Author Archives: risingwiththeson

The man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob. You have wrestled with God and with men, and you have won. That’s why your name will be Israel.” (Genesis 32:28 CEV) For years, Jacob struggled to prevail. First, he struggled with his brother Esau, then with his father-in-law Laban. As he was about toContinueContinue reading “Wrestle With God”

And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 NIV) Interestingly enough, one of the trees that Adam andContinueContinue reading “Choose Life”

Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” (Genesis 16:13 NLT) I had read this passage many times before, but I remember that one time when itContinueContinue reading “God Sees You”

When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. (Genesis 19:16 NIV) In answer to Abraham’s prayer, God’s angels came to deliver Lot before destroying the sinful cities of SodomContinueContinue reading “Grab God’s Hand”

Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” (Genesis 21:6 NIV) The Bible mentions two times when Sarah laughed – when God promised her a son in her old age (Genesis 18:12) and when the promise was fulfilled and she held her son in her arms,ContinueContinue reading “God Brings Laughter”

The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered. (Genesis 39:2 NIV) The fact that the Lord was with Joseph is mentioned several times in the thirty-ninth chapter of Genesis, which more often than not, manifested itself through Joseph’s successful life. Every time the phrase, “the Lord was with Joseph” appears, it’s usually followed byContinueContinue reading “The Source of Our Prosperity”

After Abram and Lot had gone their separate ways, the LORD said to Abram: Look around to the north, south, east, and west. I will give you and your family all the land you can see. It will be theirs forever! I will give you more descendants than there are specks of dust on theContinueContinue reading “Last but Not Least”

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. (Genesis 50:20 NLT) Here’s what I’ve discovered along with Joseph and many others: God may allow us to experience pain, but He doesn’t allow it to be wasted.ContinueContinue reading “Our Pain is Never Wasted”

No one in my master’s house is more important than I am. The only thing he hasn’t given me is you, and that’s because you are his wife. I won’t sin against God by doing such a terrible thing as this.” (Genesis 39:9 CEV) When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, he was taken toContinueContinue reading “Know Your Limits”