The Family Bible Journey Podcast

Rejoicing in the victory God won over Pharaoh, Moses sings unbridled praise for God Almighty. His praise climaxed with the expression, "The Lord has become my salvation!" In this episode, we learn how to praise the Lord, and how Jesus is the key to understanding how God would fully save his people even in this song sung 1,500 years before His birth.

When Pharaoh changed his mind about letting the Israelites go, they found themselves caught between a mountain, the Red Sea and Pharaoh's army. The moment of their salvation seemed to be their demise. But when God divided the Red Sea, the waters that provided their salvation became God's instrument of wrath when He drowned hard-hearted Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea. Here we see a powerful illustration of the saving power of baptism.

Jesus challenged the religious establishment of His day by telling them they were giving lipservice to God instead of doing the Lord's work. Too many churches today are suffering for the very same thing. Today we consider how we, as the people of God, can learn what's most important and be blessed by sharing God's love with others.

Mass marketers know how important it is to get us to remember their products, which is why billions are spent every year on marketing. God also knows, so He inspired Moses to record the basis of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread so that Israel would begin every year by remembering God's redeeming love. Learn how the calendar and worship life of Israel were designed so that they would never forget God's great love for them.

The Passover, the night when the Angel of Death would literally pass over the houses of the Israelites who listened to God, would become the beginning of the year and most important anual remembrance of God's mercy shown to His people in Egypt. The Israelites and the Egyptians who listened to God sacrificed an unblemished lamb and painted its blood upon their doorposts as an act of faith in the God Who saves. In this episode, we explore how this act of faith prophesied many aspects of Christ's work for us on the cross and how church practice still today demonstrates faith in the God who saves.

Jesus fulfilled all sorts of prophecies with his Palm Sunday procession into Jerusalem. The praises sung by the people flowed from the psalms they had been singing for a thousand years as they entered the Holy City. Learn how the events of the triumphal entry encourage all who seek the Lord still today.

Have you ever experienced complete and utter darkness? The plague of supernatural darkness, this one aimed at Ra, the Sun God, who was believed to be the first Pharaoh, crippled Egypt for three days while the land of Goshen was bathed in light. This dark premonition warned of the death that was on the horizon for Pharaoh and all who refused to let God's people go.

While Pharaoh continued his stubborned unbelief, the people of Egypt began pleading with him to listen and let Israel go. What good are slaves if we ourselves are dead? God, in mercy, gave Egypt a 24 hour warning before the plague of hail, so all who listened in Egypt were spared. Here we learn that God is merciful to all who listen to His voice, regardless of tribe or nation.

The parable of the vineyard, where every worker received the same wage whether they worked twelve hours or just one seems an injustice to many, especially those who had done most of the work. But the lesson of the parable is not so much about what the workers earned as it is about the generosity of the master. Here we consider how God rewards faithfulness and what we "deserve."

God's holy war against the false gods of the Egyptians and hard-hearted Pharaoh continues, with God now afflicting the land of the Egyptians, but not the land of Goshen, where Israel dwelt. Every step of the way God has demonstrated his power over everything Egypt has to counter with. Pharaoh feigns repentance, offering to let Israel sacrifice in Egypt, but that is not what God had asked for, so the plagues continued and the suffering of Pharaoh's people grew.

Learn how each of the ten plagues inflicted on Egypt was an attack on specific deities of Egypt. God wasn't just redeeming His people in the Exodus. He was making a public statement of his superiority over the false Gods of the Egyptians. Here we get to see how God begins to deliver His people as only He could.

Jesus continued to teach the blessings of putting other people first, while dismissing the notion that anyone is good enough for His kingdom. The disciples were perplexed by his rebuke of a rich young man who seemed to have done everything right, but was not worthy of God's kingdom. Jesus responded to the confusion of the disciples saying, "With man it is impossible, but all things are possible for God." The chapter ends with Jesus describing the blessings of living one's life in grateful appreciation for the miraculous gift of faith.

"Night is darkest just before the dawn." The Israelites learned the hard way the truth of this statement when Pharaoh made their lives unbearable. God was not deterred because He was determined to secure the freedom of His people. In this chapter, we count ourselves among the Israelites when things get worse before getting much better.

When Moses asks Pharaoh's permission for Israel to leave and worship God, Pharaoh responds by increasing the burdens of his Israelite slaves. Conflict erupts between Israel, her leaders, Pharaoh and Moses is left crying out to God, "what have you done to your people?" In this episode, we consider how we respond to difficulties and how we treat our leaders. It seems people are way more interested in taking the easy way out than being patient and doing what it takes to see lasting positive change.

Matthew 18, particularly 15-17, is one of the most weaponized passages in scripture. But the message of this chapter is not condemnation, but rather one of restoration and forgiveness. As we consider the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Unforgiving Servant, we learn how God's children seek to restore broken relationships in the spirit of humility and forgiveness, not willing that anyone should be lost.

The powerful signs God gave Moses to demonstrate his authority as a prophet of the Most Big God were unmistakable. The perfect correlation between God's words and works gives us opportunity to consider how our words and actions are not always in alignment. Moses was living proof of this fact, wavering between faith and fear even on the mountain with God. Yet, God had mercy on Moses, and sent Aaron to be his spokesperson, accommodating Moses waffling faith.

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.