365 Reflections

Exodus 3:1 (ESV)   Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. The Bible introduces us to Moses in his new post-Egypt life. He's working for his father-in-law Jethro and leading his flock. What's interesting to note is that Jethro was referred to as Reuel only one chapter earlier. Scripture does offer two names to many people. This time it is on purpose for the narrative. The point is to show Jethro as the help Moses needed at this point in time.  Jethro is going to guide Moses from his old life to his new life with hardly a word. He is the one who offers Moses a home as he's running from Pharaoh. He gives Moses a family. He provides Moses a job. He is also referred to as a Priest so he is in a large way Moses' spiritual leader. Jethro is perhaps Moses' first spiritual guide since being raised by his mother.  Later in the

Exodus 2:24–25 (ESV)   And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. Exodus 2 ends on a strange phrase: "and God knew." We understand God knew things, but what does this text mean that He knew? It doesn't seem to finish the thought. We'd like to know what it is that God knew at that moment. But that's just the point of the passage. God knew! That's all there is to it. And because God knows, it really doesn't matter what we think of it. It's going to end up being the perfect plan. Think about this story from this phrase onward. Immediate the attention shifts from the Israelites suffering to Moses in the wilderness about to meet God. From this phrase, God will call a reluctant Moses into the midst of their pain. Moses will first seem make things worse and the Israelites will question him and reject him once more. Then God will start sendi

Exodus 2:24 (ESV)   And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. The redemptive history of Israel from Egypt is summed up in this one passage. God bases all His blessings and work for Israel on His covenant with Abraham from many centuries before. Please understand this: When Israel is in bondage in Egypt and groans, it is not that God suddenly realized something had to be done for Israel. He knew when and what had to be done long before while speaking to Abraham in Genesis 15. It is also not that God felt bad for them. He heard their groaning yes, He cares, yes. But that is not what ultimately prompts His action. It is also not that Israel was doing the right things and winning God's approval. They aren't! Joshua will let us in on that little fact at the end of the book: Joshua 24:14 (ESV)   “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers

Exodus 2:11–13 (ESV)   One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” Moses Part 1 is impulsive, reckless, emotional and a bit arrogant. He sees an Egyptian doing what he did not approve of and kills him. Moses is an adopted son of Pharaoh. He could have court marshaled him. He could have reprimanded or punished him. He had many options. Moses just kills him. In that moment we see a man with passion but very little character. He's the impulsive diplomat who sees his position as one of sovereign autonomy... albeit an autonomy he keeps to himself as he hides the man in the sand. The next day he's at it again. T

Exodus 2:9–10 (ESV) And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” If there's a common theme in both the birth, life, ministry and work of Moses' and Jesus' it is this: They had a lot of help from the female gender. The second chapter of Exodus opens with more female pronouns than you can imagine. Every main character in this story is a female. Moses' mother, sister and Pharaoh's daughter are all three mighty women who play a huge role in the redemption of Israel by delivering Moses. Even before this chapter, during Pharaoh's rage against the boys of Israel, Shiphrah and Puah get their names in the Biblical Canon for their brave defiance of Pharaoh's order. In my last post, I

Exodus tells us of the unstoppable and unimaginable growth of the nation of Israel in Egypt in the first chapter alone. This 400 year period turns a band of 70 into 600,000 men over 20 and much more in total. The estimates could be a nation of over 2 million including the other members of Israel's society. They are growing fast enough to alarm Pharaoh and move him to drastic measures to impede this phenomenon. Exodus 1:9–10 (ESV)  And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Pharaoh tries three things to impede the growth of the nation of God: 1. Make them slaves with bitter forced labor. This makes them grow even faster. Exodus 1:12 (ESV)   But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in drea

Join me as I spend some time in Exodus. We tend to believe Exodus is about escape from slavery. While that is the plot, the theme of Exodus is much much more than a simple and powerful story of deliverance. The key theme of Exodus is coming to "Know the Lord." The phrase, "know that I am the Lord" will appear at regular intervals throughout the book. In Egypt, Israel will grow large but shallow in her relationship to the Covenant Lord of Creation. Egypt will defy the Lord and Pharaoh will state this phrase, "Who is the Lord?" The first half of the book will illustrate WHO the Lord is.  The second half of the book will illustrate what knowing the Lord means. If we are to grow in our relationship with the Lord, this book is a wonderful place to start. So we begin: Exodus 1:1–8 (ESV)   These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjami

Genesis 50:24–26 (ESV) And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. I think the best part about a Christian's life is how they die. If they die believing God for greater things, if they die believing God is able, if they die still trusting the sovereign nature of our God and His promises - to me, that is a great testimony for the world. A Christian is not one who throws their hands in the air in frustration at the future. No! Our God is able! A Christian is able to face death not seeking to escape the cataclysm of the world but a Christian is able to face death know God's Spirit and power will work mightily through those comi

Genesis 50:23 (ESV)   And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. We usually end our studies of Genesis by looking only at Joseph's words concerning the things his brothers meant for evil but God used for good. But the book doesn't end there. There is something more to be said. Before the end of the story, there is this curious mention of Joseph's life as it comes to a close. He sees his children's children's children's children.  What does Joseph get as a result of the work of God in his life? He gets a big family.  The Hebrew wording of Genesis 50:23 is unique. The english version above doesn't translate well. The idea is of intimate familial relationships. It is literally translated,  "the children of Machir (Joseph's grandson) were born on Joseph's knees." That is, as a great-great-grandfater, Joseph bounced those children on his kn

Some call Genesis the "Pentateuch" of the Pentateuch. It's the introduction to the introduction of the Bible. Genesis provides us with the backdrop to God's story for what will be further worked out not only in Israel, but in the redemption of the world. That's good news when you see the final commentary on all that has happened in Genesis from Joseph himself in regards to evils befallen him due to his brothers. When they deceptively engineer forgiveness from them by pulling on his heart strings toward their deceased father, Joseph replies in summary: Genesis 50:19–21 (ESV)   But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Here we have it. God's plan for all evil. It shall be

When Jacob dies, the brothers of Joseph go right back to their scheming. They've been showered with grace and love by Joseph. He wept on their necks and provided them with the best place to live in Egypt. He took care of all their needs. YET... in spite of all he did for them... they still thought he'd be out to get them. Look what happens immediately after Jacob's passing: Genesis 50:15–17 (ESV) When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Notice Joseph's response to their statements. He's back to weeping ! It has to be

When Jacob passes away a very touching moment is recorded between him and Joseph. Some notable things do not happen as well. Genesis 50:1–3 (ESV) Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. Genesis 50:10 (ESV) When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. The first 14 verses of Genesis 50 record a very long process of mourning and burial for Jacob. Egypt mourns 70 days! Pharaoh commissions Joseph to carry him to Canaan for burial and there Joseph mourns another seven days. The inhabitants see the mourning and say something particular:  Genesis 50:11 (ESV)  When the inh

It is clear Jacob knew where he wanted to be after his life on Earth had ended. He blesses his sons in Genesis 50 and then very descriptively tells them where his bones are to be buried. Genesis 49:29–33 (ESV)   Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. Notice how his view is to be gathered to those who had gone before him. He wanted to be in the only piece of

In Genesis 49, Jacob shares his last blessing with his youngest son Benjamin. The son born to him at his wife's death at his old age. Here's what he says about Benjamin's tribe: Genesis 49:27 (ESV)   “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.” The tribe of Benjamin's blessing is odd in comparison to the character trait Benjamin the boy possessed in the Genesis narrative. In fact, all we've seen of Benjamin is passivity throughout the entire drama that has played out between his maternal brother (Joseph) and paternal brothers (10) of jealousy and rage. Benjamin hasn't even said a word. But Jacob's blessing is going to play out in Benjamin's tribe in surprising accuracy. The tribe of Benjamin does become ravenous and wild. The accounts of the book of Judges reveal a hedonism and disregard for human life that would shock any society (see Judges 19). Benjamin would produce the arrogant and p

In Genesis 49, the Patriarch Jacob pronounces his final "blessings" on his sons who would form the 12 tribes of Israel. He begins with the oldest four: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. What is quite notable in this chapter of fatherly blessing is the LACK of blessing anyone receives until Judah is mentioned. Look at it: Genesis 49:3–7 (ESV) “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. 4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. 6 Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. Jacob&

The job of the church is to pass down our hope from one generation to the other. We see Jacob do that right before he dies for his succeeding generation. Spurgeon notes there are four places where Jacob speaks of God being with him throughout his story in the book of Genesis. “I am with you” (Gen. 28:15). This was the first promise of God's presence while fleeing from Esau. He had just robbed his father and scorned his brother. God appears and promises to be with this boy who has really nothing good about him other than God's Word. The text tells us he was alone. He had been raised in a wealthy home with a loving mother who looked out for him constantly. He had been surrounded by servants and cattle and family all his life. Now he ends up in the desert laying his head upon a rock because he literally has nothing. Yet in the most deserted moment of his life God shows up and promises His presence. “I will be with you” (Gen. 31:3). The second word of God's presence

The time for Jacob's departure is approaching in Genesis 48. He has one last thing to make sure he communicates before he departs this life. So he calls for his son Joseph, adopts his sons out of Egyptian life and into the Covenant family and then blesses them in the strangest way: Genesis 48:14 (ESV) And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). Genesis 48:17–19 (ESV) When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be grea

Are you worried about where your life is headed? Do you tend to freak out thinking the wrong people are in power over you? Do you think someone may be hindering your purpose and destiny in Christ? Stop. It's just not true. You have to read the scriptures to understand no human hand can stop God's plan. Jacob and his family of 66 are arrived in Egypt in Genesis 47. The 7 year famine is in year 7 and things are bleak. The nation is starving, the people are selling everything for grain - their fields, their homes, eventually even themselves. It's hard times for everyone. On top of this, the chosen family is on foreign soil. They are strangers at a strange time in a strange land. You don't want to be someone's guest when they have nothing good going for them. You feel like more of an intruder than normal. Yet right in the middle of this horrendous period of Egypt's history, Jacob's family is possessing property, growing, multiplying and increasing! Loo

Genesis 47:7–11 (ESV) Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. If we interpret this passage in light of how Hebrews interprets the Patriarchal blessings, it teaches us a lot about how to live in a world dominated by glitz, fame, celebrity and power.  Jacob - the wandering shepherd and Patriarch of the faith, the father of a rag tag family largely bui

I love this little moment in Joseph's life with his father. He has brought him to this foreign land. Jacob probably apprehensive about what to expect does not realize that his own occupation could get him in a bit of trouble with Egyptians. So Joseph does what Christ does for us. He intercedes on his family's behalf. Genesis 46:31–34 (ESV) Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Genesis 46:1–4 (ESV) So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.” I think we fail to realize how big of a moment this is for Jacob. Remember, he has lived most of his life in the land of Canaan; he's comfortable and settled. He's old, he's not ready for a huge transition. He has just learned his son is alive and in charge of the operations of the world's foremost superpower in Egypt. He has to uproot his existence and live there. What a radical change to handle in one's old age. On top of this, Egypt is severely pagan with

Genesis 45:24 (ESV) Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.” This last command of Joseph concerning his brother's travels back to get their father and come with him to Egypt has a twinge of humor. He knows these guys. He understands they have been liars and deceivers for years. He knows they tend to look out for number one. So before they leave to go get dad one little admonishment is tossed out there: "Don't fight on your way back to dad." Joseph knows they are going to have to come clean to dad. They are going to have to confess that the robe they dipped in blood out of jealousy was their doing. They are going to have to let him know that his preference for Joseph irritated them to no end. It's going to be tempting for them to go back to dad and start making excuses. Reuben would be able to tell how he wanted to save the boy. Judah will try to tell him how he stopped them from killing him and ins

In Genesis 45, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and immediately sheds his love upon them in full measure. Then after than, he adorns them with gifts and promises - the best of the land. Notice how Pharaoh instructs Joseph to speak to his family: Genesis 45:17–20 (ESV) And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ” I think about how Joseph was so adored by his boss (Pharaoh) that he would be instructed by him to give his family all these things! Pharaoh wants those Joseph knows and loves to be blessed and well care