Darash Chai - Seek Life!

The test has reached its climax, but what possible defense can Judah offer for the release of his brother Benjamin? The same solution that has been present in scripture since the beginning. Covenant. The keeping of covenant supersedes all other concerns. And it is this that finally convinces Joseph of the change that has occurred in his brother's lives.

The first challenge that Joseph laid before his brothers has been completed. They have returned with Benjamin, and now begins a test. Can the brothers handle being shamed? Will they sit idly by while Benjamin is honored above them? What will they do when Benjamin is charged with a crime? Have they truly changed, or is there jealousy and division lurking just beneath the surface?

Nearly 20 years ago Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Now he has been reunited with them. But Joseph does not trust his brothers, and this time, Joseph has all the power. Let the games begin. Have the brothers grown, or are they still the selfish violent brats of old?

There is a theme that we discover all throughout the Bible that can reveal our own role in light of our Messiah. This thematic element is not limited to the Bible, but is in fact one of the most popular tropes in any kind of literature. What is a reversal of fortune, and how do we see it applied in Scripture and in our own lives?

Two years in prison, and for what? Because of a forgetful servant? Because of a lesson in patience? Or could it be that there is more going on here? If there is one thing that Joseph had plenty of still it is perhaps pride, and there is something that is necessary to address this before Joseph can be elevated to the place that God has for him.

Joseph has been on a downward spiral into the depths of shame for the past few chapters. Taken from honor to slavery to prison. Into this place of shame two new men are introduced. Two new dreams appear. Two new symbols that upon examination are not really new. The baker symbolizing bread. The cup bearer symbolizing wine. Symbols that take on a life of their own throughout scripture. What can we learn from these symbols, and what do they mean for Joseph in the depths of his shame?

I was invited to give a breakout session at Sukkot with Founded In Truth. It was a wonderful time with a great group of people. Here is the recording of that session. If you wanted an update on Darash Chai, this is it. I am nearly a year into making this experiment my focus. Let's see where we are. What is the "Nature of Life?"

We are all familiar with the story of Joseph in Potiphar's house in Egypt. Raised to a position of authority and then an accusation. If we are paying attention, we will recognize that the previous chapter contained a similar story of an accusation against an innocent. This parallel in these chapters opens up for us a topic of human justice. The process that the Bible gives from accusation to conviction. This is vitally important today. A day and age of weaponized accusations.

In Genesis 38 the text takes a detour that has caused a lot of discussion in theological circles. We know who Judah becomes. We know what Judah just did. And for one chapter we get a Judah centered narrative that tells us of his life between those two points in time. But why this narrative? It is confusing and confounding all at once. What is it about this chapter that it would be the one and only chapter of all of scripture that is focused only on the character of Judah?

The story of the sons of Jacob begins in full in this chapter of Genesis. Once again, we find that as young men, there is a baseline of evil that runs through there hearts. But if we examine this episode of Joseph being sold into slavery from a perspective of life, we may discover an amazing example of just how the path of life is not the same as either good or evil.

Genesis is a book of origins. The origin of the world. The origin of the covenant. The origin of the family of Abraham. The origin of the...gospel? How do a trip, the death of two women, a blessing, a coup, and a genealogy reflect the gospel?

For the past few chapter we have witnessed the fact that Jacob is a changed man. He is at peace with all of his neighbors. It doesn't last long. Something happens in Shekhem that will shape much of what is to come. But do we truly understand this episode? How can an honor and shame perspective change our understanding of the tragedy of the destruction of Shekhem?

This episode is our second podcast exclusive holiday special. This is a rerecording of a teaching that I gave at a local Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) gathering in Easley, SC. Yom Teruah is a celebration of the Kingship of God. Once we acknowledge His kingship, it follows that we are servants to the king. What does it mean to be a servant?

Jacob has successfully withdrawn from the house of Laban. Now comes the confrontation with Esau. But Jacob is not the same man who left Canaan. His time in Haran has changed him, and before he meets Esau, comes a challenge. A man. In the dark. A contest of strength and will. And before he confronts Esau, Jacob becomes Israel. What did it take? Was this a process that occurred overnight, or has this been something that has been building us for the past 20 years?

The time has finally come for Jacob to leave Laban's house, but knowing Laban, it is not going to be easy. Jacob is no longer defined by the deception that was once his nature, and yet, it is still a tool in his arsenal. In order to overcome Laban, Jacob will need Integrity, but before that, in order to leave, Jacob needs to deceive Laban one last time. How can this be? Can deception be a tool used by the righteous?

Upon the birth of Joseph, Jacob desires to leave Laban's house. He asks to leave, but is convinced to stay. It is at this point that Jacob gets to choose his wages, and he chooses the imperfect of the flocks of Laban as his wages. Then comes one of the most confounding stories in scripture. What are we to make of this? Why is this story even part of scripture? Let's dig in and see what we can find.

Jacob has more issues that hold him back than his deception. He learned a lot from his parents, and the next thing that he is faced with is favortism. And with two wives, and sisters at that, favortism is bound to get him into a whole lot of trouble.

Jacob is now the defacto leader of the family of Abraham when his father Isaac dies, but he his also on the run for his life. This week we examine this story of Jacob on the run form his brother and into the arms of his uncle. If we were to examine this story in a vacuum, it would seem as if Jacob is beginning his life of blessing as the leader of the family of Abraham, but all is not as it seems. Before Jacob can receive his blessing, he must first learn of his failures. This concept begins a cascade in the life of Jacob, and if we allow it, this concept will begin a process within our own lives to begin to learn of our failures and how to overcome them.

The birthright has been purchased, but the blessing has been stolen. Esau is angry. And why shouldn't he be? The blessing, the leadership position over the family was his by right. Rules of inheritance dictated that Esau would lead the family in the future, but now, not the weasel, serpent, trickster, deceiver has stolen it all away. What is his response? Better yet, what would your response be in a similar circumstance?

This week we begin a long exploration of the last of the three patriarchs of Israel. Jacob, also known later as Israel. The time has come for Isaac to give his blessing to one of these boys. He wants to bless one, but due to his loss of sight and an act of cunning and deception, Jacob supersedes his brother Esau! Theft, lying, deception, these things are immoral, and yet God uses them to bless the world. How does that even work?