In Genesis 42–43, Joseph has a brilliant plan to see if his brothers have been humbled, or if they’re still as wicked as they were when they threw him into a well and sold him into slavery.

At the beginning of Genesis 40, Joseph is living in the belly of the beast: an Egyptian prison. By the end of Genesis 41, he’s Pharaoh‘s second-in-command. But no matter his station, God’s favor remains on Joseph.

Joseph’s story resolves every major plot-line of Genesis, proving that Moses is a “literary genius,” as Jim puts it.

These chapters of Genesis cover some dark terrain, things that ought not be done in Israel (34:7). What’s God up to in Genesis 34–36?

In Genesis 32–33, Jacob has two life-altering confrontations—one with the angel of God, and one with the adversary of his lifetime: Esau, his brother. What happens in each will surprise you.

There’s a lot of deception and re-deception going on here. There’s also some poetic justice, some pathetic names, some junk science, and a tense camel chase.

These chapters of Genesis continue the story of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau. They play out like an episode of a soap opera: family member against family member; deceit on top of deceit; the promise of revenge.

In these chapters, Moses shifts his attention to the next generation of the promised line. As he does, familiar themes show up.