Good Things from Bad Experiences

A war torn nation has left many of her people in desperate circumstances but they are hearing the Word and receiving it with joy. To quote one man," Son, that (your teaching) was better than a week's worth of beans and rice."

Reading: Genesis 46
     Verse 27 Seventy souls came into Egypt. This seventy seems to be an important number. We first saw it in Genesis 10:32 when God divided the nations. Now the house of Israel is going down into Egypt, seventy souls, and their lives will be a witness to the world. They will be in the world but not of the world.
Reading Genesis 48
     Verses 13,14 Though Jacob is partially blind physically, he had spiritual vision. He blessed the boys according to God's will, not tradition.
      We cannot make our children into our image but we must allow God to form them as He knows their hearts.

Reading: Genesis 49
     Verses 1,2 God gave Jacob understanding of the future of his sons. Some of the things he had to say probably hurt. We all have dreams we would like to see our children fulfill. But our children are only gifts to be raised in the Lord. We have to leave their futures to God's knowledge and plan. I have found that to be the hardest thing about turning loose.

Reading Genesis 50
     Verse 20 God had a purpose in sending Joseph into Egypt. At the time his brothers meant it for evil. Here was a boy who trusted God but faced tragedy at every turn. Yes, bad things do happen to good people. But... God always has a reason and a purpose whether we see it or not.

Christians are facing persecution every day. They always have. We, here in the US have been spared from persecution so far. Others have given their lives in the middle ages. Persecution is what brought the Pilgrims here. The communist in the USSR and China have and are persecuting Christians. The Muslim world is at the top of the headlines with persecution of Christians. But millions of people are brought to Christ through the faith they see in Christians who stand fast.
Joseph was a witness to the Egyptians and to his family. His family living in Egypt for another 400 years would be a witness. Our time has not come yet to take a stand. We need to be preparing.
Luke 2:52 tells us even Jesus prepared himself as a child for what He knew was to come.
  
Father, help us to allow You to direct our children and their families, so that all might rejoice in the work You are doing even when it means bad things happening to us, whether sickness, death or persecution help us understand that our lives are to bring glory to You, our God and our Creator.

Thank you for journeying through Genesis with us. I pray it has been helpful. Won't you leave a comment about your experiences and/or your ideas for future journeys in God's Word?

Blessings,  Gail

Family Feud

Genesis 37-44

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness: but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9

Genesis 37:32
The Hatfields and the McCoy or a crazy game show. Those are the first things that come to mind when someone says family feud, but there's probably been a little feuding in all our families. We are just not willing to admit it.  Jacob's family was no different. A teenager trying to find his place in the pecking order said a little too much or maybe just in the wrong prideful way. This was not the beginning of the jealousy. It began with clothes that only the special brother had. Or maybe it began before that with Rachel, the loved wife. Or maybe it began even before that in a garden where trust was broken because Eve was deceived, thinking God was keeping something from her. Cain inherited the same jealousy.
Yes, family feuds begin because of the sin of jealousy. Sin, when it is finished brings forth death. It was suppose to bring Joseph's death, but God spared him and sent him to Egypt. Joseph was dead to the family. It wasn't the neighbors that were feuding. Though we all hate to admit it, most feuds are within the family. No one wanted to admit to their father that there was trouble. The brothers sent Joseph's coat back to dad. Maybe it was servants that brought the coat to Jacob. The brothers didn't want to face their dad and have to answer questions. They didn't see their dad's grief.

Genesis 38:26
Sin always brings grief to all involved. Like Adam and Eve the brothers wanted to hide from their sin.

Genesis 39:9
Joseph however, did his best to honor God whatever the circumstances. Notice in chapter 39 verse 9 how Joseph answers Potipher's wife. He doesn't want to do wrong and sin against God! It wasn't just about Potipher or his position, it was about sinning against God. However doing the right thing doesn't always keep us out of trouble.

Genesis 40:8
It would look like God was against Joseph. He'd been sold by his brothers, made a slave in Potipher's house and now through into prison. But he never wavered in serving God and when the opportunity arose he faithfully witnessed for God.

Genesis 41:16,38
It took years to get Joseph out of the pit but God was with him. God is not slack in any of his promises. He will never leave us or forsake us. His plan will always work out for the best. Joseph was in a position to lead a country and save not only the country but his family as well. Who would have thought?

Genesis 42 :18
Though Joseph tried to hide his identity by dressing, talking and even swearing like an Egyptian, he still had to admit that he feared God. His actions depended on God, not man. I think he might have felt a little twinge of guilt in swearing like an Egyptian and had to back up and correct himself. He was just as human as we are. And that's the point!

We are all just like the people in the Bible. God had men write about these stories so that we might see ourselves in them, our family swabbles, our temptations, our strength through God, our sin and God's forgiveness.

What things has God revealed to you through your studies of His Word this week?

Father, please help us to see our weaknesses and live as Joseph did totally dependent on you, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Blessings

New Beginnings

Fear Thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

Yes, it's that time again, back to school. Whether back to public school, private school or home school, this is the season for new beginnings. Everyone is anxious as to what the year will bring.
Jacob was anxious about returning home. He got especially fearful when he learned his brother Esau was approaching with four hundred men! But Jacob did a wise thing. He talked to God.

Genesis 32: 9-12 is Jacob's prayer. A lot of the prayer seems to be reminding God what He promised to Jacob and his forefathers. I think he was really reminding himself of all God promised to do for him. Verse 12 says, And Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
I want to laugh at Jacob because he knew exactly what God said but he really needed to remind himself that God was going to work everything out for good. But are we not just like Jacob. We run into a rough spot and we get all bent out of shape and wonder if God is going to keep His promises. I often find myself quoting scripture, not to remind God of his promises but to remind myself that God's got me and there is nothing man can do to me that trumps God.

Going into the new school year my have us a little bent out of shape, but remember God's got you and there is nothing that is going to come up that He can't handle.

The rest of the week's readings from chapter 32-36 helps us see the kinds of troubles we may face in our families, but Jacob knew where to turn and how to repent to restore the fellowship with God. Esau knew how to become great in a land but did not give his family the promises and peace that comes from God.

Thank you Lord, for knowing just how to handle our fears and problems. Help us to remember that our help comes from You and Your desire is to only do us good, even if it seems grievous at the time. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Blessing for the new school year,

Gail