The Bible gives to us several provocative, sensual, steamy stories: David and Bathsheba, Samson and Delilah, and our story today Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. The first two stories give us lessons from failure. Joseph though, from success. Filled with sexual tension, possibly even wondering if God’s way even matters, we see with incredible clarity a path through temptation. Let’s read yet another of the well-known stories of Genesis and the Bible.

The Bible gives to us several provocative, sensual, steamy stories: David and Bathsheba, Samson and Delilah, and our story today Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. The first two stories give us lessons from failure. Joseph though, from success. Filled with sexual tension, possibly even wondering if God’s way even matters, we see with incredible clarity a path through temptation. Let’s read yet another of the well-known stories of Genesis and the Bible.

Caring for the poor is very much a part of God’s heart, the heart of the Jewish faith, the heart of the Christian faith. Jesus makes it part of what it means to come follow Him. Now, there are lots of things that it means to follow Him, but helping the poor is one of only two things that is uniquely attached like this to what it means to follow Jesus. We can and should ask, 'Am I following Jesus if I am not helping the poor?'

Caring for the poor is very much a part of God’s heart, the heart of the Jewish faith, the heart of the Christian faith. Jesus makes it part of what it means to come follow Him. Now, there are lots of things that it means to follow Him, but helping the poor is one of only two things that is uniquely attached like this to what it means to follow Jesus. We can and should ask, 'Am I following Jesus if I am not helping the poor?'

God doesn't cause people to sin. God doesn't make people sin. God isn't a bad God, but people sin of their own choosing, but God

is bigger than they are. And God is able to take even sinful people and things, and He, through providence, is able to work that out for His glory and our good.

God doesn't cause people to sin. God doesn't make people sin. God isn't a bad God, but people sin of their own choosing, but God

is bigger than they are. And God is able to take even sinful people and things, and He, through providence, is able to work that out for His glory and our good.

Even when we know the blessing of trusting in God, we can slide right back to trusting in ourselves. As a matter of fact, we all do it, all the time. Self-sufficiency is our default mode when the alarm goes off every morning. In chapter 32 Jacob is returning home and in awe of what God has done for him and particularly now in God sending him home, but Jacob is also afraid of a reunion with his brother Esau. It’s been 20 years since they were together, and Esau wanted to kill him for how Jacob had deceived him. Jacob sends a message to Esau that he is coming home. He wants to test the waters. The messenger returns saying Esau and 400 men are on the way. This is Jacob’s nightmare coming true.

Even when we know the blessing of trusting in God, we can slide right back to trusting in ourselves. As a matter of fact, we all do it, all the time. Self-sufficiency is our default mode when the alarm goes off every morning. In chapter 32 Jacob is returning home and in awe of what God has done for him and particularly now in God sending him home, but Jacob is also afraid of a reunion with his brother Esau. It’s been 20 years since they were together, and Esau wanted to kill him for how Jacob had deceived him. Jacob sends a message to Esau that he is coming home. He wants to test the waters. The messenger returns saying Esau and 400 men are on the way. This is Jacob’s nightmare coming true.

It is all God’s grace. I have said that over and over through the lives of Abraham and now Isaac as God gives great promises and blessings. As we saw last week, even when Abraham and Isaac fail, God still comes through. It is His goodness, not ours. His grace, not our deservedness. He is faithful even when we are not. Which means at some point we might ask, Does it even matter how I live? I mean God is going to do what God is going to do, right? Our study in Genesis today brings us to chapters 29-30 and it is just a mess of humanity, and God by His grace uses all of it.

It is all God’s grace. I have said that over and over through the lives of Abraham and now Isaac as God gives great promises and blessings. As we saw last week, even when Abraham and Isaac fail, God still comes through. It is His goodness, not ours. His grace, not our deservedness. He is faithful even when we are not. Which means at some point we might ask, Does it even matter how I live? I mean God is going to do what God is going to do, right? Our study in Genesis today brings us to chapters 29-30 and it is just a mess of humanity, and God by His grace uses all of it.