78 passages · God
The servant travels to Nahor's city and stops at the well at evening. He prays that God will show him the right woman by a specific sign: she will offer water to him and his camels.
Before he finishes praying, Rebekah arrives and generously waters all ten camels. The servant gives her gifts, learns she is Abraham's relative, and worships God for guiding him.
The servant recounts to Rebekah's family his master's wealth, Abraham's oath, his own prayer, and how Rebekah met the sign. He then asks for a plain answer whether they will agree.
Laban and Bethuel say this is from the Lord and agree. After the servant gives gifts and worships, the family asks for delay, but Rebekah herself agrees to go at once, and they bless her.
Angels meet Jacob and he names the place Mahanaim. He sends messengers to Esau, who return saying Esau is coming with four hundred men, and Jacob in fear divides his company in two.
Joseph tells his brothers and father two dreams in which sheaves and then the sun, moon, and stars bow to him. The brothers grow more hateful and Jacob rebukes him but keeps the matter in mind.
At Judah's suggestion, the brothers sell Joseph to traders bound for Egypt. They dip his robe in goat's blood and show it to Jacob, who believes Joseph is dead and mourns deeply, while Joseph is sold to Potiphar in Egypt.
In Egypt, the Lord is with Joseph, and Potiphar puts him in charge of his whole household. God blesses Potiphar's house on Joseph's account.
Even in prison the Lord shows Joseph kindness, and the warden puts him in charge of the other prisoners. Everything under his care succeeds.
Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker are imprisoned and put under Joseph's care. One night both have troubling dreams, and Joseph says that interpretations belong to God and asks to hear them.
The cupbearer describes a vine with three branches and Pharaoh's cup. Joseph says it means he will be restored in three days and asks him to remember him to Pharaoh.
The cupbearer finally confesses his earlier failure and tells how a young Hebrew in prison accurately interpreted his dream and the baker's.
Joseph says the two dreams are one message from God: seven years of abundance will be followed by seven years of severe famine. The repeated dream shows God has settled the matter.
Pharaoh and his officials approve the plan and recognize God's Spirit in Joseph. Pharaoh appoints him second only to himself, gives him a ring, robes, an Egyptian name and a wife.
Joseph clears the room, weeps, and tells his brothers who he is. He says God sent him ahead to preserve life, urges them to bring Jacob to Goshen, and embraces them.
Fearing Joseph will now take revenge, the brothers plead for forgiveness. Joseph weeps and says what they meant for evil, God meant for good, and promises to provide for them.
A Levite couple hide their baby son, then set him afloat in a tar-coated basket. Pharaoh's daughter finds him, pities him, and, through his sister's quick offer, has his own mother nurse him before adopting him as Moses.
God avoids the shorter road through Philistine land so the people will not lose heart at war. Moses carries Joseph's bones, and the LORD goes before them in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.
Moses tells Israel to remember how God led them forty years, humbling and testing them, feeding them manna so they would learn that people live by God's word. The good land ahead is described, and they are to bless God when they eat.
Moses contrasts irrigated Egypt with the hilly land that drinks rain from heaven, under God's constant care. Obedience will bring rain, but turning to other gods will bring drought.
Hearing that the LORD has provided food in Judah, Naomi starts home. Her daughters-in-law go with her at first, and Naomi urges them to return and blesses them, but they protest.
Ruth, with Naomi's permission, goes to glean behind the harvesters and happens on the field of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech. Boaz arrives, greets his workers, and asks his foreman who she is.
David thanks the LORD for sending Abigail, praises her discernment, and admits he would have killed Nabal's men. He accepts her gift and sends her home in peace.
Ahithophel proposes pursuing David that night with 12,000 men. Hushai counters that David and his men are fierce and advises gathering all Israel first, and Absalom prefers Hushai because the LORD meant to thwart Ahithophel.
Elijah tells Ahab there will be no rain except at his word. God sends him to hide by the Brook of Cherith, where ravens feed him, until it dries up.
God sends Elijah to a widow in Zarephath, who has almost no food. She feeds him, and her flour and oil do not run out.
An angel twice wakes Elijah and gives him bread and water. Strengthened, he travels forty days and nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.
A prophet's widow fears her creditor will take her sons as slaves. Elisha has her borrow empty jars and pour from her one jar of oil until all are full, so she can sell the oil and pay her debt.
A man brings twenty barley loaves, and Elisha orders them served to a hundred men in spite of his servant's doubt. According to the LORD's word there is food left over.
Four men with leprosy at the gate decide to surrender to the Arameans rather than die of hunger. They find the camp empty because God caused the Arameans to hear a great army, and they tell the city.