Salvogesis

A few hundred years before Daniel and in a different country, Joseph had a similar experience to his. I find it interesting that Joseph interprets his dream in Egypt just before Israel (Israel is Joseph’s dad) becomes a country in the narrative (a few hundred years in chronology) and Daniel interprets his dream in Babylon (607 BCE) just before Israel/Judah ceases to exist as a country (586 BCE). These dreams are like book ends for the existence, the story of the country of Israel/Judah.   Reading from Gensis 41:14-36 (NIV): 14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the ba...

We had New Year’s when we were away. New Year’s is often a time of reviews or quizzes. Today I have a Bible memory quiz for us. I am going to read or recite a verse, and you tell me the reference. Let’s see how we do: 1.      For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (Jn 3:16) 2.      In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) 3.      But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33) 4.      For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Ro 6:23) 5.      In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) 6.      The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Ps 23:1) 7. ...

  New Year’s Day. This is often a time of resolutions. Did anyone make any resolutions this year? I had one friend who said that they would give up drinking for January – and then they thought about it a while and declared that they would give up drinking on Wednesdays in January.  This year I resolve to keep up my Bible readings (as I have done for many years) and my exercises – mostly stretches. The older I get the more I need to stretch. I was injured during covid and walked with a limp for well over a year and it was through my exercises that God made it so that I could walk without a limp again. It is the same with exercising our spiritual disciplines like prayer and Bible study. They strengthen us so that we do not get injured spiritually.    If any of us are looking for resolutions for a New Year, a New Life, Paul in Chapter 4 of Ephesians has some good suggestions.  He says, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the c...