Genesis 37:1-28
Joseph was the lastborn son of Jacob and Jacob had a special fondness of him. He gave Joseph a brightly colored coat the created jealousy with his brothers. He also brought a bad report on this brothers that made them not think so highly of him and he had dreams about them bowing down to him. When he came to visit them while they were tending sheep at Shechem, they attacked him, stripped him of his clothing and plotted to kill him, but finally decided to sell him into slavery and dip his clothing in an animal’s blood and tell his father that an animal attacked him and killed him. All of which they did. An interesting note: Joseph is sold to the Ishmaelites, descendants of Abraham’s son, Ishmael, who was banished by Abraham because of jealousy over Isaac, Joseph’s grandfather.
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22
The psalmist thanks to God for his goodness to the psalmist and his people. In vss 16-22 he recalls the Joseph story in Egypt. That becomes God’s great blessing for the Hebrew people.
Matthew 14:22-33
This story follows Jesus feeding the 5,000 after he has learned of the death of John the Baptist. After feeding the people, Jesus dismissed them, sent his disciples out on a boat and retreated to the mountainside for quiet and reflective time. During the night the sea becomes rough and treacherous to the disciples. Early in the morning before daybreak, Jesus came walking on the water towards the boat where the disciples were. They were afraid, thinking him to be a ghost. Jesus seeks to calm their fears. Peter says, “Lord, if it you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus does so and Peter gets out of the boat on the water. Peter gets out of the boat and walks on the water until “he saw the wind’ and he began to sink and call out for help. Jesus rescues him from the water and asks him why did he doubt. When they get back into the boat the winds die down and the rest of the disciples worship him say, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
What are the winds in your life that cause you to doubt?
Romans 10:5-15
Paul is discussing righteousness. He quotes Moses about doing “right things”, but questions if righteousness is more than mere action, but also trusts and believes. In vs. 11 he quotes from Isaiah 28:16 about trusting in God. He affirms that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Paul then asks in vss 14 & 15 How can anyone call on one they have not believed in? How can they believe in one they have not heard? How can they hear without someone preaching or telling them? How can they preach unless they are sent? He again quotes from Isaiah about the beauty of those who come to bring good news.
Lord, we both seek to learn and know and then to share what we learn. Sharpen our hunger for your Word. Make us wise in your teachings and give us the courage and desire to share with others. Amen.