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“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33

Today’s Bible Reading

The returned Judeans begin rebuilding the altar of the Lord so that they may resume offering sacrifices. The Judeans lay the foundation of the new temple. The people shout for joy, but many of the older Judeans weep loudly, remembering the grandeur of the first temple.

BibleGateway: Ezra 3 ESV Text: Ezra 3 Ezra 3 (Listen) Rebuilding the Altar 3:1 When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen,… 

When Pharaoh has strange dreams, the butler finally remembers Joseph. Giving credit to God, Joseph explains the dreams. Seven years of plenty will be followed by seven years of famine. When Joseph wisely recommends that food be stored during the good years to get through the bad years, he is suddenly made prime minister of all Egypt. God’s plan for Joseph continues to unfold.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 41 ESV Text: Genesis 41 KJV Text: Genesis 41:1-57 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 41:      1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold,… 

Joseph interprets the divinely sent dreams of the imprisoned butler and baker. He asks the soon-to-be set free butler to remember him to Pharaoh. The butler forgets, and Joseph remains in prison for two more years. But one thing is certain, the Lord never forgets His children. He always has a plan, but, like Joseph, we wait in faith for His plan to unfold.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 40 ESV Text: Genesis 40 KJV Text: Genesis 40:1-23 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 40:      1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and… 

Though now a slave, the Lord continues to be with Joseph, as he rises to chief overseer in the house of Potiphar. However, trouble comes when Potiphar’s wife has designs on Joseph. Joseph knows he’s made of flesh, and runs from the temptation. Just like their Lord, believers often suffer for doing right. Still, the Lord is there to see us through all our troubles.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 39 ESV Text: Genesis 39 KJV Text: Genesis 39:1-23 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 39:      1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard,… 

Chapter 38 briefly steps away from Joseph to the sordid account of his brother Judah. Judah was a great-grandson of Abraham, the father of believers. But your family pedigree doesn’t save you. Each new generation needs to believe in the Savior for itself. But what a testament to God’s condescending love, that he would include Judah and Tamar in the Savior’s family tree. (Cf. Matthew 1:3)

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BibleGateway: Genesis 38 ESV Text: Genesis 38 KJV Text: Genesis 38:1-30 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 38:      1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned… 

Beginning with chapter 37, most of the rest of Genesis concerns Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph. It’s a sad chapter, warning us that sins of the heart, if not handled with repentance and God’s forgiveness, can explode into awful things, like murder. But as we read in coming chapters, God even causes great evil to work for the good of His people.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 37 ESV Text: Genesis 37 KJV Text: Genesis 37:1-36 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 37:      1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.… 

We might be tempted to gloss over chapter 36. It’s one of those long genealogy chapters in the Bible; and this family tree isn’t even one that relates directly to Jesus. Yet it’s a reminder that God cares for all peoples. Truly He wants all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 36 ESV Text: Genesis 36 KJV Text: Genesis 36:1-43 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 36:      1 Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom. 2 Esau took his wives of the… 

Jacob calls upon his family to put away their foreign gods, and to purify themselves before the Lord. What gods might we need to put away from our hearts and lives? May God give us eyes to see our own personal idols. But may we also see God’s forgiving mercy, which tenderly calls us back to His side.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 35 ESV Text: Genesis 35 KJV Text: Genesis 35:1-29 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 35:      1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an… 

Scripture records the good, the bad, and the ugly, but often it’s a lot more of the bad and the ugly. The murderous deceit of Levi and Simeon shows the great evil of which humankind is capable. Lord, help us to see our own wretched sin, and daily flee to You for forgiveness.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 34 ESV Text: Genesis 34 KJV Text: Genesis 34:1-31 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 34:      1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters… 

Even after twenty years, Jacob can’t be sure that Esau is ready to let bygones be bygones. But Christian humility and kindness can go a long way in diffusing a potentially hostile situation. Then let’s not forget God’s mighty angels, whom He sends to watch over us every day. However, ultimately we put all our trust in God to guard and guide our way.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 33 ESV Text: Genesis 33 KJV Text: Genesis 33:1-20 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 33:      1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred… 

A wrestling match for the ages! Jacob goes head to head with God and comes out the winner! How so? The Lord loves it when we wrestle with Him in prayer. He’s always sure to let us win, which is to say He will answer our every prayer in a way that best serves our spiritual and eternal good. Take your Lord to the mat, dear Christian. You’ll win every time!

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BibleGateway: Genesis 32 ESV Text: Genesis 32 KJV Text: Genesis 32:1-32 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 32:      1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob…