Closer Day By Day

Genesis 50

Bible Passage:  Genesis 50 Now we have come to the end of Genesis. The previous writers have wrote so much about Joseph I am not sure what I should write, whether I am repeating. Indeed Joseph is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. In a way he looks too good to be true, but I believe he is true. He was sold by his brothers, but he led his life as if without grudges, served faithfully for...

Genesis 49

Bible Passage:  Genesis 49 Alas, we are now approaching the end of our second reading of the book of Genesis.. And again, we see the ending of the hard life of Jacob.. Kinda like watching a re-run of some drama series, don’t you think? I promise this will be one of my shortest sharings, because this blabbermouth had been extremely busy over the past week (not busy blabbering mind you..)...

Genesis 48

Bible Passage: Genesis 48 Jacob/Israel was very advance in age and sick, and he knew that he was about to depart from the earth and his children. Joseph was the first to get this news and he came to visit his father with his 2 sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Israel recounted his encounters with God to Joseph and also adopted Joseph’s 2 sons; that means they were equal with their uncles in receiving...

Genesis 44

Today’s chapter can be viewed as a strange juxtaposition of chapter 37. Do you still remember what happened in that chapter? Does Joseph being sold ring any bells? Well, this time, we once again see how the sons of Jacob treat their youngest but what a vast difference (approximately) twenty years make! If we remember what we read in chapter 37, we would know that in that chapter, they cold-heartedly...

Genesis 43

Bible Passage: Genesis 43 Two elder brothers, who loved their younger brother. One who was willing to sacrifice his life for him, the other who loved him with a heart of compassion. “I myself will be a surety for him…” The famine was severe in the land. Food was scarce. And they had just finished their last grains. They had to go back to Egypt. This time…they had to bring...

Genesis 42

Bible Passage:  Genesis 42 In today’s episode, Joseph finally met his ten brothers again, although without their knowledge. It must have been at least 22 years now (Genesis 37:2; Genesis 41:46; Genesis 41:53; Genesis 45:6) since the traumatic incident happened for Joseph when he was sold by his brothers to an unknown land. Perhaps we can really say that time does heal all wounds eventually....

Genesis 40

Bible Passage: Genesis 40 The very first time I read about Joseph’s plight, I really pitied him, and in my mind I was rather angry with his elder brothers. But when I read about his obedience to his father, his dealings in Egypt, and later how he treated his brothers, I was and am very touched by his attitude; because in all aspects, he was a 100% Christian. Biblereadingcompanion said yesterday...

Genesis 39

Bible Passage:  Genesis 39 Whenever we talked about heroes, we would often think about superheroes like Superman, Spidey or the X-Men.  Or maybe the hero that saves the damsel in distress in the movies or the war heroes that liberated the oppressed in the wars.  Or it may even be your father, teacher or classmate. They are heroes not just because of their ability to save people and fight for the...

Genesis 38

Bible Passage: Genesis 38 This chapter seemed like an abrupt interruption. In Chapter 37, we read the account of Joseph being sold into slavery. Chapter 39 tells us of Joseph in the house of Pharoah’s officer, Potiphar. Chapter 38 therefore seems to halt the flow of the story of the principal character, Joseph. But we know that we can draw lessons from every person, every story and every verse...

Genesis 37

Being a teacher means handling constant disagreements among students and one thing I find myself repeating each time I have to settle another dispute is: “Don’t blame everything on the other person alright? It takes two to make a quarrel.” Truly, more often than not, when we examine a problem, we realise that it is the fault of not one but both parties. In the case we are looking...