Pastor Billington's Blog

Genesis 50

When Jacob dies, everyone mourns with Joseph. Yes, it’s because of his position, but it’s also a reminder that we are called to be caring and compassionate when people are going through difficulties.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (WEB) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

His brothers are worried when their father dies. Has Joseph really forgiven them? His answer is one of the most important statements in Scripture concerning God and His sovereignty.

Genesis 50:20 (WEB) “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today.”

Although neither Jacob nor Joseph got to see the complete fulfillment of God’s covenant, they trusted Him! Both of them wanted to make sure that their remains ended up in the land that God promised to them.

Thought for the day: Do you know anyone struggling? Can you reach out and show compassion to them?

Colossians 3:12 (WEB) “Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance…”

Genesis 49

As his final act, Jacob blesses and prophetically outlines the future for his twelve sons and the tribes that will come after them. The blessings also contain references to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ! Revelation 5:5 refers to Jesus this way: “the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome” (WEB). The scepter referred to in Genesis 49:10 represents authority and kingship. Jesus, as Messiah, has authority over the nations (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 19:15), but he also holds a rod as the Good Shepherd. He is our ultimate source of comfort and protection (Psalm 23:4).

While Jacob’s prophetic abilities are God given, the blessing that he bestows should give us pause. Our words to our children and grandchildren are important and life giving. We have an awesome responsibility and ability to make a significant impact in their lives, especially as it relates to their relationship with God. 

Thought for the day: Do we take our responsibility seriously?

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (WEB) “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates; that your days and your children’s days may be multiplied in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.”

Marc Chagall, the artist, depicted the 12 tribes of Israel in stained glass windows. He used Genesis 49 as one of his primary sources of inspiration (video here).

Genesis 48

Joseph brings his sons with him to his father’s bedside when he is sick, and Jacob “adopts” them as his own for inheritance purposes. They basically take Joseph’s spot, but why don’t we then end up with the 13 tribes of Jacob instead of 12? Ultimately, the tribe of Levi ends up taking over priestly duties, so they don’t actually inherit a territory like the other tribes.

Joseph, through his sons, gets a double inheritance, effectively obtaining firstborn status. This shouldn’t surprise us, since Joseph was the favorite. What may surprise us is that Jacob blesses the younger son, Ephraim, over the older son, Manasseh. Could this be a foreshadowing of the fact that Joshua, an Ephraimite, eventually leads the people into the promised land?

Remember Jacob’s words from the last chapter: “The days of the years of my life have been few and evil.” Now contrast what we have here: “the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil.” Is it because of the different audiences? Circumstances? Timing?

Thought for the day: Where are you in your life right now? Do you have confidence that God is with you and loves you?

Hebrews 13:5 (WEB) “he has said, ‘I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.’ “

Genesis 47

Jacob recognizes that he hasn’t yet arrived. His life has been a “pilgrimage,” or “sojourn.” He sees the days of his life as “few and evil.” He is still waiting for the promises of God to be fulfilled. He is still waiting for his inheritance in the promised land.

Hebrews 11:8-9 (WEB) “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.”

We, however, have seen the spiritual fulfillment of those promises, if we believe. We have a place, a people, and a home through Jesus!

Hebrews 11:22-24 (WEB) “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant…”

The Egyptian people give everything to Joseph, and he is seen as their savior (47:25). And this gives us further insight into his life. He was despised, rejected, falsely accused, and suffered, but was ultimately vindicated and exalted. Oh, and he forgave those who caused him harm. Does that remind you of anyone? This is why he is often seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus!

Thought for the day: How do you see the days of your life? If you have Jesus, you have hope, and you have a reason to praise!

Hebrews 13:15 (WEB) “Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.”

Genesis 46

Beersheba is a place where both Abraham and Isaac lived for a time. It must have seemed to be an appropriate place to seek God, particularly if Jacob was worried about the covenant! While there, God makes sure that Jacob understands the detour into Egypt isn’t going to thwart His plans. Not only will He increase Jacob’s descendants while there, God will also bring them back to the promised land. He also assures Jacob that he will be with Joseph until he dies: “Joseph’s hand will close your eyes” (WEB, 46:4).

There is some discussion about the numbers 66 and 70 as they relate to Jacob’s family (46:26, 27). The simplest explanation is to take 70 as a round number that represents the totality of the family.

Why was it so important that Jacob’s family stay together in Egypt? Two words: safety and identity. Genesis 46:34 probably means that nomadic foreigners were not liked by the Egyptians, and we see this borne out by the fact that the Jewish people end up becoming slaves in Egypt. By staying grouped together they at least had some measure of safety, and they were able to retain their identity and piety in the midst of an idolatrous people.

Thought for the day: Do you make it a habit to seek God before important decisions or journeys?

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (WEB) “You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You shall seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.”

Genesis 45

Pharoah displays kindness and compassion to Joseph and his family, but when you consider what Joseph did for him, it’s not that surprising. Does it seem odd that Joseph doesn’t really believe that his father is alive? I suppose that, when you consider the kind of betrayal he experienced, he has no reason to believe anything his brothers say. In fact, that seems to be behind a lot of how he’s been treating them!

Joseph cares deeply for his father and his natural brother. Jacob cares deeply for his sons from Rachael. But what about all the other relationships here? If there was a little more consideration, understanding, and love, perhaps none of this would have happened! But God in his sovereignty knew and used all of this. And that’s the amazing thing about God!

Thought for the day: We’ve already seen some of God’s commands concerning family. Are we taking them to heart?

Ephesians 6:4 (WEB) “You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Genesis 44

One final test. Would they defend the youngest, their father’s favorite? It’s also possible that this was a ploy so that Joseph could keep Benjamin with him to ensure his safety. Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin, because he feels that losing him would bring their father to an early grave.

Thought for the day: What would you do for your family?

Ephesians 6:1-3 (WEB) “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honour your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with a promise: ‘that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.’ ”

1 Timothy 5:8 (WEB) “Also command these things, that they may be without reproach. But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Genesis 43

As the famine continues, the need for food is great. Dare they go back to Egypt and bring Benjamin?

Judah has matured. He goes from urging that his brother be sold (37:26-27) and sleeping with his daughter-in-law (38:24-26), to personally guaranteeing the safety of Benjamin.

Genesis 43:8-9 (WEB) “Judah said to Israel, his father, ‘Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones. I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever…’ “

Joseph has matured. We get a sense that he recognizes God’s hand at work, and it seems that he’s no longer as full of himself as he was. He shows care, concern, and generosity towards his brothers.

Genesis 43:23 (WEB) “He said, ‘Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money.’ He brought Simeon out to them.”

We should mature! We’re called to grow as believers and become more like Christ.

Thought for the day: Can you trace growth in your character and maturity since you’ve become a believer?

1 Corinthians 13:11 (WEB) “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.”

Genesis 42

Why does Joseph act the way he does? Recognition. Shock. Concern. Revenge? I think we can take him at his word. This is all a test. He may be conflicted, but he does care. He won’t take their money, and he wants to make sure that Benjamin is actually okay. After all, they hated him because of their jealousy and almost killed him over it! And Benjamin is very special to Jacob too.

Genesis 42:38 (WEB) “He said, ‘My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along the way in which you go, then you will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to Sheol.’ ”

There is another key verse that lets us know that more is going on than meets the eye.

Genesis 42:9 (WEB) “Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamt about them…”

Joseph now understands that everything that happened, both good and bad from his perspective, had a reason and a purpose. He’s exactly where he was supposed to be! Be that as it may, he still wants to make sure that his brother is alive.

Thought for the day: God is at work to accomplish His purposes. And we can trust Him to do that in our own lives too!

Romans 8:28 (WEB) “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.”