Footsteps to Zion

Joseph of the Bible is probably most famously known today as “Joseph the Dreamer.” But more than being just a dreamer, Joseph was also described as a “fruitful bough (branch)” by his father, Jacob. “Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall.” Genesis 49:22 But what does it mean to be fruitful? A person is said to be fruitful if he bears the fruits of the Holy Spirit such as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). A person is also said to be fruitful if he bears good fruits or brings excellent results in his workplace, community, family, or ministry. Joseph was described as a “fruitful bough” because he was so fruitful both in character and in his calling as a leader in Egypt. 1. Joseph was fruitful in character We can read in Genesis 39:1-6 that when Joseph had been taken down to Egypt as a slave, Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, bought him and made...

The rock badger In life, we face a lot of difficulties which could easily weigh us down. Yet, the Scripture presents to us four small creatures that can encourage us and reveal the purposes of God for us. Proverbs 30:24-28 speaks of four creatures that are called little yet are exceedingly wise. The passage spoke of their challenges and how through wisdom they overcame. Just like these little animals we too can overcome through wisdom. Let us take a look at the four creatures. 1. The Ants “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer” - Proverbs 30:25 The ants show the wisdom of hard work and preparing well. They do not procrastinate and they anticipate a time of difficulty. Some ants store their food in summer and feed on it during winter, while others gather in summer, eat it during fall and hibernate in winter. They gather food at a time when they still can as they prepare for seasons when they can no longer forage. This could speak to us t...

Throughout the Scripture we see comparisons of two groups of people - those who pursue God and those who do not. Those who seek God often seem to be at a disadvantage at the beginning because of the hardships they endure to follow God but in the end there is always a turning of the tide and those who seek God are rewarded. We are living in a day and age where there is a rising of two camps. God is allowing circumstances that will cause man to choose which side he will be on. May we choose wisely. Daniel and His Friends and the Rest of the Young Men - The Consecrated and the Unconsecrated "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." (Daniel 1:8) Daniel purposed not to indulge in the pleasures of life. He represents the believers who will seek to live a consecrated life, overcoming the lu...