February 13

Genesis 46; Mark 16

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 20: DID ALL MANKIND FALL IN ADAM’S FIRST SIN?
Answer: All mankind, descending from Adam by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first sin.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Romans 5:12, 18-19.  

Comment: God considered all mankind as being in Adam so that when Adam went bad we all went bad in him. The nature that we have by virtue of belonging to Adam’s race is morally corrupt. We are under the wrath of God “by nature” (Ephesians 2:3) from the time we were conceived in the womb. This is why conversion and salvation must be much more than a “decision” for Christ. It must be a new creation, a rebirth, an exchange of hearts.

Genesis 46

Ready:
In the previous chapter Joseph broke down and revealed himself to his brothers and then invited them to go and bring back Jacob and all of Israel.  The Pharaoh gave a bunch of food and wagons and all that would be needed to move the seventy people or so that were to come to Egypt.

Seeing What’s There:
Jacob and Joseph are reunited in this chapter.  The following things jumped out at me in this chapter:

• Jacob makes a pit-stop in Beersheba to sacrifice to God and seek guidance
• Moses gives a detailed listing of the sons of Jacob’s children
• Jacob and Joseph have an emotional reunion
• Joseph explains to Jacob that the Egyptians despise shepherds and that this will actually guarantee that they receive the land of Goshen since it is apart from most of civilized Egypt

Key Verses:
Gen 46:1-4, 5, 26-27, 29-30, 33-34

Theme:
With the blessing of God, the entire nation of Israel enters Egypt and settles in a fertile but isolated land apart from Egyptian society.

Thinking About the Message:
    v1-7.  I see Jacob here honoring his God and seeking to ensure that this trip to Egypt is indeed the right thing to do.  It makes sense since God had promised Canaan to them and now he was looking to leave Canaan behind.  It is here in Beersheba that God now promises to not only make him a great nation in Egypt but he also promises that his presence will be with them there and that he will bring him back to Canaan.  This promise was that God would bring them back and this is key.  It will not be in their power to return, but it will require God’s intervention.  This important blessing of approval will eventually require Moses to come along and at great cost to the Egyptians, Israel will depart from Egypt.  So with God’s blessing, Jacob heads off from Beersheba into Egypt.
    v8-27.  This whole section mainly serves to show me that the entire nation came into Egypt and that they were only 70 people in total at this point.  The promise of God at Beersheba, however, is that in Egypt they will become great.
    v28-34.  Jacob and Joseph have a warm reunion here and the patriarch is now content to die…though not quite yet.  Joseph explains to Jacob that he will go and advise Pharaoh that they have arrived in Goshen and to make sure Pharaoh knows their occupation.  Joseph explains that they Egyptians despise shepherds for some religious reason and that this is what will guarantee that they indeed receive the land of Goshen because it is remote from the civilized areas of Egypt and they will therefore be able to exist apart from the God-less culture of the Egyptians.  The wording is odd and a bit hard to follow but in the end Joseph himself uses the term shepherd with Pharaoh and so do the brothers in the next chapter so I don’t take it that Joseph is advising any deception.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    I take this to be a huge shift in the storyline because the promised offspring (plural) and the whole nation are now leaving the very land that was promised to them.  This requires explanation and Moses offers it to us by God’s interaction with Jacob at Beersheba.  So God has chosen to multiply the people of Israel outside of Canaan and will himself bring them back once they have become a great nation.  In Gen 37:10-11 Jacob considered Joseph’s dream that included him coming to Joseph and bowing down as well and although he rebuked Joseph for sharing this dream Moses records that Jacob “kept the saying in mind”.  I would imagine that this was still in his mind and probably helped him make the decision to pack-up and head to Beersheba for confirmation from God.
    1.   They are to trust God despite what seems like a crazy detour.  The implication is that God clearly plans for detours and less than obvious ways of fulfilling his will in the life of his people.  The significance for my life is that I can trust that detours and challenges and things that seem like an obstruction or hindrance to God’s blessing in my life may indeed be the fulfillment of his blessing in my life.  I can interpret my circumstances not on their merit alone but with the understanding that Almighty God has me in his hand.
    2.  Jacob sought God’s approval and blessing upon this major decision and change in their life and God indeed provides blessing and confidence to Jacob that it is right to go.  The implication is that I would do well to seek God’s approval for major decisions in my life especially when I am unsure of the thing being honoring to God.  The significance in my life is that I now have God’s Word and I should regularly consider what his Word tells me in relation to the decisions I make in life to ensure that I am always honoring him in my choices and actions rather than choosing for my own selfish interest.  I should also take these decision to God in prayer and ask that he might give me guidance and peace.

Valuing the Message:
This message is valuable to me because it is very practical and there will surely be detours from what I think is God’s plan.  The value of making a life habit to go to the Bible for direction is huge.  This lesson can make the difference between me honoring God with my life or just offering him lip service.

Reflecting to Feel the Impact of the Message:
I need to reflect upon my habits of decision making and think about how I usually make decisions.  Am I just looking for the most comfortable solution?  Am I looking for the most financially beneficial?  Am I thinking about the mission of the gospel and how it is advanced or not with my decision?  Am I giving God the last say in what I will consider appropriate in my life or do I reserve that to myself?

Responding to God & Reacting to His Lesson:
Tell God about your observations and your thoughts and your struggles with the chapter and determine how it will change or impact your thinking and your decisions.  Be sure to react in some way to the truth rather than remain silent.

Proclaiming the Truth to Others:
Decide who you can share what you have learned with and ask for God’s help in reaching out to love others.

Mark 16

I will catch up soon :)

Soli Deo Gloria!