Genesis 46 – 47 and One for the Money Again

Genesis 46 – 47

On his way to Egypt with all his possessions, Jacob comes to Beersheba and offers sacrifices to God. While resting overnight, Jacob hears the voice of God telling him not to be afraid to go to Egypt, that God will make Jacob’s family a great nation and bring him back again, but that he will die in Egypt with Joseph attending him.

Pharoah had provided wagons for Jacob and the little ones and the wives. They took with them everything they had. Seventy members of Jacob’s family end up in the land of Egypt. Since the wives of Jacob’s sons were not counted, there were a few more than seventy.

We learn that not only did Egyptians hate Hebrews, but they also despised shepherds. When Joseph settled his family in the land of Goshen, he very wisely told Pharoah and told his family to tell Pharoah that they were shepherds. As it turned out, it’s a good thing he told them this because Pharoah asked Joseph’s brothers their occupation. This may have been a way for God to keep Jacob’s family from intermingling with Egyptians.

When Jacob me Pharoah, he blessed him, not once, but twice. Hebrews 7:7 says, “And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.” Here was Jacob, father of Joseph (servant of Pharoah), placing not one, but two blessings on Pharoah, probably the greatest ruler of the greatest nation of that day.

I think this chapter is a cautionary warning to us. As the food continues to become scarce, the people offer their land and themselves “as slaves for Pharoah.” From that moment on, one fifth of all of their crops belonged to Pharoah.

Is that what’s going on today with 46 million citizens on food stamps? Would you trade your liberty and possessions for food? Since most of us probably would, it’s imperative that we prepare as much as possible for troubles, whether man-made or an act of God.

Jacob, who was 130 years old when he arrived in Egypt, lived another 17 years there. Joseph swore an oath that when Jacob died, his body would be taken out of Egypt and buried with his ancestors. Note that Jacob asked Joseph to put his hand under his thigh when he made the vow. If you will recall, this is what Abraham had his oldest servant do when he made the oath that he would get Isaac a wife, not a Canaanite woman, but one from Abraham’s family. This seems much more solemn and serious than crossing your heart and hoping to die.

Tomorrow, it’s Genesis 48 – 50, the end of the book of beginnings. Another of my favorite books follows that: Exodus.

One for the Money Again

I went to see One for the Money again and enjoyed it just as much, if not more, than the first time. I may even go see it again next week. I was pleased to see that AMC had to move the movie to a bigger theater since it was better attended than Man on a Ledge.

Until next time…

Genesis 43 – 45 and One for the Money

Genesis 43 – 45

The famine was terrible and “continued to ravage the land of Canaan.” Jacob’s sons had brought back a bunch of food from Egypt, but eventually it ran out.

I’ve spoken many times about the need to be prepared in case something disrupts this country’s food or food delivery system. Well, this famine would last for SEVEN YEARS – at this point (see Gen 45:6) it had only been going on for two years. Jacob was not prepared and insisted his sons go to Egypt and buy more food. Money was not a problem, but as Judah pointed out, they had to take Benjamin with them. They would not go unless Benjamin went with them.

They weren’t just worried about themselves, but about their little ones. Judah offers to bear the blame if something happens to Benjamin. Judah even sounded a little sarcastic saying, “If we hadn’t wasted all this time, we could have gone and returned twice by now.” Ever notice how testy people get when they are worried about their survival?

Jacob finally consents and the brothers take Benjamin with them and present themselves to Joseph. He orders a big feast in his palace and, once again, Joseph is overcome by emotion and goes into his private room where he breaks down and weeps.

We see a little hint of what might happen in a description of where people sat during this feast: Egyptians sat by themselves because “Egyptians despise Hebrews (still true, isn’t it?) and refuse to eat with them, Joseph sat at his own table, while his brothers sat together by themselves.

You’d think that Joseph’s brothers would have been suspicious when they noticed that he seated them in order according to age and gave Benjamin five times as much food as the others.

Joseph is not done giving his brothers a hard time. Not only did he put each man’s money back into their sacks, but he had his servant put his personal silver cup at the top of Benjamin’s sack along with the money. He let them be on their way and then ordered his men to chase them down. Here Judah, who is in the direct line of Christ, eloquently offers himself as a substitute for Benjamin. “For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear the anguish this would cause my father.”

Joseph, once again overcome by emotion, sends everyone away except his brothers and tells them who he is. Joseph, who knew the Lord was with him, despite the way things appeared, doesn’t show animosity toward his brothers, but tries to put them at ease: “But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.”

If you were one of those brothers, wouldn’t you have been scared? After all, Joseph, who God has made master over all the land of Egypt, could have put all of them to death or made them slaves. Pharoah also invites Jacob’s family to move to Egypt, saying, “Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.”

Imagine how Jacob felt when he heard the news that Joseph was alive.

Tomorrow, it’s Genesis 46 – 47.

One for the Money

Yep, I couldn’t wait until Saturday and went to AMC to see One for the Money. What a great movie! And the theater was crowded, including Don and Sandy Steigerwald. I hope the crowds continue to come. I know I’ll be there again tomorrow and am so looking forward to it. I hope they have already started making the movie for the second Stephanie Plum book, Two for the Dough.

Genesis 41 – 42 and More Cucumbers

Genesis 41 – 42

The Lord was with Joseph, even though everything looked like He was not.

Pharoah dreams. He’s not like me; I rarely remember my dreams. He remembers his and they trouble him, but no one can be found to interpret what those dreams meant. The cup-bearer, who had forgotten about Joseph, remembers how Joseph was right on the money about the dreams he and the baker had. He tells Pharaoh who immediately sends for Joseph.

Josephs makes it clear that it is beyond his power to interpret the dream and not he, but “God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” He describes the dreams in detail, even noting, when discussing the seven scrawny cattle, “I’ve never seen such sorry-looking animals in all the land of Egypt.”

Joseph doesn’t take credit for the interpretation, telling Pharoah that “God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.” Joseph even advises Pharoah to “find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” Before he knew it, Joseph went from a falsely accused prisoner to second in charge of all of the land of Egypt.

Pharoah gives Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-panea, and a wife named Asenath. According to what I’ve read, this name means “preserver of life,” which is rather appropriate considering what happens. Joseph’s wife, who is the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, gives birth to two sons before the famine comes.

God will use this famine to bring Joseph into contact with his family and to save his family from starvation. When ten of Joseph’s brothers are brought before Joseph, they do not recognize him, but he recognizes them. After all, he was around seventeen years old when sold into slavery and he’s now thirty years old. They don’t realize Joseph can understand what they are saying and he’s clever enough not to let on that he does. He must have been terribly moved by their regret at selling him into slavery; he had to leave the room so they wouldn’t see him weeping.

One can’t blame Joseph for giving them a hard time. He demands that they bring the youngest (his brother Benjamin) in order to prove they are not spies. He keeps Simeon in Egypt and lets the others return, telling his servants to stash the money they paid for grain in their sacks, knowing this will throw them off balance.

When they get home, Jacob is distraught that they want to take Benjamin back to Egypt.

Tomorrow, it’s Genesis 43 – 45.

Drying Cucumbers

I was planning to dry some more strawberries today, but realized it would be smarter to dry more cucumbers since they are now on sale and the price of strawberries may well go down.

It didn’t take nearly as long to get them ready this time and I got smart and used my salad spinner after I soaked them in soy sauce, Thai Chili Sauce, and water. They aren’t leaking all over the dehydrator this time.

One for the Money

This weekend, the movie One for the Money, based on the first Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum book will be in the theater.I have been looking forward to this for years, really and am so glad to finally get to see one of her eighteen plus Stephanie Plum books on the screen.

Until next time…

Genesis 38 – 40

Genesis 38 – 40

It has always fascinated me that the only four women mentioned when Matthew lists the line of Christ are all non-Jews. The first one is Tamar who became pregnant by her father-in-law, Judah, son of Jacob and Leah. Judah married a Canaanite woman and had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah arranged for Er to marry Tamar, but Er was wicked and “the Lord took his life.” Since the custom was for the next older brother to marry and Judah had Er’s brother Onan marry Tamar. Onan did not want to produce an heir for his brother so he “spilled his semen on the ground.” This angered God and Onan died also.

Judah’s youngest son, Shelah, was not old enough to marry Tamar, but Judah told her as soon as Shelah was old enough, arrangements would be made for her to marry him. Judah never intended for this to happen, because he was afraid Shelah would die also. Apparently, he looked on Tamar as a kind of “Typhoid Mary.”

Since Tamar realized Judah would never arrange for Shelah to marry her, she plays the harlot and gets pregnant by Judah without giving away her identity, but she plans ahead. When Judah brings her out to burn her because she “played the harlot” and got pregnant, she shows him his seal and walking stick. I love what Judah says to this: “She is more righteous than I am, because I didn’t arrange for her to marry my son Shelah.

Don’t you love the part about the twins and the red string? Funny how a red string is also mentioned when the story of Rahab, another woman mentioned in the line of Christ, is told.

Joseph, meanwhile, is in Egypt where he is a slave to his master Potiphar, the captain of the palace guard. Even the pagan Potiphar recognized that “the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.”

Clearly, Joseph was what we would call “a hunk” today, so much so that Potiphar’s wife wants him to sleep with her. Joseph refuses, knowing this “would be a great sin against God.” When she sees her wiles are not working, she cries rape. Joseph is thrown into prison.

You can just guess what is going to happen. Yep, “the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.”

Joseph not only dreams about the future, he can also interpret the dreams of others as is evidenced by the dreams he interprets for Pharoah’s cup-bearer and his chief-baker. His interpretations come to pass, but the cup-bearer, who had said he would try to help Joseph, forgot all about him.

Isn’t it interesting that several times in chapter 49, the Bible says “the Lord was with Joseph” and yet, circumstances didn’t appear that good for Joseph. He was sold into slavery, accused of rape, thrown into prison even though innocent, and forgotten about by someone he helped. Doesn’t look too good on the surface, does it? But God was with Joseph. Let’s not let our circumstances get us down. Like Joseph, the Lord is with us, no matter how bad things look or what our current circumstances.

Tomorrow, it’s Genesis 41 – 42.

Aunt Rosie’s Sauerkraut Balls

This morning, I made something called Aunt Rosie’s Sauerkraut Balls from a cookbook (Fry Bacon and Onions (The Valentine Family & Friends Cookbook) I got for free on my Kindle. It contains a pound of sauerkraut, 12 oz of shredded corned beef, 3 oz of cream cheese and 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs. Mix it all together and form 1-inch balls which you then roll in flour, condensed milk, and breadcrumbs and then fry in hot oil until brown. They are really quite good, but awfully messy to make.

They are actually quite good before being rolled in the flour, etc and fried.

Until next time…

Genesis 35 – 37 and Redtails

Genesis 35 – 37

Chapter 35 begins with Jacob cleaning house, in a matter of speaking. He tells everyone in his household to get rid of their pagan idols, purify themselves and put on clean clothing. We aren’t told who got rid of what. Don’t you wonder if Rachel got rid of the idols she stole from her father? Jacob buries these idols under the great tree near Shechem.

Were you surprised that a terror from God spread over the people in all of the towns in the area? After all, Jacob’s sons were responsible for the deaths of all of the men in Shechem.

The family heads to Luz (also called Bethel) in Canaan. When they arrive, Jacob builds an altar and worships God. God tells Jacob that He is El-Shaddai, God Almighty. I’m sure anyone familiar with the song El-Shaddai is probably singing or humming it right now. Here God again re-affirms that Jacob will become a great nation, even many nations, that the land He gave to Abraham and Isaac would be given to Jacob. Not only does Jacob build an altar here, he also sets up a stone pillar to mark the place where God spoke to him.

These three chapters contain information about the deaths of three people:

1. Deborah – Rebekah’s old nurse
2. Rachel – giving birth to Benjamin
3. Isaac – at 180 years of age

I think it’s a human attribute to keep track of our lives based on certain events, including births, deaths, successes, and failures. Rachel dies during their journey on the way to Ephrath, i.e., Bethlehem. The place where she is buried is still there although it has undergone some transformation. Also, Muslims claim this is really a tomb where one of their notables is buried.

We also see that Jacob’s oldest son Reuben had intercourse with Bilhah, his father’s concubine and mother of his half brothers Dan and Naphtali. The text says Jacob finds out about it, but doesn’t say anything about his reaction. This will come later (chapter 49) when Jacob, knowing he is dying, speaks of each of his sons.

Jacob returns to Mamre (Hebron) where Isaac lives. Isaac dies and Esau and Jacob bury him.

One interesting thing I noticed about chapter 36 is the mention of Esau’s descendant Eliphaz, one of whose sons was Teman. Do you suppose this is Job’s friend, the one who spoke to him first? Remember Eliphaz the Temanite?

One of my favorite characters in the Bible is Joseph, Jacob’s first son by his beloved Rachel. In chapter 37, we begin to see what type of guy he was. The narrative starts with him being seventeen. He tended his father’s flocks, working for his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah.

The text makes it sound as if Joseph was a tattletale since he reported some of the bad things his brothers were doing. It should probably be pointed out that there would have been nothing to report if his brothers acted properly. No doubt, his brothers were already jealous because Joseph was Jacob’s favorite: “Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age.” Joseph also received a special gift from Jacob – a beautiful robe (that coat of many colors).

Even though he had eleven brothers, Joseph must have been lonely. His brothers “couldn’t say a kind word to him.” And he didn’t help things by telling his brothers about dreams he had where it appeared as if his brothers and even his father bowed down before him. Verse 11 says, “But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.” Remember Jacob had had a few dreams of his own.

All of this animosity bears fruit and the brothers plot to kill Joseph. Reuben - remember he’s the one who had sex with Bilhah – convinces his brothers to just throw him in an empty cistern, though he was planning to come back and rescue Joseph. In the end, Joseph is sold to a group of Ishmaelite traders who take him to Egypt and sell him to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the palace guard.

Needless to say, Jacob is distraught. He probably goes into a state of clinical depression. He tells them he will go to his grave mourning for his son and would weep. How do you think those brothers felt? Was there remorse? Do you suppose life got better for them now that Joseph was gone?

Tomorrow, it’s Genesis 38 – 40.

Red Tails

Today, I saw the movie Red Tails about the Tuskegee airmen. The movie was exciting and enlightening. I was pleased to see Daniela Ruah (Kensi Blye on NCIS LA) and Gerald McRaney were also in the movie. It was an uplifting movie; these guys were true heroes, in the face of prejudice and having to use second-rate equipment.

My cucumbers dried up nicely. I think I’ll do some more. Five large cukes resulted in 1/3 of a quart bag of dried ones. I think I’ll experiment with some different liquids to soak them in and will make use of my salad spinner. I think I didn’t drain the ones I did yesterday enough so it took quite a while to dry them.

Until next time…

Genesis 32 – 34 and Dehydrating Cucumbers

Genesis 32 – 34

If you remember, Jacob ran away from his mother and father’s household because his brother Esau was so angry he had been threatening to kill Jacob after Isaac died. This is on Jacob’s mind as he heads for home. In an attempt to appease Esau and pave the way for a peaceful arrival, Jacob sends greetings to Esau, and then receives word that Esau is already on his way to meet them “with an army of 400 men.”

Jacob prays and reminds God that of His promises and that he is returning because God told him to.

Hoping to appease Esau, Jacob begins to send gifts to Esau: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, 10 male donkeys. He sends them ahead telling the servants to keep distance between the herds.

That night Jacob takes everyone else across the Jabbok River with all his possessions. He stays alone in camp. A man comes and wrestles with him “until dawn began to break.” In order to prevail, the man touches Jacob’s hip and wrenches it out of its socket. Jacob would not let him go until he received a blessing. Just as God changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah, He changes Jacob’s name to Israel, i.e., from supplanter to prince with God or power with God. This is why the people of Israel don’t eat the tendon near the hip socket.

The Smother’s Brothers used to argue about whom Mom loved best. Jacob does not leave anyone wondering: Thinking Esau might attack, he puts the servant wives and their children first, Leah and her children next and finally Rachel and Joseph.

Esau and Jacob weep when they see each other.

Have you ever had a family that fought, that wouldn’t even speak to each other? Maybe, that battle didn’t involve death threats, but serious hostility. How moving the meeting of Esau and Jacob is. Still, Jacob is clearly not convinced that Esau is being completely upfront, since rather than going to Seir as he told Esau he would, he settles near the town of Shechem, even buying a plot of land for 100 pieces of silver from the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

At this point, it’s time to call the Special Victims Unit. Dinah, daughter of Jacob and Leah, is attacked and raped by Shechem, the local prince. Unfortunately for Shechem, he falls in love with Dinah and pleads to marry her. Dinah’s brothers are furious and, unknown to Jacob, deceive Shechem and his father into thinking they will allow the marriage if Hamor, Shechem, and all of the males in Shechem will be circumcised. It only took two of Jacob’s sons (Simeon and Levi) to kill all of the males and take Dinah back to their camp. Jacobs other sons loot the place and take all of the women and children.

Jacob, afraid of how he will be perceived, is very angry, but the boys don’t back down: “…why should we let him treat our sister like a prostitute?” It is evident they had special feelings for Dinah and I hope they helped her through this time.

There is nothing written about how Dinah dealt with this or whether she ever married and had children. I imagine it was tough, but I bet her brothers helped her.

Tomorrow, it’s Genesis 35 – 37.

Dehydrating Cucumbers

Today, I decided to dehydrate some cucumbers. I first took off the skin, then used my nifty mandoline to slice them, and finally, soaked them for a few minutes in a combo of soy sauce and water. After they were on the trays, I lightly salted and peppered the slices. One large cucumber fills one tray. The only thing about doing this is that cucumber do not smell as good as strawberries.

These are supposed to be as good as potato chips. I seriously doubt it, but I’m willing to try.

Until next time…

Genesis 30 – 31 and Some Neat Church Signs

Genesis 30 – 31

In chapter 30, we see a manifestation of the inner feelings of Leah and Rachel. Leah knew that Jacob really wanted Rachel as his wife, that he had worked for seven long years to earn the right to marry Rachel, only to be fooled by Laban into marrying Leah. This must have made Leah feel like second-best, but at least she was able to bear Jacob sons. Rachel could not and she was jealous.

Obviously, this became a bone of contention between not just Leah and Rachel, but also Rachel and Jacob. Desperate to have children, she follows Sarah’s example and gives her maid Bilhah to Jacob to bear children for her. The birth of Bilhah’s sons, Dan and Naphtali makes Rachel think she is winning.

In the meantime, Leah, who isn’t getting pregnant anymore, decides she can do the same and gives her servant Zilpah to Jacob. In this way, Gad and Asher are borne. We then get some insight into why Leah is not getting pregnant. It may be because Jacob just isn’t sleeping with her anymore. For the price of a few mandrakes, Rachel gives Jacob permission to sleep with Leah. Issachar and Zebulun are a result, as is the only daughter mentioned, Dinah. I wonder if Jacob did treat Leah with more respect after that.

What did you think of the way the birth of Joseph is described: “ then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers.” God certainly answered her prayers and it may have seemed like God had forgotten Rachel, but who knows why God did not enable Rachel to have children before. Doesn’t it seem sometimes that God has forgotten us and our prayers, especially when we don’t see any indication that he is acting on our behalf, or for that matter, that He is even aware of our situations? Look at how he tested Job.

Wasn’t Laban an incredible conniver? BUT GOD! He blessed Jacob no matter what obstacles Laban put in his way – so much so that Jacob felt he had to flee for safety. Rachel and Leah agreed to leave; they must have felt their father had cheated them too.

Jacob gets across the Euphrates River before he is caught by Laban and his troop. Laban, though, was warned by God to leave Jacob alone. Jacob makes a rash statement when Laban accuses him of stealing his gods (apparently, Laban did not worship the one, true God). Jacob says, “But as for your gods, see if you can find them, and let the person who has taken them die!” He didn’t realize he was putting Rachel at risk. But Rachel uses a time-honored way of getting out of trouble: just mention anything to do with your time of month and men will get so embarrassed they walk away.

A covenant is made and a feast to commemorate it is held and Jacob goes on his way.

Tomorrow, it’s Genesis 32 – 34.

Some Neat Signs

A friend sent me these:

And 
last, but certainly not least 



Life is Hard
Afterlife is Harder!


Love this next one!

Today, I took care of my dried strawberries and then made a new recipes for sausage balls: it contains chopped olives. I really liked them, but I did add onions and jalapenos which weren’t in the recipe I used.

Until next time…