Day 23
Genesis 45:1-47:12
(45 | 46 | 47:1-12)
Joseph has had his fun, and decides now is the time to reveal who he really he is. He sends all his servants out, and tells his brothers who he is, crying very loudly. His brothers are in shock, and a little bit terrified. Understandably, I think, as they probably believed Joseph really was dead after thirteen years of slavery in Egypt. Eventually, Joseph's brothers accept that he really is Joseph, and they all hug each other. Joseph tells his brothers to go back to Canaan to get Jacob, and to move the entire household to Egypt; the seven year famine has another five years to run, but Joseph can provide for them in Egypt.
When Pharaoh hears that Joseph's brothers are around, Pharaoh tells Joseph to tell his brothers to bring the whole family to Egypt where they would be given the best land in Egypt. Pharaoh also says to tell them not to worry about their possessions, as the best of Egypt would be theirs. Finally, he says to tell them to take some carts to carry the wives and numerous children of Joseph's brothers. Joseph sends them on their way with enough provisions for the journey there and back. When the eleven brothers get back to Canaan and tell Jacob what happened, he doesn't believe them to start with. Eventually, he is convinced, and so they head off to Egypt.
On the way there, God meets Jacob, and tells him that it is in Egypt he will make Israel a great nation. God also tells Jacob that he is taking Israel to Egypt, and that he will also bring them out again. He did, after all, promise to give the land of Canaan to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The majority of chapter 46 is used to describe the number of people travelling to Egypt; it lists the names of Jacob's sons and his numerous grandsons. For some reason, the figures don't seem to include girls, but I'm sure there were some, and that, as a result, the amount of people travelling to Egypt probably numbered in the hundreds. When the house of Israel finally arrives in Egypt, Jacob blesses Pharaoh twice. In between the blessings, Pharaoh gives him the best part of the land; a place called Goshen, in the district of Rameses.
Matthew 16:1-20
(16:1-20)
The Pharisees and Sadducees come to Jesus, and again ask for a demonstration of a miracle. Jesus, again turns them down. He points out how strange it is that they hold stock in superstition regarding the colour of the sky and subsequent weather, but they cannot see the signs in front of them as to who Jesus is. He repeats that the only sign they will receive will be the sign of Jonah.
On the subject of Jesus' identity, Jesus asks the disciples who people think he is. He then asks who they think he is. Peter says that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus' reply is to say that Peter is blessed because the Holy Spirit revealed it to him; no one told him this, and he certainly didn't read it in a book. Jesus reiterates that Simon Peter is to now be known as Peter, because he is the foundation on which Jesus' church will be built. Jesus knew that Peter would be one of the key founders of the Church, and that he would be one of its leaders.
This passage also tells us something about how Jesus operates in our lives. There's a song the kids were singing at church on Sunday. It goes something like "I know that God loves me because the Bible tells me so". Having this head knowledge from a book is all well and good (especially as that book is the Bible). But it's not until you experience God's love for the first time - in your heart and in your soul - that you truly believe it. The same goes for Jesus being God. Before I became a Christian, I knew in my head that Jesus was God made flesh. That's what the Bible says, after all. It's not until I let the Holy Spirit in, and let him inform me of who God is, that I truly believed. It's also when I began to change. Not everyone will receive a name change the first time they encounter Jesus. But Jesus will begin to transform them in some way. He will prepare them for whatever it is he has planned for them.
Psalm 14:1-7
(14)
The psalm almost expresses sympathy for the wicked; they're only doing what they're doing because they believe there is no God. But of course the victims of the wicked can find peace and deliverance in the LORD, as he is their refuge.
Genesis 45:1-47:12
(45 | 46 | 47:1-12)
Joseph has had his fun, and decides now is the time to reveal who he really he is. He sends all his servants out, and tells his brothers who he is, crying very loudly. His brothers are in shock, and a little bit terrified. Understandably, I think, as they probably believed Joseph really was dead after thirteen years of slavery in Egypt. Eventually, Joseph's brothers accept that he really is Joseph, and they all hug each other. Joseph tells his brothers to go back to Canaan to get Jacob, and to move the entire household to Egypt; the seven year famine has another five years to run, but Joseph can provide for them in Egypt.
When Pharaoh hears that Joseph's brothers are around, Pharaoh tells Joseph to tell his brothers to bring the whole family to Egypt where they would be given the best land in Egypt. Pharaoh also says to tell them not to worry about their possessions, as the best of Egypt would be theirs. Finally, he says to tell them to take some carts to carry the wives and numerous children of Joseph's brothers. Joseph sends them on their way with enough provisions for the journey there and back. When the eleven brothers get back to Canaan and tell Jacob what happened, he doesn't believe them to start with. Eventually, he is convinced, and so they head off to Egypt.
On the way there, God meets Jacob, and tells him that it is in Egypt he will make Israel a great nation. God also tells Jacob that he is taking Israel to Egypt, and that he will also bring them out again. He did, after all, promise to give the land of Canaan to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The majority of chapter 46 is used to describe the number of people travelling to Egypt; it lists the names of Jacob's sons and his numerous grandsons. For some reason, the figures don't seem to include girls, but I'm sure there were some, and that, as a result, the amount of people travelling to Egypt probably numbered in the hundreds. When the house of Israel finally arrives in Egypt, Jacob blesses Pharaoh twice. In between the blessings, Pharaoh gives him the best part of the land; a place called Goshen, in the district of Rameses.
Matthew 16:1-20
(16:1-20)
The Pharisees and Sadducees come to Jesus, and again ask for a demonstration of a miracle. Jesus, again turns them down. He points out how strange it is that they hold stock in superstition regarding the colour of the sky and subsequent weather, but they cannot see the signs in front of them as to who Jesus is. He repeats that the only sign they will receive will be the sign of Jonah.
On the subject of Jesus' identity, Jesus asks the disciples who people think he is. He then asks who they think he is. Peter says that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus' reply is to say that Peter is blessed because the Holy Spirit revealed it to him; no one told him this, and he certainly didn't read it in a book. Jesus reiterates that Simon Peter is to now be known as Peter, because he is the foundation on which Jesus' church will be built. Jesus knew that Peter would be one of the key founders of the Church, and that he would be one of its leaders.
This passage also tells us something about how Jesus operates in our lives. There's a song the kids were singing at church on Sunday. It goes something like "I know that God loves me because the Bible tells me so". Having this head knowledge from a book is all well and good (especially as that book is the Bible). But it's not until you experience God's love for the first time - in your heart and in your soul - that you truly believe it. The same goes for Jesus being God. Before I became a Christian, I knew in my head that Jesus was God made flesh. That's what the Bible says, after all. It's not until I let the Holy Spirit in, and let him inform me of who God is, that I truly believed. It's also when I began to change. Not everyone will receive a name change the first time they encounter Jesus. But Jesus will begin to transform them in some way. He will prepare them for whatever it is he has planned for them.
Psalm 14:1-7
(14)
The psalm almost expresses sympathy for the wicked; they're only doing what they're doing because they believe there is no God. But of course the victims of the wicked can find peace and deliverance in the LORD, as he is their refuge.
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