February 16

Genesis 49; Luke 2

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 23: WHAT IS THE MISERY INTO WHICH ALL MANKIND FELL THROUGH ADAM’S FIRST SIN?
Answer: All mankind, by their fall, lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.
Scripture: Genesis 3:8, 24; Ephesians 2:3; Galatians 3:10; Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:41-46; Psalm 9:17.

Comment: Keep in mind that “liable to” means that these miseries will indeed befall all people unless a special work of God’s grace intervenes.

Genesis 49

Ready:
Yesterday I read about Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph and adopting them as his own sons into positions of tribal chiefs.

Seeing What’s There:
This chapter concludes the life of Jacob and before he dies he gathers his twelve sons and blesses them each with an individual blessing that involves him telling them what is to come for them.  Jacob clearly has great expectations of Judah and Joseph but the others are either spoken ill of or are given obscure blessings.  Ephraim and Judah will end up as the Northern and Southern tribes of Israel  (respectively) after the split during Rehoboam’s rule around 922 BC.

Key Verses:
Gen 49:1, 8-10, 22-25, 28, 29, 33

Theme:
The last of the great Patriarchs leaves the nation of Israel in the hands of the twelve tribal (plus the two half tribes under Joseph) chiefs and he puts Judah in charge.

Thinking About the Message:
    v1-2.  Jacob intends here to bless his children and to predict their future based on his knowledge of them and the leading of God in his thoughts toward them.
    v3-4.  Reuben is the firstborn but he is essentially passed over due to his sin.  His blessing is basically a declaration that he should have been great but he sacrificed this by his sinful behavior.  Our actions have consequences.  No doubt that Jacob loved Reuben but he knows that he is not stable.  A good lesson for my children to see that the consequences of our actions can severely limit us in our ability to influence others and our ability to be used by God for his glorious purposes.  Remembering that God used Paul mightily after his persecution of the church, it is surely possible still, but the model presented here is to walk uprightly and avoid such consequences.
    v5-7.  Treated the next two sons together Jacob passes over Simeon and Levi as well due to their violence and vengeance they took against the people of Shechem after Dinah was raped.  He declares that they will be scattered among the tribes and this comes to pass later.
    v8-12.  Judah receives the highest blessing and declaration of his royal reign over the nation that will extend even over the beloved tribe of Joseph.  Jacob recognizes the leadership in Judah and the kingly line is here established to be his and not Joseph’s.
    v13-21.  From Zebulun to Naphtali the blessings are specific and limited.  Asher is gonna be a good cook!
    v22-26.  Joseph receives the longest blessing but it is not focused on leadership and rule but rather on fruitfulness and the blessings of Almighty God who will help them.  Joseph’s half tribes will produce kings over the Northern tribes but they will primarily turn from God and face much judgement until they are gathered back to Judah following exile.
    v27.  Benjamin is the youngest and he is seen as a fighter.
    v28-33.  Jacob concludes the blessing and requires that his sons ensurer he is buried with his fathers in Canaan.  He then climbs into bed and breathes his last.  Moses indicates the he is “gathered to his people” which could suggest an intermediate state after death where the OT saints are awaiting something (presumed to be the cross of Christ) for their release from "Abraham’s bosom" into heaven.  This view is debatable but certainly the point is agreeable that Jacob joins his fellow believing family members and any other saints who have previously died.  The sons of Jacob make up the nation of Israel and it is only these sons who are “Jews” except for those aliens who are adopted by circumcision into the family.  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all plucked from among their families as Jews but it was not until Jacob that all offspring were among the promised people of God.  So physical election by God was evident from Abraham until Jacob (Rom 9:11) and now there is only the spiritual election of God (Rom 11:7).  God had spoken directly to the three great Patriarchs of Israel but he will communicate with the tribes now through prophets and judges and kings to come…then one day he will communicate through his Son (Heb 1:1-2).

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    I take the message to be indication that “the” promised offspring will come from the line of Judah as the scepter that will not depart from him until tribute comes to him.  In this there is a specific redemption coming that is bound up in one person who will conquer and fulfill God’s promise.  This is a particular redemption and not a blanket tolerance of any redeemer (or redemption) that can be claimed.  I also hear a reminder of the nature of fatherhood.  I see that God was done communicating directly to his people with Jacob and that it was up to this father to teach his children what God had spoken and to set them on a course of honoring God.  Similarly the significance to me is that I must infill in my children a hope in Jesus the way Jacob was steering his children toward a future offspring to come.  God may choose that my children rely on my encouragement to get them through a large part of their youth before they begin to hear his voice and walk with him directly.  It is my charge and privilege to steer them and keep them mindful of our purpose here.

Valuing the Message:
I value the message because there is only one offspring and one name by which we must be saved- Jesus.  I value the message that I am to pass on this trust and legacy to my kiddos and that I am to be God’s voice to them until they are mindful of his voice for themselves.

Reflecting to Feel the Impact of the Message:
The choices that I make and my children make along the way impact generations and I need to consider this in the way I train my kiddos and the way I love them.  We need God’s wisdom and this comes from one place…his Word.  And the Word of God will not pass richly from me unless it dwells richly in me!

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.

Luke 2

Ready:
Yesterday Luke presented Mary’s Magnificat and also Zechariah’s prophecy.

Seeing What’s There:
This chapter covers a lot of ground (up to the first 30 years of Jesus’ life).

Theme:
God comes to be among us not as an impersonal "force” or as a religious formula, but as a child who comes to seek and save the lost with the offering of his own righteousness that he performs with a perfect love of the Father and of others.

Thinking About the Message:
    v1-7.  The decree of Caesar Augustus is here accredited with causing the Christ child to be born in Bethlehem.  But we know it was the eternal decree of God before time that resulted in this Caesar issuing such a decree (Prov 21:1) in order that the purposes of God would be fulfilled (Micah 5:2, Num 24:17, Gen 3:15, 2 Tim 1:9, Titus 1:2).  Luke here gives one verse to the eternal Son of God being born into humanity by a woman in a stable at the first Christmas.  The union of the divine nature and the human nature in one person is now among us and the Son of Man breathes air (which he made) for the first time.  God himself is now sustained by his own creation and this chapter will show how the humanity of Jesus needs, like us, to grow in stature and wisdom.
    v8-20.  The shepherds see an amazing sight and receive a proclamation of the birth of the Savior…the expected Messiah.  The song of the angels seems to match Mary’s song in that they angels declare peace on earth among those in whom he is pleased.  This compares to Mary’s statement of mercy for those who fear him.  I am struck by Mary’s treasuring up of what she sees and hears regarding Jesus here and later in the chapter when Jesus is 12.  I want to be sure and treasure up in my heart what I see and hear of him as well.
    v21-38.  Here they circumcise Jesus and name him and then another 33 days later (Lev 12:3-4) they present Jesus at the temple (Ex 13:2 ,12) while they make a sacrifice of atonement for mary according to the law (Lev 12:7-8).  It is clear that Joseph and Mary were devout Jews who trusted in God.  In this passage we see Simeon and Anna, who are two OT saints that Luke explains are awaiting the Savior.  This is the picture of what the law was supposed to result in…a waiting and longing for the coming Savior…the promised offspring…the Messiah…the Christ…Jesus.  Salvation come only by Jesus whether OT or NT or in the Garden immediately after the fall of man.  Only Jesus makes one right with the Father.  Me looking back at what Jesus did is no different than Enoch looking ahead at what the promised offspring will do to crush the head of Satan.      v39.  Though born in Bethlehem Jesus shall grow up a Nazarene and the Pharisees will see him merely as Jesus of Nazareth, which highlights only his human nature since the Messiah comes from Bethlehem.
    v41-52.  This is the biggest description of the early years in Jesus’s life and it is clear that by 12 Jesus was very familiar with the Tanakh (Old Testament to us).  It seems like he was asking and answering his own questions and was amazing the rabbis in the temple.  Jesus had to learn and grow and he even gained in favor with the Father through his active righteousness that was daily growing as he matured and submitted and glorified God in all he did.  The divine nature of Jesus was always perfect but the human nature needed maturing and growth.  Without ever having sin, he still needed maturing.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    I take the meaning that God had a specific plan of redemption for his people and it required his own Son to accomplish what Adam failed at.  Jesus is the second Adam and he will fulfill the law perfectly as a man so that I might bear his righteousness in the same way I bore Adam’s sin.  There is no waving of the hand forgiveness of sins independent of the person and work of Jesus.  God is not a whimsical benevolent force that grants forgiveness to the destruction of justice…he is a righteous God and a Savior (Is 45:21) who provides a way out of love for his name and for his creation (Rom 3:26, John 3:16).  The implication is that a right knowledge of God and his righteousness is required in order to receive forgiveness (Rom 10:1-4).  The significance for me is that the message of my life cannot be a religious focus on “being nice” and on “not sinning” but it must be a message of reliance upon the promised offspring for the forgiveness of sins by his work on the cross alone.  

Valuing the Message:
Gotta run...

Reflecting to Feel the Impact of the Message:


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.

Soli Deo Gloria!