Genesis 37-39

Egypt In The Middle Bronze Age:
The spread of the Amorite peoples evidently reached even to Egypt. After several prosperous centuries, the Middle Kingdom of Egypt ended, and the land again began to break up politically. In the Second Intermediate Period (1786-1550 B.C.) of Egyptian history, as in the First Intermediate Period, foreigners entered Egypt from Asia and settled in the Nile Delta (see "The changing of the empires at Gen. 12:1). Eventually , Egypt fell under the control of these outsiders, a Semitic people, known as the Hyksos (meaning "foreign chiefs").
Although much despised by the native Egyptians, the Hyksos maintained their control from about 1648 to 1540 B.C., even expanding Egypt's control north into Palestine, which became an Egyptian province.

Joseph Dreams of Greatness-(37:1-11)
Joseph sold by His Brothers-(12-36)

Judah and Tamar-(entirety of chapter 38

Joseph a Slave In Egypt-(entirety chapter 39)

Joseph --a Hebrew in Egypt:
The significance of the Hyksos dynasty for the Joseph narratives of Gen. 37-50 is debated. Some claim that Joseph's rise to power and the Hebrews' entry into Egypt took place during this time, while others say that the patriarchs must have entered Egypt earlier. In either case, an Egyptian dynasty with Semitic roots would have been a less hostile environment for the Hebrews, and might have contributed to their growth upon arriving there (Ex. 1:7)

As we look over these three chapters we see a disturbing family dynamic.
A father who show favoritism (37:3), brothers who were jealous of him and hated him (37:3-5), envied him (37:11), and eventually wanted to kill him (37:19). only by God's divine plan, through the use of his brother Reuben, was his life spared. It is easy to see the progression of the evil intent of man's heart through this study. Jealousy, envy, hatred and in the end murder. Sounds a lot like much of what we hear on the news today. Some things never change.

God says in Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" Man is capable of anything, at anytime, only by God's grace can we, as Christians, control our thoughts, words, and actions. Pledge with me that this will be the year when we become more like Christ. It's a tall order, so buckle your seat belt!! But, with God's help we can do it.

One great way to do this is to change the things we allow into our minds.
Philippians 4:8 says "Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
If we think on the things listed above it will change our hearts. When our hearts are changed our minds will be changed. When our minds are changed and in the controlled of the holy spirit of God, we are able to control our actions.

This is the the year for Christians to be holy "for He is holy". God bless you all.