St. Paul Lutheran Church, Matteson, Illinois & Pastor Troester

Read how God is with Joseph and blesses him, even though Joseph goes through many trials, some caused by his very faithfulness to God and God's gift of marriage, and yet in the end, Joseph is blessed.

Genesis takes a diversion from the life of Joseph, to tell us about what is happening in the rest of the family, in particular with Judah, Joseph's brother who got his brothers to sell Joseph, rather than kill him.  Jesus comes from a line of sinners, for sinners.  Judah and his son's sins are wicked in God's sight, but yet God is merciful and knows that our only hope is in Him.

Read about the Generations that God is working through in the line of the Messiah, and about the earthly family dynamics and disfunctions of sinful people (like us!) in need of a Savior.

Read the names of all those whom God knows by name, historical figures which grounds the Bible in history, not a fairy tale, but actual people precious to God, as you yourselves are, too!

Read about God's faithfulness to Jacob and to us in extending the family of Abraham until the time when Jesus would be born, in the line and family of Abraham.

Read about the Grace of God in Jacob's (Israel's) life as he is reunited with his brother Esau, and the actions of Jacob's Son's who, like their father, have learned how to deceive for their advantage.  Yet God is merciful!

Read about God working through the imperfect life and family of Jacob--God even wrestled with Jacob, changing his name to Israel ("wrestles with God"), showing that He is a God who strives with us and for us.

Read about the Family of Jacob and the birth of his children and the struggles they had.  God keeps His Promises, and despite the disobedience of Jacob, the line of the Messiah continues to move forward.

Read about the journey of Jacob, the son of Isaac & Rebekah, and the grandson of Abraham & Sarah, in the line of Jesus Christ.

Read through the Bible, in the book of Genesis, chapter by chapter with us!