Prophet Joel

By Mary Vee
Joel 1,2

From the Scrolls of Joel the Prophet

While king Joash was still very young, famine broke out in the country. Queen Athaliah, and kings before her had led the people away from worshiping the Almighty. No one cared to follow the ways given by David and Moses. 

I believe Joash will lead the people back to worshiping God, but this will take time.

God sent me with a warning to give the people. If they listened and turned from their wicked ways, the famine would end. Here is what God had me say:

I am writing to warn everyone of what you need to do.

Look about you at the horrible damage done by the locust. They have eaten all our crops, and what the adult locusts didn't eat, their young have devoured. 

Wake up, everyone and look around you. A nation has invaded our land. It is powerful with its vast army.

Morn, turn from your wicked ways. 

The vines, wheat, barley, pomegranates, palm and apple tree have all dried up or have been eaten. We will starve.

Call a holy fast, call everyone to the house of the Lord your God and cry out to the Lord.

The food has been cut off. The storehouses are in ruins. How the cattle cry for food, even the sheep are suffering. 

Oh, Lord, I call out to you. Fire has devoured the open pastures and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. The wild animals pant in want for a drink. The streams have dried up.

Blow the horns, sound the alarm.

Let all who live in the land tremble for the day of the Lord is coming. 

It is close at hand

Who can endure it?

"Even now," says the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning."

Tear your heart and not your clothes. 

Return to the Lord your God 

for he is gracious and compassionate, 

slow to anger 

and abounding in love. 

He will stop all the trials. 

Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing.

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1. Who is the prophet giving the warning?
2. What is happening in the land?
3. What does God want the people to do?
4. If the people obey, what will the Lord do?

Elisha-Ben-Hadad Attacks Again

By Mary Vee
II Kings 6

As you read of this event, keep in mind, this king of Israel did not worship the one true God.

From the King of Israel's Scrolls

Photo Courtesy

This morning, I woke to terrible news. Ben-Hadad, king of Aram had marched his army here, to Samaria, and surrounded the city. They set up their camp and prepared for a siege. 

Unbelievable.

Naaman, the captain of his army had leprosy and came to us for help. He went to the prophet Elisha's house and spoke with him. The Lord healed the man. Why is Ben-Hadad attacking after we helped him?

Oh, I know Ben-Hadad's battle plan, all right. He'll stay camped out there, not doing a thing. All he has to do is make sure we can't get out and no one comes in to the city. As a result, we will not be able to get our food supplies replenished. He'll starve us to death them knock down the gate and take the plunder.

Each morning since Ben-Hadad arrived, I went to the city wall and looked out at the terrible sight. A sea of tents filled the valley. Not that I expected to see anything different. But I had hoped something would happen. A month had passed.

Food became scarce for us. Prices for a small handful of food became too expensive for even the wealthy people. Men and women in the city became angry. They had no place to go to find any food. We couldn't even search the fields or woods because we couldn't get out of the city.

A woman came to me and cried. "Help me, my lord the king!"

I asked her what she wanted. She told me about a dispute with her neighbor. So terrible were her words I tore my robe. I didn't realize what the people were doing and what they were willing to eat. This had to be Elisha's fault. Why hadn't he asked God to save us?

Rage boiled in my veins as my stomach growled. I paced like a hungry lion.

The only one who could do anything was Elisha. I called for a messenger. We he arrived I ordered him to, "Go to Elisha and tell him we are starving. If he will do nothing about this problem, I will drag him here and put him to death."

The messenger left, running toward Elisha's house.

Outside the city gate, men suffering from leprosy called up. "Please, please have mercy. Give us a crumb of bread!"

I couldn't help them. We didn't have food to give. And if I did have food, I would eat it myself, first.


Come back next time to see what Elisha, the servant of God does.

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1. Who came to attack Samaria.
2. Samaria was the home for the king of _________.
3. What was the problem in the city?
4. What did the king decide to do?
5. Why couldn't the people get out of the city?
6. What did the men with leprosy want?

Jacob Finds His Missing Son

By Mary Vee
Genesis 46: 1-29

Jacob groaned as he climbed out of bed.  It's not fun getting old. He opened the tent flap.  Sounds the boys are finished packing. 


"Good morning, Father!"  Benjamin snatched a piece of fruit and chomped into it.  "You slept in."

"Yes, I guess I did.  I need my strength for our journey to Egypt."

Benjamin laughed.  "It's not that far.  Think of it this way, you'll see Joseph in a few days."

Jacob nodded.  "Imagine that.  I thought I'd never see him again--and now I'm going to Egypt to meet with him"

"Here, have some fruit. I need to get back to work before Simeon gets after me. You'd think he'd let me get out of chores since I saved his life--but noooooooo."

Benjamin tossed the core and walked to the carts.  Moments later Reuben, Levi, Simeon, and Judah stopped by.  "Everything is packed.  We're ready to go as soon as you are, Father."

"Good, good.  As soon as someone takes down my tent we'll leave."  Jacob turned towards the fields and squinted.  His eyes didn't let him see much any more.  Still, he could smell the earth and picture the fields.  "I wonder if I'll be coming back."

Jacob's sons took turns carrying him on a liter.  After traveling twenty-five miles, they came to Beersheba.  Jacob ordered everyone to stop for a rest.  "I need to offer thanksgiving sacrifices to God."

As his sons prepared the sacrifices Jacob remembered the stories told by his father Isaac.  He told his sons and their families that this was the place where his grandfather, Abraham made a covenant with King Abimelech and called on the Lord, and where God tested Abraham's obedience.  It was also the place where his father Isaac was told three times by God that He was with him. Jacob remember the night he ran away from Esau and slept in Beersheba.

Jacob offered the sacrifices and thanked God for His blessings.

God spoke to him that night. "Jacob, Jacob."

"Here I am."

He said, "I am God, the God of your father; don't be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you in Egypt, and I will also bring you back again."

Jacob's eyes popped open.  "It's morning!  What a great morning."

Reuben tipped one eyebrow up.  "You OK?"

Jacob stretched and hurried to the liter.  "I'm ready to go to Egypt.  God is with us, what more could I ask?"

Jacob wasn't afraid of going to Egypt anymore.  In fact he felt adventurous.

Right before Egypt is a town called Goshen.  Jacob and his family stopped for a rest.  As they sat down for their evening meal, Benjamin called out, "I see someone's coming.  He's dressed like an Egyptian."

The brothers all watched the Egyptian as he rode closer.  They heard the Egyptian shouting something, but they couldn't understand.  Judah squinted.  "I think--you know-- that just might be---"

Jacob's heart pounded in his chest.  "Is it Joseph?"

Levi hushed everyone to listen for visitor's voice.  Jacob's eyes popped wide. "Can you hear?  It's Joseph!" Jacob stood and held his arms wide.  "Joseph, at last."

The Egyptian leaped off the chariot and ran to Jacob.  "Father, Father!"

Why was Joseph dressed like an Egyptian?  What was special about Beersheba?  How did Jacob know he would be safe in Egypt?

Can Judah Save His Little Brother?

By Mary Vee
Genesis 44:14-45:8

Joseph stepped back slightly from the balcony edge as the guards came into view with his brothers. Their heads are bowed. They aren't struggling to get free. This isn't what I expected.

He turned as their footsteps echoed in the corridor. Then a knock. "My lord, we've brought the thieves."

Joseph shook his head. There is no way they've changed. My brothers sold me into slavery. They only care about themselves. I must be strong--yes strong--and save Benjamin from them. He can live with me here. They'll probably cheer when they leave. He balled his fist and raised his chin. "Bring them before me."

The guards shoved the Hebrew men into the room as they wood any group of criminals. They stumble but regain their balance. Without a signal all eleven brothers bowed to the floor before the governor.

Joseph folded his arms and scowled. "What deed have you done. Did you honestly think a man such a I would not know you stole my private cup?"

Judah raised his eyes slightly. "What can we say to you, my lord? What could be our defense to clear our names?" He shook his head and sighed. "God has found our sin. Here we are, your slaves, both we, and the one with whom the cup was found." Judah lowered his head to the floor.

"Oh, No." Joseph raised his hand. "Far be it from me to keep all of you here. The only one to be my slave is the one who had the cup. As for the rest of you, leave. Leave in peace and go to your father."

The guard grabbed Benjamin and pulled him to the side. He signaled the brothers to get up. Judah turned to face the governor. He pressed his hands together and took a deep breath. "O my lord, please, let your servant speak and do not let your anger burn against me, for you as powerful as Pharaoh."

Judah retold the who story of what Joseph asked them to do from their first visit to this time. At the end of his testimony Judah looked at the governor and bowed his knees. "Now therefore, please let me stay instead of the boy as a slave to my lord and let the lad go u with his brothers. How can I go to my father if the lad is not with me and risk seeing the evil that would come to my father?"

Joseph's heart boomed in his chest. He cares about Benjamin! He cares about Father! He looked at the other brothers to see what their faces showed. They've huddled toward Benjamin. Their faces, they truly care about him.

How can I bear this pretense any longer? I must tell them who I am. "Guards. Servants. All but these eleven men--leave this room at once."

"Yes, my lord." The brother's eyes grew wide as they found themselves alone--alone with the governor.

Joseph couldn't hold his tears any longer. Tears fell down his cheeks and his body sobbed. He cried so loud the whole household heard. The eleven brothers looked at each other and cowerd toward the wall.

"Come near," Joseph spoke in perfect Hebrew. "Do not be afraid. I am Joseph. Is Father still alive?" His brothers stayed back toward the wall. They don't believe me. "Please come near."

Judah signaled them to walk to the governor. Joseph took a deep breath and wiped tears away. He held his arms out toward them. "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold as a slave. Don't be angry with yourselves because you sold me here because God sent me before you to preserve life. God sent me before you to preserve food for you and your families that the Hebrews might continue to live on earth."

Many years had passed since his brothers had seen Joseph. He had changed. He wore Egyptian clothes, he became a governor, he spoke the Egyptian language. The brothers had no idea this man was Joseph. What do you think they did when they found out?

God took care of Joseph all these years while he lived in Egypt. Life was difficult for him, but the survived. God gave him the knowledge and skills to organize a program to store food for the famine.

God has a plan for you as well. How has God taken care of you this week?

Benjamin's Request Denied

By Mary Vee
Genesis 42:38-43:14

Benjamin sighed. His brothers tried to talk their father into taking him to Egypt. It was the only way the governor would release Simeon from jail. I wouldn't mind going to Egypt. I'm not afraid.

His father, Jacob, stood firm. "I'm telling you, Reuben. I won't let Benjamin go. His brother, Joseph, is dead and now he is left alone."

The brothers looked at Benjamin. He wasn't sure what their eyes said, but it didn't seem good. He looked down at the ground and shuffled his feet. If I went, I could get Simeon out of jail. "Father, I want to help."

Jacob shook his head. "You're not going Benjamin. If I lost you...I'd...I'd die. No. I won't change my mind."

Benjamin's brothers turned away in a huff. He heard them muttering. Great, now they'll be mad at me.

Days and weeks passed. No one said a word about Egypt to keep from upsetting Jacob. After a while the grain bin grew empty. One morning, Leah, Jacob's wife became concerned. "I can't make bread. We're out of grain. Benjamin, go tell your father we need more."

Benjamin walked out to the field and found his father with a handful of dry dirt. "The grain is gone. What do you want us to do."

Jacob rolled his thumb in the powdery dirt. "The rain still has not come." He dropped the dirt and brushed his hands on his tunic. "Call your brothers. Tell them to meet me here."

Benjamin found Reuben first. "Father wants to meet with all of you. He's out by the field."

Reuben nodded. "I'll help you get the others."

Benjamin followed his brothers, but made sure he stayed toward the back of the group.

"The grain is gone." Jacob turned toward his sons. "As much as I hate to say this, you need to go to Egypt to buy more."

"Father, the govenor won't sell us any food unless we have Benjamin." Judah rubbed his temple. "He distinctly warned us, saying he would never see us unless our youngest brother came. If we can take Benjamin we'll go, but, if you refuse then we won't bother with the journey."

Jacob huffed. He raised his fist and paced. "Why did you tell him you had another brother in the first place?"

"But he asked about our family." Levi picked at the gate. "If we didn't tell the truth, we'd all be in jail right now. We didn't know he'd say we had to bring Benjamin back."

No one spoke. The brother's looked at each other trying to figure out what to say.

"Send Benjamin with me." Judah pressed his hands together and held them close to his face. "I will watch him. We'll go, buy the grain. If I don't bring him back safely, let me bear the blame forever." He stepped close to his father. "Look, if we hadn't waited we could have gone to Egypt and been back by now with more grain. Our families are hungry."

Jacob walked away from his sons a few steps. He gazed out at the dusty, empty fields. "Take your brother and go back to Egypt. And may God Almighty give you mercy before the governor that he may release Simeon and return Benjamin. Go. Leave at once."

Benjamin ran back to his tent. "I get to go to Egypt!"

Why didn't Jacob want Benjamin to go to Egypt? Sometimes we ask our parents if we can do things or go places and they say no. Why do they do that? What did the brothers do when Jacob said "no"? What does God want us to do when our parents say no?