The twisted tale of Jacob and Esau is a train wreck and seems more fit for a daytime talk show than Genesis. But here we are. Genesis 28:3-4 recounts Isaac passing the covenant blessing to his youngest son, Jacob, “May the Sovereign God bless you! May he make you...

Truth be told, the account in Genesis breaks my heart. I see a people so loved by God; I see Rebekah whom God had already told what her sons would become; I see Isaac favoring one son; I see Jacob going along with the deceit, and my heart breaks because they decided...

Friends, we have journeyed a long way since our first week together in this study. I wish we could gather around the table and share how God has met us in these pages of His Word, the victories we’ve experienced as we stopped hiding behind the mask of perfection, and...

I have found my decision making skills are poorer when I am hungry. I am obviously not alone, as research has found that grocery shopping when you are hungry leads people to buy more high-calorie foods than usual. Esau seems to have had this problem too as he made a...

Every few years, I’ll start a Bible reading plan that takes me through the whole grand narrative of Scripture in a year. And I must confess, when I would reach passages where genealogies span over multiple verses, I used to be a bit disappointed in the day’s readings....

I sat across from a friend sharing coffee and conversation when I confessed a longing I had been hiding. After the words were out of my mouth, I almost wished I could push the rewind button and take the desire of my heart back. But the words had been spoken, and they...

I love reading about the faith of ordinary people. It is inspiring to witness Abraham’s faith on multiple occasions throughout Genesis, because he is a real human being like you and me. One instance takes place in Genesis 24, when Abraham sent his servant to find...

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.” Have you ever stopped and thought about how faith is shaped within a family? What’s the story of faith – or lack of faith – in your family and in...

I've never studied or prayed more about peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation like I have since walking through divorce. I never knew how enormous the wake of destruction that divorce leaves behind until I experienced it myself. Culture loves to water down the...

Anger acts like a cloud over our rational thinking and judgement, causing us to easily lose perspective. As a result we often make poor choices when angry. In today’s reading, I think Sarah was not only angry but also felt jealous and regretful. She had just watched...

I’ve been a runner since I started racing around the track as a fourteen-year-old. A few years ago, I signed up (and paid) to run the Chicago Marathon. It was a long-time goal I was excited to accomplish.  As I started the necessary long training runs, I developed...

I will never forget the first time I taught the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.  I had agreed to help teach a women’s Bible study on Genesis at my church. When I showed up to our teacher training day, I realized I was quite a bit younger than most of the women in the...

As we continue in our study of Genesis, we see Abraham recognize God’s care for the righteous. God chose to reveal to Abraham His plan to destroy the city of Sodom. God did not need to tell Abraham what He was going to do, but He chose to allow Abraham (and us) to see...

“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” Galatians 6:14–15 Today we get to...

There was a season of my life when I was my own boss, and that season came with a lot of tears, mistakes, pains, and regret.  Scriptures tell us that we were created to give God pleasure. The entirety of why we are on earth is for the will and purpose of God and...

 I don’t know about you, but I’ve been through a variety of seasons in my faith journey. I’ve lived through fruitful seasons, and I’ve also experienced seasons of suffering where I didn’t see how God could redeem it. And yet He did. I’ve sat alone in my bedroom at...

I think a lot of us can relate to the family disagreement found in Genesis 13 between Abram and Lot. Sure, we may not have had arguments over land, but we have had arguments over family money, family homes, or family keepsakes - treasures in various forms. Abram had...

Divorce changed me. I was a young woman who was on fire for God and ready to slay giants for the kingdom. Then my life changed and I wore the resultant shame like a garment. See, I’m an African child. We are taught to be strong and resilient. You bear it all and when...

When I was in elementary school I had a habit of claiming I’d read the latest book or knew the most popular song, even though it wasn’t true. Not only did I want to fit in with my peers and be part of their conversations, I felt very strongly that I should do whatever...