Tag: genesis

Pondering for Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 101 and 109; Evening, Psalm 119:121 to 144;

Genesis 50:15 to 26; 1st Corinthians 12:1 to 11; Mark 8:11-26:

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” So Joseph made the Israelites swear, saying, “When God comes to you, you shall carry up my bones from here.” And Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old; he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.” (Genesis 50:24 to 26)

I love re-reading our ancient stories. In the ending of Genesis, Joseph tells us how God can, and will, bring good out of what was intended to be evil. There is a lot of crying with Joseph and his brothers about their sad history, but there is forgiveness with new understanding about what God has done, and is doing.

Joseph tells them that God will come to them and bring them up out of Egypt. He doesn’t say when, or how, or in whom, God will do this. And, after many, many generations of Hebrew families, and many kings of Egypt, we will get Moses. He is the second Hebrew-born, Egyptian-raised person to lead the Hebrews.  God’s action is played out in the person of Moses as it was with Joseph.

As the Book of Genesis ends we again have God identified as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. While God does not change, our knowledge of God evolves. We always have goodness first and then comes some sinister human action requiring mercy. This has happened throughout human history and is still happening today. But know this, God wins every time.

Today we remember Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and theologian (March 18, 386),  and his information may be found at: Cyril of Jerusalem

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob, continue to be with us still, as we often fail to maintain the proper path that you have set before us in the person of Jesus Christ. Lead us and guide us to that promised land where dwells eternal life for all who believe in you. Amen.

Pondering for Monday, March 2, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 2nd Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 56 and 57; Evening,  Psalms 64 and 65;
Genesis 41:46 to 57; 1st Corinthians 4:8 to 20(21); Mark 3:7 to19a

“And since the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41.56)

While Joseph, young son of Jacob, was mistreated by his older brothers, God walked with him and he found his way in Egypt and after a while, was given high ranking status. He himself married the daughter of an Egyptian priest and had two sons.

We all have choices in life when we are mistreated. We can hold the hurt and wait for the opportunity to hurt others, or we can watch for it happening to others and stand in the breach. Joseph, will do the latter. His story is amazing.

In good times, Joseph orders that grain be stored in several cities. It paid off. He had food for not only Egypt, but also for surrounding countries, including his original family. We never know how God will lead us and what the rewards are for following closely where God leads. In following God, we must maintain good and loving hearts. I think good and loving hearts are the prerequisite for God to lead us in the first place.

When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt and beyond. Notice that this was not a “give-away.”  There had to be some accountability on the part of those who received.

Joseph saved the promise of God that He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel, and us. The story is amazing, and at points, tearful. But God has a plan for us. We must learn to follow it through the hard times as well as the good.

Today we remember Chad of Lichfield, Educator, and his information may be found at:  St. Chad

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: For the Right Use of God’s Gifts (BCP p.827)

Almighty God, whose loving hand hath given us all that we possess: Grant us grace that we may honor thee with our substance, and, remembering the account which we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of thy bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:97 to 120; Evening,  Psalms 81 and 82;
Genesis 27:1 to 29; Romans 12:1 to 8; John 8:12 to 20:

“Now therefore, my son, obey my word as I command you.  Go to the flock, and get me two choice kids, so that I may prepare from them savory food for your father, such as he likes; and you shall take it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies. (Genesis 27:8 to 10) 

These are Rebecca’s words to her son Jacob after overhearing Isaac talking with Esau. I think most of us today would judge Rebecca as untruthful and deceptive.  However, God is pleased to have Jacob rather than Esau as the keeper of the Promise and to become Father Israel from whom the twelve tribes will come.  We can never guess what God will approve of.

I will say this about my observation of the scriptural writers about God, God preferred Able over Cain, that is the younger over the elder brother.  And God will prefer Joseph over his older brothers born of Jacob. God will also choose the youngest son of Jesse, David, over his older brothers. Does God favor those who have bad examples to proceed them as a lesson in right behavior? That is to say, “don’t do as my elder did.”  I don’t know.  All I know is that God often favors the only child, or the last child. This is not good news for me as I am the older son of my mother.  However, I must admit that Joseph was not the last son of his mother, Benjamin was.  None the less, God will select who God will select. God will judge us, we will not be our own final judge.

Our call is to live the best, most caring life we can regardless of which child we are, knowing that we will one day stand in God’s judgment.  The only consolation we have is in knowing that God is loving and merciful. Love and mercy are not to be taken for granted, but rather, it is to be humbly received, even now in this life, and then shared by us on those we are with everyday. I pray that we too may be as Rebecca, that is, that the outward looking, untruthful and deceptive acts that we do, may be what God wants. But this only happens if we are listening to the Holy Spirit of God.

Today we remember The Consecration of Barbara Clementine Harris, February 11, 1989) and her information may be found at:  Consecration of Barbara C. Harris. And we remember Fanny Crosby (Frances Jane Van Alstyne Crosby, 1915): and her information may be found at: Fanny Crosby.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: A Collect for Guidance (BCP p. 100)

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening, Psalms 36 and 39;

Genesis 9:1 to 17; Hebrews 5:7 to14; John 3:16 to 21:

“As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.”  (Genesis 9: 9 – 10)

I have learned that some of the other faith traditions also have a flood story. That this Bible story is historically accurate is not so much my concern.  But the lesson here is that we (humans) are the caretakers of the earth and all of its diverse creatures, and this is what I believe God wants us to know.

This message of caretaker is one that shows up frequently in the Bible as well as in my blog. While we are not God, we have a lot of power in terms of regulating our habitats and protecting the various species of life, both plant and animal. 

Our spirituality should go beyond how we relate to each other.  It must be seen by God how we relate to this beautiful planet.  This goes beyond the negligent damage we cause with pollution and reckless harvesting of resources.  We need to clean up our act, but more than that, we need to monitor present and future habitats and the eco-systems around the planet to ensure that all life is in balance in order to promote a safe and healthy planet for all life.

Here is the truth that goes beyond the flood story: God is establishing a covenant with us and our descendants after us, and with every living creature that is with us, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with us.  God wants humanity, in particular, to be more responsible in caring for this planet. We can’t live without this gift of earth, but it can live without us. Perhaps someday we might develop a missile that will thwart an earth-bound meteor saving this planet. This may be part of our divine purpose. But until then we must look at our everyday practices and do what we can to protect the creation we have now, this fragile earth, our island home.

Today we remember Fabian, Bishop and Martyr (January 20, 250) and his information about him may be found at; Fabian

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (BCP p. 290)

O God, you have created all things by the power of your
Word, and you renew the earth by your Spirit: Give now the
water of life to those who thirst for you, that they may bring
forth abundant fruit in your glorious kingdom; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.