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Genesis 35:22, 37:4, Romans 8:17-18

Suffering then Glory

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 30, 2022

Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn son and should have been the one to take over the headship of the family. But in Genesis 35:22, Reuben slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah. Simeon and Levi, the next two, slaughtered an entire city for one man’s rape of their sister, Dinah. Judah was pictured with many flaws and worldliness. There were probably other reasons, but in the end Jacob exercised his sovereign right and chose Joseph as his heir. This is the true meaning of the “multi-colored” coat. According to Boice and others, this is a mistranslation. “The Hebrew words that are so translated are generally thought to be uncertain.” He says that the two key words have been misconstrued to mean “many colored,” or “richly ornamented.” He goes on to say, “But it is more likely that it means that it was long sleeved and extended to his ankles. Boice explains, “A long-sleeved, tailored garment was worn by one who did not have to work. So when Joseph appeared in this coat, his brothers recognized it as a sign of his father’s choice of Joseph to be a manager, one preeminent over them.”

This is supported by other events in the story as well. Jacob is said to have sent Joseph to oversee his brother’s activities. Joseph brought back a bad report concerning them. Further, there is a rather obscure verse in the New Testament that points to the fact that Joseph was chosen as his father’s heir. Jacob didn’t own much land but what he did own was said to have been left to Joseph. We read that in John 4:5. It says that when Jesus “came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.” Indeed, Joseph was the chosen one of his father.

It was because of this sovereign choice by his father that Joseph’s brothers hated him. Genesis 37:4 tells us, “But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.” Jesus, the beloved son of His Father, was the ultimate chosen one. He too was hated and had to suffer at the hands of his own people, just as Joseph did. He has established the principle that suffering proceeds glory! You know what happened! Joseph suffered but was elevated as ruler in all Egypt. Jesus was crucified but raised from the dead in glory! Today He sits on the thrown of glory to which every knee will bow one day.  As believers in Jesus, Peter calls us “chosen ones.” As Paul expounds on the suffering in this world he reminds us that we are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17-18). Are you suffering? Remember that suffering always precedes glory!

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Genesis 38:27-29, Matthew 1:2-3

A Chosen One?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 29, 2022

While Joseph was in Egypt resisting the sexual advances of his master’s wife, his older brother, Judah, was back in the Promised Land propositioning his daughter in law for an illicit sexual encounter. It’s interesting to pay attention to the outcome of that affair. You learn that Tamar, Judah’s daughter in law, brought forth twin sons as a result. We read the story in Genesis 38:27-29. It tells us that “When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, this one came out first.  But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said what a breach you have made for yourself! Therefore his name was called Perez.”

At the opening of the New Testament in Matthew chapter 1, there’s a genealogy of Jesus lineage all the way back to Abraham.  In Matthew 1:2-3 we read, “Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez …by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron…” Can you imagine, Perez was chosen in the line of the Messiah? God’s choices are more often than not strange to us. He chooses Abraham from amongst a city of moon-god worshippers. He chooses Isaac over Ishmael. He chooses Jacob, the deceiver, over Esau, and remarkably he chooses Judah over Joseph. I surely would have chosen Joseph, the most Christ-like figure in the Old Testament. But, no, God chooses Judah.

Judah was the brother who decided to sell Joseph rather than kill him because there was no profit in murder. He was the brother who married the Canaanite woman. He was the father of two sons by her, Er and Onan, both of whom were wicked and God killed them. He was the one who negotiated a price with a prostitute for sex; he was the one who was willing to stone his daughter in law for immorality while he hid his role in the pregnancy. He was everything he shouldn’t be and nothing he should have been. Joseph on the other hand was everything he should have been and nothing he shouldn’t have been. Yet God chooses Judah! The New Testament writers tell us that we too are chosen to be children of God. You and I are often what we shouldn’t be and seldom exactly what we should be, but God still chooses us. How strange is that?

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Genesis 37:1f, Job 25:2

God is in Control

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 28, 2022

Genesis 37:1 begins the story of Joseph. Next to Christ Himself, he is the best example of a godly man in the bible.  I don’t believe Joseph was perfect. We see his pride in dealing with his older brothers. We see him struggled with revenge also. Yet we cannot miss the similarities between him and Jesus. Many refer to him as a type of Christ.  Like Jesus, he was sold, he was envied, he was hated because of his dreams and his words, and he was abused, mistreated, falsely imprisoned, but ultimately elevated to a glorious position, just like Jesus!

Joseph teaches us many lessons. From Joseph’s life we can learn how to: Overcome envy, remain loyal to rightful authority, reject peer pressure, face adversity, handle prosperity, resist temptation, see the good even in the bad, plan for the future, forgive those who wrong us, trust God in every situation, care and provide for his family, handle power, live a holy life in a pagan environment, see God’s hand through all circumstances, overcome grief, handle rejection, and the list could go on. The most interesting thing about Joseph is that he saw God at work in his life even in his dreams. To Joseph, nothing was a coincidence. God’s hand, His presence, dominated every area of Joseph’s life. He never forgot that God is in control over everything. We need to remember that also.

Max Lucado says: We need to hear that God is still in control. We need to hear that it’s not over until he says so. We need to hear that life’s mishaps and tragedies are not a reason to bail out. They are simply a reason to sit tight. Corrie ten Boom used to say, “When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark, do you jump out? Of course not! You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through.” …Next time you’re disappointed, don’t panic. Don’t jump out. Don’t give up. Just be patient and let God remind you he’s still in control. It ain’t over till it’s over. Joseph will help us remember that God is in control. The New Century Version of the bible translates Job 25:2 like this: “God is the one to fear, because God is in control and rules the heavens.”

 

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Genesis 31:29-32:1f, Romans 8:31

God is FOR us

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 27, 2022

In Genesis 31, after Jacob flees from his father-in-law’s control, Laban pursues him with the intent to do him harm because he has taken his daughters, grandchildren as well as his household idols. When he catches Jacob, in Genesis 31:29, he says, “It’s in my power to do you harm.” In this world, I’m sure you know people who have the power to do you harm. We all have them. But God, who is called in this chapter “The Fear of Isaac,” shows himself to Laban, speaks to him on behalf of Jacob, and warns him against any ill intent he might have. God makes it clear to Laban that He is the one who has the absolute power to harm. In this chapter, when Jacob confronts Laban about why he’s chasing him down with an army, Laban argues that Jacob stole his household idols. It’s interesting to notice that Laban is chasing after his stolen gods while the one true God is actively protecting those who worship Him.

Jacob fled from Laban in fear. But God interceded to protect him from harm. Jacob then continued on his journey to his homeland. Genesis chapter 32 begins with an interesting phrase. It says, “Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, ‘this is God’s camp.'” After the problem with Laban is resolved, Jacob sees God’s protective presence in the angels and rejoices. It’s always easy to see How God has delivered us through our problems when we look back. It’s going through them at the moment that’s the real challenge.

However, Jacob wasn’t through with being afraid of people who might do him harm like you and me. The very next thing is that Jacob gets word that his brother, Esau, whom he cheated out of his birthright, was coming with 400 soldiers. Genesis 32:7 says, “Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.” My mother was right. “There is always something. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.” You get over one difficulty, and you face another one. You get through one fear, and there’s something else meeting you. There’s always something else to be afraid of. It’s harder to see God’s presence in the problems before us now than it is to see God’s presence in the problems behind us. This is how God teaches us to live by faith and not by sight. Romans 8:31 teaches us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” No one’s ill will or intent to harm you or me, whether real or imagined, can reach us. Even though, as undeserving as Jacob was, and we often are, God is on our side!

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Genesis 26:1f, Hebrews 11:16

Not Ashamed of Me

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 26, 2022

I hear about pastors who fall into immorality and I always think, “What could have happened?” I am tempted to think that could never happen to me. Paul warns us that we are never to think “not me,” because we too are susceptible. Given the right circumstances anyone could fall. I once read that if we were given the right circumstances most people would have obeyed Hitler. When famine struck the land where Isaac dwelt he took off for Egypt, just like his father had done. It has always been Israel’s practice to go to Egypt when things got tough in the land. Abraham did it. The whole nation will do it, and here Isaac did it. Egypt was the place to run when a famine struck. In chapter 26, Isaac stops in Gerar, just like his father did, on his way to Egypt. There he encounters the Philistines and in the same situation as his father Abraham, he tells the Philistines that Rebekah is his sister rather than his wife to protect his life.  His father had done the same thing.

Sarah was an expert at eaves-dropping. She seemed to be around to listen in on Abraham’s conversations and even snickered at what she would hear sometimes. Rebekah, like Sarah, had become a skilled eavesdropper also. When Isaac called his son Esau to him to give him the final family blessing, Genesis 27:5 says, “Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau.” She immediately acted to counter-act her husband’s intentions and devised a plan by which her favorite son, Jacob, would receive the blessing that Isaac intended for Esau. Families are intended to support each other, not to scheme against each other. Loving is the key word in family relationships, not lying. We’re supposed to complement each other not compete with each other. Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel are also children of their parents.

Isaac had learned how to lie from his father, Abraham. The women learned it from their families as well.  It’s in the genes! All were children of Adam. It is in the blood. We have the same blood. The encouraging thing for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel as well as for you and me is that God loves us anyway. We inherited the same blood line and struggle with the same propensities, yet there is still hope for us. God praises the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the women and even says that “He (God) is not ashamed to be called their God” (Hebrews 11:16). That’s true with us too. Though we too fall and fail, our God is not ashamed to be called our God. How comforting is that?

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Genesis 1:20

Designed by God!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 26, 2022

In Genesis 1:20 we move into the fifth day of creation where things get serious! We read, “And God said, ‘Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” Two things happened in this verse. Swarms of swarms and birds in the sky.  The “emptiness” (Bohu) of Genesis 1:2 of both the waters and the sky is cancelled. I think the “swarms of swarms” deal with both the birds and the fish. Speaking of the words “swarm and swarming” Wenham says, “Usually this stem refers to movement, especially the swift chaotic hither-and-thither motion of small animals such as insects, mice, and fish, but it carries with it overtones of abundant fertility.”[1] Back in verse 11 when God created the plants he said “let the earth vegetate with vegetation.” The phrases are different in that plants can’t move. Birds and fish have the run of the skies and the seas!

Whenever I watch the nature specials on PBS I always marvel at the multi-colored schools of fish that swarm together as if someone choreographed their movement. Oh, wait, someone did! It is a marvel to watch. Sometimes the birds swarm in a way to create fascinating geometric designs in the air. It is truly amazing! How do they do that? Kent describes this verse very creatively. He writes, “The seas literally swarmed with living things—the monsters of the deep. There were whales, sharks, leviathan (crocodiles); swordfish reigned amidst schools of tuna and dolphin and thousands of lesser colorful finned creatures—many unknown until the twentieth century. And above, an ornithologist’s delight filled the skies—eagles, cormorants, ravens, gulls, geese, ducks, woodpeckers, finches, cardinals, indigo buntings. The skies and seas teemed with astonishing variety, all from the mind of God. The waving, undulating beauties seen first by the sea diver and the gliding, iridescent arrays of the heavens exist because of God’s thought and at his pleasure…”[2]

Evolutionists often suggest that fish came first and then grew legs and wings over billions of years and walked upon the ground and flew into the air. Some elaborate charts have been made to depict this process. Often the connection seems to be because of some shared characteristics of fish and birds. But, I think Guzik is right: “We see the great variety of birds and sea creatures were created at the same time, not evolving slowly over millions of years. Even though plant life was created before animal life, animal life was not created out of plant life. Among the diversity of animals, many share similar structures: birds, reptiles, mammals, and so forth. This argues at least as persuasively for a common Designer as it does for a common life source. All life did not come from the same primordial cell, but it did all come from the same Designer.”[3]

[1] Wenham, Gordon J. 1987. Genesis 1–15. Vol. 1. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

[2] Hughes, R. Kent. 2004. Genesis: Beginning and Blessing. Preaching the Word. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

[3] Guzik, David. 2013. Genesis. David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible. Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.

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Genesis 28:12-13, John 1:51

The Stargate

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 25, 2022

I’ve always loved the story of Jacob’s ladder. Genesis 28:12-13 says this: “And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it…” I love the Hebrew word for “ladder.” It might be translated as “road,” or “way” or even “access.” It is sometimes used to refer to a “breach” as a door or opening in a wall. I like that. It’s a vision of the world beyond.  It reminds me of “stargate.” Jacob’s ladder is the passageway from this world into the next, from the physical realm into the spiritual. Through that doorway God could be seen at its head, with the angels coming and going from their home to ours. They were the messengers of God. In both Hebrew and Greek, the word “Angel” literally is “Messenger.”

In John 1:51, Jesus quotes from Genesis 28:12-13. Nathaniel was surprised that Jesus could see him when he was sitting under a tree. But Jesus proceeded to tell him something much greater than that. He told Nathaniel about the great things that lie ahead for him. He said to Nathaniel, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” His point is clear. Just as Jacob’s vision was of an access to God’s abode in heaven, he told Nathaniel that he would have a vision also. The vision was of the angels ascending and descending from the spiritual realm to the physical through another doorway, that doorway was Jesus himself. It helps me understand what Jesus meant when said “I am the door,” “I am the way,” No man came come to the father but through me.” He is the access, the breach from the physical into the spiritual, the road, the way, the eternal life.”

Jesus is the “stargate.” Not only is Jesus the doorway to our eternal home he’s the doorway to true life in this world. I think that’s what he meant when he said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9).  He’s the living water that quenches our thirsts in this life. He’s the bread of life which satisfies our hungers. He’s really the way to life; both here and now and forever more!

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Genesis 25:22-23, Romans 9:13-16

The Wrestler

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 24, 2022

Many struggle with the issue of total depravity. Theologians argue whether depravity is intensive or extensive. If it’s intensive we’re depraved in every part in every way. But I’d agree with those that argue for the extensive view of depravity. It still allows for some good in man yet agrees with the biblical descriptions regarding how our will, emotions and intellect are all infected, but not destroyed, by sin. The infection however is like a disease that’s passed on from generation to generation in the womb. The sinfulness of man begins in the womb. All children have Adam’s sin nature. It might take a while for it to become apparent, but they all have it. It’s in the genes. We’ve inherited it.

Jacob and Esau are a great illustration of the depravity of children in the womb. Genesis 25:22-23 says, “The children struggled together within her.” Rebekah went to the Lord and He informed her that “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.” The strife in the womb became the picture of a lifelong struggle between Jacob and his brother Esau. Neither of the two brothers had commendable traits.  Esau gets a bad rap by preachers because he didn’t care about his birthright and he was a man of the world, but really I think they were both bad boys who displayed the characteristics of their depravity while still in the womb. Yet, God chose Jacob over Esau. It just isn’t fair, is it! It’s all part of God’s sovereign plan.

In Romans 9:13-16 we read about God’s love for Jacob. As God’s love for Noah, and God’s love for Abraham, it truly was not bestowed on him because he was someone special. When we consider Jacob’s life we see that, as Strassner says, “…Jacob was a lying son, a stealing brother, a cheating husband, a selfish father, and a mud-slinging son-in-law. Not much to be impressed with.” Jacob not only wrestled with Esau in and out of the womb, he wrestled with his father. He wrestled with his father-in-law. He even wrestled with God. But that’s what makes this passage so impressive. It says, “As it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” Please note the last phrase. God truly dealt with Jacob in much the same way he deals with us. He wanted Jacob to know that God’s blessings in his life had nothing to do with his goodness. He didn’t deserve it. But God, in his loving mercy, gave it to him anyway. We get it the same way!

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