365 Reflections

The book of Joshua ends by harkening back to Joseph. Joshua 24:32 (ESV)   As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph. How strange is this? The bones of Joseph were carried up from Egypt after 400 years of slavery, they were carried through two bodies of water (Red Sea and Jordan), they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, they also waited for 7 years as Israel took possession of the land. That's a lot of bone carrying if you ask me. For Israel, it points to the sacredness of their history. It was Joseph himself who made certain this would happen: Genesis 50:25–26 (ESV)  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...

You either accept that God can do the miraculous or you don't. It's often that simple. Rejecting God can do the miraculous, however, leads one to the most silly readings of scripture imaginable. For instance, I find it hard to believe how some commentators treat this passage: Exodus 12:37  (ESV)   And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children .  The number that messes them up is the 600,000 men on foot, or fighting men in some translations. That would mean there were 2 to 3 million Israelites coming out of Egypt after just 400 years of slavery. Some commentators try to change the number based on the word "eleph" for "thousand" to become something far more manageable. They cannot imagine that many people being there! Think about that for a moment. They want to reduce God's multiplication. It's very laughable. For one, that number is repeated several more times with...

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...

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)  Whe...

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...

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...

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 ...

It's not bad to have God defeat your self-righteousness. In fact, it's the only way to truly come to know who Him. Joseph's brothers have returned to Egypt with the extra monies they owed from their first trip for grain. They have received their brother Simeon back. They have dined at Joseph's table and enjoyed the most powerful man's company in the most powerful nation on Earth. Now they set out to return home with more grain they were certain to pay for. No doubt they carried with them a sense of self-righteousness about how well they handled this tense situation. But that was all about to change. The night before, Joseph sets up a ruse. He has their money replaced in their sacks along with the new grain AND he has his silver cup placed in Benjamin's sack. The brothers leave the next morning and are instantly hunted down to determine who stole the cup. Listen to their self-righteous plea: Genesis 44:7–9 (ESV) They said to him, “Why does my lord speak ...

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. ...

God uses pain to get our attention and change our lives. Sometimes that pain has to be extended. Genesis 43:1–2 (ESV)   Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” Notice the little moniker of verse 1, the famine has moved to "severe" in the land. The famine was present where Jacob's sons lived, now it is severe "in the land." The word "severe" can also be translated, "grievous",  "thick", or "heavy." Whatever the case, it has lasted long enough and reached far enough to upend the intentions of Joseph's brother never to return to Egypt. Joseph's brothers are shown to be so very hard-headed and emotionless in these narratives. Think of it, they had no intention of going back. Not even for their brother Simeon. They were settled to let things go on as they were. Had God not extended...

Genesis 42 reveals the guilt that long resided in the hearts of Joseph's brothers. It also serves to display the havoc guilt plays on your hearts. Consider that when Joseph imprisons the brothers taking them to be spies they immediately start looking at each other for blame. Genesis 42:21–22 (ESV)  Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” 22 And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” First we see, their guilt makes them interpret all the bad things in their lives as payback for their sin. Then the blame game begins. Reuben tries to plead his case and feels implicated even though he took no part in the sale of Joseph. What is so fascinating is that this is 22 years later. They have held on to this guilt for mor...