Daily Devotionals

Tailor-Made Troubles

December 4, 2017 - 12:00 am

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. — Genesis 37:3 The Torah portion for this week, Vayeishev, which means “and he lived,” is from Genesis 37:1—40:23, and the Haftorah is from Amos … Read more…

Like an Olive Tree

December 3, 2017 - 12:00 am

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love  for ever and ever. — Psalm 52:8 I was recently thinking about two incidents that occurred in Israel on the same day several years ago. One was reported widely by the media, … Read more…

The Test of Success

December 1, 2017 - 12:00 am

“The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself,  ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there … Read more…

The Mother of All Evil

November 30, 2017 - 12:00 am

Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs. The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister. — Genesis 36:21–22 The Torah portion for this week, Vayishlach, which means “and he sent,” is from Genesis 32:4—36:43, and the Haftorah is from Obadiah 1:1–21. Have … Read more…

The Idol Within

November 29, 2017 - 12:00 am

So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.” — Genesis 35:2 The Torah portion for this week, Vayishlach, which means “and he sent,” is from Genesis 32:4—36:43, and the … Read more…

Unstoppable

November 28, 2017 - 12:00 am

The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon. — Genesis 32:31–32 The Torah portion … Read more…

I Am Small; God Is Big

November 27, 2017 - 12:00 am

“I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps.”—Genesis 32:10 The Torah portion for this week, Vayishlach, which means “and he sent,” is from Genesis 32:4—36:43, and the Haftorah is … Read more…

The Gift of a Broken Heart

November 26, 2017 - 12:00 am

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;  a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. — Psalm 51:16–17 We all have thoughts and feelings about, well, our thoughts and feelings. … Read more…

Birthing Faith

November 24, 2017 - 12:00 am

“Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him, but he is a child without wisdom; when the time arrives, he doesn’t have the sense to come out of the womb.” — Hosea 13:13 The Torah portion for this week, Vayeitzei, which means “and he left,” is from Genesis 28:10–32:3, and … Read more…

The Power of Tears

November 23, 2017 - 12:00 am

Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. — Genesis 29:17 The Torah portion for this week, Vayeitzei, which means “and he left,” is from Genesis 28:10–32:3, and the Haftorah is from Hosea 11:7–12:14. In this week’s Torah portion, we meet the final two matriarchs — … Read more…