365 Reflections

Do you feel like a stranger in a strange land? As Christians, that feeling should come standard. Why? Because we are NOT of this world, as Jesus said in John 17:14, 16. Because, as Paul says, we are "citizens of heaven and we eagerly await our Savior from there." (see Philippians 3:20).   So if you feel strange, do not be alarmed. That's a good sign you belong somewhere else. But what are we to do in the meantime? Because after all, it's not like any of us are going to heaven tomorrow unless Jesus comes. The early chapters of 1 Chronicles holds a key.  The genealogical records move from the patriarchs of the faith (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) in chapter one and moves to the dynastic records related to King David. Chapters 2 and 3 of 1 Chronicles centers on David's ancestors and descendants.  1 Chronicles 2:1–4 (ESV) These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 3 The sons of Judah: ...

1 Chronicles 1:1–4 (ESV) Adam, Seth, Enosh; 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared; 3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech; 4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. I was tempted to skip over the long and seemingly ambiguous genealogical records of the first several chapters of 1 Chronicles. But I remember "all scripture is God-breathed and profitable." So here we are and in four verses I get an idea of what is happening in 1 Chronicles from the start.   Israel will produce the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles during their return from Exile in Babylon. The narrative of 1 & 2 Kings ends with the nation cast into exile and we aren't given the contextual details of 1 Chronicles on the first page because Israel had greater issues to deal with as they made their way back to the Promised Land after 70 years.  How do you live again where you once died?  To answer that question, Chronicles takes Isreal's exiles on a journey to where they come from. We must note the book does not open with Abraham but rather...

For all the spiritual decline that runs throughout the narrative of 2 Kings, the end of the book is particularly shocking. Judah's last king, taken captive into Babylon and imprisoned for decades is graciously released at the hand of Evil-Merodach and set up for a life of peace and security. 2 Kings 25:27–30 (ESV) And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. 28 And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table, 30 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived. Why would kings end like this? Why would God allow the wicked lineage of king...

God is the final and righteous Judge of all.  There's an assumption that God is only interested in making peace for us. He's the problem solver that we turn to when we are in a mess. Or He's the answer-giver when we do not know what to do. But that is not the whole picture scriptures presents of the Lord. He is for peace. He is our peace. He has the answer. He is the answer.  But He is the God of judgment against sin. We see this most clearly at the end of Judah's kingdom as they are judged for years of sin and rebellion against the Lord.  2 Kings 24:2–4 (ESV) And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldeans and bands of the Syrians and bands of the Moabites and bands of the Ammonites, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the Lord, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, 4 and also ...

Josiah is a king like no other before him or after him in the Old Covenant. His reforms clean house in a nation utterly corrupted. His passion to obey God was unparalleled even by David and Hezekiah. He not only brought Israel to national repentance, but he also restored the sacred meal that signified who they were.  2 Kings 23:21–23 (ESV) And the king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” 22 For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem. The Passover for Israel was what the Lord's Supper is for us. It is the meal that God's covenant people ate with their deliverer (Jesus for us/Moses for them). Both meals were inaugurated on the night before the death of the firstborn (of God for us/of Pharoah for the...

Deuteronomy 8:2–5 (ESV) And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord . 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. The root of discipleship is discipline. A disciple is one who is disciplined by certain events SO THAT they might do more important certain events. A soldier disciplines his body to run, crawl, hike, aim, shoot and press on in challenging circumstances. A musician practices rudimentary disciplines by re...

Leviticus 24:1–3 (ESV)   The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly. 3 Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the Lord regularly. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. We take for granted the ability to light our homes. An electric current that conveniently powers all of our rooms and even outside our homes is one of the modern world's most incredible developments. Yet in the ancient world and even as little as 150 years ago, this idea was unheard of. Think of wandering in the wilderness and living in times before electricity. It had to be fearful. The world gets very dark when there's no lights around to switch on.  It is in that understanding that we come to the rules of the Tabernacle for the people of Israel. The people were to all partake of making ...

Leviticus 11:46–47 (ESV)   This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten. As is mentioned in the previous post, the laws of distinction for Israel's diet was instructive in nature to remind them of their special status before God, not necessarily a code for proper health.  Israel was to be a people of distinction among the nations. They are in history as well. Today the are still distinct in that most of the world is divided about their status as a sovereign nation. To this day God's electing choice of Israel has split the world in half.  Now when Christ comes these distinctions of diet are no longer in effect. The passage where we first realize this comes from the Gospel of Mark... Mark 7:14–23 (ESV) And he called...

The third piece of furniture mentioned in the Tabernacle Israel was to manufacture was the Golden Lampstand. Exodus 25:31–33 (ESV) “You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. 32 And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; 33 three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. The place where Israel was to meet with God was to be filled with light. Light brings information. Light illuminates. Both the scriptures and science agree that the Universe began with light. Light leads and guides.  The Israelites were to know that not only does God's pr...

God's people will have a place where God will dwell among them. Exodus 25 introduces us to that place, the tabernacle. Exodus 25:8–9 (ESV) And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it . What is interesting on the description of this place for God's dwelling is the simplistic, specific and heavenly inspired detail that goes into it's creation. It is not enormous. By measurement, it would pale in comparison to even an average church building. It is moveable. The walls were drapes and cloths sewed together. The curtains were hung by poles which could be taken down rather easily and moved from one place to another. It will be designed straight from heaven. Notice God's words, " Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle."  What are we to understand about this first tabernacle? It is the perfect heavenly...

Exodus 18:1–5 (ESV) Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, ... 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. No one is meant to bear the burden of God's work in people alone.  Moses had done all that God said to do in Egypt. He confronted Pharaoh, he performed the signs, he did not back down and he led them out of Egypt. Not only that, but the original commission of God is made complete here in Exodus 18. Notice that Jethro comes to meet him at the mountain of God where the people are encamped to worship God.  Remember the original call from God was to do just that: Exodus 3:12 (ESV) “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I h...

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 ...

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...

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)  Whe...

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 ...

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...

When you consider all that Joseph had been through with his brothers and time in Egypt, there's no question that his self-disclosure to them in Genesis 45 is particularly amazing. Judah's heart-felt speech to protect Benjamin at the cost of his own life has shown Joseph the change of heart evident now in those who once sought his own demise. Genesis 45:1–2 (ESV)   Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Genesis 45:14–15 (ESV) Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him. Weeping, weeping and more weeping. He is genuinely loving these brothers of his in outward and openly emotional ways. These ...

Think of all the evil Joseph suffered because of his brothers. Yet shortly after his rough conversation with them and taking Simeon into custody, Joseph rolls out the red carpet for his brothers in acts of tremendous generosity.  Genesis 43:16 (ESV) When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” Genesis 43:24 (ESV)  And when the man had brought the men into Joseph’s house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, Genesis 43:34 (ESV) Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him. Joseph does everything to be kind to these men who treated him with such hostility. I don't know if I would have done the same. But there is only one reason. He loved them. ...

Genesis 41:16 (ESV) Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” The incredible thing about Joseph's rapid ascension to power in Egypt is how little he contributes this his own resume! In our culture we are taught to "put ourselves out there", "put on a good face", or "put your best foot forward." In our day personal ambition is a model virtue as we laud the accomplishments of the overachievers among us. Today's social media frenzy has only exacerbated this mentality. We talk ourselves up in every way possible, even displaying the food we are eating or cooking for others to take notice and "like" in a pixelated self-centered me-fest. But when I read the chapter that changed everything for Joseph I notice one conspicuous absence. He doesn't take credit for anything he's done, nor does he promote himself for the job now necessary for Egypt's well being.  Look at the chapter. E...