GENESIS
GENESIS 1
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GENESIS 2
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GENESIS 3
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GENESIS 4
Vs 7 speaks of Cain's sin. That God told Cain "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door...", clearly implies that Cain knew what God expected. No doubt, Cain's offering was good, but was not what God expected. Heb. 11:4 tells us that Abel' sacrifice was more excellent and of course acceptable to God because he did it by faith. Faith is simply believing what God has said so much so that you do what He has said the way He has said it - We call that obedience.
Cain did not do what God had said and upon being corrected, he got angry. His countenance fell. When we disobey God's clear will, firstly our countenance falls - we lose the joy of the Lord & secondly we reserve sin in our lives and allow it to rule and ruin us. Sin reserved in our lives only waits for an "opportunity," to trip us up to do the unthinkable. That "opportunity" for Cain came when he found himself alone with his brother - he slew him. Unconfessed sin only ends in destruction. Praise God, when we do well - what He requires, we are accepted (forgiven, cleansed and joy restored). Cain was being given a second chance but he refused to grab it. For the unsaved, rejecting God' chosen Way to life (Christ) and coming to Him in your own way will only lead to eternal destruction. Christ is the only way to Life. Praise God He gives second chances, the question is do we grab them?
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Grace to you!
GENESIS 5
While a fallen generation was increasing, we read of 2 godly men, Enoch (vs 24) & Noah (vs 29) sandwiched in a very godless generation. Despite the pressure around him, Enoch pleased God. (Heb. 11:5).
Noah, his name signifies to sigh, to rest, to breath relief. His father Lamech believed that Noah would be of comfort from the effects of the curse; and he was. First, he invented the equipment for husbandry through which man was to eat.
Second, through his obedience, God preserved a remnant through which lineage the Seed of the woman (Christ) would come to redeem mankind.
The names, prayers, pleas, desires & lessons we have for our children lay the foundation of whether they will honour God and be a blessing to others or not. Noah was both, and his parents had a part in it. His secret was simple, he obeyed God amidst a very evil and godless society. Will you dare take a stand against evil?
Grace to you!
GENESIS 6
Man's evil had escalated to such unimaginable levels that God could not take it anymore. Demons cohabited with humans as the devil's plan to corrupt and destroy the possibility of a sinless Seed of the woman, but in the midst of all this wickedness there was one righteous man.
God came up with a plan to deliver him while he judged the entire world. God does not judge the righteous with the wicked even when it is only one person. Even though we live in a world similar to that of Noah in many ways, like him, we can show our faith in God by simply obeying what He has said even if it means you alone. Vs 19 says that Noah was to bring pairs of all kinds of animals to the ark. It would have been humanly or practically impossible for him to get and drag all the animals into the ark until you read vs 20 where God told him that the animals would actually come to him.
God is ready to help us obey even when He tells us to do things that seem humanly impossible. Our world is evil but we don't have to follow it in its evil path. we can be like Noah. Praise God that when we resolve to obey Him, He provides a way of escape and provides the grace, resources, counsel or whatever tools we need to obey Him; and a righteous person is not forgotten in His sight even when he seems surrounded by evil.
Grace to you!
GENESIS 7
Genesis 7 records judgment and the utter destruction of the world that was. That God would judge the evil generation the way He did and deliver the righteous Noah demonstrates His Holiness, Justice and Love. Because of His Holiness, He hates sin and cannot tolerate it, because of His Just nature, He cannot overlook sin. Justice requires a fitting/proportional judgment- the world was exceedingly evil and therefore deserved the kind of judgment that it received. He must judge sin.
Because of His Love, He provides deliverance for those who trust and depend on Him by faith like Noah. Noah did everything that God commanded him, but there is one thing he could not do for himself, he couldn't deliver himself. Vs 16, tells us that it was God Who closed the door of the ark and shut him in.
It is God Who delivers, ours is to trust Him and do what He commands - For, Noah, he had to do all that God commanded and trust and let God do the deliverance - we call that faith.
Grace to you!
GENESIS 8
After experiencing 2 floods, a generation flooded with evil and a destructive flood of waters, Noah had learnt something about God' Holiness, Justice, Love and power. After many days with animals in a possibly very stuffy ark, Noah must have desired to get out to breathe some fresh air. However, he had to wait for the same God Who told him to enter the ark to tell when to get out.
Waiting on God requires faith. Waiting on God does not mean sitting idle and doing nothing. That Noah sent birds not once to check if the land was dry demonstrated how he anticipated and desired to get out of the ark.
As he prayed, Elijah sent his servant 7 times to check if there were any signs of rain. Actually there is nothing wrong with trying to check to confirm if God has come through for us. Waiting for God in anticipation actually demonstrates our faith that we expect Him to answer our request.
While he anticipated and checked, one thing Noah never did was he never got out of the ark until God commanded him to vs. 15,16. When you are in undesirable circumstances, the best thing to do is NOT to jump the gun, but wait for God to give you your marching orders. Further, the God Who sent the rains also sent great wind to dry the land. He is in charge of weather and elements.
I can rejoice that it's God Who will send the rains to cool off the high temperatures we are experiencing now. After getting out of the ark, Noah made sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God. A thankful attitude should characterize every redeemed Saint. Have a cool and thankful day!
GENESIS 9
Genesis 9 records God's covenant with Noah. Firstly, a covenant locks someone into an exclusive relationship. Here God was inviting Noah to trust and serve Him alone - no other gods to be worshipped.
Secondly, a covenant has some benefits. The chapter begins by "And God blessed Noah and his sons." Noah came out of the ark to a world that was devoid of humans, but God promised and reassured that He would bless and increase him to fill the earth - what an encouragement that must have been to a 'loner' on the face of the earth. God would preserve him for which He gave a sign as a reminder of His covenant. He would provide all the seasons needed for the continuity of life.
Thirdly, a covenant has regulations or rules. Noah had the responsibility to fill the earth with godly seed, have dominion and take care of God's creation, regard the sacredness of human life because man is a bearer of God's image.
Lesson 1- The covenant teaches us that God is committed to His righteous people to bless them and they are to serve Him exclusively. God's divine order is for His glory and for our good. But, Noah, the giant of faith got careless - he got drunk and got to do what every parent should dread- speaking disgrace or a curse to his child. No, doubt Ham sinned by looking at his naked father mockingly, but Noah had a part in this.
Lesson-2, Even the best Christian must not become careless with sin - it will trick and trip you and result in very regrettable outcomes.
Lesson 3- children must honour their parents even when they don't deserve the respect. Those in positions of headship & especially parents and I dare say fathers should not get careless with sin because it can result in very bad long term effects to their children.
Note: the curse extended to Canaan a nation that God knew would be evil. Upon settling in in Canaan many years later, Israel was to deposses & destroy the Canaanites. Africans are not the descendants of Canaan. Praise God that men are counted righteous through faith and not because of their skin colour, education, wealth, social status or nationality.
Have a careful, a parent and a God honouring day.
Grace to you!
GENESIS 10
Noah's descendants increased as God had promised. But soon they organised themselves supposedly under the leadership of Nimrod whose name means rebel. He was a mighty hunter. No doubt, Nimrod's specialization came with giftedness and prowess. Evidently, he led the people to rebel against divine order. Gifted people sometimes get proud and arrogant. They may get pre-occupied with building a name or empire for themselves. They put confidence in their fame, wealth, achievements and forget God or to honour Him.
Under the leadership of the "mighty" Nimrod, people resolved "Let us build us a city... and let us make us a name (11:4). It's clear they were doing it for self-glorification in utter disregard to what God had commanded. That is rebellion at its best- God 's people are not to be consumed with building a name for themselves but with honouring God.
In building the tower they had everything needed to make a project succeed. They had a visionary leader- Nimrod, a goal- to build a tower to reach the heavens, one language for effective communication. Organisational experts will tell you that these three are what an organisation needs to succeed: visionary leadership, a common goal and effective communication. They had all that, but they failed in their endeavour because they left God out and disregarded his divine order to spread over and fill the earth and became their own bosses.
A child of God, a church, a pastor may possess enviable skills, abilities, prowess and opportunities but still fail regrettably if he gets consumed with self glorification or becomes self seeking.
Do we use our God- given abilities, skills or opportunities to help others see Him or do they see us? Our example in words, speech, association, attitudes and what we value will cause our children and those who we lead set their hope in God or themselves.
"Give children something (Somebody-God) Bigger than themselves to live for or else they will live for themselves" They will become their own god.
Grace to you!
GENESIS 11
Communication is so important to the success of a marriage, family, church or any human relationship. It's so important that when God wanted to bring down the tower of Babel, all He needed to do was to confuse their language to hinder effective communication. Without clear communication, they could not do it.
Many marriages, families, churches and relationships have fallen due to lack of clear and effective communication. Do you know that God is the best Communicator and that He wants us to communicate clearly with those He has put in our lives- wives, husbands, children and brethren? It is godly to communicate clearly because God does NOT author confusion. But many people are confused and frustrated because they do understand what it is that their husbands, wives, parents, children etc want.
Many people don't communicate with those whom God has put in their lives because it requires patience, love, understanding while putting yourself in the shoes of the other person. Has it ever occurred to you that your relationships could be on their deathbed because of your failure to communicate clearly, patiently & lovingly?
Do you also know that these rebellious people of Babel did not have vertical communication with God and that affected their horizontal communication with each other? You show me a husband who has good communication or fellowship with God and I will show you a man who has a healthy clear communication or fellowship with his wife and vice versa. Poor communication with others only indicates our poor communication with God.
Babel became Babylon and today's Iraq; a place that has been plagued with generational rebellion against the God of Israel. The ungodly seed we plant today may be there for a long time. In the midst of all this ungodly confusion, God picked the lineage of Shem from which He chose a man in the name of Abraham to establish His covenant with. It was through him that the Seed of the woman- Messiah would come.
God is faithful in everything He says and even in an ungodly society like ours, He never leaves Himself without a witness. Have a clear communication day and be the witness for God wherever He has put you.
Grace to you!
GENESIS 12
God called Abraham to leave his heathen people, friends and all that he had become familiar with for the last 75 years. That was both a high and a hard calling. Mark you, Abraham may have heard or known about the God of Noah but not intimately or at a personal level as his father worshipped the idol- moon god. He had to trust God by faith as He led him to the unknown everything.
Many times our comfort, convenience and fear of the unknown stops us from trusting God and taking up a new ministry, challenges or a new direction in life. Whether for Salvation or for direction in life, many even refuse to trust with their lives because of fear of the unknown.
God saves us out of the ungodly world and sets us aside for Himself. We are saved by faith and live by faith. But after Abraham demonstrated such great faith in God, there was famine and now he went to Egypt of his own accord. God never led him to Egypt- You don't abandon God's will just because situations become hard, until/unless He leads you away. God led him into the famine and could have fed him through. "where He leads He feads, and where He guides He provides".
In Egypt Abraham schemed a lie to 'protect' himself. His life was threatened and his wife taken from him but God lovingly protected them and restored him. Abraham's life became like that of a sinner saved by grace - a Christian - faith-failure-faith.
It's interesting that God had to expose his lie before protecting him. You see, God loves His children so much that He doesn't let them get away with their sins. As He does with His children, He had to let Abraham see that his tact, cleverness and manipulation could not deliver him; only God could.
For God to let us get away with our unconfessed hidden sins is like a parent knowingly letting his toddler/baby hide a razor blade under his bosom to play with. Sin destroys lives, and especially when it is unconfessed and unforsaken. It's a blessing when God exposes hidden and unconfessed sins in the life of His child. I heard of a mother who used to tell her boy in the morning as he went to school, "if you do something wrong, I hope you get caught".
If/when we have fallen into sin, we should not wallow there but should rise, confess it, get cleansed and move on. If God exposes our sin, we should thank and praise Him. It's His way of demonstrating His love, power and sovereignty. That is how Abraham got to know that his God was loving, wiser and powerful than the mighty Egyptians. May we remain faithful to our loving and caring God even situations become hard.
Grace to you!
GENESIS 13
After failing in his manipulation and seeing God's gracious deliverance in Egypt, Abraham had learnt his lesson. He left Egypt for the "place of the altar' where he called on God. With his fellowship with God restored, now he would deal with problems and conflicts differently - humbly trusting God. With his, and Lot's servants striving over grazing land, Abraham didn't strife, argue or manipulate. He took the lower side. (vs 8-9). I call it 'winning by losing'. You don't have to win that argument, that fight or even manipulate the outcome.
Meeting with God at His altar where we surrender our will, desires and ambitions as we give in to His changes our attitudes and approach to issues completely. But motivated by greed, Lot led his family towards and eventually to Sodom where he lost 'everything' But God blessed Abraham even though Lot had left him the waste land.
Many people have destroyed their families by going the way of Lot - choosing what appears like the easier or the best deal in complete disregard to what God says. We don't have to compete with the world in its greed, manipulation, corruption, cruelty and values. We can do clean work or business with the little that God provides and trust Him to bless abundantly.
Have a strife-free and greed-free day.
Grace to you!
GENESIS 14
Lot's selfish choice led him to the most wicked place of all times. Earlier, he had pitched his tent towards Sodom but now he is in Sodom. Don't you say that you are not doing anything wrong, if you are facing the wrong direction, the question as to whether you will get there is a matter of time.
In Sodom, Lot experienced first hand how the world fights, in a very self-seeking and cruel manner. He ends up being taken captive. When Abraham heard that his nephew who had taken advantage of him was in serious trouble, he didn't take it as his opportunity to revenge but he went to rescue him without reminding him "I told you." Showing kindness to those who have mistreated or mishandled us is godly.
As a thankful and content man of God, Abraham gave glory to God for victory and refused any payback from the kings he helped. He didn't send them his Mpesa number. Actually, he gave a tithe to Melchizedek who was a type of Christ. Tithing was even before the Law of Moses as by this time the Law was not given yet. Unfortunately, Lot never learnt from his mistakes. He went back to Sodom. There, he would lose everything - his children, wife and more. That's the way of a man who never learns from his mistakes.
Please Lord, help me to learn to be content, to give glory to You for the victories and successes that You bring my way. Help me to learn from my mistakes.
Grace to you all!
GENESIS 15
After defeating the kings who had taken Lot, Abraham may have been scared that now he had enemies who could likely kill him, shattering the fulfillment of the promise. But God reassured him of His unwavering commitment in delivering the promises He made. He had waited for a long time and possibly doubted whether God would actually do it. He presented his innermost request and desire with the kind of attitude that says 'God where is Your promise?'' It's obvious to see that the father of faith is losing it. All he was seeing was Eliezer.
To have the most trusted servant inherit the estate of a childless parent was a common practice. That was the expectation. Many times, God does not solve our problems or meet our needs through the conventional or the expected way. We can't lock God in a box: 'He has many tools in His toolbox' to solve our problems.
Not only did God promise a son but a nation and a land for them to occupy. 'when God provides unga, He provides mboga'. When He provides children, He provides their sustenance. To these promises God bound Himself with an oath (covenant) while Abraham was dead asleep. The keeping of the covenant did not depend on Abraham at all.
Aren't you glad that as a child of God, you are not the one holding on to God but He is the One holding you? He keeps His promises. He is committed to you never to forsake you. The blessing of the promised nation to occupy the land would not come until the iniquity of the Amorites (a general term used to define Canaanites) was full. God's blessings for the righteous comes with judgment for the wicked. (Prov. 13:22, Job 27:13-17). But He is patient, to see the wicked turn to Him; that sometimes may seem to cause a 'delay' on His promises to His people. (2Pet. 3:9).
Waiting upon God sometimes can be very hard, the father of faith found it hard. But no, God had not forgotten him and He has not forgotten you. He is committed to you. O Lord, Lord teach me to wait on You even when it becomes hard.
Grace to you all.
GENESIS 16
After Abraham had waited for about 10 years, the promise of a son was not forthcoming. When we are waiting on God the devil knows how to present seemingly easy and convenient alternatives. For Abraham, that alternative was Hagar to bear the son of promise but that's not what God had promised. It's interesting that Sarai is the one who gave Hagar to her husband - she came up with a plan to "help" God fulfill the promise. Most of the times, it's close acquaintances, friends or family members who hinder, distract or mislead us from trusting or obeying God. Sometimes it Christians you expect to be role models that mislead you. You remember the story of the old prophet misleading the younger prophet? (1Kings 13:11ff). There's a good number of young people who have hindered or refused by their parents from being in God's service because there's no money in ministry.
In 2014, I talked with a young man who was interested and seriously considering coming to Africa as a missionary but his Mama would not let him. Husbands have been hindered from getting saved by the poor testimony of their wives and vice versa. Even though it was Sarai who misled Hagar, she soon became her bitter rivalry. Envy and rivalry set in. Don't be fooled, people who mislead or hinder you from waiting on or trusting God will not stand with you during difficult times - they will not be there when you will be reaping the consequences of your disobedience. With friends like that, you will be united in disobedience but separated in suffering.
Humiliated and despised, Hagar ran away from her former ally turned enemy but the LORD told her to go back and submit to her mistress. Some of us may not have good parents, husbands or bosses but we are to submit to their authority as much as they don't require us to disobey God. It seems her blessings were attached to submitting and serving her mistress. You see the blessings were Abraham's and his wife'.
An older Pastor friend of mine once counselled me to look for man upon whom God' hand is and to serve (submit, obey) such a man and God would bless. That is what Joshua did to Moses, Elisha to Elijah, David to Saul - that's how promotion comes. There are blessings attached to submitting to God-ordained authority whether at home or wherever. That was the only hope Hagar had. As Arabs enjoy their wealth(mainly oil), they should glorify God, thank their patriarch, Abraham and at least celebrate their once runaway matriarch who dared to return and submitted to her authority.
You are on your own when you refuse to submit to the authority that God has in your life.
Dear God, submission doesn't come easy for me, please help me submit to every authority you have put in my life.
Grace to you all.
GENESIS 17
At 99 and with no sign of the promised son, the LORD God visited Abram. He changed their names- Abram to Abraham (the father of many nations, Sarai now at 89 to Sarah (princess). Attaching His Name- Almighty to the promises, He gave a symbol to identify the sons of the covenant- circumcision, just like water baptism identifies God's people in the New Testament economy. Circumcision followed the changing of their names just as water baptism follows the change of one's life at Salvation. At their age, Abraham saw getting a son as a laughable joke. (vs17). Nevertheless, he believed what God promised and commanded, and he got all the males in his house including himself circumcised.
Have you ever wondered how Abraham convinced all those men, most of them adults to go through such a painful exercise? It would have been very expected for them to resist, but they all obeyed, why? I believe that as Abraham humbly submitted to everything God commanded that became such a powerful example to his family. When a father or someone in leadership humbly submits to God, he becomes a reasonable and a humble leader that those who he is leading want to follow. Many fathers who do not humbly submit to God's authority wonder why their wives and sons don't submit to their authority. You cannot be in authority unless you have learnt to be under authority otherwise you abuse it. The best way to teach others to submit to your authority is by being submissive to God's authority yourself.
Generally, I can dare say, show me a father or a mother who is humbly submissive to God's authority and I will show you a son or a daughter who is submissive to authority respectively. It is true that Abraham struggled to believe or understand some things that God promised or ordered, but one thing can be said with certainty, he obeyed God fully, happily and immediately- that's what obedience is. Half obedience, grumbling obedience or delayed obedience is actually disobedience.
Does what God requires of you seem unreasonable or undoable? Do you struggle with submission and obedience? It was not easy for Abraham either, but he believed and did all that God said and commanded fully, happily and immediately.
Grace be multiplied to you.
GENESIS 18
After Abraham obeyed God in getting himself and his family circumcised, the LORD visited him with 2 angels. This time the story of the long awaited promise of a son would change. Abraham welcomed the LORD and His angels to his home with a Kingly reception. The servant, Sarah and also Abraham himself were all involved in serving the heavenly Guests. Am going to drop a bombshell, it isn't wrong for men to help in house chores and serving others. Blessings come with serving God and others especially those of the house of faith. But service begins by first welcoming the Lord as King into the house of our hearts happily.
The LORD promised that in about 9 months Sarah will be nursing a baby boy. Again, to Sarah that was a big laughable joke. The LORD paused the question, "is anything too hard for the LORD?" As a way of honouring him as an obedient friend, God chose to tell Abraham what He was planning about Sodom. God has honoured us by telling us how the end will be - of His righteous wrath upon the evil world and deliverance for the Saints. He has told us the end from the beginning. Upon realizing the judgment to be poured on Sodom, Abraham pleaded with the LORD to spare the city for sake of 10 hoping that at least Lot must have led a godly family. He interceded for him.
God can spare a family, church and nation for the sake of one or few righteous person. The best thing to do as you wait on God is to serve Him and His people. We see selfless Abraham serving, interceding and honoured by God. In 9 months, that's 25 years since God called Abraham, Sarah will be nursing a baby boy at age 90. Anything impossible for the LORD? God may take time before He moves but when He begims to move, He moves quickly (all over sudden, things change for good).
Please Lord, teach me to wait on You, serve and intercede for others.
GENESIS 19
When the angels came to inspect Sodom, they found Lot not just in Sodom but sitting at the gate as a judge in that wicked city. The extent of Sodom's wickedness is clearly evident in Genesis 19:4 "... the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house." wanting to commit sodomy with the visitors. But Lot was willing to give his virgin daughters to be defiled by these wicked people. It's clear that Lot suffered, as the Bible calls him a righteous man who distressed his soul day and night by the wickedness that he saw and heard in Sodom (2 Pet. 2:7). One wonders why he had not left this evil place by now? Lot had become a slave of Sodom. Sin is enslaving.(Rom. 6:16).
There are a lot of Christians who have been enslaved and are hurting their very soul by watching and listening to filth. Lot was given a chance to warn any of his loved ones about God's righteous wrath that was to be poured in Sodom but they mocked him. If your sons-in-law can mockingly fail to respect you, really who will? Actually, What a miserable life for a righteous man of God! It all started with his selfish choice when he parted ways with Abraham- there he lost his godly counsel and company in Abraham, further, he lost his character, conscience, convictions, caring, children and eventually his wife. What more is there to lose?
Vs 29 tells us that God delivered Lot because he remembered Abraham. God can spare a family, a church or nation because of the intercession of one righteous person. Lot was saved, but just like through the fire. The end of it, Lot died in isolation, committing incest and getting children with his two daughters. Can a man go lower than that? It all started with a little compromise. " Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" The choices we make today will have a bearing on our lives and families tomorrow. The choices you are making, are they motivated by greed or contentment and love for Christ? What are you watching and listening to? What company are you keeping?
Please Lord, help me to be content in You and what You have given me and not to compromise for any personal gain. Help me to intercede for those enslaved by sin.
GENESIS 20
A little white lie to protect myself! Forgetting that God had promised to take care of him, Abraham decided to come up with a lie with a good intention of protecting himself. As it's always the case, this lie caused more serious problems than he had thought. Are you in a 'fix' where you feel like you must lie or compromise your testimony a bit in order to save yourself some trouble?
But God is gracious, He still protected Abraham and his wife. Make no mistake, God is committed to His children. We may forsake Him but He never does. We still remain like the apple of His eye. In fact God sharply rebuked Abimelech and warned that he would die if he failed to restore Sarah back to Abraham. God also closed the wombs of Abimelech's house because of Sarah. Abraham's 'little white lie' caused serious problems not only for Himself but to Abimelech and family. A prophet as he is called in vs. 7, Abraham should have been declaring and making known the goodness, greatness and the power of God, but became a hindrance due to his lie. Many Christians misrepresent God with bad testimony and hinder the world from seeing and knowing God.
After Abraham confessed his lie to Abimelech, the relationship was restored and God could use him. He prayed for Abimelech's house and their wombs were open. He also gave Abimelech a chance to right his wrong by repenting and making restitution. Genuine repentance is willing to make restitution - paying back what was stolen.
Do you realize that God wants to use us to make Him known and His power seen by the world? He wants to use us to be a blessing but that cannot happen if we lie, behave, strife, reason like the world. When Abraham lied he became a curse to others but when he learnt his lesson and trusted God to take of him even in difficult circumstances, God used him to be a blessing.
How we respond to difficult situations and especially when you're in a 'fix' will draw people to or away from Christ.
Thank you Dear Lord that You still love and graciously protect me even when I have failed You. Help me not to compromise even when am in a fix so that I may be a blessing to others.
Grace to you!
GENESIS 21
While Abraham was at 100 and Sarah at 90, the long awaited Isaac came. God keeps His promises. It was not long after, that Sarah noticed Ishmael bullying Isaac. That pushed Sarah to get Hagar and her son chased away. Ishmael's (Arab's) aggression towards Isaac (Jews) started rearing its ugly head right from the start. Abraham had already developed an emotional attachment with Ishmael and his mother and he was hurt to see them go. God said the blessings were to come through Isaac and not Ishmael who was from an illegitimate relationship that was motivated by unbelief. It's hard to let go habitual practices or sins which we have allowed to become like part of us. But like Ishmael and his mother, such habitual sins must go if we are to experience God's blessings.
In the wilderness, Hagar lamented as she her son was nearing death due to thirst. God in His Grace preserved her and the boy by opening her eyes to see the well. Even though the well was near, Hagar's eyes were blind to it until she desperately cried out to God. A contrite heart, the Lord will not despise. He opens our eyes to see blessings around us when we earnestly and genuinely cry to Him.
Abraham resolved the next potential conflict about the wells between him and Abimelech amicably with a covenant and a restored relationship. The wells were his but he didn't fight. Avoid all avoidable conflicts. As much as it's possible within you, live at peace with all men. Rom. 12:18.
Grace to you!
GENESIS 22
Isn't God the One Who had given Isaac to Abraham? How come now He was asking for him as a sacrifice? Firstly, God only asks from us what He has provided . Secondly, God was not interested in human sacrifice, but His command to Abraham to offer his only cherished son, Isaac was to test the latter's love for Him. Also,
God designed the test for Abraham to pass so that He could bless him. Tests or trials are opportunities for us Christians to prove our love for God so that He can bless and trust us with more. The purpose of any exam is not to put you down but to show your mastery over the subject so that you can be promoted to the next level and be trusted with more. When God wants to bless us, sometimes He sends or allows some tests/trials our way. When trials come, instead of complaining or being discouraged, view them as opportunities for promotion. Abraham passed his test with flying colours and then came the promotion 'blessing I will bless you...' God pledged.
Isaac was a young man totally submitted to his dad's authority. God provided a lamb instead of Isaac just as He provided His sinless Lamb (Christ) to take our place. Isaac also must have learnt the following lessons:
1. My parents loved God more than they loved me - the best way to love your children is to love God more than them.
2. My parents always obeyed God no matter what or how difficult the circumstances were.
3. Whenever we trusted God He always provided.
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Grace to you all!
PS: The lessons I stated is what Isaac could have confessed about his parents. I was not talking about my own parents. I did not grow up in a perfect or totally godly environment. I wish I did, but I am thankful that I had parents who planted in my young mind and taught me about the God of the Bible. The best heritage and inheritance a parent can give a child.
GENESIS 23
Sarah died in good old age, having seen her son grow. Abraham's effort and the price he was willing to pay to give Sarah a dignified burial serves as a great lesson on how we honour our loved ones especially in old age and in death. Abraham had become greatly honoured and like a Prince among his neighbours to the extent that they wanted to give him the land freely. In a culture that is so self-centered and individualistic, what our neighbours say or are willing to sacrifice for us tells a lot about us.
It's amazing that Abraham was willing to buy a land that was his-given by God. Many Christians will fight tooth and nail for what they believe is their right. Sometimes you wonder, if something is God given, do I really have to fight for it vigorously? Can't God give me in His way and time what He wants me to have without me fighting to the extent of hurting relationships? Even after David was anointed to be king after Saul, he made no attempt at all to emasculate or topple him from the throne even though it rightfully belonged to him. He waited on God's time and so did Abraham.
Allowing God to work out things for us in His own way and time without us manipulating the outcome is a true sign of Christian maturity.
Grace to you all!
PS: There's a world of difference between praying earnestly - bringing our requests to God repeatedly while resting on His goodness, wisdom and faithfulness to give the best answer in His way and time, and praying while still worrying and manipulating the outcome - even sometimes taking advantage of others and running ahead of God. That is unbelief.
GENESIS 24
Abraham took it upon himself to get a wife for Isaac. Such an idea may seem archaic in today's culture, but it's the responsibility of the parent to help and guide their children in making this important decision. Quite ironically, many parents help their children choose a school, career, how to invest, but take a back seat and shy away from helping them in the second most important decision after salvation, choosing a spouse. No wonder many young people are making mistakes and getting into marriage relationships unprepared.
Abraham sent his trusted servant Eliezer to his kindred to get a wife for Isaac. Abraham's decision had nothing to do with someone marrying only from his tribe but for his son not to marry from the heathen Canaanites-the unequal yoke, it is called. This was so important to Abraham that he committed his servant with an oath. Eliezer was trusted and loyal to Abraham. Upon reaching Syria, he stood at the well and prayed a very simple and specific prayer which God answered specifically. Later he would confess, "I being in the way, the LORD led me..."
God leads those who stay on the way. Eliezer was in the way in several ways. He was obedient to instructions as told by Abraham, he prayed a specific prayer and trusted God to answer, he went to the right place - to the well where young ladies came to draw water. Many Christians look for God's blessings in the wrong places. Young person, do not look for a spouse in the wrong place other wise you will end up with the wrong person. You see if you stay on the way, the only people you are likely to meet are those on the way like you. Rebekah was also on the way. She was hardworking, sexually pure and above all, respectful and submissive, the best quality a bride or wife can have.
Are you trusting God for a spouse, promotion, or breakthrough? The worst thing you can do is to get out of the way. The chapter concludes by saying that Isaac loved Rebekah. Man, if you ever bring somebody's daughter home to be your wife, the best thing you can do for her is to love her, that's it.
Grace to you!
GENESIS 25
Abraham's remarriage to Keturah may have been motivated by loneliness after the death of Sarah- nothing wrong with that. Abraham gave his other children gifts and separated them from Isaac solving a potential problem that occurs many times among siblings upon the death of a parent. The generation of Ishmael is stated first, showing the faithfulness of God as He had promised to multiply him also. But his lineage is set aside for the time being in favour of Isaac's, the son of promise. Interestingly, Isaac and Rebekah had to wait childless for 20 years. Being childless in that culture and time was disgraceful. Isaac did not abandon his wife for another but rather opted to pray for her. O that we could learn to bring to God in prayer those weighty matters that threaten to destroy our marriages.
If God had promised that Isaac would become the promised nation, why did He keep him childless for so long? You see, it is not only important for God to give us blessings but also to do so when we are ready to receive them- to use them for His glory and to be a blessing to others. Many people have been destroyed by the blessings of money, fame and promotion just because they were not ready to handle them. Isaac and Rebekah's unpreparedness is seen in how they played favouritism between the boys- one of the worst mistakes a parent can make. It may be God would grant our request but He knows that it will end up hurting us because we a not ready for it or we will use it selfishly and not honour Him with it or be a blessing to others.
It's normal to feel that we're ready, but God knows best. My 6 year old son thinks he can drive a car, but I know better. Sometimes, waiting is a way of God preparing us for the blessing. So, don't lose hope when God keeps you on the waiting bench, He knows best. Eventually the boys came not reading from the same script just like their parents as it is seen in how they played favouritism between them. Even the best parent can make great mistakes. Playing favouritism is rooted in selfishness. It's simply favouring the one who pleases you.
Esau became a man who couldn't control his appetites and in a moment of vulnerability, like many Christians, he disregarded his God given position. He "sacrificed the permanent on the altar of the immediate". He would live to regret it. Some mistakes have no reverse gear, we live with their consequences the rest of our lives.
Jacob on the other hand, took advantage of his brother's vulnerability. Selfishness begets selfishness. Could our children be inheriting their selfishness from us? Could God be holding the blessing I have been praying for because am not ready to handle it or would use it selfishly? Am I compromising my testimony and purity for a temporal gain? Do I take advantage of people's vulnerability? Do I stand with and pray for my spouse when in their hour of desperation? My conscience guided by the Bible is my best judge.
Grace be multiplied to you!
GENESIS 26
When famine struck, God instructed Isaac not to flee to Egypt like his dad. He promised to take care of him. Interestingly, like his dad, Isaac lied about Rebekah being his sister fearing for his life - like father like son.
Isaac obeyed God and stayed in a land that was struck by famine. There, God blessed him so much so that the Philistines envied him. You see, it's not where you are or what you have but Who you have. In the midst of economic or any other famine, God can still protect, provide and bless those stay in His will. In that land, Isaac dug wells that the Philistines strove for. You interact with the world and you'll realize that it knows how to strive for power, positions, fame and resources. The best thing is to do like Isaac did - avoid striving and allow God to create room for you.
The same day Isaac left the land of striving, God appeared to him at night and reaffirmed the Abrahamic blessings to him. There Isaac built an altar to God and dwelt there. O that we could abandon the worldly strife, build an altar in our hearts for God and dwell in fellowship with Him! By not striving, Isaac left such a powerful testimony that Abimelech and his men came seeking him for reconciliation confessing, "...we saw certainly that the LORD was with thee..."
How we deal with controversy, difficulties and disagreements will cause others to see and be drawn to Christ or not. Are you lying or getting out of God's will because of challenges and difficulties? The way you're dealing with difficulties, controversy and problems is it making people to see Christ and be drawn to Him or away from Him?
Have a strife-free day.
GENESIS 27
Chapter 26 concludes with Esau marrying 2 Hittite wives, a thing that was such a grief to his parents. But you realize we don't see Isaac getting involved in helping and guiding Esau in choosing a wife like his dad did, what did he expect?
The favoritism that was motivated by selfishness on the part of Isaac and Rebekah came to bear fruit. Esau got short-changed by his twin brother and mother who colluded to deceive his father. Jacob did not need to do this because God had said "the older will serve the younger". By now Esau must have forgotten about a little hasty and thoughtless decision he made a long time ago to exchange his birthright with a mere bowl of porridge in a moment of vulnerability. They would all soon or later find out that you reap what you sow sometimes after a long time. Aware that Esau would kill his brother, Rebekah came up with another manipulative scheme, to send Jacob away in the name and pretense of shielding him from marrying daughters of Heth like his brother Esau. You talk of a manipulative wife, Rebekah was a Phd holder in it. That was the last time she saw Jacob. Even families that appear godly can be the bedrock of lies, manipulation, selfishness and unsubmissiveness. Jacob became very manipulative. It's not rocket science to figure out where he learnt that from, is it? Parents, if you play favouritism in your family, that's down right selfishness- and it will end up creating mistrust, enmity and hurting your family.
Man, do you make the effort to guide, help and counsel your children on matters relationships- marriage? If you don't, what right do you have to complain when they make wrong choices? Lady, do you undercut and manipulate your husband thinking you're favouring your children? Some parents manipulate their children to take sides with them against the other parent, it's evil. If at all possible, don't involve children in your fights. It will end up denying them the very blessings you wished for them. Every parent should teach children to respect the other parent if you want them blessed.
Young person, never be tempted to disrespect or lie to your mom or dad even when your other parent thinks you should. That doesn't mean you should approve or be part of the evil that your parent may be doing but avoid getting in the middle of their fight. They remain your parents and you stand to lose if you get caught up. Have a blessed day.
GENESIS 28
Having experienced grief caused by Esau's Hittites wives, Isaac instructed Jacob to go to Padanaram and marry from his maternal uncle, Laban. Lonely and fearful, Jacob slept at Bethel where God appeared to him and reaffirmed the Abrahamic blessings to him. God attached His Almighty ( Elshaddai). This Name means the breasted One. Like a breasted mother who is able sufficiently nourish her baby with her breast milk, so also God would take care of Jacob's every need. Jacob promised to serve the God of Bethel alone and to tithe on all that God would give him.
Even though Jacob had Abraham for a grandfather, he needed to establish a personal relationship with God. God has no grandchildren. God wanted to use Jacob to be a blessing to all generations but there were important lessons for him to learn. Now that he had met and known God, Jacob's schooling would soon begin. Jacob had been manipulative and self seeking. Before God can use a man He must teach that man to seek His glory and His alone. Sometimes He does that by getting people out of their comfort zone where it is you and God alone. He got Moses into the mountain give him the 10 commandments, Paul into the wilderness of Arabia before ushering him as the greatest church planter, administrator and theologian, David was in the wilderness of solitude with few followers before being confirmed as the king of Israel and so was Elijah before he was caught up into heaven in a fiery chariot. Do you feel lonely, fearful and threatened? That may be your best opportunity to know God deeply and experience His blessings in an unimaginable way.
When Esau realized that Jacob had obeyed his parents in going to get a wife from his uncle, he also desired to make up for former mistakes and to be accepted by his parents and so he went and married the daughter of Ishmael adding to the list of his heathen wives. Obedience is not just the insincere external act just because others are doing it or so as to get some favour or gain. Rather, it must be rooted in genuine love and respect for authority. We must do what is right not just to appear good in the eyes of others but because we genuinely honour and love God. If there was no one to find out ever, what could you do? That is who you are.
What kind of school has God taken you to? It could take you shorter or longer depending on how fast you choose to learn. God is the Examiner, He knows when we are ready to be used of Him for His glory and to be a blessing to others.
O God, search me and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me to way everlasting.
Have a good day in "school".
GENESIS 29
There were important lessons for him to learn if he was going to be used by God as the bearer of the Abrahamic blessings to all generations. Would the 20-year exile be the school for this accomplished deceiver? His orientation 101 was, hard work and patience instead of shortcuts of conning and manipulation that he was used to.
Jacob loved Rachael and he was willing to work 7 years for her which seemed but like a short time because of how much he loved her. What an important lesson for a man who had only known to con, deceive and manipulate people in order to get what he wanted. As far as material wealth goes, a young man equipped with patience and a willingness to work is a man enough to be a suitor to a well endowed princess. But patience and hard work was not all. You see, there are people who like Jacob may have the discipline to work hard and wait to get a spouse, car, house, property, without having learned to entirely depend on God.
Then came the next lesson for Jac. The principle of sowing and reaping. He would be short changed by Laban into marrying Leah instead of Rachael just like he deceived and manipulated his brother Esau. Jacob would experience the pain of having something you treasured taken from you in manipulation like his did to his brother. Jacob ended with 2 wives whose rivalry made him a slave to both. No man can love 2 wives equally - polygamy is never God's idea. Leah was not loved as Rachael and so God remembered her by giving her children first. Possibly, you feel despised, ridiculed, forgotten, or even hated because you are not endowed with reputation, family, beauty, resources like your peers. That doesn't mean that God is like your peers or He has forgotten you. Do you always go for what you want without caring how it affects others? Jacob would be happy to be your teacher. Have a teachable day.
GENESIS 30
Envy and loss of hope can drive one to do some unthinkable things. With no hope to ever get a child of her own, Rachael gave her handmaid Bilhah to her husband, Jacob to get children by her. But, "...God remembered Rachael and hearkened to her..." That God hearkened to her implies that she was still pleading with Him. Even when you feel like aĺl is lost and forgotten, still don't stop trusting and begging God for your need. You have really given up if you have given up praying.
On the other hand, Jacob was preoccupied with amassing wealth from his father-in-law through deception while his family was falling apart. When Jacob desired to depart from Laban, he restrained him saying that God had blessed him because of Jacob. Don't quit attending church, praying, obeying God and waiting on Him; you may be a big blessing to someone when you don't think you are.
Jacob seemed to have forgotten all he had promised God but God had not at all what He promised Jacob. Don't ever get so preoccupied with looking for wealth to the extent of neglecting your family. The cost of such a choice is high and undoubtedly regrettable. Even when your peers seem progressing and prospering and you feel left behind and forgotten, never make any decision out of envy. What a gracious God we serve that He still cares, protects and provides for our needs even when we are not that faithful to Him. He still blesses us despite us. Go to Him.
Have an envy-free day.
GENESIS 31
After deceptively accumulating wealth from Laban, Jacob opted to run away without his knowledge. It was wrong that Jacob decided to unceremoniously run away from his-father in-law but much worse that his closest wife, Rachael stole idols from her dad. That Jacob did not even know that Rachael had stolen the idols shows how much he was out of touch with his family. As a father (parent) do you care about the spiritual condition or the struggles of your wife and children? How is their walk with God? Are they doing their devotions consistently? Which book of the Bible are they reading? Do they love church and God's work, do you know why or why not? Are you available to help them or lead them to somebody who can help them with their spiritual struggles? If you're not, do not get surprised when you find out that they have picked very strange 'idols' along the way.
Unfortunately, after 14 years of 'schooling', Jacob is still striving selfishly. God was not done with him yet because He wanted him to be the bearer of the Abrahamic blessings to all generations. Jacob had to take more schooling. He was far from being perfect. How come God had not given up on him. Praise God He uses imperfect people otherwise He would use none. Have you been in God's school for too long? Don't get discouraged; it is because God has great plans and purpose with your life. God is not done with us yet. Praise Him that He doesn't give up on us.
Have an idol-free day.
GENESIS 32
Jacob was very scared to meet his brother, Esau. He feared for himself and his family. The angels meeting him was a clear indication that God would lead, protect and provide for Jacob on his road to obedience - returning to the land of his father as God had commanded. Jacob was faced with a problem that he didn't have solutions for. It seems like God had brought Jacob to a place where his manipulation would come to an end. Sometimes, God allows us to reach the end of ourselves so that we can look up to Him.
After sending his family away, Jacob was left alone where the angel of God wrestled with him to break his will. It's after he surrendered and humbly cried to God "bless me" that God changed his name from Jacob the supplanter (deceiver) to Israel (a Prince with God). For once Jacob had learnt that he didn't need to manipulate, deceive or strife for God to bless him. Jacob became a victor not because he wrestled with God but because he surrendered to Him. Our victory begins by surrendering to God's will. Wrestling with God about our heartache, distresses and fears in prayer may not be wrong but question is, do come from meeting with Him still unbent and the same way we went? Nobody meets God and walks away unchanged. Have you been meeting with God in His Word and prayer? Has He been changing you? That can only happen if you are creating the time to meet with Him, and if you are committed to surrender your will to His.
Jacob remained alone for God to meet with him. Sometimes God does not meet with us because we don't create the time to meet with Him. Our lives are so cluttered with the busyness of this life that we don't have the time to meet with God. Have we reached the end of ourselves or are we still full of self and pushing to have our own way? Our victory begins when we submit to God's will. God is ever ready and willing to meet with us. It is not His mistake if we don't. When we we surrender our all to God with genuine brokenness and contriteness that makes Him to begin a great work in us.
Have a submissive and clutter- free day.
GENESIS 33
While not many positive things can be said about Esau, one thing is certain, he genuinely forgive his brother. There are many 'mature' Christians who may be so critical of Esau but he puts them to shame when it comes to unforgiveness. On the other hand, Jacob who had known only to take from people through deception now for the first time offered and actually gave his once arch enemy brother much wealth as free gifts. Jacob now had learnt more than accumulating wealth through deception, he greatly desired to be reconciled with his brother. God created that opportunity and dealt with Esau's heart whom Jacob feared immensely. Don't fear, do what is right and leave the outcome with God.
Now that he had put things right between him - God and people Jacob moved and erected an altar to God for the first time in at least 20 years. He called it El Elhoe Israel meaning, God, (is) the God of Israel (Jacob). Fellowship was restored and now He had now become his personal God. What hinders your fellowship with God? Is it your lack of submission to His will or a strained relationship with others? Do you harbour unforgiveness and bitterness? Remember "bitterness is the poison that you take and expect someone else to die" Nothing destroys God's altar of worship in our hearts and destroys us than preoccupation with the busyness of this life, where materialism becomes our god and the root of unforgiveness or bitterness in our hearts. God wants us to rebuild His alter of worship in our hearts. He wants us to recincile with Him and as much as possible with others.
Have a reconciliatory day.
GENESIS 34
From Padanaram, Jacob had been instructed by God to return to the land of His fathers, Beersheba (Gen. 31:3), but Jacob settled about midway through in Shechem. Like Christians who obey God halfway, Jacob would soon find out how dangerous that is. Do you know that half obedience is actually disobedience? King Saul failed to obey God fully on the issue of the Amalekites. His partial obedience was actually termed as disobedience and rejected by God. In Shechem, Jacob's family mixed and got into negotiations with the heathen Shechemites. Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land and there she got molested resulting in animosity, deception, murder, fear and shame to the whole family.
The environment that we bring up our children in affects them and actually affects the whole family. A Christian who loves and meddles with the world will not be left scarless but with enough shame to share with the rest of his family and those who love him. We terribly hurt those who we lead spiritually when we don't take a clear cut stand on spiritual matters. We confuse them with our spiritual coldness when we sit on the fence and are not fully sold out to the cause of Christ. We murder their spiritual ambitions and make them stop trying if all they can see in us is hypocrisy. Can our children and those who we lead trust our Christianity? Would we be happy if they turned out just like us in their Christianity?
O Dear God, help me to not love the world and save me from hypocrisy!
GENESIS 35
After the failures and terrifying experiences of Shechem, Jacob was commanded by God to return to Bethel the place of the covenant. In obedience to the LORD'S command, Jacob called on his family to purify themselves and get rid of all the strange gods. God protected them but as it is always the case, Jacob's road to obedience was full of trials. Deborah, a significant matriarch of the family and Rachael died on the way and upon settling in the land of the fathers the family was greeted by Reuben's heinous act of committing immorality with his father's concubine Bilhah. It's hard to imagine how discouraging that must have been to Jacob considering Reuben was the first born who should have carried on the family dream. Am sure Jacob must have wondered, where is the Abrahamic promise? How can we be a blessing to others when our family is so chaotic? Has God forgotten me? Where did I go wrong in bringing up my children? Such are the questions that weigh heavily on us when we go through trials such as failures in the family. Jacob must have felt a failure but God had not forgotten him. This was a road he needed to tread on.
It's through those dark valleys of failure and defeat that the grace of God is magnified. God was not done with him yet. You may be experiencing terrible failures in your life or family and the enemy may be whispering defeat to you. No, God does not forget His children. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the LORD delivers him out of them ALL" (Psalm 34:19) and yes, "...Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5). Keep praying, waiting, watching, trusting and hoping. One of the greatest losses you can suffer is to lose hope.
GENESIS 36
While Jacob's family was grappling with failure, defeat and heartaches, Esau's lineage seemed to be getting more organised and established. Esau had settled in Sier and become an organized kingdom while Israel remained a pilgrim and with a series of shameful failures. Vs 31 tells us "Now these were the kings (dukes) who reigned in the land of Edom (descendants of Esau) before any king reigned over the children of Israel:" God had promised Jacob prominence but now Esau seemed to be bypassing him. Have you felt like some Johnny-come-latelys have overtaken you yet you have been faithful? The children of the covenant can sometimes get discouraged when they see the unrighteous prospering. Like Christ admonished Peter you must serve the Lord and not worry about what happens to that 'other man'. You must not fret or be discouraged even when you see those who don't love and trust the Lord like you 'prospering'. You must walk the path that the gracious and all-wise, all-powerful, all-knowing God has laid before you trusting that he means you no harm but a beautiful end. Don't murmur even if He leads you through the way of the wilderness. He knows it. All you need to do is follow and He will be the Cloud to cover your head by day and the Pillar of fire to lead you by night.
GENESIS 37
Jacob finally settled in the land of the fathers as God had commanded from Padanaram but his family seemed to be sinking deeper into chaos. Reuben the first born who should have been the bearer of the family mantle had messed up greatly by taking his father's concubine Bilhah. And now Joseph who should have been his replacement as the first born from the second wife became a common enemy to his brothers, thanks to Jacob's favoritism. His dreams of ruling over his brothers only worsened the situation with rebukes from his father and more hatred from his brothers. The rest of the boys didn't seem to be promising either based on the evil report that Joseph brought to their father concerning them. Their hatred for young innocent Joseph got out of hand as they sold him as a slave to Egypt. Little did they know that the young Joseph would be their God-given life line years yonder.
It's interesting they plotted to deceive their father and conceal their crime by killing a goat's kid just as he (Jacob) also did to his father Isaac years ago. The law of sowing and reaping is timeless. Am sure all that Jacob was seeing was failures and his hope for what God had said seemed dwindling and not forthcoming at all.Your family may be chaotic and not promising right now. The children may be going a different direction than the one you have wished and prayed for. If you were Jacob's neighbour, would you have called his a godly family or imagined that God would bless the whole world through him? Similarly, those who knew my sought-after witchdoctor grandfather would not have believed that yours truly (myself as his grandson) would one day be a proclaimer of the Gospel. What a gracious God we serve! Do not stop dreaming big and trusting God Who inspires us through His Word to see beyond our current failures. Have you lost hope? Are you done with God? He is not done with you.
GENESIS 38
With Reuben having taken his father's concubine Bilhah and Joseph sold as slave in Egypt, that seemed to have knocked out the two first borns out of the equation of carrying the family dream of the Abrahamic promises as was expected. Simeon and Levi's vengeful wrath could not be trusted while Judah's decision to marry the heathen Canaananite women who bore to him very envious and ungodly son Er and Onan must have left Jacob with very little hope if any. As if that wasn't bad enough, all the boys except Benjamin had been involved in the hate and cruelty of selling off their young innocent brother, Joseph. Judah's mess got nasty as he committed incest with his daughter-in-law Tamar. Talk of a chaotic family! Can it get uglier than that? Such a predicament must have left Jacob wondering if there was any hope left for the house of Israel.
It's interesting how the chapter begins with Judah getting involved with the Canaanites after he "...departed from his brethren". A Christian who separates from the company of the saints leaves himself more prone and vulnerable to temptations, misleading, manipulation, being taken advantage of and falling into sin.
Again it is interesting that the same Judah whom we all would count him out is the same one that God chose to bear the lineage of the Messiah. Few of us could have chosen Jacob or anyone from his family for such a task, much less Judah. This magnifies the matchless grace of our loving Lord. Don't count yourself out because God hasn't.
GENESIS 39
Joseph settled in Egypt as a purchased slave but God was with him. He was faithful and prospering but God was preparing him for greater things and responsibilities than being an owned slave. His master's wife falsely accused him and he was put into prison after he turned down her immoral advances. Joseph would be forgotten in prison for crimes he had not done. But he was being tested before He could be trusted. Amazing that Joseph was going through all this and yet the Bible says that God was with him. That you may be going through difficulties, false accusation and some mishandling does not mean that God is not with you. These are called tests. Tests are the gateway to being promoted to the next class. Many times God prepares His children for greater blessing not by taking them from the fire but by being with them through it. Trials can make you better or bitter depending on how you take them.
Joseph was submissive, obedient and faithful in his work, and get this, he had no bitterness at all despite all the mistreatment he received. Do you feel like people are unfair to you? And are you using that as your reason for being disobedient, bitter, unruly and unsubmissive to authority? Do what is right, God knows what you are going through, the payday is coming.
GENESIS 40
In prison, Joseph was not consumed with poor-me syndrome. He served others with cheerfulness. Joseph exalted God in the darkest valley of his life. He said that God was the only one who could interpret dreams. Hard to imagine that a man who is in prison innocently can be a witness for God. Many of us complain bitterly because the line is too long, the food is 15 minutes late, the service is 10 minutes longer, and the like, and we leave no one with the slightest idea that we are Christians at all.
Joseph depended on God to interpret the dream for his fellow inmates and he did not remain with bitterness as he watched them leave him behind bars, especially the butler who was restored back to his responsibilities. Joseph stayed there for 2 more years. Little did he know that prison was preparing him for the palace. That Pharaoh's most trusted workers, the baker and butler were thrown into prison means they must have committed serious crime and yet they got free and left innocent Joseph rotting in prison. That can make even the best of Christian out there bitter and hurt. I don't know what you may be going through. Maybe you feel misunderstood, mistreated and hurt unfairly and you don't see how you serve and show kindness to those who mistreat you. Joseph did. God has good plans and a beautiful end for your life and no one can get you out of that plan, not even a friend, an enemy or even the devil but you.
In the meanwhile we can serve the Lord and others cheerfully regardless of what life throws at us. Only then can they see and be drawn to our Christianity.
GENESIS 41
GENESIS 43
That Joseph let his brothers go back to Canaan without revealing himself to them shows how he wanted to test their genuineness. Would they bring Benjamin as he had ordered them? Would they be honest enough to bring back the money that he had returned to them? Also, he must have believed that God brought them back to complete what He had begun. There is no need to rush what God is doing.
With Joseph and Simeon gone, Israel felt that everything was working against him therefore, he reluctantly let Benjamin go with his brothers to Egypt as a condition for them to be allowed entry. Little did he know that this was God's way of prospering them. It was a hard and risky decision. Even when you feel things are working against you, do what you are supposed to do. Sometimes making a risky decision is better than not making a decision at all. One only has to make sure that God is in it. The alternative for Israel was to stay in Canaan and starve. Many people who have succeeded in any field will tell you that it all started with a risky decision they made engulfed with fear. Many don't progress in life because they can't make a decision- they suffer from "paralysis of analysis." That means things are paralysed because we analyse too much and cannot make a decision. There is a difference between making a decision without knowing all the facts that we should and can know and not making a decision even after knowing all we need to know.
GENESIS 44
As Joseph pushed his brothers to the wall, he got to see how much they had changed. It's Judah who had mercilessly suggested that they sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites even without caring how this would affect their father. (Gen.37:27). Now, he was very concerned about Benjamin and his old father. Judah and his brothers had changed and Joseph needed to see it. In so doing he took the lead and responsibility to save the life of his ageing father. One may think that Joseph was being mean to his brothers, but, it was necessary for him to see how much they had changed so as to know how to deal with them. Don't lose hope just because people around you seem difficult and fighting. God can change them.
Judah's humility provided an opportunity to start the reconciliation process. From then on, Judah would be ahead of his brothers. It takes real humility to bring reconciliation amidst tensions, misunderstandings, hurt or fights in our family or where we live. God can use you to initiate reconciliation of the age-long animosity that is in your family or among your people. That is leadership.
GENESIS 45
After Joseph's brothers, led by Judah, responded with such humility and brokenness, they were ready for reconciliation and the comfort that Joseph had prepared for them. Joseph himself forgot all about his dignified position and wept aloud that the royal family heard. Genuine brokenness and humility are the sure recipes for reconciling the worst of enemies. With such genuine attitudes, barriers are broken and reconciliation becomes the natural thing to follow. There was no blame game. His brothers did not blame the circumstances or their father for playing favouritism, even though it was wrong. Joseph forgave his brothers and assured them that even though their deed was evil, God in His providence and power overruled their evil act. What a picture Joseph gives about our Saviour.
When we think or purport that our differences with others are irreconcilable, one thing can be said with certainty, genuine humility and brokenness are lacking and pride rules our hearts or theirs or both. Genuine humility will lead us to forgive and serve others with charitableness, certainly assured that God can turn and use the evil they throw at us as our stepping stone to His unforeseen blessings. For the cause of Christ.
GENESIS 46
Jacob desired to go to Egypt to see his son Joseph and even though that seemed like the obvious thing to do, he sought God's direction in this matter. O that we may learn to seek the mind of our blessed Lord for even when our path seems obvious, there could be galleys and traps that may be hidden from our fleshy eyes.
It was a big decision for Jacob to uproot his family to a foreign land, but since God had okayed it, there was nothing to fear. God promised to bless and prosper him in Egypt. God leads and blesses those who follow His leading no matter the location. We must not shy away or fear to take a necessary step just because it appears difficult. All we need to be sure of is that God is leading.
Joseph, once despised and hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused and put in prison, God had changed him to be the deliverer of them all because he remained faithful amidst much suffering. Don't count yourself out just because others despise, hate or accuse you. Regardless of all the trials you may be going through to remain faithful to God, He has great plans for your life.
Joseph shows great kindness to his father's family despite how they had mistreated him. We must not seek revenge but treat with charitableness those who hurt us. That makes us stand above them. We must be tested in order to be trusted.
GENESIS 47
Because of enduring and remaining faithful through such difficult trials, God lifted up Joseph and made him a great blessing to many. God used him to save many lives. Remain faithful to God even when you suffer unfairly because you never know how He may use you for His glory and to be a blessing to others.
Upon reaching Egypt, Jacob explained the days of his life as few and evil. He had spent a great deal of his life manipulating and pursuing self interests. Such is the life of those who only live for self. Even though Jacob had now settled in a good land, Goshen, he still considered himself a pilgrim. He looked for a better country, the heavenly. It seems like he had learnt the futility of living for this world and self. There are many who get enriched with this world's goods and settle and forget that they are pilgrims. As he looked at his sunset years, he looked forward to the promises of God and charged his sons to bury him in the land of promise. He wanted to finish well. Better the ending of a matter than its beginning. Some of us may have not started well but we can choose to finish well.
GENESIS 48
Joseph took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim, to see his ailing father. This became a very important visit as Jacob adopted the two sons as his own to be counted among his other sons. Joseph was given an extra portion among his brethren. The name of his last-born son Ephraim, alongside that of Judah would supersede the rest.
When Israel multiplied and the kingdom split, the northern tribes (kingdom) would go by the name Ephraim. Joseph had honoured his father from the time he was young. He lied not to his dad about his brothers' evil behaviour, he forgave his brethren and treated them kindly, he took care of his father and family in Egypt and now he visits him in his old age and sickness. What else should you do with such a man other than to bless him? Many young people lie to their parents, dishonour them and sometimes we see our ageing parents as a bother. O that we could know how much blessings we forfeit by such a caricature. When was the last time you took your children just to see their ageing grandparent/s. Would you not like your daughter or son to bring your grandchildren to see you in your old age? Don't expect to reap what you have not sowed when that time comes.
One more last thing, Jacob said that he had not thought of seeing Joseph but now God had allowed him to see his grandsons and great grandsons. Possibly, all you see when you look at your health, financial situation, marriage, grades, etc is failure and no hope at all. Be encouraged, it's God Who has the final say and by the way, it's not over until it's over.
GENESIS 49
Then came the pay day for the boys! It is clear from what Jacob told his boy that Reuben's birthright was passed over to Judah and Joseph who took the role to carry on the family promise of the Messiah and double portion respectively. These two rights were reserved for the first born. In settling in the promised land, both Judah and Ephraim took prominence. Jacob charged his sons to bury him in Canaan. He had faith that God would visit them and fulfill what He promised.
From the time he was young, Jacob did not have a good start, but he finished well. Possibly your past life has been for self, you can choose to spend the rest of it for the Lord. You can choose to end well. Jacob lived in a foreign country, possibly not with much earthly goods but he died in the Faith. He died in the LORD. What a way to die!.
Have the temporal pleasures and comfort and the earthly goods preoccupied you to the extent that you have forgotten that you are a pilgrim? Dear friend, do you know at the end of the day, it will not be what you have but Who you have? Young person, do you know that what you are sowing now, the payday is coming? The good thing is that you can choose the kind of pay you want now.
GENESIS 50
Joseph organised to give his father a fitting burial. It's honouring for children to do all they can to bury their parents decently. Jacob's desire to be buried in Canaan like his fathers was a demonstration of faith in God to restore Israel to the land of promise. After the death of Jacob his sons feared thinking that Joseph had not forgiven them. It's common for people to say they have forgiven those who hurt them but in actual fact they haven't. From Joseph's attitude we see the marks of genuine forgiveness:
1. The test of expectation. Joseph did not expect them to do anything. No, you have not forgiven if you feel that your offender owes you something. Either he has to bow to you or do a certain thing yet.
2. The test of hurt. Joseph said that, even though they had evil intentions, God meant it for good. He took what he went through as God's plan. He wasn't hurting or bitter about it. If you are still hurting in your soul, bitter or resentful, you haven't forgiven your offender.
3. The test of kindness. Joseph had and still was going to treat his brothers kindly despite what they did to him. He spoke to them kindly and gave them the assurance that all was well. It's human nature to want to see those who hurt carry guilt even after they have genuinely sought forgiveness. One way to show that we have forgiven those who have hurt us is by treating them kindly and not trying to get even. We don't even rejoice when they get into trouble.
Unforgiveness can be very subtle. Could there be some root of bitterness or unforgiveness craftly hidden in our hearts? Remember bitterness is the poison that you take and expect someone else to die.