The Well: January 27-31

The Well: January 27 – 31, 2014

January 27: Genesis 37, 38

The story now returns to the line of promise that now belongs to the sons of Jacob. Now the blessing of God will not flow through a single man, but through a nation. The story of Joseph and his brothers (chapters 37-50) comprises the final section of the Genesis. In these chapters we will see the amazing sovereignty of God as he works to bring about rescue for those he has called to carry his name. Along the way we can’t help but notice that Joseph – about whom nothing bad is described – stands as our first preview of the “he” who will one day to save his people from their sins.

Like the future Messiah, Joseph is despised by his own. His dreams, while depicting the truth that lies ahead for him, bring scorn and jealousy from the brothers. Eventually, they sell him and he is brought to Egypt. In an interesting parallel, the Messiah will be taken to Egypt shortly after his birth in order to escape death at the hands of Herod (see: Matthew 2:13ff). The crisis in the story comes as the brothers assure their father that the son he loves has been killed. Jacob’s mourning sets the stage for great surprise and rejoicing when the son, thought dead, is found to be alive.

As the story progresses we find that it centers in on two sons: Joseph, and Judah. Events from their lives are played out for the reader. Which son will arise to carry on the promise of the he? If we are reading this for the first time we are sure it will be Joseph, especially since chapter 38 presents Judah in a bad light.

Note: While we might naturally expect the blessing to flow through the firstborn, it is clear that Reuben’s actions with Jacob’s concubine (Genesis 35:22), and the treachery of the next in line – Simeon and Levi – have effectively disqualified them. Judah is next in line, and his life is juxtaposed with that of righteous Joseph as the story plays out.

The story of Judah and Tamar will sound strange to our contemporary minds. The principle of levirate marriage demanded that a brother raise up a child with his deceased brother’s wife in order to prolong his brother’s name and heritage. Onan refused to comply and paid with for it with his life.

Judah is portrayed as a man of his time, neither exceedingly wicked nor uncompromisingly righteous. The point of the story is to show that Judah (who will eventually be chosen as the tribe from which Messiah will come) is undeserving of such honor. Nothing about the coming of Messiah cant be accounted for on the basis of human merit. Salvation will be – from first to last – a gracious act of an almighty God.

Note: When Matthew writes his genealogy of Jesus, he does not shy away from this chapter in Judah’s live, but brings it out prominently (see: Matthew 1:3). Such truth is not the stuff of myth, and speaks powerfully to the authenticity of Matthew’s portrayal of Messiah.

Prayer: Father, I thank you for rescuing me, for bringing me into your family even though I didn’t deserve it. Help me to live for you, and not my own selfishness, that your glory might be reflected in all I say and do, for Jesus’ sake, Amen.

January 28: Genesis 39, 40

The scene now shifts back to Joseph, and the immorality of Judah is seen in great contrast to that of Joseph. Both Judah and Joseph are put into situations with foreign women. Judah takes one as a wife. Joseph resists the advances of Potiphar’s wife.

The story of Joseph’s righteousness in the face of sexual temptation is widely recognized as one of the greatest “types” of the Messiah. He resists temptation courageously, as will Jesus at the beginning of his ministry. The ability to resist temptation sets the course for both men’s success in later life.

Key to Joseph’s courage is his recognition that his sin would ultimately be against God (vs. 9). All sin is an arrow shot at the heart of God for it represents willful rebellion against the law of God. Joseph recognizes this, and willingly suffers the human consequences of obeying God. He is falsely charged, found guilty, and sentenced to prison which, for a foreigner was actually a sentence of death. Again, the parallels with Messiah are apparent.

But, the Lord was with Joseph. Here we see the core of God’s promise. It is not that he will remove all adversity from our lives, but that he will be “with us in blessing” in the midst of those circumstances. The choice is ours: will adversity draw us closer to God, or will we use it as an excuse to run from him. Obviously, the best choice is the former.

In prison Joseph is put in a position to interpret dreams, which eventually leads to his introduction to Pharaoh and his induction into the ruling class. Had he remained in Potiphar’s house, this would never have happened. God was working all things for good for the plan he had for Joseph.

Prayer:  Father, my life is in your hands, and I ask you to increase my faith that I might trust you in every situation, counting on your faithfulness to keep the promises you have made to me in Christ Jesus my Savior, for it is in his name that I pray, Amen.

January 30: Genesis 41, 42

Sometimes we may wonder if God has forgotten about us when the plans we have don’t seem to go anywhere. But just imagine being Joseph, in prison for two years! During those two years we can might suspect that his faith in God would have languished, even been overwhelmed with bitterness. But such is not the case.

When the time comes for Joseph to stand before Pharaoh his first words speak to his faith in God. God will interpret the dream, and Joseph appears as God’s faithful servant.

Pharaoh’s dream is now the third time Joseph has been privy to the future through a God-given ability to interpret dreams. First there was his own dreams, then those of the baker and cupbearer, and now the dreams of the King of the land. This sequence underscores the fact that God has placed his hand on Joseph, and intends to do great things through him.

Today we no longer expect or need to hear from God through extraordinary means. We have an “even more sure prophetic word” (see: 2 Peter 1:19) and it is the Bible. Before God’s Word was written down, God communicated in many ways including dreams. All of these were under the strict control of God, and in each case it was absolutely understood as coming from God, and therefore, was 100% accurate and authoritative. Today we give this standing to the Bible alone.

Joseph’s prophecy that years of plenty will be followed by years of severe drought comes true and Egypt is set up to become even more prosperous because of him. Joseph is given a position of great authority from which he will eventually “save” his brothers.

The sons of Jacob are greatly affected by the drought and must travel to Egypt to sustain themselves. Their reunion with Joseph presents him with the opportunity to test them several times to see if their actions toward him were just the first step in further wickedness, or whether they have become men of more righteous character. These tests may see strange to the modern mind, but to Joseph they were necessary in order to find out the true character of his family.

Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father, may my character reflect your grace to me as I face the challenges and opportunities you put in my path. And when the day is done, may I put my head on the pillow and be able to say that I was obedient to you call on my life today, through the strength that my Savior provides, Amen.

January 31: Genesis 43, 44

The continuing severity of the famine once again puts Joseph’s brothers in need of what Egypt has … grain. But the stipulation that they must bring Benjamin, the brother Joseph has never seen, puts their ability to return to Egypt at risk. Jacob believes he has already lost one son, and the thought of losing Benjamin is heart-breaking.

Once again Judah is brought to the forefront of the story. Judah declares that he will be a “pledge” for his younger brother, taking on himself the full responsibility for his safe return.

Here we also see the faith of a mature Jacob. He entrusts all things into the hands of God recognizing that it will be by the mercy of God that the brothers return unharmed with the needed food. The schemer has become the trusting God-fearer.

Once again Joseph believes he must test his brothers. The story of the cup in chapter 44 once again puts Joseph and Judah in the spotlight. When Joseph’s men find the cup in Benjamin’s sack, it is Judah who steps forth to plead the brother’s case. He offers to become a “substitute” for Benjamin in the hands of the Egyptians.

As Judah is called to passionately intercede for his brother’s life we recognize that Joseph has put Benjamin in the same situation that he was in so many years before. The life of Benjamin is seemingly in the hands of his brothers, and they have failed to protect him. While the reader recognizes that Joseph is merely testing the brothers, the fact remains that the test is necessary to see whether or not the brothers will consider Benjamin’s life in the same cavalier manner that they did Joseph’s so many years ago.

The chapter ends with a question that provides the end of Judah’s intercession. How can the brothers, and especially Judah, return to an aging, fragile Jacob without the boy? The crisis has come to a climax, and the setting is now right for Joseph to disclose himself, and begin a reconciliation with his family that will ultimately mean the rescue of his brothers, and their families, so that the future nation of Israel may become a reality.

Prayer: Father, thank you for reminding me from the story of Joseph and Judah that there are others for whom I am responsible in this world. I pray your blessing and protection on those who are in my life, asking that you would be the Shepherd of their souls, drawing them closer and closer to you today, through Jesus the Great Shepherd of the sheep, Amen.

January 31: Genesis 45, 46

In these chapters we reach the first great climax of the redemptive drama that has played out between Joseph and his brothers. No longer able to conceal his emotion, and now convinced that his brothers have grown to be honorable men, Joseph reveals himself to them.

At this point in the story we might have expected Joseph to extract retribution for the way his brothers had treated him, But in yet another parallel with the future Messiah, he forgives those who treated him badly. He declares that, in the end, it was God’s doing to send him before them into Egypt in order to preserve their lives (stated 3 times in vs. 5-8). Rather than vengeance, Joseph proposes deliverance and sends the brothers home to bring back their families, and their father, to live in the prosperity of Egypt.

The example of Joseph’s righteous actions toward those who wronged him stands as poignant example of how Jesus would act, and would call his followers to respond in similar situations. In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus will instruct his followers to pray for God’s forgiveness “as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Similarly, Paul will instruct the Ephesian church family to “be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven you.” Forgiveness is seen early on in the biblical record to be a sign that the heart is set on God and not reveling in the selfishness and bitterness of pride.

Chapter 46 describes how the people of Jacob (Israel) came to be in Egypt. As Moses is writing to the children of Israel during their time of wandering, this is very important. The point is clear: just as God was caring for Jacob’s family, delivering them from famine and death by bringing them to Egypt, so also God will deliver Israel from Egypt, and from the deprivation of the wilderness and bring them safely to the land he has promised.

It is interesting to note that, according to 46:27 we find that the clan of Jacob numbered 70 persons when they all settled in Egypt. Many years later, as Moses was sent by God to deliver the Israelites from Pharaoh and lead them to Canaan scholars estimate they numbered almost 1 million. The promise of a nation from the descendants of Abraham came to fulfillment during their sojourn in Egypt. This reminds us that, as in the case of Joseph himself, times of adversity can often be times when God is doing the greatest things in our lives, by his grace, and for his glory.

Prayer: Lord, I trust you with my life, and though there are circumstances around me that I don’t always like, I know that you always have my best in mind. You always do what is best and right, and I acknowledge that obeying you is always my best option. Help me to obey you Lord, out of delight today, through the power of Christ my Savior, Amen.