What Joseph’s brothers meant for evil, “I am” meant for good, to bring blessing to many people. Through the story of Joseph and Jesus, we believe that “I am” does work things out for good. But what is it that is “good”? That which is good for us is this, that “I am” is faithful to fulfill everything that He has promised.

OT Reading: Genesis 50:15-21

NT Reading: Romans 8: 26-30

Memory: Genesis 50:20

Next Step: Read Exodus 1 and 1 Corinthians 15

By bringing Israel’s family down to Egypt, “I am” blessed Israel’s family and sustained them in order that they might continue to live out the covenant that “I am” had put into motion. Jesus is “Israel Reduced to One,” and in Him we see that as a child He is taken down into Egypt, and ultimately, at the cross He defeats the slavery and bondage of the enemy, just as “I am” did for Israel’s ancestors in the Exodus.

OT Reading: Genesis 46:1-7, 28-34; 47:27-31

NT Reading: Matthew 2:13-15

Memory: Matthew 2:15b

By now, it has been almost 20 years since Joseph has seen his brothers and his father, Israel. Joseph has looked for a way out (Gen. 40:14-15; 23) and yet “I am” has shown grace in the midst of disappointment. Joseph, under Pharaoh, now rules over all of Egypt. With all that Joseph has been through, his greatest desire to be together as a family. So also, “I am” desires to be with His family.

OT Reading: Genesis 45: 1-15

NT Reading: John 17: 20-26

Memory: John 17:24

“I am” was with Joseph in all that he did and Joseph trusted “I am” and knew that He was with him, even in his darkest moments. In the same way Jesus trusted in the plan of His Father: that He was to die for the sins of the world (Mk. 10:45). Because Jesus trusted in His Father’s plan the covenants spoken over the patriarchs of the OT have been fulfilled that we too might know that He is with us and that we can trust Him.

OT Reading: Genesis 39:1-23

NT Reading: None

Memory: Genesis 39:21

Jacob is born and from his offspring will come the twelve tribes of Israel. The Apostle Paul writes that it is not the children of flesh who are the children of “I am”, but the children of the promise (Rom. 9:8). Just as Abram believed in “I am’s” covenant with him and it was credited to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6), so are those who have faith in the promises of “I am” in Jesus Christ, today. (Also see Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 4).

OT Reading: Genesis 25:21-34

NT Reading: Romans 9:1-8

Memory: Romans 9:8

Next Step: Read Genesis chapters 29-32

The sacrifice of Isaac on Mt. Moriah parallels the sacrifice of Jesus on the mount of Calvary. On their way up the mountain, Abraham tells Isaac that Elohim (God) will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering (Gen. 22:8). Jesus is that lamb who takes our place, fulfilling the covenant that He (I am) cut with Abraham.

(Note: In this story, as in the story of Adam and Eve, a lamb (or a ram) is used to sacrifice in the place of “I am” human creatures. Jesus is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, blessing all the families of the earth).

Memory: Genesis 22:8

Next Step: Read Genesis chapters 25-28

Abram and Sarai are renamed by “I am” due to His covenant with them. “I am” then proclaims that Sarai, at age 90, will be with child. The miracle conception of Isaac parallels the immaculate conception of Jesus. Jesus is the one from Eve’s offspring, to Sarai’s offspring, down to Bathsheba’s offspring who will complete the covenant to Abraham: that his offspring will be a blessing to all the families of the earth. (Gen. 12:3b)

OT Reading: Genesis 17:1-8; 15-19

NT Reading: Galatians 3: 27-29

Memory: Genesis 17:19

Next Step: Genesis 23-24

Just as “I am” cut the covenant with Abram through his sacrifice, Jesus ultimately cuts the covenant by giving up His life as a ransom, in order to fulfill the LORD’s promise to Abram: “that in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Gen 12:3b). Jesus is the presence and fulfillment of His (I am) covenant to Abram, He is the covenant cut on Calvary.

(Note: the verb “to covenant, or to make a covenant” in Hebrew is literally “to cut a covenant” [karat b’riyt].)

OT Reading: Genesis 15:1-15

NT Reading: Mark 15:33-39

Memory: Mark 15:37-38

“I am” comes down to confuse the language of men in Babel; so too, He comes down on the day of Pentecost and gives miraculous utterance to many, in order that the promises and covenant guaranteed in Jesus’ death and resurrection would be revealed to people from every tongue, tribe, and nation. To this we are all witnesses.

OT Reading: Genesis 11:1-9

NT Reading: Acts 2:1-4; 14-36

Memory: Acts 2:32

Title: The Deluge

OT Reading: Genesis 6:11-22

NT Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Memory: 1 Peter 3:21

Focus: “I am” was grieved by the corruption that had come upon His creation. In His rich mercy, the Lord covenants with Noah, that He will save him and his family and all of creation. “I am” initiates this covenant with Noah, just as He initiates the covenant of salvation that begins in our Baptism through Jesus Christ.

Next Step: Read Genesis 10-12