Conflict and Courage. 2 Kings 13:14-20 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelation 14:13. It was not given Elisha to follow his master in a fiery chariot. Upon him the Lord permitted to come a lingering illness. During the long hours of human weakness and suffering his faith laid fast hold on the promises of God, and he beheld ever about him heavenly messengers of comfort and peace. As on the heights of Dothan he had seen the encircling hosts of heaven, the fiery chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof, so now he was conscious of the presence of sympathizing angels, and he was sustained. Throughout his life he had exercised strong faith, and as he had advanced in a knowledge of God's providences and of His merciful kindness, faith had ripened into an abiding trust in his God, and when death called him he was ready to rest from his labors.... Elisha could say in all confidence, “God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me.” And with rejoicing he could testify, “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” 15Prophets and Kings, 263, 264. Christ claims all those as His who have believed in His name. The vitalizing power of the Spirit of Christ dwelling in the mortal body binds every believing soul to Jesus Christ. Those who believe in Jesus are sacred to His heart; for their life is hid with Christ in God.... What a glorious morning will the resurrection morning be! What a wonderful scene will open when Christ shall come to be admired of them that believe! All who were partakers with Christ in His humiliation and sufferings will be partakers with Him in His glory. By the resurrection of Christ from the dead every believing saint who falls asleep in Jesus will come forth from his prison house in triumph. The resurrected saint will proclaim, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:55).16Selected Messages 2:271, 272.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SUNDAY 28TH JUNE 2026 TOPIC: SEEING EYES, PART 3 MEMORIZE: "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints," Ephesians 1:18 (KJV) BIBLE READING: 2 KINGS 6:8-23 8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. 13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? 22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel. MESSAGE: In today's Bible reading, Elisha was in Israel, but he could hear what the king of Syria was planning far away in his bedchamber. As a result, all the king's battle plans against Israel failed. The Syrian king was seriously disturbed by that, so he sent an army to capture the prophet. It didn't occur to him that the fellow who could hear the things he was planning in his bedroom must have some serious spiritual backing. When Elisha's servant saw the army that was sent to arrest his master, he became agitated and ran to Elisha, shaking with fear. He could only see the troop of Syrian soldiers that surrounded his master's house, but he couldn't see the horses and chariots of fire of the angelic hosts that surrounded them. To put his servant's mind at rest, however, Elisha prayed, "Lord, open his eyes that he may see" (2 Kings 6:17). I am sure that immediately the servant's eyes were opened and he saw the mighty host surrounding them, his fear disappeared. Beloved, what you see will always affect how you respond to situations. If all you can see is what is happening in the natural realm, you will feel threatened by challenges, just like Elisha's servant. You will continually live in fear until your eyes are open to see that God has prepared a table before you in the presence of your enemies (Psalm 23:5). You don't have to be afraid of the devil because He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Don't tremble in the presence of the one who should be trembling when he sees you. (1 Peter 5:8) says that he is moving around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Lions typically prefer to target weak prey; therefore, if you see yourself as being weak and vulnerable, the devil may be encouraged to attack you. However, if you understand the power of the One who lives inside you, he will stay away from you. Child of God, do you see yourself as being too strong for any problem to overcome, or do you panic when faced with challenges? I pray that your eyes will be opened from now on, so you can see the power that backs you up as a child of God and cease to be afraid of challenges that come your way. KEY POINT: When you have seeing eyes, you will not be afraid of any challenge that comes your way. BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: PSALMS 134 - 140 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE HYMNAL 21 - MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS 1. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus name. CHORUS: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. 2. When darkness seems to veil His face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. CHORUS: 3. His oath, His covenant, and blood, Support me in the whelming Hood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. CHORUS: 4. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found; Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. CHORUS:

Do Not Fear Or Be Afraid 2 Kings 6:13-Ezra 3:4 NKJV 2 Kings 6:13-18 So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." And it was told him, saying, "Surely he is in Dothan." Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, "Strike this people, I pray, with blindness." And He struck with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 2 Kings 17:27-28 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land." Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD. 2 Kings 17:34-39 To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statues or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the LORD had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel, with whom the LORD had made a covenant and charged them, saying; "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them; "But the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice. "And the statues, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall be careful to observe forever; you shall not fear other gods. "And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, not shall you fear other gods. "But the LORD your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies." 2 Kings 25:22-24 Then he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left. Now when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah--Ismael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Careah, Seraiah the son of Tannhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. And Gedaliah took an oath before them and their men, and said to them, "Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you." 1 Chronicles 28:20-21 And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God--my God--will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. "Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and every willing craftsman will be with you for all manner of workmanship. for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people will be completely at your command." 2 Chronicles 20:17 'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear of be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you." Ezra 3:1-4 And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel to son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day.

The Ties of Blood and Barter: Sovereignty at the Pit of Dothan The account of Joseph being sold into Egyptian bondage is universally recognized as a monument to the providence of Almighty God. Believers rightly marvel at how the Lord transformed a pit of envy into a path to the throne. Yet, a profound historical and genealogical reality is frequently overlooked by the casual reader: the transaction at Dothan was entirely a family affair. Joseph was not bartered away to generic, passing strangers. He was sold by his immediate brethren into the hands of his distant cousins, revealing a bitter irony within the household of faith. To fully grasp the proximity of this kinship, one must look directly to the lineage preserved in the sacred page. Joseph was a fourth-generation descendant of Abraham through the covenant line of Isaac and Jacob. The merchants who drew near to the pit were Midianites and Ishmeelites—groups that traced their direct ancestry back to the exact same patriarch. As it is written in the law: “Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian…” (Genesis 25:1–2). Ishmael was the son of Abraham’s youth; Midian was the son of his later years. Both were great-uncles to Joseph. Therefore, the nomadic traders guiding that caravan down toward Egypt were the third and fourth-generation descendants of Abraham. In the truest genealogical sense, the men purchasing Joseph for twenty pieces of silver were his second and third cousins. When the sons of Jacob looked over the ridge and saw the dust rising from the caravan route, they did not behold a company of entirely foreign peoples. They saw men who carried the same physical lineage, spoke a closely related Semitic tongue, and shared a common ancestral memory of the tent of Abraham. The tragedy of Dothan is magnified by this proximity; the immediate brothers of Joseph showed less mercy to their own flesh and blood than the distant cousins who bought him as mere commodity. Yet, above the failure of human affection stands the unbending decree of God. The Lord did not summon a pagan empire to extract Joseph from the hand of his murderous brethren; He utilized the fractured branches of Abraham’s own family tree. Every hand involved in the dark transaction—from the brothers who stripped the coat of many colors to the Midianite brokers who counted out the silver—was bound by kinship, and every hand was inadvertently moving the covenant heir to the precise geographic location required for the survival of the race. What the brothers designed for total separation, the Lord used as a transport line managed by their own kin, proving that even when family bonds fail utterly, the architecture of divine purpose remains completely unshakeable. #joseph #Egypt #pit #dothan #bible https://thelordsreturn.com/the-ties-of-blood-and-barter-sovereignty-at-the-pit-of-dothan/

New English Translation 2 Kings 6:8-23 Elisha Defeats an Army Now the king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his advisers, who said, “Invade at such and such a place.” But the prophet sent this message to the king of Israel, “Make sure you don’t pass through this place because Syria is invading there.” So the king of Israel sent a message to the place the prophet had pointed out, warning it to be on its guard. This happened on several occasions. This made the king of Syria upset. So he summoned his advisers and said to them, “One of us must be helping the king of Israel.” One of his advisers said, “No, my master, O king. The prophet Elisha who lives in Israel keeps telling the king of Israel the things you say in your bedroom.” The king ordered, “Go, find out where he is, so I can send some men to capture him.” The king was told, “He is in Dothan.” So he sent horses and chariots there, along with a good-sized army. They arrived during the night and surrounded the city. The prophet’s attendant got up early in the morning. When he went outside there was an army surrounding the city, along with horses and chariots. He said to Elisha, “Oh no, my master! What will we do?” He replied, “Don’t be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he can see.” The Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw that the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As they approached him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike these people with blindness.” The Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha requested. Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the right road or city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you’re looking for.” He led them to Samaria. When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open their eyes, so they can see.” The Lord opened their eyes and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria. When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Should I strike them down, my master?” He replied, “Do not strike them down! You did not capture them with your sword or bow, so what gives you the right to strike them down? Give them some food and water, so they can eat and drink and then go back to their master.” So he threw a big banquet for them and they ate and drank. Then he sent them back to their master. After that no Syrian raiding parties again invaded the land of Israel. https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=6912617385068819777

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🌹🎀🎁💝🌺 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. SATURDAY MAY 16, 2026. "WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?" 'We walk by faith, not by sight.’  2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV YOUR EYES can deceive you! Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, dipped his coat in goat’s blood and told their father he’d been torn to pieces by a wild beast. As a result, the old man said, ‘…I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning’ (Genesis 37:35 NKJV). In reality, not only was Joseph alive, he’d soon become prime minister of Egypt and save his family during the time of famine. But his father lived all those years grieving because of something he saw: a coat. Sometimes there’s a difference between facts and truth. The facts may confirm that the economy is bad, but the truth is, ‘…God shall supply all your needs according to his riches…’ (Philippians 4:19 KJV). One day Elisha and his servant woke up in the town of Dothan to discover they were surrounded by an enemy army. When the servant saw this, he panicked. But Elisha said, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed… “Lord…open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha’ (2 Kings 6:16-17 NKJV). God wants you to look to Him and know that in your darkest moment, you don’t have to be afraid. What you have going for you is so much greater than anything that comes against you. So rise up in faith and say with the Psalmist, ‘My help comes from the Lord’ (Psalms 121:2 NKJV). Then act like you believe it! Bible In A Year: 1 Kings 1-2, Mark7:14-23, Ps 88:9b-18, Pro11:27-29. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🌹🌷🎀💝. MD.ii. PRAYER AND LOVE "Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You." - Psalm 73:25 A lack of love hinders prayer of a child of God. God paid a high price to open the way leading to Him, so we are able to approach Him. He also says that we have free access to His throne where He will bless us. However, His children's response to this invitation is: 'No Father, I don't want to, I don't have time for You.' Such attitude must cause God the Father a lot of sorrow. It is a pity that many Christians consider other things more important than prayer. My question is: are there really so many things we would rather have or do? Of course, it could happen that you have to skip prayer. However, if this happens regularly, I am worried about our love for Jesus. A lack of love Are we saying: I love You. I want to follow You, but I do not want to talk to You? God is very serious when He says in Revelation 2:4: 'I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.' God tolerates a lot from His children, but not a lack of love, because He is love! He has cleansed you of your sins and wants to forgive your mistakes. But when your first love is gone, He says: 'Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place' (Revelation 2:5). A love relationship without love from both sides is impossible. One of the biggest reasons for lacking love towards God is that one has not completely broken with the old love. The love for the flesh; the love for the things of the world and sins. God does not allow you to worship other gods besides Him. If you have a divided heart and you do not love God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind (this is the first and most important commandment), devote yourself again to God now. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer [It is of] the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness. ⏤ Lamentations 3:22-23 God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go. ⏤ Tony Evans Lord, You created us in Your own image so that we might truly be Your children. We come to You this morning seeking Your favor. Please take away anything that hinders us from fully experiencing Your love. Just as the rising sun drives away the darkness, may Your love drive away the shadows in our souls. As the morning light spreads across fields and valleys, may Your grace surround us and fill us with Your holy love. We confess that we have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. We have not lived in a way that honors You. We want today to be the best day we’ve ever lived. Please give us special grace, a special measure of Your Spirit, so we can stay close to You. Help us to do our everyday work better—more skillfully, more neatly, and more quickly than ever before. Help us to keep You in our thoughts as we go about our tasks. Give us more of the mind of Christ so that we may be sweet-spirited and kind-hearted. May Your love shine through us so that we reflect You in everything we do and say. Sanctify our influence on others. Many of our friends need Your help and blessing today. Some will find their duties hard because they are discouraged. Life hasn’t been easy for them. They’ve faced setbacks and losses. Please remember them and bless them in their discouragement. Keep them from losing heart. Give them courage and hope, and sustain them with Your grace. There are homes in distress because loved ones are sick. Please bless those homes tenderly. Spare the lives of those who are ill if it is Your will. We ask for these mercies, confident in Your compassion, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/41/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

CONFLICT AND COURAGE. April 21st, 2026 The Invisible Ally. Joshua 5:13-15 I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Joshua 1:5. CC 117.1 Study carefully the experiences of Israel in their travels to Canaan.... We need to keep the heart and mind in training, by refreshing the memory with the lessons that the Lord taught His ancient people. Then to us, as He designed it should be to them, the teachings of His Word will ever be interesting and impressive.28 CC 117.2 When Joshua went forth in the morning before the taking of Jericho, there appeared before him a warrior fully equipped for battle. And Joshua asked, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” and he answered, “As Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.” If the eyes of Joshua had been opened as were the eyes of the servant of Elisha at Dothan, and he could have endured the sight, he would have seen the angels of the Lord encamped about the children of Israel; for the trained army of heaven had come to fight for the people of God, and the Captain of the Lord’s host was there to command. When Jericho fell, no human hand touched the walls of the city, for the angels of the Lord overthrew the fortifications, and entered the fortress of the enemy. It was not Israel, but the Captain of the Lord’s host that took Jericho. But Israel had their part to act to show their faith in the Captain of their salvation. CC 117.3 Battles are to be fought every day. A great warfare is going on over every soul, between the prince of darkness and the Prince of life.... As God’s agents you are to yield yourselves to Him, that He may plan and direct and fight the battle for you, with your cooperation. The Prince of life is at the head of His work. He is to be with you in your daily battle with self, that you may be true to principle; that passion, when warring for the mastery, may be subdued by the grace of Christ; that you come off more than conqueror through Him that hath loved us. Jesus has been over the ground. He knows the power of every temptation. He knows just how to meet every emergency, and how to guide you through every path of danger. Then why not trust Him?29 CC 117.4

Do Not Fear Or Be Afraid 2 Kings 6:13-Ezra 3:4 NKJV 2 Kings 6:13-18 So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." And it was told him, saying, "Surely he is in Dothan." Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, "Strike this people, I pray, with blindness." And He struck with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 2 Kings 17:27-28 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land." Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD. 2 Kings 17:34-39 To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statues or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the LORD had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel, with whom the LORD had made a covenant and charged them, saying; "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them; "But the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice. "And the statues, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall be careful to observe forever; you shall not fear other gods. "And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, not shall you fear other gods. "But the LORD your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies." 2 Kings 25:22-24 Then he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left. Now when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah--Ismael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Careah, Seraiah the son of Tannhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. And Gedaliah took an oath before them and their men, and said to them, "Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you." 1 Chronicles 28:20-21 And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God--my God--will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. "Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and every willing craftsman will be with you for all manner of workmanship. for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people will be completely at your command." 2 Chronicles 20:17 'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear of be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you." Ezra 3:1-4 And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel to son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day.

CONFLICT AND COURAGE March 8th, 2026 An Inspired Resolution. Genesis 37:12-36 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall. Genesis 49:22. CC 73.1 Joseph regarded his being sold into Egypt as the greatest calamity that could have befallen him; but he saw the necessity of trusting in God as he had never done when protected by his father’s love.10 CC 73.2 As the caravan journeyed southward toward the borders of Canaan, the boy could discern in the distance the hills among which lay his father’s tents. Bitterly he wept at thought of that loving father in his loneliness and affliction. Again the scene at Dothan came up before him. He saw his angry brothers and felt their fierce glances bent upon him. The stinging, insulting words that had met his agonized entreaties were ringing in his ears. With a trembling heart he looked forward to the future. What a change in situation—from the tenderly cherished son to the despised and helpless slave! ... CC 73.3 But, in the providence of God, even this experience was to be a blessing to him. He had learned in a few hours that which years might not otherwise have taught him. His father, strong and tender as his love had been, had done him wrong by his partiality and indulgence. This unwise preference had angered his brothers and provoked them to the cruel deed that had separated him from his home. Its effects were manifest also in his own character. Faults had been encouraged that were now to be corrected.... CC 73.4 His thoughts turned to his father’s God. In his childhood he had been taught to love and fear Him. Often in his father’s tent he had listened to the story of the vision that Jacob saw as he fled from his home an exile and a fugitive.... His soul thrilled with the high resolve to prove himself true to God—under all circumstances to act as became a subject of the King of heaven. He would serve the Lord with undivided heart; he would meet the trials of his lot with fortitude and perform every duty with fidelity. One day’s experience had been the turning point in Joseph’s life. Its terrible calamity had transformed him from a petted child to a man, thoughtful, courageous, and self-possessed.11 CC 73.5

📅 BIBLE STUDY — December 8 | Genesis 37 ➡️ “Joseph’s Dreams and His Brothers’ Jealousy” Introduction Genesis 37 begins a new and powerful section of the book — the story of Joseph, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. Joseph’s life shows how God works through trials, betrayal, and suffering to accomplish His greater plan. In this chapter, Joseph receives dreams that reveal God’s future purpose for him, but his brothers respond with jealousy and hatred. Even when they plot evil, God’s plan is quietly moving forward. The main truth is this: God’s purpose cannot be stopped, even by the jealousy or cruelty of others. Context ● Author: Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit ● Audience: The Israelites, learning about God’s providence and how their nation began through Jacob’s sons ● Setting: The land of Canaan, around Hebron and Dothan ● Purpose: To show how God uses even human sin and betrayal to fulfill His covenant promises and prepare the way for deliverance Verse-by-Verse Overview Verses 1–4 – Joseph, the Favored Son Jacob, also called Israel, loves Joseph more than his other sons and gives him a special coat of many colors. The brothers hate him because of their father’s favoritism. Lesson: Favoritism breeds division. Love must be shown with fairness and wisdom to prevent strife. Verses 5–8 – Joseph’s First Dream Joseph dreams that he and his brothers were binding sheaves of grain, and their sheaves bowed down to his. When he tells them, their jealousy deepens. Lesson: Not everyone will celebrate your calling or your dreams. Share wisely and stay humble about what God reveals. Verses 9–11 – Joseph’s Second Dream He dreams again — this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars bow to him. Even Jacob rebukes him, but he keeps the saying in mind. Lesson: God’s plans may sound impossible, but His promises are sure. What seems unrealistic today may be preparation for tomorrow’s purpose. Verses 12–17 – Joseph Sent to His Brothers Jacob sends Joseph to check on his brothers as they tend the flocks near Shechem. A man finds Joseph wandering and directs him to Dothan. Lesson: God orchestrates every step, even the small ones, to position us for His greater plan. Verses 18–20 – The Brothers’ Plot When Joseph’s brothers see him coming, they conspire to kill him, saying, “Here comes the dreamer.” They plan to throw him into a pit and tell their father that a wild animal killed him. Lesson: Envy can turn into hatred and lead to sin. Guard your heart from jealousy — it destroys relationships and blinds you to God’s will. Verses 21–24 – Joseph Cast into the Pit Reuben persuades them not to kill Joseph but to throw him into a pit instead, hoping to rescue him later. They strip Joseph of his robe and throw him into the empty pit. Lesson: When people mistreat you, God still sees. The pit may feel hopeless, but it’s part of the pathway to purpose. Verses 25–28 – Joseph Sold into Slavery While eating, the brothers see Ishmaelite traders passing by. Judah suggests selling Joseph instead of killing him. They sell him for twenty pieces of silver, and the traders take him to Egypt. Lesson: What others mean for harm, God can use for good. His plan often begins in unexpected places. Verses 29–35 – Deceiving Jacob The brothers dip Joseph’s robe in goat’s blood and show it to Jacob, who believes Joseph has been torn apart by an animal. He mourns deeply for his son. Lesson: Lies bring pain that spreads far beyond the liar. Sin always hurts more people than intended. Verse 36 – Joseph in Egypt The Midianites sell Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh in Egypt. Lesson: Even when it looks like everything is lost, God is setting the stage for redemption. Application for Today 1. Avoid Jealousy: Rejoice when others are blessed — envy blocks your own growth. 2. Be Wise with Your Dreams: Not everyone will understand what God has shown you; walk in humility and faith. 3. Trust God in the Pit: Hard seasons are preparation for greater purposes. 4. Guard Your Integrity: Deception and favoritism destroy families and relationships. 5. Believe in God’s Providence: Even when life feels out of control, God is still working behind the scenes. Summary Genesis 37 begins Joseph’s remarkable journey from favored son to slave in Egypt — a journey filled with betrayal, pain, and purpose. Though his brothers’ jealousy leads to cruelty, God is already at work positioning Joseph for a greater plan of salvation for many. This chapter reminds us that even when life takes an unexpected turn, God’s dreams for us never fail. The pit is not the end — it’s often the beginning of His greater purpose. Reflection Questions 1. How do you handle jealousy or rejection when others seem to receive more favor? 2. What “pit” in your life might God be using to shape your character or faith? 3. How does Joseph’s story help you trust God’s plan even when you can’t see the full picture? #LordsbookDailys #ThroughTheBible #Genesis37 #BibleStudy #FaithOnline #ChristianCommunity #GetInTheWord #GrowInFaith