And they bow…

The Story of Joseph – pt 4

As Joseph had predicted, Egypt had seven years of great plenty, followed by seven years of famine. With Joseph in charge, Egypt’s storehouses were full when the last seven years hit. The draught was wide-spread, it affected Jacob and his sons. Ten of Joseph’s brothers made their way to Egypt for supplies; after losing Joseph, Jacob would not allow Benjamin to make the trip.

And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them.

Revenge is so sweet when we let God do it!

Joseph puts his brothers through a few hoops before he tell them who he is. Joseph requires them to bring  Benjamin, Joseph’s little brother.  There are several more times that Joseph finds himself standing before his brothers as they bow to him; fulfilling the dream not once but several times. The story also tells of several times  Joseph becomes so filled with compassion toward his brothers that he leaves the room to weep.

Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, who become fearful – guilt has a tendency to create fear. Joseph assures them that all is well.  In fact, he goes so far as saying; … it was not you who sent me here, but God.

No wonder Joseph found favor in God’s sight. He didn’t blame, he honored. He didn’t fear, he trusted. He took nothing for granted. For Joseph, everything that happened was purposed by God.

Dreams

The Story of Joseph – pt3

While in prison, Joseph was put in charge of two of the king’s servants who had offended the king. One  a cupbearer and the other a baker. Both men had dreams that are very disturbing. Joseph, being the man of dreams, interpreted each dream. To the baker, he is told that in three days he will die, which he did. To the cupbearer, he is told that in three days he will be returned to his position, which he does. The cupbearer forgets his promise to Joseph to mention him to the king and Joseph remains in prison for two more years.

Then one day – I love the one day happenings! – the king has a dream that no one is able to interpret. The cupbearer finally remembers Joseph. Joseph is called before the king and gives him the interpretation. Apparently there is going to be seven years of great harvest followed by seven years of draught. Joseph not only gives the king the interpretation, he lays out a plan in order to save the kingdom. This impressed the king so much that he put Joseph in charge and let him create his own plan. In one day, Joseph goes from prison to the palace.

Joseph was 30 when he entered the service of the king. In 30 short years, Joseph had experienced great difficulties. Sold by his brothers, purchased as a slave, accused of rape, put in prison; most of what he experienced was due to others envy, jealousy and forgetfulness. Yet, all the while he knew who he served and in return God showed him favor in every situation. At the age of 30, he was second in command of Egypt.

Every time I read this story, there is one detail that jumps off the page; how could the cupbearer have forgotten to tell the king about Joseph?  Then I have to ask myself; how may Joseph’s have I forgotten to tell the king about?

Genesis 40-41

Potipher’s wife – now there’s a gem

The Story of Joseph – pt 2

Once in Egypt, Joseph is sold to Potipher, the captain of the guards.  Joseph grows into a handsome young man and he catches the eye of Potipher’s wife. She tries to seduce him, but Joseph refuses. Claiming that it would be a sin against God.

I love the fact that Joseph saw this as a sin against God – not against man. No wonder Joseph found God’s favor. Joseph lived his life to honor God, not man.

Potipher’s wife continues to scheme. There comes a day that no one is in the house besides she and Joseph. She once again seduces Joseph, this time she actually grabs his coat as he runs away. The rejected Potipher’s wife yells rape and Joseph is put into jail.

In prison, God shows favor on Joseph and he is put in charge of all the prisoners. The bible says that the keeper of the prison had to need to watch over Joseph because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

This is the second time in Joseph’s young life that he has been treated to desperately wrong. Joseph continues to honor God in every situation. In return, God shows favor on him and Joseph is successful in everything he does.

(Genesis 39 ESV)

The Dreamcoat

The Story of Joseph – pt 1

Jacob had twelve sons. These become the twelve tribes of Israel. Rachel was the mother of the two youngest, Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel died after giving birth to Benjamin. As Joseph grew, he became his father’s favorite; a favoritism that Jacob did not hide from his other sons. As a token of his love for Joseph, Jacob gave him the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – great title for a musical.

Strike One:

But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.   Genesis 37:4 ESV

Joseph was a dreamer, literally. He had dreams and they came true. At the age of 17 he had a dream; in it he saw his bothers bowing down to him. Joseph shares this dream with his bothers, no doubt he was wearing his Dreamcoat, making it the last straw for his bothers.

Strike Two:

But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.    Genesis 37:4 ESV

You’re Out!

Joseph’s brothers make a plan to kill him, while in the process, they decide it would be easier to sell him and tell their father that he had died. That’s what they did. They sold Joseph to a group of traders heading for Egypt. They took the Dreamcoat, tore it, dipped it in blood and returned it to Jacob.

Joseph is taken as a slave to Egypt to be sold.

Genesis 37

Fourteen year itch

The Story of Jacob and Rachel

As Jacob is out wandering around, he comes to the home of Laban. Laban is a relative. There Jacob falls deeply in love with Rachel. It was love at first sight. When Jacob asks for Rachel’s hand in marriage, Laban agrees as long as Jacob promises to work for seven years first. Jacob does so. At the end of the seven years, a wedding was planned.

Rachel had an older sister named Leah. Lean was not as beautiful as Rachel. It was also not common for the younger sister to be married first. On the wedding night, Laban sent Leah into Jacob; it wasn’t until morning till Jacob realized what has happened. When Jacob addresses Laban, Laban makes one more promise, if Jacob will continue the traditional marriage week with Leah, Laban will give Jacob Rachel as well. And by the way, Jacob would have to work seven more years.  Jacob agrees and he and Rachel are married, followed by seven more years of labor.

I’ve heard this story since I was a child. Although, the story I knew was that Jacob was forced to work the additional seven years before he married Rachel, not before. That always seemed so wrong. Today, as I re-read the story I caught by surprise to see that they were allowed to marry before the additional seven years. Something else jumped out at me today. Laban’s great switch-er-roo, was the same as Rebekah had done to Isaac. It’s a great example of what we sow, we reap.

God changes Jacob’s name. Jacob becomes Isreal. Jacob becomes the father of the twelve tribes of Isreal.

 

Good stew!

The Story of Jacob and Esau

Years have passed; Isaac is old and almost blind. Isaac tells his son Esau to go hunt game and bring it to the tents and prepare his father’s favorite meal. Isaac informs Esau that when he does this, Isaac would have a blessing to leave with Esau. Blessings and birthrights were similar to our inheritance and wills. Rebekah hears Isaac’s instructions. While Esau is out, Rebekah prepares Isaac’s favorite meal and disguises Jacob so Isaac will think he is Easu. The plan works and Isaac blesses Jacob with Esau’s blessing.

When Easu arrives, he prepares a meal for his father. When he takes it in to him, Isaac realized what has happened. Isaac does not rebuke Jacob or removes his blessing. He does give Esau a different blessing, but it is a lesser blessing.  Easu is angry at Jacob, so angry that Rebekah instructs him to leave for fear of his life. Jacob does so.

So…was Rebekah wrong in tricking Isaac? OR was she just part of the plan that allowed God’s promise to come to pass? I’m clueless…just asking.

Genesis 26 – 28

Isaac Marries

The Story of Isaac and Rebekah

Abraham sends a servant to find Isaac a wife. The servant has a few instructions on where to go and how he will know that he has found the perfect woman. All goes as planned and Rebekah returns with him. She and Isaac are married. Rebekah is unable to conceive until her husband, Isaac prays for her. She then becomes pregnant with twins. God speak to Rebekah as He had done to her father-in-law, Abraham.

25:23  Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples shall be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger.

Esau is born first, closely followed by Jacob. Jacob is actually holding on to Esau’s heel when Esau is delivered.

Esau grows to be a skillful hunter and is Isaac’s favorite. Jacob is described as a peaceful man living in tents and clearly his mother’s favorite. Apparently,  Jacob is also a great chief. On a particular day, Esau comes in from hunting and sees a pot of stew that his brother has prepared. Jacob offers him lunch in exchange for Esau’s ‘firstborn birthright’. Esau agrees.  This simple story shows us so much about these two brothers. One is controlled by his physical wants; one is controlled by his intellect.  It is also the first sign that God’s promise is real.

Genesis 25

Lot – de – dah!

The city of Sodom becomes very unruly. God decided to destroy its evilness, which requires taking down the entire city. Two angels are sent to warn Lot so he can leave and be saved. This is only done because of his relationship to Abraham.

The scene is sad, pathetic and humorous. The two male angels are in Lot’s house when the men of the city demanding that Lot send them out surround the house. He says no, but offers his two engaged, daughters instead, stating that the town’s people were free to do what ever they wanted to them.

The town’s men get angry and begin to attach Lot. The angels pull him back through the door and slam it shut. All are safe for the night. In the morning, Lot is told to go to the hills because Sodom is going to be destroyed. He argues with the men and asks to go someplace else. They allow this. Lot’s family is instructed not to look back as they leave. Mama Lot just can’t help herself, and as she turns back, is turned to a pillar of salt.

It seems to me that Lot was not one to make decisions on his own. He was comfortable being ‘brought along’. He stayed in a place of danger and wrongdoing; not to help or make a difference, but because it was comfortable. His wealth and success was given to him because he was related to Abraham. It may have been the only reason he is even mentioned in the Bible. The lesson? I’m not sure. Perhaps it is to make those who are blessed aware of those they are ‘brining along’; and a warning to those who allow themselves to be ‘brought’.

 Genesis 18 + 19

Lot – di – dee

The Story of Lot – part 1

Lot is the nephew of Abraham. It appears that any good fortune he received was because of his relationship with Abraham. Abraham takes Lot with him as he started out on his journey to God’s promised land. Lot’s wealth increases as Abrahams does. In fact, it increases so much that it becomes impossible for them to live side by side.

Abraham tells Lot that in order to stop the strife between the two families, they need to separate. Abraham allows Lot to choose where he wants to settle. Lot takes the land that is lush and green and just happens to be next to a city called Sodom.

There arises a battle between 5 kings. As a result, Lot and his family is taken captive. Uncle Abraham hears of this, he gathers his own men and head out to rescue his nephew. The mission is successful and Lot is returned to his home.

 Genesis 13 + 14

The Sacrifice – The Test

The Sacrifice, The Test

Abraham – part 5

1.God tested Abraham, and He said to him, “Abraham,” and he said, “Here I am.”  2. And He said, “Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, yea, Isaac, and go away to the land of Moriah and bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains, of which I will tell you.”  3. And Abraham arose early in the morning, and he saddled his donkey, and he took his two young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for a burnt offering, and he arose and went to the place of which God had told him.         Genesis 22:1-3

Abraham does all that God has said, as he raised the knife over his bond son, God says stop! He then provides a lamb to be sacrificed.  This test tested Abraham’s willingness to obey and trust. Abraham passed both tests.

Isaac was not a child in this story, he was a young man. It’s Isaac’s willingness to obey and trust his father that get’s my attention. It’s apparent that Abraham and Sarah had learned to trust God and obey prior to Isaac’s birth. They became Isaac’s example for living the same way. Abraham and Sarah had to learn the lesson through trials and tests; Isaac learned to trust and obey by the life examples of his parents.

As Isaac and Abraham are making their way up the hill, Isaac asked a great question; “Where is the lamb?” Abraham responds: “God will provide for himself a lamb for the burnt offering.” Abraham had learned the lesson that God doesn’t need us to help Him out, “God will provide for himself a lamb…” Abraham was no long the guy who went along with his wife’s plan to help God. He was confident that God is able to supply what He needs to get the job done.