The story of the Patriarch, Joseph, draws our attention to Joseph, husband of Mary. Both were addressed by God through dreams; both went to Egypt as a result of attempts on life—the patriarch Joseph himself, and Jesus.

The chapter sets the stage for God to use a victim of fraternal strife to become the means of salvation for his brothers. Joseph anticipates Jesus. The leaders of God’s own people complete the attempt on Jesus’s life by Herod years later; the scribes and Pharisees collectively have the same power and arrogance of Herod.

The betrayal of Joseph by his brothers is not unlike that of Judas, and the denial of Peter. However, the victory will come in Joseph’s fidelity to his God and Jesus’s adherence to the Father.

How does this reading touch you and move you to trust what God is doing in your life no matter what may be coming against you?

Genesis 37

This is the first of three parts in the Torah portion for today. The remaining two parts will occur in years B and C.
The entire portion,Vayeshev (And He Settled) is as follows:
Genesis 37:1—40:23

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Grateful to those who love me v. 21

The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

Tap here for a video meditation on Psalm 3.

In the middle of this week that is itself the middle of Advent, there comes a cry in the midst of enemy territory. John the Baptist could have groaned this psalm from his prison cell. Christians, Jews, and Muslims persecuted today around the world can do the same. Strengthen their prayer by binding yourself to them with these words of salvation.

May your inner conviction of this psalm ring out with the same deep resounding toll of a great bell. The emptier and darker the night, the more the clarion-call of God’s salvation can silence those taunting, tempting voices that may be keeping you fretfully, frightfully awake. Be assured of God’s salvation upon your life as you sleep in peace and rise in confidence.

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More
Example: You lift up my head, O Lord. v. 3

We read the Psalms in numerical order.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

Disobedience and betrayal of God’s people, just as the betrayal of Joseph’s brother in Genesis, result in stark emptiness and life weakened by evil. God’s people ignore those powerless in their world—women and children.

How similar is the worldly noise these weeks before Christmas! So many merchants and enterprises not interested in the coming of Jesus to the poor, only want great riches to be accounted when this season of buying and selling is over.

Isaiah’s prediction of the loss of finery is as a great blackout that reduces the colorful, flickering lights of stores and houses to an awesome darkness. It is from the darkness and emptiness of all distraction that the soul cries out more clearly to the Lord in the winter night.

Isaiah 3

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Isaiah 1-13.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Give me compassion for the poor. v. 5

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.