Genesis 1
I chose this verse to begin my journey into the Word because of what it
represents. Before God spoke these
words, there was no light. He is the
Source of all light, visible and metaphorical, and without Him, there is only
darkness. Until He commanded otherwise, darkness reigned over "the face of
the deep," but with a phrase, His energy burst forth and made visible His
creation. His Word is where we can go to
find a greater light beyond the spectrum; it is where we can find Him,
"The Light of the World."
Genesis 2
I've often thought on this verse. It is the point where God did something
unique in all of His creation. He
invested His own essence, His own immortal Spirit into the shell of man. His breath goes one step further than mere
creation because it is the gift of His life in us. We instinctively know this and are forever
driven to seek after our Father. When we
walk in the Light that He has given us, we find Him.
Genesis 3
This has to be the most tragic moment in all
of human history. Because of the choice
of one man and one woman, all of God's creation fell from perfection, and fell
from grace. It is often said as a
consolation that "no one is perfect."
This is a truth descended from this very day in the garden. We should not be consoled by the saying
because it is a curse. Imperfection
cannot inherit perfection because it will corrupt it. At this point, we are hopelessly fallen, but
the Light remains, and one day He will redeem and restore anew what is
fallen. As I write of this, the saddest of
chapters, I look forward to those blessed words, "It is finished."
Genesis 4
Fallen from
grace and separated from God by sin, still man cried out to Him. The old adage that goes, "there are no
atheists in foxholes" was true from the very start. We are made in His image; our breath is His,
and we yearn to be redeemed and reunited with our Father. The good news for us is that this feeling is
mutual.
Genesis 5
Common to great literature is the concept of
foreshadowing. It is an event that mirrors,
or points to, an even greater event to come.
The first thought that came to my mind was that the birth announcement and
subsequent prophecy concerning Noah foreshadows the great flood, but it
actually foreshadows an, even still, greater event, the coming of the
Messiah. The ground that is cursed will
find a Savior. Just as those who went
into the ark yet to come find salvation, so as many as will go into the ark
that is the saving blood of Christ will also be saved. Where there is judgment and condemnation,
there also will be God's grace and His salvation to those who will enter in.
Genesis 6
Chapter six
of Genesis is a dark chapter in human history, indeed. All life had followed the path of sin to its
inevitable destination of judgment and death.
Earlier generations that called upon the name of the Lord, like those of
Seth and Enoch, were now disappearing from earth. But God retained a remnant, and through the
ark of Noah, He gave us a picture of Christ.
Built out of faith and obedience, this vessel would be the embodiment of
God's grace to mankind rising above the judgment and safely offering a chance
for a new life cleansed from all former sin.
Genesis 7
This must have been a
sight, indeed. Talk about a sign of the
times! What must the onlookers have
thought when they saw these creatures entering this large structure even before
the first drop of rain? Come to think of
it, that might have been the most difficult part of obedience, at least for the
human passengers; entering the ark before
the rain. We too bear witness to the
signs of our times, and our time is now to enter into salvation before the first
drop of His judgment comes. When it
does, God, Himself, will shut the door and the opportunity for salvation will
be no more.
Genesis 8
I imagine that when Noah looked out, he saw a
vision of a different world than before.
Rivers must have surged, rocky ridges and deep valleys must have lay
before him eroded and exposed in ways he'd never imagined. The world had been washed of its former
corruption, and it bore the scars of judgment.
The earth was wounded for our transgressions as God, Himself, made all
things new.
Genesis 9
Scientists have explained the phenomenon of
the rainbow, and have demonstrated how the reflection and refraction light
through water droplets cause the colors of our spectrum to become visible to
our eye. Knowledge is a good thing, but
it should be said that knowing how a
star burns bright in the sky is not remotely the same as causing the star to burn bright in the sky. Man often has a misplaced pride in
understanding the miracles of God, and this pride can blind him to the beauty
at hand. It's good to study and learn
how God does such things, but I believe sometimes a greater blessing can be
found in just looking up with child-like wonder, seeing the beauty, remembering the promise, and giving thanks for His creativity and grace.
Genesis 10
This chapter is a genealogy of the first
descendants of Noah after the flood. It
is a book of wisdom for anyone seeking to unlock the geography of land
references in end times prophecy as it
refers to the origins of ancient lands such as Magog, Tubal and Cush. We also learn of Nimrod who would become a
rebel leader of sorts against the house of the Lord. I've often come across such chapters as this in
passing without seeking out their purpose, but I've come to believe that if it
has been recorded in the Word and saved for our time, there is an important
reason. I think of this chapter as
required background reading.
Understanding the people and places preserved here in the scripture
gives us insight into not only what was, but also what is to come.
Genesis 11
The heart of man since the garden is one of
immense pride. As soon as we are old enough
to understand the power we possess with self will, we become defiant to the will
of God. Pride is the kind of thing that
we don't always readily recognize as evil.
It is at the core of our very nature, so common a trait that it often
abides in our hearts openly, yet undetected as sin. But, we do well to remember that pride is the
original sin that lead to our fall from grace.
Believing the lie, we thought that God was mistaken, and that what He
had forbidden was actually something that held hidden benefits. The builders of this tower seem to have erred
only in the prideful decision, absent of God's will, to claim control over
their own destiny as a people. This is a reminder that we are to keep God first
above all our plans, hopes and desires.
If He is to be our God, He must also be Master over our pride, and our destiny.
Genesis 12
This is God's promise to Abram before He
renamed him Abraham, and it's the first prophetic word about the coming of
Jesus through Abraham's line. At this
point we don't know much about Abram other than the fact that he has been
chosen by God to bless the earth. God
speaks directly to Abram and tells him to leave and go into a land that he has
not seen, one that God will show him. In
this chapter we see the faith of Abram in the land of Canaan, and we also see
his failings in Egypt when he took it upon himself to deceive Pharaoh out of
his perceived need to take measures for self preservation. He was a man learning to listen to God on his
way to greatness, still plagued with doubt and fear. The urge to follow his own inner promptings while
pursuing God's promises rises again later when waiting for the birth of his
promised son, Isaac. The thing that
stands out in the chapter to me is that God chose Abram for the highest of
honors while Abram was yet given to lapses of faith and judgment. When God gives the promise and directs our
path, growth happens, and great things follow.
Genesis 13
The promised land is made visible to
Abram. It's almost as if God is standing
beside Abram pointing to features far off in the distance, and showing him the
vastness of His promise. To a man, the
sight of land and the promise of offspring that will fill the earth must've
been a thrilling proposition. What he
probably could not imagine was that the promise was far greater than land,
family and prosperity. His purpose,
hinted of in the last chapter, but just beyond the visible horizon where Abram
stood, was to be the blessed line chosen to bring a Savior into the world. God's promises go far beyond what we're able
to see in this life. He shows us all
that we can take in at the time, but we can be assured that there is always
more, an even greater purpose at work.
The promises of the Lord always go beyond our horizon.
Genesis 14
This chapter is concerned with wars and
disputes, but almost hidden in the midst is this short verse referring to the Priest
of the Most High God. This is the first
mention of the priesthood in the Bible, but not the last. The name, Melchizedek, is mentioned again in
the Psalms and several times more in the book of Hebrews. It should also be noted that the priest
brings items that will later serve as the elements of communion. It is a holy
title indeed, as Jesus is later called our "priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." Once again, God
is at work again in the Word, showing us where there is war and strife, there is
also the hope and blessing of our High Priest.
Genesis 15
Abram, on his way to becoming Abraham, found
favor with the Lord not because he was perfect, but because he believed. There was something in his belief that was so
genuine, so sincere, that it moved the Lord.
As a father, I think I can understand, somewhat. When any of my children look to me for
guidance, trusting in me, and believing what I say, I can sense their love for
me, and it is an endearing thing. True
love for God is believing, trusting, and obeying Him, and it is probably the
closest we get to our standing in the garden before the fall. When our sincerity moves the heart of the
Lord, that is righteousness.
Genesis 16
Impatience, doubt and the pride of self will have consequences. God had promised Abram a son, but had tarried
in the delivery on His promise. I'm sure
the wait, coupled with physical realities Sarai faced, inspired a growing fear
and doubt in her mind. Like the people at Babel, Sarai, rather than seeking
God's direction, decided that she must take charge of her own destiny. Ishmael was born to Sarai's handmaid, Hagar,
as God allowed her decision to come to its fruition. Sadly, the birth of Ishmael is another
example of what can happen when the will of man is declared without first
seeking the will of God. One thing that
lessons of Babel and Ishmael should teach us is that supplanting the will of
God with our own is no small thing, and it can have devastating, earth changing
consequences. We do better to first seek
His will, and with all trust and patience, humbly submit ourselves to it. The reward for seeking Him and patiently remaining
faithful to Him in spite our fears is great, and the consequences for failing
can be disastrous.
Genesis 17
God's
promises and directions become more clear and focused, as He reveals closer the
entirety of Abram's destiny. He even
blesses Ishmael, demonstrating that God can make the best of our poor choices
in life; He can choose to bless us despite our failings. In this chapter, Abram and Sarai become
Abraham and Sarah, renamed as if they are called anew...born again.
Genesis 18
I always enjoy reading this exchange between
Abraham and the Lord. He did not have
to, but God shares with Abraham that, because of their grievous sin, the cities
of Sodom and Gomorrah had been judged and will be destroyed. In response, Abraham actually bargains with
God for the redemption of those cities, and he amazingly persuades God to
reduce the price from 50 righteous souls to 10, powerfully demonstrating the
effectiveness of righteous intercessory prayer.
God is just, and as such, will see justice done, but the mercy cries of
the righteous do not fall unheard before Him.
I believe that God comes to us, much in the same way as He did with Abraham,
with warnings of His impending judgment upon individuals, cities, nations, the
world even. Perhaps He is granting one
last chance before judgment as He asks, "who will bargain on their
behalf?" It's a sobering responsibility
to consider, but if the righteous do not pray for the lost, what hope will they
have for mercy?
Genesis 19
The obvious
lesson for us here is that when salvation comes, we are to leave sin behind
without ever looking back. That has
always been my take away from this passage, but as I read it this time, my mind
wanders beyond the mere story of Lot and his wife, and I ponder the grocer, the
butcher, and shopkeepers of Sodom who were left behind. I imagine in their own
eyes, they were all pretty good people.
It appears it would be no difficult task to compare one's self favorably
to the other inhabitants of Sodom. Sadly, the low standards of Sodom were not high
enough to produce even 10 people righteous enough before the Lord to spare the
city. I'm sure the quieter, behind the
scenes people of Sodom were not unlike many of the people living in our cities
today. We live in a world of self
delusion, people who do what is right in their own eyes, imagining that God
will somehow grade on a curve judging their works more favorably against the
works of others. They admit that they
are not perfect, yet in the same breath, deny the need for a Savior. Everyone expects the rebel rouser in the street
who threatens and does violence to get his due on the day of judgment, but they
fail to consider that the coppersmith who may have went to bed early also
perished in the fires of Sodom. If
salvation had not come to Lot, and if he had not accepted it with all obedience,
he too would have perished. We have the
choice of Lot before us today. Sodom is
not only the story of an ancient lost city, it is a picture of a coming day fast
approaching.
Genesis 20
We see that,
though counted as righteous before the Lord, still Abraham is plagued with
fear. Abraham, like before in Egypt, had
again dealt deceitfully, this time with Abimelech, king of Gerar. He had introduced Sarah as his sister out of
a fear that he would be killed for her sake.
He justifies it afterwards by explaining that she was indeed his half
sister, but he had withheld the whole truth.
What I find interesting is that, despite Abraham's fears and deceit,
Abimelech turns out to be a man of integrity, and as this verse demonstrates,
God guards his steps. It shows that
though deception may cause one to stumble, God knows the heart and protects the
righteous from falling.
Genesis 21
Hagar had
been cast out by Abraham at the behest of Sarah after the birth of Isaac, and
now she tarried in the desert. Death
seemed to be close for lack of water until a curious thing happens; God opens
her eyes. When we think of God at work,
we often think of miracles, but this was no miracle; the well was already
there. She just couldn't see it for her
own despair until God opened her eyes.
Thankfully, I've never been in such a life or death survival situation
as this, but I have known frustration while the answer to the problem hid in
plain sight. Often we need only to look
to the left or the right for the answer to our problems. If He can direct our steps, He can also
direct our eyes to the solution, so why not ask?
Genesis 22
As a
father, there is no way to read this chapter and not feel humbled by the epic
faith and obedience of Abraham. It is
here that we finally see why God had chosen Abraham to be the great father of
nations. Abraham's solemn,
heart-wrenching, unimaginable task offers us a future glimpse of Calvary. Like Abraham, God would not hold back His own
Son from the greater purpose of His will.
Just as Isaac carried the wood, so would Jesus, and carry it to the
end. What relief must've washed over
Abraham that day when the angel stayed his hand; what gratitude he must've
known when he looked back to see how God, Himself, would provide the sacrifice
there in the thorns. I've often thought
that the picture of Isaac represents Jesus in this story, but actually, the
more accurate picture of Him is one of the ram provided by God to take Isaac's
place on that alter. I imagine that
Abraham untied Isaac, and completed the task that day trembling with relief
through tears of gratitude. We should
feel no less relief, no less gratitude than that of Abraham when we look on the
Lamb of God Who took our place, and the place of all those we love and hold so
dear, on the cross.
Genesis 23
Abraham was
already an honored man by the time Sarah died.
The son's of Heth whom he dwelled among even referred to him as "a
mighty prince" entitled to any land he should choose. It was probably no secret that he had
received God's promise of land and a nation to inhabit it, yet when his beloved
Sarah died, he humbled himself before those who lived in his land of promise,
and insisted on purchasing a place to bury his dead. Like the journey up the mountain in the last
chapter, this too brings to mind the future plight of our Lord Jesus. Whether in His Father's house at the temple, by
the sea, or on the Mount of Olives...wherever He walked, He was a Mighty
Prince, a King of Kings over the land He traveled, yet He humbled Himself as a
stranger and sojourner among those He'd come to save. He owned it all, yet had no place to lay His
head, and when He died, He had to be laid in a tomb meant for another. But just as Abraham's promise would see its
completion, so will the Lord's when He returns to receive all that the Father
has promised Him. For those who are
called by His name, we can take great joy in knowing we are a part of His
promised land.
Genesis 24
Abraham's servant had been given a great task. He was sworn to find a wife for Isaac, and he
wanted to make sure that he would find God's perfect choice. Rather than lean to his own wisdom for such a
decision, the servant gives the task to God. In prayer, he determines a scenario that would
reveal God's choice for him. Rebekah
answers the prayer when she meets the exact requirements laid forth in the
prayer by the servant. At the completion of this verse, one can almost sense
the joy Abraham's servant must've felt when he realized that God had heard and
answered him. God still answers the
prayers of the faithful. He also provides affirmation to those Who seek His
guidance. There is comfort in knowing
that God's counsel has been sought, and joy when it has been provided.
Genesis 25
Esau traded his inheritance in a moment of
human weakness for something of no lasting value. The easy analogy of the worthlessness of sin compared
to the promises of God in our own lives is so clear that it hardly needs any
explanation at all. Still, the point is
so important that wisdom demands it be continually brought to our recollection. Whenever we are tempted in a moment of
weakness to stray from the path of righteousness, we need to remember Esau, and
ask our self, "are the promises of God not worth more than this?"
Genesis 26
We see Isaac grow into a mighty presence in
the land of Gerar where he went to live after his father's death. His success was so apparent that it made the
Philistine king, Abimelech, anxious, and left the Philistine people filled with
envy. Isaac prospered in agriculture,
and the Philistines rightly saw the wells of Abraham as a vital key to his
success. So, they sought to stunt his
prosperity by filling the wells. Isaac
was not deterred by this, and just went about his business of digging new wells
while restoring the old ones too.
Serving God, and even being honored and chosen of God for greatness,
does not free one from strife, or the envy and malice of others. In fact, it may invite it. When faced with adversity, there is only one
choice for the faithful, and that is to persevere.
Genesis 27
These are the words of Isaac meant for Esau,
but taken in deceit by Jacob. It is a
curious thing that a blessing such as this could actually be stolen, and still
honored by God. We can speculate that this
came to pass because of Esau's rash decision to trade his birthright to Jacob
earlier in life, but for whatever reason, it does appear that it was God's will
for the blessing to fall to Jacob. I
tend to believe that God's will would have been done even without the treachery
of Rebekah and Jacob, and that this episode demonstrates their failing to trust
fully in the Lord. As a result, Jacob,
despite his blessing, had to live in fear and in hiding from his brother for a
portion of his life. Though this passage
demonstrates that one can still receive blessing despite periods of doubt and
sin, it also reveals how these periods can put our destiny at great risk. Jacob's deceit was a huge gamble. Had Isaac discovered Jacob in the act of
deceit, he would have given him a curse instead of the blessing. As it turned out, Jacob received more than a
blessing that day; he received mercy, and he received grace. God's mercy, by definition, is not owed, and
should be received with unending gratitude.
When we receive the blessing of Jesus, we too receive mercy as the Lord
spares us the curse of death we deserve.
When we receive His blessings of everlasting life, the dew of heaven, and our
portion as heir to all that is His, we receive what is not deserved; we receive
grace.
Genesis 28
Jacob is
clearly shaken by a dream. In the dream
he saw angels descending and ascending a ladder that reached to heaven. God stood above the ladder and promised all
the blessings of Abraham to Jacob. When
Jacob awoke, he memorialized the place with the stones he had used for a pillow
during the night. He called the place
Bethel, and anointed it as a house of God.
In this short event, it seems we see the foundation for will be called
the Holy of Holies in the temple to come.
The throne of God is not only a place of great blessing, but also great
fear and reverence.
Genesis 29
What a romantic verse
this is. Sadly, this chapter continues
to show how common place deceit was in the dealings between men, as Laban
doesn't live up to his end of the bargain.
He takes the service of Jacob for these seven years, and then when the
day of payment comes due, he tricks Jacob into receiving the wrong bride! Jacob feels rightfully wronged by this, but
remarkably accepts the deal and agrees to serve another seven years for Rachel. Despite our best efforts to deal in good
faith with others, occasionally we will receive injustice in return...even at
the hands of those we trust. Like Jacob,
we are to focus on living up to our end of the bargain, retaining our integrity
while pursuing our worthy goal. Jacob
ended up paying twice the price, but eventually received the prize. Jacob wasn't the only one caught in a deal
gone bad. One can't help but feel a little sadness for Rachel's sister, Leah,
who appeared the pawn in her father's scheme, but she too was rewarded by God
in her own way. As it turned out, Rachel
had great difficulty conceiving, so God blessed and used Leah to give birth to six
of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob
persevered despite the schemes of Laban, and received more than just two wives
for his good faith and service; he received a nation.
Genesis 30
It appears that Laban was wise
enough to know that God's anointing on Jacob was so strong that it poured out
blessing on all who were around him. Unfortunately, Laban was an opportunist
who sought to take advantage of God's favored man. And, for a time, he benefitted greatly because
of Jacob, but Laban's self-centered motives would prove costly. The lives we touch in the service of God are blessed
lives indeed, but God studies the heart and will reward, or admonish
accordingly.
Genesis 31
So often when we are wronged, we seek
to set things straight. We long for justice,
and we become impatient for it. When I
look at the dealings between Jacob and his father-in-law, Laban, I am amazed at
the 20 year patience of Jacob, and the faithfulness of God to work all things
for his good. When we trust God with all
our dealings, He is always faithful to look out for us. When we trust in Him with all patience, He
not only can protect us from harm, He can also turn the would be harmful deeds of
others into blessings.
Genesis 32
We find Jacob in great distress as he awaits
the coming of his brother, Esau, with 400 men.
Jacob doesn't know what to expect, and he fears the worse. Reading this verse, I'm moved by the humility
of Jacob before God. He does not claim
victory over any would be enemies, and he does not expect God to owe him any
such victory. Knowing and admitting that
one is in need of mercy is not a lapse of faith; I believe it is essential to
anyone who would walk after righteousness.
This is the chapter where Jacob wrestles with the Lord, and is renamed,
Israel. Humility comes once more before
honor.
Genesis 33
Such a beautiful passage, and one of great
joy and relief for Jacob, I'm sure. The
last time Jacob saw Esau, he was running in fear for his very life. We're not told what has happened to Esau all
these years that Jacob had been away, but it's obvious that there had been a
significant change in his life. Once
again, we see Jacob's humility before God and before man on full display. He had received great honor and blessing from
the Lord, been renamed and promised again a mighty nation by God, Himself. Still, Jacob is the kind of man who bows to
his brother seven times as he sees him approaching. At this point, I do not think any of this is
out of fear, but out of a sincere heart's desire to seek the favor of someone
that he knows has every right not to grant it.
I think this is the kind of heart we are to have when we approach the
Lord...not one of pride and expectation, but of humility and a hope for
mercy. What a wonderful moment it will
be when our humility before the Lord is met with His kiss and tears of joy.
Genesis 34
Jacob enjoyed the blessings of God as he
watched his family grow, but he was not immune from strife. His daughter, Dinah, was defiled by Shechem,
son of Hamor, the Hivite prince. Jacob's
sons plotted and exacted vengeance against Shechem and all of his people adding
to the distress of Jacob. Not long
settled in the land, I'm sure Jacob wanted to build goodwill and trust among
the other peoples who lived there. The offense
to his daughter, and his sons' violent response, I'm sure, was not what he had
in mind. Though favored, Jacob would
have to endure his share of strife and injustice. He would also reap the consequences of his
sons' rash decisions in addition to those of his own. Just
like Jacob, we too can expect storms in our life. Our grade is not based on our ability to
avoid storms, but how, and with Whom, we weather them.
Genesis 35
Leadership is knowing what is right, doing it
yourself, and having others follow your lead.
After the events of the last chapter, Jacob saw that many in his company
had taken idols during their plunder of Shechem's family. Keeping the offensive items wasn't an option,
so he required a time of purging and cleansing.
It would seem a good practice to periodically take a personal and family
inventory of the things we've picked up along our own way. We should prayerfully evaluate our material
possessions, priorities, habits, even our thoughts. When we identify anything that hinders our
walk with God, we need to purge ourselves of it, and seek cleansing before
proceeding.
Genesis 36
This might very well be the origin of the old
west cliché, "this town ain't big enough for
the both of us." Esau and Jacob had
to again part ways, but this time it was because of their blessings rather than
rivalries. I expect that this is just as
God had ordained. Sometimes the
blessings of God will move us into new territory. Being sensitive to His nudging is a part of
walking in the path that He has directed for our lives.
Genesis 37
Promotion does not
come without its share of contempt. I
spent 20 years in the military, and found camaraderie so much easier during my
first eight years when I served in the enlisted ranks. After being selected for officer training,
and receiving my commission, I seemed to find myself more on the outside looking
in at social settings. It actually
started before I even went to training.
Some of my old acquaintances that I had known easy conversation with
before now looked at me differently, and their attitude toward me changed ever
so slightly. God had selected Joseph for
promotion, and now his brothers, who had always out ranked him, had to deal
with this favor he had been given, first from their father, and now from
God. It was a bitter pill, and they did
not swallow it well. Some dreams are so
big that they make others nervous, insecure, or downright angry. Joseph's dreams did all three. We should all work toward promotion, but when
it comes, it would seem best to receive it with humility, lest we find
ourselves in a pit dug by the envious.
Genesis 38
Judah was about to
pronounce harsh judgment on Tamar for playing the harlot and conceiving. Imagine his surprise and embarrassment upon
finding out that he was the other guilty party in the transaction. We need to extend mercy and grace by the same
measure that we require it. So simple is
this message, yet it seems an enduring challenge for mankind.
Genesis 39
I
believe sometimes we think that if we just do what is right, everything will
work out, things will fall into their proper place and we will receive blessing. In fact, the airwaves are replete with
ministries that focus primarily on the benefits of God's favor. They skip to the end of the story and trumpet
how God rewards and honors the faithful.
But the fact remains, if reward and honor were all that we had to
contend with along the way, there wouldn't be much difficulty in being found
faithful. Joseph shows us how to flee
from temptation and sin here as he refuses the advances of his master's
wife. How is he repaid? He is thrown in prison, of course. Joseph is found faithful not only in fleeing
temptation but also when he perseveres in the face of deceit, slander, and
injustice. God was with him in prison,
but he was in prison none the less. We
should all look forward to reward, but first we should look for the strength to
be found faithful during the test.
Genesis 40
I watched a show on TV a few years back that
featured a psychic. He would stand
before an audience and wait for inspiration to come. Then at some point he would be drawn to an
audience member, and he would begin to convey a message from a departed family
member. It was a parlor trick, to be
sure, but he was very good at it. The
one thing that stood out to me is that every message he gave was so uplifting
and positive. He gave everyone a warm,
fuzzy feeling filled with humor and love.
It was almost as if his job
depended on it. Joseph, on the other
hand, spoke truth as revealed by God.
The baker was excited to learn that Joseph could interpret dreams, and
was encouraged by the "great" interpretation he had heard given to
the butler. But, Joseph was no
charlatan. His interpretation was the
last thing the baker wanted to hear. We
live in a day when, even in our churches, we find men who give only soft, uplifting
and humorous messages, but the man of God speaks the truth, not to secure his
job, but to be faithful to his calling.
Genesis 41
Joseph had been
promoted once again. This time from
prison to second in command of all Egypt.
And, his promotion comes as a reward for speaking boldly God's
interpretation of a prophetic dream. The
Bible never gives us any indication of doubt on the part of Joseph during those
14 years that saw the prophecy unfold, so we're left to assume he was
unwavering in his faith, but it does make me take pause and consider how I
might have felt in a similar circumstance.
I may have wondered, "what if the crops are poor the first
year? What if the famine doesn't come
after the seventh year?" The
possible negative scenarios are fearful, indeed. If Joseph ever entertained such thoughts, he
clearly chose not to be subject to them.
There is a spirit of fear that can keep one from speaking what God lays
on our hearts. If we let that spirit
reign, it is doubtful we will ever see God's promotion. Had Joseph chosen to be lead by fear, chances
are he would've remained a prisoner in Pharaoh's prison rather than rise to be
master over it and all of the would be judges and jailers of Egypt. Joseph's boldness before his brothers had
cost him in the past, but all of the cost had been part of God's plan as He
moved Joseph into His place of providence.
Now it was his boldness and unwavering faith, I believe tested and
tempered in the pit and in the prison, that showed him qualified for God's
higher calling.
Genesis 42
Most of us have had to, at one time or
another, face the consequences of a poor decision, and think, "well, I
guess I had this coming?" Joseph's
brothers find themselves in such a situation when they venture into Egypt
looking for relief from the famine. They
did not know that their fate of trouble, or good fortune, was in the hands of
the very brother they betrayed, but they sensed that Joseph, and how they had
treated him, was part of the equation for the tight spot they were now in. Joseph did let them sweat it out, so to
speak, and he was right to do so. After
all, they had sold him into captivity.
Still, there was mercy and grace to be found in Joseph, as his brothers
would soon learn. As followers of
Christ, we too will have to endure consequences when we choose to wander off
the path He has set before us. When this
happens, it is important to remember that there is much mercy and grace to be
found in our Lord. Though we may pay a
price for our misdeeds, the reward for sincere repentance is always greater
than any charge we have brought against ourselves.
Genesis 43
The
scene in this chapter is one of suspense and thrill for the reader. We know who Joseph is, but his brothers still
do not, and one cannot help but smile inside with anticipation as Joseph leads
them on. Joseph cleverly creates a
sequence of events that serve to test his brothers. They ride a rollercoaster of anxiety and
relief as he, at one point, makes them feel secure only to soon after strike a
chord of dread within them. He tries to
hide his joy upon seeing Benjamin, but he can't help but show his favor by
filling his plate to overflowing as they dine.
One day, the true children of God will be perfected, and made new in the
image that we were always meant to be.
We will dine in glory with the Lord on that blessed day basking in His grace,
love and blessing, but I will not at all be surprised if there will be found
some at that table who will inspire an even greater joy in His heart. The Lord will surely not hold back His hand
of blessing on that day when His affection must be expressed. We hope and strive for so much in this life,
but to bring joy to the heart of the Lord should be our greatest goal.
Genesis 44
Judah had promised his father that he would
return from Egypt with Benjamin safe and sound, and it almost seems as if
Joseph suspects that his brothers cannot return to their father without
him. In fact, the whole scene is a set
up from the beginning as Joseph plants his own cup in Benjamin's sack in order
to give cause for keeping him.
Nevertheless, Judah knows that he simply cannot return to his father
without his little brother. We see
nobility in Judah as he offers to lay down his own freedom in exchange for the
safe return of Benjamin. He understands
that his own freedom is worthless without him.
We too will have to return to our Father one day, and we had better
bring His Son with us. In this life, it
is easy to be drawn away from Jesus. It
even sometimes feels like freedom when we feel the power of our own will
unrestrained without Him. But there is
no freedom, only judgment, for those who stand before the Father without His beloved
Son. Like Judah, it is far better to
bind our own will in exchange for the company of the Lord. There is no peace or freedom apart from Him.
Genesis 45
With these words, we see the grace of Joseph,
and of God. Not only does Joseph forgive
his brothers, he now encourages them to put aside their regrets, and enjoy the
life saving provisions that he has to offer.
Joseph understood that his steps were ordained by God for a purpose, and
he didn't hold the actions of his brothers against them any longer. The words of this verse are such that they
could have been said by Jesus, Himself, and the story of Joseph's grace is
almost identical to the story of God's grace. Our situation is not unlike Joseph's brothers'
in that Jesus endured suffering, even at our own hands, so that we too could
enjoy the salvation He has to offer.
What a day it will be when we leave the famine of this world behind and
move into His land of plenty, forgiven and blessed.
Genesis 46
30 And
Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because
thou art yet alive.
I can't imagine the joy that Israel must've
felt, first hearing the news of a very alive Joseph, and then being reunited
with him again after all these years of unimaginable grief. Like his grandfather's reprieve on the
mountain with Isaac, Israel had been given back a life so dear to him, a life
he was sure had been lost. No parent
wants to outlive their children, and it is said the hardest of all losses is to
lose one's child. From what I've seen, and
can imagine, I believe this to be true.
I believe the love we feel for our children, that Israel had for Joseph,
is a gift and an insight into the very character of God. From that first moment of awe as we hold an
indescribable, overwhelming love in our arms that is the miracle of life, it's
as if God is saying to us, "see, this is what you mean to me." He too does not want to lose his children,
and His heart rejoices whenever one of us repents and accepts His gift of grace,
just as surely as it grieves for those who reject His gift and choose judgment
and condemnation instead. The moment
that we are delivered by our Redeemer, Jesus, is the very moment when He, like
Abraham and like Israel, is given back that life that is so dear to Him, a life
that would otherwise forever be lost.
Yes, we mean that much to Him.
Genesis 47
The famine was so severe that the all the people in Egypt and the
surrounding areas came to the same conclusion, "what good is
money?" You can't eat or drink it,
and when others cease to value it, it cannot even be used sustain life. Trusting in money is like trusting in dry
sand. It can, and will, fail. When the day came that money was useless, the
people had to turn to the only one who could sustain them, and hope for his
mercy and provision. Fortunately, the
people had someone to turn to. Joseph
was merciful, and more than reasonable, with them only requiring a fifth of
their increase in payment for sustenance.
Joseph's family fared even better.
They were granted the best land, and wanted for nothing even when the
famine was at its worse. We too have
someone to turn to when the things of man fail, but it is better that we depend
on Him before the day of necessity
comes. Being a member of God's family, of course, does not mean we will be
considered rich in the days of plenty by those who store up a meaningless
wealth. God wants better for us; He
wants us to have a wealth that sustains us when the riches of men fail. Unlike money, our relationship with the Lord
affords us to live by His grace according to His abundance. When famine comes and the things of this life
have lost their value, far greater than money, He offers those who love and
trust in Him the Bread of Life.
Genesis 48
Manasseh was Joseph's first born, and
according to tradition, was due the greater blessing, but just as was the case
with Isaac and Jacob, the greater blessing of the father was passed to the
younger. Ephraim would be blessed above
his older brother. We live in a time
where people, even those who profess the faith, sometimes feel entitled to the greater blessings of
God. Whether it be a misplaced trust in
tradition, or just old fashioned pride, many approach the throne of grace
expecting God to replace His will with their own. The blessings of God are His alone to give,
and His will determines to whom the blessings, and even greater blessings, will
be given. I skip ahead in the Word here,
but I think it is an appropriate place to ponder how God gives grace to the
humble, and resists the proud. Man looks for qualifications, but God looks at
the heart, and blesses accordingly.
Genesis 49
Reading the previous chapters, I got the
impression that out of Israel's twelve sons, surely Joseph would be the one who
would receive the greatest blessing.
After all, it was Joseph who saw his dream realized when his elder
brothers bowed to him in the Egyptian desert.
However, Israel in this verse reveals that it is Judah, whom he calls the
Lion, that will see his brothers bow
before him. This doesn't seem to make
sense until one considers the lineage of the Messiah. The genealogies of Jesus
given in the gospels of Matthew and Luke differ somewhat because one seems to
trace the lineage of Joseph while the other traces the lineage of Mary. Both lines, however, go back to Judah. Indeed the sons of Israel will bow to Judah
just as he foretold. In fact, because of
Jesus, every knee will bow to the line
of the Lion.
Genesis 50
Upon the death of Israel, Joseph's brothers
fear once again that Joseph's wrath will be kindled anew against them. But Joseph, shows us once again how a servant
of God is to look upon his hardships.
For those who serve the Lord, we can know this: whenever we are betrayed,
maligned, fallen, or taken captive by the hardships of life, we can take heart
in knowing that God is at work. Our pit
may very well be our portal to greatness in our service to the Lord.
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