Day 24
Genesis 47:13-48:22
(47:13-31 | 48)
The famine throughout Egypt and Canaan is so severe that the people have run out of money with which to buy grain from Joseph. It seemed a little mean to ask them to pay for the food in the first place, but that's not the point. The Egyptians then bring their livestock in exchange for food. When even that runs out, they sell their land and themselves to Pharaoh. Joseph gives the people seeds so they can plant crops so that they won't die, and the land wouldn't become desolate. When doing so, he stipulates that the people had to give up a fifth of any harvest to the Pharaoh. So now all the land in Egypt and, presumably, Canaan belongs to Pharaoh, as do all of their respective peoples and livestock. With the exception, that is, of the priests, whom the Pharaoh provided for. Presumably, the Israelites are also exempt as Joseph had promised to provide for his family.
Speaking of Israel, they settle in to Goshen. They become prosperous, and their numbers increase greatly. Jacob lives in Egypt for seventeen years, dying there at the age of one hundred and forty seven. Before he does, he blesses Joseph's sons, Mannaseh and Ephraim, claiming them as his own; the tribes of Israel are all descended from Jacob's twelve sons, which each tribe named after its founder. The only exception to this is Joseph; their is no tribe of Joseph, only two half-tribes of Mannaseh and Ephraim. Jacob incurs Joseph's displeasure by placing Ephraim, the younger of his two sons, ahead of Mannaseh. But Jacob insists he knows what he's doing. Jacob also tells Joseph that God will be with him, and will eventually take his people back to Canaan, the land promised to the children of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.
Matthew 16:21-17:13
(16:21-28 | 17:1-13)
Jesus has twice been challenged by the Pharisees to prove to perform miracles before them so that they can believe. On both occasions, Jesus told them that the only sign they would receive would be the sign of Jonah; the Son of Man would be gone for three days before re-emerging. In today's reading, Jesus begins explaining to his disciples what this entails; that he must be made to suffer, that he must die, and that he will rise again on the third day of his death. Peter resists this, telling Jesus that this must never happen to him. Jesus replies, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Peter cannot yet comprehend the resurrection; he cannot see past the fact that Jesus will die. Jesus doesn't actually think Peter is Satan, rather he knows how the devil works. He knows that the devil tries to stop us doing God's will, that he tries to tempt us away from that. Jesus resists this attack in very comprehensive terms, though it must have been quite terrifying for Peter at the time!
Six days later, Jesus goes up a mountain with Peter, and the two brothers James and John. Jesus is transfigured before them, becoming as bright as the sun. He then begins conversing with Elijah and Moses. The three disciples are confused, and not sure if they should really be there. They try to find excuses to leave. That confusion quickly turns to terror when they hear the voice of God. Jesus tells them not to be afraid, and tells them not to tell anyone of what happened until after the resurrection. It is then revealed to the disciples that John the Baptist was Elijah; no one recognised him as such, and they treated him in exactly the same way as they would treat Jesus in coming times.
Proverbs 3:1-10
(3:1-10)
The header on the YouVersion page (follow the link above) says "Wisdom Bestows Well-Being". That's a pretty good summary of what this passage is about. As with everything, there's a danger of doing the things this passage suggests for the sake of doing it, or even for the good things it brings. Doing so leads us to forget why we're doing them, and what wisdom really means. A very important piece of advice offered by the passage is this, from verses 5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Essentially, give everything over to God, especially your heart.
Genesis 47:13-48:22
(47:13-31 | 48)
The famine throughout Egypt and Canaan is so severe that the people have run out of money with which to buy grain from Joseph. It seemed a little mean to ask them to pay for the food in the first place, but that's not the point. The Egyptians then bring their livestock in exchange for food. When even that runs out, they sell their land and themselves to Pharaoh. Joseph gives the people seeds so they can plant crops so that they won't die, and the land wouldn't become desolate. When doing so, he stipulates that the people had to give up a fifth of any harvest to the Pharaoh. So now all the land in Egypt and, presumably, Canaan belongs to Pharaoh, as do all of their respective peoples and livestock. With the exception, that is, of the priests, whom the Pharaoh provided for. Presumably, the Israelites are also exempt as Joseph had promised to provide for his family.
Speaking of Israel, they settle in to Goshen. They become prosperous, and their numbers increase greatly. Jacob lives in Egypt for seventeen years, dying there at the age of one hundred and forty seven. Before he does, he blesses Joseph's sons, Mannaseh and Ephraim, claiming them as his own; the tribes of Israel are all descended from Jacob's twelve sons, which each tribe named after its founder. The only exception to this is Joseph; their is no tribe of Joseph, only two half-tribes of Mannaseh and Ephraim. Jacob incurs Joseph's displeasure by placing Ephraim, the younger of his two sons, ahead of Mannaseh. But Jacob insists he knows what he's doing. Jacob also tells Joseph that God will be with him, and will eventually take his people back to Canaan, the land promised to the children of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.
Matthew 16:21-17:13
(16:21-28 | 17:1-13)
Jesus has twice been challenged by the Pharisees to prove to perform miracles before them so that they can believe. On both occasions, Jesus told them that the only sign they would receive would be the sign of Jonah; the Son of Man would be gone for three days before re-emerging. In today's reading, Jesus begins explaining to his disciples what this entails; that he must be made to suffer, that he must die, and that he will rise again on the third day of his death. Peter resists this, telling Jesus that this must never happen to him. Jesus replies, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Peter cannot yet comprehend the resurrection; he cannot see past the fact that Jesus will die. Jesus doesn't actually think Peter is Satan, rather he knows how the devil works. He knows that the devil tries to stop us doing God's will, that he tries to tempt us away from that. Jesus resists this attack in very comprehensive terms, though it must have been quite terrifying for Peter at the time!
Six days later, Jesus goes up a mountain with Peter, and the two brothers James and John. Jesus is transfigured before them, becoming as bright as the sun. He then begins conversing with Elijah and Moses. The three disciples are confused, and not sure if they should really be there. They try to find excuses to leave. That confusion quickly turns to terror when they hear the voice of God. Jesus tells them not to be afraid, and tells them not to tell anyone of what happened until after the resurrection. It is then revealed to the disciples that John the Baptist was Elijah; no one recognised him as such, and they treated him in exactly the same way as they would treat Jesus in coming times.
Proverbs 3:1-10
(3:1-10)
The header on the YouVersion page (follow the link above) says "Wisdom Bestows Well-Being". That's a pretty good summary of what this passage is about. As with everything, there's a danger of doing the things this passage suggests for the sake of doing it, or even for the good things it brings. Doing so leads us to forget why we're doing them, and what wisdom really means. A very important piece of advice offered by the passage is this, from verses 5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Essentially, give everything over to God, especially your heart.
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