# 433 God Rules the Nations

The Book of Genesis

Day 433

Ge 47:1 Then Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and said, "My father and my brothers, their flocks and their herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; and indeed they are in the land of Goshen."  2 And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.  3 Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers."  4 And they said to Pharaoh, "We have come to dwell in the land, because your servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen."  5 Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, "Your father and your brothers have come to you.  6 "The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock."

The land of Goshen. It’s an interesting piece of real estate. Big enough to allow God’s people to grow and prosper from the original 70 souls to around 3 million  men, women, and children by the time they leave in the great exodus 400 years later.

It was well suited for raising livestock and tending sheep. It was strategically located along the eastern entrance to Egypt and seems strange that Pharaoh would allow a strange people to settle along this vulnerable border. But maybe not so strange when you consider a few things about God:

Isa 40:22,23 says, “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.  23 He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless.

And in  Job 12:21-24, “He pours contempt on princes, And disarms the mighty.  22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness, And brings the shadow of death to light.  23 He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them.  24 He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.”

This is great stuff from the Bible for those of you who may be history buffs! Think about all the great conquerors throughout history. We often look back with wonder at the apparently stupid things they did that brought about their downfall. We can’t believe it!

Well, believe this! Men do stupid things when their “understanding is taken away,” and God obviously has the power to do it. It’s HIS STORY, not THEIR STORY!

Giving the land of Goshen to the Israelites was not the smartest political ploy for Pharaoh. Not only did it leave his eastern border vulnerable, but it was the best place from which to stage the exodus. It was from the land of Goshen that the Israelites would escape from Egypt to the glory and praise of Almighty God! The God whom we see here, was way ahead of everyone else. How foolish then for us to look to anything or anyone else for our help. Our help is in the name of the Lord!

# 432 Pastor: Are You An Abomination?

The Book of Genesis

Day 432

Ge 46:31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, 'My brothers and those of my father's house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.  32 'And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.'  33 "So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, 'What is your occupation?'  34 "that you shall say, 'Your servants' occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,' that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians."

A word for the shepherds in our midst today. By that I mean the pastors of our local congregations. How does the world perceive you? As a shepherd, are you considered an abomination to the Egyptians? (The world)

Of course that doesn’t mean you need to do everything in your power to be obnoxious to the unbelieving world. If you are preaching and teaching God’s Word correctly, you’ll be considered obnoxious enough! The message you are charged with bringing from the pulpit ought to be obnoxious to the world because it is contrary to everything the world wants to believe about God!

The world wants to believe that there will be no judgment. They want to believe that God would never allow any person to spend eternity in the everlasting torment of hell. But listen to what the Holy Spirit tells us in  2Pe 2:4-9, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;  5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;  6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;  7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked  8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) --  9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

Somehow, that doesn’t sound like everyone will be on the inside of the pearly gates!

As obnoxious as the message of judgment is to the world, the message of the gospel is even more obnoxious! The world wants to believe that man can do something to aid his salvation. They want to believe that somehow they can or will be good enough to get to heaven. But the good shepherd, the faithful shepherd keeps condemning the self-righteous and preaching the free gift of salvation through the gospel 

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

My shepherd friends. Keep proclaiming this obnoxious message. It is an abomination to the world, but it is also the world’s only hope! The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe!

# 431 God Is In Control

The Book of Genesis

Day 431

Ge 46:28 Then he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out before him the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen.  29 So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.  30 And Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive."

So Judah is selected to lead the remnant to the land of Goshen. It is only fitting and reminds us that the Lion of Judah, (Jesus Christ) leads the remnant today!

Joseph readies his chariot and drives up to meet his father in the land of Goshen. What a tearful and joyous reunion that must’ve been as Jacob sees his son whom he thought was dead was now alive!  He blurts out, “Let me die!” In other words, “take me to heaven Lord, my life is complete! I have seen my son, and he is alive.” My prayer is for all who have prodigals to be able to experience that kind of joy! 

Jacob’s words remind me of a man named Simeon who spoke at the dedication of the child Jesus. It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. The Spirit led him to the temple on the very day that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus in. Simeon picked up the child Jesus and said, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace according to Your Word; For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

Simeon and Jacob had in essence seen the same thing. They had seen the faithfulness of God. Jacob maybe didn’t realize it, but he was looking at the promise of God continuing to unfold in this remnant of his. The promise of a great nation, a nation that would be used of God to bring His plan of salvation to the world.

Simeon was holding that very plan in his arms. A reminder to all of us that God is faithful….He is in charge! None of the scheming of the world, our flesh, or the devil will defeat God’s purposes.

A lot happened between Jacob’s tearful reunion with Joseph and Simeon’s holding of the baby Jesus, but through it all, God remained faithful and true to His promises. He still is faithful today. Maybe you are in a place today where you just needed to be reminded of that. I encourage you to hang on!

# 430 Always A Remnant

The Book of Genesis

Day 430

Ge 46:26 All the persons who went with Jacob to Egypt, who came from his body, besides Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all.  27 And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy.

The genealogy having been presented, we come up with a total of 70 people. This same number is used in Ex 1:5, and in Dt 10:22. However, in Acts 7:14, Stephen uses the number 75. What gives? Is the Bible inconsistent? Untrustworthy?  Not at all! Stephen likely has included the 5 sons of Manasseh and Ephraim mentioned in Num 26:28-37.

But it’s really not about the exact number, it’s more about the fact that there is a remnant. A remnant could be defined  as a nucleus of peoples and nations involved in God’s plan of salvation. God would take this small number of people and build from them a great nation.  They would face tremendous persecution along the way, but God’s Old Testament church would prevail!

I find it interesting that Stephen would mention that specific number in the sermon he gave shortly before he was stoned to death. I believe the reason he mentioned it again was to connect the fledgling church of his day with the fledgling church of Jacob’s.  God’s plan of salvation would advance no matter what kind of persecution or other obstacles would come its way!

We can take heart from this example. We never have to worry as Elijah did. Remember? He thought he was the only one left in Israel who had not bowed his knee to Baal. But God showed him that He had reserved a remnant of 7000.

I have been blessed by God and given numerous opportunities to worship in all sorts of church settings and denominations, and I am pleased to report that in every church I have ever visited or preached in, God has shown me a remnant.

There are people in every congregation who do not simple go through the motions. There are people in every church who are not relying on their own goodness and works to get to heaven. There are people who appreciated ritual but appreciate their relationship with Jesus even more. There are people who are simply sold out to Jesus, sold out to the bedrock confession that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God!  It is upon this confession that Jesus said HE will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!

Are you in the remnant? Take heart!  God is with you, you will prevail.

But for those who are still playing games with their relationship with Jesus, listen to what Jesus said in Joh 8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

Strong words, but you better believe them. Believe that Jesus is the sent One from the Father, the Messiah, and surrender to Him as your Savior and Lord today. Repent of your ways and receive His free gift of forgiveness. Join the remnant, lest you perish in your sins!

#429 God, the Great Bookkeeper

The Book of Genesis

Day 429

Ge 46:6 So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him.  7 His sons and his sons' sons, his daughters and his sons' daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.  8 Now these were the names of the children of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben was Jacob's firstborn.  9 The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.  10 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.  11 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.  12 The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.  13 The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron.  14 The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.  15 These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the persons, his sons and his daughters, were thirty-three.  16 The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.  17 The sons of Asher were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah, their sister. And the sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel.  18 These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob: sixteen persons.  19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife, were Joseph and Benjamin.  20 And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him.  21 The sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.  22 These were the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: fourteen persons in all.  23 The son of Dan was Hushim.  24 The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.  25 These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob: seven persons in all.

God is certainly a great bookkeeper! Of course, this is not the only genealogy that you will find in Scripture. Usually we find these genealogies at significant points in history. Places and events where changes are about to take place. It’s like God is saying, “there are changes coming, but I want you to know that I am aware of them. I am aware of every individual involved in these changes, and I want you to know that there will be continuity with My master plan.

Further evidence of God’s penchant for bookkeeping can be found in the biblical references to the “Book of Life.” Paul mentions it  in Php 4:3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

We see reference to this “Book” several times in the Book of Revelation. For instance in Re 3:5 we read,  "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”

We know then that “overcomers” will not have their names blotted out of the Book of Life! On the other hand, some will not bow their knee to the Lamb and thereby worship the prince of darkness, and they will be missing from the Book of Life! Re 13:7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.  8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (You are either with God or against Him! There is no middle ground!) (Mt 12:30)

God not only keeps books with names, but He also keeps a list of deeds. Now, pay attention here because this is very important. Re 20:12-15 says, “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.  13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.  14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Two sets of Books. One set just filled with the names of men and their deeds. The other, just names, no deeds. Just the names of those who will have eternal life. Your name will be in one or the other.

Those who think that they can get to heaven by being good will have their deeds recounted and they will see how far short they fall. Those who are trusting in the finished work of Jesus alone  will have their names and only their names in the Book of Life! Their deeds having been done in Jesus, and therefore there is no need to list them in this Book. Those in Christ will enter the holy city and live in eternal bliss with Jesus forever.

Those whose name is found alongside their list of deeds that they trusted in for salvation will be tossed into the lake of fire where they will be tormented eternally. The very listing of their deeds serve as a testimony against them.

Is your name in the Book of Life? Are you trusting in Jesus alone for your salvation? Are you ready to admit that your perceived goodness is as filthy rags? Then repent of your arrogance and throw yourself at the mercy of God. Believe that the Father sent Jesus to die for your deeds, and receive Him as your Savior and Lord.

# 428 Knowing the Will of God

The Book of Genesis

Day 428

Ge 46:3 So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.  4 "I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."  5 Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the carts which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.”

Jacob evidently had some concerns about leaving the Promised Land for Egypt. God addresses those concerns first of all by reminding Jacob who he is talking to. “”I am God!” “I’m in charge in Egypt as well as anywhere else. I will go with you , I will bring your family back out again, and Joseph, whom you thought was dead, will be with you when you die!

That’s all Jacob needed to hear! He immediately uncircled the wagons and took off for Egypt.

There are many uncertainties in life and Jacob was facing some of those in Beersheba. You and I also face uncertainties and it’s good to know that we can talk to the God who is in charge about these uncertainties. Questions like, “Should I take this other job? Should we pull up stakes and move to another community? Is this the person you want me to marry?” The questions are many and of great importance to us.

As Christians we should know that if we want something to prosper, we ought to first of all make sure it is within the will of God. As followers of Jesus  it should be our desire to act, go, and do according to what God has said in His Word.

Can you imagine Jacob responding to these words from God with, “No thanks God, I think we’ll just stay here and ask you to bless that instead.”

The first step in seeking God’s direction is humility. Humble yourself under the hand of God, and He will get you where you need to be. 1Pe 5:6 says, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,”

The difficult part is, more often than not, God’s Word and His calls to obedience are contrary to what our flesh desires and we wind up doing things contrary to God’s Word. We rush ahead of Him asking Him to bless our mess. A mess that could’ve been avoided, if we had listened to Him and His Word in the first place.

# 427 How To Get Your Name In the Faith Hall of Fame

The Book of Genesis

Day 427

Ge 46:2 Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob!" And he said, "Here I am."

God speaks to Jacob in a vision at night. Remember, Jacob didn’t have a Bible like you and I, and even though God may speak to us in visions, now we have the blessing of His more sure prophetic Word! (2 Pet 1:19) …the Bible.  No matter how God speaks to you and I, the final word must come from the Scriptures.

So God calls to Jacob and let’s notice his reply. “Here I am.” If you’ve been following my blogs and on air devotions through the years, you ought to know by now how much I like these three words!

Listen to the list of people who have responded to God with these three little words.

Abraham (Gen 22:1,11)

Jacob (Gen 31:11)

Moses (Ex 3:4)

Samuel (1 Sam 3:4)

Isaiah ( Is 6:8)

Ananais (Acts 9:10)

These are saints that are quoted directly, but there are many more examples in Scripture of men and women who have made themselves available to do the bidding of the Lord. Hebrews chapter 11 is filled with people who responded affirmatively to God’s call. This chapter in Hebrews is often referred to  as the “faith hall of fame.”

It really doesn’t take all that much to get into the “faith hall of fame,” just be willing, like Jacob, Abraham, and the others to simply respond to God’s call with a “here I am Lord, what is it that you would have me to do”….and then do it! Don’t worry about circumstantial evidence that can create fear and doubt and tells you it can’t be done. If God is calling you to do it, He will provide what is necessary to accomplish the task. Just make sure you are hearing from God and not your flesh.

By the way, there is one more Being who responded with the words “Here I am” in Scripture. You’ll find it in Isa 58:9, “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,”

What must we do to elicit such a response from God? Let’s see what it says in Isa 58:6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?

 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

 10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

 11 The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

 12 Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

 13 "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words,

 14 Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken."

 Wow! Seems that things like caring for the poor, not being self-righteous, and regular worship, all come into play here! This is power for prayer! Don’t neglect these things! For when you do them, your Creator says,  “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'

# 426 In the Name of Jesus

The Book of Genesis

Day 426

Ge 46:1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

Jacob (Israel) packs up all his belongings and heads to Egypt. Along the way he stops at Beersheba. This was the southernmost city in Palestine, and if you look at a map, you’ll see it was along the trade route to Egypt. I picture it almost like St. Louis in the early days of America. It was the gateway to the west. It was at St Louis that many went all in with new chapters in their lives, and that’s what Jacob is doing at Beersheba. No wonder he stopped and made sacrifices. (Don’t forget that it was at Beersheba that Abraham worshiped, and it was the place where the Lord reaffirmed His covenant with Isaac. .

Stepping out of the Promised land and into Egypt, it seems only fitting that Jacob would pause and make a sacrifice to God in remembrance of that covenant. These sacrifices in the Old Testament were ways of honoring God, and touching base with Him. We may think it strange, but hold on!

When we pray, when we seek to “touch base with God,” through prayer, it’s the same thing. Virtually every Christian wraps up his time of prayer with God by saying, “In Jesus Name I pray.” Okay, what was Jesus but not the ultimate sacrifice?

So you see, even today, when we pray, when we seek God’s face, when we petition Him, when we seek assurance from Him, we too offer up a sacrifice in the sense that we remember the sacrifice of Jesus for us! And in the power of that sacrifice and through the blood of Jesus we may come boldly to the throne of grace bearing our needs.

When we pray, “In the name of Jesus,” we are telling God that we remember the sacrifice of his only Son for our sins. We reaffirm our love for Him, acknowledging that He is the only way we can approach a holy God! Such prayers catch the ear of the Father, because we ask in the name of His Son, in whom He is well pleased.

# 425 A Plea For Unity

The Book of Genesis

Day 425

Ge 45:24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, "See that you do not become troubled along the way."  25 Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father.  26 And they told him, saying, "Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt." And Jacob's heart stood still, because he did not believe them.  27 But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.  28 Then Israel said, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

Here’s a father who for years has grieved over a lost son whom he imagined had been mauled to death by a wild animal, and now, in one lightning bolt moment, finds out he is alive! Try to imagine the emotions he must have been experiencing!

Now imagine your own heavenly Father, who has seen you sold into the slavery of sin. Oh how He grieves for His lost children. He loves you and I so much that He sent His only Son to die for our sins and redeem us. And oh the joy in heaven, when just one child repents and comes to faith in Jesus Christ! Jesus tells us in  Lu 15:7 "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

It was likely a very emotional moment for you when you came to saving faith in Jesus, but it is an even more emotional moment in heaven!

As we conclude this chapter in Genesis, I think there is one more vital lesson for us. It’s found in Joseph’s parting advice to his brothers: “See that you do not become troubled along the way.” The King James says, “see that ye fall not out by the way.”  In other words, “see that there are no “falling outs” between you on your way home.”

Are you listening church? Do you hear the plea for unity here? It is reminiscent of Jesus’ prayer for unity  in  Joh 17:20,21  "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Jesus was praying that you and I would not “fall out by the way.” That we would have unity on the way home to our Father! Why? That the world may believe!. This is vital! This is a key to powerful evangelism!

Unity without sacrificing essential truth will go a long way in winning souls to Christ.

# 424 God’s Provisions

The Book of Genesis

Day 424

Ge 45:21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey.  22 He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments.  23 And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey.

Pharaoh orders Joseph to give his brothers provision for the journey.

Our heavenly Father does the same for us! Jesus told us in Mt 6:31-33,  "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

But God not only provides for our physical needs, He also provides for our spiritual needs for the journey through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples in Joh 14:26  "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Joseph also gave each man a change of garments, and I am reminded of the promise of Re 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”

Time after time in the New Testament, we are reminded to put on Christ. Ro 13:14 says, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

And in  Ga 3:27 we read, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Then in  Col 3:9,10, “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,  10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,”

God gives us new white garments in Christ at our baptism and He also gives us provision to keep them laundered on a daily basis, through confession and receiving His promise of forgiveness, and by applying the spiritual bleach of righteous acts prompted by the Holy Spirit.

 Re 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Let us thank the Lord daily for His spiritual and physical provision for each of us as we journey home

# 423 Restored Fellowship

The Book of Genesis

Day 423

Ge 45:14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.  15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.  16 Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, "Joseph's brothers have come." So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well.  17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan.  18 'Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.  19 'Now you are commanded-do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come.  20 'Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"

Joseph quite naturally goes to His blood brother first. Then, he turns his attention to his half-brothers and likewise kisses and weeps over them. This display of affection for Benjamin and his brothers, is reminiscent of the reunion of the prodigal son and his father in Luke 15:20! “ his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

One thing is certainly clear….all is forgiven!

I want to spend time today on verse 15. That part where we read, “after that his brothers talked with him.” The Hebrew word for “talk” here is dawbar.. It means “to arrange.” In this case to arrange words, to speak in a conversation. But the word can also mean “to subdue.” Think about it, when you “Arrange” something like a room, or a bouquet or even military ranks, the objects in a sense have been “subdued” The word can also mean to declare or commune. I mention all of these because in this reunion, I’m getting a picture of the fellowship in the body of Christ.

Joseph, a type of Christ, goes to His blood brother Benjamin first, then to his half-brothers. Grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness abounds, and after all has been restored through forgiveness, fellowship or “dawbar” breaks out!.....They speak. Sin has been subdued, lives put back in order and they now have communion with each other.

When we celebrate communion or the Lord’s Supper in church today, we are a reflection of this kind of restored fellowship, but it is nothing compared to what is to come.

Pharaoh, who could represent the heavenly Father here. And His servants, perhaps representative of God’s angels, hear of the restored fellowship and are well-pleased.” (v16) Pharaoh then says to Joseph, “Bring your father and your households and come to me. I will give you the best of the land. Do not be concerned about your goods”……Does that sound like God or what? How He and the angels rejoice over every restored soul! Lu 15:10 says,  "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

# 422 Building Something Better

The Book of Genesis

Day 422

Ge 45:9 "Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph: "God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry.  10 "You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children's children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have.  11 "There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine."'  12 "And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you.  13 "So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here."

What a beautiful message from Joseph to his father. All these years of grief swallowed up in the news that his son Joseph is alive and very well. But after the good news was digested, I wonder if any thought was given to the promise that God had  made to Jacob at Bethel. Ge 35:12 "The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land."

 It had taken Jacob years to break away from Laban before he was finally able to enter and possess the land, but now Joseph was asking him to leave. I wonder if any thought was given to the prophecy given to Abraham concerning this move? Remember? When  the deep sleep had fallen upon Abraham, horror and darkness came with it, as God showed him that his descendants would be strangers in a land that was not theirs, and they would serve these strangers and be afflicted by them for 400 years! Of course the rest of that promise would be that they would eventually see judgment fall upon their oppressors and they would come out of the land with great possessions. (See Gen 15:12-14)

We really have no clue as to whether he thought about it or not. It really didn’t matter. Due to the famine, they were going to have to move or die! In God’s plan, they needed to be in Egypt and God is getting them there. It was all part of His plan to make them a great nation.

Have you ever thought about God’s plans for you? It is His desire to bless you just as He blessed Abraham. Heb 6:10-14 reminds us: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,  12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.  13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,  14 saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you."

 These are not just any old promises, they are promises from a faithful God!

I don’t know where God is calling you to exercise faith and/or patience right now, but I encourage you not to become weary. Don’t lose hope, and don’t get sluggish He may be calling you to let go of something you cherish, something you may even feel is rightfully yours. Jacob had to let go of the promised land in order for God to build something bigger and better. This is the same kind of faith and patience we need to exercise in our own lives, allowing God to build something bigger and better for us as well.

# 421 Like A Perfect Chess Master

The Book of Genesis

Day 421

Ge 45:5 "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.  6 "For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.  7 "And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  8 "So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Joseph, a friend of God. We are not privy to his devotional prayer life, but it’s clear he has been walking with the Lord. For he is able to put God’s spin on the situation.

Jesus, speaking to His disciples, said in Joh 15:15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Joseph has heard from the Father in that he knows in spite of the wickedness of his brothers, God is still in charge. Nothing can thwart His plan of salvation. Why not forgive his brothers? God has used their attempt at wickedness to bring about ultimate good.  Joseph is saying to his brothers, “Don’t you see what’s happening here? There is famine in the land and there’s still another five years to go. If you weren’t pulled out of Canaan, and if I’m not second in charge of all Egypt….we die! The Hebrews, God’s chosen people to bring the Messiah to the world, cease to exist! God’s plan of salvation is down the tubes!”

But God will not let that happen. He is like the chess master who is always several moves ahead of his opponent. Anticipating man’s sin, man’s wicked moves, the weakness of his faltering saints, private plots, international intrigue, or whatever, God is still able to bring about His purposes. His purpose is to save and deliver His church, His people. He desires all to come to repentance. He desires all to become a part of His church and therefore, be delivered.

Many times, it looked like it was all over for Joseph, but God came through! Do not worry about the things the world throws at you, rather concentrate on being God’s friend, walking with Him. We do that by daily surrender to Christ, because when we are surrendered to Him He fills us with His Spirit, and drives us into His Word. It is in His Word that we too will discover God’s spin on things and not our own or the world’s.

God’s spin is what makes the world go around.

# 420 Do Not Be Carved

The Book of Genesis

Day 420

 Ge 45:3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father still live?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.  4 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.  5 "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.

The bombshell is dropped and Joseph’s brothers couldn’t even answer him! Dismayed is much too mild an English word here. These guys were shaking in their boots. They were terrified!

What would this powerful brother of theirs, who was so grossly wronged by them, do to them now?  Joseph, sensing their fear and anguish, (much like Jesus knows our fear and anguish) invites them to come closer and reassures them, “Do not be grieved.”  

The root Hebrew word here  means “to carve.”“Do not be carved!” It carries with it the idea of affliction or pain. It is great anguish brought on by regret, and this is not the first time these brothers have experienced this type of anguish. This same word was used to describe the brother’s feelings after their sister Dinah was defiled by Shechem!

It is the same word used to describe the Israelites in the days of Nehemiah as they reacted to the long lost Word of God being read to them. Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites tried to assure the people as they wept, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength,” ….”do not be carved!”

This is a powerful word! Do not be anguished! Do not continue to carve yourself or be angry with yourself. Listen to me sinner! You and I have offended God with our sins and we have hurt others along the way, and it is good, even vital, that we feel godly sorrow, (godly carving) over our sins. But we need to get over it as well, believing that God has taken those sins, once confessed and repented of, and tossed them into a place where even He can’t find them! Therefore leap for joy! God has assured you of His forgiveness through surrender to His Son, Jesus Christ.

Do not dwell in your deserved anguish for God has extended undeserved love and mercy to you! This forgiveness is the greatest gift that anyone could ever give you. If you choose to dwell in your anguish, it will rob you of your joy and steal your strength.

Beloved! Do not be carved!

# 419 Joseph Makes Himself Known

The Book of Genesis

Day 419

Ge 45:1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Make everyone go out from me!" So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.

Joseph can’t stand it anymore. Upon hearing Judah’s willingness to be surety for Benjamin, he realizes that God has done a work in the heart of Judah. I wonder if Joseph knew that it was Judah who convinced his brothers to spare his life in the first place. It was Judah who suggested that they sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites.

Now, Judah had come full circle. And even though he was instrumental in saving Joseph’s life, one has to wonder about his guilty flashbacks over the last 20 years concerning the welfare of his little brother. The guilt of what he had done, gnawing at him often.

Maybe it was this guilt that motivated him to make this impassioned plea on behalf of Benjamin. Judah had been down this road before of abandoning a brother and he wasn’t going to go down that road again if he could help it.  Even if it meant his own freedom in exchange for the freedom of Benjamin, he would do it!

The fact is, Judah has been in his own personal prison ever since that day the Ishmaelites rode off with Joseph in bonds. This incident with Joseph was an opportunity for him to shake some of that guilt. It was a place where he would be able to “bear fruit worthy of repentance. A chance to do the right thing.  His willingness to pay the penalty for Benjamin demonstrated a genuine sorrow over his sin with Joseph that went way beyond mere lip service.

This was a real conversion!

Perhaps this is what finally broke Joseph. He demands that he be left alone with his brothers so he can make himself known to them. And herein lies the lesson for us.

I wonder, have you been burdened with guilt over any past mistakes in your life> Have you been brought to this place of repentance where you have godly sorrow over your sins? It was your sin and my sin that put Jesus on the cross you know, and until we realize that truth, our brother Jesus will not “make Himself known “ to us. Godly sorrow over sin, always precedes the revelation of Jesus , and when He reveals Himself to the penitent sinner, He always says, “I forgive.”

# 415 Judah Foreshadows Another Guarantor

The Book of Genesis

Day 418

Ge 44:32 "For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.'  33 "Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers.  34 "For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?"

Judah continues to plea for the release of Benjamin. He tells Joseph that he has become surety for the lad to his father. What a beautiful illustration of what Judah’s descendant (Jesus) actually did at Calvary for you and I! Jesus did this because like Judah, He did not want evil or grief to come upon our heavenly Father. God is grieved over every lost soul. Eze 33:11 says, “'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”

It is His desire that none should perish.

Surety is a financial term. It speaks of bartering or exchanging. Here it is used as Judah asks to be a guarantor for the life of his brother Benjamin. Jesus reminds us of this kind of love when He says, Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his brother.” (Jn 15:13) This is what is called “agape” love, and at last Joseph sees it at work in one of his brothers! And it broke him!  It moved him to tears.

Listen, it will do the same thing to you, when you realize that Jesus was surety for you!

Moses also exhibited this kind of love when he pleaded with God in Ex 32:32 "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin-but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."

There is no greater love than this! How are you doing with your “agape” love? No need to lay down your life as a martyr, but just giving up time that could’ve been spent on yourself for the welfare of others is “agape” love. It could be anything from serving at a soup kitchen or a crisis pregnancy center, or even just providing a listening ear for someone who is hurting. God has “agaped” you and I, let us seek ways to “agape” others!

# 417 God Is Bound Up In You!

The Book of Genesis

Day 417

Ge 44:18 Then Judah came near to him and said: "O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord's hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh.  19 "My lord asked his servants, saying, 'Have you a father or a brother?'  20 "And we said to my lord, 'We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.'  21 "Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.'  22 "And we said to my lord, 'The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'  23 "But you said to your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.'  24 "So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord.  25 "And our father said, 'Go back and buy us a little food.'  26 "But we said, 'We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.'  27 "Then your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons;  28 'and the one went out from me, and I said, "Surely he is torn to pieces"; and I have not seen him since.  29 'But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.'  30 "Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad's life,  31 "it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

Judah recounts the whole story to Joseph. It seems his whole intent is to try and get Joseph to understand how much Jacob loved Benjamin. In fact, we read that Jacob’s “whole life is bound up in the lad’s life.”

When I read this, I can’t help but think of my heavenly Father and how much His life is bound up in mine. If it’s good for me, there is nothing He won’t do for me. God is so bound up in me, that HE did not spare His only Son, but delivered Him up for my sins, and if He did that, “how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things.” (Rom 8:32)

God is so bound up in me, that He knows the exact number of hairs on my head. (Mt 10:31)

He knows when every sparrow falls to the ground and assures me that I am of more value than many sparrows. (Mt 10:31)

God is so bound up in me that HE desires that I cast all my cares upon Him. (1 Pet 5:7)

God is so bound up in me that He chastens me, for whom the Lord loves He chastens (Heb 12:6)

God is so bound up in me that “neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38,39)

Judah told Joseph that if they didn’t return with Benjamin his father would die. That’s how God feels about you and I, and to prove it HE sent His only Son to die a cruel death on the cross so we might be brought home to Him, and He did it while you and I were yet sinners. (Rom 5:8)

God loves you ! He wants you home! 2Pe 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

# 416 Fess Up Or Try To Make Excuses

The Book of Genesis

Day 416

Ge 44:14 So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground.  15 And Joseph said to them, "What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?"  16 Then Judah said, "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord's slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found."  17 But he said, "Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father."

Caught with Joseph’s silver cup planted in the sack of Benjamin, the brother’s return to the house of Joseph. It is interesting to note their defense. “God has found out our iniquity.” How pleasant those words must’ve sounded to Joseph. His brothers are finally experiencing conviction over their past sins.

I mean they could’ve said something like this, “We did not take that cup, someone must’ve planted it in Benjamin’s sack just like the last time when our money was put back in our sacks.” Have you checked with your servant? Are you sure he’s not the guilty party?” Look, last time we brought the money back, and even now we have hurried to bring the cup back.” We are not guilty!”

Pretty good defense wouldn’t you say?

But all Judah can say is, “God has found out the iniquity of your servants.” What Judah is saying here is that God caused this to happen in order for Judah and his brothers to finally fess up to their iniquity of selling Joseph into slavery and lying to their father.

It’s like David’s sin with Bathsheba. After Nathan confronted him, he too had to confess that “God had found out his iniquity,” And David said, “Against You God, You only have I sinned.” Judah’s statement here is admitting the same thing..

So, how are you doing with your uncovered and secret sins? Let’s stop kidding ourselves. God has found out all our iniquity. Lu 8:17 says,  "For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.”

On the Day of revealing, will we ramble on before God with excuses and justifications for our actions? Will we list off all our good deeds, trying to tilt the scales of justice in our favor? I’m afraid that will be the futile lot of many! It’s futile because God’s Word makes it clear there is only one way to be cleaned of sin. Only one way to erase all our iniquity, our sins must be covered by the blood of Jesus, and they are covered the minute we bow the knee to Him and receive Him as Savior and Lord.

Have you done that?  Have you admitted to God that you are guilty and have you then, by faith, received Jesus into your heart?  If not, right now, right where you are at, accept His gift and receive eternal life.

Or, you can wait until judgment Day and make your defense. After all when you think of the price God paid for your sins, I’m sure he’ll listen to your arguments and make an exception for you.

My friend, as we get ready to head into the Lenten season….ponder the cross, and throw yourself on God’s loving mercy today!