Joseph: Potiphar’s wife

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

joseph-coatGenesis 39.  The ironies of Joseph’s story are many.  Here is a man that God has destined for greatness – yet he winds up exiled from his people in a foreign land.  He is “handsome in form and appearance” yet is sold as a slave.  God is with him and blesses all that he does, yet he winds up in prison, wrongfully accused of sexual misconduct. 

Joseph is put where he needs to be to affect not only his destiny but also that of his people.  These unfortunate things must happen to him along the way.  God’s plan will happen. We will usually not understand it when it does.  We have to trust that the LORD knows what he is doing.  He does.

LORD, when we suffer and don’t know why, help us to surrender to your sovereignty, and trust in you.

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Judah: for adults only

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

degelder_juda-tamar1667Genesis 38.   This chapter interrupts the story of Joseph in Egypt, and is not likely to be made into a children’s cartoon.  There is a clear picture of God’s judgment upon those who do evil (supposedly) in secret (Er, Onan, Judah).  The story shows that God is watching.  The ESV study Bible says “Although this chapter shows Judah at his worst, it also accounts for a remarkable transformation in his life, which comes through in the remaining episodes of the Joseph story. Further, Judah provides a stark contrast to the chaste Joseph.” 

Will your descendants look back on the story of your life with honor or with shame?   It is up to you.

LORD, give us the wisdom to live by our convictions, and make God-honoring decisions.  May we always be aware of the lasting consequences of the choices we make.

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Israel: losing the favorite son

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Hebrew letters - israelGenesis 37.   Israel had many sons, but Joseph was his favorite.  Imagine the sorrow he must have felt when his other sons brought him the coat that he had given Joseph – battered and bloodied.  No wonder he put on sackcloth and mourned for many days (34).  He felt as if he was going to grieve himself to death, and join his son in sheol (the place where the dead await the resurrection) (35).  Joseph was not really dead, but Israel did not know that. He felt a pain like God felt for us.  His favorite son – Jesus Christ – would really die  — and willingly.  He would take our sins with him on a cross and suffer and die to atone for them  — while his Father watched.

LORD, thank you for not sparing your favorite Son, but giving his life so that we might live.

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Esau: blessed, but not the blessed

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Genesis 36.   This chapter contains mostly genealogical information about Esau and his descendants.  It explains how his family became prominent in the land of Seir, and eventually possessed all the land.  The Israelites in Moses’ day would call them the Edomites.  Esau’s descendants were chiefs and kings long before Jacob’s descendants were.  They were blessed, but they were not the blessed.  Likewise, you will probably meet many who are richer and more prominent than you may become in this life.  Do not worry.  The future will show who the truly blessed are.

LORD,  we trust you to keep all your promises to us.  The prosperity and fame of those outside your covenant will not deter us from keeping it.

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Israel: assuming the mantle

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

israelGenesis 35.   The ESV Study Bible writes that “Jacob moves by stages from Shechem to Bethel… During this journey a number of incidents occur”  (including the deaths of Deborah and Rachel).  At the end of his journey, he is “in a position to assume the mantle of his father as the one through whom the divine promises to Abraham will be continued.”

Each one of us is on a journey, and the LORD is preparing us for who we are destined to be.  He sees our glorified state of spiritual maturity.  We do not.  We must trust the LORD to lead us to where he wants us to be.

LORD, we surrender our days to you.  Make us who you want us to be, and forgive us for judging others because we do not see their destiny either.

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Jacob: tragedy at Shechem

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

JacobGenesis 34.  Two wrongs do not make a right.  The rape of Dinah by Shechem was inexcusable.  But the treachery of Jacob’s sons in insisting that the men of the town be circumcised – only to weaken them so that they could attack and kill them – was also wrong on so many levels.  Fast forward into the future and you will see the consequences of this tragedy:

  1. Simeon and Levi had taken it upon himself to avenge Dinah’s rape by murdering the inhabitants of Shechem.  They would both lose the inheritance due to the oldest and it would go to Judah instead (Reuben would lose this privilege for another reason).
  2. Jacob was right in assuming that this event would cause lasting enmity between his family and the Canaanites and Perrizites.
  3. Some of the Israelites who would return to possess this land were actually descendants of the Shechemites (29). 

LORD, help us to see that there can be lasting consequences when we insist on getting even with those who have wronged us.

Posted in enemies, Jacob, revenge | Tagged | 1 Comment

Jacob: El-Elohe-Israel

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

JacobGenesis 33.  Jacob limps away from Peniel, where he had seen the face of God, and his life was delivered.  He now meets up with his brother Esau – whom he hadn’t seen for 20 years.  God has been at work in Esau’s life too.  He brings peace where there was once hostility and fear.  But that does not mean that Jacob is going to accompany his brother to Seir.  He resettles in Shechem, because where he is going is not about family anymore.  He builds (or rebuilds) an altar and calls it El-Elohe-Israel: God, the God of Israel. 

 

LORD, you are our inheritance.  Our fellowship with you is what matters most.

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Jacob: Peniel

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

JacobGenesis 32.  Jacob is at a crisis point in his life.  He has left his father-in-law behind and responded to God’s call to go back to Canaan.  He learns that Esau is preparing to meet him with a band of 400 men.  He fears this meeting greatly, and sends a great present of livestock on ahead of him in the hopes that he might appease his brother’s wrath.

That night, Jacob wrestles with a “man” constantly, and is injured on his hip joint.  The next morning the “man” reveals that Jacob is going to be renamed Israel – “he strives with God.”  He names that place Peniel, for, he says, “I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

Have you had your encounter with God?  Keep striving with him until he blesses you.

LORD, we are hanging on, and we will not let go.  We want to encounter you, and live to tell about it.

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Jacob: Mizpah

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jacob_thumb1Genesis 31.  After 20 years of service to Laban, God had blessed Jacob with a large family and many possessions.  In fact, his wealth had increased so much that he was now seen as a threat to Laban.  Jacob leaves at the command of God, but does so secretly. Laban and his men overtake them after seven days.  The two make a treaty with each other, calling on the LORD to protect them from doing harm to each other.  It is unfortunate that after 20 years by each other’s side – these men find it hard to trust each other. 

LORD, make us people who generate trust and respect.  Forgive us for being such poor representatives of the God we confess.

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Jacob: envy and manipulation

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jacob_thumb1

Genesis 29:31-30:43.  The Israelites in Moses’ day would look back upon today’s text and see how God orchestrated the events to produce Jacob’s family and prosperity.  Yet they would also see that their own existence was the result of human envy and manipulation.  Jacob’s wives battled with each other for sons so that they could win his affection.  Laban schemed to keep Jacob serving him so that God would continue prospering him.  In all of this, God’s sovereignty and his faithfulness to his covenant with Abraham is clear.  But also clear is the depravity of those with whom God is dealing.

LORD, forgive us for our envy of others and our schemes to get more by breaking the rules.

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