February 7

Genesis 40; Mark 10

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 14: HOW DID GOD CREATE MAN?
Answer: God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.
Scripture: Genesis 1:27-28; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24.
 
Comment: In saying that we were created after his image “in knowledge, righteousness and holiness,” we do not mean we know all God knows, nor that we are a fountain of righteousness and holiness the way he is. We mean that we were capable of sharing his knowledge and righteousness and holiness in a relationship of trust and love unlike any other creature under the angels.

Genesis 40

Ready:
In the last chapter Joseph was left in prison because of Potiphar’s wife and he is now running the prison because of God’s amazing hand of blessing upon him within an through his crazy circumstances.

Reading thoughts:
I see in this passage that Joseph has a divine appointment with these two men.  In prison he meets the Pharoah’s cupbearer and chief baker who have been imprisoned for an unknown offense to Pharaoh.  Both re troubled by dreams they do not understand and Joseph interprets the dreams for them.  The dreams come true as Joseph interpreted but the Cupbearer, whom Joseph had asked to pass a good word to Pharaoh on his behalf when the dream came true, did not do so but rather he forgot about Joseph…and he continued to help run the prison (for a couple more years).

Key Verses:
Gen 40:2-3, 5, 12, 14, 18, 21-23

I see the theme as- God sets up interactions between people and God moves them toward the fulfilling of his intentions.

Rumination thoughts:
Broadly reflecting upon this chapter is appears that Joseph is living Rom 8:26-29 and he seems to take in stride the circumstances that would naturally be seen as discouraging setbacks.  I don’t take much from the dreams as they are not the main message of the story, but the fact that God brought these officer’s from Pharoah’s house and Joseph together through all the sinful wrong actions against Joseph, beginning with his brothers, is amazing.  God has a work he is doing with Joseph that requires Joseph to be placed in charge of Pharoah’s affairs and this is brought forth by a series or crazy circumstances that Joseph would never know to ask for (Rom 8:26-27) just as I do not always (or usually) know what to pray for.  Even the two guys with the dreams are intermediate players and the real significance will come when Joseph has an audience with Pharaoh in the next chapter.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  God orchestrates and weaves together events in history to accomplish his will in keeping his promises.  The implication of this is that he has made promises to work his omnipotence (Eph 1:19) for my good (Jer 32:40-41) so that all things work out (Eph 1:11) in a manner that I will be conformed to the likeness of Christ (Rom 8:28-29).  I do not doubt that God has the power to move mountains and hearts and cars and bullets and anything else in all creation but I do not know how he may desire to use the circumstances in my life so I take the significance not in trusting certain outcomes but from trusting a loving shepherd (deliverer) who will bring me into the circumstances that will accomplish his pruning and loving work of making me like his Son and delivering me to the bridegroom as one prepared (Col 1:22, 2 Cor 11:2, Jude 24, Is 61:10-11, Rev 19:7-8).

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“private”

Mark 10

Ready:
Yesterday I read about the transfiguration and about Jesus’ teaching to me about keeping a focus on him and about taking sin seriously and about not being a hindrance to new believers.

Reading thoughts:
I see Jesus continue his teaching on not causing others to sin and then moves into relying on him like a child relies upon a parent for provision rather than seeking to earn or merit or accomplish my own salvation.  I see Jesus reveal the destination of Jerusalem to the group and he marches there resolutely, to their amazement, since he explain what will happen their is his suffering and death.  The chapter closes with a man in the opposite scenario of the rich young ruler and Jesus teaches where salvation is found.  The main teaching revolves around two questions…one of them is a lie and results in death…”What must I do, Jesus?” or “What do you want me to do for you, Bartimaeus?”  Am I speaking or listening?

Key Verses:
Mark 10:11-12, 15-16, 17-18, 21-22, 25-27, 33-34, 32, 43-45, 51-52

I take the theme as- A broken, humble, others focused reliance upon Jesus and his “doing" is the only way of salvation.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-12.  I see this section a continuation of not causing others to sin because in divorce we make our spouse an adulterer, unless we divorce for cause of adultery (Matt 5:32).  So in essence, all marriages that end, end in adultery.  I think God cares deeply for marriage because he has built it as a picture of the marriage of Christ with the church (Eph 5:25-33) and this groom will not divorce his bride regardless of her faithlessness but he will secure her by his own faithfulness and he combines the concepts or justice and mercy in this marriage (Hosea 2:19-20).  I see this marriage of opposites (righteousness and justice v steadfast love and mercy) to be related to Rom 3:21-27.  He accomplishes righteousness for us on the cross in order to make it just for him to show us the mercy that he has showed since the garden when he did not kill Adam.  God fulfills the unilateral covenant of Gen 15:17 by an unbreakable marriage resting only upon his own righteousness and faithfulness.  Divorce shatters this picture and also causes the spouse to sin.  Surely it can not always be avoided and it is sad when this is the case and these people need support and love and grace in dealing with picking up the pieces of their lives. I have know too many men who’s wives have left them…
    v13-52.  No more time but look for the opposing questions and the viewpoints of the rich man who wants to know what he needs to do for God vs the beggar who understands that it is the opposite…he needs God to do something for him.  Do I have to merit my salvation or is it already accomplished in Christ and I need merely to follow him?  These accounts are sandwiched around Jesus explaining what he will do for us…die and rise again.  Jesus teaches that we are to come to him for healing and not to demonstrate our righteousness.  Not to ask “How can I show you my righteousness or how can I do the right things to be righteous?”  Jesus says, "you just let me handle that righteousness bit and follow me if you want healing from your sin and state of death.  Trusting in me is the answer."

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!