Thursday, January 22

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

Genesis 44:1–45:28

Matthew 14:13–36

Psalm 18:37–50

Proverbs 4:11–13

 

 

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”  When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!  And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  For two years now, there has been famine in the land, and, for the next five years, there will not be plowing and reaping.  But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

 

“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.  He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.  Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says:  God has made me lord of all Egypt.  Come down to me; don’t delay.  You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me – you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.  I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come.  Otherwise, you and your household and all who belong to you will become desolate.” (Genesis 45:4–11)

 

 

After having spent several years in Egypt and experiencing God’s provision in Potiphar’s house, in prison, and in Pharaoh’s service, Joseph has received some perspective on his brothers’ selling him into slavery via the Midianite merchants.  In his remarks, we may understand more about God’s sovereign purpose for His people (as represented by Jacob’s now-extended family) and for His servant Joseph.

 

Like us, Joseph may have struggled to understand the purpose of his brothers’ betrayal.  The time in Potiphar’s household or the Egyptian prison may have seemed pointless.  Yet, in those arenas and later as Pharaoh’s second-in-command, Joseph served honorably as a steward, not just of the Egyptians’ resources but ultimately of God’s resources.  Joseph’s faithfulness had prepared the way for this opportunity to rescue his family and, in turn, to provide fertile ground for building a sizable nation.

 

Sometimes, we may doubt whether our individual faithfulness to God’s purposes for our lives makes any difference.  We may reason that, given our fallen nature, we are destined to continue falling short.  Our “humility” might lead us to have a low opinion of our role, thinking that pastors and other Christian leaders’ faithfulness holds far greater importance.

 

Rather, God desires our individual faithfulness as a key to unlocking deeper intimacy with Him and to unveiling His promises to His people.  Joseph’s tireless service in adverse conditions stands as a great testimony to this principle.  In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30), the master rewards his servants based on their faithfulness to their calling, not based on their initial potential.  In preparing a Bible study this week, I noticed the key role of Abraham’s obedience as part of God’s promise in Genesis 22:15–18:  “The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.  Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

 

That our lives would have some part in God’s purposes offers a sure sign of the dignity and value of human life.  May we rejoice in seeking God wholeheartedly, following Him, and pursuing Christlike character and the wise stewardship of Joseph and Daniel!

 

 

On a side note, I had the opportunity to watch a movie called Patterns of Evidence:  Exodus (http://www.patternsofevidence.com/en/) on Monday evening.  The filmmaker, Timothy Mahoney, spent 10 years trying to uncover the reality of ancient Egypt and Israel from the archaeology.

 

Based on this film, there appears to be compelling evidence that Joseph and his 11 brothers lived in an ancient city called Avaris (in Goshen).  Archaeologists have discovered a pyramid tomb (fit for Pharaoh’s second-in-command) and 11 other tombs on the site of one home, which itself featured 12 columns, in that city.  When the archaeologists opened this pyramid tomb, the human remains were not found, which would corroborate with Exodus 13:19 about Moses’s removal of Joseph’s bones.

 

The movie contained many other convincing pieces of evidence regarding the Exodus and the conquest of the Promised Land.  I found the discussion of Jericho’s demise quite fascinating, as the archaeological evidence again matches extremely well with the Biblical accounts.

 

I highly recommend this movie and would be happy to organize a showing at Grace Church.

 

 

Lord God, we give You thanks for the account of Your servant Joseph.  Transform our hearts and minds so that we may likewise serve You faithfully, even in those challenging periods that seem pointless.  Give birth to our faithfulness through Your faithfulness and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  Make us ready for Your purposes.  We love You and seek to honor You today.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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