I was definitely pulling a Martha today. Too busy working for God to stop and listen to Him... at least until after dinner. No worries though; I read Joseph's life story.
I was trying to think of something catchy to compare Joseph's life to, but I couldn't come up with anything (except Jesus).
I really thought that the verse that summed it up was Genesis 50:19-20. But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I not in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
If that isn't the coolest verse in the Bible, I don't know what is. Talk about just a complete trust that God is in control.
After all the stuff that Joseph went through, he looked back and saw God just moving and directing the whole time. But also, as I read the story, Joseph never gives up.
He gets thrown into a pit by his brothers. He gets sold into slavery. He gets wrongly accused of trying to seduce Potiphar's wife. He gets thrown into prison. He gets forgotten about.
And for those 13 years, all the Bible ever says is that God blesses everything that Joseph does and Joseph becomes a man of integrity.
13 years of torture? Can I endure 13 years of everything going wrong? Am I willing to be tested by God for 13 years?
Switching gears a little bit, I noticed for the first time Jacob's blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh. I had probably read it before, but never really noticed it until now.
Jacob blesses the younger (Ephraim) instead of the older with his right hand and the older (Manasseh) with his left hand. I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that Jacob was the second son. Also, could this possibly be how Isaac was going to bless Jacob and Esau? I guess we will never know.
Another thing I found interesting was that Egyptians HATE Hebrews and yet Pharaoh doesn't think twice about making Joseph second-in-command. And Pharaoh gives Joseph's brothers the best of everything. Literally, God is "preparing a table in the presence of my enemies" (Psalm 23).
I have been listening to a preacher lately talk a lot about the Holy Spirit still being just as powerful today as He was in the days of Pentecost. And really, He is.
As Baptists, we believe in the cessation (biggest and most theological word I will ever use) of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. And while I don't disagree with that, I think we have this idea that the Holy Spirit is now just a stamp on our heart.
We are all about "sealing of the day of redemption" and "convicting of sin and righteousness," but we have completely backed away from His power.
This week in Sunday school, God has been leading to teach a lesson on the Holy Spirit. I think I might post it on here on Monday or something. (It's my blog... I can post anything I want... [within reason])
I don't want to give too much of a spoiler, but I really need whoever reads this prayers that God will speak through me. This is something that God has been teaching me and I really hope the teens can hear God's voice.
Ok... so today's post is very scatter brained and not really on topic too much... but once again, my blog and nobody is forcing you to read it.
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Brent,
ReplyDeleteCouple things to contemplate: the little interlude where it goes off Joseph and talks about Judah and Tamar, which might be interesting to think about. And then when Joseph's brothers come to Egypt he tells them to say they tend livestock, not shepherds and they go right in and say we'll shepherds.
this verse just amazes me: "And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" (41:38) even Pharaoh, who as far as we know, didn't believe in the God of Jacob, sees the Spirit of God in Joseph. interesting since according to all my Bible classes the Holy Spirit didn't 'indwell' anyone until Pentecost =O I think this is the first reference to the Holy Spirit in the whole Bible (beyond the phrases "us" and "we" that include the whole Trinity)
ReplyDeletequestion for you: I don't get the whole 'blessing' thing. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all blessing their children. how does that work exactly? like when these guys turn 100 or so, they all of a sudden have the power to bless or curse their kids, and can also prophesy things about them that actually come true? i guess i never thought of the patriarchs as prophets b4 but it sure looks that way in some of their blessings! does God tell them what to say in the blessing, or do they choose how to bless their kids and then God makes that blessing come true?