~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Genesis 41:17-42:17 ~ Matthew 13:24-46
Psalm 18:1-15 ~ Proverbs 4:1-6
Old Testament - In Genesis chapter 41 today we read about Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's dreams - and not just interpreting them, but offering a solution! Joseph suggests finding a wise man to administer a program to collect crops during the 7 years of plenty to save up for the 7 years of lean. Then, verses 39 & 40 stood out to me today - "Turning to Joseph, Pharaoh said, "Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, you are the wisest man in the land! I hereby appoint you to direct this project. You will manage my household and organize all my people. Only I will have a rank higher than yours."" I noticed that Joseph did not ask for this position. He probably could have, in light of interpreting the dream and offering a solution. But he didn't. The position was simply thrust upon him. And I wonder in our lives - are we like Joseph - humbly offering our gifts and skills with no need of payback? Or, do we expect something in return? Do we want to be put in charge? I do wonder this about myself - if I was put in charge of all of Egypt, would I still remember God? Or would the power go to my head and think it is all about me? And then I wonder if there are similar, smaller temptations like this in my life - in my work or ministries or in my social circles - are there times where I offer my skills & gifts, and expect to be put in charge of something, forget about God, and think it's all about me?.... How about you?
Commentary on Genesis chapter 41 titled "From the Pit to the Palace" is at bible.org at this link.
In Genesis chapter 42 Jacob sends Joseph's brothers to Egypt for grain. Verse 4 stood out - "Jacob wouldn't let Joseph's younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, however, for fear some harm might come to him." As you'll recall both Benjamin and Joseph were Rachel's only sons. And Jacob loved Rachel dearly. It seems that in light of Jacob already losing one of Rachel's sons, he didn't want to lose the other. Or - I wonder - did Jacob maybe have some sort of mistrust in the back of his mind of the other 10 brothers? (as obviously Joseph disappeared when going to find the 10 brothers many years back) This is outside of the text I realize. Just some thoughts.
Verse 6 also stood out - "Since Joseph was governor of all Egypt and in charge of the sale of the grain, it was to him that his brothers came. They bowed low before him, with their faces to the ground." This fulfilled the dreams Joseph had in Genesis chapter 37 verse 6 & 7 - "He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." And verse 6 was 21 years after Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers - Joseph has spent 11 years as a slave, 2 years in prison, and 7 to 8 years in charge of Egypt. And even after 21 years Joseph recognized his brothers immediately. I read a commentary that his brothers probably didn't recognize Joseph because he was decked out in Egyptian robes & garb, he may have been speaking through an interpreter, and he was likely clean shaven - Egyptians shaved, whereas Hebrews typically wore beards. So now, Joseph's reuniting with his brothers and what takes place next begins...
New Testament - In today's Matthew readings we go through 5 parables that begin "The Kingdom of Heaven is like..." Great way to start these parables! They do indeed give us a glimpse of what the kingdom of heaven is like. Do these parables speak to you as you read through them? I know they do for me. Sometimes in encouraging ways. Sometimes in convicting ways.
I love the last 2 parables in today's readings! The treasure buried in a field and the pearl of great price. And the thought of being willing to give up absolutely everything to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. How about for you? Are you willing to give up absolutely everything to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven? Is there a price too high that you would not be willing to pay? I will share with you this - another random tangent.... but, I had this really interesting jog several years ago. And it was before I was a Christian, so I didn't equate my thinking with the "Kingdom of Heaven" at this time. But, here were my thoughts that night on the jog. As I was jogging I thought to myself - I am a "billionaire"! Why? Because I am blessed with this opportunity to jog, and to check out the beautiful night air around me, and more than anything because of this wonderfully complex thing in my skull called the brain. :) The brain that allows me to do all these things and to simply think and enjoy life. And I thought to myself - at what price would I give up the ability to use my brain? Would I sell my brain for 1 billion dollars? And the answer is obviously no - because there would then be no point to living in this life. So - I reasoned with myself, well - "Then I am a billionaire!" I have a billion dollar asset in my skull! :) I hope this isn't too random of a tangent. Maybe you'll realize that you are probably a billionaire too though? :) To tie this back to the Kingdom of Heaven. Would I sell of my rights to the Kingdom of Heaven for 1 billion dollars. No. So - I guess then technically, I am a multi-billionaire now! :) Get it? 1 billion asset value for the brain - 1 billion asset value for the Kingdom of Heaven. Okay, lame joke. The point being... or maybe the question to you. Which would you prefer - 1 billion in cash, or the Kingdom of Heaven? Is there any price you would place on giving up the Kingdom of Heaven? If not - will you pursue the Kingdom of Heaven with all of your worth? And will you then share this amazing "pearl of great price" with others around you?
Psalms - Psalm 18 is an amazing one! We'll get it for the next 3 days of readings, which is great. And then comes Psalm 19 which is off the charts awesome! Verse 1 today I love - "I love you, LORD; you are my strength." How often do you tell God that you love him? One thing that one of my pastors does when he prays publicly, which I absolutely love, is that he closes out just about every prayer with "God we love you. And we pray all of this in the name of your son Jesus Christ." The last line of course is the powerful line! But, that second to last line... is just beautiful. Just telling God that we love him. I'm not sure I tell God that I love him often enough. God may not "need" to hear it. But I think that I need to say it more often. I love you God.
Proverbs 4 today are some cool verses from Solomon reminiscing on instructions he received from his father David!
What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings? Please post up in the Comments section below! Grace,
Mike
In the genesis passage, i am struck by the self promoting joseph tried when in prison (he asked the cup bearer to give him a way out by remembering him to pharoah) and the promoting here given by others (pharoah). You ask whether you would be able to remember god if you were appointed ruler of egypt - not sure about that one ;) but what i am fairly sure about was that joseph wouldn't have been able to manage it if he had come out of prison when he wanted to. god's extra two years must have been in part to prepapre his soul for this task.
i am reminded of the work god is doing in my life through struggle and toil: all in preparation to make me useful for him. i think of the 1 tim 2 verses:
16 All Scripture is Godbreathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Posted by: rob | January 20, 2005 at 02:15 AM
Hi Mike,
Just want to thank you for the blog. Today's reading about Joseph taking charge of Egypt always reminds me why God hasn't made me richer, smarter or better looking - I know I would forget God! I've noticed how even small things can go to my head, how much more the kind of power that was bestowed upon Joseph would destroy me. Remembering this helps me to always think twice whether I seek a higher station for the glory of God or for my own.
Posted by: simon | January 20, 2005 at 03:16 AM
This morning I read all the passages aloud to my two youngest kids...4.5 & nearly 3, because I wouldn't have had a moment's peace to read them otherwise. I was struck--again--by how exciting the bible can be (since I need to read it dramatically to keep their attention:-) and also because the riches of God's word are so deep that no matter if you know the story well or not, there's so much to be learned!
Posted by: Micah Girl | January 20, 2005 at 07:06 AM
You go Micah Girl!! God also promises blessings to those who hear God's word. That's great that you read these passages to your kids.
Tough thoughts today about what we really value. Mike and Simon, I also wrestle with what my response to such a position of authority would do to me -- would I forget to walk humbly before the Lord, would pride rear it's head and blind me to the truth? I too am challenged by the "sell everything" references in Matthew. I forget the passage from a few days ago that tells us if we will seek first the kingdom of God that "all these things" will be added unto you.
A hostile world! I call to GOD,
I cry to God to help me.
From his palace he hears my call;
my cry brings me right into his presence--
a private audience!
What else could a man/woman ask for? A private audience with God, the creator of the universe -- that's better than an audience with the Queen of England, with th epresident of the United States or even a breakfast with a rich guy like Bill Gates.
The theme is echoed in Proverbs today:
Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don't forget one word! Don't deviate an inch! What do I value today? What am I willing to give up in order to gain wisdom or participate in the Kingdom of God?
Hmmm,
Mark
Posted by: Mark Long | January 20, 2005 at 10:07 AM
Everyone:
I am really enjoying this ride through God's Word with all of you!
I am a bit of a history geek, and I have always found the story of Joseph becoming second in charge of Egypt facinating! After reading some commentary, I discovered that the Pharoh of Joseph's time was part of a non-Egyption dynastic period known as the Hyksos period. Apparently these pharohs were much more open to allowing the descendents of Abraham to live and succeed in Egypt because they were themseleves "strangers in a strange land". Isn't it intresting to see God's hand in the cultivation of His people? How much easier was it for the Isrealites to flurish in a land of plenty like the Nile Delta of Egypt!
Anyhow, I found a very intresting web site on the origin of these Hyksos Pharohs of Egypt. It fits in really nice with all we have been reading in Genesis. If you are interested and you have time check it out, it is at this link:
http://nabataea.net/edomfrwd.html
God bless!
Posted by: Randall | January 20, 2005 at 11:27 AM
Genesis 41:17-42:17
WOW I’m going to focus on chapter 42 because several things jumped out at me and said, “Hi There, Look at ME!” Back in chapter 32, Jacob had his name changed to Israel, which would imply a change of character. His new name was reinforced and restated in chapter 35. But ten chapters latter, Israel is still called Jacob. Not only have I seen that but I’ve never really looked at the tone of the text in the first two verses of the 42nd chapter before: Jacob’s seems to have contempt for his sons.
I have checked out several other translations but I would love to check out my English translations of the Hebrew Text by the Jewish Publication Society or at least have access to a Jewish Biblical Scholar right about now. The NLT reads this way; …he (Jacob) said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another? 2 I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down and buy some for us before we all starve to death.” This is clocked in sarcasm coming from an angry and bitter man. A man that has been grieving for thirteen-years, a man that has been caught in the grip of despair and depression for thirteen years!
The writer of Hebrews cautions us to, 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
I believe Jacob, who should have been known as Israel, not only defiled his own heart with bitterness, but spread it around so “many became defiled.”
The signs of the many becoming “defiled” may be seen, I believe, in the ten brothers inability to recognize their brother Joseph. Although some may put forth that Joseph’s lack of facial hair may have thrown them off, I put forth that at the tender age of 17 Joseph didn’t have much facial hair at all. I put forth that bitterness, unforgivness, which leads to anger, caused the brothers eyes to be blinded so they could look but not see. Joseph, as we will see later on in the book, had come to accept what had happened to him as the path he had to take to fulfill the visions/dreams God had given him.
There is a statement that the brothers make that is very interesting and I wonder whom were they trying to convince of its truth, Joseph or themselves? When accused of being spies by Joseph (Was this done under God’s direction or was it all Joseph?), they state:
10 “No, my lord!” they exclaimed. “We have come to buy food. 11 We are all brothers and honest men, sir! We are not spies!” Hmmm! You sold your brother and didn’t fess up to your Father of the crime you committed, honest indeed.
Matthew 13:24-46
Of the Parables that are given in this portion of scripture, two have greatly fascinated me and I’ve often meditated on them. The first one listed stating that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. Now what is this Kingdom? Is this the Heaven that will have no more tears, pain, etc. I don’t think this can be that heaven because there are enemies in this Parable and in Heaven we will not be subjected to adversaries. So just what exactly is this kingdom, and where is it located? I believe this is what will be found within the body of believers on the earth up until the second coming of Christ. Within the body of Christ, enemies will be planted, thus the warning by Jesus in the earlier chapters of Matthew to be wary as snakes and harmless as doves.
The other issue, the other things in this Parable that has arrested my attention is the statement in verse 25 (NIV) while men slept the enemy… In the Garden, Jesus warned his disciples to “watch.” The Parable of the ten virgins the warning was to keep watch. I believe this Parable is not only stating that there will be secret agents out to wreck havoc within the Body of Christ, but that also we are to always keep watch to prevent the enemy from gaining access to the fields.
The other Parable I love is the merchant who sells everything he has to gain the Pearl of Great Price. I think this has a duel meaning. The first is a statement attesting to the fact that to gain Christ is worth giving up everything we have to posses the Pearl. I also see this as God giving up everything He had, His Son (For God so loved the world that He gave…) to gain the Pearl of Great Price, which is us, the Body of Believers, the Bride of Christ.
Psalm 18:1-15
This Psalm, a Psalm of David is like the one from yesterday, Psalm 17. Although David is praying this Psalm or has written to use as a prayer for protection against his enemies, in reality this is a Psalm about Jesus. Looking at the life of Christ as he faces religious opposition and the opposition of death and the grave, one can see in the forest of the words after studying the scenery this is a summary of Jesus’ life. The Old Testament is Jesus Christ concealed. Amen!
Proverbs 4:1-6
Who is the writer of this particular passage in Proverbs, is it Solomon relaying his relationship with his father to the readers. Again I believe this is Messianic, because Solomon was not an only child of his mother Bathsheba. David had several wives and they had children, which would have made them Solomon’s half-brothers and sister. Nathan was born to Bathsheba and can be found in the lineage. In fact Solomon had at least three brothers as stated in 2 Chronicles 3: 4-5:
David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years, 5 and these were the children born to him there:
Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. These four were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel.
Christ is everywhere where you least expect Him. Surprise!
Just a note: Please understand that 1) I don’t memorize scripture. I have an aversion to memorizing scripture, that’s my issue; please don’t make it yours, because of the abuse I experienced. Let me clarify: folks used scripture wrongly to fear and control to do wicked things in my households (foster and birth). 2) I have read through the bible yearly, sometimes using more that two read-through-the-Bible plans for twenty years. So you come to remember things and connect things that you didn’t remember or connect before. And it is the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised to us that will bring all things to our remembrance. But you have to have read it for it to be brought back to your remembrance.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
I'm having really bad problems with my computer. It took me over three hours to get the above out so i'm not going to deal with Mike's question. In fact I tried to post before but I lost eveything. Ugh!
Posted by: Ramona | January 20, 2005 at 09:16 PM
Additional Thoughts
While preparing to go to work this morning, hmm, not sure if I woke up or God woke me up, because I woke up at 3:45am, after having gotten into the Word, I heard this regarding the mental and emotional state of Joseph’s brothers and their father. I am surer than sure that this is an answer to questions about their inability to recognize him, Joseph, when Joseph recognized them immediately, and this is extended out to all of us: believers and unbelievers.
When we are loaded down with guilt, anger (Which by the way is a secondary emotion. We are angry because we have been hurt and we are holding on to the person or thing that hurt us through bitterness, through holding grudges or even through vengeance), and unforgiveness. We place veils over our own eyes, this is not an act of Satan placing veils to deceive us, this is of our own doing. Forgiveness is a gift granted by the giver; however forgiveness is not for the one that sinned against us, but it is an act of release to free us from the bonds of enmity that keep us from seeing. When we fail to place all our baggage in the arms of Christ we blind ourselves and become unable to recognize our own deliverance. Joseph was sent ahead by God to deliver His Chosen Family from the effects of the famine scripture states (Psalm 105:16-18), yet his brothers failed to see.
In looking at the Parabel of the Sower, specifically Jesus’ explanation: the soil the seed were sown in represent our hearts. According to words written by the Prophet Jeremiah, we are responsible for the condition of our hearts.
Jeremiah 4:
3 This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: "Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. 4 Cleanse your minds and hearts before the LORD, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins.
Make it a Blessed and peaceful day,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | January 21, 2005 at 04:54 AM