e100 Challenge Day 14 - The Brothers Return - Genesis 43:1-44:34

Read today's passage.  After the food brought back from the first trip ran low, Jacob was forced to send his sons, including Benjamin, back to Egypt. He sent with them many gifts for “the man” in charge of the food. Upon their return to Egypt, Joseph prepared a meal for his brothers. They were astonished when this Egyptian official seated them according to their ages. Benjamin was given five times as much as the others.

As the brothers left again for Canaan, Joseph had his silver cup secretly placed in Benjamin’s sack. Joseph’s steward stopped the brothers and, of course, found the cup. Joseph demanded that Benjamin become his personal slave for stealing the cup. A desperate Judah offered to take Benjamin’s place.

Discussion Questions...

1. It appears Jacob has many weaknesses as a father.  What are some of them you see in this passage? 

2. What is happening in Judah's life?  It appears that God is doing something significant in the lives of Joseph's brothers in today and yesterday's reading.  What is happening?

3. Do we learn anything more about the grand story of the Bible in today's reading?  The true intent of God through Joseph will be revealed more fully in tomorrow's reading

How Should we Pray?
Lord, in all the drama of this story we see your hand calling Jacob and his sons to deal with their sin and to be reunited with their brother.  But we are beginning to see something bigger emerge in the story.  Thank you for always being at work in our lives.  Thank you for you love, compassion and mercy that are so abundant in our lives.  We love you lord.

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.. 

e100 Challenge Day 13 - Ten Brothers Go To Egypt - Genesis 42:1-38

In today's reading we address the impact of unresolved sin in our lives.  before we discuss that read the passage and answer the following questions:

1. Why did Jacob send his sons to Egypt?  Why did he hold Benjamin back?

2. What is the significance of the fact that Joseph's brothers bowed down before him (v. 6)?  How does this relate to earlier parts of the story?  How does this reveal the faithfulness of God?

3. Why did Joseph treat his brothers harshly, even throwing them in jail for three days?  Was it vengeful?  Was he simply setting up a plan to get his brother Benjamin back?

4. What reason did his brothers give as to why they were being treated this way (cf. vv 21-23)?  This is significant.  Ponder this reaction of the brothers for a while.

5. Reflect upon the key interpretive piece which begins to explain Joseph's actions (42:8-9).  What dreams are referenced? What did Joseph understand about the situation?

6. How did Jacob react when he heard what had happened?  What specifically was grieving him?  What might Rueben's motive have been for offering his sons in exchange for Benjamin (cf. 35:22)?

7.  It is obvious even though many years had passed since the brothers betrayal of Joseph, the family was not over it.  Why?

For a great study on this passage dealing with the proper use of power click on the following link.

How Should we Pray?
Lord help us to learn from the experience of Joseph and his brothers.  My we understand the impact unresolved sin has upon our conscience.  Lord convict us of sin in our lives and help us to repent.  We also need help to see what is really going on in this passage Lord.  Please open our eyes over these next days to see the amazing plan for Jacob and his family and the amazing plan you have for our lives. Amen.

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 12 - Prison and a Promotion - Genesis 39:1- 47:57

Today's passage  reveals the ongoing difficult journey of Joseph. He trusts God in his adversity. Get right to the passage and work through the discussion questions below.  Save time to discuss questions 4 & 5.  How do we see God in this Scriptural passage? 

Questions to ponder or discuss...
1. What does Joseph’s encounter with Potiphar’s wife and his prison time tell us about his character?

 A. Trustworthy (39:8-9) - loyal to his superior who had given him great responsibility

 B. Morally responsible to God (39:9) - loved God and relied on Him

 C. Maintained Self Control (39:12)– Potiphar’s wife was probably very attractive (we know Joseph was) and Egyptian women were very liberated.

 D. Confidence in God’s Blessings (39:21) - easy thing would be to become bitter for being falsely charged

2. To What Position was Joseph promoted?
   - Prime Minister (second in command)

3. How did Joseph's sons tell us where his heart was?

   - Their names - Manasseh - God had made me forget and Ephraim - He has made me fruitful. Though he could remember past abuse, he no longer felt it. (41:51-52)

4. Ponder this statement, "Joseph spent an additional two years in prison after interpreting the cupbearer’s and chief baker’s dreams."

5. Why do you think God does not choose to reveal the inner workings of Joseph's struggle and temptations?

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 11 - Sold in Slavery - Genesis 37:1-36

Today's reading  demonstrate the pervasive nature of sin and its impact upon families.  Try to read the passage with fresh and compassionate eyes.  Look carefully to find God's care for Joseph even in his brothers' betrayal.

Questions to ponder or discuss...
1. Is it good for a parent to love one child more than the other children?

2. How should we react when placed in a position of being someone's favorite?

3. What happens when the sin of hatred comes into one's life? How can it destroy one's life?

4. What three ways did God save Joseph's life? (verses 18-22)

5. Talk about how favoritism and deception were a part of Jacob's life. Is there a connection between what happened to Joseph and the sins of his parents and grandparents?

Ways to pray...
Lord, help us to learn from what happened in Joseph's family. Lord help us to deal with our sin and expose bitterness in us before it hurts others. 

It is good, Lord, to know that even in Josephs betrayal you were taking care of him.  Lord thank you that we can trust you will take care of us as well.


The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 10 - Jacob and Esau Reconcile - Genesis 32:1-33:20

Today's reading brings the long feud between Jacob and Esau which began at an early age to a climax. Even in the womb, these boys jockeyed for position. The struggle was so intense that their mother, Rebekah, thought it was necessary to ask God for an explanation.

God informed her that two “nations” were in her womb and that the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). This jockeying for position continued at their birth. Although Esau emerged as the firstborn, Jacob was clutching at his heel even as he left the womb. This prenatal rivalry was later compounded by parental favoritism (Genesis 25:27-28).

As the boys grew older, the tension mounted. On one occasion, Jacob manipulated Esau into trading his birthright for stew (Genesis 25:29–34). On another, Jacob and Rebekah deceived Isaac into conferring his fatherly blessing on Jacob instead of Esau (Genesis 27:1–40). This was the breaking point in the brothers’ relationship. Having been tricked twice, Esau planned to kill Jacob after their father passed away (Genesis 27:41).

This prompted Jacob to flee northward. His relocation gave Esau the time and space he needed to cool off (Genesis 27:42–45). But the plan took much more time than Jacob had anticipated. Laban, his father-in-law, deceived him into staying twice as long as he had planned. Then Jacob stuck around for several more years to gain enough wealth to head back home. So after 20 years of self-exile (Genesis 31:38), Jacob finally began his perilous journey home.

Read the passage to learn how years of tension created pain, anger, hatred and fear.  Notice what God did in Jacob's life to prepare him for his encounter with Esau.

Questions to ponder or discuss...
1. After 20 years why was Jacob concerned about meeting Esau (Genesis 32:6-7,11)?
2. What did Jacob do when he saw Esau (Genesis 33:3)? What did Esau do (v. 4)? What did Esau say when Jacob tried to give him gifts (vv. 8-11)?  How do you think Esau's feelings changed toward Jacob?
3. How can this story help you understand how to deal with tensions in relationships?  

Ways to pray...
1. Lord, help us to understand what you did in Jacob's heart when he wrestled you.  Lord would you bring that kind of blessing to our life and may we be changed as Jacob was as he walked with a limp.  Thank you God.


The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 9 - Jacob and Esau Compete - Genesis 27:1-28:22

In today's passage we see the impact of favoritism and the devastation sin brings to a family.  Rebekah favored Jacob while Isaac favored Esau.  The result is deception.

Jacob deceived his father and obtained the blessing. Prodded by his mother Jacob lied twice to his father, first, about his identity (I am Esau, v. 19), and second, that God had given him success (in hunting, v. 20). Three times the old man voiced his suspicion (vv. 20, 22, 24). But deceived by his senses of touch (vv. 16, 23) and smell (v. 27), he blessed Jacob, thinking he was Esau (27:27-29).

Esau, lost both his birthright and the blessing which were the benefits of the first born.  The result, Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”



Questions to ponder or discuss...
1. How do our choices reveal what our hearts treasure?
2. How can self-will, doing things our way for what we want cause us to circumvent God's will?
3. Reflect upon the following statement: Our struggle is not so much discovering the will of God, but doing it.  It is NOT God's will that we have favoritism, deception, manipulation, hatred, lying in our lives, they come with unavoidable consequences.  It IS His will that we listen, obey and follow His leading, His words.

Ways to pray...
1. Lord, may we not practice favoritism.  Show us in our lives the places where our personal desires over ride our desire for holiness.
2. Lord, please show us how our selfish desires cause us to compromise our relationships and remove us from the ability to see God at work in our lives.


The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 8 - Isaac's Birth and "Sacrifice" - Genesis 21:1-22:19

In this exciting text we see the first tangible fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham. God provided the child of promise to Abraham and to Sarah … at the very time God had promised (cf. 18:10). 

They responded in faith:
  - Naming him Isaac (21:3)
  - Circumcising him according to the covenant (21:4; 17:9-14)
  - Praising God for this amazing fulfillment (21:6-7)

Later Abraham was asked of God to sacrifice Isaac (22:1ff). In obedience Abraham when and God provided a substitute (a ram in the thicket (22:13-14)).

Questions to ponder or discuss...
1. Have you ever thought God might be testing you? When and How?

2. How has a time of testing made you a stronger person?

Ways to pray...

1. Lord thankful for being faithful to your promise.  Thank you for always meeting our need.  Thank you for your love and grace exhibited in the times of testing you bring to our life for our own spiritual development.

2. Thank you Lord for the "ram in the thicket" in this story  which is a beautiful picture of your provision to address our greatest need when Jesus died on the cross instead of or in place of us.


The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 6 - The Call of Abraham - Genesis 12:1-20

The blessings of God are abundantly given to all those who follow Him. God’s blessings are not simply a reward for godly living but a gift from a loving Father. Life’s blessings are not a measure of who we are but of who God is. God promises personal blessings to those who follow Him in obedience and exhorts His people to be a blessing to others (Gen. 12:2, 3).

Questions to Discuss or Ponder...
1. When God told Abram to leave his country and family and go to an unnamed place, what did Abram do?
2. How has God blessed you to be a blessing to others?

Ways to Pray...
Ask God to show you on how you can be a blessing to someone else today.

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 5 - Tower of Babel - Genesis 11:1-9

It's day 5 of our 100 day Bible reading challenge! So how are you doing? If you have missed a day, don't worry you can catch up! The next two days are less than a chapter each day to read. :)

This is a fascinating story of once again, man boasting in himself. (verse 4)  It didn't take long for man's evil, pride filled heart to take over and seek to glorify himself instead of God. This is a constant problem with mankind, seeking to lift himself up, instead of lifting up the name of God.  How quickly we also look to be famous instead of make God famous! Jesus said, whoever is first will be last, and whoever is last shall be first."

Questions to Discuss or Ponder....
1.  What was so wrong about building a tower?
2. What did God do in order to stop the building of the tower?


Ways to Pray...
Ask God to show you areas in your life that you seek to lift up your name instead of God's name.


The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 4-God's Covenant with Noah Genesis 8:1-9:17

(For something different today, listen to the passage of Scripture from your Bible app or biblegateway.com)

Through Noah, God made an agreement with all mankind, and its terms still stand today. The basis of the covenant was the shed blood of the sacrifice (8:20–22), just as the basis of the New Covenant is the shed blood of Christ. God set apart the rainbow as the token and pledge of the covenant. The rainbow is a product of sunshine and storm, and its colors remind us of the “manifold (many-colored) grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). The rainbow appears to be a bridge between heaven and earth, reminding us that in Christ, God bridged the chasm that separated man from God. 

Questions To Ponder or Discuss....
1. How long was Noah and his family on the ark?
2. What did Noah do when he got off ark?

Ways to Pray...
Thank the Lord for His salvation in your life today!

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 3 - The Flood - Genesis 6:5-7:24

(If you are taking the Bible reading challenge as a family,
take turns today reading through the section of scripture 10 verses at a time. )

This event is often told as a nice children's story about animals in a boat with a rainbow. However, it is a very serious story of God's righteous wrath being poured out on wicked people. For 99.9% of the world's population, it was the story of the end of the world as they knew it! But there is good news! God in his rich mercy and grace had favor on one man and his family. God provided a way of redemption for the world through one man named Noah.  This story is a foreshadowing of God's ultimate plan of saving the world for eternity through one man named Jesus Christ!

Questions To Ponder or Discuss....
1. Why would God send a flood to wipe out mankind, his creation, from the face of the earth? What does this tell us about his character?
3. Why would God save one man and his family? What does this tell us about his character?

Ways to Pray...
Thank God that He is a just God that justly punishes the wicked.
Thank God that He is merciful and provides a way for salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.