Tuesday, January 28: Genesis 45-46; Psalm 108; Galatians 2

Genesis 45: Why did Joseph feel God had sent him to Egypt? (v. 5, 7-8)  What was Joseph’s admonition before his brothers returned to Canaan?

Genesis 46: How many people from Jacob’s family traveled to Egypt? Why did they stay in Goshen?

Galatians 2: How long was Paul in Syria and Cilicia? Why did he go to Jerusalem? How were Paul and Peter’s callings different? Why did Paul oppose Peter (Cephas)?

Journal Prompt: Paul kind of glosses over his visit to Jerusalem – read Acts 9:19-31 to get an idea of the persecution Paul faced because he was preaching to the Gentiles. How might ‘all of this’ played a role in Paul’s plea to the Galatians to remain faithful to the gospel?

ANSWERS

Genesis 45: Joseph said that God was actually the one who sent him there and it was to save lives – and specifically to preserve a remnant for the descendants of Jacob.  Joseph sent them off with a warning not to quarrel on the way! (v. 24)

Genesis 46: Jacob’s family and servants numbered 70 people in all. They stayed in Goshen because of their occupation – being shepherds, they were considered detestable to the Egyptians.

Galatians 2: Paul spent fourteen years in Syria and Cilicia, then he went to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus.  He wanted to be sure he was preaching correctly.  Paul and Peter’s message was the same, but they were preaching to different audiences: Paul to the Gentiles and Peter to the Jewish-Christian converts.

Paul opposed Peter because Peter was behaving hypocritically by refusing to eat with the Christian Gentiles (because they were uncircumcised).