Category: Genesis

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Genesis ends with two funerals – Jacob’s and Joseph’s. Joseph’s brothers’ behaviour is so typical of after-funeral family conferences. There can be much anger and resentment. We need to take Joseph as our example at such times.

SJA Notes

* God Above, Your word is alive, supernatural and powerful. Please teach us from it today.

“Joseph wept when they spoke to him.”

There is much weeping in this passage.

The Egyptians wept for Jacob seventy days, all the household of Pharaoh and the elders of Egypt – So remarkable an event as to be marked by the inhabitants of the land.

The brothers of Joseph though he would turn on them in revenge for what they had done.

Still there, aching in their hearts, was their treachery. Their evil deeds as younger men, hating their brother.

Joseph wept at their words, at their thinking.

Because GREAT was his trust in God, and in the sovereignty of God’s powerful will.

“Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?”

This is a strong word for all of us, God’s people.

He works good through our bad, through the bad of those around us!

God will not be short-changed or thwarted, no mind can outsmart Him, no strength can overpower Him.

He is the all-powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing, all-everywhere God!

Hallelujah, what a God we have!

* Dear Lord,

Please help us see what You want for us today from Your word.

Please may we be encouraged in the witness of Joseph.

Mark us as a faithful people, trusting in Your sovereign hand at work for our good.

Please make us more like Jesus today.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Jacob’s blessing for his own sons contains much prophecy, as well as much character assessment. Jacob has no rosy-eyed view of his sons – see what he says about his later favourite – Benjamin. Judah’s blessing speaks most strongly of Christ.

SJA Notes

* God Above, You are the God who saves. Please help us know You better today.

“… (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel) …”

Jacob highlights here two important aspects of our Lord God.

God is our SHEPHERD.

In yesterday’s passage Jacob highlights this,

“… The God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,”

We know God in the Person of the Son, our King Jesus, as the Good Shepherd.

Here Jacob deepens this understanding, God HIMSELF, the One God – Is our SHEPHERD.

_The_ Shepherd.

There is only one for the sheep.

And our God is the STONE of Israel, the ROCK.

We are to build our house on the Lord, the rock (and not the sand).

He is the cornerstone on which we build, the capstone that is to be magnified by we the church (living stones built up).

This is our God.

* Dear God,

Thank You for Your word to us today.

Please forgive us for our sin against You, as we fall and stray and turn from You.

Please wash us clean today from the muck of the world, transform us Lord into Your image, a likeness of You!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Manasseh and Ephraim are at least between 7 years of age and their early teens, when Jacob blesses them. Jacob acts as God’s prophet with his two grandsons. He makes no mistake when he blesses Ephraim, the second born with the first-born blessing. Notice that Jacob is the first to use the phrase: “the LORD is my shepherd.” (48:15)

SJA Notes

* Holy God, Your word is true and You are truth. Please teach us today.

“And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).”

You can see the events.

Joseph brings his two sons, sons that Jacob had said would be upgraded into the inheritance line with Jacob’s other sons, and puts them in order right and left. Oldest on the right, youngest on the left. Older before younger.

But then Jacob does a strange thing.

This very old man, close to death, completely blind – He crosses his weathered spotty arms and puts the younger before the older. Ephraim before Manasseh.

We can imagine that within God’s sovereign will guiding Jacob was a mirroring of his own youthful experience with inheritance. Jacob and Esau, the younger gaining the blessing of the older.

God’s purposes work themselves out. He works His will out for His good purposes (that are good for us).

Sometimes we don’t like how God works.

But He is sovereign. We are not. He is perfect. We are not. He is God. We are created humanity.

Let us be encouraged to grow (hard-won, hard-fought, day-in-and-out) our trust in the Lord as He works His purposes out in our lives.

* Mighty God,

Please teach us from Your word today, write it on our hearts – that we might not sin against You.

Please help us to submit under Your will, even as we work to go about Your will.

Help us not to be caught up in human traditions or genealogies over Your word and our trust in You.

Amen.