Read With Me: Genesis, Week 4

This week's reading, if you're reading along, is Genesis 28-38. This week we'll focus mainly on Jacob and Esau, Rachel and Leah, Dinah and her many brothers!

My friend, God is speaking to mankind through Christ in our day. We cannot come to the Father directly. Every now and then I hear someone say in a testimony, "When I was converted, I came directly to God. I have access to God." We do not, my friend. We come through Christ; we have access to the Father through Christ. That is the only way we can get into God's presences. The Lord Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the ladder--not one that we can climb but one that we can trust. ~ J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible, Genesis

Every house of God, every church, ought to be a dreadful place to any sinner running away from God. It is the place where the sinner ought to be able to meet God, come face to face with God, through the Ladder who has been sent down from heaven, even Christ. ~ J.Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible, Genesis

This fellow Jacob is beginning now to say that he is not worthy. When any man begins to move toward God on that basis, he will find that God will communicate with him. ~ J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible, Genesis

You and I need to recognize that in our own lives the growth is slow, and therefore the growth in others will also be slow. ~ J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible, Genesis

Sin needs to be spelled out. There was a time when sin was sin, but now they've taken the "s" off of it, and you're in the "in" group if you're a sinner. But that's not the way God spells sin. He still spells it S-I-N. And you will notice that "I" is right in the middle of the word--that's where all of us are. ~ J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible, Genesis

Genesis is like a bud, and the flower opens up as we go through the Scripture. ~ J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible, Genesis

Before we go on with the story, I want to call to your attention the comparison of Joseph to the Lord Jesus. You just should not miss the analogy. 1. The birth of Joseph was miraculous in that it was by the intervention of God as an answer to prayer. The Lord Jesus is virgin born. His birth was certainly miraculous! 2. Joseph was loved by his father. The Lord Jesus was loved by His Father, who declared, “This is My beloved Son.” 3. Joseph had the coat of many colors which set him apart. Christ was set apart in that He was “separate from sinners.” 4. Joseph announced that he was to rule over his brethren. The Lord Jesus presented Himself as the Messiah. Just as they ridiculed Joseph’s message, so they also ridiculed Jesus. In fact, nailed to His cross were the words: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 5. Joseph was sent by his father to his brethren. Jesus was sent to His brethren—He came first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 6. Joseph was hated by his brethren without a cause, and the Lord Jesus was hated by His brethren without a cause. ~ J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible, Genesis

I am firmly convinced that if God's people would give out His Word and live lives that would commend the gospel, He would make their witness effective. There are many pastors in our day who are so afraid they will lose the crowd that they do anything to attract people to their church… But God has never asked us to compromise. God does ask us to give out the Word of God--regardless of the size of our congregation. ~ J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible, Genesis

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible