Frank's Bible Blog

Trailblazing Leaders: Why Adversity Precedes Great Leadership

“It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” --Genesis 45:5

Joseph was a leader in Egypt—he was the Jew whose godly foresight saved countless lives by preparing for a massive famine. If you are not familiar with his story you can read it in the Bible, in Genesis chapters 37-50. Notice two things about leadership from the verse above. First, leaders are sent ahead of others. That is the very nature of leadership—to be out in front blazing a path where few or none have gone before. Second, leaders are prepared ahead of others.

How was it that Joseph could be sent ahead of anyone? It was because he was sold into slavery, falsely accused of a crime, and forgotten about in prison. In particular, it was because he excelled in each of those situations as he determined to exalt God regardless of his circumstances.

While it may seem that some leaders become leaders through the “fast-track” of family or professional relationships by getting placements and breaks that others don’t, the reality is that most leaders are forged over time. And that forging process is often painful, dark and sometimes even depressing. Great leaders more times than not have had to overcome great adversity—in fact, this is one thing that separates leaders from everyone else. For it is in adversity that leaders-to-be learn how to overcome problems through faith, focus, positive attitudes, and ingenuity. And it is problem-solving that most people see as the primary contribution leaders bring to the table.

Now, for those of us who are students of leadership, we know the importance of vision, seeking out opportunities, and balancing emotion with reason, but the average follower only sees the immediate and the problems before them. Good leaders solve problems.

Joseph was such a leader but he became that way because he was sent ahead of everyone else. In a sense, he experienced the hardships so that others wouldn’t have to. He went ahead of them in suffering so that he could one day be ahead of them as a proactive leader who saves lives.

What about you today? What is your attitude and approach to difficult times? The struggles you are encountering now may be just what you need to mold you into a problem-solving trailblazer who saves and helps lives.

Genesis 50--Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Have you thought about your legacy? Have you thought about the impact you will have even after you are gone? Most people never think about their legacy until it is too late to do anything about it. It is unfortunate that many people squander much of their lives when they could be living in such a way that glorifies God and impacts the next generation. In Genesis 50 we are told about the end of two men's lives--two men who made a difference in their world. Two men who left a lasting legacy. They were Jacob and his son Joseph. Jacob had moved his entire family and all they had to Egypt, at the request of his son Joseph who had become second in charge of the country. Verse 3 tells us that when Jacob died the Egyptians mourned for him 70 days. Jacob's body was moved to his homeland of Canaan for burial and it was accompanied by "chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering," (v9). On the way to bury him the group stopped and mourned for seven more days, causing the people there to proclaim "this is a deep mourning of the Egyptians" (v11). Jacob wasn't an Egyptian, but because of his influence and the influential life of Joseph, even the Egyptians were impacted. Jacob lived 147 years. His son Joseph's life was characterized by forgiveness and perspective, which we see again right after his father's death. His brothers, fearful that Joseph would seek revenge for the way they had mistreated him, begged his forgiveness (vv17-18). Joseph had already forgiven them because he realized "you meant evil against me; but God meant if for good...in order to save many people" (v20). Joseph died at 110 (v22) having saved not only his family from destruction but countless others as well. "One day," he told his family just before his death, "God will take you back to our homeland, the land of Canaan. And when you do, take my bones with you." Joseph's life impacted their past, their present, and even their future. Jacob and Joseph--what a beautiful legacy and what a great example they are to all of us. Pause for a moment and think about your own legacy. What kind of a legacy will you leave?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 49-- Same Parent, Different Children

We have several friends who have large families of eight or more children. It is fascinating listening to them describe the differences of each child. Even though they try to be consistent in how they parent, the children still react to things differently. They each make their own decisions. As with all children, as they become adults they think for themselves and make their choices. Sometimes those choices are good, sometimes they are not. Jacob had 12 sons, all very different. And although Jacob loved God and worshiped Him with his life, his sons did not always make the right decisions. He certainly taught them the things of the Lord, but not all of them made choices that were honoring to God. When we think of Jacob, we usually don't think of him as a prophet, but he was. Genesis 49 is a fascinating passage where Jacob blesses his 12 sons and foretells their future. Five of the 12 predictions especially stand out, and they give us insights into the differences of these children. Jacob said his firstborn, Reuben, was "unstable as water" and "shall not excel" (v4). Reuben had an illicit relationship with one of Jacob's concubines. More than 40 years later his act was still a stain on the family. Instability characterized Reuben's life and it ruined him. Simeon and Levi were called "instruments of cruelty" by Jacob as he noted their fierce anger which led to them slaughtering an entire town of people (vv5-7). How crushing it must have been for these two men to hear their father, on his death bed, say in effect that he did not want to be associated with them. Judah, on the other hand, is predicted to be the fore-father of Christ (v10). Jacob eventually turns to Joseph and gives a beautiful summary of Joseph's life. "The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob" (vv23-24), which is a reference to the hatred he had received from his brothers. Joseph was made strong and became a "fruitful bough" (v22) because of his walk with God. There are a lot of principles that we can learn from this passage, but notice two principles for parents. First, we need to teach our children how to make good choices and to stick with them. Second, we need to be sure that they see the Mighty God through our lives. While there is no guarantee that our children will always make the right decision, we can be at peace knowing that we did all we could as parents to set them up for true success in life.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 48-- Imagining Your Children's Future

There have been many times when I have "day dreamed" about what the future might hold for my children when they become adults. I've thought about their future careers and the spouses and children they will one day have. I imagine what the future might be based on what I see in them today. But we need to be careful about the assumptions we make about people's futures, especially our children's. In Genesis 48, Joseph brings his two sons to visit their grandfather Jacob just prior to Jacob's death. Jacob not only blesses his grandsons, but prophetically describes their future (vv19-20). The problem, as Joseph saw it, was that Jacob placed his right hand on the younger child and pronounced a greater blessing on him. "Surely he is mistaken," Joseph thought, "the oldest son will be the greatest." But Jacob knew exactly what he was doing--and history shows that he was right. Like Joseph, sometimes we think we have it figured out. We think as parents we know what will become of our children when they are adults. We don't. God gives different gifts and abilities to each. Some go farther and accomplish more than others. While we can't assume what will happen in the future, we can lay a solid foundation in the present. That is what Jacob did as he recounted God's promises and told of His faithfulness (vv3-4, 15-16). Jacob had walked with God a long, long time. Now it was time to pass that heritage on to his grandchildren and their generation. Their ultimate future would not be in Egypt, but it would be as part of Jacob's "tribes" who eventually came to enjoy God's promised land (vv5-7). Jacob was a prophet--we're not! While we can dream about what the future might hold for our children and grandchildren, there are solid, practical things we can do right now to prepare them for it. Those certainly include laying a strong spiritual foundation. Nothing wrong with dreaming about the future, but let's also act in the present.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 47-- Employee of the Decade

I walked up to the jewelry counter at a well know discount store to ask for help replacing my watch battery. The associate proceeded to tell me how she should have been on brake 15 minutes ago, what a terrible job the store does with staffing, and what an all-around lousy company it was to work for. I really didn't want to hear all of that--I just wanted a watch battery! My thought was, "Wow, I sure wouldn't want someone like that working for me." Whether we realize it or not, we reflect Christ in how we conduct ourselves on the job. I don't know if that woman was a Christian or not, but if she was then she sure had a poor testimony. Whether or not you like your employer is immaterial. You see, we ultimately work for God. The effort, quality, care, etc. that we put into our jobs are a direct reflection on our Lord. Joseph is a great example of what every employee should be. His boss was tough and powerful, yet he trusted Joseph with everything because Joseph had proven himself. In Genesis 47 we notice five things about Joseph that made him an outstanding employee. First, he was a good communicator. Joseph used wisdom and tact in how he communicated with others (vv1-2). Second, he was caring. God had blessed Joseph and Joseph used his abilities to take care of his family (vv11-12). He also found innovative ways to help others while also making his boss successful (vv23-24). Third, Joseph was extremely competent (v14). He knew how to make money for his employer and how to successfully manage his affairs. Fourth, he was creative. When the people ran out of money and livestock with which to buy food, Joseph came up with a creative way to not only help the people but to also benefit his employer long-term (vv23-26). Finally, Joseph was celebrated. The Egyptians knew that Joseph's wisdom and organization had saved their lives (v25) and they praised him for it. You see, great employees not only benefit their bosses but they positively impact their customers and everyone else around them. So as you go to work today, don't think of it as just time that you have to put in to get a pay check. Instead, look at it as an opportunity to glorify God and make a difference in the lives of others.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 46--The Knock that Changed Everything

You've seen the commercials. A small group gathers at the front door of an unsuspecting person's home. They are carrying balloons and a large cardboard check. They knock on the door, and when the home owner opens it, they all yell "Congratulations! You just won $10 million from the Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes." One moment the home owner is watching TV re-runs and the next moment she is a multi-millionaire. I imagine this is how Jacob felt at the end of Genesis 45 and into chapter 46. He is sitting there in his home watching camel races (just kidding!) when he hears a knock at the door. It is his sons, and behind them are carts brought by Egyptian servants. His sons burst in and excitedly tell Jacob that his long lost son Joseph is alive. And not only is he alive, but he is the second most powerful person in Egypt. And, if that wasn't news enough, Joseph had made provisions for Jacob and his whole family to live on the best land in Egypt where they would be well cared. Jacob could not believe what he heard. This was better than winning a sweepstakes! As he began the journey to Egypt, God reassured Jacob that He was in all of this. "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down into Egypt...I will go down with you to Egypt" (vv 4-5). I love that phrase "I will go down with you." Jacob was starting a new journey, headed to a new place. It was exciting but I'm sure Jacob also had his apprehensions. For years, God had been working "behind the scenes" preparing things for Jacob and the development of his family into a great nation. Now it was time to realize all that God had done for Jacob. Jacob made his way into some prime land in Egypt and soon was reunited with Joseph (vv29-30). What a day that must have been! Jacob lived 17 years in Egypt before his death. These quite possibly were some of the best years of his life. You may not get a knock on your door that positively changes everything for you, but know that God has your best interest at His heart. Know, too, that wherever He leads you and whatever new adventure He takes you on, God will "go down with you" and see you all the way through. God has something great in store for you!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 45-- The Time Tower

The door closed and at 15 miles per hour the elevator made its way to the top. The window allowed you to see the street below as we moved further and further away from the surface. We would eventually stop nearly 1,800 feet above ground. We were in the CN Tower in Toronto, the largest free standing structure in the Americas and second tallest structure in the world. Trucks that loomed large on the ground were now just a speck below. Even airplanes landing at a nearby airport seemed small in comparison. As we moved up the structure our perspective changed. The higher we got, the more dramatic the change. This is a great illustration of what can happen to us over time. Think of that tower as time--the further you go the more your perspective changes. What once seemed like such a big thing is now just a dot on the landscape. This was Joseph's experience in Genesis 45. As he reveled himself to his brothers, who thought he had long been dead, he reminds us of the value of perspective. Sold into slavery by his brothers, he now stands before them as the second most powerful man in Egypt--and the one person to determine whether or not they get food in the midst of a famine. Listen to Joseph's perspective as he tells his brothers who he really is: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves...for God sent me before you to preserve life." What seemed like an awful tragedy at the time is now viewed as an opportunity to "preserve life."  Time had given Joseph perspective. Looking back, he saw that countless lives were saved because of his administration. You might be faced with something big and overwhelming today. I would encourage you, however, to not lose heart. As you move up the time tower, you will also gain a unique perspective on your current difficulties. You will see, if you are a child of God who loves Him and are called according to His purpose, that everything has worked together for good. It may take a while in the time tower, but eventually you will get the perspective that God would want you to have.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 44-- Stand Up and Take Responsibility!

We live in an age where it seems few people take responsibility for their actions and fewer people keep their commitments. We are quick to try and pass off our responsibilities to others rather than having the determination to see them through. Judah, in Genesis 44, did just the opposite. We see in him someone who stood up and took his responsibilities seriously. Originally from Canaan, he was in Egypt along with his brothers trying to get food during a famine. He had gotten food before but ran out and had to return. The man in charge of food distribution, who actually was his long lost brother Joseph, said that the only way to get more food was if Judah and his siblings brought their youngest brother Benjamin back with them. They did, much to their father Jacob's distress (see chapter 43). At that time, Judah told his father that he would personally take responsibility to make sure that Benjamin returned safely to Jacob. Now after this second trip, as Judah and his brothers were returning home, Joseph's servants stopped them and found Joseph's silver cup in Benjamin's bag, which Joseph purposely placed there. Now back before Joseph, who they still did not know was their brother, they were told they could go home but they would have to leave Benjamin behind. At this point Judah respectfully but forcefully articulated to Joseph why Benjamin had to go home. He then offered himself in Benjamin's place (vv 24-34). Benjamin was his responsibility and he was going to do everything in his power, even sacrificing himself, to make good on his commitment. Do you have that kind of determination when it comes to fulfilling your commitments? Do you keep your word even if it might cost you personally? The world is full of people who fail to fulfill their responsibilities. Don't you be one of them!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 43-- When Your Back is to the Wall

You've seen the movies where the good guy is being chased by villains. Finally he is cornered and outnumbered with no place to run. His back is literally up against the wall. The music intensifies as the audience wonders if this is the end of their hero. Maybe there have been times when you felt like life had you up against a wall. You felt that there was no place to go and you had no good options to get out of the situation. Maybe you felt stunned, hopeless, even paralyzed. I bet that is how Jacob felt in Genesis 43 when his family ran out of the provisions they had bought in Egypt in the midst of a global famine. He needed to send his sons back to Egypt to get more food, but there was a problem. The man in charge of Egypt's grain distribution was holding one of his sons prisoner and told the others not to come back unless they brought their youngest brother, Benjamin, with them. Benjamin was a young child (v8) and Jacob could not stand the thought of something bad happening to him. He had one son in captivity and another son, Joseph, who he thought was dead. There was no way he would take a chance on losing Benjamin too. But Jacob's back, however, was up against a wall. If he didn't risk Benjamin, then he would lose not only Benjamin but everyone and everything else. "Take your brother and go," Jacob finally consented, "and may God Almighty give you mercy before the man that he may release your other brother and Benjamin" (v14). Jacob had no where to turn but up--he had to trust in the Lord. You see, sometimes having our backs up against a wall is a good thing because it causes us to focus on the Lord and seek His mercy. Our faith is stretched and strengthened as we watch God deliver us. Meanwhile, while Jacob's faith was being stretched, his son Joseph's faith was being realized. Joseph wasn't dead at all but was actually the man in charge of Egypt's food program. Joseph had trusted God in the midst of very difficult circumstances, now his faith was coming to fruition. There was a point when his back was up against a wall and he saw how God took care of him. Friend, today you may feel like your back is to the wall. You can't see your way through your current situation. You may even feel like there is no hope. God specializes in these kinds of situations! Seek Him today. Listen to what He is trying to teach you in this circumstance. Trust Him to deliver you, and one day, like Joseph, you will see your faith realized.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 42-- You Can Run But You Can't Hide

Every so often we hear a story about some criminal who had been on the run for years before he is finally captured. There were, for example, several Nazi World War II criminals who had fled Germany only to be found some 50 years later living in other countries. We hear of people who commit crimes, change their looks and identify, and start new lives. After a few years they think they got away with it. Yet something happens and they are finally apprehended. The Bible tells us "Be sure your sin will find you out." That applies to all of us, not just those who have committed criminal acts. This is how Joseph's brothers felt in Genesis 42 when they stood before him asking for grain. They had no clue that the Egyptian ruler responsible for grain sales in the midst of a global famine was actually their brother. When Joseph "accused" them of being spies and insisting one of them stayed behind in Egypt while they went home after their youngest brother, they believed their sin and finally caught up with them. "We are truly guilty concerning our brother...therefore this distress has come upon us," they moaned to each other, referring to their selling of Joseph into slavery. It had been many years since that fateful act--an act that they believed led to Joseph's death. Now, in their minds, they were finally paying for what they had done. They had gotten away with it for a long time but no more. Of course we know the rest of the story, and we know that in later chapters Joseph reveals himself to them and forgives them. Imagine, however, the agony these brothers went through prior to Joseph forgiving them. Imagine what it would have been like for them for all of these years hoping that their secret is never discovered. That is no way to live! Friend, this is no way for us to live either. Let's make good choices and don't harbor sin in our lives. Let's Keep short sin accounts and live with a clear conscience.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 41-- Your Big Moment

Have you ever been in one of those "big moment" situations? You know, where you have the potential for the opportunity of a lifetime if you don't blow your chance? Maybe it is interviewing for your dream job or auditioning for a theatrical or even television role. I had one of those big moment situations when I was a teenager. I grew up in southern California and had won several local talent shows doing ventriloquism. I managed to get an audition for a children's TV show. My big moment came in a small office in Hollywood as I performed for the show's executive producer and director. I think the director liked me but not the producer. I never got called back. So much for my big TV moment! Well, Joseph in Genesis 41 didn't have a big moment in front of TV producers, he had something even bigger. He had an audience with the Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Joseph, as you may recall, was in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Pharaoh had a dream that greatly troubled him and no one could interpret it for him. His butler, who had spent time in prison with Joseph, remembered his cell mate and told Pharaoh about his ability to interpret dreams. After a quick shave and a change of clothes, Joseph now stood before the most powerful person in the world at that time. This was his big moment! He could plead his case and beg Pharaoh to release him from prison. This was possibly a once in a lifetime chance for a pardon. But that is not what Joseph did. Instead of focusing on himself, he focused on Pharaoh's situation and on the Lord. When asked to interpret, Joseph immediately replied, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace" (v16). You see, Joseph's life did not revolve around himself. His first reaction was not to save his own skin but to glorify God with the abilities God had given him. He put God and others first, and God greatly blessed him. He not only was released from prison but was made the number two leader in all the kingdom. More than that, he became the savior of countless numbers of people as a famine griped the world--a famine for which Joseph had prepared. "So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands" (v57). By placing his focus on God's glory and not his temporary gain, Joseph not only got what he wanted (freedom) but more than he could ever have imagined. You see, God's definition of "big moments" and how they are to be handled may be very different than ours. Let's seek to glorify God, use our gifts and abilities to help others, and then we can leave the "big moment" outcomes to the Lord.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 40-- Forgotten

Have you ever felt forgotten? Maybe a family or close friend forgot about your birthday? Or you were supposed to go on a date and got "stood up"--you were forgotten? Maybe you have been in a room full of people but felt forgotten--like no one knew you were there? I think we have all had that experience at least once, if not multiple times, in our lives. It's no fun. But imagine you are in prison for a crime you didn't commit. There you help out one of the other inmates who actually worked for someone very powerful--so powerful he could spring you from your incarceration with just a word. Your fellow inmate promises that if he gets out and gets his old job back he would put in a good word for you with his boss. The day comes when the inmate is released and restored to his former position. You are so excited! "Finally," you say to yourself, "this nightmare is going to be over." And you wait. And you wait some more. Your "friend," however, forgot all about you and you are left right where you have always been. This is exactly what happened to Joseph in Genesis 40. Verse 23 says, "Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him." The chief butler worked for the pharaoh--the king of Egypt. And Joseph was in the king's prison. But alas, he would be forgotten. Maybe today you feel forgotten, like no one cares about you. Remember this: there is another chapter! There is another chapter in the life of Joseph when he is remembered and there will be another chapter in your life as well. You see, the butler may have forgotten about Joseph but God didn't. You may feel that the world has forgotten about you--but God hasn't. Joseph was right where God wanted him, right where God was preparing him for something great, right where God was grooming him to impact the world. Maybe you are in that same place today. You may feel alone and forgotten but God is getting you ready for something great! Don't lose hope! A new chapter is on its way.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 39-- Just When You Thought It Was Safe...

The 70s saw the mega-hit movie Jaws which told the story of a great white shark that attacked swimmers near a beach. The sequel garnered some $100 million, a staggering amount for that time, propelled by the advertising slogan "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water." For young Joseph in Genesis 39, it would have seemed like he was living out Jaws 2. Just when he thought things were safe in his life, he ended up "under water." Sold into slavery, he ends up working for a high-ranking Egyptian official. There Joseph distinguished himself and soon was given the authority to run all of his household affairs (v4). God caused all that Joseph did to prosper (vv3,5). He finally gets his life back together when next thing you know he is in prison for a crime he didn't commit (v20). Life was getting good but then Joseph was faced with a life-altering decision: to give into the flirtations of Potiphar's wife or not. He chose the later. "How can I sin against God," he said (v9). His principles were firmly established before the temptation came. I doubt that Joseph considered--or even really cared about--the ramifications of rejecting the Potiphar's wife's advances. He had determined ahead of time that he would do what is right and leave the outcome to God. While that approach cost him in the short-term, it reaped great rewards for him in the long-term. Let's follow Joseph's example and determine to do right before the temptations come. Then by faith we can leave the outcome to God.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 38--Train Wrecks

It is unavoidable. You are checking out at the grocery store and the headlines of one of those tabloid magazines catches your attention. You know that 90% of the time it is something bazaar and far from the truth, but every so often they get it right. Some "expert" was asked once why so many people buy these magazines. "Everyone wants to see the train wreck," he replied, "and these magazines are full of train wrecks." Yes, when celebrities have a train wreck the world knows about it, but there are also the quiet train wrecks that are happening in lives all around us. What seemed like the perfect trip comes to a screeching halt and next thing you know it your life "train" is off the tracks. Usually this happens because we make poor choices. You see God has a way that He wants things done, and it is for a reason. We save ourselves and those around us much heartache when we just do what God says. In Genesis 38 we see that Judah's sons (Jacob's grandsons) were wicked and the Lord killed them. We see Judah failing to keep his promise to give his youngest son in marriage to the wife of his deceased eldest son. We see Judah going to what he thought was a harlot, only to discover it was this daughter-in-law who had disguised herself to get Judah. We see a train wreck. How much agony, grief and pain could we save ourselves if we just made godly decisions? How much better off would we be if we just did what God told us to do? In the nearly three decades that I have been preaching the gospel, I have seen a lot of train wrecks. The sad thing is that most of them could have been avoided. Don't let your life be next! Make good choices.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 37-- The Story Behind the Story

"What good could ever come out of this?" Have you ever made that statement? Have you ever thought those words? We know intellectually that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, but do we really believe it? What if we don't see that good for 5, 10 or even 20 years? Then what? Consider the story of a father named Jacob as told to us in Genesis 37. Imagine that you are him sitting home one day when your sons come into the room carrying a coat soaked in blood. You immediately recognize the coat because it was one you had specially made for your 11th son--the pride and joy of your life. When your sons tell you they found it out in the wilderness your heart sinks. There is no doubt in your mind--your beloved son Joseph met a violent death by wild animal (v33). Your mind begins to play out a variety of what-if scenarios like "What if I hadn't sent Joseph out alone to check up on his brothers?" Then Joseph's 17 years of life flash before you. You think about all the things you wished you would have done different--like not chastising him when he naively shared his dreams with you (v10). You cry and mourn like never before. No one can comfort you (v33) and you determine that you will grieve until the day you die. Now we know the full story, as we have the rest of Genesis, but Jacob didn't at the time. He didn't know that Joseph actually was alive. He didn't know that his own sons had sold their brother into slavery. He didn't know that Joseph would distinguish himself first in Potiphar's household and then in an Egyptian prison. He didn't know that Joseph would interpret dreams and literally save the lives of countless numbers of people--including his own. He didn't know that his son would become the second most powerful person in the world's strongest nation. Jacob didn't know any of that for 20 years. There was a back-story to which Jacob was oblivious. Yet God was constantly at work even though Jacob didn't realize it. Now Jacob couldn't get back those 20 years of grieving caused by the sin of his sons. He was, however, able to go forward in peace and realize that things did work together for good, not just for his family but for scores of families living in that part of the world. Friend, whatever you are going through today, know this: there is a back-story and God is at work. It may be a long time before you realize it, but if you love Him and are called according to His purpose, you can bank on the truth that this will, some how, some way, work together for good.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 36--The Power of Forgiveness

"I was wrong. Will you forgive me," is one of the most powerful phrases anyone can say. I've seen friendships and even families restored just by that phrase. I've seen a church that was broken and hurt healed by those words. Asking for forgiveness when we do wrong and giving forgiveness when we are wronged are some of the most important actions we can do during our lifetime. I remember seeing the sentencing trial of a man convicted of killing another man's wife. When the widower stood to give his input on the sentencing, he looked at his wife's killer and said, "What you did was wrong. It was terrible. But I want you to know, I forgive you." When later asked by reporters about what he said, the man replied that he had to forgive. He could not allow anger and bitterness to emotionally destroy his life. Forgiveness does not erase the wrongs of the past, but it does allow us to move healthy into the future. We see an example of this in Genesis 36. While the bulk of the chapter deals with Esau's descendants, who became known as the Edomites, there is an interesting story here. We are told that Esau took his family, workers, livestock, etc. and moved to another region "for their possessions were too great for them [Jacob and Esau] to dwell together, and the land...could not support them" (v7). After Esau's forgiving and reconciling with brother Jacob, they once again lived near each other. Forgiveness had brought a family back together. More than two decades earlier, they separated on angry terms. But this time the separation was on a positive note--they both had grown so wealthy that the land was not big enough to support both of their enterprises. Esau would need to move on--not out of spite or bitterness but because of positive opportunities. Forgiveness heals, restores, and breathes new life into dead relationships. Never underestimate the power of forgiveness!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 35-- You Never Let Go

Matt Redman sings a song called "You Never Let Go" that has become a favorite in our family. Part of the lyrics go "through the calm and through the storm, oh no You never let go, every high and every low, oh no, You never let go, Lord you never let go of me." We heard that song for the first time in church two days after doctors told my wife that her thyroid cancer had spread to her bones. We had just finished singing that song when the church prayed over my wife. You Never Let Go became our anthem. It was a low time we were going through, but God reassured us He would never let go of us. A few days later when doctors did follow-up testing and additional scans they could not find any signs of cancer. Beth was completely healed! That was, and continues to be, a high for us. I imagine Jacob felt some of these high and low emotions in Genesis 35 as he journeyed back home. Along the way he buried his beloved wife Rachel (vv16-20), who died giving birth to Benjamin. Once he got home, he buried his father Isaac who died at the age of 180 (vv27-29). Besides this, there was other turmoil in his family (v22). In the midst of these low moments God showed Himself to Jacob (v9) and reassured him that His favor was still on Jacob and that He would be faithful to fulfill all of His promises to Jacob and his family (vv11-13). He had protected Jacob on his journey (v5). Jacob responded to all of this by worshiping the Lord (vv7,14). Today, you may find yourself in the midst of a storm. It may be a low point in your life. But know this...if you are God's child, He never lets go of you! He absolutely will see you through every situation. There is hope!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 34-- Kids Gone Wild

There are some kids who you just know are going to get into major trouble as they get older. As someone outside the family, you look at how they are being parented and how they act when they are young, and you can predict problems. Now we know that some kids rebel and make bad decisions even with good parenting. As a parent, I ultimately cannot make choices for my children when they are grown, but I can do everything in my power while they are young to teach them how to make good choices. In Genesis 34 we see some bad choices made by some young people, and we see that the parents are at least partially to blame. Dinah, Jacob's daughter by wife Leah, decides to go "into town" and hang out with the pagan girls of the region. Some scholars think she wasn't more than 14 years old when this happened. She catches the eye of Shechem, the son of a prince, who was use to getting everything he wanted. He "violated her" (v2) and then decided he wanted to marry her. Like he probably had done a hundred times before, he went to his father demanding to have his way--in this case to have Dinah for a wife (vv8,18-19). So the father dutifully obliges his son and goes to work out an arrangement with Jacob (vv8-9). It didn't matter that his son had disgraced Dinah and Jacob's family. What little Shechem wanted, little Shechem got! Now when Dinah's brothers heard what had happened they "were grieved and very angry" (v7). That is an understatement! They went on to devise and execute a plan that incapacitated all of the men of Shechem's city. They then went in and killed all of the men and took their wives and children captive, along with all of their possessions. What was Jacob's response when he saw this? Was there moral outrage for needlessly destroying so many lives? No. His response was "You...have made me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land...and since I am few in number they will gather themselves against me and kill me" (v30). As you consider this passage, ask yourself "If the parents had parented differently, could this whole tragedy been avoided?" Should Dinah been allowed to hang out with that crowd? Should the world have revolved around Shechem and he get anything he wanted? Should Dinah's brothers have learned the moral ramifications of their decisions and not just the practical ones? Poor parenting does not excuse what these kids did, nor does it justify any of their actions. But could better parenting have led to a different outcome? This is something to consider for all of us who are parents.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 33-- Rotting Wood

I was fixing my damaged wood fence when I pulled off a picket and saw nothing but rotten wood underneath. You couldn't initially see the rotten rail because the picket covered it, but it made that whole section of the fence weak. I got to thinking that this is what happens when there is unforgiveness in our lives. It eats away at us from the inside, weakening our entire lives and potentially causing us to do or say things that we wouldn't do otherwise. In Genesis 33, Jacob came face to face with his brother Esau, the one who years earlier was seeking to kill Jacob. On top of that, Esau was coming to meet Jacob with 400 men. Jacob knew he had done wrong by his brother but wanted to seek reconciliation. But what about Esau? Had he stayed bitter and unforgiving all of these years? Did that unforgiveness rot away his life? Would it now lead to him taking violent action against Jacob and his family? These questions filled Jacob's mind as their meeting time approached. Imagine Jacob's surprise when Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, kissed him, and started crying (v4). Esau had forgiven Jacob! Their relationship was restored and they could now move on with their lives. No longer would Jacob have to be looking over his shoulder wondering if his brother was on the way to hurt him. We don't know at what point Esau forgave Jacob, but we do know that because of that forgiveness he and his twin brother could now go through the rest of their lives with the kind of relationship that brothers should have. What about you today? Is there someone who you need to forgive? Is there someone whose forgiveness you need to seek? Don't let unforgiveness and broken relationships eat away at you and rot your life.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 32-- Facing Your Past

When he left home 20 years prior, Jacob was a self-centered, conniving young man who had disappointed his father and angered his brother to the point that he wanted to kill Jacob. A lot had changed in 20 years and now it was time for Jacob to face his past. It was time for Jacob to see his brother Esau and seek reconciliation. Genesis 32 records Jacob's preparation for that meeting, which ended up turning into something much bigger. As Jacob prepared to meet his past, God prepared him to meet his future. Noticed what Jacob did. First, he acknowledged God (vv1-2). Second, he was humble (vv3-5, 13-18). The arrogance that once typified his life was gone. He was coming to his brother in all humility. Third, he worked through his fears. When he found out Esau was coming to meet him and he had 400 men with him, Jacob was scared. And who wouldn't be! Jacob, however, did not give in to those fears and continue to run from his past. What he did do was device a plan to protect as much of his family as possible just in case Esau attacked them (vv7-8). He also prayed (vv9-12). In the meantime, God was at work in Jacob using this encounter to make him into something great for Himself. Jacob got alone that night and "wrestled" with an angel of God refusing to let him go until he blessed Jacob. He had deceived to get his father's blessing, but Jacob knew he needed something greater--he needed God's blessing (v26)! The exciting thing is that God gave it to him. I wonder how many people miss out on God's blessing because they 1) don't ask for it and 2) don't come clean with their past in order to receive it. What about you? Are there some things in your past that you need to deal with today? Are there some things you tried to ignore or sweep under the rug that has haunted you? Remember, God is gracious and forgiving and He will guide us as we seek to do what is right.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 31-- When Your Dishonest Boss is also Your Father-in-Law

Talk about a hostile work and family environment! Jacob in Genesis 31 was getting it from both sides as his employer, who also was his father-in-law, was making life very difficult for him. Jacob could read people--and it was very evident to him that things had changed in his relationship to his father-in-law Laban. He had a sense that things were going to turn south in a hurry. God confirmed that to Jacob and told him to leave the area. It was time to go home to the land of his fathers (v3). God promised to be with Jacob in the midst of this transition (v3). He had protected Jacob and blessed him even though Laban was dishonest and tried to take advantage of Jacob (vv6-9, 15). Laban was greedy and lived for himself at the expense of his own family (vv14-15). Contrast that with Jacob who tried to do what was right for all in the midst of a very difficult work situation. Now God was giving him relief from this dishonest boss. Jacob slipped away with his family and possessions but Laban eventually caught up to him. Even then, God protected Jacob (v24). When Laban accused Jacob of stealing his "household idols," Jacob had enough and spoke his mind to Laban (vv36-42). In this he made it clear to Laban that God was the reason Jacob had been blessed (v42). Without God, he would have nothing. Jacob and Laban eventually come to terms that included staying separate from each other (vv51-52). Now let's draw out three principles from this story. First, God does not promise to always take us out of difficult situations, but He does promise to always be there with us and see us through. That was Jacob's situation as he labored for a difficult boss. Second, God does work all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Jacob is a perfect example. Finally, sometimes in order to maintain peace, there are some people that you will have to agree to disagree with and then go on with life. Challenging work situations are a part of life. Let's learn from Jacob and rely on the Lord to navigate us through the troubled waters.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 30-- True Business Success

The audience listened intently as the chairman of a billion dollar business told the audience about his personal struggles and emptiness as he was building his great enterprise. Success at work did not translate to success at home, nor did it leave him with a sense of true fulfillment. Externally it looked like he had it all, but that was just a facade. "My life was spiraling out of control and I did not like the person I was becoming," he said. That all changed, however, when he discovered salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. His company's mission statement now reads, in part, "To glorify God as we supply our customers world-wide..." This man discovered that when God is first in his life everything else falls into place. In Genesis 30 it is evident that God's hand was on Jacob's business affairs. Jacob worked smart (vv37-43) finding innovative ways to prosper his livestock business. You can look at this story as two sides of the same coin. On one side was the desire to honor God and the acknowledgment of Him in all that Jacob did (v30). On the other side was a solid, smart work ethic. That is a great combination. God's doesn't put His hand of blessing on laziness or poor decision making, nor is it on those who are self-sufficient or self-focused. There was balance. Evangelist Billy Graham, when training workers for his great evangelistic crusades, would say that they needed to pray like everything depended upon God but they needed to work like everything depended upon them. Jacob was experiencing true success--not just material success but the success of a life lived for God. Now that didn't mean that everything went smoothly for Jacob. There was a lot of drama at home with his wives Leah and Rachel (sisters) vying for his attention and having children (vv1-24). (By the way--the Bible never condones polygamy, it just reports what happened as this was an acceptable custom at the time. Actually, in every instance of polygamy in the Bible, we see heart-ache, grief, and trouble). In the midst of everything, Jacob did his best to stay balanced. That is a good lesson for all of us!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 29-- When Years Seem Like Mere Days

It reads like a great romance novel. "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her" (Genesis 29:20). That is romantic--but it also gives us a great principle for living. Hardships go much easier when their is a goal--a prize--for which to strive. A goal gives hope. This chapter describes Jacob's search for a wife (vv1-10), his love at first sight when he sees Rachel (v11), and their eventual marriage (v28). But it wasn't all storybook. To have Rachel, her father required Jacob to labor for him for seven years which, as we saw in verse 20, Jacob did with ease. Then the father does the bait and switch, substituting his older (an apparently much less attractive) daughter for Rachel on their wedding day (vv23-26). Imagine Jacob's shock the next morning when he finds out that the woman he worked seven years to marry wasn't the one he actually married! He could have Rachel, the father said, but Jacob would have to work another seven years. Jacob did his "time" putting in 14 years to get the love of his life. That is a long time and certainly was not part of his original plan. Now think about this: when things take a wrong turn in life and we end up facing something we didn't expect, it is easy to get swallowed up in self-pity. It is easy to want to quit. Things didn't go the way we planned so let's throw in the towel. But if we will set our eyes on something beyond the immediate, then we will have hope. What goals do you have in your life? What special thing do you have to look forward to? Everyone needs something. It doesn't have to be extravagant, just something that will encourage you and motivate you to press on. Marriages need this as well. We need something special that we are looking forward to doing together. Maybe it is an annual vacation, a weekend getaway, or just a relaxing day walking in the park, but we need something that we periodically plan for that will help us to look beyond the immediate.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 28-- The Desperate Tale of Two Brothers

Emotionally hurt with his world crashed down around him, we find Esau in Genesis 28 desperate to recover his father's favor. Earlier he exchanged his birthright for some stew, then he lost his father's blessing. It seemed that his brother Jacob got everything that should have been his. So when Jacob goes off to find a wife who wasn't from the area, Esau decides he needs to do that as well. He already had two wives from Canaan (much to his parents displeasure) but thinks that if he finds one from his extended family it will bring him back into his father's graces (vv8-9). While Esau (a grown man) is desperately trying to recover from his emotional pain, his brother has his first real encounter with God. Jacob had grown up hearing about God. He knew many things about God. But he didn't know God for himself. Then along a roadside as he journeyed to find a wife, God spoke to him (vv10-15). This was a turning point in Jacob's life. Jacob vows that if God would be faithful to him, Jacob would serve the Lord and put Him first (vv20-21), even in his possessions (v22). Jacob had caused a lot of grief, he was a conniver and a liar. But something started to change in his life as he met God on that dusty road. His focus started shifting from himself to the Lord and others. He went on to become a great man of God whose 12 sons would become the 12 tribes of Israel and the Jewish nation. Where are you at in your life today? Are you like Esau, desperate to recover from your emotional pain? Desperate to find someone who will love and accept you? Or maybe you are like Jacob prior to this chapter. You know all about God but haven't made a personal commitment to Him. Maybe you have done some terrible things, caused a lot of grief, lied to a lot of people. Whether it is the emotional pain of an Esau or the guilt of a Jacob, Jesus Christ is waiting to forgive you, heal your emotional scars, and lead you into an abundant life. If you have never done so, today ask God to forgive your sin, acknowledge that Christ's death, burial and resurrection is sufficient to pay for your sin, and commit your life to the Lord right now. God will make you into a new creation and give you a purpose and peace that you have never known before.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 27--The Collapsing Family

Every so often it seems that there is a tragic story of a mine that has collapsed with workers trapped inside. Sometimes the workers survive, but too often we hear of lives that are lost. They are in the mine where they have been many times before, but on that tragic day something happens to weaken the mine's supports and it collapses on the workers. Far more frequent than mines collapsing are families collapsing. The supports give way and the world comes crashing down on many families. Tragically, some families disintegrate. In other cases, they survive. They are hurt, dirty, scared--but they continue. Such was the case in Genesis 27 with Isaac, Rebekah and their two children, Esau and Jacob. Notice some things that caused the "mine" to weaken and eventually collapse. We see that Rebekah elevated her child above her husband (vv5-10). She conspired to trick her husband in order to benefit her favored son, Jacob, and secure Isaac's blessing for him instead of Esau. She also directly lied to her husband (v46). In addition, she underestimated the pain that she caused Esau (v44). She assumed Esau would get over this in "a few days," but he didn't. We also notice that Jacob wasn't concerned with what was right or wrong, only with getting caught (vv11-12). Then we see Esau becoming desperate (v34) and rather than turn to God, he turns to rage (v41). He would harbor this intense anger and bitterness for a long time. As we look back on their lives, we see that Isaac and Rebekah did what many couples do today. They lost themselves in their children. Not only that, but they each had their own favorite child on whom they focused. I have seen this many times--after many years a couple ends their marriage because they no longer have an emotional connection to each other. Everything centered on the children and when the children leave home they have nothing in common. Don't live just for your children! The best gift you can give to your children is the example of a strong marriage. Put your priority on your spouse and then together seek to raise, guide, and nurture your children to realize their full potential in Christ. Do that and everyone will be better off.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 25-- Are You the Next Reality TV Show?

It could have been a reality TV show. We'll call it "Isaac's Family." It is the true story that begins to unfold in Genesis 25 as Isaac and Rebekah start their family. It took them 20 years before they could have children, but once twins Esau and Jacob were born I doubt there was ever a dull moment. There were some interesting family dynamics that we notice as we open the window and look in on this family. First, these kids were "fighting" before they even came out of the womb (v22) with each destined by God to father a nation or people group. They may have been twins, but these boys were dramatically different. They looked different (v25), had different interests (v27), different personalities, and they approached life differently. Jacob was a thinker--he planned, thought things through, and even schemed. Esau lived for the moment. He was rugged, tough, and self-focused. The first sign of trouble we see is that Isaac and Rebekah played favorites (v28) with Isaac loving Esau and Rebekah loving Jacob. Then we see how short-sited Esau was because he was willing to throw away his future--his birthright--for some stew. Jacob is far from innocent as he took advantage of his brother. This was a pretty dysfunctional family (it gets worse as the story goes on!). What was the bottom line that caused all of this? Each family member looked only at his or her own interests  and not the interests of the whole family. They also didn't consider the long-term ramifications of their decisions and the impact those decisions would have on others. The more members of your family there are who look only to their own interests, the more dysfunctional your family will be. It is that simple! Don't become fodder for a reality show--consider others before yourself.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 24-- Discerning God's Will

When my kids were younger, they really enjoyed watching the cartoon show Scooby Doo. To be honest, so did I. Scooby Doo is a dog (for those not familiar with the series) who helps four teenagers solve mysteries. The teens discover clues (okay, usually it is Velma discovering all the clues!) in an attempt to make sense of something strange and bazaar. They eventually uncover the mystery and bad guys behind it. Sometimes we think of God's will like a mystery--we see it as something that someone (God) intends to hide and make as difficult as possible to discover. The reality is God wants us to know and do His will. He doesn't want it to be a mystery. So how then can we determine what He wants for our lives? Genesis 24 is a great lesson on this. Abraham is getting old and knows he needs to get a wife for his son Isaac. So he sends his servant back to their homeland to find a girl because he did not want Isaac marrying a pagan girl from where they lived. But who should this girl be? How would they ever find her? What if they did find someone, how would they know if she was the right one for Isaac? There is a lot in this chapter, but let me make six quick observations about discerning God's will. First, start with what God has already revealed. Abraham sought out a wife because God had promised to make Isaac a great nation. He determined that Isaac would stay in Canaan because that was the land God had given to them (vv5-). Second, remember God's will is always consistent with his character. "Don't get a Canaanite girl," Abraham told his servant (v3) because she would not be a follower of Jehovah God. Third, take action to discover God's will. The servant went to the homeland and observed women coming to a well outside of the city of Nahor. He also prayed (v12) and determined a reasonable process of verifying God's will. Fourth, prayerfully determine what God's will should look like for you. Although he didn't know who the woman would be, Abraham's servant knew what kind of person she would be (v14). She would meet a certain criteria (work ethic, conscientious, caring). Fifth, when everything does line up, praise God and move on it (vv24-27). Finally, know that discerning God's will is not always a process; sometimes it is a simple choice. This was the case with Rebekah, the woman we become Isaac's bride (vv57-58). No five-step process for her--those were done by the time it came to her. There was just one thing for her to decide--do I see God at work in all of this and if so, will I follow Him? Great truths from a great chapter as we seek to know and follow God's will!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 23-- When the Going Gets Tough...

It has been said that tough times reveal the true character of a person. When things go bad and the pressure intensifies, then we see the real person. Such is the case in Genesis 23 with the death of Abraham's beloved wife, Sarah. She was 127 when she died (v1). How would Abraham handle this? What would his testimony be in this very difficult time? We immediately notice that Abraham was just like any of us--he mourned and cried for his dear wife. Just what any of us should and would do. It is Interesting, however, that the bulk of this chapter focuses on the business transaction of Abraham securing a burial place for Sarah. We would expect Abraham to mourn his wife, but how would he conduct his affairs immediately after her death? This is where we see several things about Abraham's character. First, he was well respected wherever he went (v6). He had established his character and that did not change when things got tough. Second, he was respectful and considerate of others even though he was grieving (vv7-9, 12). Finally, he did not try to take advantage of others who were sympathetic to him; instead, he made sure his business dealings were fair and above-board (vv12-18). In other words, he didn't try to cut corners or compromise himself just because he was going through a difficult time. Abraham's godly lifestyle was consistent. In fact, the reason he was able to handle himself so well in the hard times was because he learned how to handle himself well in the good times. If you wait until times are tough to establish a good reputation it won't happen. Character is something we work on every day of our lives.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 22-- Abraham, D.L. Moody and You

The famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody was known for his incredible commitment to Christ and determination to reach people for the Lord. He shook two continents for Christ in the 19th century, and the impact of his ministry is still felt today. What led to such an incredibly fruitful life? I'm sure there were many things, but one really stands out. Early in his ministry, a close friend said to Moody "It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself wholly unto Him." When Moody heard those words, he said to himself "I will be that man." Abraham in Genesis 22 may not have said those words but he exemplified that sentiment with his life. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac--the son of promise, the son he had waited so many years to have. Now Isaac was not a baby or even a young boy. He probably was in his teens or early 20s. Abraham was so surrendered to God that he was willing to do anything God said. This wasn't just blind, unconscious, cult-like obedience. No, Abraham knew this was the son of promise. He believed that God would keep His word and make Abraham a great nation through Isaac. He believed that "God would provide for Himself...an offering" (v22). You see, Abraham so believed God and was so committed to Him that he believed God would raise Isaac from the dead, if need be, to keep His word (Hebrews 11:19). What will God do with a person who gives himself or herself wholly to the Lord? He will make them into an Abraham or a D.L. Moody--into someone who impacts both their own generation and generations to come. Just imagine the incredible things that God could do through you! Will you follow Abraham's example? Will you take on Moody's mantra and be that man or woman?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 21-- Better than the Midas Touch

We've heard the fable of King Midas and how everything he touched turned to gold. A lot of people wish they had that ability--especially in this day. But what if you could have something better than the Midas touch? What if there was something better than the ability to turn things into gold? Well, there is. In Genesis 21, King Abimelech of Gerar makes a profound statement to Abraham. He said "God is with you in everything that you do" (v22). Wow! God with Abraham in everything he did? That is far better than the Midas touch! It was evident to everyone around Abraham that God's hand was on him. But that same statement can--and should--be said of us. When we walk in faith and obedience to God, with a passion to please Him, we have something that others don't. We have God's favor on our lives because our lives glorify Him. In this chapter, we see God fulfilling His promise to give a son to Abraham through his wife Sarah. We see God protecting Ishmael, Abraham's son by his handmaid, as he and his mother tried to survive the desert after being banished by Sarah. We also see God's blessing on Ishmael because of Abraham (v13). Abraham was concerned about what might happen to Ishmael, but God assured Abraham that He would work it all out. Abraham rested on that promise, just like he had on so many other things he had heard from the Lord. You see, when God's hand is on us, we realize His promises, others are blessed because of us, and His presence permeates all that we do. This didn't happen to Abraham by accident, nor does it happen to us accidentally. Can it be said of you that God is with you in all that you do? If not, maybe it is because you haven't included God in everything that you do--from the very beginning. Too often we plan and then ask God to bless our plans. Too often we ask God to bail us out of a mess when we should have asked God for direction in the first place. We want to tack God onto what we are doing rather than seeking Him from the very beginning. "Seek first the kingdom of God," Jesus said. If we will do that, then we can experience the hand of God on our lives just like Abraham did. Having God with us is better than any fabled super-human ability!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 19-- When Dirt Doesn't Bother You Anymore

Dirty Jobs is a television show about some of the dirtiest jobs in America. The show's host spends a day on a "dirty" job doing exactly what the workers do. One day it's cleaning up dung at an alligator farm, the next it's cleaning out the inside of a garbage truck, then it's on to scrubbing the inside of a city's sewer. There also was the show where he had to catch snakes and cause them to regurgitate their last meal. The host often finds himself waist deep in various "stuff" in his attempt to show what it would be like to do that particular job. At first you wonder how anyone could do these jobs, but for the people who do them, it is no big deal. After a while the workers get use to it. It doesn't seem dirty to them. Genesis 19 is a study of how a good person can get caught up in the "dirt" of this world to the point where the dirt no longer bothers him. In this chapter, God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah. Before He does, however, He mercifully allows Lot and his family to escape. The fact that Lot was even living in these cities is a testimony to how desensitized he had gotten to the "dirt" around him. These cities were so incredibly wicked that God had to destroy them. Just the little bit we learn about these places here in this chapter is enough to make us cringe. Yet Lot, who is from a godly family, was right in the midst of them sitting at the gate (v1). Typically, people who "sat at the gate" were either political leaders of the city or businessmen. Lot knew the kind of people who lived in that city, which is why he feared for the safety of the visiting "men" (angels actually) who had come to warn him of the city's demise. When he told his sons-in-laws that they needed to get out with him, they laughed at him, which says a lot about the kind of people they were. Lot was reluctant to leave. His wife's heart was there. His daughters were very depraved in their thinking and later in the chapter did an unimaginable thing with their father. This family, under Lot's leadership, had gotten waist deep in filth--and it ended up costing them greatly. Lot lost his wife, his dignity, his influence and his wealth. It all started when Lot set his gaze towards Sodom. Before long he was engulfed by its dirt. Don't let this happen to you! Don't set your gaze towards the wickedness of this world or move towards its filth.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 18-- The Foggy Bridge

The first time I ever rode across San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge I never actually saw the bridge. I was a child on vacation with my grandparents and the whole area was fogged in. We could only see a small part of the bridge--just what was right in front of us. Many years later, as an adult, I took my family on a double-decker tour bus ride across the bridge. This time, however, it was an absolutely gorgeous day. It was a clear as clear could be and we really got a feel for the massive size of that bridge. The bridge hadn't changed between those two visits but my perspective of it sure did. Fog distorted my perspective on the first trip. Often was we go through life, our perspective is very limited. We allow the fog of disbelief or a lack of understanding to keep us from seeing the full picture. This was the case with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18. Earlier Abraham laughed when God reiterated His promise of a son by Sarah (17:17). Now in chapter 18 it was Sarah's turn (v12). Then came a profound question in verse 14: "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Because we are finite, we sometimes view God that way as well. We allow our fog to distort our perspective and don't realize that nothing is too hard for the Lord. In the second half of this chapter, we find Abraham respectfully bartering with God in an attempt to fend off God's judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, where Abraham's nephew lived. Abraham figured there must be at least 50 righteous people there and God would spare the cities, but alas he was wrong. He went back and forth with God until he got down to 10. "Surely there must be 10 righteous people living there," Abraham assumed. We see later that there wasn't even 10. We assume things but God knows things. We underestimate God and overestimate man, and that leads to a foggy perspective on life. So let's learn from the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as from Abraham and Sarah, and keep things in perspective.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 17-- The Countdown to Lift Off

We've all seen the countdowns to a Space Shuttle blast off. For the astronauts on board, however, their countdown started long before the clock that we see. It started years before as they anxiously awaited time for their mission. They began counting down the various missions ahead of theirs as they trained and prepared for their moment. Their countdown is in months not just seconds. I have heard astronauts talk about that waiting time--how everything they do is looking ahead to that time when they will enter space, and how they want to make sure they are prepared for that moment. In Genesis 17 God starts the countdown clock on the fulfillment of His long-standing promise to Abraham. Twelve months and Abraham and Sarah would give birth to the son with whom God would establish His covenant (v19, 21). It had been 13 years since Abraham's "false start" with the birth of Ishmael (chapter 16) but now God reiterates His promise that Isaac would be born. Abraham initially laughed at this (v17) but when God started the countdown (v21) Abraham got serious. God told Abraham that male circumcision would be the sign of His covenant (v10-11), and Abraham complied (vv 23-26). As difficult as that must have been, Abraham followed-through on what God told him to do in preparation for the fulfillment of His promise. You see, waiting doesn't always mean inactivity. In fact, waiting often involves lots of activity--preparations for the anticipated moment. Just like the astronauts prepare as they wait for their mission, there often are things that God would have us to do as we wait on the fulfillment of His promises to us. Part of believing that God is going to accomplish something is preparing ourselves for it. What is it that you are waiting on God for today? What is it that you believe with all your heart that God is going to do in and through your life? Follow the example of the astronauts and start preparing now for lift off!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 16-- Avoiding a False Start

Imagine that you are at the Olympics running the 100 meters against the greatest athletes in the world. The race is ready to start. You get down into the starting position, your one foot firmly planted against the starting block, and you wait for what seems like an eternity. You know it is critical that you get a good jump out of the blocks. You know that since it is such a short race you have to come up fast and nail your stride. But as you try to anticipate the starter's gun, you jump just a second before it goes off. "False start," the announcer says as he calls out your lane number. You know if you do that again you will be disqualified from the race. Let's face it--waiting is hard. Whether it is running a track meet and waiting for the start or driving a car and waiting for the light to turn green. It is also hard to wait on God. We pray and pray and pray yet the answer we seem to get is "wait." That's not easy. When you get the "wait" signal, what do you do? Sometimes we jump out ahead anyway and end up with a false start. That is what happened to Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 16. Even though God repeatedly told the couple they would have a child, they jumped out ahead of God when Sarah suggested to Abraham that he take her servant Hagar as a wife (v2). The result of that decision continues to be a source of conflict to this day as Hagar's children (the Arabs) and Sarah's children (the Jews) still struggle. Notice that after Hagar became pregnant and had a falling-out with her boss, she fled into the wilderness (v7). God, however, sought her out. He didn't leave her alone in the wilderness. He promised to multiply her offspring--but she needed to return to Sarah. I'm sure that was a difficult decision considering how harshly Sarah had treated Hagar, but she listened to God and went back. Hagar waited on God to fulfill His promise to her. Abraham and Sarah, on the other hand, got ahead of God. Whenever we get ahead of God we run into problems. Our false starts can be very costly, and they can negatively impact future generations. So today, let's be careful to wait on the Lord and avoid a false start.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 15-- Star Light, Star Bright

My first trip to Australia was on a college missions team. After several days of ministry in the major city of Brisbane, we made our way into the Outback. We camped at night and ministered in small towns during the day. I remember one night looking up into the sky--which was as clear as clear could be. The stars were amazing--so many of them. There were different constellations than I had seen before. I often imagine that scene when I picture the events of Genesis 15. God reiterates to Abraham that He is going to make him a great nation. Abraham struggles with this because he has no children. Then God tells Abraham to go outside and look up at the stars. "Count them," God said. Have you ever tried to count all the stars? That night in the Outback I tried but there were so many I couldn't do it. Apparently Abraham wasn't able to either. "Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars," God said to Abraham. Then it happened. Abraham "believed in the Lord," (v6) and God "accounted it to him for righteousness." That night under the stars a transformation occurred in Abraham's life. It was a transformation that would lead to Abraham later being called "the friend of God."  It was the moment when Abraham truly placed his faith in the Lord. To this point he had followed God's instructions but that night under the stars Abraham's commitment moved from his head to his heart. God goes on in the chapter to demonstrate His covenant with Abraham with a "smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between" pieces of animals that Abraham had laid out at God's instructions (vv9,10,17,18). Friend, have you experienced a transformation of your life like Abraham did? Has their been a point in your life where you "believed in the Lord?" Not a head belief but a heart belief--a belief that involved the commitment of your life to Christ? A belief that acknowledged that Jesus' death, burial and resurrection is sufficient to pay for your sin? A belief so radical that you turned away from your sin and sought God's forgiveness? If not, I hope that you will make that commitment today.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.