DAY 20 EXODUS 3-6

Exodus 3-6

Yesterday, my sermon was based on Hebrews 3-4, where Jesus is described as the One who can help us
enter God’s “rest.”  Though Moses couldn't lead the people of God or himself into the Promised Land
(God’s “rest”), I took great pains to show how great he was.

But reading these chapters reminds me that God does indeed call flawed people.

• Moses feels inadequate (who doesn't?), and says, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and
bring the children of Israel out of Egypt.” (3:11)

• Moses sounds confused when he asks the Lord, “Whom shall I say sent me?” (3:13)

• Moses sounds skeptical as he says, “They will not believe me!” (4:1)

• Moses is aware of his weaknesses when he complains, “O Lord, I am not eloquent!” (4:10)

• And Moses betrays his reluctance with, “Please send someone else!” (4:13)

After his initial conversation with the Lord, we learn that Moses had not obeyed God by circumcising his
son. Had not his wife, Zipporah, stepped in, Exodus would have had a different protagonist! (4:24-26)
Though, by the end of today’s reading Moses has stepped up to the plate—he (and Aaron) have made
their first contact with Pharaoh and have endured Pharoah’s first harsh response (Make brick without
straw!)—he is still having issues: “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

All this goes to show that God is a God who can use anybody, even a reluctant, self-doubting,
disobedient, confused man with a low self-respect like Moses…or me.

Until tomorrow,

Pastor Gary

DAY 18 & 19 (WEEK-END) EXODUS 1-2

Exodus 1-2

 

One book down, sixty-five to go!

 

Exodus picks up from where Genesis left off, reminding us that when Jacob went to live in Egypt, 70 members of the family went with him. What happened between then and when the account resumes? Of those 400 years we know nothing, except that Joseph’s generation died and the Israelites multiplied magnificently (We remember that God promised descendants as numerous as the stars!).

 

There is, however, some very bad news. No longer are the Jews welcomed and honored guests in Goshen. No longer do Pharaohs honor and mourn the passing of Israel’s patriarchs. No longer do Pharaohs even remember that a Jew once led them through a national crisis. The Jews’ fruitfulness has made the present regime nervous, and God’s people are now enslaved!

 

 

So numerous are the people of God that this Pharaoh designs to reduce their number. Were it not for some amazing women, the Jews would have been decimated and Moses would not have survived infancy. Which women?

• The midwives, who refused to kill Jewish boys as the King of Egypt had commanded them!
•  
• Jochebed, Moses’ mother, who hid him in an “ark” and set it adrift in the bulrushes!
• Miriam, Moses’ sister, who kept watch over his little “ark,” until Pharaoh’s daughter found it. Then, just when the princess’ heart was softest, she appeared and offered to “find” a Jewish woman to nurse the Jewish baby. The princess agreed, and Miriam fetched her mom!

In the name of the Lord, more power to women!

 

Until Monday, when we begin to see what God will do about his people’s bondage!

Pastor Gary

 

 

DAY 17 Genesis 48-50

Genesis 48-50

The “blessings” we watch Jacob distribute in Genesis 48 and 49 are sacred and powerful moments! 

I remember with joy, how a Christian book, entitled—I think—The Blessing, inspired me to “bless” the boys each night just after prayers and just before sleep.  I would recite the Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6:24-26, and lay my hand on them.  They seemed to take to it, reminding eagerly, if I forgot.  When I would travel, I would call the “blessing” in from wherever I was.

These “blessings” of Jacob are something a good deal more than those nighttime blessings; these are more akin to prophecies or “final testaments.” 

Reading Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh brought happy tears to my eyes.  No, he’s not reverting to his deceptive, heel-grabbing days when he crosses hands and blesses Ephraim, the younger grandson, above Manasseh, the elder.  He’s simply acting on some word that God had given him concerning the boys.  And the “blessings” for the sons in Genesis 49 are certainly a mixed bag.  A key moment occurs when Jacob identifies his fourth son, Judah, as the one who holds the scepter and ruler’s staff; Judah would also have the birthright and be the one through whom the Messiah (here, cryptically referred to as Shiloh—Genesis 49:10) would come.  After finishing these blessings, Jacob dies.

Jacob had made Joseph promise to bury him back in Canaan; and Pharaoh does more than just allow the funeral procession to the Promised Land, he sends a “very great company” of Egyptians along with the people of Israel.  The funeral was so intense that the Canaanites took note of it! 

But the best moment in Genesis is saved for last.  The brothers, fearful of Joseph now that Dad is dead, come, hat-in-hand, to make sure they were really forgiven.  Joseph’s answer is one of the grandest testaments to faith in God’s Sovereignty in Scripture: You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.  (Genesis 50:20).  There it is, Romans 8:28 in its Old Testament form!

Until tomorrow, when we enter Exodus,

Pastor Gary

DAY 16 GENESIS 45-47

Genesis 45-47

Try as I might, I can’t quite crawl into the skins of these brothers. I cannot empathize with the intensity of the shock, shame, joy and fear they must have experienced. Such a mix of feelings would have caused my emotional circuits to overload. And, considering the rest of Genesis, up to and including Genesis 50, we can see that the brothers never quite recovered!

Of course, we understand that the Pharaoh’s hospitality to Joseph’s family will one day lead to their enslavement. But, for now, we rejoice at the thought of Jacob (Israel) receiving back the son he had lost. The Bible uses the word “stunned” (Genesis 45:26) to describe Jacob’s initial reaction to the news; we hope he doesn’t have a heart attack!

Genesis 46 contains the roll of God’s people who make the journey to Egypt. In chapter 47 we find four verses describing one of the most unique meetings in the history of God’s people. Genesis 47:7-10 is the account of the meeting between Jacob (Joseph’s father) and Pharaoh (Jacob’s boss). Jacob blessed the Pharaoh of Egypt, and the Pharaoh received his blessing!

At the end of today’s reading, Jacob summons Joseph to make a promise NOT to bury him in Egypt. Why was this so important? It demonstrates Jacob’s faith in the Covenant God made with Abraham, renewed with Isaac, and repeated to Jacob back in Genesis 28. One aspect of that Covenant was the Land, and it is to that land Joseph must take Jacob’s body.

Wait till you read about Jacob’s funeral!

Until tomorrow,

Pastor Gary

DAY 15 GENESIS 41-44

Genesis 41-44

Today is the day we read of Joseph’s rise to power. He had prophetic dreams back home; he interpreted two dreams accurately while in prison. Now, he (Genesis 41), he is summoned to Pharaoh who has been tormented by strange dreams.

Why would the leader of Egypt summon an imprisoned slave? Because the Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer was one of those whose dreams Joseph had interpreted while in prison. Not only does Joseph interpret the dreams, but he gives God all the credit! (Genesis 41:16, 25) And, as amazed as the Pharaoh is, he follows suit: “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:37)

And so, Joseph rules Egypt, an example of one of the Biblical principles we studied last fall on the subject of SAVING. Joseph leads Egypt in a meticulous saving plan during the seven years of prosperity, so that when the seven years of famine hit, they are prepared. As Solomon the wise once said, “You know not what disaster may happen on earth.” (Ecclesiastes 11:2).

When the famine hit, it hit Canaan, too. And so, Jacob sends his sons--the same sons who had sold Joseph into slavery--down to Egypt for grain. Joseph recognizes and tests them in a number of different ways, keeping Simeon hostage (to insure that they bring Benjamin when they return), and secretly replacing the money with which they had paid for the grain.

It is here, at this point, where Judah shows himself to be worthy of Messianic birthright. Note the difference between Judah’s pledge (Genesis 43:8-10) and the firstborn Reuben’s pledge (Genesis 42:37). Notice, too, the humble leadership role Judah plays in Joseph’s continuing tests in Genesis 44.

The brothers are just about ready for Joseph’s “big reveal.”

Until tomorrow,

Pastor Gary

DAY FOURTEEN GENESIS 37-40

Genesis 37-40

What became of Jacob’s children, the ones for whom Leah and Rachel had competed so strenuously (Genesis 29:31—30:24)?

The answer to this question puts a magnifying glass up to one of the youngest boys and Rachel’s first, Joseph. These chapters in Genesis (37-50) not only tell us what became of Jacob’s sons, but they also teach the sovereignty of God in an amazing and intricate narrative.

We know the story well, mostly because of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” which, I understand, is performed annually here in East Peoria.

But, as you read these chapters, be aware of God’s sovereign hand at work (for God takes a back seat in the musical!).

Notice how God…

• Takes an arrogant, snot-nosed, spoiled brat (Joseph) and, through repeated trials and training opportunities, turns him into the humble, wise, servant-hearted young man who can rule the nation of Egypt, on the one hand, and forgive his brothers, on the other!
• Turns the resentment, kidnapping and lying of 10 angry brothers into the very means of saving Israel (Jacob’s new name, remember?) from certain death during the famine!
• Turns Judah’s immorality into the means of perpetuating the Messiah’s family line! (Genesis 38)
• Teaches Joseph how to trust Him for dream interpretation.

And the list goes on. Let’s be amazed at our sovereign God, this week!

Until tomorrow,
Pastor Gary

DAY THIRTEEN GENESIS 32-36

Monday January 13

Genesis 32-36

As gut-wrenching as it was to "watch" the family dissolution of Genesis 25-31, that is how glorious the peacemaking of Genesis 33 feels! But what did it take to get there?

Obviously, just having God speak to him wasn't enough for Jacob, for God does appear to Jacob in a dream way back in Genesis 28, where God shows Jacob a ladder and renews the Covenant with him. But this did very little to change Jacob; once at Uncle Laban's, he seems little changed. So, what made for the incredibly happy resolution between Jacob and Esau in Genesis 33?

It was the "night at the fights" in Genesis 32! This is Jacob's Waterloo, his "Little Big Horn," his death to self. In fear and uncertainty, he separates himself from all that is dear to him, his possessions, his wives, and his children. Alone, he waits on the far side of the Jabbock. And God does not disappoint him. A man, who was none other than God himself, came and wrestled with Jacob throughout the night. This is God bending low to meet the needs of this deceiving, heel-grabbing, lonely man. Could God have "taken" Jacob? Absolutely? Didn't God already know Jacob's name?" Certainly, but it was important for Jacob to admit to his name as a kind of confession, "Yes, I am a deceiver." Could God have shaken Jacob loose, when Jacob declared, "I will not let you go unless you bless me"? Of course, he could. But those were the very words and attitude that God had been waiting for. When the night was over, Jacob had a new name, Israel (for he struggled with God and men and prevailed!), a new outlook (for he had seen God face to face!), and a fresh limp.

Sometimes, that's just what it takes!

Lord, humble us, that we might be made new by You!

See you tomorrow,
Pastor Gary