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The beginning of the famine started with the memory of one man—Joseph. Left in prison, Joseph finally stood before Pharaoh and, with God’s wisdom, interpreted the king’s dreams. Let’s walk through this story of how Joseph was raised in God’s plan through suffering. Interpreting Pharaoh’s Dreams with God’s Wisdom Joseph Left in Prison and Remembered by God Previously, Joseph was falsely accused and imprisoned. He interpreted the dream of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and asked him to remember him after being restored to his position. But the cupbearer forgot him. Two years passed, and Joseph remained in that place. Joseph Stands Before Pharaoh One day, Pharaoh had two strange dreams: fat cows swallowed by thin ones, and full heads of grain consumed by withered ones. No one could interpret them, and the cupbearer finally remembered Joseph. Joseph shaved, changed his clothes, and stood before the king. He said, as in Genesis 41:16, “I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the...

Joseph was sold by his brothers and brought to Egypt, where he gained trust in Potiphar’s house. But he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Even so, we see that this suffering, too, was held within God’s greater plan. Temptation, Injustice, and the Presence of God 1. Favor in Potiphar’s House Betrayed and sold by his brothers, Joseph ended up serving in the house of Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh. God must have led him there. Joseph worked faithfully and gradually earned his master's trust. "The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered... Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned." [39:2–4] 2. Temptation and False Accusation One day, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he firmly refused. "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" [39:9] Though innocent, Joseph was imprisoned. Yet even there, God stayed with him. "The Lord was with him; he showed h...

Genesis 38 suddenly shifts focus from Joseph to Judah's personal story. At first glance, it feels like an interruption—but surprisingly, this chapter reveals the flow of God’s covenant lineage. A father-in-law avoiding responsibility, a forgotten daughter-in-law, and the birth of Perez in the middle of it all. What looks like a shocking family tragedy turns out to be part of the genealogy leading to Jesus. Today, let’s reflect on how God carried His promise forward through Tamar. Judah’s Daughter-in-law Tamar After Joseph was sold into Egypt, the Bible records Judah’s personal story. He married a Canaanite woman and had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. He found Tamar as a wife for his firstborn, Er. But Er was wicked in the eyes of the Lord and was put to death. Judah then asked his second son Onan to fulfill the duty of producing offspring for his brother through Tamar—a custom that was normal in those days. “But Onan knew that the child would not be his. So whe...

Joseph was deeply loved by his father Jacob and received two dreams hinting at a future of leadership. But those dreams stirred jealousy and hatred in his brothers, leading to betrayal and slavery. God's plan for Joseph didn’t begin in glory—it began in a pit. God’s Purpose Unfolds Through Rejection and Suffering After recording Esau’s genealogy, the Bible shifts its focus back to Jacob’s household. Jacob had settled in Hebron. Joseph, born to him in his old age, was dearly loved and given a coat of many colors. In that time, such garments were reserved for those considered important—often heirs. That robe wasn’t just a gift. It was a visible sign of favor, and it stirred resentment among his brothers. Joseph shared two dreams with his family. In the first, his brothers’ sheaves bowed down to his. In the second, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed to him. Upon hearing this, Jacob said, “Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to t...

Sometimes, long genealogies in Scripture seem to interrupt the story. Genesis 36 feels like one of those chapters. But even in this list of names, we find God’s faithfulness—this time, not to Jacob, but to Esau. Though not the chosen line, Esau became the father of a nation called Edom. Let’s reflect on what his genealogy tells us. Esau’s Line and the Rise of Edom – Genesis 36 Esau’s Genealogy Just as Jacob’s story deepens, the Bible shifts focus to Esau’s descendants. This isn’t a random insertion. Esau didn’t receive the covenant blessing, but God didn’t forget him. His lineage stands as a sign that God kept His word to Esau, too. How Esau Became a Nation After parting ways with Jacob, Esau settled in the hill country of Seir—a land already occupied by the Horites. Through intermarriage and growing influence, Esau’s family established roots and became the nation of Edom. As Genesis 36:8 says, “So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.” His name bec...

After the tragic events surrounding Dinah, Jacob fell silent—crushed in grief. Now he rises again, walking toward the land of old promises. In this story, we follow his pain as a father, his loss as a husband, and his return to the God who still calls him. The God Who Renames – From Jacob to Israel The Place Where God Calls Again Two people die in this chapter. One he loved deeply, and one he had leaned on all his life. Jacob buries them both—and walks on. Obeying God's command, he tells his household, just as in Genesis 35:2, “Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments.” The people hand over their idols and earrings, and Jacob hides them beneath the oak tree near Shechem. A Covenant That Doesn’t Change God appears again and reaffirms His covenant. “Thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name” [35:10]. And then He declares in Genesis 35:12, “The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I wi...

In this post, we reflect on Genesis 34, where Jacob’s daughter Dinah faces tragedy and Shechem falls. This story weaves together silence, anger, and God’s grace, and invites us to pause and ponder. In the previous chapter, Jacob was reconciled with Esau in a dramatic reunion. Now settled in Canaan, Jacob’s family faces an event that shakes their future and leaves a lasting scar. The Cost of Silence – Dinah, Vengeance, and God’s Grace Dinah’s Visit and the Tragic Event [34:1–3] Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, went out to see the women of the land. Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite, saw her, seized her, and violated her. “His heart was drawn to Dinah... he loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her.” Shechem’s Plea and Hamor’s Diplomacy Shechem and his father Hamor came to Jacob and his sons, saying, “Give me this girl as my wife... Let’s live together, and the land will be yours to settle.” The Deception of Simeon and Levi Jacob’s sons, filled with fury, answered de...

To help your understanding, both Korean and English versions present the topic with different wording. 이해를 돕기 위해 한글과 영어 버전은 각기 다른 표현으로 같은 주제를 전하고 있습니다. Jacob finally meets Esau after years of fear, guilt, and uncertainty. After wrestling with God and receiving a new name, Israel, he approaches his brother with humility. But instead of revenge, Esau embraces him. Discover how God's grace leads to reconciliation without erasing the past. Reconciliation Is a Choice, Not a Feeling – Esau’s Embrace and the Hand of God Jacob finally comes face to face with his brother Esau. After wrestling all night with the angel of God at the Jabbok River, he sets out with a limp and a new name—Israel. Yet the news that Esau is approaching with four hundred men still brings great fear. Jacob carefully arranges his family into groups and sends them ahead, preparing for possible danger. He himself walks at the back and bows to the ground seven times. His actions are filled with de...

The Korean and English versions share the same theme but are not direct translations. Feel free to read both versions to gain deeper insight. 한글과 영어는 같은 주제를 담고 있지만, 직역은 아닙니다. 두 언어를 함께 읽으며 내용을 더 깊이 이해해보세요. As Jacob prepares to meet Esau, he prays alone by the Jabbok. That night, he wrestles with a mysterious man until daybreak. Discover how God answers through struggle, renames him Israel, and affirms His promise. Wrestling into a New Name It was a night of solitude. Jacob had sent his family and servants across the stream and remained alone at the Jabbok. As the time to meet Esau drew near, his heart grew heavy. He prayed: “You have said, ‘I will surely make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered.’” [32:12] Jacob clung to God's promise and pleaded with Him. The memories of deceiving his brother and fleeing in fear may have haunted him. But now he was different. He remained, trusting in the Lord's word. Then it happened....

Jacob prospered while serving Laban, yet God called him to return home. As Jacob fled, Rachel took her father's household gods, and Laban pursued them. Discover how conflict, divine protection, and a covenantal heap of stones shaped their separation. He Left in Silence, and the Stones Stood Between 1. God Prospers Jacob for Six More Years Jacob had served Laban for many years. First, he worked seven years for Rachel but was given Leah instead. Then, he worked another seven years to marry Rachel, and after that, six more years caring for Laban’s flocks. After Rachel bore Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country” [30:25]. Laban urged him to stay and said he would set his wages. Jacob replied, “For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming” [30:30]. Jacob asked for the speckled, spotted, and black animals as his wages. Throu...

Jacob falls in love with Rachel, but ends up marrying her sister Leah through deceit. What follows is a long struggle for love, identity, and children. In this deep rivalry, God sees the overlooked and remembers the forgotten. The God Who Comes First to the Unloved – The Story of Leah and Rachel After leaving his father’s house, Jacob arrives at his uncle Laban’s home and begins a new chapter. There, he meets Rachel and falls in love with her. Jacob agrees to work for seven years to marry her. "Jacob loved Rachel more." [29:30] The seven years felt like days to him because of his love. But on the wedding night, Laban sends Leah instead of Rachel. Jacob is deceived and realizes it only the next morning. When he confronts Laban, the custom of marrying the older daughter first is used as an excuse. Jacob then agrees to work seven more years to marry Rachel. Though Jacob loved Rachel, Leah was not loved. "When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he opened...

In the previous story, Jacob took the blessing meant for Esau and now finds himself fleeing from home. Leaving behind his parents, he ends up sleeping in the wilderness with a stone for a pillow. There, he dreams of a stairway to heaven and hears God’s promise. This is the beginning of Jacob’s journey—from a fugitive to a man of covenant. A Dream While Running – Jacob’s Vow 1. A Son Who Leaves, a Son Who Runs Jacob had to flee from home after his brother Esau’s rage exploded. Rebekah, fearing for Jacob’s life, urged Isaac to send him away to her brother Laban. So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him once more. He sent him away like a fugitive—but not without a promise. “May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you... and may He give the land promised to Abraham to you and your descendants.” The blessing that began with Abraham now follows Jacob on his lonely journey. 2. A Dream at Bethel As the sun set, Jacob stopped at a certain plac...