One Year Bible Readings and Commnetary for Friday, January 21st Joseph's Brothers Go Back to Get Benjamin, Jesus Rejected at Nazareth and John the Baptist Dies
Click Here to Listen to the Readings
Click Hereto Read Genesis 42:18-43:34
In today's story Joseph's brothers are sent back to get their youngest brother, Benjamin to prove to Joseph that they were being honest. He makes Simeon stay behind with him as a security deposit. Joseph secretly puts back the money they had paid him for the grain into their backpacks. On their way back, the brothers argue about whose fault it was that they were in such a mess. Reuben, the oldest, reminds them that he had warned against what they wanted to do to Joseph. While they were on their journey, they open their backpacks only to find the money they thought they have given Joseph in their backpacks. At this point they think they are cursed by God, and being punished for what they did to Joseph.
When they arrive home, they come clean with Jacob and tell him everything that happened. When they relate to him that the "governor" was harsh with them and ordered them to bring back their youngest brother, Jacob is beside himself. He refuses to send Benjamin on the grounds that he has lost his favorite Son, Joseph, probably lost his Son, Simeon, and certainly doesn't want to lose his other favorite son, Benjamin. It would be too much for him, and he would probably die if it happened. Jacob is fond of playing favorites as has been made abundantly clear. We are reminded of the fact Jacob and Benjamin are sons from Rachel, the wife whom he adored.
After the famine continues, finally Jacob relents and orders them to take back with them double the money they came home with and other gifts as well. When they return to Joseph and he recognizes his youngest blood brother Benjamin, he has to leave the room and weeps loudly. He is also curious to know how his father, Jacob is doing. Joseph, seeing his brothers repentance and humility, throws a great feast for them, and gives Benjamin five times the amount of the others.
We have seen a common theme of the favoring of certain sons in Genesis so far. You have Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, and now Joseph and Benjamin. One day the only Son of God would come to earth to show His Father's love for the whole world.
Click Here to Read Matthew 13:47-14:12
Parable of the Fishing Net
The parable of the fishing net is similar to the parable of the weeds and the wheat. It is a parable of judgment. Matthew's gospel has more of a theme of judgment than the other three gospels, perhaps because judgment begins at the house of the Lord. Matthew was the Jewish gospel and it was the Jewish leaders who rejected Jesus the most vehemently, as we will in the passages today.
The net catches all types of fish, revealing that at the end of time all people will come before God's judgement throne. The angels will separate the wicked people from the righteous. For the wicked there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. I have always taken "weeping and gnashing of teeth" to mean they will live eternally with regret that they did not accept God's free gift of salvation in Christ, which is the only way someone can be righteous before God.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
As Jesus returns to his hometown in Nazareth, despite all the things he has done and taught and even there were some who seemed open to believing, the townspeople rejected him because of his humble origins. They reason, "How could the Messiah come from this ordinary, country town. Besides Jesus didn't come from royalty, but was the son of a carpenter with brothers and sisters.
"Jesus plainly had many brothers and sisters; the Roman Catholic idea of the perpetual virginity of Mary is in contradiction to the plain meaning of the Bible." (Guzik)
Not only did the people not believe in him, they were offended. Jesus could not do any miracles there because of their lack of faith. We see Jesus' divinity in the miracles he does, and we see his humanity in his humble background.
The Death of John the Baptist
Finally, we see the story of how John the Baptist was killed by King Herod Antipas. This Herod was the son of King Herod the Great, who reigned when Jesus was born, and tried to kill him. There are all kinds of strange family associations here. Herod married his brother's ex wife. So she was his sister-in-law. And that made Herodias the granddaughter of Herod the Great.
Herod makes a silly and rash promise at his wife's insistence, since she secretly hated John the Baptist for calling out their immoral marriage. So Herod has no choice to honor her request to have the head of the Baptist to avoid her ire and his own embarrasment in front of his guests. After John is beheaded, Jesus' disciples gave John a honorable burial. Remember John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin.
Click Here to Read Psalm 18:16-36
David reflects in the psalm God's faithfulness to him, because he honored God. I love verse 25 when he says, "To the faithful, you are faithful."
Similarly when it looks like we are getting treated fairly, or we are getting "the raw end of the stick", in the end God is faithful. As Max Lucado says, "Delayed justice is not denied justice."
Read these words below and reflect on God's faithfulness in your life through good times and bad.
God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
31 For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?
32 God arms me with strength,
and he makes my way perfect.
33 He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
35 You have given me your shield of victory.
Your right hand supports me;
your help[a] has made me great.
36 You have made a wide path for my feet
to keep them from slipping.
I like this phrase, "Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!" Read the rest of the verses to see the benefits of seeking wisdom's voice and following in her ways.
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