Month: June 2018

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 37:14-28, 50:15-21 (day seven)

“Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. v.27

Judah, the consummate businessman, saw an opportunity to take Reuben’s logic and turn it into profit.  If they did not kill Joseph they could sell him, but the stated reasoning here is more than profit.  Judah claims they cannot kill Joseph because he is their own flesh, and they determine to treat their brother better than murder.  Being a slave is better than being dead.

The logic is twisted, but a common thread. We are often tempted to justify our actions by claiming that they less detrimental than other options on the table.  Sometimes we even believe we are good or merciful for choosing a lesser evil when in reality the lesser evil is just as disobedient.  God’s call on our life is not to indulge lesser evils, but refinement unto purity.

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 37:14-28, 50:15-21 (day six)

I’m sure Joseph had his down days, but on the whole it seemed that he always was a blessing to others. It didn’t even matter who they were, baker, governor, or pharaoh; he blessed them all. This is remarkable given his circumstances. He never allowed his hard circumstances to dictate his behavior or how he treated others, and people took notice.

Will you bless others even when life has treated you harshly? There’s a gospel story there; let it be told.

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 37:14-28, 50:15-21 (day five)

Genesis 50:18 “Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.””‭‭

We see in genesis 50 the real damage and effects of sin:  broken relationships, guilt and shame, and internal conflict.  Left unconfessed and unchecked, the sin of Joseph’s brothers had wrecked them for years. They had no place to go or turn in their poverty and despair.  Do you think they really believed that their sin against Joseph and then their deception of their father would ruin their lives, relationships, and long term future?  The truth is “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay”.  Ravi Zaccharias

The solution- confession and repentance.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭

 

 

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 37:14-28, 50:15-21 (day four)

When Joseph was first sold into slavery, He did not understand what God’s ultimate plan was.  He did trust in God though.  Joseph had had dreams and he knew that God had a plan for his life.  The more his life unfolded, the more he learned of God’s faithfulness.  Joseph saw the events of his life in perspective to God’s will.  In chapter 50, when his brothers feared that Joseph had not fully forgiven them and that they were in danger of receiving their just reward, they once again begged his forgiveness.

Joseph was able to see the bigger picture.  Verses 19-21 of chapter 50 reveal the maturity of Joseph’s relationship with God.  He could not have responded this way if he had not put aside personal rights and emotions in favor of God’s perfect will.  God had a servant that was prepared to be a savior for the sons of Israel.  What lies ahead for you?  Are you prepared to follow God’s will for your life?

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 37:14-28, 50:15-21 (day three) 

Here comes that dreamer! 

We mostly can’t be trusted with the future, though one can find exceptions.  Many prophets—not all, but many—have stewarded their knowledge of the future with great skill.  But they tend to have difficult lives and die early.  So yeah, the future’s a hard thing to handle well.  What happened when the deficient trustee of prophetic insight was a vision-casting, favorite-son-status-occupying, flashy-attire-flaunting seventeen-year-old kid?  In a family already prone to scheming, that kid’s pontificating came off as one more threatening agenda.  Joseph was right about the future, you know.  But rightness is a most dangerous quality.  The arrogance that often accompanies it will harm others.  Hardship—not least his brothers’ damnable human-trafficking transaction—transformed Joseph’s arrogance into wisdom.  And in God’s providence he became a life-saving steward of the future.

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 37:14-28, 50:15-21 (day two) When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” 50:15

Jacob/Israel had been the buffer between Joseph and his brothers. At least, that is what the brothers had come to believe. Years had passed, but they had never moved past that violent and heinous act against Joseph. Although God had used and shaped Joseph’s life since being sold to the Ishmaelites, the brothers were caught forever in that moment. It had likely shaped everything they did since that moment of sin. It surely impacted their relationship with their father. They had to lie to him and watch him grieve the loss of a child.

Sin is often easy, but truly never is. The sin of Joseph’s brothers would shape most of their adult lives. How you you ever expect to live, really live if you are haunted by your choices. We are not perfect. Joseph was not perfect, but Jesus is. Wouldn’t you much rather have your life shaped by Jesus, than by your sin?

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 37:14-28, 50:15-21 (day one)

“God sent me before you to preserve a remnant on the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.”–Genesis 50:20 (American Standard Version)

When God intends to save, He sends a savior.  It is not an easy path.  God’s script for this life is not about comfort.  There is a higher purpose.

Joseph is one example.  Jesus is another.  Their lives have many similarities.  God was with both of them.  Both experienced unfair opposition and jealousy.

Salvation is hard and costly work.  Those who work with God on this divine project will certainly experience a share of harsh treatment.  Resentment.  Jealousy.  Anger.  Violence.  Lost people don’t make it easy.

None of us are saviors (it isn’t necessary, now) but we do stand with Jesus in His grand enterprise, willing to endure the turbulence that inevitably comes.

Do you share Joseph’s insight?  God’s purpose in your life is the salvation of others!

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 22:1-19 (day seven)

As I read Genesis 22 this week I was reminded of James 4:13-15:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” ¹⁴Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

We take life for granted.  We just assume that we will wake up tomorrow and go on about our schedules.  For many that is not the case.  You are one of the blessed ones who was given another day on this earth for the glory of God.  Use this new, God given day for a meaningful purpose.  Come and worship.  Come into the sanctuary with your heart ready to sing, because your God has given you one more day on earth to do that very thing.

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 22:1-19 (day five)

And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.  

As parents, one of our tasks is to disciple our children- to share our faith (testimonies and truths about a loving and faithful God). There is a trust and willingness in Issac to honor his dad’s leadership and spiritual instruction. No microwave solution for this kind of discipleship and trust. Years of faithful teaching and daily examples led to this kind of response from Issac. His question is honest, insightful and gives a glimpse into a meaningful relationship with his father. Abraham’s answer is powerful and prophetic.  “God will provide the Lamb”.  Parents/Grandparents begin now to daily and faithfully disciple the next generation. They will learn how to love and trust God because they will watch and listen to you. You have the wonderful opportunity to speak and model the powerful and prophetic to them.