My Summary
A Levite woman had a baby boy which she hid for 3 months. She named him Moses. When she could not hide him anymore she put him in a basket in the river with Moses' sister watching. The pharaoh's daughter found him and wanted to keep him. Moses sister offered to find someone to nurse and take care of him. Pharaoh's daughter ended up paying Moses' mom to raise him. When Moses was older he went out and saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. Moses killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. When he tried to stop some Hebrews from fighting the next day he found out that the word was out about the murder. Since Pharaoh wanted to kill him, Moses fled to Midian. He helped some women water their flocks and the women's father took Moses in and had Moses marry one of his daughters. Moses had a son. The Hebrews in Egypt called out to God and God remembered them and had compassion.
Random Historical Things
1. It is important that Moses and Aaron were from the tribe of Levi. The Levites were to be the tribe from which the priests came and Aaron was Israel's first high priest. Moses also pleaded with God for Israel's sake. It is also interesting that Moses is a descendant of Levi. Levi was one of the ones who went on a killing spree at Shechem because of Dinah's rape. Moses kills an Egyptian because he sees the Egyptian mistreating a Hebrew. They both act to defend the helpless, but they both use wrong methods.
2. Later Israelite tradition held that Moses was a successful general in Pharaoh's army. According to the traditions, he led military exploits into the same are that Israel would later travel through on their way to Canaan. There is no biblical evidence for this, but it certainly is possible.
And So What We Have Learned Applies to Our Lives Today...
1. We see God's sovereign protection over the future savior of Israel, Moses. It is similar to when God protected our Savior from Herod when Herod killed the babies of Bethlehem. Both times, an attempt was made to thwart God's plan by cutting of His people, and both times God protected them. God also used the weak and lowly to carry out his plan. Women were looked on very lowly at this time in history, but God uses them again to frustrate the plans of kings. God uses Moses' mother to keep him safe from birth, Pharaoh's daughter to have compassion and Moses' sister to keep Moses' upbringing in his mother's hands. God also used the designs of evil (just like with Joseph's brothers) to accomplish His plan. Pharaoh commands Hebrew babies thrown into the Nile, and it is from the Nile the deliverer comes. Pharaoh's household trains and equips the very man who will free Israel. Pharaoh's own desire to kill Moses drives Moses to Midian where Moses meets God in the burning bush. Never forget that God always accomplishes His plan! If the circumstances seem to contradict God's plan, He can use the circumstances! If you feel weak and powerless, He can use the weak and powerless! If you feel like the evil one and the world are against you, God will use the designs of evil for good! Do not worry, take heart and be encouraged!
2. God really cared about the Israelites. When Israel cried out, God listened and remembered. That does not mean that God forgot, and He had to recall the information. It means God was getting ready to act. It means He was thinking about them, His covenant with them and the suffering they were enduring. God's plan of rescue was drawing close and we see God's tender compassion for His people. Remember that God loves you. When you cry out, He hears and listens. We do not serve the god of the deists who created the world and left it to run unattended. He is watching and working out His plan. He loves His people and always is compassionate towards them!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Exodus 1: The New Boss is Not Very Nice
My Summary
And Jacob took his whole family to Egypt. After a while, the entire generation who had come into Egypt passed away. God caused the Hebrews to multiply greatly and they filled the land. The new pharaoh was afraid that the numerous Hebrews would join the enemies of Egypt so he had them enslaved. Even though they were treated harshly, the Hebrews kept growing in number. Pharaoh instructed the midwives to kill all the male Hebrews when born. The midwives obeyed God instead and did not kill them. They told Pharaoh that the Hebrew women gave birth before they could get there. God blessed the midwives with families because of their faith. Pharaoh then commanded that all Egyptians throw any male Hebrew babies they found into the Nile.
Random Historical Things
1. Although your version may not show it, the Book of Exodus starts with the word "and." It is a continuation of the story we just read in Genesis and is not meant to be understood separate from it.
2. In ancient Egyptian history there were many dynasties. As long as the line of pharaohs passed from son to son, it was considered the same dynasty. However, sometimes the Pharaoh did not have a son or the throne was snatched away from that family. Then a new dynasty was started. Probably the new pharaoh who started persecuting the Hebrews was the start of a new dynasty. This would explain why he would not have any ties to Jacob's family and may have been even more suspicious of them since they were loyal to the previous dynasty.
3. The prominence of women as heroes in this chapter is unusual in the literature of the time. The midwives stand as the heroes who disobeyed pharaoh and obeyed God to save the children of Israel. Once again, we see the Bible willing to place women in a position of honor even though the culture of the time did not see their value.
4. Midwives were often women who were barren. Since they did not have children of their own, they had time to deliver the other babies in the community. So for God to bless them with a family would have been a huge deal!
And So What We Have Learned Applies to Our Lives Today...
1. We see the promises of God to Abraham coming true. He told Abraham that Abraham would become a great nation with many descendants. Here in Exdous 1 we see the nothing can stop the Israelites from multiplying. The designs of the enemy to wipe out the line that would lead to Jesus does nothing to thrawt God's plan to make Abraham's descendants a great multitude. God always fulfills His promises! His faithfulness endures even though it may take time for the promises to be fulfilled.
2. We also see the growth of Israel in response to persecution. God's people always expand when someone is trying to stamp them out. The harder the Egyptians worked them, the more babies were born! In the same way, the harder the church has been attacked, the more it has grown. In Greek mythology there is a 7 headed creature called a hydra. For every head one cuts off of the hyra, 2 more grow in it's place. The harder you work to defeat it, the stronger you make it. This was true for Israel and it remains true for the church today. Let that strengthen your faith. The church can not be beat because God is on it's side!
3. Let us be motivated by the courage and faith of the midwives. They risked the wrath of pharaoh to do what they knew was right. There was no way they were going to allow helpless children (who are a blessing from God) be killed. Although the families of the babies the saved might have never know what the midwives did for them, God recognized their faithfulness and blessed them for it. Obedience to God takes precedence over obedience to anyone else. Obedience to the law is required for Christians, but when it contradicts the law of God, Christians obey God first.
And Jacob took his whole family to Egypt. After a while, the entire generation who had come into Egypt passed away. God caused the Hebrews to multiply greatly and they filled the land. The new pharaoh was afraid that the numerous Hebrews would join the enemies of Egypt so he had them enslaved. Even though they were treated harshly, the Hebrews kept growing in number. Pharaoh instructed the midwives to kill all the male Hebrews when born. The midwives obeyed God instead and did not kill them. They told Pharaoh that the Hebrew women gave birth before they could get there. God blessed the midwives with families because of their faith. Pharaoh then commanded that all Egyptians throw any male Hebrew babies they found into the Nile.
Random Historical Things
1. Although your version may not show it, the Book of Exodus starts with the word "and." It is a continuation of the story we just read in Genesis and is not meant to be understood separate from it.
2. In ancient Egyptian history there were many dynasties. As long as the line of pharaohs passed from son to son, it was considered the same dynasty. However, sometimes the Pharaoh did not have a son or the throne was snatched away from that family. Then a new dynasty was started. Probably the new pharaoh who started persecuting the Hebrews was the start of a new dynasty. This would explain why he would not have any ties to Jacob's family and may have been even more suspicious of them since they were loyal to the previous dynasty.
3. The prominence of women as heroes in this chapter is unusual in the literature of the time. The midwives stand as the heroes who disobeyed pharaoh and obeyed God to save the children of Israel. Once again, we see the Bible willing to place women in a position of honor even though the culture of the time did not see their value.
4. Midwives were often women who were barren. Since they did not have children of their own, they had time to deliver the other babies in the community. So for God to bless them with a family would have been a huge deal!
And So What We Have Learned Applies to Our Lives Today...
1. We see the promises of God to Abraham coming true. He told Abraham that Abraham would become a great nation with many descendants. Here in Exdous 1 we see the nothing can stop the Israelites from multiplying. The designs of the enemy to wipe out the line that would lead to Jesus does nothing to thrawt God's plan to make Abraham's descendants a great multitude. God always fulfills His promises! His faithfulness endures even though it may take time for the promises to be fulfilled.
2. We also see the growth of Israel in response to persecution. God's people always expand when someone is trying to stamp them out. The harder the Egyptians worked them, the more babies were born! In the same way, the harder the church has been attacked, the more it has grown. In Greek mythology there is a 7 headed creature called a hydra. For every head one cuts off of the hyra, 2 more grow in it's place. The harder you work to defeat it, the stronger you make it. This was true for Israel and it remains true for the church today. Let that strengthen your faith. The church can not be beat because God is on it's side!
3. Let us be motivated by the courage and faith of the midwives. They risked the wrath of pharaoh to do what they knew was right. There was no way they were going to allow helpless children (who are a blessing from God) be killed. Although the families of the babies the saved might have never know what the midwives did for them, God recognized their faithfulness and blessed them for it. Obedience to God takes precedence over obedience to anyone else. Obedience to the law is required for Christians, but when it contradicts the law of God, Christians obey God first.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Genesis 49-50: Jacob Becomes a Mummy
My Summary
Ch. 49: Jacob calls his sons together to issue his final words to them. Starting with Reuben, he proceeds to issue prophecies about each son and the tribe that would come from them. Afterwards, Jacob instructs his sons to bury him in the same field that Abraham purchased where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca and Leah were buried. Jacob dies and is gathered to his ancestors. Ch. 50: Joseph weeps over his father and orders mummification of Jacob. Joseph asks Pharaoh permission to bury Jacob in Canaan. Pharaoh approves and Joseph, his family and many Egyptian officials travel to Canaan to bury Jacob. The mourning in Canaan goes for seven days. Joseph's brothers are afraid that with the death of Jacob, Joseph may turn on them. They tell him that Jacob wished for them to be forgiven. Joseph tells them that God used their evil for good and Joseph will take care of them and their families. Joseph lives to be 110 years old and gets to see his great grandchildren. Joseph, before he dies, reminds his brothers that God will bring them out of the land one day and makes them promise to carry Joseph's bones with them.
Random Historical Things
1. The passage where Jacob blesses/curses his sons contains some of the most difficult translation issues in all of the Bible. Because of this there have been an amazing variety of interpretations of what each of the prophecies mean. Luckily, however, there are no major docrines that hang on the passage.
2. This is the first time we hear that Leah has died or where she is buried. Rachel, remember was buried somewhere else since she dies on a journey.
3. The passage says that Jacob's mummification process took 40 days and there was 70 days of mourning. Since a typical Hebrew mourning for important people (Moses, Aaron) was 30 days, it is likely that the 70 days is a total amount, so the process did not go on for 110 days.
4. Israel will be in Egypt for more than 400 years before God brings them out.
And So What We Have Learned Applies to Our Lives Today...
1. We see so clearly the devastating effects of sin. Even sin that has been forgiven can have long consequences, especially for those we have wronged. Even years later, we see Jacob's final words to Reuben (sleeping with Jacob's concubine), Simeon and Levi (sack of Shechem) tainted by the sins of their past. Their relationships were still strained. When we commit sin, especially against people we love, it can have a lasting impact. It can affect the our relationships and even pass the sin on to the next generation (I.E. Jacob's deceit carried on by his children). In the amazing grace we have been given, let us not be tempted to soften the impact of sin.
2. Along with the sin, we see amazing grace and forgiveness! Joseph's unconditional forgivenss for his brothers is unbelievable! Once Jacob died, Joseph could have made things very difficult for his brothers. However, not only does he forgive them, he promises to take care of them. When those who have wronged us come to us to beg for forgiveness, let us not just forgive them, but let us restore them to relationship with us.
3. Another thought on Simeon and Levi. Jacob pronounces judgment on them for the murders at Shechem. In the future, the tribe of Simeon slowly fades from view. Finally, in Deut. 33, when Moses blesses the tribes, he does not even mention Simeon! The descendants of Levi, however, takes Moses' side in the golden calf debacle. Moses has words of praise for them in Deut. 33.
4. In Genesis 3:1 we heard the first whisper of Jesus when God said that the woman's seed would crush the head of Satan. Genesis ends with another whisper of the Messiah that would come from Judah. Read Jacob's blessing to Judah and see if you can spot the prophecy about Jesus.
5. The crucial application from this chapter, and all of Genesis, is that God is sovereignly working His plan to redeem a fallen world and bring glory to Himself. He covenants with Abraham and his descendants to be a chosen people to serve Him and through whom He will bless the nations. Although Israel will fail in her task to be a nation that serves God, from them God will bring our Messiah and Savior. The Old Testament is not just something to skip over to get to Jesus. It is a vital part of God's salvation history and an important part of who Jesus is. It is the first part of God's plan to save man and bring him back into the relationship he had with God in the garden. Even in Genesis, however, we can already see a hint of looking forward to the Messiah who would complete the covenant with Abraham and save us from our sins. This will continue throughout the rest of the Old Testament as we will see in our study. Praise God for His plan to bring us salvation through His Son! Let us not lose faith that God's plan will continue to work exactly as He wants it until Jesus returns! We will then cease to be wanderers and strangers and finally be home!
Ch. 49: Jacob calls his sons together to issue his final words to them. Starting with Reuben, he proceeds to issue prophecies about each son and the tribe that would come from them. Afterwards, Jacob instructs his sons to bury him in the same field that Abraham purchased where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca and Leah were buried. Jacob dies and is gathered to his ancestors. Ch. 50: Joseph weeps over his father and orders mummification of Jacob. Joseph asks Pharaoh permission to bury Jacob in Canaan. Pharaoh approves and Joseph, his family and many Egyptian officials travel to Canaan to bury Jacob. The mourning in Canaan goes for seven days. Joseph's brothers are afraid that with the death of Jacob, Joseph may turn on them. They tell him that Jacob wished for them to be forgiven. Joseph tells them that God used their evil for good and Joseph will take care of them and their families. Joseph lives to be 110 years old and gets to see his great grandchildren. Joseph, before he dies, reminds his brothers that God will bring them out of the land one day and makes them promise to carry Joseph's bones with them.
Random Historical Things
1. The passage where Jacob blesses/curses his sons contains some of the most difficult translation issues in all of the Bible. Because of this there have been an amazing variety of interpretations of what each of the prophecies mean. Luckily, however, there are no major docrines that hang on the passage.
2. This is the first time we hear that Leah has died or where she is buried. Rachel, remember was buried somewhere else since she dies on a journey.
3. The passage says that Jacob's mummification process took 40 days and there was 70 days of mourning. Since a typical Hebrew mourning for important people (Moses, Aaron) was 30 days, it is likely that the 70 days is a total amount, so the process did not go on for 110 days.
4. Israel will be in Egypt for more than 400 years before God brings them out.
And So What We Have Learned Applies to Our Lives Today...
1. We see so clearly the devastating effects of sin. Even sin that has been forgiven can have long consequences, especially for those we have wronged. Even years later, we see Jacob's final words to Reuben (sleeping with Jacob's concubine), Simeon and Levi (sack of Shechem) tainted by the sins of their past. Their relationships were still strained. When we commit sin, especially against people we love, it can have a lasting impact. It can affect the our relationships and even pass the sin on to the next generation (I.E. Jacob's deceit carried on by his children). In the amazing grace we have been given, let us not be tempted to soften the impact of sin.
2. Along with the sin, we see amazing grace and forgiveness! Joseph's unconditional forgivenss for his brothers is unbelievable! Once Jacob died, Joseph could have made things very difficult for his brothers. However, not only does he forgive them, he promises to take care of them. When those who have wronged us come to us to beg for forgiveness, let us not just forgive them, but let us restore them to relationship with us.
3. Another thought on Simeon and Levi. Jacob pronounces judgment on them for the murders at Shechem. In the future, the tribe of Simeon slowly fades from view. Finally, in Deut. 33, when Moses blesses the tribes, he does not even mention Simeon! The descendants of Levi, however, takes Moses' side in the golden calf debacle. Moses has words of praise for them in Deut. 33.
4. In Genesis 3:1 we heard the first whisper of Jesus when God said that the woman's seed would crush the head of Satan. Genesis ends with another whisper of the Messiah that would come from Judah. Read Jacob's blessing to Judah and see if you can spot the prophecy about Jesus.
5. The crucial application from this chapter, and all of Genesis, is that God is sovereignly working His plan to redeem a fallen world and bring glory to Himself. He covenants with Abraham and his descendants to be a chosen people to serve Him and through whom He will bless the nations. Although Israel will fail in her task to be a nation that serves God, from them God will bring our Messiah and Savior. The Old Testament is not just something to skip over to get to Jesus. It is a vital part of God's salvation history and an important part of who Jesus is. It is the first part of God's plan to save man and bring him back into the relationship he had with God in the garden. Even in Genesis, however, we can already see a hint of looking forward to the Messiah who would complete the covenant with Abraham and save us from our sins. This will continue throughout the rest of the Old Testament as we will see in our study. Praise God for His plan to bring us salvation through His Son! Let us not lose faith that God's plan will continue to work exactly as He wants it until Jesus returns! We will then cease to be wanderers and strangers and finally be home!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Genesis 48: Jacob Is As Old As The Guy From "Up" Now
My Summary
Jacob gets sick, and Joseph comes to see him with Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob reminds Joseph of the blessings and promise of God. Jacob says that Joseph's sons will be considered as Jacob's when it comes to inheritance. Joseph then presents his sons to Jacob. Jacob blesses them, putting his right hand on Ephraim and his left on Manasseh and proceeds to bless them. Manasseh was the firstborn so Joseph tried to switch Jacob's hands, but Jacob tells him that the younger will be the greater. Jacob says that he is about to die, but offers a blesing and land to Joseph.
Random Historical Things
1. When Jacob refers to "the angel" in verse 16, he is looking back at many instances of angelic intervention in the lives and families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Gen. 16:7-11, 21:17, 22:11-18, 24:7, 24:40, 31:11, 32:25-31.
2. The younger being blessed above the elder happens several times in Genesis (Isaac/Ishmael, Jacob/Esau, Ephraim, Manasseh).
3. Jacob's blessing of making Ephraim and Manasseh like his sons elevates them to the position of having their own tribes of Israel named after them. This blessed them and Joseph, who instead of having one tribe named after him gets two named after his sons.
And So What We Have Learned Applies to Our Lives Today...
1. Notice that Joseph acknowledges that his children are gifts from God. This is something that he has learned from his ancestors. God was very evident in the births of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. We should always remember that children are a gift from God and they belong to Him.
2. We see Jacob making an effort to pass the promise of God to the future generations. He recounts the blessings given to him and his fathers, passes the blessing on to Joseph's sons and gives Joseph land in Canaan. Jacob does not believe that they will stay forever in Egypt. He believes that God will fulfill His promise and bring them back to the land one day. Jacob had faith through the end! He stayed the course! Even when things are going rough for us and God seems far away, have faith that God is bringing you home! No matter how long the journey in Egypt, the Promise Land is coming! Stay the course like Jacob and do not lose faith.
Jacob gets sick, and Joseph comes to see him with Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob reminds Joseph of the blessings and promise of God. Jacob says that Joseph's sons will be considered as Jacob's when it comes to inheritance. Joseph then presents his sons to Jacob. Jacob blesses them, putting his right hand on Ephraim and his left on Manasseh and proceeds to bless them. Manasseh was the firstborn so Joseph tried to switch Jacob's hands, but Jacob tells him that the younger will be the greater. Jacob says that he is about to die, but offers a blesing and land to Joseph.
Random Historical Things
1. When Jacob refers to "the angel" in verse 16, he is looking back at many instances of angelic intervention in the lives and families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Gen. 16:7-11, 21:17, 22:11-18, 24:7, 24:40, 31:11, 32:25-31.
2. The younger being blessed above the elder happens several times in Genesis (Isaac/Ishmael, Jacob/Esau, Ephraim, Manasseh).
3. Jacob's blessing of making Ephraim and Manasseh like his sons elevates them to the position of having their own tribes of Israel named after them. This blessed them and Joseph, who instead of having one tribe named after him gets two named after his sons.
And So What We Have Learned Applies to Our Lives Today...
1. Notice that Joseph acknowledges that his children are gifts from God. This is something that he has learned from his ancestors. God was very evident in the births of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. We should always remember that children are a gift from God and they belong to Him.
2. We see Jacob making an effort to pass the promise of God to the future generations. He recounts the blessings given to him and his fathers, passes the blessing on to Joseph's sons and gives Joseph land in Canaan. Jacob does not believe that they will stay forever in Egypt. He believes that God will fulfill His promise and bring them back to the land one day. Jacob had faith through the end! He stayed the course! Even when things are going rough for us and God seems far away, have faith that God is bringing you home! No matter how long the journey in Egypt, the Promise Land is coming! Stay the course like Jacob and do not lose faith.
Genesis 47: You Can Live in Goshen, The One in Egypt Not Indiana
My Summary
Joseph takes 5 of his brothers before Pharaoh. Pharaoh asks their occupation and they tell him they are shepherds. They ask to settle in Goshen, and Pharaoh not only gives his permission, but invites them to herd his royal flocks. Joseph then brings Jacob before Pharaoh. Jacob blesses Pharaoh and tells Pharaoh his advanced age and about his difficult life. Jacob's family settles in Goshen and Joseph provides them with what they need. The Egyptians quickly spend all of their money on grain. Then they trade their livestock to Joseph for food, Finally, they trade their land and even themselves as servants for food. Jacob and Pharaoh, who now own the land, give the people seed to plan and command that 20 percent be given as a tax. When Jacob was getting ready to die, he asks Joseph to promise to bury him in Canaan. Joseph swears that he will.
Random Historical Things
1. Jacob was already 130 when he met Pharaoh, and he would live for another 17 years. But his life seemed short to him because of the lives of his ancestors. Abraham lived to be 175 and Isaac died at 180!
2. The mention of horses in verse 17 is important. Horses were not introduced to Egypt until the 17th centure BC, which helps us get a general idea of the date for Joseph. Also, horses were only owned by the richer Egyptians, which shows how drastic the economy of Egypt has become.
3. The 20 percent tax levied by Joseph and Pharaoh on the people was much less than what we see in other documents from the Near Eastern nations of the time.
And So What We Have Learned Applies to Our Lives Today...
1. I only have 1 application from today's chapter. God definitely intervened to make sure that Jacob's family stayed separate. Pharaoh could have put them in a position there in the capital city. They could have lived like royalty in Joseph's house. However, because they were shepherds, they were put into the land of Goshen where the purity of their beliefs would not be corrupted. While we are called to reach the world, we are not called to be like the world. Everybody knew that this family in Goshen was different. Nobody thought they were just another Egyptian family. When people look at Christ's church, they should see something different. It should not just be another group of people, we should be recognizable as strangers and aliens in this world and society.
"How much better it is to possess a remote corner in the courts of the Lord, than to dwell in the midst of palaces, beyond the precincts of the church."
John Calvin's Commentary on Genesis
Joseph takes 5 of his brothers before Pharaoh. Pharaoh asks their occupation and they tell him they are shepherds. They ask to settle in Goshen, and Pharaoh not only gives his permission, but invites them to herd his royal flocks. Joseph then brings Jacob before Pharaoh. Jacob blesses Pharaoh and tells Pharaoh his advanced age and about his difficult life. Jacob's family settles in Goshen and Joseph provides them with what they need. The Egyptians quickly spend all of their money on grain. Then they trade their livestock to Joseph for food, Finally, they trade their land and even themselves as servants for food. Jacob and Pharaoh, who now own the land, give the people seed to plan and command that 20 percent be given as a tax. When Jacob was getting ready to die, he asks Joseph to promise to bury him in Canaan. Joseph swears that he will.
Random Historical Things
1. Jacob was already 130 when he met Pharaoh, and he would live for another 17 years. But his life seemed short to him because of the lives of his ancestors. Abraham lived to be 175 and Isaac died at 180!
2. The mention of horses in verse 17 is important. Horses were not introduced to Egypt until the 17th centure BC, which helps us get a general idea of the date for Joseph. Also, horses were only owned by the richer Egyptians, which shows how drastic the economy of Egypt has become.
3. The 20 percent tax levied by Joseph and Pharaoh on the people was much less than what we see in other documents from the Near Eastern nations of the time.
And So What We Have Learned Applies to Our Lives Today...
1. I only have 1 application from today's chapter. God definitely intervened to make sure that Jacob's family stayed separate. Pharaoh could have put them in a position there in the capital city. They could have lived like royalty in Joseph's house. However, because they were shepherds, they were put into the land of Goshen where the purity of their beliefs would not be corrupted. While we are called to reach the world, we are not called to be like the world. Everybody knew that this family in Goshen was different. Nobody thought they were just another Egyptian family. When people look at Christ's church, they should see something different. It should not just be another group of people, we should be recognizable as strangers and aliens in this world and society.
"How much better it is to possess a remote corner in the courts of the Lord, than to dwell in the midst of palaces, beyond the precincts of the church."
John Calvin's Commentary on Genesis
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Genesis 45-46: J/K, I Am Actually Joseph Not An Egyptian!
My Summary
Ch. 45: Joseph could not longer control his emotions. So he sent everyone away and told his brothers who he was. They were terrified, but Joseph assured them that God had used their evil for good. God had sent Joseph to Egypt to be able to save them. Joseph sends the brothers back to bring Jacob and the family to live in Goshen in Egypt. He gives them many gifts as proof for Jacob that Joseph is still alive. Pharaoh heard about Joseph's brothers and repeated the invitation to come live in Egypt. At first Jacob does not believe, but finally is convinced and decides to head to Egypt. Ch. 46: On the way to Egypt, Jacob stops at Beersheba where God appears to him and supports the move to Egypt. God promises that He will make Jacob into a nation there and that Joseph would be with Jacob when he dies. The next several verses list the sons and grandsons of Jacob. Jacob sends Judah ahead to get directions to Goshen. Joseph takes off in his chariot to meet his father. Joseph instructs his family to emphasize to Pharaoh that they are shepherds.
Random Historical Things
1. We do not know for sure where the land of Goshen, which Joseph promises to Jacob's family, is in Egypt. Most archaeologists believe it is in Northern Egypt in the Nile River Delta.
2. Joseph tells his family that the Egyptians despised shepherds. We do not have any other historical data to confirm this. It does not mean it is not true, but it is also possible that Joseph meant "shepherds that aren't Egyptians," since historical documents do show the Egyptians looked down on those from other countries.
And So What We Have Learned Applies to Our Lives Today...
1. Joseph's speech to his brothers is a great example of the doctrine of God's sovereignty and the doctrine of human responsibility. Joseph tells his brothers that even though they meant to do evil, God used it for good. Good and bad circumstances are part of God's plan. Although God is not the author of evil, He is the One who ordains everything that happens. It is not just that He sees when people do bad and works around it, but their evil is part of His plan to glorify Himself and save sinful humans. However, the brothers could not say, "Well it was God's plan, so we did nothing wrong." We as humans still have responsibility for what we do! The brothers still suffered dearly for what they did. So God's sovereignty and man's responsibility exist side by side. It may sound confusing, but it is present all throughout the Bible. So we must try our best to always do right, but at the same time be secure in the knowledge that we can not mess up God's plan!
2. Abraham was a wanderer for a hundred years. He never settled down and was always a stranger in the land. When Isaac thought he would settle down, a famine forced him to wander once more in a foreign land. Jacob was in Haran for 20 years, and when he returned he tried to settle down. Then another famine sends Jacob's family to Egypt where they will be aliens for 430 years. There is a lesson there from the Patriarchs. The Promised Land is before them, but until then they are foreigners and strangers in a land not their own. In the same way, we are aliens and strangers in this world. Our home is in front of us, but we are not there yet! Let us not get too homey here with the world! Our home is yet to come! 1 Peter 1:1, 1 Peter 2:11
3. Finally we see Joseph's forgiveness of his brothers. He was in a position to pay them back, and he welcome them with tears and hugs! In the same way, we should not only forgive those who wrong us, but be ready to restore them.
Ch. 45: Joseph could not longer control his emotions. So he sent everyone away and told his brothers who he was. They were terrified, but Joseph assured them that God had used their evil for good. God had sent Joseph to Egypt to be able to save them. Joseph sends the brothers back to bring Jacob and the family to live in Goshen in Egypt. He gives them many gifts as proof for Jacob that Joseph is still alive. Pharaoh heard about Joseph's brothers and repeated the invitation to come live in Egypt. At first Jacob does not believe, but finally is convinced and decides to head to Egypt. Ch. 46: On the way to Egypt, Jacob stops at Beersheba where God appears to him and supports the move to Egypt. God promises that He will make Jacob into a nation there and that Joseph would be with Jacob when he dies. The next several verses list the sons and grandsons of Jacob. Jacob sends Judah ahead to get directions to Goshen. Joseph takes off in his chariot to meet his father. Joseph instructs his family to emphasize to Pharaoh that they are shepherds.
Random Historical Things
1. We do not know for sure where the land of Goshen, which Joseph promises to Jacob's family, is in Egypt. Most archaeologists believe it is in Northern Egypt in the Nile River Delta.
2. Joseph tells his family that the Egyptians despised shepherds. We do not have any other historical data to confirm this. It does not mean it is not true, but it is also possible that Joseph meant "shepherds that aren't Egyptians," since historical documents do show the Egyptians looked down on those from other countries.
And So What We Have Learned Applies to Our Lives Today...
1. Joseph's speech to his brothers is a great example of the doctrine of God's sovereignty and the doctrine of human responsibility. Joseph tells his brothers that even though they meant to do evil, God used it for good. Good and bad circumstances are part of God's plan. Although God is not the author of evil, He is the One who ordains everything that happens. It is not just that He sees when people do bad and works around it, but their evil is part of His plan to glorify Himself and save sinful humans. However, the brothers could not say, "Well it was God's plan, so we did nothing wrong." We as humans still have responsibility for what we do! The brothers still suffered dearly for what they did. So God's sovereignty and man's responsibility exist side by side. It may sound confusing, but it is present all throughout the Bible. So we must try our best to always do right, but at the same time be secure in the knowledge that we can not mess up God's plan!
2. Abraham was a wanderer for a hundred years. He never settled down and was always a stranger in the land. When Isaac thought he would settle down, a famine forced him to wander once more in a foreign land. Jacob was in Haran for 20 years, and when he returned he tried to settle down. Then another famine sends Jacob's family to Egypt where they will be aliens for 430 years. There is a lesson there from the Patriarchs. The Promised Land is before them, but until then they are foreigners and strangers in a land not their own. In the same way, we are aliens and strangers in this world. Our home is in front of us, but we are not there yet! Let us not get too homey here with the world! Our home is yet to come! 1 Peter 1:1, 1 Peter 2:11
3. Finally we see Joseph's forgiveness of his brothers. He was in a position to pay them back, and he welcome them with tears and hugs! In the same way, we should not only forgive those who wrong us, but be ready to restore them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)