Genesis 39

WEEK 18                                               Genesis 39  

TUESDAY  Reflections

We see Joseph placed in two completely different places: a family of prestige and second prison. In the first place, Joseph started out like any slave but became what we might call the chief financial officer for one of the most important families in the known world. In the second, Joseph learned to deal with some less than reputable characters and was able to keep them in check.

 

Joseph did nothing wrong but due to the actions of others, he found himself getting an education. This shows God turning the disobedience and sin of others into a tool. These locations, I can’t help but believe, gave Joseph the experience he would need to become second in command in all of Egypt.

 

When these things were happening they truly didn’t look good, but as we will see God will work them together for good. It’s a great reminder that God can and will do the same things for the Christian as he promises in Romans 8:28.

LISTEN HERE

Gen 39:1-23

(1)  And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

(2)  And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

(3)  And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

(4)  And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

(5)  And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

(6)  And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

(7)  And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

(8)  But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

(9)  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

(10)  And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

(11)  And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

(12)  And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

(13)  And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

(14)  That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

(15)  And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

(16)  And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

(17)  And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

(18)  And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

(19)  And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

(20)  And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

(21)  But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

(22)  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

(23)  The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldRephraseRephrase current sentenceEdit in Ginger×

Genesis 38

WEEK 18                                                Genesis 38  

MONDAY  Reflections

Genesis 38 is often a hard chapter to deal with for Christians. It seems as if Tamar is playing like a harlot. However, Judah claims she is more righteous than he. How is this?

 

The problem is we do not understand the way people of that generation thought. A son carried on as it were the life of their father. The first person to carry on the line or life of the father was the oldest son. If that one died the next was to carry on for him and so on. The wife of the son was in a since bearing children to continue the line (life) of her father-in-law.

 

Judah, like many people, today didn’t want to think that his children were the problem and was instead looking at Tamar as the problem. The third son was old enough to be given to Tamar so that she could have her place in the family (and security for the future), but Judah was going to take that from her by not giving her the next son in line.

 

So, this woman who was supposed to bear children to carry on the line of Judah was left to fend for herself. Her future in this culture wasn’t very bright. The chances for another husband was nearly nothing, she had nothing to lose. Her solution to be the person to bear the line of Judah was to have children by Judah himself rather than through his son. It was after all her duty and right to bear the line (children). Judah was stealing this from her, but she found a way to be what she was supposed to be.

 

This being said it was the way it was supposed to be done and Judah acknowledges that by taking her into his house as his wife but not sleeping with her again. We don’t know what life was like after that but explaining the parentage to these children was something I’m glad I didn’t have to do.

 

In the end, what we see here is a strong woman doing what had to be done to ensure that she was taken care of and that her role in the family was fulfilled. 

LISTEN HERE 

Gen 38:1-30
(1)  And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
(2)  And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
(3)  And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
(4)  And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
(5)  And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
(6)  And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
(7)  And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
(8)  And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
(9)  And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
(10)  And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.
(11)  Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
(12)  And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
(13)  And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
(14)  And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
(15)  When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
(16)  And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
(17)  And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
(18)  And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
(19)  And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
(20)  And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.
(21)  Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.
(22)  And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.
(23)  And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
(24)  And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
(25)  When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.
(26)  And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
(27)  And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
(28)  And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
(29)  And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.

(30)  And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldRephraseRephrase current sentenceEdit in Ginger×

Isaiah 18

WEEK 17                                               Isaiah 18  

SATURDAY  Reflections

This prophecy is a warning against the land of Cush. Cush was the area where the Queen of Sheba most probably came from. This would be most likely modern-day Ethiopia.  

This prophecy doesn’t have the same weight as an oracle or burden(depending on your translation) as other passages which surround it. Yet this is clearly not a sign everything is good.

 

The good news is that from this area there will come those who will worship God. It is interesting to note that Christianity has been a strong force in Ethiopia since the fourth century so in some ways this prophecy has been fulfilled.

LISTEN HERE

Isa 18:1-7
(1)  Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:
(2)  That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
(3)  All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
(4)  For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
(5)  For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.
(6)  They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
(7)  In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.

mulugeta wolde on Unsplash

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldRephraseRephrase current sentenceEdit in Ginger×

Job 13

WEEK 17                                                 Job 13  

FRIDAY  Reflections

Job speaks something here that I think many who offer comfort would do good to hear; “If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom” (Job 13:4). 

The writer of Proverbs might have read this before penning, “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues” (Proverbs 17:28).

 

When dealing with grieving people, silence is golden. Knowledge even if right in grief, only brings pain. Comfort is more often found in silence.

LISTEN HERE

Job 13:2-28

(2)  What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

(3)  Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

(4)  But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

(5)  O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

(6)  Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

(7)  Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

(8)  Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

(9)  Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

(10)  He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

(11)  Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

(12)  Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

(13)  Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

(14)  Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

(15)  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

(16)  He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

(17)  Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

(18)  Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

(19)  Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

(20)  Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

(21)  Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

(22)  Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

(23)  How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

(24)  Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

(25)  Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

(26)  For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

(27)  Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

(28)  And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldRephraseRephrase current sentenceEdit in Ginger×

Luke 17

WEEK 17                                            Luke 17  

THURSDAY  Reflections

Christians often talk about the rewards in heaven. No, we really don't know what they will be or, for me currently, does it really matter? However, Jesus puts everything into perspective in Luke 17:7-10. Jesus points out that after all is said and done, we have only done what we were supposed to do. 

Yes, there are rewards, Jesus taught there are, but these are given out of God's grace. When we are at our best as Christians, we are only servants doing as we have been told and empowered. This is Jesus giving us a reminder that we need to be humble. We aren't as great as we might want to believe.

LISTEN HERE

Luk 17:1-37

(1)  Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

(2)  It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

(3)  Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

(4)  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

(5)  And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

(6)  And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

(7)  But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

(8)  And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

(9)  Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

(10)  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

(11)  And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

(12)  And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

(13)  And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

(14)  And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

(15)  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

(16)  And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

(17)  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

(18)  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

(19)  And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

(20)  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

(21)  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

(22)  And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

(23)  And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

(24)  For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

(25)  But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

(26)  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

(27)  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

(28)  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

(29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

(30)  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

(31)  In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

(32)  Remember Lot's wife.

(33)  Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

(34)  I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

(35)  Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

(36)  Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

(37)  And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldRephraseRephrase current sentenceEdit in Ginger×