Bad into Good!
Today we have the touching story of Jacob, son of Abraham and Issac, being united with his beloved son Joseph. Due to God's hand being upon Joseph, he was put in charge by the Pharoah of Egypt of everything in Egypt. When Joseph's brothers come back a second time to reunite with him, Joseph weeps when he sees his brother Benjamin. They had gone back to get the youngest brother Benjamin, upon Joseph's request. Joseph and Benjamin are the two sons born to Rachel, Jacob's wife.
Jacob was reluctant to let Benjamin go because he had already thought he had lost Joseph and didn't want to lose both. But Judah, the oldest brother, steps in and says, "if I do not bring him back I will personally take responsibility for him the rest of my life. Eventually Jacob will return to reunite with his sons Joseph and Benjamin. He blesses Joseph with a double portion of inheritance for his two sons Ephraim and Manessah, who were born to him in Egypt.
Eventually Jesus will come from the line of Judah, which will be the area in which they settle and Jesus is born. Judah certainly represented himself in a manner fitting with Jesus by saying he would give his life in exchange for the younger son. Even though Judah is the fourth born son, the blessing of a great nation is given to him. Joseph was also a picture of Jesus. He brought Jew and Gentile (Egypt) together. Though his brothers rejected him, God meant it for good for the saving of many lives. When his brothers repent he has mercy and compassion on them, and weeps at their reconciliation. This is the same way God feels when one person repents and turns to Him.
This story shows us many things about how God works. First, he uses a variety of people to accomplish his purposes. If and when they stray and make bad decisions, our God is a God of second chances. Though Joseph and Judah were prior to Jesus they demonstrated character like Him. They gave self sacrifice for others and saw that what people meant for evil, God could use for good, including the saving of many lives. In essence this is the Gospel. God loves us and saves us despite our bad choices and reconciles us as the family of God. Jesus God's Son is reunited with His Father in heaven at his right hand, after accomplishing the salvation for all people. This is summarized in Romans when Paul's says, "While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us." What we meant for bad, God used for good, including the saving of many lives!
As you reflect on your life, you might remember the various ways and the various people God has used to bring you to himself through the Son. For this we can give thanks and see how God works all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose.
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Genesis 45:25-46:7
25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Jacob Goes to Egypt
46 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. 3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” 5 Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. 7 Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.
Acts 5:33-42
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
Jacob was reluctant to let Benjamin go because he had already thought he had lost Joseph and didn't want to lose both. But Judah, the oldest brother, steps in and says, "if I do not bring him back I will personally take responsibility for him the rest of my life. Eventually Jacob will return to reunite with his sons Joseph and Benjamin. He blesses Joseph with a double portion of inheritance for his two sons Ephraim and Manessah, who were born to him in Egypt.
Eventually Jesus will come from the line of Judah, which will be the area in which they settle and Jesus is born. Judah certainly represented himself in a manner fitting with Jesus by saying he would give his life in exchange for the younger son. Even though Judah is the fourth born son, the blessing of a great nation is given to him. Joseph was also a picture of Jesus. He brought Jew and Gentile (Egypt) together. Though his brothers rejected him, God meant it for good for the saving of many lives. When his brothers repent he has mercy and compassion on them, and weeps at their reconciliation. This is the same way God feels when one person repents and turns to Him.
This story shows us many things about how God works. First, he uses a variety of people to accomplish his purposes. If and when they stray and make bad decisions, our God is a God of second chances. Though Joseph and Judah were prior to Jesus they demonstrated character like Him. They gave self sacrifice for others and saw that what people meant for evil, God could use for good, including the saving of many lives. In essence this is the Gospel. God loves us and saves us despite our bad choices and reconciles us as the family of God. Jesus God's Son is reunited with His Father in heaven at his right hand, after accomplishing the salvation for all people. This is summarized in Romans when Paul's says, "While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us." What we meant for bad, God used for good, including the saving of many lives!
As you reflect on your life, you might remember the various ways and the various people God has used to bring you to himself through the Son. For this we can give thanks and see how God works all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose.
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Genesis 45:25-46:7
25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Jacob Goes to Egypt
46 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. 3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” 5 Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. 7 Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.
Acts 5:33-42
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
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