Anyone who lives long enough will experience the strange phenomenon called "grief." Sooner or later we all lose someone close to us, and when that happens, we're likely to discover powerful forces have taken control of us whether we welcome them or not. Our emotions go on a rollercoaster ride, our thinking becomes cloudy, and even our bodies respond in ways that can be frightening. There's no way to stop the process of grief since its powers are far greater than our will, but we can cope with it much better if we understand what's happening and receive God's comfort while we're going through it. Even when handled well, grief takes time; if it's not handled well, it can go on indefinitely. That's why we need to study Joseph's grief. We can learn some valuable lessons from his example which can help minimize our own grief or make us more helpful when others suffer.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Revelation, email us at info@lifelessonspublishing.com and ask for your copy at no charge!

Also check out our website at lifelessonspublishing.com for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

It's only natural to evaluate a person's potential based on the obvious resources he/she possesses. The more money, talent, good looks, education, intelligence or social standing he/she has the more we expect him/her to succeed in life. And often this proves to be true. In the world these are the things that tend to make us successful. But when we turn to spiritual matters, these benefits can quickly become obstacles. We can find ourselves trying to serve God using the world's resources. Ironically, it seems when we enter the spiritual arena, it's the people who lack such resources and advantages that frequently take the lead. In Jacob's blessing of his grandsons we see this strange twist of circumstances once again. A person with no apparent reason to be favored receives God's blessing in measures beyond someone who seemed to have a rightful claim on it. Just as had happened over the past two generations, a younger son took the blessing from his older brother. In this study we'll try to understand why this happened and then apply what we learn to us today.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Revelation, email us at info@lifelessonspublishing.com and ask for your copy at no charge!

Also check out our website at lifelessonspublishing.com for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

When Jacob arrived in Egypt, he was not a happy man. For at least the past 22 years he had been walking through a dark valley of despair. So when he was introduced to Pharaoh and asked how old he was, he responded by expressing discouragement. He said his life had been unpleasant, and he expected to die early. Yet he didn't die right away. In fact, God kept him alive for another 17 years, and by the end of those years, his attitude had changed remarkably. Now he spoke tenderly of God's goodness because these last years changed the way he viewed his life. They were a joyful time of recognizing God's faithfulness. God had not let him die on a sour note but had set a limit on the darkness, bringing him at last into a new day, full of victory. What we see happen to Jacob is not an exceptional display of God's kindness but is in fact an essential part of His nature. He does allow dark valleys to come, but He will never leave us in those valleys. It's important to Him that each of us comes to the moment when we joyfully declare His faithfulness, realizing He has not allowed our enemies to triumph over us (Ps 3:3). As David said in the Psalms, though our weeping may last for the night, we can be confident a shout of joy will come in the morning (Ps 30:5). In God there will always be a morning.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Revelation, email us at info@lifelessonspublishing.com and ask for your copy at no charge!

Also check out our website at lifelessonspublishing.com for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.