Jeremiah’s Seventh “Confession”
Jeremiah 17:14-18
I) ______________
A) God punishes _______________
1 Corinthians 10:14
B) God punishes _______________
John 3:36; Hebrews 11:1
C) God punishes _______________
1 Thess 5:22; 1 Timothy 6:10
D) Worshipping God is our only __________!
Hebrews 10:23
II) Jeremiah’s ______________
A) I _____________
B) I _____________
C) I _____________
D) I’m not like the _______________!
E) Be my ___________ in the day of disaster
F) Bring the ungodly to _________, not me
G) ____________ them completely
III) Final lessons about _____________
A) Lament should lead us to ______________
1) We recognize _________
2) We recognize His ___________
3) We recognize His _____________
4) We _____________ our hearts
B) Lament should lead us to ______________
1) God is in ____________
2) God has a __________
3) Evil doesn’t ________!
Devotional Reading for February 15, 2026
Beersheba is a place where both Abraham and Isaac lived for a time. It must have seemed to be an appropriate place to seek God, particularly if Jacob was worried about the covenant! While there, God makes sure that Jacob understands the detour into Egypt isn’t going to thwart His plans. Not only will He increase Jacob’s descendants while there, God will also bring them back to the promised land. He also assures Jacob that he will be with Joseph until he dies: “Joseph’s hand will close your eyes” (WEB, 46:4).
There is some discussion about the numbers 66 and 70 as they relate to Jacob’s family (46:26, 27). The simplest explanation is to take 70 as a round number that represents the totality of the family.
Why was it so important that Jacob’s family stay together in Egypt? Two words: safety and identity. Genesis 46:34 probably means that nomadic foreigners were not liked by the Egyptians, and we see this borne out by the fact that the Jewish people end up becoming slaves in Egypt. By staying grouped together they at least had some measure of safety, and they were able to retain their identity and piety in the midst of an idolatrous people.
Thought for the day: Do you make it a habit to seek God before important decisions or journeys?
Jeremiah 29:12-13 (WEB) “You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You shall seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.”
Devotional Reading for February 14, 2026
Pharoah displays kindness and compassion to Joseph and his family, but when you consider what Joseph did for him, it’s not that surprising. Does it seem odd that Joseph doesn’t really believe that his father is alive? I suppose that, when you consider the kind of betrayal he experienced, he has no reason to believe anything his brothers say. In fact, that seems to be behind a lot of how he’s been treating them!
Joseph cares deeply for his father and his natural brother. Jacob cares deeply for his sons from Rachael. But what about all the other relationships here? If there was a little more consideration, understanding, and love, perhaps none of this would have happened! But God in his sovereignty knew and used all of this. And that’s the amazing thing about God!
Thought for the day: We’ve already seen some of God’s commands concerning family. Are we taking them to heart?
Ephesians 6:4 (WEB) “You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Devotional Reading for February 13, 2026
One final test. Would they defend the youngest, their father’s favorite? It’s also possible that this was a ploy so that Joseph could keep Benjamin with him to ensure his safety. Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin, because he feels that losing him would bring their father to an early grave.
Thought for the day: What would you do for your family?
Ephesians 6:1-3 (WEB) “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honour your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with a promise: ‘that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.’ ”
1 Timothy 5:8 (WEB) “Also command these things, that they may be without reproach. But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Devotional Reading for February 12, 2026
As the famine continues, the need for food is great. Dare they go back to Egypt and bring Benjamin?
Judah has matured. He goes from urging that his brother be sold (37:26-27) and sleeping with his daughter-in-law (38:24-26), to personally guaranteeing the safety of Benjamin.
Genesis 43:8-9 (WEB) “Judah said to Israel, his father, ‘Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones. I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever…’ “
Joseph has matured. We get a sense that he recognizes God’s hand at work, and it seems that he’s no longer as full of himself as he was. He shows care, concern, and generosity towards his brothers.
Genesis 43:23 (WEB) “He said, ‘Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money.’ He brought Simeon out to them.”
We should mature! We’re called to grow as believers and become more like Christ.
Thought for the day: Can you trace growth in your character and maturity since you’ve become a believer?
1 Corinthians 13:11 (WEB) “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.”
Devotional Reading for February 11, 2026
Why does Joseph act the way he does? Recognition. Shock. Concern. Revenge? I think we can take him at his word. This is all a test. He may be conflicted, but he does care. He won’t take their money, and he wants to make sure that Benjamin is actually okay. After all, they hated him because of their jealousy and almost killed him over it! And Benjamin is very special to Jacob too.
Genesis 42:38 (WEB) “He said, ‘My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along the way in which you go, then you will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to Sheol.’ ”
There is another key verse that lets us know that more is going on than meets the eye.
Genesis 42:9 (WEB) “Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamt about them…”
Joseph now understands that everything that happened, both good and bad from his perspective, had a reason and a purpose. He’s exactly where he was supposed to be! Be that as it may, he still wants to make sure that his brother is alive.
Thought for the day: God is at work to accomplish His purposes. And we can trust Him to do that in our own lives too!
Romans 8:28 (WEB) “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Devotional Reading for February 10, 2026
Remember this?
Genesis 37:8-9 (WEB) “His brothers asked him, ‘Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion over us?’ They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words. He dreamt yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, ‘Behold, I have dreamt yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.’ “
Here we see the real beginning of the fulfillment of that prophecy. Pharoah has a disturbing dream, and no-one can provide what he feels is the correct interpretation. Then the baker mentions Joseph, and Joseph provides Pharoah with the meaning, again giving the glory to God (41:16). But Joseph does more. He suggests a way forward, and Pharoah decides that the way forward is Joseph! He also recognizes that God is with Joseph in a special way (41:38), and elevates Joseph to second in command of Egypt. After the seven years of plenty, famine comes as predicted. And verse 57 serves as a foreshadowing: “all countries came into Egypt, to Joseph, to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all the earth” (WEB). His family is coming!
Thought for the day: Are we presenting Godly wisdom to people around us?
James 1:5-6 (WEB) “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.”
James 3:17 (WEB) “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
Devotional Reading for February 9, 2026
This chapter sets up what God does next with Joseph. It’s because of his dream interpretations here that he’s brought to Pharoah’s notice.
What about our dreams? Should we give special credence to them? It’s obvious that God does something special with Joseph. Think of it as something like an angelic announcement. It’s not normative, and we shouldn’t be looking for it in our own lives. God has given us His Word, and we should go there for direction.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (WEB) “Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Joseph does something very important here, and it’s something that should speak to us. He gives God all the glory for his ability to interpret the dreams (40:8). Whenever God intervenes in our lives in a special way; whenever God does something unusual; whenever God heals us or blesses us; we shouldn’t think that it’s because we’re better or more important than other people. We should always give God the glory for His work in us and through us. Remember, it’s not about us – it’s always about God!
Thought for the day: It’s very easy to be arrogant when we do something well. Do you remember to give God the glory for His work in your life?
John 15:5 (WEB) “I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Sermon outline for 2/8/26 (Radio broadcast 2/15/26)
Jeremiah’s Sixth “Confession”
Jeremiah 20:15-18
I) Why were we ___________?
A) To _____________ God
B) To _____________ God
C) To _____________ God
D) To _____________ God
E) To _____________ God
1) Through ______________
2) Through ______________
3) Through ______________
F) To _____________ for God
G) To _____________ God
1) Because He ____________ us
2) Because He gives us His ____________
3) Because He gives us an ________________
4) Because we have an eternal ____________
II) Which all means that life is ______________
A) God __________ us
B) We are unique from ______________!
C) We are ____________!
D) We have a _____________!
E) We should ___________!
Devotional Reading for February 8, 2026
We could see Joseph rebel. We could see him bemoan his predicament. Instead, he does what he can and thrives. Does he have his dreams in the back of his head, encouraging him? Is his faith in God that strong? Note his words: “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Here’s what we do know: even when tempted to do evil, he doesn’t, and he initially suffers for it. But God continues to be with him, and he continues to do what is right!
Isaiah 41:10 (WEB) “Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness”
Thought for the day: Are you willing to do what is right even if you suffer for it?
1 Peter 3:14 (WEB) “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.”
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