagar's praise, knowing the God Who sees us and seeks us when we are down.

You are the Light of the World! As God's love dispells the darkness of sin and selfishness, our lives are transformed by God's love. While we may never attain perfection on this side of eternity, we might as well try, and see how God uses us to overcome the darkness present in the souls and lives of those around us.