January 20, 2015
Joseph is a christological type. In this verse we see that he began his public ministry at the age of 30, just as Jesus did. We also see that it was always God’s plan for Joseph to be in a position to save his brethren, as the dreams of his youth were now being fulfilled. His brothers do bow before him. I wonder if Joseph felt that all the years of enslavement and imprisonment were now worth it. For, it seems that his suffering was what God used to elevate him to this place of ministry, not only to save his brothers, but the whole hungry world. Are you going through a time of suffering? Don’t waste the pain. God has promised to cause all things to work together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28). Persevere and believe, for God has a plan.
January 17, 2015
God appeared to Jacob again at Bethel (“Beth” Hebrew for “house,” + “El,” “god.” Literally, “House of God.”) and He officially changed his name. Jacob, whose name was given to describe the way he grasped the heel of his twin brother Esau at birth, was now to be called “Israel.” This reflected a new start for Jacob. He was no longer Jacob (“Supplanter,” “heel-grabber”), but “Israel” (One who wrestled with God, one who prevailed with God). As Jacob (The phrase “you’re pulling my leg” may have arisen from his name), he tricked his brother Esau out of his blessing and birthright. But he met his match at deception in his father-in-law, Laban, who pulled a bridal night switch on him. Yet, even here, he out-smarted Laban in the end. But now his deceptive days are over. From now on he would not be living by his wits, but walking with a limp, leaning on God’s wisdom. And his twelve sons would become the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
January 8, 2015
When two of the three “men” who visited with Abram left towards Sodom, the third one turned aside to reveal their destination and purpose. When Abram heard that they intended to see whether the “outcry” of Sodom’s sin was as great as it sounded, Abram began to appeal to God’s justice for the sake of the righteous. As the story unfolds, we see that the two men visiting Sodom are in fact, angels. And we see that the One remaining to speak to Abram is revealed to be the Lord. In Abram’s prayer we hear him appeal to God’s sense of justice. We are learning about God’s character here and also Abram’s. In a crazy kind of prayer/negotiation, God agrees not to destroy Sodom if there are but 10 righteous there. I think Abram must’ve known the wickedness of Sodom, but he didn’t want his nephew, Lot, to fall under judgment. We learn from Abram’s prayer how we should passionately and reverently pray for the salvation for our family, neighbors and friends. We also learn how God heard Abram’s prayer and preserved Lot, even though there were no righteous found in Sodom and it fell under God’s judgment.
January 6, 2015
After Abram (His name before God changed it to “Abraham” – “Father of nations”) had divided the sacrificial animals and arranged them according to God’s instruction, a great sense of “horror” came over him with the setting of the sun. God was approaching. One commentator has observed, “Holy fear prepares the soul for holy joy; God humbles first, then lifts up.” This meeting with God was preceded by Abram’s questioning of God’s promised seed. Abraham had questioned, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless?”
Have you ever spent the night in prayer questioning God and waiting for an answer? If you have, you may have experienced what Abram did, holy terror. God let the hem of His holiness touch Abram and it was enough to horrify. Then, God made a covenant (Literally “cut” a covenant, as the origin of the word covenant implied the shedding of blood to seal it.) with Abram by passing between the sacrificed animals, prophesying his offspring’s slavery in Egypt and God’s deliverance. When the sun arose the next morning, Abram’s questioning and terror had been replaced with faith and holy joy.
January 3, 2015
There is much about the book of Genesis (From the Greek translation meaning “beginnings”) that troubles the modern mind. In today’s reading we encounter the incredible longevity of man (Methuselah lived to 969 years), the building of an ark to save Noah, his family, and a remnant of the animals of the land and air, and finally, a worldwide deluge. Some view these stories as myth or fairy tale, yet Jesus referred to Noah and the flood as a literal event. Both Matthew and Luke record Jesus’ words describing the “days of Noah” as a foreshadowing of the end times when He would return to judge the living and the dead (Matt. 24:37-38, Luke 17:26-27). If Jesus referred to Noah and the flood as literal past and predictive of the future, then so do I. That’s why I’ve decided to believe into Christ our Ark. for “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
January 1, 2015
It’s a new year and it can be a new “beginning” too. Because the God that “created the heavens and the earth” is the same God today as He was yesterday. He can make us a new creation in Christ. He is the Creator God. He stands outside of time, space and matter. He is the wholly Other. But He is also the God that took on human flesh and died for us. He is both transcendent and immanent. He can change your life. He is the Author, not only of this Book, but of our salvation.
Welcome aboard another journey on the Bible Bus. All aboard for a new beginning! This year I will be using the NKJV (New King James Version) for my daily readings. Let’s go… New Year, new start!
January 24, 2014
On his deathbed, Jacob (Israel) spoke a prophetic word over each of his sons. Over Judah he spoke a Messianic prophecy that described the eternal kingship and honor of the coming Christ. Centuries later David was born into the tribe of Judah and became the king of all Israel. And still more centuries later, Jesus was born to the house of David, the tribe of Judah. He is the Promised One that old Jacob saw coming.
January 22, 2014
Joseph saw God’s purpose for his life even though it led him through much pain and suffering. He not only forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery, he saw it as his mission to care for all of them. The life of Joseph points to the life of Christ. He is a Christological type, preparing the Jewish people to recognize Christ’s Person and ministry.
January 18, 2014
Joseph is a Christological type, a foreshadowing of Christ. He is obedient to his father. Rejected by his brethren. And later, when he rises to power in Egypt, he is the savior of his people, forgiving them and taking care of them during the famine. God gave His people many foreshadowings to prepare them for Christ, but when He came, they treated Him worse than Joseph.
January 16, 2014
After a sleepless night wrestling with God, Jacob begins a new day with a new name and a limp. “Jacob,” which means grasping the heel or pulling the leg, got his own leg pulled out of joint. Henceforth, he will be called “Israel,” and his 12 sons will become the 12 tribes.