EVANGELICAL BIBLE COLLEGE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
COMMENTARY
JOSEPH
GENESIS 37 - 50
by
DR JOHN McEWAN
[BOOK 31-4]
Revised June 2011
EVANGELICAL BIBLE COLLEGE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
Professor Simon Greenleaf was one of the most eminent lawyers of all time. His “Laws of Evidence” for many years
were accepted by all States in the United States as the standard methodology for evaluating cases. He was teaching
Law at a university in the United States when one of his students asked Professor Greenleaf if he would apply his “Laws
of Evidence” to evaluate an historical figure. When Greenleaf agreed to the project he asked the student who was to be
the subject of the review. The student replied that the person to be examined would be Jesus Christ. Professor
Greenleaf agreed to undertake the examination of Jesus Christ and as a result, when he had finished the review, Simon
Greenleaf personally accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour.
Professor Greenleaf then sent an open letter to all jurists in the United States saying in part “I personally have
investigated one called Jesus Christ. I have found the evidence concerning him to be historically accurate. I have also
discovered that Jesus Christ is more than a human being, he is either God or nothing and having examined the evidence
it is impossible to conclude other than he is God. Having concluded that he is God I have accepted him as my personal
Saviour. I urge all members of the legal profession to use the “Laws of Evidence” to investigate the person of the Lord
Jesus Christ and if you find that he is wrong expose him as a faker but if not consider him as your Saviour and Lord”.
HOW CAN I BE SAVED?
Salvation is available for all members of the human race.
Salvation is the most important undertaking in all of God's universe. The salvation of sinners is never on the basis of
God's merely passing over or closing His eyes to sin. God saves sinners on a completely righteous basis consistent with
the divine holiness of His character. This is called grace. It relies on God so man cannot work for salvation neither can
he deserve it. We need to realise that the creation of this vast unmeasured universe was far less an undertaking than the
working out of God's plan to save sinners.
However the acceptance of God's salvation by the sinner is the most simple thing in all of life. One need not be rich, nor
wise, nor educated. Age is no barrier nor the colour of one's skin. The reception of the enormous benefits of God's
redemption is based upon the simplest of terms so that there is no one in all this wide universe who need be turned
away.
How do I become a Christian?
There is but one simple step divided into three parts. First of all I have to recognise that I am a sinner (Romans 3:23;
6:23; Ezekiel 18:4; John 5:24).
Secondly, realising that if I want a relationship with Almighty God who is perfect, and recognising that I am not perfect, I
need to look to the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Saviour (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 2:24; lsaiah 53:6; John 3:16).
Thirdly, by the exercise of my free will I personally receive the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, believing that He died
personally for me and that He is what He claims to be in an individual, personal and living way (John 1:12; 3:36; Acts
16:31; 4:12).
The results of Salvation
The results of this are unbelievably wonderful:
My sins are taken away (John 1:29),
I possess eternal life now (1 John 5:11,12),
I become a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17),
The Holy Spirit takes up His residence in my life (1 Corinthians 6:19),
And I will never perish (John 10:28-30).
This truthfully is life's greatest transaction. This is the goal of all people; this is the ultimate of our existence. We invite
and exhort any reader who has not become a Christian by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ to follow these simple
instructions and be born again eternally into God's family (Matthew 11:28; John 1:12; Acts 4:12; 16:31).
© Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia 2004 - PO Box 163 Armadale Western Australia 6992
Many other Christian resources are available freely from our internet web site: www.ebcwa.org.au and
www.newstartbibleministries.org.au for weekly messages.
For further information contact Dr Peter Moses at PO Box 163 Armadale WA 6992 or email Brian Huggett
brianhuggett@bigpond.com.au
We encourage you to freely copy and distribute these materials to your Pastor and friends. You only, need written
permission from EBCWA if you intend using the materials in publications for resale. We encourage wide distribution
freely!
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EVANGELICAL BIBLE COLLEGE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
3
CHAPTER
37
6
CHAPTER
38
20
CHAPTER
39
27
CHAPTER
40
37
CHAPTER
41
44
CHAPTER
42
60
CHAPTER
43
73
CHAPTER
44
83
CHAPTER
45
92
CHAPTER
46
104
CHAPTER
47
116
CHAPTER
48
125
CHAPTER
49
134
CHAPTER
50
154
DOCTRINE INDEX
159
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INTRODUCTION
As we start this chapter, please pause here and read the following verses. Proverbs 23:7, Galatians 5:16-23. In this
chapter we have a person who is failing on a regular basis, because their daily walk through this world is dominated by
their Old Sin Nature weaknesses, rather than the guiding power of the Holy Spirit. Judah thinks of sex all the time, and
takes opportunities for it when-ever he finds them. As he thinks, so he has become. He is just like his father and grandfather before him; dominated by his Old Sin Nature, rather than regularly controlled by God’s Holy Spirit.
As Isaac had left Jacob and Esau to bring themselves up, so Jacob also had failed to be a good father and role model to
his sons. His lack of control over the family led to great problems amongst the brothers, but his lack of sexual self control
produced a harvest of evil in the life of Judah. Moses tells this sordid story to illustrate the dangers of sexual sins and the
level to which good men fall if they fail to follow through in obedience to God’s prohibitions, and if they fail to walk in daily
fellowship with the Lord through prayer.
Let us recap the story of Jacob so far. Jacob was very cunning in Haran, and Moses records in chapter 31, that and by
selective breeding he was able to legally become rich in cattle, goats, and sheep. Although Jacob was a tricky character,
he was looked after by God as he has been saved by grace through faith, and like ourselves, he received God’s love
without earning it. Jacob is the reminder to us, that not all believers are nice people, nor are they straight in their
business dealings; Jacob was not a man you would want to do business with unless you wanted to be taken advantage
of!
In chapters 32 and 33 Moses records how he meets Esau again, who even though an unbeliever, is a far nicer and
apparently nobler character than his believing brother. Jacob however prays a great prayer in Genesis 32:9-12, and
came back to the Lord under the threat of death. Jacob does become spiritual but only at times, and so the great majority
of his early life (the first 100 years!) is an unfolding disaster of carnality. The times he repents and builds an altar are
times of rich blessing, and in these times he gives enough doctrine to his sons that they are bound to learn a little, and
this is what will lead them to the place where Joseph can deliver them all.
Chapter 34 is a very sad and sordid section in the history of the patriarchs. Jacob is not only polygamous but also has
failed to warn his children against the sexual immorality of the pagans amongst whom they live. This failure to warn
against sin comes back to haunt him in what happens to his children. Firstly his daughter Dinah goes off with the local
girls and is seduced by one of the princes of Shechem. It is clear from the Hebrew that she was seduced rather than
raped. The sons take a terrible vengeance on the men of Shechem by taking the law into their own hands and killing
every man in Shechem. Jacob has no control over them at the point where he should have exercised leadership, which
is a terrible indictment on how far he has slipped from the proper standards.
In verse 1 of chapter 35, Moses records that God says to Jacob to come back to Bethel and dwell with Him in spiritual
fellowship again. This is the same place that he saw the vision of Jacob's ladder. Jacob was like what some today call “a
crisis Christian”, who keeps on living like a pagan until they have a crisis in their life. Some Christians have to have a
catastrophe in their lives before they seek God's face. Jacob is like this, and so the Lord God orders him to build an altar;
this is the Lord’s command to get back into fellowship and deal with his sins. 2 Corinthians 13:5 - examine yourself, 1
John 1:9 – confess your sins, Hebrews 12:1 – 3 - walk with the Lord and look to Him alone for guidance in all things.
The spiritual vacuum that Jacob has left in the family has been filled by false religion, and Jacob now sees that he has to
do something about it. He tells the entire household to clean out the strange gods from their bed rooms and clean their
garments. Remember, as we saw in this section, and as we see around us in the world, if the parents do not set the
example of godliness the children will pick up ungodliness from the people they come into contact with. The sons of
Jacob gave him the gods and ear rings. Ear rings were involved with paganism and worship of the pagan gods. They
changed their clothes, sacrifices and prayers were offered at the altar, and they had a family revival. [ chapter 35, verse
4]
A revival occurs when a believer deals with sin in their life under the authority of God, and so cleans up their family
witness. The blessing of God on Jacob is shown by a new name, Israel which means “prince of God” or “God will rule”.
God sees how we will be under the power of the Holy Spirit, and deals with him according to his potential, rather than
according to his sins. He treats us all the same way; we are dealt with in grace, which we should be very thankful for.
God deals with us by giving us the things that will enable us to walk before him.
In Chapter 35 verses 11-13, Moses recorded that God tells him that he is a true physical and spiritual descendant of
Abraham, and will inherit the promise to Abraham. We have noted above that for the rest of the Bible he is either called
Jacob or Israel.
When he is called Jacob it is a clue that he is under the control of his Old Sin Nature whilst when he is under the power
of the Holy Spirit he is called Israel. The choice is ours, exactly as it was Jacob’s, every moment of every day we decide
which way we will go through this world, as we deal with, or fail to deal with, the tendency to sin in our life. We will
illustrate in our own life, just as Jacob did, what God’s rulership will do with us, or what the Old Sin Nature’s control will
create. Refer to the BTB study of SIN – OLD SIN NATURE.
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The weakness in Jacob is seen in verses 21-22 of Genesis 35, in the fact that he was over indulgent with his family, and
played favorites, especially Joseph, but he also fails to take actions against clear examples of sinfulness in his family.
Jacob has a concubine Bilhah, and Reuben goes in and has sexual relations with her. He is following his father, and old
Jacob knows it. For years the boys have seen their father go into his four “wives” and have sex with them, and so there is
no surprise that some of them centre their lives around sex also. Jacob does nothing about this evil as he is weak when it
comes to facing the truth about his boy’s behaviours.
However the story reminds us, that the Lord can overcome our weaknesses, as long as our heart desires it. Moses wants
us to get the message strongly, that as pastors of the Lord’s Flock, we should encourage our people to deal with sin.
Jacob fails to do this and as a result he was afflicted with sadness which very few others experience, the sadness of
losing a son, in his case Joseph. All the judgment that comes upon him comes because he fails as a father and fails to
live as a godly man ought to live. He ought to die under extreme discipline but God’s grace keeps him, just as we are
kept! To save people from misery, we as pastors must minister the Word of Truth, and announce the Lord’s policy clearly
and his warnings against sin strongly. Refer to the BTB study, SIN - ADULTERY
JOSEPH AND THE JEALOUSY OF HIS BROTHERS
Chapter 37 begins the story of Joseph, and Moses immediately identifies the key element of the story; Jacob’s
favouritism and his visible demonstration of it through the gift of the coat of many colours. This was not just a coat of
many colours; it was a coloured long sleeved coat. In the ancient world most people did not have a wardrobe, they
mainly had just one set of clothes and they wore them until they rotted off their back. If you were wealthy you had more
than one set of clothes! While your clothes rotted away in use, you desperately tried to save for a new set of clothes.
To be given a set of clothes, especially coloured dyed ones, was to be given something of great value. In the Arab world
even today a person's status in a tribe, and what tribe he belongs to, can be gauged from the traditional clothing he
wears and the particular colour and pattern of the cloth.
The important thing about Joseph's coat was that it had long sleeves. This was a sign that he had been placed in charge
of the others! This sort of cloak has come down in the university today, where an undergraduate gown has no sleeves, a
bachelors degree has sleeves which are short. If you get a master's degree you get a long sleeved gown. A doctoral
gown has bright colours in panels on the front
By giving him a long sleeved coloured coat it meant that Joseph had been put in charge of his older brothers and this
caused envy, bitterness, hatred and jealousy. Once again Jacob fails tin leadership; he simply gives the coat without
explanation or direction to the others; they simply one day see Joseph wearing the coat that means he is in charge of
them! As Moses will also make clear here in this chapter, the reason for giving the coat wasn’t the right one (ie Joseph’s
leadership ability) it was sheer favouritism without reference to Joseph’s character and abilities!
Jacob had recognized the truth, in the sense that Joseph was the only one with intellectual powers and spiritual
character, but he didn’t act because of this, he just acted because he loved Joseph more than the others. He was wrong
in all his actions here, but especially about the way he went about giving the coat to Joseph, because he showed blatant
favouritism for his younger son without explanation, causing animosity in his elder sons.
Favouritism in the family is always the cause of bitterness and it can be fatal. All your children must be your favourite,
even those who drive you crazy, and this means that all feel loved, and all are corrected when they go wrong. While
Joseph was the only really natural and spiritual leader in the family, the way he was given leadership made it virtually
impossible for him to lead the family.
Moses explains the path that leads to disaster, and yet also to deliverance. God will bring good out of evil, and salvation
out of slavery. In this chapter we will see that Joseph has a dream that indicated that he had been set above his father
and his brothers, and he foolishly tells them in a self important manner, and they did not like to hear this. He was quite
right to share the Word of God with them, but was arrogant himself at this point, and not too considerate as to the effect
of his words.
Joseph tells them about the dream and everyone gets angry. Envy gets hold of his brothers. Envy, like all other mental
attitude sins, will destroy a man, family and church very quickly. As a man thinks in his heart so he is - Proverbs 23:7 evil begins in the mind and God hates the mental attitude sins, for they lead to all others. Proverbs 6:16-19. Refer to the
BTB study SINS – ABOMINABLE SINS TO THE LORD, JEALOUSY.
The brothers are out with the flocks and Jacob sends Joseph out to report on their activities. Joseph is his father’s “eyes
and ears”, as he alone is fully honest of the boys, Jacob suspects the others are siphoning off money for themselves, just
as he did with Laban. In this Jacob is right; his sons are as tricky as he was! Joseph goes to where they were supposed
to be and does not find them, as they have gone to Dotham, which was a place of two wells, a bigger place, far less hard
work and better social fun, and the place to work their deals. His brothers are running away from work and responsibility
and they will not be happy when their “tell all” brother arrives, especially when they see him wearing his cloak of authority
over them.
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When they saw Joseph a long way off they recognized him by his long coloured coat and said, “here comes that
dreamer”, and in their Old Sin Nature anger and jealousy, planned to kill him. Envy and hatred will always come out in
greater evils. Reuben, the fornicator, is like the others, a believer but clearly less far out of fellowship at this point, and
knows that it is evil that they plan, and says, let us not kill him but throw him into the pit. His intention was to buy time,
but you don’t ever buy time with evil, only open up greater possibilities for harm.
Reuben lacked the courage to say that the thing they were doing was evil. He had been compromised by his own sin.
Reuben could well be called a hypocrite by his brothers. From this example there are many lessons for believers as to
what they should not allow to happen in their lives. Reuben has good motives but does not have the character to follow it
right through. His past sin has meant he has limited moral authority over the others, even though he is the oldest.
The hated symbol of favouritism and rulership, Joseph's coat, is taken off him straight away and they threw him into a
well with no water in it. The fact that he was thrown into this deep hole by a group of angry men and did not get any
bones broken is the first miracle of God looking after him.
If you are a victim of evil you can always claim the protection of the Lord. God always looks after you. The brothers had
lunch from the things Joseph had brought, and looked up and there was a band of Ishmaelites coming along en route for
Egypt. Judah suggests that they sell Joseph. We will note his logic here, “as he is our brother we should not kill him”, but
slavery is ok!. What a perverted viewpoint!. They sell him for 20 pieces of silver. This tells us that Joseph has become a
bond slave; unable to make himself free again. He is totally powerless, and it is in this state that he will undergo God’s
educational program in jail in Egypt, and he will graduate to become second ruler of the greatest nation of his day.
The Ishmaelites were their cousins and wild unbelievers but the action of believers such as Reuben and Judah are
equally bad to these unbelievers, and so will be the actions of all believers when they are away from God. This evil act
will cause them to be delivered in the future; God will however turn their evil to good. Romans 8:28. When Reuben finds
Joseph gone, and it being too late to rescue him from the pit or the Ishmaelites, a plan is hatched to explain his
disappearance to Jacob. A goat is killed and the blood is daubed on the coat to make it look as if he has been killed by a
lion.
Had Reuben wanted to be moral and righteous he would have put his money on the line and gone and bought Joseph
back, but he too is covering his sins of jealousy and hatred towards his own brother. They all then bring the coat to the
father to tell him that Joseph is clearly dead. This is a shocking act that nearly kills the father with grief. However Jacob is
suffering for his own sin, as is Isaac, who is still alive at this time.
The Ishmaelites sold Joseph to Potiphar, the officer in charge of the royal guard. Joseph is going to learn Romans 8:28
the hard way. The issue for all believers caught in such places of powerlessness is to learn that God is still sovereign,
and it is to ensure that you are walking through the power of the Holy Spirit, even if you feel you are being tested above
the level you can handle. 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5, 1 Peter 5:7-9, 2 Peter 2:9. Joseph is going to have
to go to jail before he has learnt these things properly. Romans 15:1-15. These are lessons that all who would serve the
Lord in advanced and important places need to learn. Refer to the BTB study, CHRISTIAN LIFE – MATURITY,
MATURITY-CROSS TO CROWN, SIGNS OF MATURITY, WALKING.
God can be trusted and He is in control of our lives. No matter what was happening in our life the Lord knew about it in
eternity past and had a plan for it, and is going to work it through. Our job is to walk with Him, in His Holy Spirit power,
and honour Him in all we do and say. If you are in the pit you put your hand in the hand of the man who died on the
Cross for you and acknowledge that He is in control of your life. If you are in a pit today, then you say to the Lord, “When
you are ready to pull me out of the pit it is up to you, but until then I will worship and serve you here in prayer and Bible
study”. Do you want to be like Joseph or like Jacob? Do you want to walk in the lusts of the Old Sin Nature or in the
power of the Holy Spirit, as per Galatians 5:18-23? Refer to the BTB studies, GOD – PLAN OF GOD, JACOB, JOSEPH.
NOTES
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CHAPTER 37
GENESIS 37:1-36
1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the
generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad
was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father
their evil report. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age:
and he made him a coat of many colours. 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all
his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he
told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream
which I have dreamed: 7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also
stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his
brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they
hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his
brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven
stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and
said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come
to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the
saying. 12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do
not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and
bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a certain man
found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? 16
And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. 17 And the man said, They are
departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them
in Dothan. 18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him
to slay him. 19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. 20 Come now therefore, and let us
slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what
will become of his dreams. 21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us
not kill him. 22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness,
and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. 23 And it
came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of
many colours that was on him; 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was
no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a
company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry
it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his
blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother
and our flesh. And his brethren were content. 28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew
and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they
brought Joseph into Egypt. 29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he
rent his clothes. 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? 31
And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; 32 And they sent
the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it
be thy son's coat or no. 33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him;
Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. 34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and
mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he
refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father
wept for him. 36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of
the guard.”
REFLECTION
Verses 1-4.
Joseph is now seventeen. He is out in the fields learning the role of the shepherd from his older
brothers. Moses identifies the camp he is in; it is the camp of the concubine’s children. Apparently the flocks and herds
are divided, and Joseph is placed with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, rather than the sons of Leah. Once again Moses
just gives us a glimpse of the division and distress between the boys of this household, but especially towards the sons
of Rachel. The conflict between the women has gone to the children.
Joseph is honest, if a little foolish in his dealings, but he is young and can be excused for this. Moses gives us his age
deliberately, to assist us in dating the event, but more to identify that these events occur while Joseph is beneath the age
of accountability, as the Lord set it for the Exodus generation; at twenty years of age. This was the age when active
military service began and when spiritual accountability was the issue for each person, and they were judged for
rebellion. Exodus 30:14, 38:26, Numbers 1:1ff, 26:1-2, 32:11-15. Those below this age were still seen as “learners” and
were not to be judged harshly, nor was too much to be expected of them.
Moses makes it also clear that Jacob’s gift of the coloured long sleeved coat to Joseph was not for the right reasons. It
was not a recognition of his abilities, his honesty towards his father’s flocks, but simply because he loved him more than
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the others! It was sheer favouritism. It was an action almost designed to produce hatred and envy on the part of the
others, for it gave them the message that they were as nothing in his eyes.
Jacob’s weakness was that he was self centred; he failed to appreciate the significance of his actions upon others in his
family. He saw only his own perspective, never that of others. The great sadness of this, is that he did not see God’s
viewpoint most of the time, and only great sadness will teach him to look upwards. The Lord is patient with us, and he is
very patient with Jacob, but if we fail to learn by direct means the Lord will teach us the vital lessons for his service
through suffering. Refer to the BTB study on CHRISTIAN LIFE – DISCIPLINE OF BELIEVERS, SUFFERING.
Verses 4- 5.
Joseph appears to be oblivious to the hatred of the others towards him, and gets the silent treatment,
or openly angry words. His father does not act to protect him, nor warn him, nor deal with the hatred of the others. Jacob
believes that it will all work out in the end and he relaxes and ignores all the problems that ought to be faced directly.
Joseph reports to his father about the older boys business dealings and the report is unfavourable. It would appear that
the older boys are guilty of the same sort of tricky dealings that Jacob himself had practiced.
Rather than warn his son Joseph about what his report means for his safety and security, Jacob simply sends him out
again into the fields, but this time with the sign of his father’s love upon his shoulders. It would not have been wise on
Jacob’s part to reward his son for his “spying” work in such a way, but it is even less wise to simply send him out with a
mark of favouritism upon him. To add to this coat, Joseph receives a dream from the Lord, and he tells them all about it
in a way that is not designed to “win friends and influence people”. Hatred of this sort is however very hard to deal with
by the one who is hated; all he can do is cast himself upon the Lord. It is this that Joseph must learn to do. Sadly at this
point he is as self centred and narcissistic as his father. Psalms 38:19, 69:4, John 15:18-21. Refer to the BTB study of
CHRIST – TYPES – JOSEPH AS A TYPE OF CHRIST.
Verses 6 – 8.
It was not only the dreams that Joseph dreamed that made him hated, it was his words also, that may
have been arrogant, or at least came across that way. Moses has told us his age that we might not be too critical of him,
and that is to be remembered as we go through this study. Joseph makes some miscalculations here but he should be
safe, for his father ought to have been his mentor, and his brothers ought to have taken him in hand and taught him also.
All the older men fail Joseph and so he tells them what he sees and speculates about their possible meaning. Once he
has told this first dream the oldest man ought to have called a prayer meeting at the family altar, and laid this all before
the Lord, as it is a warning for them all.
When the Lord breaks into a situation with a prophetic word or dream, it is not normally a reason to leap about for joy; it
is a warning! If the Lord has ordinary things to say, then he speaks into our hearts in ordinary ways through the Word and
the Spirit. If there is a prophetic word or dream however, then a crisis of some sort is coming and prayerfulness is the
order of the day! No-one in the camp sees the importance of Joseph’s dream revelation here and none sit up and ask
what is going to happen. A great famine is coming, and while it is still far off, the Lord is speaking into this family, but only
Joseph is listening, and he can’t understand without help. Jacob fails his son yet again. Refer to the BTB study of
REVELATION, PROPHECY.
Verses 9 – 11. Just in case you think I am being a little harsh upon Jacob, Moses makes it clear to us regarding the
second dream that he specifically tells Jacob this dream, and the indication is that he has heard about the first one also.
Joseph speaks with youthful enthusiasm, and is impressed that the dream may mean that he will rule over them all, but
even though he has said this aloud (not wise – it’s possible meaning ought to have been discussed with his father alone
in private), the oldest man has the responsibility to correct, instruct, or lead his son.
The two dreams may now be compared and their true meaning seen. The first is agricultural and speaks of the harvest in
the fields. What is going to happen is going to happen to the food in the fields, and the rulership of Joseph centres in his
rulership over the fields; he controls the harvest, he rules over the fields and all the other brothers must bow to his
leadership for their food.
The second dream involves both his father and mother (sun and moon) and his eleven brothers (11 stars), and all bow to
his star. The stars were the acknowledged symbol of rulership, but even more of destiny in the plan of God. This
meaning is clearly seen by Jacob. He does know what this means, but is offended at Joseph, as if he is an upstart and
has invented the dream. James 3:14-18, 4:6-8.
The two witnesses (dreams) have come unbidden by Joseph, and he has told their contents without any guile. It is his
father’s place to interpret them as the priest of the family, not rebuke his son for having a dream he couldn’t control.
Notice Jacob’s attitude. As his father he rebukes Joseph, but then thought about the dream, knew it was significant, but
still took no action. There are two types of sin; acts of commission and acts of omission. Jacob fails to act, where action
was required, and his sin will lead to disaster, and yet also to deliverance for them all. Just as shipwreck for the apostle
Paul leads to the Gospel message arriving in Malta, Acts 27:23-26, 28:1-11, just so, the slavery of Joseph leads to the
deliverance for his entire extended family. God will work all things together for good to all those who love Him and are
called according to his purposes for their life, even when they mess things up.
Verses 12 – 14.
Joseph is sent out to spy on the other boys at Shechem. They are grazing stock where they
once murdered all the men. It is not a good place with good associations for these boys and they will think of murder
again before the sun sets on Joseph’s arrival further down the road at Dothan. Joseph is sent out by Israel to check on
the others, and this is a very unwise thing, but old Israel ignores facts and hopes all will be well over time. Many believers
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fall into Israel’s sinful and stupid behaviour pattern; they believe all will work out and God will look after them and those of
value to them.
I have seen believing parents leave their precious children with adults they do not fully know! I have seen parents of
children let them wander off with unbelievers and wonder why God let them down when their children were abused! God
expects us to exercise control over our children and give guidance and leadership, not practice the denial that Israel
does. Note that Moses does however call him Israel here, not Jacob, and that is an indication that he is operating in the
plan of God, but it will bring great pain to Jacob in the years to follow. As he waves goodbye to his beloved son he does
not know that he will not see him again for many years.
Verses 15 – 17.
Joseph arrives at the area of Shechem, and it is a deserted place; no sign of flocks, herds or
his brothers. It is an eerie place after the massacre and so he will be perplexed as he rides about trying to find any sign
of where the brothers may have gone. A man finds him in the fields and ask him who he is looking for. This man has
been in the vicinity for a while and has clearly been a part of the camp of the brothers, for he has overheard their
discussion and their intended destination.
Pause and reflect upon this, for the security of flocks and herds depended on their movements and intentions being
secret. The brothers are careless, in that this stranger knows their business, and that they are heading for Dothan. Their
reasons are not related to the availability of fodder, for this other man is still there feeding his flock or herd, but Dothan
has the night life!
Shechem is a ghost town after their murders there, so they seek a more pleasant place away from ghosts they would
rather not face. They are not focused upon their charge from Israel, but upon feeling good and being away from
reminders of their sin. Perhaps Israel sent them there to remind them of their sin and make them more amenable to their
brother? Joseph heads for Dothan and a date with destiny.
Verses 18 – 22.
To be conspired against is not a bad sign, for it has happened to our Lord himself, so the
hatred of the brothers for Joseph does not reflect upon him, but rather upon them. John 15:18-21. David also was hated
and conspired against by evil men at many times. Notice the attacks upon David and his confidence in the Lord, for this
is the confidence that Joseph needs to learn. Psalms 31:11-16, 37:12-17, 94:21-23, 109:1-7. Joseph will learn, as David
did many years later, that hatred can be turned to blessing in the Lord’s economy.
Their plans call for his murder and they plan to do it straight away. The real danger is immediate and must be stopped,
and Reuben plays for time by urging that they do no murder, but just thrown him in a pit and wait. This is a deliverance
for Joseph but still it is a foolish thing, for how will they explain any of this to their father? Murderous thoughts lack logic
and so playing for time he hopes will be useful, as Reuben hopes they will come to their senses, but their hatred runs
deeper than even he realizes. His plan is to deliver him back to their father and then try to get Jacob to deal with the
problems his inaction has created.
Verses 23 – 25.
Joseph rides into their camp without realizing the discussion that has been just held. He lands
on the ground amongst them and is immediately set upon, stripped of his coat, that hated badge of their subjection to
him, and cast into a cistern, or dry well. As he sits there baffled and shocked and bruised, they calmly have lunch.
Proverbs 30:20. This calmness after great evil is the sign that their hearts are hardened against Joseph, and the Lord will
send famine to them for many years to soften their hearts and their stomachs!
As they are eating they see a band of Ishmaelites coming on a caravan of camels heading for Egypt with spices to sell
there. Judah develops a quick plan to get rid of Joseph without killing him and also making a bit of pocket money to
spend at the same time. Reuben must not have been with them at this time, for he is not in on this plot, and perhaps they
move quickly to thwart Reuben’s plan to rescue Joseph. Where was Reuben? We are not told, but given they have
responsibility over many herds, he may have been urgently called away to deal with a problem, for he arrives back too
late to deliver Joseph from the cistern later that night as he had planned to. Refer to the BTB study HEART.
Verses 26 – 30.
Judah will later be formally made the leader of the brothers in replacement of Reuben.
Genesis 49:8-12. At this point however, he is still filled with Old Sin Nature anger and resentment against young Joseph.
He may be trying to save them all from more murders, but his suggestion indicates that he himself still wants rid of
Joseph. It is also a reminder that some of the others are still “killing mad” at this point, and only Judah’s suggestion
saves Joseph’s life.
As they eat their lunch the discussion is clearly a violent one towards Joseph, and they are only pacified by the money
they can make by selling him. It is money that will used again to buy their lunch from Joseph later, and it will be hidden
money that will cause them pain later. The Lord ensures that the wheel turns full circle on these men and they pay back
in full the price of their unfaced sins at this point. None take spiritual leadership in this situation and call for godliness.
The Ishmaelites are from the land of Midian, and so Moses, who will spend many years there himself mentions that fact.
The “money” is not stamped money as we know it, but weighed pieces of either silver or gold. Stamped Coinage would
only begin in the West with King Croessus of Lydia in the 7 th century BC. The price for Joseph is twenty pieces of silver.
Just as the Lord will later be sold for thirty pieces of Silver. Zechariah 11:12-13, Matthew 26:15, 27:9.
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Reuben returns from his errand somewhere out amongst the flocks and discovers that Joseph is gone and his comment
indicates that he has disclosed his plan to at least one of the others, for aloud he exclaims, “where will I go?”, or in other
words, “what will become of me”. His comment tells us that old Israel may have placed Joseph’s safety under Reuben’s
care; possibly another reason why he will lose permanently the leadership of the clan. He takes the loss of Joseph very
personally, but yet he makes no move to head away and buy him back! Rather, he joins with the others in their plan and
assists them in covering Joseph’s disappearance.
Verses 31 – 36.
The plan they hatch looks good on the surface, for no-one was set free from their status as a
bond slave, unless they did an exceptional feat of service. They have Joseph’s dreams as their clue that this is exactly
the sort of thing they ought to expect from Joseph, but they have already hardened their hearts against believing he is
special in any way.
They do not see what God is doing in their midst, because they do not want their life style and life pattern disturbed. This
sinful mental attitude hinders God’s people in every generation still. We hinder and quench the work of the Holy Spirit
within our own lives by our pre-occupation with the things of this life rather than the things of eternity. God calls us to be
looking for his intervention in history, not to live as if the Lord does not care for us. Acts 1:7-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-24.
They pretend that Joseph has been killed in the fields by a lion or bear. This was a possibility in this day, as both Asiatic
lions and bears still roamed these hills and would for several centuries later. They claim that they don’t know that this is
Joseph’s coat, nor what has happened to them, leaving their father to jump to the wrong conclusion and so ask them no
questions. Jacob does conclude that his son has been torn to pieces by some wild beast. He mourns for him for many
days in deepest sorrow and regret.
Grief is always complicated by guilt and regret, and so it will be with Jacob, and likely with Isaac also. The sons and
daughters of Jacob try to comfort him but he refuses to stop his mourning process. He has not been a present and active
father to his children, and now he becomes more introverted and isolated in his grief. As the family in Canaan are
isolated in their deceit and grief, God’s plan continues for Joseph and Moses ends this section by noting that the
Midianites sold Joseph to an officer of the Egyptian Royal Guard.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
Spiritual vacuum’s will always be filled with something. Jacob fails to educate his sons in righteousness and so
they grow up used to living in their Old Sin Nature’s power. We have a daily choice also, to walk in the Holy
Spirit’s power and God’s Truth, or to follow our Old Sin Nature area of weakness.
2.
Favouritism in any family or church will lead to disaster for that place. It will always lead to further mental
attitude sins, and envy and jealousy are the fast track to murder! If we do not examine ourselves for hidden sins,
and deal with those we discover, we will fall into greater evil over time. The sons of Jacob failed to grow
spiritually, for they didn’t care to; they preferred their pleasant pastoral lives and the pleasures of the world.
They failed to see what God was doing through their family and so they missed the blessing that they could
have had as inheritors of the Abrahamic promises. They were in the line of Abraham but failed to live like him,
or even expect the Lord to speak with them as he had to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They had the dreams of
Joseph to warn them that something special was happening but they chose not to believe or pay heed to it.
3.
It is the senior men’s solemn responsibility before the Lord to take spiritual leadership in situations that demand
it. All the older men fail Joseph here, for none state the moral principles and none are prepared to put their live
son on the line for their brother. Jacob has failed to protect his son, who he still uses to spy on the others rather
than directly rebuke them himself for their crookedness.
4.
Joseph is still in the Lord’s hands and the plan of God for him will work out to the blessing of them all. Moses
tells us the story knowing the end point and he wants us to remember that God knows the end point of our own
life story, and that we are in God’s hands, not the hands of those who hate us.
DOCTRINES
CHRIST TYPES: JOSEPH AS A TYPE OF CHRIST
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CHRIST
1. Feeding the flock (Genesis 37:2)
The Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
2. Loved (by his father) (Genesis 37:3)
My beloved Son (Matthew 3:17)
3. Hated (by his brethren) (Genesis 37:4, 5)
Hated without a cause (John 15:25)
4. Not believed (Genesis 37:5)
Neither did his brethren believe in him (John 7:5)
5. Obeisance (Genesis 37:7, 9)
In all things the pre-eminence (Colossians 1:18)
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6. Envied (Genesis 37:11)
Delivered for envy (Mark 15:10)
7. Sent to his brethren (Genesis 37-13)
I will send my beloved Son (Luke 20:13)
8. He came to Shechem (Genesis 37:14)
To a city of Samaria called Sychar (or Shechem) (John 4:4-5)
9. I seek my brethren (Genesis 37:16)
Come to seek and to save (Luke 19:10)
10. They conspired against him (Genesis 37: 8)
Took counsel against him (Matthew 27:1, John 11:53)
11. Stripped (Genesis 37-.23)
They stripped him (Matthew 27:28)
12. The pit (Genesis 37:24)
The horrible pit (Psalm 40:2, 69:2, 14,15)
13. They sat down (Genesis 37:25)
Sitting down they watched him there (Matthew 27:36)
14. Twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28)
Thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15, 27:9, Exodus 21:32)
15. Into Egypt (Genesis 37-36)
Out of Egypt have I called my Son. (Matthew 2:14, 15)
16. The Lord with Joseph (Genesis 39:2, 21, 23)
The Father is with Me (John 16:32)
17. All put into his hand (Genesis 39:3)
Hath given all things into His hand. (John 3:35)
18. Blessed for Joseph's sake (Genesis 39:5)
Blessed in Christ (Ephesians 1:3, 4:32)
19. A goodly person (Genesis 39:6)
Altogether lovely (Song of Solomon 5:16)
20. Whose feet they hurt (Psalm 105:18, 19)
They pierced my hands and my feet (Psalm 22:16)
21. Two officers in jail with Joseph (Genesis 40:2-3)
There were also two other malefactors. (Luke 23:32)
22. He served them (Genesis 40:4)
I am among you as He that serveth (Luke 22:27)
23. Think on me (Genesis 40:14)
This do in remembrance of me (1 Corinthians 11:24)
24. In whom the Spirit of God is (Genesis 41:38)
Anointed with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38)
25. Over My house (Genesis 41:40)
A Son over His own house, whose house are we (Hebrews 3:6)
26. Bow the knee (Genesis 41:43)
At the name of Jesus every knee should bow (Philippians 2:10)
27. Thirty years old (Genesis 41:46,
About thirty years of age (Luke 3:23)
28. Famine over all the earth (Genesis 41:56, 57)
A mighty famine in that land (Luke 15:14)
29. All countries came to buy (Genesis 41:57)
My salvation unto the end of the earth (Isaiah 49:6)
30. He knew them (Genesis 42:7, 8)
He knew all men (John 2:24, 25)
31. But they knew not him (Genesis 42:8)
His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11)
32. His blood is required (Genesis 42:22)
His blood be on us, and on our children. (Matthew 27:25)
33. He turned away and wept (Genesis 42:24)
He wept over the city (Luke 19:41)
CHRISTIAN LIFE: MATURITY
Categories of Believers
1. Standpoint of Spirituality:
a) Spiritual believer - the Holy Spirit controls the inside of the believer (Romans 8:6b).
b) Carnal believer - the sinful nature controls the inside of the believer (Romans 8:6a).
2. Standpoint of Growth:
a) Baby - one who has just received Christ as Saviour.
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b) Adolescent - one who has learned some doctrine but is not yet in the application state.
c) Mature - one who knows and applies doctrine and spends a maximum amount of time in the filling of the Holy Spirit.
3. Relationship of Maturity and Spirituality:
a) Spirituality is an absolute. The Holy Spirit either controls or He does not. One cannot be a little bit carnal. If he is
carnal he is NOT spiritual.
b) Maturity is speeded up by spirituality, but a baby believer can be either carnal or spiritual, and a mature believer can
be carnal or spiritual.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: MATURITY: CROSS TO THE CROWN
1. Salvation is only the beginning of the plan for man. After salvation the believer's objective is to advance in stages of
spiritual growth on the path from the Cross to the Crown.
2. At each stage the believer faces increasing intense tests that can only be passed by faith. Paul in Romans 1:17 says
believers progress from faith to faith. The five Hebrew words for faith illustrate the five stages of growth described in the
New Testament.
a) The Babe - 1 Peter 2:2 - AMEN - the leaning faith of Genesis 15:6
All believers enter the family of God as infants when they exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. After the tremendous
stress of birth, of coming from darkness into the light the infant's impulse is to nurse. The objective is nourishment but
the baby also receives great comfort in feeding. God's objective for the spiritual infant is for growth, but He commences
this with comfort. Not much is expected of a baby in his first few years, he cannot feed or change himself. Spiritual
infants are just as helpless and need a great deal of nurturing, encouragement and patient encouragement and patient
instruction.
b) The Adolescent - 1 John 2:13-14 - BATACH - the wrestling faith of Psalm 37:3
Adolescents young, strong and eager believers. This is the stage where people have grown to the point at which they
understand some of the principles of truth and are beginning to apply them to their lives. But like most adolescents, they
have the growing pains of arrogance and rebellion against authority; they are sometimes too eager to act on their own,
and this often gets them into trouble. They have knowledge which they mistake for wisdom, but they lack the experience.
Their tendency is to want to apply the truth to other people's lives. Adolescents may be troublesome, but at least they
are not apathetic. They must be patiently trained and encouraged to channel their energies. No one makes it to maturity
without passing through adolescence.
c) The Mature - Hebrews 5:14, 6:1 - CHASAH - the confident faith that takes refuge in the Lord - Psalm 57:1
The mature believer is able to take meat, the advance doctrine of the Word. A believer who has arrived at spiritual
maturity knows enough about the Bible to take responsibility for his own life. He knows how to apply the Word of God to
himself so rather than airing all his problems he knows how to solve them. He is not ready to take on every one else's
problems but he can take control of his own life. He understands that God has a plan for his life and sets about fulfilling
that plan. He gives himself to training and discipline, exercising himself and building spiritual muscle.
d) The Hero of Faith - Isaiah 53:12, Hebrews 11 - YACHAL - the healing faith of Job 13:15
Heroes of faith are men and women who have gone beyond maturity and have learned to fight the good fight. They have
advanced beyond simply taking responsibility for their own lives to becoming responsible for the lives of other people.
They are always willing to pick up fallen comrades, to treat their wounds, to encourage them and supply their needs.
Heroes of the faith still make mistakes, they still fail but they always stand back up and go back into battle.
e) The Friend of God - James 2:23-25 - QAWAH - the enduring faith of Isaiah 40:31
The highest of all possible achievements in life is to become a friend of God. Every believer has the potential and the
assets necessary to reach this point, but very few Christians do. It takes persistency and tenacity. The only people who
make it this far are those who absolutely refuse to quit.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: MATURITY - SIGNS OF MATURITY (ROMANS 15:1-15)
1. Helping others (v 1-3) The mature believer should bear the infirmities of the weak (v 1; cf. Galatians 6:2). Paul
includes himself as a believer of mature strength.
a) A mature believer is characterised by:
i) Knowing doctrine.
ii) Knowing promises.
iii) Spending a maximum amount of time by the filling of the Holy Spirit.
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b) A weak or immature believer may be:
i) A new believer.
ii) An ignorant believer who does not know the Word.
c) A mature believer bears the infirmities of the weak believer by:
i) Giving information about the Word (doctrine, promises, procedures). This may be in private conversation.
ii) Giving advice based on the Word.
iii) Exercising grace; listening to and helping others with problems.
d) The mature believer is not to "please himself" (v 1,2):
i) He is not to feed his ego or brag about helping others. It should never be done for self-glory or selfstimulation, but for God's glory.
ii) Christ as the supreme example (v 3):
He did not please Himself; but as a man He received more pressure than we will ever have. The Old Testament says,
"the reproaches of Israel ('them') that reproached the Father ('Thee') fell on the Son ('Me') on the cross." Paul quotes a
Messianic Psalm (Psalm 69:9). Christ was under maximum pressure when He bore our sins on the cross.
2. Knowledge of the Word of God (v 4)
a) The Old Testament ("things written aforetime") was the only scripture existing at the time Romans was written. The
canon is now completed.
b) the purpose of the Word:
i) Learning - doctrine God wants us to know.
ii) Patience - faith in the long distance race. Believing moment by moment.
iii) Comfort - in trials and difficulties of life.
iv) Hope - for the future. Believers know where they are going.
3. Attitudes (v 5-6)
Believers are to see others from the divine viewpoint and be "like-minded one toward another". Their one purpose in life,
after salvation, is "with one mind and one mouth, glorify God" (v 6). This is only possible from the divine viewpoint.
i) We are all saved by grace. Christ died for us when we were His enemies (Romans 5:8).
ii) We all have the same spiritual privileges and responsibilities (except spiritual gifts).
iii) Every believer has a sinful nature but have different ways of expressing it.
iv) We all get spirituality the same way (filling of the Holy Spirit) and all grow the same way, by the Word.
v) God loves each believer with the same amount of love, whether we are in or out of temporal fellowship.
4. Fellowship as the basis of grace (v 7)
a) Believers are to receive one another as Christ received them.
b) He received them in GRACE to the glory of God.
5. Ability to distinguish between Israel and the Church (v 8-12)
a) Christ was a minister under the Law (v 8).
i) He was born, ministered, died, arose and ascended under the dispensation of the Law.
ii) Therefore all He said (except Matthew 16 and John 14-17) amplified the Mosaic Law, confirmed the four
unconditional covenants to Israel and the future of Israel with Him as their King. Some principles He gave are
re-stated in the Epistles as the Christian way of life.
b) Before the Law was given (v 9) the Abrahamic and Palestinian covenants promised blessing to the Jews, that the
Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy.
c) Paul quotes (Psalm 18:49; Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 117; Isaiah 11:1-10). (Jesus Christ as the root of David and
Jesse, is to reign over the Gentiles too.)
6. Faith that appropriates (v 13)
a) The God of hope is to fill the believer with joy and peace in the sphere of believing. Faith is the means.
b) Faith appropriates salvation, restoration to fellowship, filling of the Holy Spirit, doctrine, promises.
7. Knowing the operation of grace (v 14,15)
a) A mature believer realises all he has is because of God's grace and he operates his life on the basis of grace.
b) Grace is manifested in the believer in:
i) Salvation (Ephesians 2:8,9)
ii) Prayer (Hebrews 4:16)
iii) Suffering (2 Corinthians 12:9)
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iv) Releasing power (2 Timothy 2:1
v) Growth and stability (2 Peter 3:18)
vi) Restoration and fellowship (Hebrews 12:15; 1 John 1:9)
vii) Producing works (1 Corinthians 15:10; 2 Corinthians 6:1; 9:9)
viii) Christian way of life (2 Corinthians 1:12; Hebrews 12:28).
CHRISTIAN LIFE – WALKING
1.Physical walking is analogous to the faith rest life: step by step. Romans 14:5,6, Ephesians 5:16-18, James 4:13-15.
2. Being regularly filled with the Spirit and feeding on the Word are similar to walking.
3. Attacks on believers occur when they are caught off balance. Romans 13:13.
4. Walking depicts the pattern and function of the believers life in time. Philippians 3:18, Ephesians 4:17.
5. It can also represent a backsliding believer who are said to be walking backwards. Ephesians 4:17.
6. We are all told to:
a) Walk in the spirit. Galatians 5:16, 25
b) Walk in the faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7, Colossians 2:6, 4:5
c) Walk in doctrine 3 John 3.
d) Walk in the truth 2 John 4
7. Walking is a analogy for spirituality
a) Walk not after the flesh (Romans 8:4)
b) Walking in Love. (Ephesians 5:2)
c) Walking in newness of Life. (Romans 6:4)
d) Walking worthy of our vocation. (Ephesians 4:1)
e) Walking worthy of the Lord. (Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12)
f) Walking honestly as in the day. (Romans 13:13)
g) Walking in good works. (Ephesians 2:10)
h) Walking in light. (Ephesians 5:8, 1 John 1:7)
i) Walking in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 2:6)
j) Walking circumspectly. (Ephesians 5:15,16)
k) Walking as ye ought. (1 Thessalonians 4:1)
CHRISTIAN LIFE: DISCIPLINE OF BELIEVERS
1. Divine discipline is the result of a believer disobeying the will of God.
2. God disciplines all true children. Those who are not true children do not know discipline. (Hebrews 12:8; 1 Peter 5:910).
3. God's discipline of believers is shown in
a) Old Testament (Proverbs 3:11,12);
b) New Testament (Hebrews 12:3-13; Revelation 3:19).
4. Attitudes towards God's discipline (Hebrews 12:3-15).
a) Think lightly of it (v 5).
b) Faint or become disheartened (v 5).
c) Endure discipline (v 7).
d) Learn and benefit from discipline. (v 11).
5. The effect of God's discipline
a) Discipline blesses the believer (Psalm 94:12)
b) Lives are changed (Hebrews 12:11)
c) It is for a limited time. (1 Peter 1:6,7)
d) It is for the believer's benefit (Hebrews 12:10)
6. The believer who refuses to repent may be disciplined to the extent of death (1 Corinthians 11:30-31, 1 John 5:16)
7. Divine discipline never implies a loss of salvation. Galatians 3:26, 2 Timothy 2:11-13.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SUFFERING
1. Ultimately, all suffering is a result of the sin of Adam.
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2. God is sovereign and allows even undeserved suffering to come upon the world for a reason (Romans 8:28)
a) To bring people to a point of helplessness where they call out to Him
b) To test and develop faith, so bringing glory to Himself.
3. There will be no suffering for believers in eternity (Revelation 21:4).
4. Unbelievers will suffer forever in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:12-15).
5. Suffering can be caused by:
a) Discipline for your own sins
b) The effect of the sins of others on you - gossip, war, crime
c) Self-induced suffering as a result of your own actions – e.g. sickness from smoking, poverty from poor stewardship
d) The sovereign will of God - health, weather.
6. Premise of Suffering:
a) All suffering is designed for blessing in the Christian walk (1 Peter 1:7, 8, 4:14)
b) Even discipline is designed to restore fellowship (Hebrews 12:6)
c) Suffering follows the principle of grace (Romans 8:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
7. Purpose of Christian Suffering:
a) To receive discipline for carnality or backsliding (Psalm 38)
b) To glorify God (Job 1:8-12, Luke 15:20, 21)
c) To illustrate doctrine (Book of Hosea)
d) To learn obedience (Philippians 2:8, Hebrews 5:8)
e) To keep down pride (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
f) To develop faith (1 Peter 1:7, 8)
g) To witness for Christ (2 Corinthians 13:4)
h) To demonstrate the power of God (2 Corinthians 11:24-33, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
i) To manifest the fruit of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:8-11)
j) To help others who suffer (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
k) From indirect action - because other believers get out of fellowship (Romans 14, 1Corinthians 12:12, 13, 26, 1Samuel
21, 1Chronicles 21).
8. Dealing With Suffering - Applying Spiritual Daily Orders:
To be a believer is to be associated with suffering. It is not a strange thing, it is our duty, and we are to take it as a
soldier takes the rigours of a long campaign; without complaint, and with dignity and strength.
The five “Daily Orders” for the battle against the adversary, to be applied in the church age, in the power of the Holy
Spirit are found in 1Peter 5:8,9. They will protect us against the cunning of the “lion”.
a) Be Sober! - At all times be self controlled, not under the control of any emotion, or any other substance(drink or
drugs), but only by the Holy Spirit. Romans 13:11-13. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 -8.
b) Be Vigilant! - At all times, stay awake to danger, don’t relax your guard, don’t get careless.
c) Resist! - Stand up to, resist, oppose everything he stands for. Zero tolerance of evil is to be the standard for our lives.
Also refer, Luke 4:3-12, Ephesians 4:27, 6:11-13, James 4:7.
d) Be steadfast in the faith once delivered to the apostles! Be unbreakable, stand as a solid mass of soldiers resisting
attack. Stand with the apostolic doctrines, and their practices. As a local church be united, stand together, tight and
committed to each other.
e) Keep on knowing you are not alone! All believers suffer pressures when they stand for their Lord.
JACOB – THE PATRIARCH
1. SCRIPTURE - Genesis 25:21 - 50:13; Hebrews 11:21.
2. BIOGRAPHY
Jacob received his name at birth when he was born second, clutching the heel of his elder brother Esau. Jacob means
"he clutches" or "the supplanter". The eldest son received rulership of the family. He was the priest and had the double
portion as a birthright. Esau sold Jacob his birthright for a meal. This custom of selling the birthright is confirmed on the
Nuzi tablets which were found south east of Nineveh. Isaac blessed Jacob irrevocably (Genesis 27:35f.) thus Jacob
became the inheritor of Canaan (Romans 9:10-13). Esau received Edom. After the blessing Jacob fled to Bethel where
his grandfather had built an altar (Genesis 12:8). Here he received the vision of Jacob's ladder. Continuing to the north
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east he travelled to Haran where he met Rachel at the well as Eleazer had met Rebekah (Genesis 24:11) (see Isaac).
Jacob served Laban 20 years, seven for Leah, seven for Rachel and six for flocks. Whilst there he was blessed with
eleven sons and a daughter. He became very prosperous and left Haran while his father-in-law Laban was out shearing
(Genesis 31:22f.). Laban pursued Jacob to Gilead where a pact was drawn up between them. Travelling to Mahanaim,
Jacob sent out scouts to discover Esau's attitude (Genesis 32:1f.). Just as he was about to ford the river Jabbok, he
wrestled with a "man", receiving a permanent hip injury. His name was changed here from Jacob to Israel, and is
probably the place of Jacob's conversion (Genesis 32:24-30, cf. Genesis 28:20,21; Hosea 12:4). Jacob now purchased
land at Shechem. After Isaac's death he settled in Hebron (Genesis 35:28,29). Jacob the patriarch gave one of the three
great prophecies in Genesis - the prophecy of the twelve tribes (Genesis 49) prior to his death at the age of 130. He was
buried at Machpelah near Hebron (Genesis 50:13).
3. EVALUATION
a) Jacob is considered the child of favour (Malachi 1:2; Romans 9:10-13).
b) He is described as the heir of the divine promise (Hebrews 11:9).
c) Jacob is a man of blessing (Hebrews 11:20,21).
d) He is linked with Abraham and Isaac (2 Kings 13:23; Mark 12:26,27).
e) Israel is called the house of Jacob (Isaiah 8:17; Micah 2:7).
f) Israel is called the sons of Jacob (1 Kings 18:31; Malachi 3:6).
g) Israel is called the seed of Jacob (Isaiah 45:19; Jeremiah 33:26).
h) Israel is called the community of Jacob (Deuteronomy 33:4).
i) Israel is called Jacob (Hosea 10:11).
j) God had a plan for Jacob's life, to form a major role in His nation Israel.
k) Jacob went from Bethel, "the house of God", to Haran, "a dried up place".
l) He spent a night at Bethel and twenty years at Haran.
m) He eventually entered fully into God's plan after a long and arduous struggle.
n) The supplanter Jacob became the prince Israel.
4. PRINCIPLES
a) God in His foreknowledge loves the believer even prior to his birth (Romans 9:10-13).
b) Yet He does not coerce the free will of the believer (Revelation 3:20).
c) We become new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
d) Preferential treatment in a family causes jealousy (1 Samuel 1:5,6).
e) God can convert our weakness of character and stubbornness to His glory (2 Corinthians 12:10).
f) The plan of God is always superior to the plan of man (Job 42:2-6).
JOSEPH – PLAN OF GOD
1. SCRIPTURE Genesis 30:24 - 50:26.
2. BIOGRAPHY
Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob: his first by Rachel (Genesis 30:24, 35:24) and his favourite son (Genesis 37:3, cf.
33:2,7). Joseph was a spoilt boy who was sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers. By the age of thirty (Genesis
41:46), having spent time in jail as a servant of other prisoners, he is made second rule over Egypt. By wise planning he
was able to deflect the scourge of a major famine, saving Egypt, Canaan and his own family from starvation and death.
Reconciliation with his brothers followed, the family settling in the pastures of Goshen in the north-east delta area, After
burying Jacob in Canaan, Joseph commanded that his bones should be carried into Canaan when the Jews eventually
left Egypt (under Moses). When Joseph eventually died his sarcophagus remained as a reminder of the future of the
Jews in the promised land. He died at the age of 110 (Genesis 50:26).
3. EVALUATION
a) Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colours (Genesis 37:3) which gave him rulership over his older brothers.
b) This situation was not improved by his telling them of dreams of his future superiority (Genesis 37:5-11).
c) His brothers plot to remove him from his position and throw him into a cistern (Genesis 37:18-24).
d) He is sold to the Ishmaelites or Midianites (Genesis 37:28; cf. Judges 8:22-28).
e) Joseph is sold to Potiphar, the chief of police in Egypt (Genesis 37:36). There were many young Semites who were
servants in Egypt. Papyrus Brooklyn lists 79 servants in an Egyptian household in 1740 BC of whom at least 45 were
Semites.
f) Potiphar makes Joseph the administrator over his house (Genesis 39:4-6).
g) Potiphar's wife becomes frustrated and fabricates a false charge against Joseph (Genesis 39:7-20).
h) His administrative skills are soon recognised as shortly after being thrown into prison by Potiphar, Joseph becomes
the defacto administrator of the jail (Genesis 39:21-23).
i) Joseph now becomes the servant of two ministers who are imprisoned because of an attempted coup d'etat and
interprets their dreams (Genesis 40:1-13, 16-22).
j) Joseph relies on the memory of the cup bearer, who has an attack of amnesia (Genesis 40:14-15, 23).
k) Pharaoh has a series of dreams some two years later, upon which Joseph is released from prison to interpret. He is
rewarded by rulership over Egypt (Genesis 41:1-45).
4. PRINCIPLES
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a) God provides opportunity to train for future ministry as He did for Joseph with administration experience in various
areas (Acts 7:22).
b) God's timing is perfect: He protects this believer by the prompt arrival of the camel train.
c) Man's hostility can be used for God's future glory (Romans 9:17).
d) Dreams were a legitimate means of giving guidance from God (e.g. Daniel and Ezekiel).
e) In order to rule you have to learn to be a servant (John 13:16,17).
f) You should not rely on the wisdom or skill of man to retrieve you from difficult positions but should rest on the provision
of God (Jeremiah 17:5; Psalm 146:3).
g) If you are prepared, God will provide wisdom and understanding in times of crisis (Luke 12:11,12).
h) Life is made up of sunshine and shadows (Job 1:21).
i) God uses obedient and trained personnel (1 Samuel 3:9; 15:22).
5. "And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God for those who are the called according to
His purpose. " (Romans 8:28)
a) It was bad, that Joseph was favoured by his father - but it worked together for good as it gave him leadership training.
(v. 3,4)
b) It was good, that Joseph had the Word of God shown to him and it worked together for good as it gave him confidence
when it was fulfilled. (v 5-11)
c) It was bad that his brothers hated him but it worked together for good for if he had not been sold he would not have
been in a position to help his brothers in the future. (v 20)
d) It was good that the camel train was on time and it worked together for good. If it had been late or early, Joseph would
have perished in the pit. (v 25-27)
e) It was bad that he was sold for 20 pieces of silver but it worked together for good. (v 28)
f) It was both bad and good that he was sold into Potiphar's household but it worked together for good. It was bad that he
was a slave but it was good that it was Potiphar as it gave him training in management. (v 36)
GOD: PLAN OF GOD
1. In eternity past, God designed a plan for every believer, which takes into account every event and decision in human
history.
2. The plan centres around the person of Jesus Christ. (1 John 3:23, Ephesians 1:4-6)
3. Entrance into the plan is based on the principle of grace. (Ephesians 2:8, 9) where the sovereignty of God and the free
will of Man meet at the cross. God brings salvation which is complete, Man brings his faith.
4. God's plan was so designed so as to include all events and actions. (1 Peter 1:2)
5. Under his plan God has decreed to do some things directly and some through agencies, Israel, the Church.
6. Without interfering with human free will in any way God has designed a plan so perfect that it includes cause and
effect, as well as provision, preservation and function.
7. There are many functions in the Plan of God. They all constitute one whole comprehensive plan which is perfect,
eternal and unchangeable.
8. The plan of God is consistent with human freedom and does not limit or coerce human free will. Distinction should be
made between what God causes and what God permits. God causes the Cross but permits sin. God is neither the author
of sin nor sponsors sin.
9. His plan portrays that man has free will. God never condones sin in the human race. Man started in perfect
environment and innocence. Man sinned of his own free will. Man will sin in the perfect environment of the Millennium.
10. Distinction should be made between the divine plans which are related to the plan of God and divine laws which
regulate human conduct on the earth. Divine laws occur in time, divine plans occur in eternity.
11. God's plans derive from His foreknowledge. He recognised in eternity past those things which are certain. The
foreknowledge of God makes no things certain, but only perceives in eternity past those things that are certain.
12. There is a difference between foreknowledge and fore ordination. Fore ordination establishes certainty but does not
provide for the certainty which is established. It is the plan that provides. (Romans 8:29, Acts 2:23, 1 Peter 1:2)
13. Therefore the elect are foreknown and the foreknown are elect. God knew in eternity past what way each free will
would go for each particular problem in life. God does not coerce human free will but he does know what way each
freewill will choose at any given time. As free will decides so God provides.
14. Since God cannot contradict his own character he plans the best for the believer. God is perfect, his plan and
provisions are therefore perfect.
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15. The cross was planned in eternity past but the human free will of Christ decided for the cross at Gethsemane.
(Matthew 26:39-42) God has provided salvation through the cross and it is a free will decision as to whether one accepts
it or not.
16. No plan in itself opposes human freedom but once a choice is made from the free will then the plan limits your human
freedom. At the same time it gives you the freedom to love and appreciate God. God lays down the means of living the
Christian life.
SIN – ABOMINATION SINS TO THE LORD
Proverbs 6:16-19 shows what God hates - the seven worst sins. God's hatred for immorality is even more for these
seven sins.
1. Proud Look: God hates a proud look, a look of self righteousness, people who look down on others. God's justice is
even more on his own where they have accepted His son yet still harbour sin. You may be in such a church. Or you
may be in a church which has no immorality but they have many mental attitude sins.
2. Lying Tongue: Another sin pattern is lying tongues. These can consist of lying flatterers, lying pastors who should be
teaching the truth but are not.
3. Hands that Shed Innocent Blood: Hands that shed innocent blood are those who murder including abortionists,
drunken drivers, thugs, drug dealers and the wealthy doctors and lawyers who protect them.
4. Hearts that Devise Wicked Imaginations: Hearts that devise wicked imaginations, minds that are full of lust, they are
thinking it all the time, lust for money, lust for power, lust for sex, full of anger and hatred, jealousy. It is very important to
confess your sin.
5. Feet that are Swift to Run to Mischief: These are people who dwell on things that are wrong and explain it to people
in great detail. These are voyeurs, people who lack the courage to do things themselves but love to see others wallow in
it. People who look at pornography. It is people who gossip on the basis that you will pray more effectively.
6. False Witness: False witnesses are people who lie to injure the innocent.
7. Sowers of discord: These are those who have hidden agendas, they pervert and distort discussions.
SIN: ADULTERY
1. Definition - Sexual activity outside of marriage. This includes fornication, homosexuality, incest.
2. Adultery is prohibited by the Word of God (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18; Colossians 3:5; 1Thessalonians 4:3).
3. Mental adultery is condemned (Matthew 5:27-28).
4. Adultery destroys the capacity of the soul to relate in faithfulness (Proverbs 6:32).
5. Sexual immorality has a destructive effect on the human body of both male and female (cf. 1Corinthians 6:13-18).
a) Male - impotence and inability to copulate.
b) Female - breakdown of response and pleasure in the sex act. Often frigidity or nymphomania, both are frustrating and
a source of female misery.
c) Increased chance of sexually transmitted diseases.
6. Any sexual immorality ultimately leads to further frustration and an unfulfillable search for happiness (Ephesians
4:19,5:3).
7. Adultery is a bona fide basis for divorce (Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Luke 16:18). Adultery has a huge impact between
husband and wife in both mental (trust) and physical ("one flesh") areas. However, forgiveness and the grace of God
can overcome the effects of all sins.
8. Adultery or fornication is often used in the Bible to describe apostasy and unfaithfulness to God (Jeremiah 3:8-10,
Ezekiel 16:23-43, 23:24-28; Revelation 17:1-5).
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SIN: JEALOUSY
1. Jealousy is the strongest of the mental sins. (Proverbs 27:3,4)
2. Jealousy is the most cruel of all sins; it turns a person into a monster.
3. Jealousy removes all happiness from a believer; it is a mental sin by which you make your own misery.
4. Some people cannot stand the success of others; consequently jealousy destroys the basis of friendship.
5. So great was the sin of jealousy that a whole offering of the Levitical Code was prescribed for it. (Numbers 5:11-31) It
is the only offering that was designed for one sin only.
6. Jealousy is the basis for the destruction of married love. (Song of Solomon 8:6)
7. The same jealousy which destroys love can also destroy the normal function of the soul. (Job 5:2; Proverbs 14:30)
This is the explanation of some cases of psychoses and neuroses.
8. Jealousy motivates to revenge. (Proverbs 6:34)
9. Jealousy of Joseph motivated his brothers to sell him into slavery. (Acts 7:9)
10. Therefore jealousy takes real or apparent wrongs out of the Lord's hand and intrudes on divine judgment.
(Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19)
11. Jealousy split the nation of Israel. (Isaiah 11:13 - Ephraim's jealousy of Judah)
12. Jealousy was the motivator of the religious leaders who crucified Jesus Christ. (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10)
13. Jealousy rejects the teaching of the Bible truths. (Acts 13:45; 17:5)
14. False doctrine of apostasy produces jealousy (1 Timothy 6:3,4).
SIN: OLD SIN NATURE
1. We are born with a nature, inherited from Adam, which is against God and prone to sin (Ephesians 2:1, Romans 5:12).
2. The old sin nature is perpetuated in the human race by physical birth (Psalm 51:5, 1 Timothy 2:13, 14).
3. We are therefore considered spiritually dead at the point of physical birth (Romans 5:12).
4. Names for the old sin nature:
a) Flesh - Galatians 5:16
b) Old Man - Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:9
c) Carnal - Romans 7:14
d) Sin - Romans 5:12
e) Heart - Jeremiah 17:9
f) Member - Colossians 3:5.
5. The believer continues to have an old sin nature after salvation (1 John 1:8, 1 Corinthians 3:1).
6. The believer under the control of the old sin nature is called carnal (Romans 7:14, 1 Corinthians 3:1-3).
7. The old sin nature frustrates true production of the Christian life (Romans 7:15).
8. The old sin nature has two tendencies (Romans 6:6)
a) Area of weakness - pushes us towards lawlessness and sins (Hebrews 12:1)
b) Area of strength - pushes us towards asceticism and self-righteousness (Isaiah 64:6).
9. The old sin nature is not found in the resurrection body (1 Corinthians 15:56, Philippians 3:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
10. Victory over the old sin nature is by achieved by considering your old life dead, surrendering to God, confessing sin
and relying upon the filling of the Spirit (Romans 6:6,11, Colossians 3:9-10).
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HEART
1. The Bible refers to the heart as the seat of consciousness in the soul. The word heart in the Bible refers in general to
the mind as there is no understanding available to the physical pump although it is seen as the centre of life.
The brain in the ancient world was divided into two the mind [nous] and the heart [kardia] with academic understanding
coming from the mind and its application from the heart. The heart is therefore related to the will.
A parallel system would be gnosis or knowledge and epignosis working knowledge where the knowledge or
understanding is put into effect either for good or bad.
2. There is no emotional reference when the heart is noted. Proverbs 2:2, 10, 15:14, 23:10, 1 Samuel 16:7, Genesis
6:5. Emotional reference is often called bowels in the Bible
3. Doctrines are stored in the heart Deuteronomy 29: 4 Proverbs 2:2, 10:18, Psalms 119:11, 19:14, Job 38:36.
4. Negative attitudes of the Heart'
a) the heart can become "hardened" to the things of God Proverbs 5:12, 13, 10:6, 11, 13
b) it is the source of discord - Proverbs 6 :14, 18
c) it can be subtle and evil - Proverbs 7:10
d) hatred comes from the heart - 2 Samuel 6:16
e) disappointment is there - Proverbs 14 :12
f) mental sins are there - Proverbs 14:10-16, Isaiah 47: 10
g) we turn away from God first in our heart - Jeremiah 17:5, 9, Zechariah 7:12
h) hypocrisy is in some hearts - Job 36:13
5. The Lord tests our hearts to see if we are true. Psalm 26:2, Jeremiah 11:20, 17:10, 20:12.
NOTES
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CHAPTER 38
INTRODUCTION
We model all our behaviours as parents, and we cannot complain when our children follow us into whatever behaviour
they have seen us regularly practice. If dysfunction occurs anywhere in the family and is not confronted, then the evil
ignored will grow and will infect others with it’s destructive power. If the dysfunction continues to the point of hatred of the
Lord, in addition to despising of his commandments, then it will get to the place where the sin unto death will be
administered to the persons in open rebellion against God and His Laws. If this goes on to the fourth generation, then
that family will cease to exist. Refer to the BTB studies, SIN – OLD SIN NATURE, SIN UNTO DEATH, CONFESSION
OF SIN, FOUR GENERATION CURSE.
Israel and his sons come close to the negative point where divine discipline would see them judged and eliminated, but
in grace there is repentance and through Joseph’s learning of God’s truth, there will be deliverance for them all. Jacob
has had an Old Sin Nature point of weakness in the area of sexual behaviours, and has not really dealt with this, and so
there have been flow-on effects of his multiple wives and focus upon his sexual pleasures to the detriment of family life
and the education of his children.
The result has been already the seduction and rape of Dinah, and then the incestuous actions of Reuben. This trend
down hill in the moral area continues with the behaviour of Judah. This is another chapter that is painful to read, and
Moses tells the story in straight forward language, that does not make moral points by moralizing, but simply by telling
the story and showing God’s judgments in the process. Judah will rise to be the leader, but he will arise to this high point
from a very dark life indeed.
Judah is judged for all that we read here. Sexual sin is foolishness, for it destroys the body, the mind, genuine marriage,
the family, and finally society itself. Proverbs 1:7-12, 2:10-20, 5:1-10, 6:23-35, 7:5-23, 1 Corinthians 6:13-20, 2 Timothy
2:22.
You will have noted that the Proverbs passage reads as if the woman is the seducer every time. This is only because
Solomon is writing to his sons about the sexual dangers of experienced women who may try to sexually entice them in
order to become princesses. The reverse is also the case, where men, exactly like the seductive women of Proverbs,
entice naïve women and destroy them through sexual activity. Sexual sin is just like any other, in that it can be
confessed, and avoided, but it is unlike many, in that it can destroy the body itself through Sexually Transmitted
Diseases. 1 Corinthians 6:18.
GENESIS 38: 1-14
1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain
Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was
Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her. 3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
4 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. 5 And she yet again conceived, and
bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him. 6 And Judah took a wife for
Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar. 7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and
the LORD slew him. 8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up
seed to thy brother. 9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in
unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. 10 And the
thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also. 11 Then said Judah to Tamar his
daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest
peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house. 12 And in
process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his
sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy
father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep. 14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and
covered her with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she
saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.”
REFLECTION
Verses 1- 5. Around this time of the sale of Joseph these events occur in the family of Judah. It is twenty three years
before Jacob will go down into Egypt to join Joseph, so this occurs within this time frame of around two decades. Judah
was part of the pastoral care team for his father’s flocks when Joseph is sold, but for some reason this has changed and
he is running his own flocks as we enter this chapter. Maybe he has been revolted by his own and the other’s treatment
of Joseph and feels great personal guilt; we cannot know, but it is a sign that the family of Jacob is starting to break up
after Joseph’s disappearance.
We find here that he heads away from Hebron down to the lowlands and pitches his tent in the neighbourhood of
Adullam and enters into a friendly relationship with a Canaanite called Hirah, and there he sees a Canaanite woman
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whose father is called Shuah, and takes her as his wife and has three sons to her. The three sons are Er, Onan, and
Shelah. Moses mentions the birth place of the last son as Chezib, or Achzib. (Joshua 15:44, Micah 1:14)
Now the name of this place is not a good one, it means the place of lying or deception. It is a name of warning for the
sons of Judah, for his deception and Tamar’s will be a lasting warning against immorality and double standards to them
all. This will also be important for the descendents of this last man who will know where their ancestor was born and can
go there, for it will be within the area given to the tribe of Judah. The birth place of the first two is irrelevant for both will
die before fathering any children.
The meaning of the three children’s names is interesting. His first son was called “Er”, which means “a watcher”, or
furtive one. The second is called “Onan”, which means “iniquity”. These are not good names for little boys and they will
both grow up as sexually loose men, just like their father, uncle, and grand-father.
Now the time frame Moses has given us is around twenty three years for the events here to happen before Jacob and
the others go down into Egypt. It may be that the first son was born even before Joseph was sent into Egypt, but as
Moses has said it is “around this time”, only a year or two can be granted. So the judgment of God will fall on both these
older boys around twenty years of age; which is the age of accountability for the Exodus generation, as we have seen
above. The youngest child is called Shelah, meaning “prayer” which is a sign that things may have been better for his
mother spiritually around the time of his birth, although Judah has been heading steadily down hill during this time. Within
the next twenty years the following events occur.
Verses 6 – 11. Judah marries his first son to a girl named Tamar. Moses is very blunt about what happens next, and
not a great deal of time passes here; perhaps a year, but not much more. The young man Er sins so greatly before the
Lord that he sins the “Sin Unto Death” and dies. Such sins in scripture that lead to the Sin Unto Death normally involve,
directly lying to God, and occult or sexually abusive practices. Refer to the BTB study at the end of this section. This
young man was a real pervert of some sort and the Lord eliminates him from the earth. Psalms 55:20-23.
The practice of what was called “Levirate Marriage” was normal for this day, whereby a childless man ‘s widow was able
to marry the younger brother of her dead husband in order that the oldest son’s name might not be lost from the
genealogy of the people, and that he might have inheritance and posterity. The first child born of such a marriage was to
be named for the oldest brother and the second and subsequent children were named for the living husband.
Deuteronomy 25:5ff.
Onan does not want this and isn’t interested in Tamar, or his brother’s name being carried on. He has sex with Tamar but
always withdraws before he ejaculates and so his sperm is on the ground rather than in Tamar. She cannot get
pregnant, but he is having all the sex he wants with her, and the implication of Moses is, he probably is having sex with
others also.
Onan is, like his brother, condemned to death for this action, as just as “wicked” as his older brother, and the use of the
strong word, “displeased”, indicates that there is more here than just failing to get Tamar pregnant as some
commentators argue. God was “displeased” and this indicates that sexual immorality was rife here, with an arrogance
and self centeredness that was leading to Tamar being treated with contempt.
Judah fails to pray this through or face any problems within the family, or in his own behaviours that need addressing.
We are urged to “examine ourselves” as we approach the Communion Table lest there be any sin that might bring God’s
judgment upon us, and this habit ought to be a daily one! 1 Corinthians 11:28, 2 Corinthians 13:5. Judah tells Tamar to
wait in her father’s house until his third son grows to the right age for marriage. The age for marriage could be any time
after about fourteen in this day, but given the judgment of God on the two older boys, I suspect each were over twenty,
and that Judah is waiting until Shelah is twenty himself.
Verses 12 – 14.
Tamar is quietly thinking as she waits and soon she realizes that she is never going to be
given the youngest boy, especially after the death of the three boy’s mother. It may be that she attended the funeral and
overheard Judah’s concerns, but she now knows that she is going to be left aside in her father’s house and never will
have a family. Judah is comforted and consoled after the death of his wife. Moses does not tell us how he consoles
himself, but his predictable habit of using prostitutes alongside the road is known by Tamar, and Moses leaves it open
that this is how he was “consoled”. Judah is living in a self centred way and the results of this will be moral judgment
upon him that will lead to his repentance.
Judah’s friend Hirah the Adullamite and he are clearly very close, and when it comes time to visit his own flocks he
heads out with his old friend as company. They have been firm friends for twenty years now and he trusts him in
everything and does not hide his sexual behaviour from him, and they may even share this pre-occupation with sex.
They head to Timnath at the time of the sheep shearing to ensure that wool is not stolen. Tamar has kept contact with
her father in law’s house and hears that he has gone off to Timnath, and that is all she needs to hear, for she knows he
will be seeking sexual comfort there, and so will position herself to take advantage of his well known weakness. She
takes this action because she sees that Shelah is fully grown and he is not given to her as a husband.
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PERSONAL AND PASTORAL APPLICATION
1.
God judges in the area of sexual sins. We are used to excusing all sorts of sins as all right in our modern age,
but God’s standard remains secure and it is that unrighteousness will destroy a family and a nation if left
unchecked. Let us ensure we guard ourselves from temptations in these areas. Judah has a great friend, but we
are left wondering just how positive this friendship is for Judah. Hirah may be a bad influence with whom he
enjoys sensual pleasures. Their friendship will not last, and Judah will go down to Egypt when the famine
occurs. He will leave his friend behind forever, yet he has wasted twenty years with this man. Let us pause and
reflect upon this. We ought to have our friends from amongst the people we will spend eternity with. If we will
not spend eternity with a person, then we ought to be careful about the time we spend with them here and now,
lest their morals become ours.
2.
Judah has failed to examine himself and deal with his own sins through this time. While Joseph is learning
about righteousness and faith in an Egyptian prison, Judah is carrying on with an immoral lifestyle that allows
Tamar to predict his behaviours in advance and use them to achieve her goal of having a child. Let us set
ourselves the goal of regular self audits of behaviours and thought patterns, and let us deal with sinful patterns
quickly! No one should ever be able to predict our patterns of sinful weakness, for such patterns ought to have
been eliminated by the work of the Holy Spirit within our life.
DOCTRINES
SIN: OLD SIN NATURE see page 18
SIN: SIN UNTO DEATH
1. There is a sin unto death (1 John 5:16, 17, 1 Corinthians 11 :31,32)
2. The sin unto death is the physical death of a believer, where ultimate discipline is administered to the Christian due to
unconfessed sin of a serious nature.
3. Confession of sin under the concept of I John 1:9 is the way to forgiveness.
4. Examples of sin unto death:(a)The Corinthian Pervert - (1 Corinthians 5)
(b) The Corinthians who habitually came to the Lord's table in an unworthy manner. (1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
(c) Moses (Deuteronomy 32:48-52)
(d) Achan (Joshua 7:16-26)
(e) Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5: 1 -1 1)
5. Whilst there is a sin unto death there is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus - all believers (Romans 8:1).
6. The effect of the sin unto death is to reduce the time which a believer can spend on earth accumulating good of
eternal worth. The gold, silver and precious stones of I Corinthians 3:11-15.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
1. Forgiveness is by the death of Christ (Matthew 26:28, Revelation 1 :5)
2. Divine forgiveness is to all who believe in Christ (Acts 10:43, Acts 16:31)
3. The penalty of sin was paid by Christ on the cross. (Hebrews 9:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
4. When a believer sins his fellowship with God is disrupted. God forgives these sins upon confession and cleanses from
the unknown sins in the believer's life as well as known sins. (1 John 1: 9).
5. Jesus Christ is our propitiation. (I John 2:1,2 )
6. In human forgiveness we are told to forgive others even as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). This can only be
accomplished by the filling of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:22,23)
7. Steps towards restoration of fellowship
[a] Examine yourself for genuineness of motivation. [2 Corinthians 14:5]
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[b] Act on what you see [Romans 4:7-8]
[c] Deal with any sin by confession. [1 John 1:9, Psalm 66:18]
[d] Forget the sin which you have confessed. Do not proceed into a pattern of guilt.[Philippians 3:13-14, Psalm 103:1012]
[e] Resume your active spiritual walk. Avoid areas where you might be tempted by the sin which so easily besets us.
[Hebrews 12:12-13]
[f] Be reconciled to others once you have been reconciled to God. [James 5:16]
[g] Get moving and grow up. [2 Peter 2:17-18]
JUDGMENT: FOUR GENERATION CURSE
1. General Scripture (Exodus 20:4-6)
2. A believer without God's Word is in the position of hating the Lord as no believer can love God without the Word of
God.
3. There are two kinds of people who hate God.
a) Unbelievers - those who have rejected the word at salvation.
b) Believers who reject the Word of God even though they are loved by God.
4. In this scripture the discipline goes to the 3rd or 4th generation but only if each generation rebels against God. The
purpose of discipline is to focus the unbeliever's attention on Christ.
a) Generation I - God disciplines where there is rebellion against Him.
b) Generation II - God disciplines again but there must be rebellion in that generation.
c) Generation III - If there is rebellion he punishes again.
d) Generation IV - Where there is rebellion he punishes again but after the fourth generation a change occurs because if
not there would be no perpetuation of the human race.
5. Should any of the generations believe in Christ, God's cursing is turned to blessing.
6. "And showing mercy unto thousands" -- Exodus 20:6
In each generation God does not visit the sins of the fathers on the children without their involvement in rebellion. Each
generation stands on its own and is responsible for its own sins.
7. EXAMPLE - THE HERODIAN LINE
a) 1st GENERATION - Herod the Great (Matthew 2) He was an unbeliever who had every chance to receive Christ as
Saviour, he killed 3 of his own sons, attempted to kill the Lord Jesus Christ at Bethlehem and died miserably. As a young
man he was a great athlete, very handsome and a great ruler. He degenerated and died in misery.
b) 2nd GENERATION - Herod the Fox (Matthew 14) Herod who married his niece Herodias. Both had every chance to
be saved. They came face to face with John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ. Both rejected the gospel which was
presented to them. Both died miserably in exile in Spain.
c) 3rd GENERATION - Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12) Agrippa heard the gospel and rejected it. He was responsible for the
martyrdom of James and had ordered the death of Peter, though Peter escaped. Agrippa died in a very miserable
manner as an unbeliever.
d) 4th GENERATION - Herod Agrippa II (Acts 24,25) Agrippa and his two sisters who represent the 4th generation
heard and rejected the gospel from Paul. They died in a very dramatic and unusual way. The Herodian line eventually
disappeared as the last members of the family were killed in Pompeii when Vesuvius erupted in AD 78
GENESIS 38:15-30
“15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. 16 And he turned
unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his
daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? 17 And he said, I
will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it? 18 And he said,
What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand.
And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him. 19 And she arose, and went away, and laid
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by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. 20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his
friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not. 21 Then he asked the
men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no
harlot in this place. 22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said,
that there was no harlot in this place. 23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I
sent this kid, and thou hast not found her. 24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told
Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by
whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. 25 When she was brought forth, she sent to
her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose
are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff. 26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more
righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. 27 And it came
to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And it came to pass, when she
travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying,
This came out first. 29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and
she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez. 30 And
afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.”
REFLECTION
Verses 15 – 18. Judah is used to negotiating with the prostitutes of the day and the interchange that occurs here reads
as a transcript, for it is one. Judah himself must have recorded this in the family history as a warning to his son and his
descendents through Tamar. Judah’s is straight forward in his account of the transaction. He wants sex and Tamar asks
what he will pay for the sexual encounter. He answers that he will pay a kid from the flock once the shearing is done. A
live goat is a valuable commodity and would be equivalent to a day’s wages for a labourer.
She makes it clear that she doesn’t trust him, which he would expect from a prostitute, and so her asking for personal
pledges is also a normal thing where a promise is made to pay something. She asks for goods of greater value than the
kid. This also is a normal practice from this day so that there was a built in penalty for anyone not paying what they
promised, rather than our day where only a deposit is lost.
Tamar is veiled during this discussion and she could be speaking in one of the common trade languages, like Akkadian,
rather than that which she used in her life with Judah’s sons in his camp. She may also be dressed in the garb of a
sacred prostitute of Astarte, so she would not have stood out in this countryside, and her dress will make Judah think of
anything other than Tamar or his home.
He does not spot that this is Tamar at all, and does not bother looking her in the face, as he simply is having sex, not
making love to her. She is just a sexual object and he uses her and then leaves; he has depersonalized her and abused
her, but she will have her revenge on his sinful lifestyle. He is operating as an animal and like a sheep to the slaughter he
will be taken because of this. Proverbs 2:16-19, 5:3-20. We are urged to find sexual satisfaction within the loving
relationship of a right man with his right woman, and no-where else. God is not trying to rob us of fun here, but save us
from disaster.
Notice what Tamar asks for from Judah. These are things that are clearly going to identify him as the father of any child
she conceives here. She gets his staff, his “bracelets” and his ring. This is a very good move on her part, for she will be
accused of adultery later and will be under penalty of death because of this, but these things will prove who is guilty and
who is innocent. Notice that he apparently wears an arm clasp or bracelet. These were both ornamental, and sometimes
they were associated with pagan religious worship. They would be offered to the Lord as silver or gold offerings by the
Israelites, who were encouraged not to seek such jewellery. Exodus 35:22, Numbers 31:50.
However the word Moses uses here does not mean a precious metal bracelet, but a length of cord or lace that tied up
the sleeves when physical work was being done. It is of no real value in itself, but the way it was worn, frayed, and
coloured will identify it as Judah’s and no-one else. The ring will be hand made and unique. She takes no chances with
three objects, for one could be lost, or claimed to be stolen, but the three would never leave his control without his
permission.
Verses 19 - 23.
As soon as Tamar is able to leave without Judah seeing her she leaves and heads for home.
Judah wants his staff and ring back, and without the cords to hold up his sleeves will not have been able to do much
work. As an aside, the presence of the “bracelets”, or cords to hold his sleeves up, tell us that he has bought for himself a
long sleeved robe now! Judah has appointed himself the leader of his own clan. He is baffled when he sends his friend to
pay the prostitute that she cannot be found. Notice that his friend goes to pay the woman; this tells us the nature of their
friendship, and that this man is as immoral as Judah is.
The locals tell Hirah that there isn’t a prostitute operating in this area at all as far as they know. He returns to Judah and
reports the baffling findings. The word for prostitute here is a religious word. It is a word for a woman sacred to the
Canaanite goddess Astarte, the goddess of fertility, who served the goddess by sex, the money from which went to the
local temple. Judah has over time fallen into a lot more than just loose living with his Canaanite friend Hirah. If this was
his habit, he has been playing with the Canaanite religion, and his friend Hirah may be the influence operating here.
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It is a dangerous thing to have a pagan friend who you share your daily life with, for the compromises will all be from
yourself, for a pagan will not meet you half way with religious truth. Judah feels he has been “taken” by this woman, and
covers his own embarrassment at this by saying, “let her keep the pledges”, for he does not want the story told abroad if
Hiram searches further a field for the woman, for it will expose Judah to ridicule. He has pride and also he doesn’t want it
known that he uses the sacred priestesses. His concern for “privacy” here is hypocritical, for his habits are well known,
even if he doesn’t see it at this point. Once he is exposed and shamed he will repent of this and record the entire story to
ensure Tamar is seen by all as just, and he as unjust and immoral.
Verses 24 – 25.
Three months go past and Judah hears that Tamar is pregnant. The conclusion is jumped to
by all that she has been immoral, and there is no other explanation that anyone can offer. The penalty for adultery in this
day was death, and amongst the Canaanites it was death by being burned alive. Child sacrifice, the burning of children
alive, was actually part of their religious observance at times, and the Israelites later would “pass their children through
the fires of Molech”. Such things were an abomination before God, a great evil, and the Israelites were ordered to have
nothing to do with these people’s religious practices. 2 Kings 17:17, 31, 21:6, 23:10, 2 Chronicles 28:3, 33:6.
Judah is full of self righteous indignation when he hears this and takes the opportunity to rid himself of Tamar
permanently by execution. This will be the end of the “bad luck” he has had with his sons. Tamar’s answer awaits her
arrest, and when she is publicly hauled before her village elders she presents her evidence in such a way that it makes it
difficult for Judah to do anything other than tell the truth, for everyone in this group will recognize the ring, the staff and
the lengths of cord as Judah’s.
Verses 26 – 30.
Judah confronts the truth immediately and identifies that Tamar has operated in a more
“moral” or righteous manner than he has. He immediately states the just cause that Tamar had, in that he had not given
his son Shelah to be her husband. Judah also shows himself totally changed, for he does not take sexual advantage of
her again, but she is treated with respect as his daughter in law for the rest of her life.
When immoral men have taken sexual advantage of a woman it is most likely that they will despise that woman, and so
this respectful behaviour is the fruit of the life change that begins in Judah this day. The birth of the twins was unusual, in
that the arm of one comes out first, and the mid-wife ties a scarlet thread around it’s wrist, but the arm is withdrawn and
the other one comes out first. The twins names are Pharez (meaning, the one breaking out, the one who pressed forward
first), and Zarah (meaning “rising one” – the one who tried to come out first). Pharez, or Perez, as his name is sometimes
spelled, becomes the ancestor of King David, and of the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tamar is honoured as one of
the women mentioned in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ruth 4:18ff, 1 Chronicles 2:5ff, Matthew 1:3, Luke 3:33.
PERSONAL AND PASTORAL APPLICATION
1.
There is no support from Moses or the Lord for anything Judah does by way of his sexual life here. He has
compromised far more than just sexually, and clearly is used to dealing with the “sacred” prostitutes of Astarte.
He has played with paganism and compromised his witness to the true faith of his father Jacob, his grandfather
Isaac, and great grandfather Abraham. His behaviour is evil and we are warned by this chapter to take
immorality seriously, for we can all fall easily into this sin if our guard is down.
2.
Judah has his great friend Hirah, and they clearly love each other and enjoy each other’s company, but this man
is not a believer and has been a bad influence for twenty years. Judah left his father’s camp probably to avoid
the daily confrontation with guilt as he saw his father’s sad face at the loss of Joseph. He has fled from his guilt
and found greater sin. This is always the pattern with unconfessed sin; it will always open the door to other sins
and even great evils. God in grace will turn this to blessing, but this man is a warning of how far a good man
can fall if he fails to deal with his sins.
3.
Tamar is careful to secure evidence for her actions. She doesn’t trust anyone and certainly does not trust
Judah. She is wise in this, for trust in people is weakness that we ought not to fall into unless we know their
character well. Jesus did not trust himself to the crowds and neither ought we to. John 2:23-25. Tamar sought
solid evidence, and at least “three witnesses” to the truth.
Believers in difficult situations need to practice the same level of care in gathering evidence of the truth, for the
enemy will try to secure our conviction of falsehood on the basis of lies if we let him. We are to be as cunning as
serpents and as harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16.
Many believers allow themselves to be entrapped by lies because they trust the word of people they have no
evidence are worthy of trust. Let us remember how careful Tamar was for her life was at stake, and remember
that in the service of the Lord our reputation is often at stake, and we need to protect ourselves from even the
appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22.
4.
The two boys born as a result of what is technically incest are not judged for their parent’s sin. The innocent are
not judged with the guilty by God. Children born illegitimately are not to be condemned or despised, for it is our
new birth that matters, and in Christ we are all entered into the Royal family of God. Refer to the BTB study
below.
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DOCTRINES
CHRISTIAN LIFE: ROYAL FAMILY OF GOD
1. Definition: All believers of the Church Age belong to a unique system of royalty. Revelation 1:6. This royalty is based
on spiritual principles of Bible doctrine. While regeneration has occurred in every generation since the beginning of time,
it is only the believers of the Church Age who form this eternal nobility.
2. Basis of royalty in the Church Age.
a. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the basis of royalty. Acts 1:5; Romans 6:3,4
b. No believer before or after the Church Age receives at salvation the baptism of the Holy Spirit; it is peculiar to this Age
of history. Colossians 1:25,26
c. In every dispensation, the believer is regenerated by the Holy Spirit at the moment he believes in Christ; but in the
Church Age the Holy Spirit also baptises the believer into the Body of Christ. I Corinthians 12:13
3. Precedent for Royalty.
a. The order or battalion of Melchizedek provides both the pattern and precedent. Hebrews 5:6,10
b. However, Melchizedek acquired his royalty by becoming king of Salem, while Jesus Christ was born Royalty in the line
of David. Matthew 1
c. Through the baptism of the Spirit, every believer is entered into union with Christ; hence, believers are known as the
Body of Christ. Colossians 1:18
d. As a member of the Body of Christ, every believer of the Church Age is eternally and personally related to the King of
Kings. Galatians 3:26-29
d. When the Body of Christ is completed, the Church Age terminates with the resurrection or the Rapture, at which time
the Body of Christ becomes the Bride of Christ. Matthew 25:1-13; I Thessalonians 4:16-18
e. During the Tribulation, the Bride is prepared for, "Operation Footstool", the second phase of Christ's strategic victory,
when all enemies are put under His feet. Heb 1:13
4. Sign of Royalty.
a. The sign of royalty is the unprecedented universal indwelling, of the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 6:19-20
b. The purpose of this indwelling is to glorify Jesus Christ. John 7:37-39
5. Security of Royalty.
a. The sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit guarantees the eternal security of the believer. Ephesians 1:13,14
b. Positional sanctification places every believer in the "palace" (heaven) forever. Ephesians 1:3,4,11
6. Function of Royalty
a. The believer must advance toward the objective of spiritual maturity, at which time he receives the accoutrements of
royalty as well as the tactical victory of the angelic conflict.
b. The believer fulfils the status of royalty in the modus operandi of the new priesthood. Hebrews 7-13
7. Future of Royalty.
As members of the Body of Christ and the Royal Priesthood (I Peter 2:9) all Church Age believers will return with Christ
at the Second Advent to participate in the strategic victory of the overthrow of Satan and the Millennial reign of Christ. I
Thessalonians 3:13; Revelation 5:10
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CHAPTER 39
INTRODUCTORY PRINCIPLES FOR THE EARLY LIFE OF JOSEPH
ROMANS 8:28 and PROVERBS 23:4-9
Many believers quote the first half of Romans 8:28 only; “All things work together for good”. It is important to read the
whole of Romans 8:28, as all things do not work together for good for unbelievers, nor for a permanently carnal Christian,
but only to those “that love God and are called according to his purpose”. The Lord calls us all to centre ourselves in the
plan he has for our life and trust Him to work out that plan, no matter what we see happening in our daily life by way of
pressure situation. All we focus upon is walking on his path, and we leave the outcome with the Lord. Joseph will have to
learn this lesson in a situation of grave pressure in a tough Egyptian jail
The principles behind Romans 8:28 that we will see working out in this chapter before us are:
[a]
Everything that happens to a believer is not necessarily good; some things are bad. It was not good for Joseph
to be beaten up, stripped and thrown into a well. It was not good to be a slave, it was not good that Potiphar's wife lied
about him, or to be thrown as a rapist into the central dungeon of the prison and left there for years.
[b]
All things can work together for good if you are in step with the plan of God. You must be in the Father's will for
your life. If you are in a wrong situation you claim 1 John 1:9 rather than this verse, and get back into the Lord’s will for
you. Once back in fellowship with the Lord, then claim this verse again.
[c]
This verse does not apply to believers who are outside the will of God; who do not seek God’s will but their own,
or unbelievers who do not love God.
[d]
God's hand is upon every situation in your life if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and daily we are
encouraged to cast our cares upon the Lord, for he cares for and watches after us.
[e]
The onus is upon us to stay in fellowship, to stay in the will of God for ourselves, and then relax and trust Him
when things go apparently very wrong in our life. If we are where the Lord wants us, then any pressure situation will work
out to the glory of God and the blessing of the believers in the area. You can claim Philippians 4:4, 1 Peter 5:6,7 to back
up this verse under pressure.
Joseph also has to learn that circumstances can change dramatically and yet God remains constant in his love, power
and grace towards his children. Joseph will enjoy the benefits of great wealth as a servant in the house of Potiphar, and
yet he will be stripped of everything in jail, then he will gain great wealth again as second in command to Pharaoh. He
learns through his life that nothing matters except the service of the Lord and walking in the path that he has prepared for
us. Proverbs 23:1-9. Wealth has wings, Solomon reminds us, and it flies away quickly. When we move in the circles of
the rich and powerful Solomon warns us to be stable in our mind and grounded in God’s Word at all times, lest we get
enticed by the pleasures of wealth and power, and be distracted into fatal side paths.
GENESIS 39
In the opening verses the fruit of the Spirit was with Joseph and his unbelieving master Potiphar saw it and promoted
him. Joseph was also a very handsome man. The household of Potiphar was blessed by association with Joseph.
Joseph was not a victim of circumstances here, for he was in the hands of the Lord all the way.
Joseph is starting to learn that God is in control and he can relax and serve well and be blessed in his service. When you
realize that your situation is not of your own making you can put your hands in the Lord's hands and rely on Him. 1 Peter
5:6-7. The fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life is then peace, joy, long suffering, and patience.
There is no such thing as “good luck” in the Christian life, there is God's will and our obedience, but there is also God's
discipline, foolishness, and your sin. There is the direction of God and the superintendence of His power and His might,
but there is always the opportunity to step outside God’s path every moment, and then trouble will begin. It is God's will,
or your stupidity every time. Joseph trusts the Lord who in due course promotes him, but Joseph has a satanic enemy
and he is not ready for the attack when it comes upon him.
Potiphar was the general in charge of the Egyptian palace guard and as such was therefore the top soldier in the land.
Joseph was made an overseer of his whole household. However Joseph has major problems with Potiphar's wife. There
is an old saying, “there is none so dangerous as a woman scorned”. If a woman makes a pass at a man and that man
rejects strongly that woman, then the man may have made an enemy who will kill him either verbally, by reputation, or
even physically. A woman feels things deeper than a man as she is made finer than man. When a woman is at her best
she is the finest of God's creations, when she is at her worst she is more dangerous than any man.
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Potiphar's wife made repeated passes at Joseph, which is quite typical of women who are neglected by their husbands.
Some counselor has said that eighty percent of women in their marriages are neglected by their husbands from time to
time, and this is one of the reasons why a married woman is a potential source of temptation for ministers. Women and
men alike are looking for people who will give them attention. We all have that deep inner need for affirmation and
approval; we love to be needed, valued and affirmed by others.
If we are neglected in our closest relationship, then we become vulnerable to the charms of others who do pay us
attention. Many ministers fall into this sexual temptation problem because they do not guard their own relationships, or
they are ignorant of the needs and desires of others. We are not to be ignorant of seduction and it’s every present
danger to ministry. Sexual temptation remains Satan’s easiest way to destroy a ministry. Proverbs 2:11-22, 5:1-23, 6:2335, 7:1-23.
Make sure, that if as a pastor, you are going into a situation where you may be propositioned sexually, that you have a
companion as a witness. One thing you do not ever do, is do what Joseph did. You should not ever be in any situation
where you feel you need to run. When a person is propositioning you, that person has a problem, but they will make a
serious problem for you unless you have witnesses to what occurs.
In agape love you should be concerned to get help for them if they desire it, but also be ready to openly rebuke and
expose them, or counsel them if possible also. You need to be ready and able before the Lord to help them deal with the
sin in their life that has brought them to this situation; but you cannot ever do this alone without compromising your
ministry.
In cases like this you need great discernment, and someone you can call upon to act confidentially in matters like this.
Within churches any opposite sex meetings ought to be attended by at least one deacon or deaconess as advisers and
witnesses. It is vital that you approach any situation that could lead to sexual temptation/accusation with mental
alertness, a witness, and your Bible open, so that you can seek a godly solution to the person’s problems, or at least
escape unharmed yourself.
We are to care for the lost, but not be foolish in the process. If it is possible we are to seek ways to stabilize the situation
we confront, and if it is possible, seek ways to assist the tempter in mending their marital relationship, or direct them to
appropriate help. When confronted with this many Christians act like Joseph and panic. Moses has already given us his
age, and we are not to blame Joseph here, for he was unschooled in this sort of thing. With the book of Proverbs before
us, and this story here, we are however to be blamed if we fall into temptation in this sort of situation.
Joseph tries to discuss the constant sexual teasing with Potiphar's wife, but people, when they are sexually inflamed, do
not reason well and such effort is generally wasted unless backed by strong Bible Doctrine that the person can see we
know and live. He says that this would be sinning against Potiphar but this has little effect on her. His moral standards
are high and hers are low.
You have to find a meeting place to meet at for such discussions, and the right one here is the Word of God, but if this is
rejected, then you must guard yourself and not trust to the “good nature” of the pagan, for they have by then proved that
they don’t have one! Day by day she propositioned Joseph. When a person is like this, you need to have a person with
you all the time as your witness, report them, or preferably, stay well away from them.
Joseph’s only solution here is to report her and get her into trouble, and possibly jailed or killed. She leaves him without
another option, but he does not see the danger, and hopes she will stop at some point. Such a view is foolishness, for
once it is clear there is a pattern, Satan’s people don’t tend to stop! The believer must then act to protect their reputation
and the Lord’s good name. Joseph pulls back from exposing her, and so opens himself to the certainty that she will
expose him, and he is finally himself jailed for many years.
One day Joseph finds himself with her alone in the house and he again rejects her advances. She pounces this time and
grabs his outer clothing. He ran out of the house in his underwear and left his outer clothing in her hands (the equivalent
of his trousers in today’s world). Joseph is totally inexperienced with a woman of this type and what to do about her. She
knows that Joseph may tell Potiphar now, so she beats him to the punch.
Potiphar believes his wife's version and puts Joseph into the inner prison of the court. He is where political prisoners are
kept, and there is no release from this place for him, just slow death. Injustice is a terrible thing to cope with especially
when no one will listen to you. Joseph is unjustly accused of attempted rape and no-one believes him. He is confronted
with an impossible situation, and the challenge of such places in our walk through this life, is to meet the Lord there and
trust him for the outcome. Jeremiah 43:11, 45:4-5, 46:28, 1 Peter 5:5-7. He learns and trusts.
In verse 21 Moses will remind us, that the Lord is with Joseph, and that does not stop in jail, and he will show him mercy
and favour even as a prisoner, and soon we discover he is in charge of the other prisoners. At the end of chapter 39 he
is in jail rather than in a pit as at the end of chapter 38, so that nothing has really changed.
This is Moses point; nothing has changed; God is still with him. “I'm in jail and I will produce fruit here and leave my case
in the Lord’s hands,” says Joseph recognizing he is in God's hands. 1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:20-24.
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Moses message is that the Lord will not let any of us down, any more than he let Joseph down. If the Lord lets you down
He will let Himself down and he never does that. We are secure in his hand, for we are his hand! John 10:28-29. Refer
to the BTB study at the end of this section, ETERNAL SECURITY.
GENESIS 39:1-13
39:1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an
Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2 And the LORD
was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his
master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And
Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he
had he put into his hand. 5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and
over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the
LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and
he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well
favoured. 7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she
said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master knows not what is with
me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than
I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great
wickedness, and sin against God? 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he
hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went
into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. 12 And she caught
him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. 13 And
it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth.”
REFLECTION
Verses 1 - 3.
Joseph is unable to control the events that drive his destiny forwards towards Egypt. He is a
slave and does not weep or wail about it; he simply accepts things and moves forward to seek the best path in his new
life by working as hard as he can for his new master. He accepts his lot without complaint and devotes himself to work.
This is a challenge to us all; that in all situations we find ourselves we are called to work as hard as we can in order to
bring the Lord’s name before others as a name of honour and respect when they see our good deeds. Matthew 5:14-16,
1 Corinthians 7:20-24, Philippians 2:14-18, 4:11-13. To be fully active in the Lord’s plan for our life, we are to work at
what we could call, “sustainable full speed”, all the time, and in every service opportunity.
God’s hand is upon all our ways and guides us into the places and to meet the people we need to in order to fulfill the
plan for our life. Joseph could have been sold to anyone, but the Lord sovereignly guides the Ishmaelites to sell him to
Potiphar, the very man who can teach him many things, and then ensure that Joseph is sent to the right jail for his next
appointed meeting with the butler and the baker of Pharaoh.
Joseph does not see it, but he is in Potiphar’s house to learn the Egyptian language, become clear on their customs and
beliefs, so that when he meets the butler and the baker he is able to fully communicate with them. Potiphar is high up
enough in the civil service/army to be mixing in the right circles, so Joseph learns all the protocols of the court in the
household, but he would not be meeting the two men that he later must meet.
The Lord’s timing is perfect, for Joseph has enough years in Potiphar’s service to learn all he needs to know about Egypt
to be accepted by Egyptians as one of them, and later to be able to rule over their nation. In Potiphar’s household and
also in jail he will learn all he needs to know about organization to rule.
He needed to be bought by the right man to achieve that, and he needs to arrive in the jail at the right time to be able to
meet the two men of the court after their failed coup or plot. God arranges these details without Joseph even being
aware it is happening. Joseph’s part is to be active in obedient service to each master, and be 100% hard working in his
post at each point. This is a good example of divine sovereignty and free will merging into the fulfillment of the plan of
God for Joseph’s life.
God does all that is needed to ensure the right things happen at the right time to produce the right situations for learning
and personal growth for Joseph, his role is to be obedient and to work with focused energy in each place he finds himself
and to learn to trust the Lord for the outcomes in each case. Read each of these scriptures carefully if you have missed
them so far in the text, for they sum up these lessons and remind us of the vital need to walk with the Lord, and just what
that phrase fully means. Psalms 55:16-17, 22-23, 75:5-7, Proverbs 3:1-7, 15:33, Jeremiah 45:5, Philippians 4:6-7, James
4:10, 1 Peter 5:5-7.
Our call is exactly like Joseph’s. We are to leave the meeting of the right people and the finding of the right situations in
the Lord’s hands, but we are to be alert and take every godly opportunity for service we receive, and we are to work with
100% energy, “as unto the Lord”. Philippians 4:1-5, Colossians 3:16-24. We are to “rise early” to serve and do so looking
for what the Lord will bring out of each situation.
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Our task is not to second guess God and over think, but simply to work hard in every opportunity the Lord opens up and
prayerfully seek the full significance of each event and circumstance we find ourselves in. Let us stand with Jeremiah
and be able to say to our generation that we have consistently “risen early” to speak and work the truth to them.
Jeremiah 7:13, 25, 11:7, 25:3-4, 26:5, 29:19, 32:33, 35:14-15, 44:4.
Verses 4 - 6.
These verses introduce us to the true prosperity gospel message of the holy scriptures. True
prosperity is blessing from the Lord for obedient service in the path we are called to serve within, “as unto the Lord”.
Joseph was a slave to this man Potiphar, but he serves as a prince before him and devotes all his energies into doing
the best job he can for his master.
There is no arrogance in Joseph’s service now, simply total obedience and thought as to what will best benefit his
master. He does not seek his own good, nor advancement, but his master’s blessing. He is no longer the young man
with the long sleeved coat lording it over his brothers; he is now a humble servant who sees that his advancement is in
the Lord’s hands, and will come through his being an obedient servant, even as a slave with no human hope of freedom.
Joseph devotes himself to service and so the Lord blesses all he does. The pagan officer sees that Joseph is blessed
and that all he does is both well done and prospers Potiphar’s household. Joseph brings in efficiencies and his honesty
and energy inspires the household staff. Potiphar’s business interests grow and develop and he recognizes that this is
Joseph’s doing, and when Joseph is praised he gives credit to his God Jehovah, and so Potiphar sees that Joseph’s God
brings good fortune to his household and promotes Joseph steadily through the ranks in his household until he is in
charge of everything and all Potiphar does is turn up to meals, everything else is in Joseph’s hands. Moses also
mentions that through this time Joseph grows physically into a very handsome, muscular and strong young man who is
very attractive to the opposite sex.
Verses 7 – 9.
Joseph shows his honesty and also his naivety here in this interchange with this sexually
obsessed woman. She seeks his sexual company as her lover. This may be her first encounter of this sort, or Joseph
may be the last in a long line; we are not told, although Moses indicates by his account of her persistence, that she was
probably used to breaking down men’s resistance to her charms.
Penalties for adultery in the ancient world’s cultures went from dismemberment, through imprisonment for life, to death.
Adultery was a dangerous game but it was still played by those who sought excitement, and it still is, no matter what the
penalty. Diodorus Siculus, in his work, Book 1:78, records that the Egyptians determined 1000 lashes upon a man who
seduced another man’s wife, to be given over many months in jail. It may be that this was the punishment of Joseph and
that he had to endure regular beatings for months before he was lifted up to rule in the prison.
People who despise God’s law will however pay scant attention to the consequences from men, for those who
deliberately enter this path are self absorbed and self centred. They believe that they are special and that they will
escape all consequences, and avoid all condemnation. When they are caught and brought to justice they always
complain about “unfairness” because their narcissistic nature makes them believe that they are entitled to get away with
whatever they want.
We are to be ready if we are in ministry for this sort of attack. When a person suggests immorality you had better be
ready with a well practiced short and sharp answer, for all long explanations simply make them intrigued and desirous to
see if they can break down your logical wall. Only a strong moral wall stands against determined evil. This woman
doesn’t care about offending her husband, for she is clearly used to fooling him and he is used to ignoring her most of
the time!
Joseph’s reason for not entering into sex with her is feeble in her eyes. He uses logic when she is well out of that ball
park! She has looked and lusted and wants what she desires, and could care less about Joseph’s concern not to offend
her husband. She doesn’t care about him; that is why she wants Joseph! Adultery has it’s motive power in either, firstly,
addiction to pleasure or power, or secondly to the mental attitude sins of anger, envy, resentment or bitterness towards
the spouse who is being cheated on. Adulterers are driven by lust, not by logic, and so appeals to reason or custom, or
law are useless.
Joseph has made it clear that this is a sin against her husband and against God. He has clearly stated his reasons and
they are good ones, just irrelevant to this woman’s frame of reference, which is purely sensual. Joseph does not
recognize her way of thinking, nor does he take steps to secure himself in her presence as he was able. He was in
charge of all the servants, and while there were some clearly there who resented this “upstart” from being placed over
them, (who this woman will appeal to later), but he would have had enough authority to order a couple to be with him at
all times. He fails to see the danger he is in, and his youth and poor childhood education in the immoral household of
Jacob may excuse him, but it does not excuse us as pastors today if we are not vigilant in this area, for we have the clear
warnings of many scriptures to beware such situations, and be as wise as serpents in such places, while continuing as
harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16.
Verses 10 – 13.
This woman is a thoroughly self obsessed person and has her eyes on the goal of Joseph’s
seduction and will not be put off at all. Joseph does not see her malice, thinking she will finally “give up”, but this sort of
person never does until they have reached their goal or destroyed it.
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Joseph enters the house alone one too many times and she springs her trap. She has ensured that her own servants are
carefully out of the way, but able to be called in. She makes her move and grabs him sexually. Joseph has no alternative
but to leave his garments beside her on the bed or couch. This tells us that he had been sitting down trying to reason
with her yet again. He was in a situation where logic was well past it’s “use by date”.
He flees and hopes that things will return to normal again and the game of cat and mouse will simply continue, with
tomorrow’s encounter seeing him get his trousers back! He is wrong and as she looks at the clothing in her hand she
decides he is not going to play her game and so must be eliminated before he talks. She moves to have him severely
dealt with as an attempted seducer. In the immorality stakes, the first one to firmly end things fully and finally, must move
overwhelmingly and suddenly, or they will be destroyed. Joseph does not see the malice here until he feels the lash upon
his back. Proverbs 23:27-28.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
We are warned in scripture that we are not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices. In this chapter we see a device of
Satan that he continues to use, for it is so successful with all who allow arrogance or ignorance to leave them
open to sexual temptation or false sexual accusation. We are warned by the Lord in many passages in his Word
to be on our guard against the “wiles of the devil” yet many ministers still fail to take the precautions required to
keep safe from public disgrace in this matter. Let us practice the safest protocols to keep ourselves from any
temptations, and also from any situations where we might be falsely accused of improper behaviour. Let us be
sure, that if we serve the Lord in power and truth that the enemy will launch all manner of attacks against us,
including sexual attack. Let us be ready for the enemy by safe protocols and pure living.
2.
God’s Plan is perfect and will certainly work out; the only variable is our obedience to it as it unfolds before our
eyes. We are called to be spiritually alert daily, in order to see what it might be that the Lord wishes us to do
today. Let us be alert, and obedient, and energetic in our work for the Lord, ever seeking his face so that we do
not miss the smallest instruction. We are not to be like dumb animals needing bits and bridles to keep us
moving in the right direction, but to be looking to the slightest look from the Lord to be obedient to his will for us.
Read Psalms 32:8-11, and be rebuked for any slackness you have practiced in this matter, and be encouraged
to walk in the Spirit again. Also, do a word study in your concordance of the word “ignorant”, and see how many
times in scripture we are ordered “NOT” to be ignorant of God’s will, word and path for our life! Let us be wise in
the realities of the enemy’s strategies and not be made fools of by evil men or women.
3.
There is one only who blesses, and one alone who safely lifts us up, and that is the Lord God. The Lord lifts up
our work and blesses our paths. We are called to be totally devoted to the Lord’s path and his service alone, for
there alone is the path to lasting blessing. Joseph learns this in Potiphar’s house, and even though he is caught
in the sexual trap Satan lays for him, God’s plan for his life is not stopped nor is the plan hindered in any real
way. Joseph must pay a heavy price for his ignorance but he learns and keeps advancing in the path towards
destiny, and so must we, even if we receive a beating or two on the way. Hebrews 12:4-13.
4.
Be sure that the enemy will attack you if you serve the Lord in spirit and truth and be sure that the enemy will
provide a “good” temptation, for Satan has many people in his service to call upon. Be on guard at all times, and
do not carelessly walk into paths where the enemy may launch an unexpected attack. We have an eternal
destiny and that means there is a task to do here upon the earth in Spirit and in Truth. The enemy will do
ANYTHING to stop this. Be ready, be alert, and be careful as you walk through each day upon this earth. Do not
relax and be casual about temptation, for the day you do there is an agent of the enemy ready to lie about you
as Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph.
DOCTRINES
GOD: PLAN OF GOD - see page 16
CHRISTIAN LIFE: ETERNAL SECURITY
1. When a person truly trusts Jesus Christ for salvation, he is saved forever. He cannot lose his salvation.
2. POSITIONAL APPROACH (Romans 8:38-39)
We are united with Christ ("in Christ"). Absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ.
3. LOGICAL APPROACH (Romans 8:32, Romans 5)
As unbelievers we are enemies of God (Romans 5), as believers we are his children. If he did the most for his enemies
what will he do for his children? This excludes loss of salvation for he saved us while we were his enemies.
4. GOD'S HANDS APPROACH (John 10:28, Psalm 37:24)
Neither shall anyone seize them out of my hand. God is all powerful.
5. EXPERIENTIAL APPROACH (2 Timothy 2:12-13)
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If we deny Christ He is going to deny us rewards (context=suffering and rewards). If we renounce Him, HE REMAINS
FAITHFUL. The believer is in Christ and Christ indwells the believer. He cannot deny Himself.
6. THE FAMILY APPROACH (Galatians 3:26, John 1:12)
When you believe in Christ you are born again as a child of God. You cannot be unborn, once a child always a child.
7. THE INHERITANCE APPROACH (1 Peter 1:4-5)
We have an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled which fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us who are kept by the
power of God. Perfect tense - it will always be reserved, since it is kept by God, not us.
8. THE SOVEREIGNTY APPROACH (2 Peter 3:9, Jude 24)
He is not willing that any should perish - refers to the whole human race (2 Peter 3:9) Now unto him who is able to keep
you from falling (from perishing). Once you are saved, it is His will that you don't perish.
9. THE BODY APPROACH (1 Corinthians 12:21, Colossians 1:18)
Christ is the head, we are the members of the body. If any are lost, the body of Christ is incomplete.
10. THE GREEK TENSE APPROACH (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"For by Grace are ye saved". Perfect tense of the verb "sozo". For by Grace have you been saved in the past so that you
go on being saved forever.
11. THE SEALING MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT APPROACH (2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, 4:30)
In the ancient world the seal was a guarantee for protection. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit guarantees our security.
ANGELS – SATAN’S STRATEGY AND TACTICS
STRATEGY
Whilst God is trying to call out personnel for the angelic council Satan is trying to confuse and blind minds as to what
God’s plan is. He does this by deceit. He tries to keep the gospel from the unbeliever and to keep doctrine from the
believer so that they will not grow.
His other strategy is to try and eliminate Israel by pogroms and anti-Semitism. It is said that Christ will gather the Jews
not Zionism as is happening at the moment. If he could destroy all the Jews which he cannot he will destroy the Plan of
God.
TACTICS
These are the techniques used by Satan to try and achieve his strategy. His main tactic is implied in John 8:44 where he
is seen as the father of lies. There is no truth in Satan. He is a liar and has been from the beginning. The only truth is
Christ the Word. Any one who deliberately distorts the truth is working for Satan. Rejection of Christianity is a rejection of
the truth. By application all religions are therefore false.
Christians as a whole have failed to move out into all the areas of life and therefore have not claimed leadership in these
areas and they have been forfeited to the unbeliever. Such areas as literature, history, philosophy, music, science and
the like.
The Christian should be a conqueror ideologically and not militarily. During this time Satan tries to cause conflicts such
as creation versus evolution, relativism versus absolute values, internationalism versus nationalism. In the international
area he causes war and strife.
Satan tries to confuse the believer. In Romans 6:6-11 the Bible says that the sin nature shall not have dominion over
you. We are told to resist the devil and he will flee from you. Sometimes when we resist it does not work because the
temptation is from your sin nature. You need to apply relevant Scriptures to your situation.
Satan will try and mislead you in the area of divine guidance. Satan can set up situations that will lead you out of the
geographical will of God which can even extend to martyrdom. You need to do things in the Lord’s timing. Satan also
perverts Scripture as seen in Luke 4:11 with the temptation of the Lord Jesus Christ where he misquotes Psalm 91:10,11
When people wrote the Scriptures they did not sit around with a blank mind. They used their minds and were led by the
Holy Spirit as to what to write. When they had visions or dreams their minds were not turned off. When confronted by the
Lord Jesus Christ Paul spoke to Him, He used his mentality.
In 2 Corinthians 11 ministers can act as messengers from Satan. Part of the Satanic attack is to get people to look
inwardly rather than at their position at the right hand of the Father. With the case of suffering and sickness its source is
sometimes difficult to determine as it can be the purpose of God or it can be an attack of Satan. This is hard to discern.
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Often the more spectacular manifestations is the method used to distract one from more important things such as
studying and applying the Word.
With regards to the Word we have the teaching of false doctrine such as saying that Christ did not actually die on the
Cross, that He was not truly human nor divine.
In relation to the gospel we have the picture in the parable of the Sower and the Seed of the bird coming down and
taking away the seed that is sown. In regard to worship he will mock God through senseless words. Matthew 16 tells of
Christ commanding Peter to get behind him as Peter is enthusiastic but has wrong concepts which Jesus saw as Satanic
in origin as they did not conform to the Word of God. In Acts 5 Satan filled the heart of Ananias and Sapphira. He works
in the children of disobedience.
Later on we will look at the strategies and tactics of the church. Spiritism and Occultism is something that the Christian
should not dabble in. In Deuteronomy 18:9 the Jews were told not to seek guidance from spiritism or occultism. The main
attacks on the church nowadays is not through cults but through spiritism and eastern religions and drugs. This is an
attempt to break down the mentality of the soul. By these means you are opening the person up to demonic forces.
GENESIS 39:14-23
“14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew
unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: 15 And it came to pass,
when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out. 16
And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. 17 And she spake unto him according to these
words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: 18 And it
came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out. 19 And it came to
pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy
servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. 20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a
place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 21 But the LORD was with
Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper
of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did
there, he was the doer of it. 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand;
because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.”
REFLECTION
Verses 14 – 16.
She moves quickly to build her story of deceit. Joseph does not see it coming and has
headed away and likely simply carried on his duties, having got a spare set of clothes from his vast wardrobe. He thinks
he is safe until the last moment when Potiphar comes home. Notice her actions. Firstly she calls in the very men who
Joseph has been placed in authority over; men who will be interested in making him suffer. They have been clearly told
to “stand by”, for they are easily called by her. They are used to her “games” and will play along, for their lives depend
upon her and she makes sure they know it. The charges she plans against Joseph are serious ones. He will go to jail for
a long time and be beaten severely day after day for months as a result of this. The other serving men are happy, for one
of them will take charge in Joseph’s absence and they do not expect him to ever be released.
I often think about what happened to this household once Joseph was released and made second ruler! I wonder if
Potiphar was still “captain of the guard” at that point. We are not told his or his wife’s fate. If Moses had information about
them, and given his position it would be expected he would, he doesn’t tell us clearly! He does however give us a clue
when the Butler tells us later, Genesis 40:3-4, and 41:10, that he and the chief Baker were placed in the “Captain of the
Guard’s house”, and we are told Joseph was placed in charge of them. We will come back to this point, for the Captain of
the Guard in charge of the prison may have been Potiphar himself!
Notice the racial taunts that Potiphar’s wife uses against Joseph. She uses the racial differences to amplify the hatred the
other servants have towards him anyway as their boss. Her message is “we are all mocked” by this man and his
appointment as the boss of the household. This must be the feeling of the servants already, so that she can use it for her
own ends. Her cry to them is well planned and rehearsed. This is no spur of the moment plan she is following here, but
the result of many weeks thought about what to do if she can’t get Joseph where she wants him. Having sowed the seed
of the lie with all the male servants of her household, she lays Joseph’s clothing aside until Potiphar comes home from
the palace.
Verses 17 – 19.
Potiphar does not hold any sort of inquiry into the truth of the allegations, but quickly decides
to act on the basis of the evidence his wife gives him. This story is likely backed up by the other servants, but there is no
“due process” or legal testing of evidence done here. Potiphar jumps to the wrong conclusion, thinking that Joseph has
simply got too swollen headed with his great power in the house, something that his wife may have been feeding to him
over the weeks also to prepare for this eventuality. Anger guides his actions rather than logic, just as lust guides his wife.
Jeremiah 9:3-6.
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Verses 20 – 23.
This is no ordinary prison that Joseph was placed within, but the Pharaoh’s personal prison.
It’s name gives us it’s shape; it was called the “round house”. It was a circular prison with the most dangerous, or
important people, in the centre, and that was where Joseph was “bound”. Moses makes it clear that Joseph is not in a
pleasant place, and that he was restrained, and likely initially beaten daily. He is in a terrible situation and is without
human hope. There is a tremendous challenge to faith here. Will he believe the Lord’s promises or succumb to doubt and
despair?
Moses quickly reminds us of what Joseph clung to and expressed his faith in; that the Lord God was with him. If the
“Captain of the Guard” was Potiphar himself, then he would have enjoyed punishing Joseph for a time, but over time he
sees that Joseph is responding in a totally different way to any other man who was guilty of such things as he is in jail for.
There is something about the way Joseph handles himself in the prison and expresses his beliefs and behaves that
moves upon the man in charge of the place.
The Lord moves upon Joseph and upon the keeper of the prison and Joseph finds grace in the sight of the man, and
slowly things change in that place for Joseph. Moses does not give us time frames here for each segment of Joseph’s
life, but later he will tell us that Joseph was thirty when he is raised up to serve Pharaoh. Genesis 41:46. It may be that
he was six years with Potiphar in the house and six or seven in jail; we simply don’t know.
He was around seventeen when his brothers moved against him, and thirteen years pass before he is lifted up by
Pharaoh to second ruler of the kingdom. It is his preparation for rulership, and just as in the house outside Joseph rules
over every detail of prison life and the man in charge is able to relax. If it is Potiphar we can see why he does not release
Joseph.
Firstly, he cannot be seen to accuse his wife of lying, nor admit he has wrongly imprisoned this man, and he also cannot
do the work without him. It makes sense to keep Joseph locked up, but working for Egypt still. As a slave, it does not
matter where he works, just as long as Potiphar is getting value for money; also the injustice of locking him up, as he is a
slave and can be treated any way the master wishes, makes all concepts of “injustice” irrelevant to Egyptian Law
anyway. We end this section with Joseph still trapped in a humanly hopeless situation, and with him still working faithfully
in all he is asked to do. He works as a slave and he does so faithfully. He sets us the best example of service and shows
us how to prepare for greater service; by working hard in the area we find ourselves!
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
We may feel like slaves at times in the Lord’s work, but that is because we are his slaves, just as Paul was.
Paul delighted to call himself the “bond slave” of Christ. We are bought with the price of the precious blood of
the Saviour and so are owned by the Lord, and so our time is his to apportion to whatever tasking he thinks fit.
Let us be obedient to whatever the Lord calls us to, for it is in this that we will find our path of life and service
and blessing, just as Joseph did.
2.
Our idea of timing is not the same as the Lord’s. Joseph’s training to rule Egypt will take thirteen years, counting
all time with Potiphar, both in his house and in the jail he controlled. Joseph had no idea when the time would
be up, and yet he faithfully served day after day. He did get frustrated, as we will see, but he was patient over all
and the Lord heard his prayers and the answer came in the right time for the plan. Just so it is with us. When
the right time comes to make the next move the Lord opens the next door and not one second early. Let us be
patient in this matter and pray away our frustrations rather than moan about what appears to be some delay.
There are no delays in the Lord’s plan.
DOCTRINES
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SUFFERING see page 13
JUSTICE
1. God’s character involves perfect justice as an attribute. All he does is just and righteous. Refer Character of God,
Righteousness.
2. We must adjust our lives and attitudes to God’s perfect Justice. We do this at salvation by recognizing our need of a
perfect Saviour. We do that when we sin and confess our sins, recognizing that we need the perfect sacrifice for sin, and
we do this through Christian growth to spiritual maturity, as we grown more Christ like, so that our lives are characterized
by more justice in our dealings. Refer Sin, Salvation, Maturity.
3. God’s grace provides through the Cross what his Righteousness and Justice demands from sinful man. Romans 5:12,
6:23, 1 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 1:9, 2:2.
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4. God’s perfect Justice is met by the Cross and he waits for us to appropriate the blessings of salvation through faith in
Christ. He waits to bless us without any compromise to his perfect character. Proverbs 1:3, Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:13,
Isaiah 30:18.
TEMPTATION
1. The best case example of temptation is the temptation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for in this case we see
the best techniques and tools to deal with this Satanic attack. Matthew 4:3ff.
2. We are constantly being tempted to walk away from the plan of God for our lives; into sin, evil, or distractions that are
neither bad nor good, just things that will keep us from the path the Lord wants us to walk.
3. As unbelievers Satan’s temptations focus on keeping us away from the Gospel message, so we never hear the truth,
because we are too busy with other things. Once we are believers, Satan knows he cannot stop us reaching heaven, but
he can rob us of rewards and ministry. Refer REWARDS.
4. Jesus faced his first temptation was physical; the desire to meet a physical need outside of the plan of God for him.
Matthew 4:3-4. The test is to trust the Father for provision of the basics of life within his plan for his life, rather than
inappropriately use power. Believers are often tempted to use the wrong means to do the right thing. We are to use the
right means to achieve godly ends, and walk only in obedience to the Word of God in all things.
5. The second temptation centred in the distortion of the scriptures. Matthew 4:5-7. Satan quotes Psalms 91:11-12, but
does so out of context. It is never right to deliberately put yourself in danger just to claim a promise of scripture, for such
promises only operate within the Lord’s will, not I areas you have placed yourself at a whim! Refer GUIDANCE – THE
WILL OF GOD. Jesus responds to the temptation with the appropriate use of scripture quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, 17:4.
6. The third temptation was to short cut the Father’s plan by gaining power and authority another way than God ordained.
Matthew 4:8-10. Once again, we see that all temptation centres in the plan of God and the Satanic strategy to get you
away from the plan any way he can. Satan has always asked, “Why wait? – have it now!” Impatience is always a major
distraction from truth. The plan calls for patience, and an attitude of faith and trust. Satan works with instant satisfaction,
which is, of course, no satisfaction at all. Refer PATIENCE, PLAN OF GOD.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SERVICE
1. Our duty is to surrender our entire lives to God. (Romans 12:1)
2. Willingness is essential. (Judges 5:2, 8:25, Isaiah 1:19, 2 Corinthians 8:3)
3. Service in the big things requires by faithfulness in the small things.
4. Monotony and difficulties are transformed into the opportunities with the correct attitude (Matthew 6:33)
5. Everything we do should be "as unto the Lord" (Colossians 3:17)
6. Service to Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men (Romans 14:18)
7. Our work should be completed. (John 4:34, 17:4, Acts 20:24, 2 Timothy 4:7)
8. The example of Christ. (Matthew 20:28, Luke 22:27, Philippians 2:7)
9. Qualities of our service:a) It is demanded. (Hebrews 12:28)
b) It should be immediate. (Matthew 21:28)
c) It is abundant. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
d) It is according to ability. (Matthew 25:22, Luke 12:48)
e) It is in co-operation with God. (2 Corinthians 6:1)
f) Must be exclusive (Luke 16:13)
g) In the power of the spirit (Romans 1:9)
h) Undertaken in Godly fear (Hebrews 12:28)
i) Motivated by love (Galatians 5:13)
10. It is :a) Following Christ (John 12:26)
b) For him whom all Christians serve (Colossians 3;24)
c) Service to God (Acts 27:23).
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11. It requires:a) Turning from idols (1 Thessalonians 1:9)
b) Fasting and prayer (Luke 2:37)
c) Ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-4).
12. Benefits of Service:a) It glorifies God. (Matthew 5:16, John 15:8)
b) It enriches life. (1 Timothy 6:18-19)
c) It gives a pattern for imitation. (Titus 2:7)
d) It encourages others in their tasks. (Hebrews 10:24)
e) It shows neighbourliness. (Luke 10:36-37)
f) It lightens life's burdens. (Galatians 6:2,16)
g) It demonstrates love. (John 21:15-17)
h) It demonstrates faith. (James 2:17-18, 1 Peter 2:12)
i) It is Christlike. (John 13:12-15)
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SUBMISSION
1. This means to humble oneself in willing service to another, with the connotation that it is for your good. Genesis 16:9,
1 Peter 5:6, Hebrews 13:17.
2. We must fully surrender ourselves to God. James 4:7, Romans 12:1-2 As the Lord made himself obedient unto death
so must we. Philippians 2:18.
3. We are, in Christ to submit ourselves each to the other within the church. This involves putting the spiritual needs of
others ahead of any personal interests. Ephesians 5:21.
4. Within the church believers are to submit to the teaching authority of the pastor as he preaches from the Word.
Hebrews 13:17, 1 Corinthians 16:6, 1 Peter 5:5.
5. A wife is to submit herself to her own husband within their marriage. This involves respect for him as her spiritual
leader and protector. Ephesians 5:22, Colossians 3:18, Titus 2:4 -5.
6. Children also are to submit in love to their parents' authority under God. Colossians 3:20.
7. All believers are to be in submission to the laws of their land, unless those laws violate the clear command of God.
Romans 13:1 , 2, Matthew 22:21, 1 Peter 2:13-17, exception example, Acts 4:15-20, 5:40-42.
8. Workers are to be under authority of their employers and their managers. Colossians 3:22-25, Ephesians 6:5-8, Titus
2:9, 10, 1 Peter 2:18-24.
9. Those in authority have a special responsibility to treat those under them with care and respect. Colossians 4:1
NOTES
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CHAPTER 40
THE DREAMS OF THE MINISTERS OF EGYPT
In chapter 40 we have the high ministers called the baker and the butler who have been imprisoned as a result of a coup
d'etat attempt while the Pharaoh determined who was guilty of the plot. The butler was the cup bearer who stood at the
right hand of Pharaoh and was the equivalent of the minister of external affairs whilst the baker was the minister of
internal affairs. They are named by their ceremonial duties, but were major cabinet ministers in the government.
In verses 5-8 both of these ministers have a dream and both are depressed about the content. These men have no
eternal security, and no temporal security either as a result of the plot against Pharaoh. In verse 8 Joseph offers to
interpret the dream with the Lord God being the source of the interpretation, and Joseph gives God the glory well before
the interpretation comes. The interpretation of the dreams indicates that the cup bearer is due for release, but the internal
affairs minister will be executed in three days as the guilty one.
Joseph however tries to use the circumstances to deliver himself from the prison by saying to the cup bearer to
remember him when he is released. His message is a strong indication of his deep frustration; “I am an innocent man,
when you are free and serving again, please arrange for me to be let go”. He has tried to help God, and God doesn’t
need help to release him. He has also forgotten that he is a slave and will not be “let go”, even if released from the jail.
He has three years yet to serve in his sentence but it is not for not trusting God, it is simply that this is the appointed time
when the dreams of Pharaoh will occur.
God says to us all, as he did to Joseph, “I want you to trust only Me and I will deliver you in my time, according to my
plan, and it will be the right time”. In God's time Joseph is going to get out. He does not need to ask an unbeliever for a
favour. In God's time He will lift him up 1 Peter 5:6-7. The hardest lesson to learn in this life is to leave yourself in the
Lord's hands and trust His plan for you absolutely.
Be faithful with what He has given you to do, and do it with all your strength, and let the outcome and the timing be with
Him. Do not play politics as a Christian. It is not God's will that you should advance spiritually by doing favours to men or
by receiving favours from them. God will use believers and unbelievers to assist you, but leave the organizing of it in
God’s hands. As pastors of the Lord’s flock, our job is to provide food for the sheep and cultivate the friendship of those
who love God's Word and leave the working out of the plan to the author of it. God can be trusted; men cannot. - 2
Corinthians 12:9,10, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 55:22; 1 Samuel 17:37.
Are you going to live with Joseph and Paul in faith or be in “panic palace” in a state of carnality? Whether you are in the
prison or in the palace it does not matter, for you can have the fruit of the Spirit anywhere. Joseph lost nothing by waiting
for three years. The Lord works out all things well. Walk in the Spirit not in the understanding of the human flesh.
Proverbs 1:1-7, 2:1-22, 3:1-8.
GENESIS 40:1-22
1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their
lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and
against the chief of the bakers. 3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the
prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he
served them: and they continued a season in ward. 5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his
dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king
of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon
them, and, behold, they were sad. 7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's
house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? 8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and
there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I
pray you. 9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was
before me; 10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot
forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the
grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 12 And Joseph said unto
him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: 13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh
lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the
former manner when thou wast his butler. 14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew
kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15 For
indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put
me into the dungeon. 16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also
was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: 17 And in the uppermost basket there was
of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 18 And
Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days: 19 Yet within
three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy
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flesh from off thee. 20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast
unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21
And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: 22 But he
hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph,
but forgat him.”
REFLECTION
Verses 1 – 3.
Prison life has gone on for a number of years by this stage, for we know from verse one of
chapter 41 that it is two full years later that the Chief Butler remembers the events of this chapter and Joseph is recalled
from the prison to stand before Pharaoh. The challenge for Joseph is, not unlike our own, to remain constant in his daily
work, even though the monotony of it must have taxed his ability to persevere. He needed to relax in faith-rest upon the
promises of God; that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord would deliver him to stand before the king, and that all
would bow to him one day, but that day was in the Lord’s hands, not his.
There is a plot of some sort that threatens the Pharaoh. The ring leader is a person close to the Pharaoh and so he takes
the two suspects and locks them away until he has questioned everyone and found out who it is in truth. In this day they
didn’t leave anyone who might be guilty free to plot and cover their tracks with crafty lawyers. Anyone suspected of evil
was contained quickly until the truth was known; then the innocent was freed and the guilty died. As noted above, these
men were more than tradesmen in the household, they were the trusted advisers to the Pharaoh, and they were in
charge of serving his food and wine, and so were the most trusted, for poison was the normal way of eliminating kings in
this day.
The two men are placed in the prison where Joseph also is “bound”. This tells us that while Joseph is in charge of some
aspects of prison life, he is still in chains daily, and the word’s normal meaning indicates he was attached to a wall each
night at least. He is tasked with being the servant of these two officials of Pharaoh. He becomes in effect their butler,
steward, and cleaner while they are there. This underlines their status as cabinet ministers of Pharaoh, not just kitchen
hands.
Verses 4 – 6.
Dreams are used by the Lord to communicate warnings to people, and at rare times to bring
comfort. God’s special revelation is normally for warning and so the information conveyed is more often disturbing and
worrying than encouraging. The scriptures are encouraging, so when the Lord speaks in a specific special way it is for
warning more often than most.
Most dreams we have are not in this category of revelation at all, but are simply our own mind working things out that
trouble it, but at specific times, to specific people, for specific purposes the Lord does use dreams to communicate. If a
dream is a revelation of divine purpose, it will obey the laws that the Lord has given for revelation. It will always be
specific, testable, proved true in time, godly in it’s purpose, and always will teach principles that are in accordance with
scripture. No revelation of the Lord will ever lead people away from the Lord. Refer to the BTB study of DREAMS,
PROPHECY, REVELATION. Two good examples of dreams are in Daniel 2:1ff, 4:4-7.
Verses 7 – 8.
These men are disturbed by their dreams, for they know that there is serious meaning behind
them and that the meaning could be fatal to them. They know that the plot was real and that one of them is guilty of
treason, but the guilty one, the “chief baker”, is playing things very close to his chest and not letting on that he is the one.
He will tell his dream second, as he hesitates, as guilty men do, to see the nature of Joseph’s interpretation for the chief
butler first.
Joseph makes it clear from the beginning that it is the Lord God who interprets dreams and to him alone belong the
events of history. He steps out in faith and asks them to tell him the dream. He knows that God knows all things and if
this is the door to his release then the Lord will give him the answer to the dreams immediately. Soothsayers and occult
people are not ever needed; the words of the living God are all that is required. Psalms 25:14, Isaiah 8:19, 1 Corinthians
12:7-11
This is a step of faith, not a leap, for the Lord has prepared this man through his own dreams to see that the Lord is
doing something with him, and so he sees the arrival of these two men as the potential open door to the fulfilment of his
own dream. Joseph is looking for the Lord’s next move to bring him through to his manifest destiny and sees this event
as a part of the divine plan. He is “hungry” for the Lord’s path and so steps out to place himself where the Lord can use
him. He takes a risk here, but he is prepared for this by the Lord’s revelation to him.
Verses 9 – 11.
The role of the cup bearer is here described. In the Pharaoh’s presence he would squeeze
the grapes and deliver the freshly prepared grape juice directly to his master. The butler sees a grape vine with three
great ripe clusters of grapes and he takes them presses them directly into pharaoh’s cup, that he holds, and delivers the
fresh juice to Pharaoh. Having told the dream he waits anxiously for Joseph to speak the meaning to him.
Verses 12 – 15.
Joseph immediately receives the interpretation of the dream from the Lord and gives it to the
chief butler. He will be restored to his post, thoroughly exonerated from guilt in the plot and all this will happen within
three days.
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Joseph then adds what we would call his “hard luck story”. Now everything Joseph says is true, but it is irrelevant to the
chief butler who doesn’t care about where Joseph is from or why he is there in jail. His telling of the story is also
irrelevant to the Lord’s plan for Joseph’s life, for his life is in the Lord’s hands, and God needs no help from the
gratefulness of the chief butler to deliver Joseph. The butler will remember Joseph at the right time; Joseph’s challenge is
to relax in God’s timing and serve the Lord until he is released, and then serve him where ever he is sent at that point. 1
Corinthians 7:20-24.
Notice Joseph’s words however. He has been deeply feeling the injustice of his slavery and his jailing. He is normal in
this and is not judged for this outburst of self pity, for it is understandable. I had, in previous study of this passage early in
my ministry blamed Joseph for these words and said that he has two further years added to his sentence from the Lord
because of his request to the chief butler here.
On further mature reflection I believe now I was wrong in that earlier statement. Joseph does not add anything to his
sentence here, for the time frame of the Lord is established in eternity past, and he will be released at exactly the right
time to answer the dream of Pharaoh which is two years away at this point. His words will be remembered by the chief
butler at the right time. Joseph has still some things to learn however; the main one being, that he is here upon the earth
to be the Lord’s servant, and he will be a slave to the Lord’s will all his life. He will relax with this over the next two years
and be ready for Pharaoh’s dream.
Verses 16 – 19.
The chief baker now draws up his courage to tell his dream. He has been up to no good and
his dream indicates this. He only speaks once he sees that the interpretation for the other man was good. He hopes to
escape as guilty men often do, believing he has hidden the evidence of his wrong doing so well that it will not be
uncovered.
His dream pictures him doing his ceremonial work, walking towards the Pharaoh’s house with three baskets of bread
upon his head; all sort of bread in the baskets, but the birds come and eat the lot as he walks. The dream has the same
structure and Joseph does not hesitate with the answer. The three baskets are also three days and he too will have his
head lifted up, but not in honour, but in execution. He will be executed in three days for his crimes. His judgment is upon
his own head; for he is the author of his own misfortune. Leviticus 20:11ff.
Verses 20 – 23.
Three days from this point it was Pharaoh’s birthday and he threw a big party to celebrate. It
was a double celebration, for he had also discovered the truth about the plot and so the butler was forgiven and restored
to his post, while the baker was executed that very day. It was all as Joseph had told in advance. The chief butler is
restored to service and immediately forgets Joseph completely. Why is this?
Those of you who read this may have examples of this from your own lives. When a favour is done to a person it is not
uncommon for the person who has received the great favour to forget the one who blessed them, and only recall it much
later. It is in the nature of man to rejoice in their own deliverance so much that they forget the one who delivered them!
As believers in the Lord, and as ones who have learned to trust and walk close to the Lord upon his path, we can relax in
such situations.
I chuckled to myself as I wrote these words, for I have in my professional work delivered two men from great distress and
major financial and personal catastrophe. In each case they were unable to pay my professional fee in the process but
solemnly promised to pay when the court cases were won and the money to pay me was freed up. Both were believers
in the Lord. Both court cases were won, and I played a key role in each. Neither did pay in the end and have not to date
of writing this.
One man owed $2500-00, for three years work, the other $10,500-00, for over ten years support through great injustice
that the man faced in the courts. Both men were delivered by the Lord in the process and I rejoice that the Lord used me
to assist them. In the second case I had dedicated all my earnings to missions early in the process and so the man has
robbed the mission rather than me. In both cases I have relaxed in the Lord’s provision for me and my family and trusted
that the Lord will yet deliver these men into honesty and integrity, as he used me to deliver them into a new life with hope
for both in place of despair. I understand Joseph’s feelings in this matter.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
In God’s time we will be delivered from the troubles that beset us, and that deliverance will be perfect and the
timing will be perfect in order that the plan of God, from eternity past, will be fulfilled in our life. We have
absolute security in this, for the plan will work out for us. All we have to do is be obedient to the required steps
we are to follow. Joseph will not be delayed in his release, for the Lord’s plan calls for Pharaoh’s dream to occur
first.
2.
To walk in faith, means that we live in a state where the promises of God are seen as more real than all the
distractions and viewpoints of man. The Lord calls us to manifest the fruits of the Holy Spirit in prison or in the
palace. The challenge is to obey the Lord, feed deeply upon his Word and apply it with vigour into the fabric of
daily life wherever the Lord has led us, and wait until the Lord opens doors.
3.
Special revelation is exactly that “special”. It does not happen all the time, for it does not need to, and if it does
then the person needs to be “very scared” for it normally means something very important and potentially very
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scary is coming! Dreams may be used by the Lord but they will involve warnings, and when the Lord is behind
it there will be very specific markers as to the meaning of the dream, and the content will always be godly, in
accord with scripture, and it’s truth will be testable. Anything not in accord with these principles is not of the
Lord, but is simply a natural phenomenon.
4.
Joseph steps out in faith regarding the interpretation of the dreams, but he does so on the basis of good
experiences that have prepared him for this. He does not claim this skill from his own strength, but gives the
Lord credit in advance and steps out in faith to walk through whatever door the Lord has opened through these
two men.
Let us be sure we are alert to what the Lord may be doing in the meetings we have through each day. Let us be
looking for the Lord’s will in each meeting and situation, so that we can be guided. When we step out in faith we
know that the Lord will answer our need, for it is his path we walk, and unless you have that certainty, do not
move forward, for it isn’t faith, it is clearly foolishness unless there is truth and certainty!
5.
When we face injustice and people abuse us or financially misuse us, then we need to claim the Lord’s justice
and wait for the Lord to deal with the problem. Refer to the study on page 33 on JUSTICE. The Lord does not
need our vengeance type activities; when we are abused by another, we are to pass them over to the Lord and
he will deal with them far better than we would. Some important verses on vengeance are here. Deuteronomy
32:35, Psalms 94:1, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30.
DOCTRINES
JUSTICE - see page 33
CHRISTIAN LIFE: FAITH
1. The Christian life can be divided into three sections or stages.
a) Stage 1 - Salvation.
b) Stage 2 - The Christian Walk
c) Stage 3 - The Christian in Heaven.
2. Man has three means of obtaining knowledge:
a) Faith - to believe or trust that something is true
b) Reasoning - using human logic to deduce that something is true
c) Experimentation - to test and prove something to satisfy yourself that it is true
3. The only acceptable method of gaining grace is by faith, since this means depending upon God without our human
merit.
a) Stage 1 - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved - salvation (Acts 16:31).
b) Stage 2 - Trusting in the promises and principles of the Word of God - the Christian walk.
c) Stage 3 - Trusting in God's provision - Heaven.
4. To illustrate belief and unbelief we follow the Jews from the plagues in Egypt to crossing the Jordan:
Incident
Last plague
God’s Promise
Passover Lamb
Scripture
Exodus 12:21-30
Response
Trust
Egyptian Army
Red Sea Crossing
Exodus 14:1-31
Trust
No Water
Water
Exodus 17:1-7
Trust
Gold Calf
God's Doctrine
Exodus 32:15-28
Distrust
Quails
Manna
Num 11:10-33
Distrust
Giants
Enter Canaan
Num 13:1-14:38
Distrust
No water
Water
Num 20:2-13
Distrust
Wanderings
Cross Jordan
Joshua 3:1-17
Trust
Result
Jews
spared
last
plague.
Moses leads Jews over
Red Sea.
By striking rock (Christ)
water obtained.
Sons of Levi (Priests)
slaughtered for leading
Many deaths due to
quails
Death of fearful spies.
Wandering in desert
Moses strikes rock in
disobedience. Will not
enter Promised Land.
Israel crosses Jordan
on dry ground
5. Salvation faith is the complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for your sins and rose from the dead to give you
eternal life. (Acts 16:31, Romans 4:20-25)
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6. Anything added to becomes works, and therefore nullifies faith (Romans 4:4)
7. Faith is shown outwardly by confession with the mouth. (Romans 10:9-10)
8. Since faith does not depend on our own abilities, anybody can believe. Even little children (Matthew 18:2-4)
9. Assurance is by faith (Hebrews 10:22)
10. Faith is trust which does not ask to know all about God but believe all that God has said.
11. Salvation faith receives Christ as Saviour and Lord. (John 1:12, 3:16, 3:36)
12. Faith of salvation is the complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as having been delivered from our transgressions and
raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:20-25)
13. By Faith God gives the soul assurance of the reality of things never yet seen by the natural man. (Hebrews 11:1-3)
14. The triumphs of faith in daily life are illustrated for the believer in Hebrews 11:1-39. Abel, Noah, Moses etc.
15. Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)
16. Faith is the only non meritorious means of understanding things the other being rationalism and empiricism.
17. To become like a little child is an analogy to faith as a young child only has faith. (Matthew 18:2-4)
DREAMS
1. Dreams have been used by the Lord in the history of his revelation to man to communicate specific warnings and
prophetic truth. Of the seventy references to them, all but eight occur in the Old Testament period, and the others before
the establishment of the church. They do not appear to be a common phenomenon for guidance or direction within the
church age. This is likely due to the role of the Holy Spirit which is expanded from the Old Testament times, and is
directive in this age. Refer Holy Spirit Ministries.
2. Dreams occurred many times in the history of Israel as a direct means for specific guidance. Genesis 20:3-6, 31:11,
24, 37:5-10, Daniel 7:1ff. They were used to direct Mary and Joseph, and the Wise men, quite specifically regarding the
birth of Jesus. Matthew 1:20, 2:12-22.
3. Dreams, or visions of significance were either self explanatory or the person had to go to a person skilled in dream
interpretation. Genesis 20:3, 28:12, Numbers 12:6, Deuteronomy 13:1.
4. Visions, like dreams were unusual events, and appear to be restricted to key personnel who were tasked with
communicating God’s Word to others. 1 Samuel 3:1-15, Isaiah 1:1ff, Ezekiel 7:13, Daniel 2:19.
5. In Acts there are specific visions given to the apostles for very specific purposes. Acts 9:10-16, 10:27-29, 16:6-9, 18:111, 2 Corinthians 12:1-7.
6. Dreams and visions may still occur, but they will occur in very unusual situations, for very specific reasons (as we see
in Acts). They will occur in situations where, for some reason, the Holy Spirit chooses this means rather than directly
speaking to the soul of the indwelt believer. While we must allow for the Lord to speak any way he chooses, this will be
an unusual means nowadays because it is unnecessary due to the indwelling and filling ministries of the Holy Spirit for all
believers; a situation not occurring in the Old Testament period.
PROPHECY
1. The gift of prophecy and the office of the prophet are distinguished in Scripture. In the Old Testament there were those
who had the office of prophet, and served in an official capacity within the worship system of Israel but there were also
those who at times were given the gift of prophecy to give a special prophecy even thought they were not full time
prophets. Elijah was a man with the office and the gift, where-as David had the gift at times but not the office.
2. The roles of the person with the office of prophet were many and varied:
[a]. - Aaron was a preacher Exodus 7:1
[b] - In Nehemiah's time the prophet-preacher had a role to exegete the Word of God clearly so that the people would
know the truth. Nehemiah 6:7, Hosea 6:5,
[c] - As revivalists they were to call people to repentance. Judges 6:7-12, Zechariah 7:7-12.
[d] - They were to oppose apostasy so that those who were likely to be misled by a false teacher would have no excuse.
1 Kings 18:36-39, 40, 2 Chronicles 25:15 Ezekiel 2:5, 2 Kings 20:11.
[e] - They were encouragers of the people. Ezra 5:2.
[f] - They were sometimes song/worship leaders for the people. 1 Samuel 10:5.
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[g] -They led in prayer at worship. 2 Chronicles 32:20.
[h] - They were the advisers to the kings and they were associated with coronations. 1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Kings 11:28, 29, 2
Kings 9:1-6, 2 Chronicles 12:5, 2 Chronicles 12:6, 15:2-7.
[i] - They were spiritual advisers or seers for the kings; they "saw" the immediate future and so were able to advise the
kings of the right decisions. 1 Samuel 9:9, 2 Samuel 24:11, 1 Chronicles 21:9, 24:29, 2 Chronicles 19:2, 33:18, 2 Kings
17:13, Isaiah 29:10,
[j] - They were fore-tellers of significant future events. 2 Samuel 7:5-16, Amos 9:11, Isaiah 9:6,7, Isaiah 53, Ezekiel
34:22ff, Micah 5:2, Daniel 9:26, Zechariah 13:8, Joel, Zechariah 14, and many more.
[k] - God intended them to be the shepherds and vine-dressers of the nation. As such they were to be the type of Christ,
who is referred to in the Old Testament as "the great prophet". Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Zechariah 13:5,6, Matthew 21:11,
Luke 7:16, 8:18-20, 24:19,23-26, John 7:40,41.
3. The Methodology of the prophets. There was no "set" formula for the prophets to follow, but certain things were
established as "tests" for the people to be sure the prophet was genuine.
[a] - The prophet had to have a spiritual life witness that was like Moses. Deuteronomy 34:10-12.
[b] - God spoke to the prophets by dreams and visions. God spoke to Moses face to face but he was an exception.
Numbers 12:6-7.
[c]. - The prophet had to be totally confident of his message, as he was judged by God if there was any falsehood in it. 1
Kings 22:13,14, 2 Kings 5:8.
[d] - There were to be no secret prophecies, everything was to be open and clear, so that all the people might be warned
of God. Jeremiah 23:25-29.
[e] - The prophet had to be specific in his message and had to be obeyed literally. 2 Kings 5:10-19, note especially verse
13.
4. There were always false prophets; in fact the great prophets of the Old Testament were always outnumbered by false
prophets in their own day. Jeremiah 2:8, Ezekiel 13:1-23.
Our Lord warned us that there will always be false prophets about. Matthew 7:15-23.
Note The Lord's Words here in that the personal walk of the prophet is to be paid attention to:No spiritual fruit in their life = no truth in their words.
God allows the false prophets to operate without immediate judgement upon them, so that believers are always
presented with an obedience test, to see whether we will obey the Scriptures or follow our own lusts to judgement.
False prophets will abound at times of poor Bible teaching. Weeds only grow in poorly cared for soil. Hosea 4:5,6, 9:7,8.
5. Tests that believers must apply when confronting a person claiming the gift of prophecy.
[a] - The words of the prophet will never contradict the Word of God. Jeremiah 23:33-36, 2 Peter 2:1-3, 1 Corinthians
14:32.
[b] - The prophet will never call people away from genuine worship of God. Deuteronomy 13:1-5.
[c] - The prophet will always be specific and the prophecy will be able to be tested. Deuteronomy 18 : 20 - 22, Jeremiah
28 : 9.
[d] - Any prophet who asked for money was to be treated as false. Jeremiah 8:10.
[e] - Any prophet who was a drunkard was to be treated as false. Micah 2:11.
[f] Any unconfessed sin of envy, jealousy, strife, etc in their life , they were false! Jeremiah 23 : 11.
[g] - If they were found only in groups they were probably false, as God's prophets were men alone. 1 Kings 22:5-8,
18:22.
[h] - Does the prophecy accord with Scripture (this is more than just not contradict)? 1 Corinthians 14:37,38, 2 Kings
23:2.
REVELATION
God's purpose is that man should know Him and therefore respond to God in honour and worship motivated by love. In
the written word we have the living word revealed. It all centres on knowing God, which is in turn based on Revelation.
1. The source of the knowledge of God is God himself. Human experiences and even religious experiences are not
reliable in the accurate presentation of God. The Bible is what is sure of God's viewpoint and information about God. Any
experience must be tested against the Bible. Romans 1:18-32 reminds us that man is fallen and that man's view of life is
warped by the fallen state. However anyone who has lived on the earth has sufficient evidence from nature of the
existence of God. Even with this evidence however most men will reject or distort the truth because they do not want to
know Him. Fallen men will create his own god, which he can manipulate. What Paul is talking about is general revelation,
which is available to all.
2. There is however specific revelation, which is the personal confrontation of man through the prophets, teachers and
pre eminently through the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who accept general revelation will receive specific revelation.
3. It is progressive, that through the history of man God has revealed more and more about Himself.
4.God does not reveal Himself that people might know Him but for them to get into a relationship with Him.
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5. Four factors that are prerequisites to the knowledge of God:[a] God initiated the process. Where was the creator, God came to man in the garden.
[b] God gave language in order that he might be able to communicate with fellow man and also with God. This is an area
which causes a lot of trouble with the thinking evolutionist.
[c] Man was created in the image of God with free will, a mind that can think. Man is able to think in a rational way. Even
though man is subject to total depravity. This means that you are unable to save yourself. However man is still fashioned
in the likeness of God and is not totally depraved in that sense. We still have a mind, a will and a conscience even
though it is a violated one.
[d] God gave the Holy Spirit to convict the unbeliever and convert the repentant. John 16:8-11
6. Paul in Acts 17:22-31 gave a message about general revelation in creation, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible as
well as a couple of Greek poets, to show the Greeks that even their poets recognised general revelation. What Paul is
relying on to effect their salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit. He is relying on specific revelation as the first Christian in
Athens. You have an unknown God. Paul said. He was going to show the real God through the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Some of those in the audience believed and were saved. There was a mixing of general and specific
revelation as there were those who believed. You have to meet the pagan where they are with general revelation.. You
move from general to specific revelation, from where they are to where the Cross is. This challenges the unbeliever.
General revelation does not prove anything to anyone who does not want to know. It is however the basis of just
condemnation of the unbeliever. In the end all will recognise God and He will get all the glory.
7. General Revelation
[a] His Glory Psalm 19:1
[b] His power to work in creating the universe Psalm 19:1
[c] His supremacy Romans 1:20[d] His divine nature Romans 1:20
[e] His providential control of nature Acts 14:17
[f] His goodness Matthew 5:45
[g] His intelligence Acts 17:29
[h] His living existence Acts 17:28
8. Results of General revelation.
[a] God's grace is displayed
[b] To give weight to the case that God exists
[c] To justly condemn rejecters.
NOTES
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CHAPTER 41
INTRODUCTION
When you look at this part of Genesis as a whole it is clear that God's training program for Joseph ranged over a 12 - 13
year period, as he was sold into slavery at the age of 17 or so, and he became second ruler of Egypt at the age of 30. He
therefore spent possibly as many as nine years working for Potiphar and the balance in jail learning to trust God not men.
His jail term involved one or two years prior to meeting the ministers and two years after.
God had a plan for Joseph, and that plan was going to work out for him. From the experience of Joseph and many others
we get promises from the Old Testament writers reminding us that the Lord will not leave us nor forsake us. 1 Kings
8:57, Joshua 1:5, Psalms 96:1-6. God is not waiting for Joseph, for there is time, and he has things to learn. He asked
the cup bearer to remember him, but the cup bearer had amnesia and was shown not to be dependable. God however is
dependable and Joseph learns that God's timing is perfect. He was in jail a further two whole years but all this means is
that he is there ready to be called when the real need exists.
PHARAOH’S DREAMS
God now gave Pharaoh a double and very weird couple of dreams; seven fat cattle being consumed by seven thin cattle,
and seven ears of full corn being consumed by seven ears of withered corn. This is going to be an opportunity to share in
the work of God for Joseph and he is ready. God is active at all periods of history and is doing things in the world. The
only question for us is, will we participate in the plan of God or will we be distracted by the details of life and miss the key
events that we are meant to be partakers of? Many believers do not know the blessing of God in their lives because of
lack of participation with the Lord, simply because they are too busy hustling on their own plan to find out what God is
doing and be part of his plan for them.
These dreams are going to radically change Joseph's life. Pharaoh understood that they were dreams with prophetic
meaning and that he needed help to interpret them and act upon them. When dawn breaks he calls in his wise men, but
these are men associated with the occult; with the corrupt religion of the gods of Egypt. These people were skilled at
interpreting things that were difficult to understand and they had extensive knowledge of science and magic arts. In this
case however none of them are able to understand and interpret the dream, for the Lord has made them foolish and
eliminated their powers. The occult is not to be feared by any true believer, for greater is he is in us that he that is in the
world. 1 John 4:4.
SATANIC MANIFESTATIONS
In verse eight we see that Satan is in the business of signs and wonders and he has his magicians and wise men. Psalm
96:5 tells us that the gods of the nations are demons; that they have power, power that comes from Satan. There are
healings, levitations, prophecies and speaking in tongues in many of the pagan religions. He gives genuine signs and
manifests genuine power, but these are always inferior to that able to be shown by the Holy Spirit when it is appropriate.
The Sufi mystics of Iran and the Voodoo people of the Caribbean speak in tongues. Speaking in strange tongues
together with healing is being performed by Satanists all around the world. Signs and wonders are therefore not
necessarily of God.
A member of my church as a young man was a China Inland Mission missionary, Hayden Melsop, who was a missionary
in China from the 1920s to the 1940s, reported to me that he saw a group of Buddhist monks sitting in a circle meditating
and praying. All of a sudden the circle of monks levitated a metre or so above the ground, rotated in a complete circle
and returned to the circle seated. The levitation and power demonstrated was real but Satanic in origin. He, like many
missionaries had also seen dramatic healings in satanic power. We are reminded by history that dramatic signs are no
indication of God’s presence; holiness and the fruits of the Spirit alone are the sign of God’s presence.
It is the fruit of the Spirit which is critical to identify the presence of God, not spiritual gifts alone, because the gifts can be
counterfeited by Satan. While the cults have power God sets limits to the powers exercised by Satanic agents, and they
are easily spotted by those using biblical doctrine as their tests.
Satan provides problems to people in his evil and malice, and then provides a person or system to genuinely solve the
problem he has created. He is able to do genuine miracles but they are from the wrong side and will give credence to
Satan's people and their belief systems. We need discernment in this present world, for the enemy is very devious and
deceives many. Refer to the BTB studies of SATAN’S STRATEGY AND TACTICS, SIGNS, EVIL, CHRISTIAN LIFE –
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
We are involved in the angelic conflict and in spiritual warfare now, but the most intensified stage of the Angelic Conflict
is yet to come. We are on the winning side, and are safe if we relax in “faith-rest” and do what is required of us, in the
filling of the Holy Spirit, but the other side has got power and we should not forget it. In 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12 we are
clearly warned that many dramatic “lying wonders” will be seen to happen in the Great Tribulation. People who have
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rejected the Gospel will accept these things done then and follow the one working these miracles. Because they have
rejected the truth about God, they will be deceived by the lies of the enemy; they will accept what they see from Satan. In
this time period God is allowing evil to have its full sway but in the end God is always in control, for he is the creator of
space and time.
If you come up against evil with power you can be assured that you are in the Lord's hands then, just as you are in
calmer and apparently safer times. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4. These times are
when you need to know Bible doctrine and claim the principles of truth that will be your sword and shield. God has got a
wall of fire around all believers. Satan is a defeated foe. You can claim God's protection even if the power of apparent
evil is great and visible. In faith, see the greatness of God’s power and rejoice in any adversity and pressure. Refer to the
BTB study on the ANGELIC CONFLICT, CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IN EPHESIANS 6 (ARMOUR OF THE SPIRIT),
SUFFERING.
INTERPRETING PHARAOH’S DREAM
After two years of amnesia the chief butler suddenly remembers Joseph in jail and recounts to Pharaoh what happened
when he was in jail under suspicion of being involved in an attempted coup d'etat. He gives Pharaoh just what Pharaoh
needs to know at the right time for Joseph to emerge as the man to lead them. Joseph’s release at any time before this
would not have achieved the result the Lord wants. We are apparently “trapped” in situations at times, yet the Lord
leaves us in them for his purposes, so that he can achieve his will at the right time in accordance with the requirements
of the plan.
Joseph will be strong and direct in his answers to Pharaoh; there is no waffling with this man. Many Christians take so
long getting to the point when asked a question, that people forget what the original question was. When you have the
answer, and are called to give it, give the answer with as little extra material as possible. Give them the facts and a
challenge which is, "this is the one, believe on Him". Witnessing is not telling people about yourself, it is telling them
about Christ, the person who is going to solve their problems.
RELEASE OF JOSEPH
In verse 14 the Pharaoh calls for Joseph out of the dungeon, he washes himself, shaves his head and clothes himself
before he goes to Pharaoh. Joseph has good manners, he has been in jail for at least three to four years now and was
therefore unhygienic as he emerged from confinement. He knows Egyptian culture and cleanliness was next to godliness
for them. It ought to be that way for us also. Believers ought to be clean and tidy, and dressed appropriate to the places
we are going, so that our appearance is never an issue. We are meant to be people who don’t get in the way by our poor
dress, unclean habits, or weird or inappropriate clothing.
Many Christians rush into situations without proper preparation and wonder why their witnessing is not successful. Do
not rush in the Lord’s service, he has called you to serve, and there is to be no mindless rush or arrogant delay; make
sure you are at your best when you are talking to the people about the Lord. Make sure you look like the herald of the
King of Kings. The Lord's work does not require haste or panic it requires thoughtfulness and preparation. Joseph will
“run” to meet Pharaoh, but he will be dressed, clean and ready. The Lord has given Joseph all the lessons he needs,
now he must look in the mirror and prepare to meet the King.
In verse 15 Pharaoh is laying a trap for Joseph, in that he is going to give Joseph anything that he wants in return for
information. The temptation for Joseph to sin is going to be quite strong as he can claim the interpretation of the dream
comes from him rather than God. Joseph however makes it clear from the beginning that God will answer the dreams
and he asks for nothing from Pharaoh.
Pharaoh tells Joseph the dream who then tells him that the two dreams are one. He tells Pharaoh that the dreams were
from God, and that they are prophetic in nature. He noted that the dreams were doubled and therefore reinforced [v 30].
If a doctrine or principle is stated once in the Bible we should get it and if it is doubled or triples it is vital we devote all
attention to that principle.
Pharaoh now asks what should be done and Joseph suggests that he should look for someone quiet, wise and careful,
and set him over the land of Egypt. A percentage of the crops should be taken and set aside for the lean years. Joseph is
the obvious choice for the job but he leaves it in the Lord's hands. Joseph gives Pharaoh the right advice and leaves him
in the Lord's hand for Pharaoh to decide who the new prime minister is to be. There was a possibility that he could have
gone back into prison.
Do not offer yourself, let the Lord lift you up. 1 Peter 5:5-7. This will be important after any obedience to any demand the
Lord makes of you. At the end of the course the Lord has asked you to complete, once you have your diploma or
objective, you cast your burden on the Lord and leave it there. He will then guide you to the next task. Let the Lord raise
you up and provide for you in his prepared place.
In verse v 41 Joseph becomes the prime minister of Egypt, he is a prisoner in the morning but by afternoon there is only
one man higher in the kingdom than him. Pharaoh retires and perhaps builds a pyramid for himself and leaves everything
in Joseph's hands. He takes off his ring which is the equivalent of a cheque book or credit card, and hands it to Joseph,
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and puts the gold chain of office around his neck and gave him a chariot. I wonder who his Palace Guard captain was? I
suspect it wasn’t Potiphar!
Joseph was carried through the streets of Egypt and everybody bowed before him because of his new status. He gets a
beautiful woman as his bride and they have two sons Manasseh and Ephraim. He was also given an Egyptian name
which meant the “Saviour of the land” or, “the one who tells secrets”. At 30 he is the leader of the nation having been in
training 13 years. Very few people are saved and serving mightily in a year or two. It requires training and it takes time.
The Lord can use you if like Joseph you are willing to learn and are not prepared to take short cuts.
In verses 50-53 the two sons become the two half tribes of Israel and represent the double portion of blessing that he
receives. Manasseh means “forgetting”. He forgave and forgot the injustice that had been dealt out to him. He was not
petty. His first act as ruler was not to send a hit squad around to Potiphar's house or to go and declare war on Palestine.
He does not hold a grudge; he forgets the past and serves God in the present, which is one of the signs of greatness.
Paul tells us this in Philippians 3:13-14 - we must forget the past, look to the future, deal with our problems and walk with
God. Our focus is always to be forwards. We look backwards only to the Cross and the empty tomb, and then recharged
by God’s grace, we press forward. We cannot change our mistakes of the past, we can only grow away from them.
Ephraim means “blessing or production”. God's blessing is on Joseph and on every believer who like Joseph trusts in
Him alone. Blessing is yours if you claim doctrine and do not panic in situations that are overwhelming, as you claim his
power rather than your own. God will not intrude into your life but he is there to solve your problems. The fruit of the Spirit
is the critical thing.
Paul was not a millionaire but God was with him, and when God is with us, we need no other thing, for he will provide all
our needs to achieve his goals for our life. As the Lord’s pastors we are to challenge the Lord’s congregation as to how
they are walking. Are they going to be like Joseph, his brothers, or Potiphar's wife? We decide daily how we will be by
our decisions, for the Word or for the world, for godliness or carnality, for faith or human reasoning!
GENESIS 41:1-24
“1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. 2
And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fat fleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and lean fleshed; and stood by
the other kine upon the brink of the river. 4 And the ill favoured and lean fleshed kine did eat up the seven well
favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears
of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. 6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind
sprung up after them. 7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke,
and, behold, it was a dream. 8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and
called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there
was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. 9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do
remember my faults this day: 10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the
guard's house, both me and the chief baker: 11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed
each man according to the interpretation of his dream. 12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew,
servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man
according to his dream he did interpret. 13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he
restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him
hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 15 And
Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say
of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in
me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. 17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I
stood upon the bank of the river: 18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat fleshed and well
favoured; and they fed in a meadow: 19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill
favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: 20 And the lean and the ill
favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: 21 And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known
that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 And I saw in my
dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: 23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin,
and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: 24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I
told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.”
REFLECTION
Verses 1 – 4.
Moses makes the time frame here very clear. It is two full years after the activity described in the
previous section. Joseph has had to return to the hum drum of prison life, without any assurance that things will change
for him, and with the certainty that his words to the chief butler have been useless. When he does remember, it will be at
the right time for Joseph to fulfil his part in God’s plan for his life. God’s timing is always perfect, but we don’t see this,
except when we look back. Faith is looking around and forward with the certainty now that we will have later when we
look back. Hebrews 11:1.
At the end of the waiting period Pharaoh has his dream, at exactly the right time to tie in with the fourteen years of crop
variation that is to come. He dreams a strange dream, where herbivores become carnivores, and where grains are
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personified and eat one another. Read the description Moses gives here and see what Pharaoh saw. He knew that the
weirdness and yet clarity of this dream put it out of the category of the result of a weird thing he has eaten! This was
clearly a dream with significance, but he had no idea of what that significance might be.
The dream occurs unbidden, without anything happening in his life that it could refer to. He is staggered at it, for he
knows from it’s content and structure that this has meaning for his land and himself. He sees himself standing by the
River Nile, and as the river defined Egypt, it was the fate of Egypt that was at stake here and Pharaoh knows it.
He sees seven fat cows come out of the river, and they feed in the pasture beside the river and the scene is one of great
prosperity and calm. The animals are fat and healthy and the whole picture is one of domestic tranquillity; all is well in the
kingdom of the Nile. Then as he watches, seven other cows come up out of the river, but they are famine animals; they
are lean, hungry and ill looking.
The Nile was Egypt, and it’s prosperity as a nation depended upon the yearly floods of the river Nile bringing the life
giving fertilizer of the soils of Africa down to cover it’s fields. Whatever is going to happen is going to come from the river
itself. It is a famine, caused by the failure of the rains in all the areas of the Middle East and the African continent itself.
It may be that this period of seven years drought sets the stage for the first major advance of the Sahara to cover the
fertile lands of Africa. The Sahara was not a large desert at this time, and the vast area now covered with sand supported
thousands of pastoral and agricultural communities. The river will be starved of water, for none or little rain will fall in
Africa for seven years and so the Nile floods will not occur as they need to for the prosperity of Egypt.
Initially the seven lean cows just stand along the river bank with the seven fat and healthy cows. It is as if they know that
their fate is being sealed by the river miles up stream in Africa. They stand together by the river, and then a weird and
scary thing happens. The lean animals eat the fat and healthy ones until there are only the lean ones left. Pharaoh
awakes, and I suspect was in shock at what he had seen. For a cow to eat another cow was an unheard of thing. The
cow was sacred to the Egyptians and this was a violation of their theology and against nature itself.
Verses 5 – 7.
The second dream occurs immediately he falls back to sleep from the first one and it mirrors it
in the kingdom of the crops, as the cows did in the kingdom of domestic animals. There was a species of Egyptian wheat
that in the best years bore seven ears at the top of a heavy pithy stem, of considerable weight in grain. It is this wheat
that the Pharaoh sees and he sees seven ears on the stem, a sign of greatest abundance.
He then sees another stem of wheat come out of the ground, but it is blasted by the desert wind and carries no grain at
all in the seven seed pods at the top that isn’t dead, dry or deformed by the hot wind. Then another weird thing, the
blasted wheat eats the good wheat and devours it all. Grain like this was the staple crop of Egypt, and it’s main export,
but also it was used in the service of the gods and religious worship to speak of the god’s prosperity, brought to Egypt by
the Nile. Pharaoh awakes and sees that it was a dream, but knows it is a dream of warning and of coming doom.
Verses 8 – 9.
Pharaoh waits until morning, probably thinking over the dream and trying to think of it’s
significance, but he is unable to think of what it might mean. As the dawn breaks he calls all the men who understand
magic, all the theologians and all the leaders of the universities of the day; all the wise men gather. He tells them the
dream and asks them to interpret it, but they all fail to make sense of it. Now the penalty for misleading Pharaoh was
death, and in Egypt they were wise enough to require the ability to falsify the interpretation as a test for all truth, so the
weird dream interpreters of today would have been executed on the spot as charlatans.
The Lord silences all the men who would otherwise have given their thoughts, for all these men know that whatever the
dream means it spells doom for their nation and none are keen to say that aloud. It was death to speak a word against
the river or the land, for they were sacred also. The wise men of the land are caught by the short comings of their own
religion and cannot answer their pharaoh. The question is, who knows someone with a track record of God showing him
the interpretation of important dreams? At the point where everyone is looking steadily into the ground the chief butler
remembers Joseph and his ability to tell him the truth about dreams. Psalms 105:16-22.
Verses 10 – 13.
The Chief Butler now reveals to Pharaoh the details of Joseph’s proven ability. Notice again
his economy of words and his “to the point” information. There is never any room for flowery language and long
speaking. Matthew 5:33-37, 6:7-8. In many cultures the way a thing is said sets a man apart as a “noble”, and noble
speech is long winded and flowery, filled with stories and analogies, to such an extent that the truth itself is often lost. We
are not to follow such patterns, but we are to speak plainly and directly, with the truth stated in the clearest way for all to
grasp it.
His key points, we were in jail because of an offence committed by the chief baker, and in jail we both had separate
dreams, each his own. We met there this man. He was a “Hebrew” – a man of Canaan but from further north – a man
who “crossed the river Euphrates” – not a local Canaanite. He was a slave or servant to the Captain of the Guard, the
Chief of the Prison. He interpreted the dreams of each of us accurately. He predicted my restoration to my place of
service, and the chief baker’s execution. Pharaoh has all he needs to know. This man is a slave in the household of his
minister, he is from the Mesopotamian area, and he accurately has the ability to interpret dreams and will tell the truth
even if the person who asks for information is to be told he will die!
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Verses 14 – 15.
Pharaoh orders his immediate release and his presence before him. Joseph is speedily
brought out of the prison (literally – they make him run/move quickly – but all was done carefully to ready him for his
audience), and so he was bathed and cleaned up, his head is shaved in the manner of the Egyptian nobility and he is
dressed appropriately to meet the Pharaoh.
All this must have been done in Potiphar’s house, as he was the master of the prison and had the responsibility to follow
any release orders from Pharaoh. The clothing Joseph wears is provided by the very man who jailed him for attempted
rape upon his wife. It is a reminder to us to leave our case in the Lord’s hands for his uplifting of us, for when he restores
us he will do so in blessing and honour forever. Psalms 113:4-8,
Verses 16 – 17.
Joseph is quick to identify the source of any power he has; that the Lord God alone is the one
who interprets dreams and makes it clear that he is the Lord’s servant in his work and will take no credit to himself for the
interpretation given. The way Pharaoh asks Joseph to interpret the dream is a spiritual test for Joseph, and he passes it
easily, for his years of jail have taught him that the Lord alone is his strength and Saviour. Moses and all the saints
through history realize this, and the strength of the Lord is their confidence, not any giftedness they have themselves.
Exodus 15:2, 1 Samuel 2:9, 2 Samuel 22:33, Nehemiah 8:10, Psalms 18:32, 27:1, 28:2, 33:16, 46:1, 62:7, Proverbs
10:29, Isaiah 12:2, Jeremiah 16:19, Habakkuk 3:19.
Joseph tells Pharaoh that the answer of the Lord to his dreams will be a source of “peace”. By saying this he is resting in
the provision of the Lord for the nation and his own safety. To speak against the land of Egypt was to speak death. It may
be this that hindered the “wise men” speaking in the first place! Joseph urges Pharaoh to see from the outset, that if the
Lord has given him a dream and Joseph an interpretation of it, then it is to save the land not destroy it that the dream has
come. There is good here, not judgment. Romans 8:28.
Verses 18 – 24.
Pharaoh now retells the story and adds in some details that were not told first time. He notes
this time that the seven cows who eat the first seven do not gain by the eating of the others, but are still as lean and ill as
they were before. He is genuinely baffled by the dream and worried about it’s meaning for Egypt. He then makes the
point that brings all the worried men in the room into focus; he has already told all the wise men of Egypt in that room
and they have been unable to interpret anything about this. The pressure is on Joseph and he has every eye in the room
upon him now.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
God’s timing for events is his timing, not ours! It is the plan of the Lord that we are following not our own.
Joseph is waiting in jail for an event to set him free and lift him up to the place his own dreams thirteen years
before indicated would be his fate. He has learned faith in this time and trusts that the Lord will lift him up in his
own time. When the order comes it comes with urgency; Joseph is expected to spring into action and leap to his
feet and run to prepare for his meeting with Pharaoh.
Many years of our lives may appear to be empty of significance, yet they are preparation times. We are to
maintain our fitness and health, ready for the call of the Lord, and ready to answer the call when it comes. Many
believers become fat, lazy, unfit and slack in their prayer and Bible study while they wait for the Lord’s answer to
their prayers. If we are waiting, we are to maintain “battle fitness” throughout that time period, and that means
we are to be physically fit, stay as healthy in our eating as possible, and be prayerful and study and apply the
Word daily.
2.
Faith is defined as the belief in the certainty of the Lord’s plan working out, expressed in daily actions that are
based upon the reality of the fulfilment plan before it is seen in time. Faith sees the answers to prayers before
the eyes see them. That is the faith rest life to which we are called; to see the plan of God as complete in our
life, even though it won’t be seen for a number of years by others. We are to work in assurance of it’s
completion, and in everything we do we are to express our confidence in the success of what the Lord is doing
with us.
3.
When God moves through us, he moves all those who would oppose his work out of the way. Joseph needed a
clear run to explain the dreams and he gets that by the silencing of the wise men before he is asked to speak.
Joseph knows that he has not asked to be before Pharaoh, and so he can relax and know that the Lord will give
him all he needs at the time of his appearance before the man. Matthew 10:19-20.
DOCTRINES
ANGELS: SATAN’S STRATEGY AND TACTICS – see page 31
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SUFFERING see page 13
SIGNS
1. A sign is something which stands for, or looks forward to something else.
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a) Things such as- The Temple, Regalia, Stars and Uniforms.
b) Festivals such as the Jewish Feasts which spoke of the Plan of God.
c) Sacrifices such as Levitical Offerings which spoke of the work of Jesus Christ.
d) Customs such as Circumcision.
e) Names including the names of People and Places.
f) Supernatural Acts such as Miracles.
2. Signs were given by God to individuals as a proof of their authority. (Deuteronomy 13:1-4, Judges 6:17, Ezekiel
12:6,11, Hebrews 2:4)
3. Signs were for unbelieving Israel as a warning of coming judgment. (Isaiah 20:3, 28:11, Jeremiah 6:1, Ezekiel 4:3)
4. Signs for believers were for reminders of God's Grace (Exodus 13:9) such as the Covenant, (Exodus 31:13,17) and
His Holiness. (Ezekiel 14:8)
5. The life of the Lord was a sign. (Matthew 12:38-42, Luke 2:34-35, John 6:30-35)
6. His death and resurrection were also signs. (Matthew 12:39, 24:30, John 2:18-22, 3:14-15)
7. The Apostles had temporary sign gifts to prove their authority from God.(Act 14:8-28, 1 Corinthians 1:22, Acts 19:1112 cf 1 Timothy 5:23, Philippians 2:25)
8. Asking for signs is not a sign of spirituality. (Matthew 12:38-39, John 6:30-35, 12:32-34)
9. Signs of the First Advent in Luke.
a) The virgin birth itself, in fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy; the visitation of the angels both to Mary and Elizabeth,
were all miraculous events. (Luke 1:26-38)
b) The attendant birth of John the Baptist is also described with its associated signs, and the recognition by the baby in
the womb of Elizabeth was a sign of things to come. (Luke 1:5-25, 43-45 cf Psalm 110:1)
c) Mary's prophecy of her son's role as Saviour and Sacrifice. (Luke 1:54-56)
d) The signs associated with John's birth. (Luke 1:65-66)
e) The prophetic song of Zachariah. (Luke 1:67-80)
f) The angelic visit to the shepherds. (Luke 2:10-11)
g) The song of Simeon. (Luke 2:25-35)
h) The song of Anna. (Luke 2:36-38)
i) The sign of the prophet Isaiah in the preaching of John the Baptist. (Luke 3:3-18)
10. Seven signs in John.
a) Wedding at Cana at Galilee. 2:1-11
b) Healing of the Nobleman's son. 4:46-54
c) The Cripple by the Pool of Siloam. 5:1-16
d) The feeding of the Five Thousand. 6:1-14
e) The healing of the Blind Man. 9:1-38
f) The raising of Lazarus. 11:1-46
g) The resurrection of the Lord. 20,21
EVIL
1. DEFINITION: Evil is Satan's policy in opposition to God's doctrine. Evil is therefore a collection of beliefs and practises
that back up Satan's viewpoint rather than God’s.
2. Evil is not necessarily bad, it is simply a policy that will take you away from the path that God prepared for you.
3. False religion may be very moral and even ascetic (and therefore look "holy"), but if it is leading people away from
God's revealed will it is evil.
4. Often evil can masquerade as "good". People who believe that their "good works" can satisfy God's holy demands are
deceived by evil doctrine. Romans 7:19,20,
5. Only God’s Word, Bible Doctrine can help the believer distinguish between true good and evil, Hebrews 3:13,14.
6. Only a soul saturated in God’s Word is truly protected from the subtlety of Satan's policy of evil. Proverbs 2:10-14, 3:7,
19:23.
7. Only applied knowledge of God's Word negates and neutralises evil. Psalms 54:5, Romans 12:21, Isaiah 45.
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8. The issue for the believer is the daily choice to accept God's Word and therefore protect oneself against evil. God
watches for our choices. Proverbs 11:18,19, 22:3, 24:1-4, Ephesians 5:16, 2 Thessalonians 3:2,3.
9. The company of evil people will distort the thinking of the believer and confuse his/her witness. Isaiah 5:20, 1
Corinthians 15:23.
10. There is no evil in God at all. Psalm 5:4, 1 John 1:5, 4:4.
11. God judges evil and will condemn it to the lake of fire for ever at the final judgement. Psalm 34:16, Isaiah 13:11,
Revelation 20:11ff
12. In spite of evil still existing in the world due to Satan's on-going presence throughout the Church Age, the Lord is still
on the throne, and his hand is on all things.
13. Satan only does things by "permission" and we are in the Lord's hands and so are, in Christ, safe. Job 1:6-12,
Proverbs 16:3, 4, Isaiah 45 : 6, 7.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
1. The filling of the Holy Spirit produces fruit in the life (love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance). (Galatians 5:22-23) Note that "fruit" is singular - all the characters are produced at the same
time in the filling of the Holy Spirit.
2. The Fruit of the Spirit is also listed as follows:Romans 14:17 - Righteousness, Peace, Joy
Colossians 3:12-15 - Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Forgiveness, Love, Peace, Thankfulness
1Thessalonians 1:3 - Faith, Love, Endurance, Hope
2. In principle, it is the imitation of God (Ephesians 5:1). The reason we are left on the earth after salvation is to produce
fruit. (John 15:16, Philippians 4:17)
3. We produce fruit by hearing the word (Mark 4:20-28) and applying it to our lives. (Hebrews 4:2)
4. Failure to grow and produce fruit means divine discipline even to the point of the believer's early departure from this
life. (Luke 13:6-9 John 15:2)
5. Rewards in eternity are distributed on the basis of faithful production. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10)
6. Fruit is not to be confused with spiritual gifts. These are listed in (Romans 12:6-8; 15:18-19; 1Corinthians 12:8,10;
1Corinthians 12:28-30; Ephesians 4:1) and other places.
7. One can know Christians by their fruit (Matthew 7:16-20; Luke 6:43-45; 1John 3:10 & 11; John 15:8) especially by their
love (John 13:35) but not by their gifts, as Satan can imitate them (2Thessalonians 2:9).
8. Three natural fruits represent some of the facets of the fruit of the Spirit: Apples - love, Grapes - Joy, Pomegranates Peace.
9. In Galatians 5: 22-23 the fruit of the Spirit is divided into three sections
[a] Love, Joy and Peace towards God;
[b] Patience, Goodness and Kindness towards others;
[c] Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control towards oneself.
ANGELS – ANGELIC CONFLICT
1. There is an angelic conflict and it is intimately related to our presence in this world.
2. ETERNITY PAST
[a] Initially God created angels. At creation we are told that there was unity as all the angels sang in unison.
[b] Satan as Lucifer with the title Son of the Morning was the head of the angels. Isaiah 14. Ezekiel 28:12-15
[c] It is noted that the Lord Jesus Christ is now called Son of the Morning in 2 Peter 1 showing that the Lord replaced
Satan as a result of His victory at the Cross.
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3. FALL OF SATAN
[a] Satan became proud and attempted a coup d’etat against God in Isaiah 14:12-17
[b] When Satan fell he took one third of the angels with him. Revelation 12:9.
[c] The angels who exist forever therefore fall into two permanent groups
(i) Elect Angels who remained faithful to God (1 Timothy 5:21)
(ii)
Fallen angels who chose to follow Satan who fall into two categories:(1)
Imprisoned ones who were made inoperative at the time of the Flood (Jude 6, 2 Peter 2:4)
(2)
Demons who are currently operative (1 Corinthians 10:20,21, Mark 5:1-20)
[d] There is therefore a spiritual warfare between elect and fallen angels, which affects the human race. (Ephesians,
6:12, Revelation 12)
4. SENTENCE ON THE FALLEN ANGELS
[a] In eternity past Satan and the fallen angels were judged and sentenced to the Lake of Fire - Matthew 24;51
[b] It would appear that Satan appealed against his sentence and said "how can a God of Love sentence any of his
creatures to the lake of fire?"
[c] The answer is in the character of God who is HOLY as well as LOVE. His holiness can only judge sin and rebellion.
[d] The lake of fire therefore was not created for man. Man ends up in the lake of fire due to his own negative attitude
towards God.
5. MAN’S ROLE IN THE ANGELIC CONFLICT
[a] This sentence which was given before man existed has not yet executed and will not be so until the end of the
Millennium in Revelation 20:10.
[b] There must be a long lapse of time before the sentence is executed with this period being taken up with the whole of
human history. Therefore the purpose of the existence of the human race and its relation to God can only be explained
as a testimony to the angels.
[c] Through the creation of man God provides a clear legal witness to Satan and his angels of their sin. The whole of
human history is to prove certain points to the angels. Things can happen in your life as a believer in the Lord Jesus
Christ and these can only be explained as a testimony to the angels.
6. FALL OF MAN AND VICTORY OF THE GOD MAN
[a] Man starts off lower than the angels. Hebrews 2:9 tells us that Jesus Christ made Himself a little lower than the
angels.
[b] Although Adam failed to be victorious the Lord Jesus Christ replaces Adam in history and won the battle in His
humanity. 1 Corinthians 15:22 tells us that in Adam all die, in Christ shall all be made alive.
[c] A new form of creature judges come into existence and will judge the angels 1 Corinthians 6:1-3
7. SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ANGELS AND MAN
[a] Angels and mankind have a number of parallels with human free will being tested in exactly the same way as angelic
free will.
[b] Angels began in innocence and full obedience to God (Job 38:7 Ezekiel 28:14-15)
Man began in innocence (Genesis 2:25)
Angels sinned - rebellion of Satan (Isaiah 14:12-14)
Man sinned - rebellion of Adam (Genesis 3:1-7)
Angels are divided into two categories - elect or fallen.
Man is divided into two categories - believers and unbelievers. (John 3:36)
8. ADAM AND FREEWILL
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[a] God created Adam and Eve, to show Satan that mankind, created lower than angels (Hebrews 2:6-7), would choose
to obey God. Mankind therefore, by a choice of freewill, would decide whether to obey God and be blessed, or to disobey
God and be judged (the same choice that Satan had).
[b] A test was instituted for man's freewill - obedience to God or disobedience. (Genesis 2:16-17). Adam - and therefore
all mankind - sinned and thereby rebelled against God. All of mankind, therefore, is in the same condition of sinful
rebellion as Satan.
[c] However, God instituted another test of freewill for mankind - will they choose to return to God through Jesus Christ,
or will they choose to continue in sin and rebellion (John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9).
[d] Anyone who chooses to return to God will be saved; anyone who chooses to remain in rebellion to God will be judged
in the lake of fire, the same fate as Satan (Matthew 25:41)
[e] Therefore, by the work of Christ on the cross, and man's freewill faith in Christ, God has vindicated His love to save
and His justice to judge.
9. RESOLUTION OF THE ANGELIC CONFLICT
Stage 1 - Salvation - by faith, man is saved and made positionally superior to angels (Hebrews 2:6-7)
Stage 2 - Christian Walk - by faith, the believer overcomes Satan (Ephesians 6:10-17)
Stage 3 - Eternity -in Christ, the believer will judge Satan and his fallen angels (Hebrews 2:8, 1 Corinthians 6:3)
10. THE CLOUD OF WITNESSES
Angels watch the human race. (1 Corinthians 4:9, Ephesians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:21, 1 Peter 1:12). Elect angels rejoice
every time someone is saved (Luke 15:10)
11. THREE BASIC QUESTIONS
The angelic conflict answers three basic questions:[a] Why man? Inside man is a soul with mentality and freewill which when linked together resolves the angelic conflict,
(Colossians 2:14-15, Hebrews 2). The cross is the real victory in the angelic conflict.
[b] Why sin? Sin resolves stage 1 of the plan of God (see paragraph 9). At the cross sin was judged and the barrier
between man and God was removed so that man's relationship with God depends on his free will. Every time a person
accepts Christ, elect angels rejoice. In the garden man was innocent and all he had to do was stay away from one tree.
Now man is guilty he has to come to a tree (the cross). (Genesis 2:17, 1 Peter 2:24).
[c] Why suffering? Suffering resolves the issue in Stage 2. Suffering involves the promise principle. (1 Peter 1:7-8,
Romans 5:2-4). Suffering is designed for blessing and is a further blow to Satan. It is to demonstrate the love of God in a
way that cannot be done in eternity as in eternity there is no more sorrow, pain or death. (Revelation 21:4)
12. STAGES IN THE CONFLICT [SEE SATANIC ATTACK ON THE PLAN OF GOD]
[a] From the fall of man to the ascension of Christ the line of Christ and Jesus Christ himself were the target of attack.
Once the ascension was a fact in history Satan was unable to attack the line of the Saviour.
[b] The resurrection, ascension and session of the Lord Jesus Christ caused intensification in the angelic conflict.
[c] Once Christ is glorified at the right hand of the Father the angelic conflict becomes intensified in the Church age.
[d] Every Church Age believer is now a target and because of this every believer has had special provisions made for
him:
(i) Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 14:17)
(ii) Indwelling of Jesus Christ (John 14:23)
(iii) Completed canon of Scripture (1 Corinthians 13:10)
13. PROGRESSION TO THE LAKE OF FIRE
This explains the actions of the Lord Jesus Christ from the time he sat down at the right hand of the Father until the Last
Judgment. Psalm 110:1 says “The Lord [God the Father] said to my Lord [God the Son], Sit thou at my right hand until I
make thine enemies thy footstool.”
[a] The first stage – Insurgency warfare – Pentecost - Rapture
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During this time He calls out the personnel who will replace the angelic council members who have been condemned 1
Corinthians 4:8, 6:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 3:21
The angelic council comprises God and all the angels as seen in 1 Kings 22:19-23 and 2 Chronicles 18:18-23
[b] The second Stage – Rapture to Second Advent - Confrontation
During this time the new members of the angelic council are evaluated in relation to their divine and human good,
rewarded [1 Corinthians 3:11-15], they lose their old sin nature and have a resurrection body. The rebellious members,
Satan and his followers are cast out of heaven Revelation 12:4
[c] The third stage – Second Advent – Victory Stage
Christ casts Satan and the fallen angels into hell for a thousand years and rightfully asserts His authority.
[d] The fourth stage – The Last Judgment. The Lake of Fire was created for Satan and his angels Matthew 25:41
Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire with the demons and the unbelievers. Unbelievers join them in the Lake of Fire
because they have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The old creation is destroyed and a new heavens
and a new earth provided by God. At that point all knees shall bow and the promise of making His enemies His footstool
will have been fulfilled.
14. THE BELIEVERS AND RESULT OF THE ANGELIC CONFLICT
The result of the angelic conflict:
Stage 1 - Salvation - saved mankind is positionally superior to angels;
Stage 2 - Christian Walk - through suffering the believer develops his faith towards Christ to such an extent that he
thereby shows the fallen angels the certainty of their doom;
Stage 3 - Heaven - In eternity the believer in his resurrection body will be physically superior to angels.
15. CONCLUSION
Through the fall of man Satan obtained control of the world though not necessarily control of mankind.
What makes it possible for man to live in the Devil's world and not be under his control? - free will.
By using The Word of God you can make decisions that are completely against Satan and his concepts.
Satan is the ruler of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4, John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, Ephesians 2:2)
However we have the Bible - the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) We should know it and use it.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SOLDIER: CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IN EPHESIANS 6
1. General Scripture Ephesians 6:11-17.
This passage relates to the armour which the Roman soldier wore and analogises its use into the spiritual realm.
2. USE OF THE ARMOUR Ephesians 6:11
"Put on the whole armour of God. " Ephesians 6:11a. We are instructed to "put on" (ENDUO Gk) - this means "to
clothe" - it is a command by God to the Christian soldier. We are to "clothe ourselves" or to "dress ourselves". "Whole
armour" (PANOPLIA Gk) - the complete armour "of God" (THEOS Gk) true source of the armour is God.
The whole armour of God is given in Ephesians 6:14-17. It comprises:a) The Belt of Truth Ephesians 6:14a
b) Breastplate of Righteousness Ephesians 6:14b
c) Boots Ephesians 6:15
d) Shield Ephesians 6:16
e) Helmet of Salvation Ephesians 6:17a
f) Sword of the Spirit Ephesians 6:17b
PRINCIPLES:
i) The Roman soldier wore all his armour for his own safety and protection.
ii) When the Roman soldier was highly disciplined he ruled the world.
iii) When the Roman soldier became degenerate the Empire declined and fell.
iv) The Roman soldier was in the army 7 days a week.
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3. SPIRITUAL ANALOGY
a) As Christian soldiers we wear our armour for our own safety and protection.
b) When we are highly disciplined in the Christian life we are very effective in our warfare.
c) If we become degenerate or apostate our Christian witness and effectiveness declines and we become casualties in
the spiritual warfare.
d) The Christian soldier is in the battle 7 days a week. A part time soldier never amounts to an effective soldier.
“That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:11 b.
"to stand" (histemi (Gk) - to hold your ground. We are in a spiritual warfare and the purpose of the armour is to hold our
ground against the foe. "the wiles (methodeia dia Gk) - tactics, cunning or fraud" "of the devil” (diabolos Gk).
We therefore have the whole armour of God to enable us to stand firm against the devil's tactics.
PRINCIPLE: By learning the tactics likely to be employed by your opponent the Christian soldier is able to go on the
offensive using the sword of the Spirit - the Word of God. (verse l7).
4. THE ENEMY (Ephesians 6:12)
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places. "
"Wrestle" - "the wrestling" (he pale estin Gk) hand to hand combat not wrestling as a sport. "not against flesh and blood"
– not against other members of the human race, but against:a) PRINCIPALITIES (arche Gk) Ruling demons.
b) POWERS (exousia Gk) - Demons with authority, officers in the demon army.
c) RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD (kosmokrator Gk) - world rulers, demons close to the seats of
government such as the demons of (Daniel 10:13, 20).
d) SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES (pneu matikos poneria Gk) - the demon army.
Quite clearly our fight is against a spiritual foe. From Hebrews 2:7 we know that as human beings we are inferior to
angels. Therefore in order to have success against superior forces we must have God's armour.
5. BE PREPARED (Ephesians 6:13)
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all,
to stand. "
Since the resurrection ascension and session of Jesus Christ the attack of Satan has moved from the line of Christ to the
individual believer. Our dependence on the whole armour is imperative yet many believers reject part or all of the armour.
There are many casualties as a consequence.
We are again exhorted to put on the whole armour of God.
6. THE BELT OF TRUTH (Ephesians 6:14a, Isaiah 11:5)
"Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth.”
The Roman belt was a wide girdle of leather worn around the waist from which hung the scabbard for the sword and
loops for rations and equipment. The leather belt was supported by a cross shoulder strap studded with metal plates with
thick leather strips hanging down to protect the lower body. The belt therefore was the basic armour on which the
defence of the soldier was based.
PRINCIPLE: Our basic defence is the truth contained within the Word of God. The sword of the Spirit hangs securely to
the believer by means of the promises contained within it. The greater our trust in the truth of God the greater our
protection against the enemy.
7. THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (Ephesians 6:14b, Isaiah 59:17)
"and having on the breastplate of righteousness."
The breastplate (thorax Gk) was usually made of leather overlaid with metal strips. Shaped like a sleeveless coat it was
in the higher ranks often covered with gold or silver. The belt held the breastplate firmly in place its primary function
being to protect every vital area of the soldiers body.
PRINCIPLE: The righteousness of Christ protects us. We stand in his righteousness alone. He gave us his righteousness
at the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our continued protection through his righteousness is through the filling of the Holy
Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) (See topic Holy Spirit: Filling of the Spirit).
8. THE BOOTS (Ephesians 6:15, Isaiah 52:7)
"And your feet shod, with the preparation of the gospel of peace".
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The boots (caligae Gk) were made of hobnail studded leather soles 15mm (1/2") thick secured with a leather tie over the
instep and round the ankles. Good footwear is essential for the soldier with infantry still being essential even in these
days of sophisticated armaments.
PRINCIPLE: In spiritual terms the feet are often analogised to service. The feet take one towards the enemy. The gospel
of peace is a direct attack on the enemy. Peace in this context talks of reconciliation between God and man. (Romans
1:1 4-16, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
9. THE SHIELD OF FAITH (Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 5:4)
"Above all taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of' the wicked."
The Roman shield (thureos Gk) was shaped like a door being made of glued planks wrapped in canvas or calf skin, the
top and bottom edges being protected by iron. The shield was the most active of the defensive armour carried by the
Roman soldier. Loss of shield often meant death to the soldier.
PRINCIPLE: The Christian soldier's shield is walking actively in the promises and principles set out in the Word of God. If
we do not use our faith we can become spiritual casualties. Using the shield of faith we can claim -the 7,000 promises for
the Christian walk including Isaiah 41:10; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 4:4.
10. THE HELMET OF SALVATION (Ephesians 6:17a; Isaiah 59:17)
"And take the Helmet of salvation.”
With the exception of the standard bearer who wore a wolf's head, every Roman soldier wore a metal helmet (perik Gk)
usually of bronze over an iron skull cap. This protected the most important part of the soldier - his head.
PRINCIPLE: Before a person can be a soldier for Christ, he has to be born again. He has to wear the helmet of salvation.
One of the wiles of the devil is to make the believer feel that he has lost his salvation. If a believer loses his assurance of
salvation he takes his helmet of salvation off and is totally vulnerable to the attack of the foe.
11. THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (Ephesians 6:17b)
"and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
The sword referred to is the machaira or Roman short sword. The sword represents the basic offensive weapon for close
combat. It was only effective when out of its sheath.
PRINCIPLE: The sword in its sheath is potentially devastating but it is only effective when it is used to combat and defeat
the enemy. We must therefore conquer using principles, promises and doctrines from the Word of God.
GENESIS 41:25-57
“25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about
to do. 26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. 27
And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears
blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. 28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto
Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. 29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty
throughout all the land of Egypt: 30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty
shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 31 And the plenty shall not be
known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. 32 And for that the dream
was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to
pass. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let
Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the
seven plenteous years. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn
under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.36 And that food shall be for store to the land
against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the
famine. 37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh
said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh
said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne
will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42
And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine
linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and
they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said
unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45
And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of
Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 46 And Joseph was thirty years old
when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went
throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 48
And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the
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cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 49 And Joseph gathered
corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number. 50 And unto Joseph
were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On
bare unto him. 51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me
forget all my toil, and all my father's house. 52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath
caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. 53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the
land of Egypt, were ended. 54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and
the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was
famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what
he saith to you, do. 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the
storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries
came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.”
REFLECTION
Verses 25 – 32.
Joseph cuts straight to the meaning of the dreams. He does not pause, ask for time, but
speaks exactly what the Lord tells him as he begins to speak. It is a biblical example of the principle stated by the Lord in
Matthew 10:19-20. The Lord gives him accuracy and he gives God the glory throughout the telling of the meaning of the
dreams.
The dream is one, he tells Pharaoh straight away. There are not two things being communicated here, but one thing and
it is for Egypt’s survival and the thing shown is about to start to happen. There is urgency to apply this knowledge and do
something quickly about what the Lord God has revealed. The doubling of the dream tells the Pharaoh that the thing
coming is certain and not to be changed by prayers or sacrifices made for deliverance from it, for the only deliverance will
come “through it”. There are things that we need to walk through, and that the Lord will not deliver us from experiencing,
but his promise is that he is there with us in the midst of the pressure situation. Psalms 23:4-6, Matthew 28:20. We must
distinguish between things to be prayed away and things to be prayed through in this life!
The seven cows and seven ears of corn on the stalk are also one thing; they are seven good years of productivity in the
pastoral and agricultural sectors. There will be great prosperity for seven years, and then the seven sick cows and the
seven blasted ears of wheat are also one thing; they are the seven following years of famine. Joseph repeats that he is
interpreting what “God is about to do to the land of Egypt”.
It is the Lord who moves in history and he is about to do something that has not been seen before, for seven bumper
years to be followed by seven famine years. Without preparation the land will be desolated and the people will die. Two
or three years will bring starvation but seven years of drought will bring national catastrophe. There is no escape from the
ecological disaster that is certainly coming, but with preparation the people and the animals will live.
Verses 33 – 36.
Having given the meaning of the dreams, Joseph sees that Pharaoh is sitting wanting more,
so he gives him the answer to the problem that the dreams have made clear are coming. The Lord gives Joseph the
wisdom to give this solution, just as he has given him the interpretation. Joseph is confident because he is walking close
to the Lord and hears the Spirit minister within his head. This is what today some call the “word of Knowledge” following
Paul. Romans 11:33-36, 1 Corinthians 2:15-16, 12:8, 13:2.
It is a relaxing thing to receive this communication from the Lord. In my counselling work I experience this sort of thing
often, and am able to say things to a person about their thoughts and worries that they have not yet shared with me, and
in minutes we get to places where others take hours to get to if they get there at all. It is simply the moving of the Holy
Spirit, and is not to be asked for nor feared. It is simply something that happens to those who walk as God tells them and
are doing a God given task and need this special knowledge to achieve the task. As prepared servants of the Lord we
are to relax and serve and then we know the things that need to be know.
Joseph identifies the right ratio of the crop that needs to be set aside to have plenty for all the animals and people for at
least seven years. It is not a seventh but a fifth, for this provides enough for sale, and allows for wastage as a result of
storage.
The supply will probably be constantly re-circulated, so that after seven years of storage the oldest wheat will be the first
distributed. Joseph is sure that he has enough to feed all the people and animals for seven years with a percentage on
top for sale to other nations. He knows that there must be a specifically established bureaucracy to run this, for existing
structures will be required for existing work. This organization needs to be under Pharaoh’s direct command with a
second in charge of daily operations. No other management structure is needed, as the possibility of fraud and corruption
is always too high if a standard bureaucracy is used for such a project. This is a special project and needs a special
project team with it’s own store houses and guards to make sure it works and direct responsibility to Pharaoh to make
sure it is kept honest.
Verses 37 – 40.
Pharaoh gives his verdict immediately on the suggestions Joseph has made and asks his
court whether anyone can think of a better candidate to apply the things that Joseph has advised. Notice that the
Pharaoh is clear that it is a godly man who he seeks, a man who walks with God and hears the Lord’s voice. He faces a
supernatural challenge and a man who is in tune with the supernatural is the minimal standard for success in such a
time. Daniel 4:6, 8, 18, 5:11, 14, 6:3.
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Our job is to position ourselves in the place where we are habitually in the place where God works through us and
speaks with us, for then we are ready to serve at any level in the plan. Pharaoh recognizes that it is God who has given
this man all that he needs to understand. He sees that in Joseph there is a man who listens to God, and this is the man
who he wants, for he knows that this man has integrity, and also is intelligent without arrogance. He is not a man who will
plot against him, for he sees that Joseph fears God alone, and has honour towards the Pharaoh as God’s man,
appointed by God. Joseph’s treatment of the Pharaoh has told him that he recognizes that God has spoken to Pharaoh
through the dreams, and that as he serves God so he will serve the one who God gave the dreams.
Joseph is placed over the household affairs of the Pharaoh himself; in effect he is now Chief of State. He is placed there
publicly before all the cabinet of the Pharaoh, and all have seen why he is there. They have seen that he is a man of
God, who can interpret dreams, and only God gives such a gifting. Joseph is now recognized as a spiritual leader in the
nation, as well as a political ruler. He is publicly recognized as the second ruler, only Pharaoh himself is exempt from his
jurisdiction as he sits on the throne. Joseph is given the greatest power that a common man was capable of wielding in
the entire ancient world of his day. He has been obedient to the Lord for many years now, and so all men in Egypt will be
obedient to him. Psalms 2:10-12.
Verses 41 – 44.
The pharaoh then formally repeats the role and status he has given Joseph in front of all his
court. He is placed over all Egypt. He is second only to the Pharaoh and acts with his authority. He is given publicly
pharaoh’s own ring as the authority symbol over finances, and then has the royal chain of office given to him, the symbol
of his office as the chief of state, bearing all the symbols of power over Egypt. He is given the second chariot of the
Pharaoh himself.
When people see him coming they will think it is pharaoh himself, and they are right, in that Joseph has all of pharaoh’s
power. He is given a new set of clothes, not just aristocratic but royal clothing of the finest linen. When ever he went out
there were men going before him calling on all to prostrate themselves before Joseph as the ruler of the nation. Pharaoh
then reminds Joseph that without Pharaoh’s power no one was entitled to do anything in the land, and that this power is
now Joseph’s to wield. A man is able to wield great power if he himself is already under the power of God, for such a
man will not be led astray by the power, for they are stabilized in the one who has absolute power over all things.
Philippians 2:5-16. This passage from Paul’s letter to Philippi is a good one to reflect upon in light of Joseph’s
experiences here.
Verses 45 – 52.
Joseph is given an Egyptian name fit for rulership of the kingdom. It is Zaphnath-Paaneah,
although this is its Hebrew form. Its Egyptian form is thought to be, P-sote-M-Ph-eneh. It was a normal thing to receive a
new name for a new phase in life, or after a life changing experience. We have seen this with Abram (to Abraham), and
Jacob (to Israel). This name is however particularly Egyptian. It’s significance is to be grasped, for it’s meaning is,
“supporter or sustainer of life by a call entrusted to him by God”.
His name therefore becomes his title, the one who saves, because of the work God has called him to. His name
becomes an expression of faith and confidence for the nation as it goes into the famine. His very name is a doctrinal
statement; God is delivering us through this man. They know Joseph is a true prophet, for he has been right in the seven
years of plenty and they now know that there will be seven years of famine and then it will be over. Refer to the BTB
study THINKING BIBLICALLY.
He is married to Asenath, the daughter of the High Priest of the land. This match would recognize that Joseph was a
prophet and God spoke directly to him, so the right match would be from the highest religious family of the land. This is
not a sign of religious compromise on Joseph’s part. He has one wife and she bears two of the ancestors of the Jewish
peoples, for from these two people come the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. The meaning of her name is possibly,
“consecrated to the Sun”.
Joseph is acknowledged as a man who God speaks to directly; this was unheard of in Egypt and so he is well above the
priests of the sun god in status, recognized by them as a holy man. I believe on the basis of all that was later written
about Joseph that he maintained his faith and led his wife to the Lord. It may be from Joseph’s belief system that the
worship of the one God enters Egyptian thought and possibly this is the source of the later Egyptian religious conflicts
when Akhenaton brings in monotheism for a time to Egypt.
Joseph then begins a grand tour of the entire land of Egypt to identify the sites for building the granaries and the people
in each place who will be directed to collect the grain from every grower, care for it, and guard it. The process for
distribution will have another seven years to be worked on, but the building project must begin immediately on desert
land above the flood plain close to every major population centre, where the land is dry and stable.
Joseph travels for the next few months establishing the network of granaries and establishing his bureaucracy to
maintain the records that will be needed to ensure supplies are able to last at least eight years until the harvest after the
seventh year of famine, plus have extra grain for sale to foreign nations, as part of Egyptian foreign affairs strategies.
He kept records until they had well past their requirements for eight years, the abundance of grain was so great! The
main challenge is to keep all the people in their own areas, and fed there, so that dissent and rebellion do not have time
to grow under the pressures of the famine. He knows how long it will be gripping the land and can encourage the people,
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but the potential for civil unrest is still high, so the granaries are well sited to ensure no-one needs walk more than a few
hours to their local storehouse.
His two sons are born during the time of plenty to Asenath. Their names are Manasseh, meaning “causing to forget” and
Ephraim, meaning “double portion of blessing”. The first name does not mean he has forgotten his father and mother and
brothers and sisters, but that he has forgotten all the toil and their deceitfulness towards him. He has put the past behind
him and is focused forward in his new life. He cannot confront them or deal with them until the right time, and he leaves
that in the Lord’s hands.
Pause and reflect upon this for a minute. As second ruler, he would be able to lead an expedition into Canaan, which
Egypt and the Hittites shared rulership over. He would have been well able to manufacture a diplomatic mission over the
next six years and visit his parent’s campsite and have them all prostrate themselves at his feet! This was possible, but
he is not going to manufacture the fulfilment of his initial dream. Genesis 37:5-11.
It is a warning to us all, that God does not need any help to fulfil his prophetic promises. Joseph must wait until the Lord’s
timing for the next meeting with his father and brothers. Isaac is already dead by the time of his meeting with them and
Jacob is very old indeed, and at this point Joseph does not know even whether they are alive or dead; he must simply
leave it in the Lord’s hands.
This is our challenge with all the faith-rest tests we face also. Rest in the Lord’s timing for his solutions. He has been
blessed in Egypt and the task he has is before him then, any trips to Canaan will be side-tracks, the Lord has a plan to
bring his family to him, he will not have to go to them. His dream gave him that clue; the star and stalk of wheat that
represented him were stationary, while the others bowed around him. He didn’t move in his dream; they did! The dream
the Lord gave was a picture of faith-rest, not frantic efforts to fulfil it!
Verses 53 – 57.
The ending of the time of plenty would have been a weird sensation for all in the land, for they
had probably been told what was going to happen, but human nature being what it is most would not have believed it.
The sign of the famine was first simply the failure of the annual flood of the Nile, and then the failed crop in that year and
the seven following.
Human nature prefers to screen out bad news and use denial to cope with what isn’t pleasant. I suspect the “tax” on, or
purchase of additional grain was seen by many as an imposition, much as compulsory saving schemes are seen today,
and as time unfolds we will see that few had provided for money savings through this time of plenty to pay for food during
the time of famine to come.
Joseph will use this to nationalize much of the land into pharaoh’s hands as a result, for he will sell the stored grain at old
prices (not highly inflated ones) to the people. From this fact, below, we may surmise that Joseph probably compulsorily
purchased the additional grain through the seven years, so that he quite justly sold it back to the people later, and so noone could complain. In effect it appears he ran a compulsory savings scheme for the land, but those who used up their
money on luxuries later lost their land, which had to be sold to pharaoh to buy the grain they had sold to pharaoh back
for their use.
Joseph has a system in place that works, and as the famine bites hard the people of Egypt have grain and no-one
starves. The granaries are kept locked for the first year and the people use up all their supplies of food first, and then
they ask the local officials for the official granaries to be opened and for them to buy the stored grain. The pharaoh tells
the people, see Joseph, and he opens the granaries for business and sells the grain back to the people of the land, and
to foreign groups who approach him. For both internal politics and foreign relations the granaries of Egypt become
important. Joseph’s plan has brought Egypt to the place of ultimate power in the eastern Mediterranean.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
There are things that are settled in the plan of God and are not to be prayed over, for the Lord will not make any
changes to the plan. We are to be alert to the Lord’s leading in our prayers, and not be influenced by weird
theologies which encourage us to twist God’s arm to change his mind about things. We are creatures, speaking
to our creator!
Prayer is working within the will of the Lord, not against it. Joseph realizes that the famine is coming and tells
the pharaoh the truth, he does not waste time by praying about a settled thing! Notice I say “waste” time, for it is
to waste time to pray about a settled matter. An example of this is praying about whether you should marry an
unbeliever, for the scripture forbids it! Joseph knows the will of the Lord and goes with it, so must we, once we
are clear, without prayer meetings called to change the Lord’s plan!
2.
When we are called into a new situation, in the Spirit we are to walk with confidence that the Holy Spirit will
provide what needs to be said and done there and then. We are to be daily ready to serve, to be fit and healthy,
and walking in the spirit, then we are to relax with each opportunity and walk forward, armour on in the filling of
the Holy Spirit. There is no room for hesitancy or fear in the Lord’s service, just moment by moment application
of “faith-rest” principles.
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3.
Joseph is ready to spring into action and he has learned both faith and humility. His new power is not treated
with arrogance, and he is able to rule without the distraction of wealth and power going to his head. He calmly
establishes the network of granaries and gets moving. We need to be ready to spring into action on a major
project at any moment. If you are not ready to move quickly, then address anything in your life that slows you
down and eliminate it now! Be ready to serve and the Lord can call you, but don’t expect the Lord to call you if
you are distracted by the cares of this world and are unable to extricate yourself to serve him.
4.
Be ready to change your very identity, if the Lord requires it of you. You may have defined yourself by interests
and activities that are “you”. If the Lord calls you into a different path, be ready to change everything about
yourself except your love for him and the people close to you. Joseph receives a new name and it speaks truth
about his role and destiny and he embraces that destiny. Let us embrace the destiny that the Lord has for each
of us and walk with him to fulfil it fully.
DOCTRINES
CHRISTIAN LIFE: THINKING BIBLICALLY
1. We must think with Holy Spirit filled discernment. Refer SPIRITUALITY.
2. Our discernment is determined by the amount of God’s Word we have read, understood and applied into our lives.
Colossians 1:9-11. Refer EBCWA CD or website for detailed study Colossians 1.
3. Our human IQ is of no significance in thinking biblically, for the Holy Spirit will teach us as we seek to learn and are
obedient to what we learn. 1 Corinthians 1:19- 2:16. Refer EBCWA CD or website for detailed study of 1 Corinthians 1.
4. To think biblically we must apply what we know. James 1:21-25. Refer EBCWA CD or website for detailed study of
James 1. There is no such thing as knowledge that remains unapplied, for such “knowledge” is simply self deception.
GOD: COMFORT FOR BELIEVERS
1. God is in control. Nothing will ever happen to you as a Christian that you have not had the opportunity to develop
resources to deal with. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
2. God's character is stable.
(a) if God is for you who can be against you. (Romans 8:31-34)
(b) no matter what happens God's love is stable. (Romans 8:35-39)
3. God's promises are secure for he is always with us. (Matthew 28:19-20, Jeremiah 1:19)
4. God's power is always the same:(a) He will always keep us. (John 10:29, 2 Timothy 1:12,)
(b) God does not forget us or loose His power to keep. (Jude 24)
(c) Even if we fall away from fellowship we still are saved. (2 Timothy 2:13)
5. God knew before time what we would need in time and has provided for the supply of all our needs. (Philippians 4:19,
Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 3:12,)
6. God has the power to bless us. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
7. God is able to make all grace abound towards us. (Ephesians 3:20)
8. We should grow to the place of real confidence and blessing. (2 Peter 3:18)
9. We do this by feeding on His Word. (John 6:29, 33, 63)
NOTES
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CHAPTER 42
INTRODUCTION
Genesis 42 is the story of three believers, Jacob, Reuben and Joseph. These men are examples of what we should and
should not be. There was a famine in the land of Canaan, just as there was in Egypt and apparently much of north Africa
and the Middle East at this time, and Jacob and his family are starting to feel the pinch as the seven poor years have
started to bite into their reserves of food and animals. The chapter opens with the family sitting around looking at each
other; all believers and yet all out of fellowship.
Now how can I say this about Jacob and the others? The reason I know they have not been at prayer for possibly twenty
years now, is that at no time have they prayed long enough to receive the Lord’s advice, and actually hear it. Jacob could
have been told about the famine, but he wasn’t, for he was not listening to God, and the brothers haven’t been either.
These people, who have to deal with this situation, have a complete lack of spiritual resources.
This group has been backsliding since Joseph left them some 20 years before. For over twenty years the brothers have
not dealt with their sins, and Jacob has not recalled them to the family altar. The brothers have also continued to lie to
their father about the fate of their brother. Benjamin stays at home now, as Jacob does not trust the other brothers with
him, as he suspects foul play with Joseph. This is certainly not a good picture of a Christian family working together.
Jacob is still playing favorites, with Benjamin this time, rather than Joseph.
THE BROTHERS VISIT EGYPT
The brothers come down to Egypt and bow down before Joseph the ruler which then confirms the dream which Joseph
had been given those many years before. He hasn’t had to approach them, they have come to him. His brothers have
previously stated that they will not bow down before him whilst God in the dream says they will. Here is the fulfillment of
that prophecy.
Joseph spoke roughly to them as he didn't want them to know who he was. He speaks in the Egyptian language, so one
of his people will translate for them, and so it will be even harder for them to spot who he is. Twenty one or more years
have gone by and so he is changed from the boy they sold as a slave. He accuses them of being spies. Joseph is now
putting pressure on them under God's guidance so that they may be able to face their sin. He is also concerned about
his brother Benjamin and that they have tried to do the same to Benjamin as they did to him. Joseph also accuses them
of coming down to attack Egypt because of the hard times in Palestine. They deny it and say that the youngest brother is
with the father and another "is not".
Here it shows that if you are caught in a sin, and don’t face it, then you will compound your sinful state and try to lie your
way out of it. Joseph is forcing them to face their sin. Before you can forget your sins and move away from them,
Philippians 3:13, you have to deal with them, as you cannot hide a sin without it coming up to haunt you and multiplying
in it’s destructive impact.
Do not bottle up your problems otherwise you are going to have pressure build up within, which can end in mental
breakdowns, or even other illness, such as heart disease and even cancer. They have sown sin, lies and deceit and they
now reaping a harvest years later. The Lord has brought them down into Egypt to face the consequences of their sin as it
is only after dealing with sin that they can be blessed.
Joseph said to them that he would not believe them unless he saw Benjamin. He says that he is going to send one of
them home and keep the rest in Egypt. He put them all in jail for three days to sort them out as from his experience he
knew that that had occurred to him.
The problem with the brothers was that they did not fear God. As believers they have put God out of their reckoning.
Joseph says that he is giving them a chance because he believes God. This is a challenge to us as we will see as we go
through these chapters.
Joseph tells them that one of the brothers will stay in Egypt as a hostage whilst the others can return to Palestine with
the wheat. They are asked to bring the youngest brother back. The time of introspection is effective because they realize
that they are in this predicament because of what they did to Joseph. For the first time the shepherds of Palestine
themselves were in a confined pit not unlike Joseph those many years ago.
They recall that while they were having lunch they refused to listen to the cries and pleadings of Joseph from the pit.
They were hard, evil and unjust. They see that they were wrong and whilst they are now innocent in this situation they
saw that they deserved what they are getting. Reuben says, I told you so. At the time however he did not have the moral
fibre to resist the sin and therefore was as guilty as the others of the sin itself. To know what is good and not to do it is
sin. If you see something wrong and you do not oppose it you have sinned. James 4:15-17.
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THE GRACE OF JOSEPH
Whilst Joseph understood everything that they said he speaks to them through an interpreter. Seven years in supreme
power, and as we will see, he is still humbly trusting in God, and he still has love for his brothers. He wept. He was grace
orientated. He takes Simeon and claps him in irons and puts him in jail. He tells the servants to fill the sacks of corn and
placed in the sacks the money they have paid. He gave them provisions for their journey and they departed. They now
head off for home and are surprised when one of them opens their sack and finds the money there. This causes them
concern. What is this that God has done to us they say.
This is typical of statements by believers when they get into trouble. After years of sin and disobedience these men are
now worried. Joseph by his actions is making them say “why”. Are they being set up? They believe that some of
Pharaoh's soldiers will come accusing them of stealing the money. Joseph is dealing with them as God deals with errant
believers, he is disciplining them - Hebrews 12:5-13. Here he is continuing to put pressure on them to bring them to the
place where they confess their sin and receive blessing.
In verses 29-35 they told Jacob on their return what had happened. Now everybody is concerned. What should a
believer do in this pressure? Having confessed our sin we should cast our burdens on the Lord. Jacob's reaction
however was that the sons have bereaved him again leaving Simeon in jail and now they want to bereave him of another
son in Benjamin. “It will be the death of me. Poor me”, is his message to them. How low has Jacob sunk? He is exactly
where a self centred person gets to; the place of spiritual paralysis. He does not pray and he does not call for the revival
that would save them all. The family must run out of food again before he acts!
As a pastor you will see this psychological response many times. Preaching will convict people of sin and they will think
at times that they are being followed around by you. They will be upset with you for telling them the truth. One minister
says, the Lord has called us to wake up God’s sleeping people, and they often wake up grumpy!
Jacob is failing because he has got away from God and is staying away from Him. If you stay away from God you
become weak and become unable to work for your own safety. Reuben is all heart and no brains when he says to Jacob
to slay his two sons if he does not bring back Simeon and Benjamin. What possible satisfaction can Jacob have to kill
two of his grandsons if his two sons are dead? It is a foolish statement, but illustrates how dumb believers out of
fellowship long enough become.
Why is this happening? All this occurs in their lives because people out of fellowship do not think. If you are not walking
in the Spirit you are walking as an unbeliever. What does Jacob do, he does nothing. He will not allow anyone to move
and so at the end of the chapter they are all sitting around a campfire looking at one another, eating the corn they
bought, watching their supplies get lower and lower.
At the beginning of chapter 43 their food is all gone and they are all starving again. Jacob now says go and buy a little
food. They have got at least 60 adults, possibly as many as 600 to feed so it will need more than a little food; they need
several tons of food. By this statement Jacob has written off his son Simeon because he does not want to lose Benjamin.
Joseph on the other hand has learnt to trust God and not to get upset. He is able to relax and with him; there are no
mental attitude sins now slowing down Joseph’s walk with God. As people we do not see sin as God sees it , we see it
as a little thing whilst in practice it is something which God wants dealt with quickly, before it destroys us. They think th at
by the time they get back down to Egypt Joseph will have forgotten all about the people who came down to buy food
those months ago. Hopefully they can sneak in and out and get enough food to keep them going to the end of the
famine. But the famine is going to last seven years. The pressure is now coming on Jacob.
GENESIS 42:1-17
“1 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon
another? 2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us
from thence; that we may live, and not die. 3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4 But
Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6
And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's
brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. 7 And Joseph saw his
brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said
unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. 8 And Joseph knew his
brethren, but they knew not him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said
unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord,
but to buy food are thy servants come. 11 We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no
spies. 12 And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 13 And they said, Thy
servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day
with our father, and one is not. 14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are
spies: 15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest
brother come hither. 16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that
your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
17 And he put them all together into ward three days.”
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REFLECTION
Verses 1 – 4.
Notice the tone of these verses. Moses tells the story to make us really sure that old Jacob is
truly Jacob; he is not operating as “Israel” here. He has faced famine without prayer and so, without prayer he urges the
boys to go down to Egypt to buy what they need. He does not call a family conference and relight the family altar. He
fears the very path he has sent the men on for he thinks and fears that Benjamin will perish, or disappear as Joseph had.
He has no peace, because he has no prayer life, nor spiritual life, and has not had for years. This is a sad picture of a
carnal family, caught by their own ignoring of the Lord for years now. The father distrusts his sons and fears they will kill
their younger brother! They are still alive however and that means there is hope for them all. Refer to the BTB study
PEACE. Psalms 118:17-18, 24-26.
Notice the little details that Moses gives. They are all sitting around in a circle looking at one another; even Judah is back
with them all now, but there is no loving relationship between them, and there is no leadership from Jacob, or anyone
else. They can’t move to save themselves! You lose more than just fellowship when you fall out of fellowship with the
Lord. You lose your inner strength in the end.
Jacob wants the older men to go down as a group, probably for protection. Given the size of the joint households of old
Isaac and Jacob there may be in excess of 600 people dependent on their flocks and herds, and with food running out,
there are a thousand mouths or more to feed. They need several hundred tons of grain, not just a few bags, and so the
ten brothers would each have their servants and many camels. This may be a caravan of hundreds of camels or asses.
Some camel trains of the last century had up to a thousand camels in them, and this is my suspicion here. Moses later
mentions asses as the main animal and probably the bulk of the animals are asses as they were more common in
Canaan than camels. This is why Joseph gets to personally interview these men. This is a large group, almost like an
army that has arrived in Egypt. It is a significant number of tons of grain that is being sold here. Anything less than this
will not work for the family for a year, and anything less than a sizeable group would not have involved Joseph; one of his
staff would have handled the transaction.
Verses 5 - 6.
Joseph is identified as the man who sold the wheat, but that is simply the way of saying he
was the man responsible before Pharaoh. Moses has already told us that he has built granaries in every population
centre, and Egypt had several million people by this time. Joseph is not personally selling the grain like a store keeper
simultaneously in a hundred or more sites, but his people are; all sales are done under his personal authority.
In today’s language we explain things exactly as Moses does here, with our central bank notes being printed with the
signature of the head/governor of the bank who promises to pay the amount noted. No ordinary citizen would be able to
demand the governor serve them, but when major foreign currency deals are done it is the governor of the Reserve Bank
that personally oversees them with his staff as translators and administrators.
In exactly the same way here, when a camel/ass train as large as the sons of Jacob’s arrives, Joseph will be told. The
sons of Jacob have a large armed band with them for protection against attack by desert raiders, for the famine is hitting
everywhere and desperate people will kill for their next meal. Jacob has had to send a small army, probably several
hundred armed men, big enough to deter desert raiders, or else his grain will not arrive safely back. For the same reason
Joseph is alerted by his staff that a vast animal train has arrived with hundreds of tough armed men of Canaan. Have
they come to scope out the granaries of Egypt and then plan an invasion? This was a most likely scenario, as Egypt is
the only place with food and countries will go to war if they are desperate.
The sons of Jacob are all men in their fifties or forties now, and they are tough warriors of the wild lands of the North.
They look unkempt and violent to the refined and cultured Egyptians, and they would be surrounded by Joseph’s armed
guards at all times, and would have had to leave their weapons with the camel train before even getting near Joseph.
They would be under no illusion that they were under suspicion from the beginning of their visit. They bow to the ground,
faces on the floor before their brother. The prophecy is partly fulfilled! Joseph sees the hand of God in this and now
begins to test these men who treated him so badly. Genesis 37:5-9.
Verses 7 – 9.
Joseph recognizes them as they speak. It has been twenty eight years or more since he has
seen them, but he knows them, but as he speaks the Egyptian language to them and uses interpreters, and speaks very
harshly, their fear will keep their heads firmly pressed to the floor. They are not thinking about Joseph at this point, but
only of their own survival.
Within a few days however they will think a great deal about Joseph. They know they are facing a man who can kill them
instantly, and they feel the fear of guilty men awaiting the Lord God’s hammer to fall upon them. Joseph remembers the
two dreams and sees that the Lord has, without his organizing it fulfilled the dreams before his eyes. His father and
brother Benjamin are not there but the others all are. Every man who treated him badly is bowing to the ground before
him, as totally under his power as he was previously under their power.
Verses 10 – 12.
They are keen to prove that they are not spies from the many nations of Canaan, but the
members of one family come down to get food for their starving encampment. They claim to be honest and true men;
men who can be depended upon. As Jesus said in John 7:18; “he that speaks great things of himself seeks his own
glory”. Joseph knows these men are anything but “true”; they are a pack of crooks who have not told their father of their
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past sin against him. They are men who their own father did not trust to look after sheep and sent Joseph to check them
out! Joseph will be having a job here not laughing out loud at their claims to be good men.
Joseph ends this interview with the affirmative statement that sends them all to jail, “No, you are all spies”. That ends the
discussion from an Egyptian perspective; the Pharaoh’s man has decided, but they won’t stop, for they are desperate
men now. If they fail in their mission, their father, their wives, and their children will die. Every day’s delay means
someone may die, for Jacob’s delay has meant the situation back home is critical. They have no time to waste, but
Joseph has plenty of time to teach them a lesson and really test them to see if they have learned from their past evil and
repent of it now.
Verses 13 – 17.
At this point Joseph must have held his breath, for they acknowledge twelve brothers, with
one (him) who “is not” and the other is at home with their father. They have foolishly given him the number of brothers
and he can count only ten. He has a natural concern for young Benjamin, now in his twenties, to ensure that he is not
under the same threat that he was from the other ten. Joseph will give them the ultimate pressure situation and see what
comes out of the pressure cooker. He makes it clear that he is testing them, and by swearing “by the life of pharaoh” he
is formally stating that with Pharaoh’s authority he will execute them all if they are found to be spies. Joseph then states,
you won’t go back until your youngest brother comes here.
Now they have many servants who can carry the message, so it wouldn’t be a problem, but the brothers know the stress
that this will cause their worried father. He is prepared to allow on of them to go back with the servants to announce the
“deal” to their father. If they care about their father at all, their response will show their attitude clearly to Joseph. He
wants to see what is within them and this is a great psychological test for them. He makes it clear that his mind is settled
on this and they must now face their past in jail, with Joseph’s men listening in and reporting back his brother’s
conversations.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
When people are convicted of sin they will behave in an interesting way. As pastors we need to remember that
convicted people can react in quite informative ways, and not take things personally when they get angry, or
weep. Our job is to tell the truth of God and “let the chips fall where they may”. Joseph will see quickly that his
brothers have repented, but he will wait until they have come to terms with their sins fully. People are always
sorry when they are caught out in sin, but only over time do we see the true “fruit of repentance”, which will be
fruit of the Holy Spirit in their changed lives.
2.
Jacob’s family leadership has fallen down and this is a terrible picture of what happens when a believer stays
out of spiritual fellowship long enough. The family circle that this chapter confronts is an awful indictment upon
Jacob’s failure as a father. He has twelve sons and many daughters, but he has misery because he has not
been spiritually an example for his sons to follow. Dealing with sin is not an optional extra in our lives. If we do
not confront sin and evil it will destroy our inner peace and the enjoyment of our lives, but then move on to
destroy our family, community, and then finally our nation. The scriptures tell us, “be sure your sins will find you
out”.
3.
Famine ought not to be faced without prayer! When we face any crisis we need to bathe it in prayer. Jacob fails
his family and the suffering of the children must have been terrible in this time, and it was all caused by
prayerlessness! Let us keep short accounts with the Lord and bring everything before Him in prayer daily.
Failure to deal with things by prayer means we must face other means of bringing us to knowledge of truth, and
in God’s economy that means, DIVINE DISCIPLINE.
4.
There are two sayings, “the wheel turns”, and “what goes around comes around”. They sum up the fact that bad
deeds tend to haunt people. No one gets away with their evil towards others. Evil does not produce good and
there are many wealthy people who are miserable, for they got their money by abusing others and finally it
comes back to bite them. The brothers of Joseph start to see that their actions twenty eight plus years before
may now be starting to come back upon them. Be sure your sins will find you out! Let us warn people and keep
our own sinful tendencies under control.
DOCTRINES
CHRISTIAN LIFE: CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS see page 21
CHRISTIAN LIFE: DISCIPLINE OF THE BELIEVER – see page 13
PEACE
Three types of peace are referred to in the Bible.
1. Peace on Earth:- The unlimited peace when Jesus Christ establishes his millennial reign on the earth. (Isaiah 9:6, 7,
Isaiah 11:1-12, Luke 2:14)
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2. Peace with God:- Which comes when a believer is born again as a result of justification by faith (2 Peter 1:1,2,
Ephesians 2:14-17, Philippians 4:9) - Reconciliation.
3. Peace of God:- Which is the peace of believers in their soul and spirit who have cast all their cares on the Lord (1
Peter 5.7, Philippians 4:6,7) - The Spirit filled life.
GENESIS 42:18-38
“18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: 19 If ye be true men, let one of
your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: 20 But
bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so. 21
And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his
soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. 22 And Reuben
answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear?
therefore, behold, also his blood is required. 23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake
unto them by an interpreter. 24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again,
and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. 25 Then Joseph
commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them
provision for the way: and thus did he unto them. 26 And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed
thence. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for,
behold, it was in his sack's mouth. 28 And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in
my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath
done unto us? 29 And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell
unto them; saying, 30 The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the
country. 31 And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies: 32 We be twelve brethren, sons of our
father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. 33 And the man, the lord of
the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and
take food for the famine of your households, and be gone: 34 And bring your youngest brother unto me: then
shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic
in the land. 35 And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was
in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their
father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take
Benjamin away: all these things are against me. 37 And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two
sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. 38 And he said, My
son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in
the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.”
REFLECTION
Verses 18 – 20.
Joseph leaves them for three days in jail without any word of their fate. They do not know
whether they will be taken out and executed, or be visited any moment by the executioner in their cell! Having given them
an experience of fear in a foreign jail for three days and three nights he then brings them out and speaks to them again
and offers a deal. Notice his words carefully.
Firstly he reminds them that he fears the Lord. The problem they face, is a problem precisely because they do not fear
the Lord! They face fear of men because they did not fear the Lord their God. They are challenged by Joseph to pray by
his choice of words to them. They have an opportunity to relieve their starving families and also to show who has nobility
and will offer to stay behind until the others return. They are then reminded that only if they bring their youngest brother
back will they be given more food the second time and if they don’t then the brother left behind will die in jail, and they
will all starve in Canaan. The brothers are immediately tested and their father Jacob will be tested later as he faces this
reality!
Verses 21 – 24.
Joseph uses an interpreter so they have no idea that he understands their words and he
hides the effect of them upon him. He is moved to tears as he hears Reuben speak and leaves the room briefly. As the
second leader of the nation he was able to do this without the slightest problem being seen by the men, for such men are
expected to come and go as affairs of State dictate. The brothers are in a foreign country and Joseph underlines that
fact, yet they are still in the hands of God. This is the message of the Word of God; there is no place that we are not in
the hands of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 33:27-29, Psalms 3:8, 40:1-5, 68:22, 106:6-12, 107:23-43, 130:1-6, Jonah 2:1-9. These Old Testament
verses are an ever present resource for the troubled believer; they remind us that we cannot ever be away from the one
who made us and created the entire universe!
The convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit is upon them as carnal believers. They know they have sinned and they know
exactly the sin they are being judged for here, for they feel the same fear they saw on Joseph’s face the day they sold
him into slavery. They then discuss the details that Moses has not mentioned earlier; that Joseph wept and pleaded with
them not to do the evil they had planned. He entreated them with tears to stop the evil and be reconciled with him and
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resolve their deep hatred towards him. They knew it was evil then and they see that God is rightly punishing them now.
Refer to the BTB studies, CHRISTIAN LIFE: CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS – see page 21 and HOLY SPIRIT –
MINISTRIES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, CHRISTIAN LIFE : SPIRITUALITY-CARNALITY below,.
Reuben does the “I told you so” routine, which is unhelpful, but does underline he had the right thoughts, just lacked the
courage to follow through! God requires we have more than honourable intentions; he requires that we follow through
with righteousness. To believe and not to follow through is sin! Luke 12:47-48, James 4:17.
Reuben is right, “Blood is required”. They have sinned and the penalty is death for their sin. What he has not
remembered is the family altar and the blood sacrifice upon it that covered his sin. They have still not thought of the
sacrifice for sins. Refer to the BTB study BLOOD SACRIFICE, CHRIST – SACRIFICE OF CHRIST, DISPENSATION OF
ISRAEL.
Joseph weeps, but does so after leaving the room, so that he has privacy with his own feelings. He sees that they have
felt sorry for their sins, but their sorrow is still quite self centred, emotional, and more “sorry we are caught”, than genuine
repentance. He knows they are heading in the right direction for there to be reconciliation down track, but he also knows
that the time is not right. Will they be able to face their father, and will they deal honourably with Benjamin? Refer to the
BTB study REPENTANCE.
He takes Simeon and binds him with chains before their eyes and he is carried off to the jail again. He will remain locked
up until they return with Benjamin. Why Simeon? Reuben was the oldest, but he had tried to dissuade the others from
selling Joseph, so it is Simeon who as the second oldest must be hostage. All things are being done to underline the fact
that Joseph is doing the Lord’s work here to bring them all to repentance, Simeon as he lies in jail, and the others as they
head back to Canaan.
Verses 25 – 28.
The wheat is loaded into sacks and placed on the animal train. The brothers are each
carrying grain on their own asses. There will be many tons of grain here, for it must feed them for a year. They head off
into the desert and camp for the night after they are as far away from Egyptian civilization as they can go in a day. To
feed their animals they use the grain, and as one gets some out of the sack he has, he discovers the money silver/gold
at the top of the sack. All discover the same in their sacks.
Their response is one of fear, for they know that this means someone is playing a trick on them. Their response is
interesting after their discover of the gold and silver, “What has God done to us?” They are starting to ask the right
questions now! Isaiah 45:6-13. Refer to the BTB studies, CHRISTIAN LIFE: MENTAL ATTITUDE, STABILITY,
OVERCOMING BY FAITH and FEAR.
Verses 29 – 35.
They now recount what has happened during their trip into Egypt. Old Israel knows that one is
missing, for over the last twenty eight years he has been counting the group each time, having lost one! Notice how they
tell the story and the way they gloss over their own and Simeon’s jailing. They emphasize that they were accused of
being spies and were treated with severity and suspicion. They mention that to prove they were not spies of the lands
and city-states of Canaan they had to tell about their family and the number of brothers they had.
They then report that the man promised to provide a licence to buy grain if they proved their story true; that indeed they
had another younger brother and they were from one family and not spies of the city-states preparing to attack Egypt.
Having stated this, they tell the most scary thing to them, that they then found all their silver and gold, that had been used
to buy the corn in the sacks with the grain.
They had the grain and the wealth they had used to pay for it, and they did not go back for an explanation. Their point is
clear in all this. They have to go back for Simeon, for other wise they will starve to death, but they also need to take
Benjamin, and they need to be ready to report about the silver and gold, and they need to go soon, for the longer they
delay the more suspicious their story will sound to the Egyptians.
It may appear that they were deliberately hiding the fact that they got their money back! They know that the return of
money must be deliberate, for it was found in all ten camel sacks, not just one. They are baffled and scared. They know
that they have been set up, but they cannot understand why and what for. God is not mentioned in their account, but
Israel will start to see things spiritually, even if only after a number of months of worry, and then just a little.
Verses 36 – 38.
Jacob answers and what an answer is this. It shows just how self centred and selfish this man
has become in the days of carnality in Canaan these last twenty eight years. He is absorbed with the loss of his son
Joseph and now fears the loss of the other two, although he will “write off” Simeon quickly.
Reuben now nobly offers his own two sons as hostage for the return of Benjamin. It is a genuine offer on Reuben’s part,
for he feels deeply his own cowardice in not delivering Joseph when he could, and probably is baffled as to why the
second oldest is in jail in Egypt and not him. Guilt drives him to make this offer, and logically it is foolishness, for what
satisfaction does a grandfather get in avenging the loss of his sons by killing his grand-sons.
Jacob will not budge on this matter of Benjamin, for he is still too much in grief over the loss of Joseph. His personal
worry will delay the return trip to Egypt and place the family’s survival in jeopardy yet again. He does not build the altar
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and pray; he chooses to worry and fret! That choice is also ours, each and every day we face concerns in our daily lives.
Let us pray and cast our cares upon the Lord, for worry wastes energy we need to achieve our service for the Lord.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
In this world we will either fear the Lord or fear everything! As creatures within a creation we do not have the
knowledge or power to live without fear, our choice is only what we will fear or respect. If we fear the Lord and
discover his love for us, our fear is absorbed in his love, mercy and grace and our strength is found in his plan
for us. Let us walk in the plan of God; the only alternative is to be fearful of everything and to jump at shadows.
2.
Be sure your sins will find you out, unless you deal with them! The Lord wants us to be without fear and guilt,
and through confession of sin has provided a way to release ourselves from the burdens that the Lord Jesus
Christ carried for us! Let us release ourselves by dealing with everything that separates us from the plan of God,
and let us walk in the spirit, in the light of God’s Word, and so we will not stumble at any actions of men.
3.
Joseph does not rush to disclose his identity, for he seeks the fruit of the spirit in the lives of his brothers and he
sees little evidence of their lives having changed since they dealt so badly with him. He rightly tests them and
slowly they come back to fellowship. Joseph is not seeking his pleasure, nor is he trying to play happy families
with his dysfunctional brothers; rather he is trying to move them to repentance and genuine change. He seeks
their spiritual good. He sets us the example of focused concern for those we love, not seeking our own
outcomes, but their spiritual blessing and growth.
DOCTRINES
HOLY SPIRIT: MINISTRY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit did not indwell all believers, since Christ was not yet glorified (John 7:39).
Instead, He only came upon some Old Testament saints to perform special functions.
a) JOSEPH, a believer who was a prime minister. (Genesis 41:38)
b) Believers who were artisans occupied in the construction of the Tabernacle. (Exodus 28:3, 31:3)
c) Believers involved in administration. (Numbers 11:17, 25)
d) A believer who was both a political and military leader - JOSHUA (Numbers 27:18)
e) Certain Judges: OTHNIEL (Judges 3:9, 10) GIDEON (Judges 6:34) JEPHTHAH (Judges 11:29) SAMSON (Judges
13:24, 25, 14:5-6, 15:14)
f) Kings of Israel (1 Samuel 10:9, 10, 16:13)
g) DANIEL (Daniel 4:8, 5:11, 6:3)
h) Post exilic rulers (Zechariah 4:3, 12-14)
2. Believers in Israel could be disciplined by the removal of the Spirit:
a) SAUL (1 Samuel 16:14)
b) DAVID (Psalm 51:11)
3. A believer could obtain the Holy Spirit by request, but not as an indwelling presence. (2 Kings 2:9, 10, Luke 11:13)
4. Jesus gave the Holy Spirit without request to the disciples just before the ascension. Purpose: To sustain them for the
ten day interim before the Church Age would begin. (John 20:22)
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SPIRITUALITY
1. All Christians have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. When we allow Him to control our lives, we are said to be "filled
with the Spirit" or "walking in the Spirit".
2. The filling of the Holy Spirit can be lost by
a) Grieving the Spirit - by sin
b) Quenching the Spirit - by not submitting to His leading
c) This is called being carnal, or controlled by the flesh, the old sin nature.
3. The filling of the Holy Spirit can be regained by
a) confessing sin (1 John 1:9)
b) surrendering your life to God (Romans 12:1-2)
c) This is called being spiritual, or controlled by the Holy Spirit.
4. Only the Holy Spirit in us can produce good works acceptable to God - anything in our own strength is unacceptable
(Romans 8:8-9, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
5. The spiritual believer
a) Imitates God. (Ephesians 5:1, 1 John 3:9)
b) To glorify Christ. (John 7:39, John 16:14)
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c) Fulfils the Law. (Romans 8:2-4, Romans 13:8)
6. In the Bible the human race is divided in three Categories:[a] Natural Man - A person born physically alive, but not regenerated. He may be highly sophisticated, civilised, gentle
and kind, but is completely ignorant of any spiritual phenomena. (1 Corinthians 2:14) Equivalent to the cold person in the
church in Laodicea.
[b] Carnal Man - A person regenerated or born again but living his life under the power of his old sin nature. Prolonged
activity in this area produces a Christian who is still a baby. (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). Equivalent to the lukewarm person in
the church of Laodicea.
[c] Spiritual Man - A person regenerated and living generally in the power of the Holy Spirit. He discerns the difference
between the things of God and man. (1 Corinthians 2:11-13) He has fellowship with God in his daily life. (Ephesians
5:18-20) Equivalent to the hot person in the church of Laodicea.
7. Carnality
[a] The believer possesses an Old Sin Nature after salvation (1John 1:8, Romans 7:14,15).
[b]. The Old Sin Nature is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).
[c]. The believer under the control of the Old Sin Nature is called carnal (1Corinthians 3:1-3, Romans 7:14).
[d]. The Old Sin Nature frustrates bona fide production in the life of the believer (Romans 7:15).
[e]. The Old Sin Nature is acquired at the point of physical birth (Psalm 51:5).
[f]. We are therefore considered spiritually dead at the point of physical birth (Romans 5:12).
[g]. The Old Sin Nature has several facets: areas of weakness produces sins, areas of strength produces human good.
It has trends towards asceticism or lasciviousness. In many cases asceticism is considered to be spirituality.
[h] The Old Sin Nature is not found in the resurrection body.
CHRISTIAN LIFE – MENTAL ATTITUDE
1. Definition: Attitude or Mental attitude is the state of mind where the mind is set on a course of action on the basis of
the whole function and thinking of the soul.
2. Every believer faces the inner conflict of divine versus human viewpoint. These two attitudes are at war in humanity in
human history from the time of the fall. (Isaiah 55:7-9)
3. We are commanded to have divine viewpoint in our souls not the viewpoint of Satan (worldliness). 2 Corinthians 1:7,
10:5. (via Doctrine in the Soul).
3. Attitude determines both the life and character of a person - what you think is what you are (Proverbs 23:7)
4. As Christians we are commanded to have our thinking in tune with the mind of Christ. Gods plan for our lives calls for
a new attitude in our souls, a new viewpoint, without any human viewpoint or mental attitude sin (1Corinthians 2:16, 2
Corinthians 10:4-5 Romans 12:2, Philippians 2:5, 2 Timothy 1:7)
5. Fellowship within a church is based on believers all being in tune with what the Bible teaches. Philippians 2:2.
6. Knowledge of the Bible (the mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:16) and control by the Holy Spirit renews the mind of the
believer, giving divine viewpoint. (Romans 12:2)
7. The right mental attitude produces joy (Philippians 2:2), confidence (2 Corinthians 5:1,6,8), stability (Isaiah 26:3-4,
Philippians 4:7, 2 Thessalonians 2:2), true giving (2 Corinthians 9:7), love (1 Corinthians 13:5)
8. Human viewpoint is called worldliness. (Romans 12:2, Colossians 3:2)
9. Evil is what you think as you are following Satan’s policy. Matthew 9:4, Galatians 6:3. Mental attitude sins produce self
induced misery. (Proverbs 15:13)
10. Without clear thinking there is conflict in the mind of the believer. Isaiah 55:6-9, James 1:7-8.
11. True stability of Character comes only this way. Philippians 4:7, 2 Thessalonians 2:2.
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12. Giving is a mental attitude. 2 Corinthians 9:7. Love is a mental attitude. 1 Corinthians 13: Deuteronomy 6:5,10:12.
13. Worldliness is a mental attitude: It is all non-grace thinking i.e. Anti Gods Plan, Colossians 3:2.
14. Confidence in service and living generally flows from having "Divine Viewpoint" which has other advantages such as
[a] Stability in life - James 1:8
[b] Prosperity of soul - Philippians 4:7
[c] Giving to the Lord - 2 Corinthians 9:7
[d] Spiritual rather than worldly - Romans 12:2, Colossians 3:2
[e] Purity rather than evil - Matthew 9:4
[f] No arrogance - Galatians 6:1-5.
[g] Inner beauty - 1 Timothy 2:9,10,15.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: STABILITY
1. God is able to keep us and bless us (Ephesians 3:20, Hebrews 7:25).
2. Stability comes when we know God; when we have grown up in his Word. Maturity brings with it stability (2Peter 3:18,
2Timothy 1:12).
3. The alternative to a stable life of faith is to be tossed about by every pressure; this occurs when there is no doctrinal
application in the life (James 1:6, Ephesians 4:14, Revelation 3:8).
4. Believers need stability to stand fast against the wiles of Satan who is a danger to those with no doctrine: We are told
to:
a) Stand fast in the word 1 Corinthians 16:13.
b) Stand fast in our liberty Galatians 5:1 cf. Romans 14:1ff, 8:9-13.
c) Stand fast in one spirit (no pettiness) Philippians 1:27.
d) Stand fast in the Lord (in fellowship) Philippians 4:1.
e) Stand fast in doctrine 2 Thessalonians 2:5, 16,17.
5. Strength and stability comes in a close relationship with the Lord. By faith we stand: 2 Corinthians 1:24, Psalm 59:17,
62:7, 144:1.
6. God has supreme power at His fingertips for us. Isaiah 59:1.
7. Our faith should stand secure in this power, for we are kept by it in all things, therefore we should be confident.
1Corinthians 2:5, 1Peter 1:5, John 16:33.
8. God is able to make us stand through the work of the Holy Spirit upon the word in our lives. Romans 14:4, Jude 24.
9. Strength and stability come from the impact of the Holy Spirit’s work upon the word in our life as we believe and apply
it. e.g. Sarah Hebrews 11:11, Paul 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.
10. Profile of the stable believer under pressure 2 Peter 1:3-16.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: STABILITY
1. God is able to keep us and bless us (Ephesians 3:20, Hebrews 7:25).
2. Stability comes when we know God; when we have grown up in his Word. Maturity brings with it stability (2Peter 3:18,
2Timothy 1:12).
3. The alternative to a stable life of faith is to be tossed about by every pressure; this occurs when there is no doctrinal
application in the life (James 1:6, Ephesians 4:14, Revelation 3:8).
4. Believers need stability to stand fast against the wiles of Satan who is a danger to those with no doctrine: We are told
to:
a) Stand fast in the word 1Corinthians 16:13.
b) Stand fast in our liberty Galatians 5:1 cf. Romans 14:1ff, 8:9-13.
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c) Stand fast in one spirit (no pettiness) Philippians 1:27.
d) Stand fast in the Lord (in fellowship) Philippians 4:1.
e) Stand fast in doctrine 2 Thessalonians 2:5, 16,17.
5. Strength and stability comes in a close relationship with the Lord. By faith we stand: 2 Corinthians 1:24, Psalm 59:17,
62:7, 144:1.
6. God has supreme power at His fingertips for us. Isaiah 59:1.
7. Our faith should stand secure in this power, for we are kept by it in all things, therefore we should be confident.
1Corinthians 2:5, 1Peter 1:5, John 16:33.
8. God is able to make us stand through the work of the Holy Spirit upon the word in our lives. Romans 14:4, Jude 24.
9. Strength and stability come from the impact of the Holy Spirit’s work upon the word in our life as we believe and apply
it. e.g. Sarah Hebrews 11:11, Paul 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.
10. Profile of the stable believer under pressure 2 Peter 1:3-16.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: FAITH – OVERCOMING BY FAITH
1. By faith learn to accept conditions as God's will for life and be thankful - Romans 8:28, 1 Thessalonians 3:3; 5:18
2. By faith maintain fellowship with God, walking in the light - 1 John 1:7
3. By faith consistently day by day examine your conduct, confessing all known sins - 1 Corinthians 11:28, 31 1 John 1:9
4. By faith receive the Word of God daily as being more necessary than daily food. - Matthew 4:4; 5:6, 2 Peter 3:18
5. By faith approach the throne of grace boldly in every case of need, requesting aid, casting every care on Him. Hebrews 4:15-16; 1 Peter 5:7
6. By faith resist the attempts of Satan and he will flee from you. - Ephesians 6:10-13, 1 Peter 5:8
7. By faith maintain the habit of thinking and meditating on spiritual values and priorities - Philippians 4:6-9
8. Walk by faith and not by sight - 2 Corinthians 5:7
CHRIST: SACRIFICE OF CHRIST
The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross had many affects. It was
1. Penal
Galatians 3:13 2 Corinthians 5:21
2. Substitutional
Leviticus 1:4 Isaiah 53:5-6 2 Corinthians 5:21 1 Peter 2:24
3. Voluntary
Genesis 22:9 John 10:18
4. Redemptive
Galatians 3:13 Ephesians 1:7 1 Corinthians 6:20
5. Propitiatory
Romans 3:25 1 John 2:2
6. Reconciling
2 Corinthians 5:18,19 Colossians 1:21,22
7. Efficacious
John 12:3 20-23 Romans 5:9,10 2 Corinthians 5:21 Ephesians 2:13 Hebrews 9:12
8. Revelatory
John 3:16 1 John 4:9,10
BLOOD SACRIFICE
1. Ever since the earliest recorded time God has required a blood sacrifice for sin. It is implied by the coats of skin
provided by the Lord in the garden after Adam and Eve had attempted to clothe their nakedness with leaves. Abel
brought an acceptable animal sacrifice, unlike Cain's who brought an unacceptable bloodless offering.
2. The requirement for blood sacrifices was continued with Noah after the flood; (cf. the near sacrifice of Isaac by
Abraham); and was established as a requirement not only by the Passover lamb but also in the Levitical offerings.
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3. When recording the will of God for Israel in the matter of food and the abstinence from eating "any manner of blood"
Moses states "For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your
souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."
4. It is clear from the above that the life of an innocent victim (the animal sacrifice) acted as a shadow until the once and
for all payment was paid with the true sacrifice of Christ.
5. There is an absolute necessity of the unique sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ as indicated by the phrase "the blood of
Christ". (Romans 3:25, Ephesians 1:7 , Hebrews 9:22)
6. Up to the time of the once and for all sacrifice the sins of believers were set aside adjacent to them (gk. para) but since
the cross they have been taken fully away.
7. The twelve elements of grace which involve the blood of Christ:a) The New Covenant. (Hebrews 8:8, 9:20-21)
b) The blood is the life. (John 6:53)
c) Purchase and Redemption. (Acts 20:28, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19)
d) Propitiation. (Romans 3:25)
e) Justification. (Romans 5:9)
f) Sanctification. (Hebrews 13:12)
g) Cleansing. (Hebrews 9:14, 1 John 1:7, Revelation 7:14)
h) Victory. (Revelation 12:11)
i) The blood of sprinkling. (Hebrews 10:22, 1 Peter 1:2)
j) Made nigh. (Ephesians 2:13)
k) Peace. (Colossians 1:20)
l) Boldness to enter. (Hebrews 10:19)
8. It is of interest that the resurrection body consists of flesh and bone but apparently no blood.
DISPENSATION OF THE JEWS OR ISRAEL
1. Scripture: Genesis 12 -Acts.
2. Limits: Abraham to Second Advent.
3. Divided into Three Sections
a) The Patriarchs - Abraham - Moses.
b) The Law. Moses - Pentecost.
c) The Tribulation - Rapture - 2nd Advent.
4. Characteristics
a) Length of Age - approximately 2,000 years.
b) Means of salvation - faith in Christ (James 2:23)
c) Written Scripture - Old Testament completed 425 BC
d) Evangelists - The Jews
e) Four Unconditional Covenants:i) Abrahamic (Genesis 12:1-3)
ii) Davidic (2 Samuel 7:8-16)
iii) Palestinian (Genesis 15:18-21)
iv) New. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
These are fulfilled at the Second Advent, when Jesus, the Messiah returns to earth to reign as King.
f) Specific discipline for failure to comply with Divine Direction include:i) Where a foreign country rules the Jews (e.g. Rome from 60 BC. to 70 AD.)
ii) Where the Jews are removed from the land (e.g. Babylonian captivity 586 to 516 BC)
g) Major judgments - Babylonian captivity.
h) At death believers - Paradise (Abraham's Bosom) (Luke 16:19-31
i) At death unbelievers - Torments (Luke 16:19-31)
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j) Priesthood - Levitical (Exodus 28-29)
k) The Law - given to Moses (Exodus 19-24)
l) Holy Spirit - assisted a selected few believers - eg Gideon, David, Samson.
m) Environment - sinful.
n) Satan - in heaven and on earth.
o) Rebellion - Idolatry, rejection of the Law of God.
p) Many languages -(Genesis 11:9)
q) Many races of people (Genesis 11:9)
r) Spirituality - resting in the promise of God. (Hebrews 11:8-40)
5. The Jewish Age is interrupted at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Daniel 9:26a). Instead of accepting their Messiah, the
Jews rejected and crucified Him.
God therefore has temporarily set the Jews aside and ordained the Church as His ambassadors on earth Romans 11:1725.
When the Church is removed from the earth (known as the Rapture), God will re-institute the Jews as His ambassadors.
This will last for a period of seven years (Daniel 9:26b-27), known as the Tribulation (see below), during which time the
Jews will repent and call upon their Messiah. The Lord Jesus Christ will then come back to earth at the Second Advent
to regather Israel and establish His kingdom on earth.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: REPENTANCE
1. Two words are translated repentance in the New Testament:a) Metanoia - META - to change , NOIA - the mind, which means to change one's opinion or mind about something or
someone.
b) Meta Melamai - to feel sorry for - an emotional reaction because of acts undertaken.
2. Repentance in salvation is to change one's attitude toward the person and work of Christ. (Luke 13:3,5, 15:7, 10,
16:30, 3 1, Acts 17:30, 31, 20:2 1, Romans 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9)
3. Repentance is used in salvation mainly for the Jews. The Jews had seen Christ as a great teacher, a wise man, a
prophet. They repented and now recognised him as the Son of God. In the case of the Gentiles, the word believe is
used. (Acts 16:3 1 ) as they had no previous ideas about the person of Christ.
4. The Fruit of Meta Melamai, such as penance and sorrow does not save. e.g. Judas repented of his actions and went
to eternal damnation.
5. However, Godly sorrow works repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:8-11)
6. The Holy Spirit is responsible for repentance in salvation. (1 Corinthians 2:14, John 16:8-11) It convicts of sin,
righteousness and judgment.
7. The Believer is told to repent from dead works or human good.
8. When God repents it is symbolic (Genesis 6:6, Exodus 32:14, Judges 2:18, 1 Samuel 15:35, Jeremiah 15:6, Amos
7:3, 6, Hebrews 7:21)
FEAR
1. Fear is seen in two ways in scripture.
[a] Firstly as a mental attitude sin that is incompatible with our status as children of the most high, the ruler of the
universe.
[b] Secondly it is used to describe the correct attitude towards God the Lord for all his creatures.
There is godly fear, awe, and respect for God as God, and there is inappropriate fear, which is the cringing fear of one
who believes the other is able to hurt them. This second kind is wrong for us as children of God, for none can harm us
without God’s permission for we belong to Him.
2. Our occupation with the persons and majesty of God is often spoken of as “fear” in the legitimate sense for believers.
2 Samuel 23:2-3, Nehemiah 5:9, Job 28:28, Psalms 19:9, 34:11-12, 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, 10:27, 22:4, Malachi
3:16, Ephesians 5:21.
3. Fear as a mental attitude sin is spoken of in, 1 Samuel 17:11, 24, Proverbs 29:25.
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4. In God’s grace plan for us fear has no place. His plans for us are always divinely good, and any testing situation is for
our good. Romans 8:28.
5. Fear is an expression of a failure of faith in the plan. Exodus 14:13-14, Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 8:1, 1 Chronicles
28:20, Isaiah 41:10, 2 Timothy 1:7.
6. Spiritual death is one way of describing Satan's kingdom and is the place of the source of fear. Hebrews 2:14,15
7. In spiritual death, Adam was afraid. Genesis 3:10, this fear motivated Adam to produce religious activity (fig leaves)
and lies. Genesis 3:7
8. Salvation removes the basis of fear, which is condemnation from the Justice of God (spiritual death).
9. Spiritual maturity provides freedom from fear. 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:6, 1 John 4:18, 1 Corinthians 13:5b
10. Carnality and any form of religious activity that leads us away from grace and daily obedience to the Word enslaves
the believer to Satan through fear. Galatians 5:1; Romans 8:15
11. The mature believer is commanded to fear nothing he may suffer in life, for by means of God’s grace provision all we
ever may need is provided for us. Revelation 2:10
12. The baby believer is sustained by believing God’s Word, obeying his commands hour by hour to daily life, and rest
upon his promises. Hebrews 4
13. As we become mature believers we continue with this resting on the promises but in addition to this we are sustained
by our understanding / application of entire categories of God’s Word - we have then moved beyond the promises to
confidence in the very character of God itself.
14. Illustration: A woman who asks every hour, "Do you love me?" needs assurance through many promises, and many
actions backing the promises up. Once she gets to truly know her husband, and her love is fully established in him
through his faithfulness to her, she has absolute assurance, and doesn't need constant reminders of his love by specific
words. She is full of confidence through knowledge of her husband’s character.
15. Chapter’s 3-6 of Hebrews deal with the falling away from growth and confidence by these believers. The spiritual
principle of Chapter 4 is the means of getting them back on target.
16. In Hebrews 13:6, we see the objective of the writer, freedom from fear by their daily, moment by moment living the
awareness of the love of Christ for them, and the power of Christ available to them.
17. The writers of Scripture identify correctly that when the believer is fearful, he imitates the unbeliever ("cowardly" –
Revelation 21:8), and that is not right given our great position. Hebrews 11:27 "By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the
wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is unseen." This is our standard!
18. Fear is a mental attitude sin that shows our mind has moved away from thinking of the Lord. 1 Samuel 17:11,24
19. Fear is a sign of falling back into domination by the “prince of this world”. 1 Samuel 18:12,29 21:12 28:20
20. Absence of fear is a big part of maintaining a dynamic mental attitude. Hebrews 13:6 11:27
21.There is only one legitimate fear ; it is the fear of failure to enter spiritual maturity. Hebrews 4:1
22. Love demands absence of fear. 1 John 4:18 They are two opposing mental attitudes.
23. Fear is not part of the Divine Plan for the Believer. 2 Timothy 1:7 Exodus 14:13-14 Joshua 8:1 Isaiah 41:10 2 Samuel
1:7
24. Courage and lack of fear is a sign of mature spiritual status. Psalm 3:6 Psalm, 56:3 Hebrews 11:27
25. Fear is the power by which the Evil of Satan rules among mankind. Hebrews 2:14-15 Genesis 19:30 (Lot) 1 Kings
18:9-14 (Obadiah), both Lot and Obadiah show how the failing believer lives in constant fear.
26. Fear is the word used to mean "Occupation with Christ" when related to the attitude of the mature Believer toward
Christ. 2 Samuel 23:3 Nehemiah 5:9,15 Ephesians 5:21 Job 28:28 Psalm 19:9 34:10 Proverbs 1:7 9:10 Proverbs 10:27,
1 Peter 2:17
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CHAPTER 43
GENESIS 43:1-15
“1 And the famine was sore in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had
brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. 3 And Judah spake unto him,
saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with
you. 4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: 5 But if thou wilt not send him,
we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. 6 And
Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? 7 And they said,
The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another
brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say,
Bring your brother down? 8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and
go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. 9 I will be surety for him; of my
hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for
ever: 10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. 11 And their father Israel
said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down
the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: 12 And take double
money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your
hand; peradventure it was an oversight: 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: 14 And
God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be
bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. 15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their
hand and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.”
REFLECTION
Verses 1 – 5.
The famine really starts to bite in the second or third year without adequate rains. The burden
of it is described as “heavy” on the family of Jacob. They are feeling the depressive heat, and the total lack of decent
food for their animals. There is enough to give hope initially but then the dry season kills off the animals and starves the
people of the basics of life. Some crops survive and by the time they get down into Egypt the family will still have the
breeding stock of their herds and flocks, but they are feeling the famine greatly now, but Jacob is still in denial. Acts 7:913.
They have eaten up all the wheat they have brought from Egypt and then Jacob says, “lets get a little more!” He has not
moved early enough to stop the children going hungry. Also he needs tons of wheat for another season, and he keeps
saying “a little”. Two months before the food ran out was the right time to head down and make the return journey, for by
camel train two months needed to be allowed for the relief column to arrive back.
Like all carnal believers Jacob is not thinking at all. His family will suffer because of this, and that is Moses point to us,
that when we get away from God we cannot move ahead of our needs, for we lack the divine direction to avoid want.
Romans 8:35. Believers in fellowship receive prophetic warnings to keep them from disaster so that they can act early
enough to avoid catastrophe. Acts 11:27-30, Romans 15:25-26, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 9:1-15.
God warns the church several years before the famine strikes the Eastern end of the Roman Empire and so for a number
of years the churches are able to gather funds to ensure the churches in Judea are able to purchase the food they will
need to out last the famine that is coming. God uses the prophetic gifts in the church to ensure we are ready for the
coming tests. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Refer to the BTB studies on PROPHECY on page 40 and PROPHET, GIVING below.
Judah takes leadership from Jacob at this point and tells the truth, which is the task of all leadership. Telling the truth in
love is our role as pastors and leaders of the Lord’s flocks. Refer to the EBCWA LEADERSHIP MANUAL, and also to the
BTB topics, CHURCH – PASTORAL AUTHORITY, SHEPHERDING THE SHEEP.
Judah reminds his father of the definite statement of the Egyptian ruler, who said absolutely that unless they brought
their younger brother there would be no release of Simeon and no release of grain to them! In fact the ruler had made it
clear that if they didn’t fulfil this requirement, that they would be seen as spies and probably executed forthwith!
The words “you shall not see my face” meant two things to these men; firstly they wouldn’t get grain because only
Joseph could release it to foreigners, and secondly they wouldn’t see anything, because they would all be dead as spies!
Verses 6 – 7.
Jacob is still in a totally self centred mode of thinking. Moses calls him “Israel” to contrast his
behaviours here with the behaviour expected of him before the Lord who renamed him. He is still doing the “poor me”
routine here. “Why did you tell him that?” Does this matter now? For many months the fact that this Egyptian ruler knows
about Benjamin is an irrelevancy, the only relevant thing is that he has the food and they must deal with him on his
terms, not theirs!
In business it is called “The Golden Rule”. What this means is that the person with the gold, or the goods, makes the
rules about how you go about getting them! Jacob must come to terms with reality, not keep living in the land of wishful
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thinking. This is a challenge for us all. We need to live in the real world, not a fantasy world. Our faith is real, and God’s
power, through the Holy Spirit is real, and so we need to walk in the filling and armour of the Holy Spirit, and then we can
face the realities of this world. Refer to the BTB studies, CHRISTIAN LIFE: SOLDIER on page 51 , CHRISTIAN LIFE:
WALKING on page 12 and HOLY SPIRIT: FILLING below.
Verses 8 – 10.
Still we wait for Jacob to rebuild his family altar and sacrifice and pray for the famine and for
the loss of Simeon and possibly Benjamin, but he sits on the ground and feels sorry for himself. Judah is the one taking
charge and with urgency calls his father to release Benjamin to them and for them to be gone by lunch time and back as
soon as they can. The family is hungry already, and by the time they get back some may have died. As Judah correctly
identifies, they should be back from their second trip at this point. It is desperate, but Jacob dithers.
This is the sad picture of carnality and it’s erosive effect upon the soul of the person who allows themselves to go cold
towards God. Refer back to the BTB study of CHRISTIAN LIFE: SPIRITUALITY-CARNALITY on page 64. Jacob is still
Israel; he is still a believer, he is just not walking as one here. Judah does not make the promise of Reuben, but it is a
mature and thoughtful one; that he carry the blame forever for failure. He is taking leadership here and the leadership of
the twelve tribes will go to Judah, from whom the true line of kings will later come. Genesis 49:8-12.
Verses 11 – 15.
Now Moses gives us the clue that Jacob has prayed and is now operating as he ought to
have been from the beginning many months before. He now thinks clearly as God’s man for the crisis. He acknowledges
that this is the reality they face now and they must immediately make the plans to approach Egypt this time with the best
chance of success.
He directs the boys to empty their larder of the richest foods and spices that the land produces, that Egyptian traders
look for as delicacies for Egyptian kings. He gets all their supplies of balm from Gilead, Myrrh from the Arab traders of
Arabia, special spices, a special honey of Canaan (or possibly “grape honey” – special syrup made from the new
grapes), almonds, and pistachio nuts. This list was the “delicacy” shopping list of traders and is designed as the most
expensive present for a king that this land of Canaan could provide. Israel also tells them to take double money this time,
in case the return of the initial money was a mistake; for that is what they will say when returning it. Israel is thinking
about the “script” for his sons to use when they come down before this great ruler to explain their delay in returning.
He then refers to God for the first time in months. His expression of fate is at least a resignation of his own ability to
deliver his sons, and his acceptance of submission to the only one who can deliver them all; the Lord God alone. God
alone can deliver us today also, and his mercy is what we cast ourselves upon. There is also the resignation of the death
of the boys if they are to die. His faith is not in the answer to his prayers, but at least he has stepped aside from his self
centeredness. They must take a risk and they have done everything possible to mitigate the risk. Refer to the BTB study
MERCY.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
Carnality lowers both the thinking of those affected by it, and their courage and mental stability. Israel is an
example of what not to do; it is always a disaster to pull back from living fellowship with the Lord our God. Daily
prayer is an essential for life! The burden of carnality is always heavy!
2.
God still warns his people of coming disasters. We are called to be in touch with the Lord through prayer and to
expect the prophetic gift to operate to protect us from coming natural disasters. The prophetic gift operates with
precision and once a person is shown to have invented revelation, they are to be dismissed as charlatans.
God’s prophets speak truth with precision.
Prophecy is not “learned”; it is a gift that is given. When the prophets spoke they did so with courage, clarity and
precision. What they said was testable and proven correct over time. Let us test the prophetic voices in our own
day and eliminate the swarm of false prophets that bring the Lord’s person and work into disrepute.
3.
Self centred patterns of thinking are always signs of carnality. The centre of the believers thinking pattern in
spirituality is Christ and then others. We resolve all matters that affect ourselves, through our worship of the
Lord and our service of his flock. Nothing legitimate is resolved by self centred patterns of thinking.
Doctrinal thinking is shown by it’s agape love/care for others and it’s firm grasp upon the reality of the problems
faced. Faith confronts the reality of a problem with the reality of the superiority of Christ and the power of the
Holy Spirit over everything that happens in this present world!
DOCTRINES
PROPHET
1. The gift of prophecy and the office of the prophet are distinguished in scripture. In the Old Testament there were
those who had the office of prophet, and served in an official capacity within the worship system of Israel but there were
also those who at times were given the gift of prophecy to give a special prophecy even though they were not full time
prophets. Elijah was a man with the office and the gift, where-as David had the gift at times but not the office.
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2. The roles of the person with the office of prophet were many and varied:
a) Aaron was a preacher (Exodus 7:1).
b) In Nehemiah's time the prophet-preacher had a role to exegete the Word of God clearly so that the people would know
the truth (Nehemiah 6:7, Hosea 6:5).
c) As revivalists they were to call people to repentance (Judges 6:7-12, Zechariah 7:7-12).
d) They were to oppose apostasy so that those who were likely to be misled by a false teacher would have no excuse (1
Kings 18:36-39, 40, 2 Chronicles 25:15, Ezekiel 2:5, 2 Kings 20:11).
e) They were encouragers of the people (Ezra 5:2).
f) They were sometimes song/worship leaders for the people (1 Samuel 10:5).
g) They led in prayer at worship (2 Chronicles 32:20).
h) They were the advisors to the kings and they were associated with coronations (1Samuel 10:1, 1Kings 11:28, 29, 2
Kings 9:1-6, 2 Chronicles 12:5, 2 Chronicles 12:6, 15:2-7).
i) They were spiritual advisors or seers for the kings; they "saw" the immediate future and so were able to advise the
kings of the right decisions (1 Samuel 9:9, 2 Samuel 24:11, 1 Chronicles 21:9, 24:29, 2 Chronicles 19:2, 33: 18, 2 Kings
17:13, Isaiah 29:10).
j) They were fore-tellers of significant future events (2 Samuel 7:5-16, Amos 9:11, Isaiah 9:6,7, Isaiah 53, Ezekiel
34:22ff, Micah 5:2, Daniel 9:26, Zechariah 13:8, Joel, Zechariah 14) and many more.
k) God intended them to be the shepherds and vine-dressers of the nation. As such they were to be the type of Christ,
who is referred to in the Old Testament as "the great prophet" (Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Zechariah 13:5-6, Matthew
21:11 , Luke 7:16, 8: 18-20, 24:19, 23-26, John 7:40,41).
3. There was no "set" formula for the prophets to follow, but certain things were established as "tests" for the people to
be sure the prophet was genuine.
a) The prophet had to have a spiritual life witness that was like Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10 - 12).
b) God spoke to the prophets by dreams and visions. God spoke to Moses face to face but he was an exception
(Numbers 12:6-7).
c) The prophet had to be totally confident of his message, as he was judged by God if there was any falsehood in it (1
Kings 22:13, 14, 2 Kings 5:8).
d) There were to be no secret prophecies, everything was to be open and clear, so that all the people might be warned of
God (Jeremiah 23:25-29).
e) The prophet had to be specific in his message and had to be obeyed literally (2 Kings 5:10-19, note especially verse
13).
4. There were always false prophets; in fact the great prophets of the Old Testament were always outnumbered by false
prophets in their own day (Jeremiah 2:8, Ezekiel 13:1-23). Our Lord warned us that there will always be false prophets
about (Matthew 7:15 - 23). NOTE THE LORD'S WORDS here in that the personal walk of the prophet is to be paid
attention to. No spiritual fruit in their life = no truth in their words. God allows the false prophets to operate without
immediate judgement upon them, so that believers are always presented with an obedience test, to see whether we will
obey the scriptures or follow our own lusts to judgement. False prophets will abound at times of poor Bible teaching.
Weeds only grow in poorly cared for soil (Hosea 4:5, 6, 9:7, 8).
5. Tests that believers must apply when confronting a person claiming the gift of prophecy:
a) The words of the prophet will never contradict the Word of God (Jeremiah 23:33-36, 2 Peter 2:1-3, 1 Corinthians
14:32).
b) The prophet will never call people away from genuine worship of God (Deuteronomy 13:1- 5).
c) The prophet will always be specific and the prophecy will be able to be tested (Deuteronomy 18:20-22, Jeremiah
28:9).
d) Any prophet who asked for money was to be treated as false (Jeremiah 8:10).
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e) Any prophet who was a drunkard was to be treated as false (Micah 2:11).
f) Any unconfessed sin of envy, jealousy, strife,.....etc in their life , they were false! (Jeremiah 23:11).
g) God's prophets were generally men alone, not in groups (1 Kings 22:5-8, 18:22).
h) Does the prophecy accord with scripture? (1 Corinthians 14:37, 38, 2 Kings 23:2).
CHRISTIAN LIFE: GIVING
1. Giving is an important part of spiritual life. It includes your attitude, the giving of yourself, your capacity as well as your
possessions. Giving is as much a part of worship as praying, singing, listening to teaching, observing the Lord's Table,
reading the Word. It is a function of priesthood for team work and often to sustain the work of leadership.
2. Basic Principles of Giving
(a) Old Testament Giving - this giving was grace giving just as it is in our age. (Proverbs 11:24,25)
(b) New Testament Giving - (2 Corinthians 9:7) also grace giving.
(c) Tithing - this means ten per cent. It was a form of income tax in Israel. Offerings or giving were above this. Tithing
was for all Jews, offerings for believers only. It should be remembered that Israel was a theocracy.
[i] In Israel two tithes were required annually
[ii] Tithe 1 - for the maintenance of the Levites (Numbers 18:21, 24) Civil servants in a theocracy.
[iii] Tithe 2 - for national feasts and sacrifices (Deuteronomy 14:22-26)
[iv] Every third year a third tithe was required:[v] Tithe 3 - for the poor of the land. (Deuteronomy 14:28, 29) Social security. In (Malachi 3:8-10) it mentions
tithes and offerings, the tithes to be brought to the storehouse or treasury.
(d) The time to give - the first day of the week. (1 Corinthians 16:2)
(e) How much - as God has prospered (1 Corinthians 16:2)
3. General Scripture on Giving. (2 Corinthians chapters 8 & 9)
(a) 2 Corinthians 8:1-8. Contrasts the Macedonian givers to the Corinthian givers, the former having been made poor by
Roman oppression gave liberally. The Corinthians, the richest Church in Greece, gave sparingly.
(b) Giving is an attitude of grace and inner happiness rather than compulsion or the amount donated (2 Corinthians 8:2)
(c) Before money is given you must give yourself. (2 Corinthians 8:5)
(d) Giving is as important an act as any other act in the fellowship. (2 Corinthians 8:7)
(e) Giving is love giving not law giving (2 Corinthians 8:8)
(f) Giving depends on being oriented to grace, the prime example being the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians
8:9)
(g) Money given in the Lord's service must be properly administered. (2 Corinthians 8:19-21)
(h) If you give in grace you reap bountifully. If you give in legalism or with strings you reap sparingly. (2 Corinthians 9:6)
(i) How to give. Giving is a reflection of your character, by grace not habit. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
(j) God has given unto us his unspeakable Gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15, 1 Peter 2:24)
[k] Giving should be regular. 1Corinthians 16:2.
[m] As we are prospered so we give: God provides the capital with which to give. 2 Corinthians 9:7-10.
[n] Mature believers are most effective givers. 2 Corinthians 9:10. Generosity of mind leads to generous giving. 2
Corinthians 9:11. Philippians 4:14-18.
[o] The pastor’s logistical support comes from giving: He makes an issue out of the word never money, if he does his
job God will provide the money. Pastor provides spiritual food and receives money for physical needs. Mutual blessing is
thus assured, as the people show their appreciation for the ministry of the word. 2 Corinthians 11:7-9, Philippians 1:3-5,
4:10, 4:14.
HOLY SPIRIT: FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer. We are commanded to allow Him to fill (or fully control) our lives (Ephesians
5:18).
2. The filling (controlling) of the Spirit can be broken by:
a) Grieving the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) - sin, doing something you shouldn't.
b) Quenching the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) - not doing something you should (like quenching a fire, allowing the
flame to go out).
3. The filling (controlling) of the Spirit can be restored by confession of sin and full surrender to do the will of God (1John
1:9)
4. The Spirit produces the very character of the Christ in the believer: (Galatians 4:19, 5:22, 23, Ephesians 3:16, 17,
Philippians 1:20, 21, 2 Corinthians 3:3)
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a) The fruit of the Spirit:
i) Galatians 5:22-23 - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.
ii) Romans 14:17 - Righteousness, Peace, Joy.
iii) Colossians 3:12-15 - Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Forgiveness, Love, Peace,
Thankfulness.
iv) 1 Thessalonians 1:3 - Faith, Love, Endurance, Hope.
b) Rejoicing in Christ (Philippians 3:1, 4:4).
c) Loving one another (John 15:12, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 5:2).
d) Striving for the faith (Philippians 1:27, Jude 3).
e) Putting away all sin (1 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 12:1).
f) Abstaining from all appearances of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
g) Submitting to injuries (1 Corinthians 6:7).
h) Subduing the temper (Ephesians 4:26, James 1:19).
i) Shunning the wicked (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
j) Abounding in the works of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58 1 Thessalonians 4:1).
k) Showing a good example (1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Peter 2:12).
l) Following after that which is good (Philippians 4:8, 1 Timothy 6:11).
m) Perfecting holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1, 2 Timothy 3:17).
n) Hating defilement (Jude 23).
o) Overcoming the world. (1 John 5:4-5)
p) Adorning the gospel. (Philippians 1:27, Titus 2:10)
q) Forgiving injuries. (Romans 12:20)
r) Living peaceably with all. (Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14)
s) Visiting the afflicted. (James 1:27)
t) Sympathising with others. (Romans 12:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:14)
u) Honouring others. (Romans 12:10)
v) Submitting to authorities. (Romans 13:1-7)
w) Being content. (Philippians 4:11, Hebrews 13:5)
x) Walking worthy of the Lord. (Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12)
y) Walking in the newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
z) Walking as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)
aa) Glorifies Christ in his body. (Philippians 1:20, 21)
bb) Christ is at home in his body. (Ephesians 3:16,17)
cc) A lifestyle which honours God in the presence of men. (2 Corinthians 3:3)
5. The filling of the Holy Spirit in every believer only occurs in two dispensations:
a) Church age Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:22,23
b) Millennium - Joel 2:28, 29 (characterized by ecstatics)
MERCY
1. The Hebrew and Greek words for mercy carry the meanings of, gentleness, tenderness, and compassion towards
others.
2. It is not a passive concern but an active one that works out to help the one in need of love and concern.
3. God is merciful towards us all. Exodus 33:19, Romans 9:15, Isaiah 13:18, Jeremiah 6:23, 21:7, cf 1 Kings 8:50,
Jeremiah 3:13, 42:12
4. God is rich in mercy towards us. Ephesians 2:4, James 5:11, 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:3.
5. People appealed to the Lord on the basis of his mercy towards the weak and needy. Matthew 9:27, 15:22, 17:15,
20:30, Mark 10:47, 48, Luke 17:13, 18:38, 39.
6. The good Samaritan's acts were praised by the Lord as acts of mercy. Luke 10:37
7. When the rich man appealed to Abraham in the story of Dives, he appealed on the basis of mercy Luke 16:24.
8. As we are recipients of mercy so we must be merciful to others. Zechariah 7:9, 10, Luke 1:50.
9. Grace gives us that (blessing) which we don't deserve; mercy withholds that (judgment) which we do deserve.
CHURCH: - PASTORAL AUTHORITY
1. Christ taught with authority and so should his men in his ministry. Matthew 7:29, Mark 1:27, John 5:24-30.
2. All spiritual authority comes from God, and if legitimate, is of God, and its exercise will bring glory to God. Matthew
21:23, Mark 11:28.
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3. Christ has authority over all things. Mark 1:27, Luke 4:36.
4. Christ has delegated some authority to some members of his body the church, by way of special authority gifts. In the
church this is the gift of pastor-teacher. Mark 13:34, Luke 19:17, Hebrews 13:7,17.
5. In the early church the apostles were the leaders in authority(above even the pastors), given specially at the beginning
to establish the church. Luke 9:1, 2 Corinthians 10:8.
6. No woman was given this authority within the early church, and the language of the passages where the gift is
discussed indicate that none ever will be given the gift. 1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Corinthians 14:34,35.
7. Pastoral authority is not a cause for boasting, it is a grace gift received from God. 1 Corinthians Chapter 12.
It is leadership based on service for the saints in a spirit of strong humility, as the Lord made it clear all his leaders
should have. John 13:5-17.
It is an authority that carries with it a great responsibility to pour themselves out for the saints. 2 Corinthians 10:8,
Galatians 6:3-5.
8. Ministers must be clear and open about their authority; there must be no softness on any issue that affects the Word of
God. Their authority is not over the private lives of the people but over all matters of doctrine and practise of it; their
authority is authority to teach so that all will see the truth clearly. If they are wrong in their teaching they are to be
convinced from the Scriptures by their elders. Titus 2:15, 2 Corinthians 13:10, 2 Timothy 4:2.
9. Age is not to be a barrier here, as a called pastor may be younger than many he will teach. 1 Timothy 4:9-12.
10. If a believer cannot take the authority of a called pastor teacher they will not tend to grow spiritually at all. Pride is
often the reason people will not heed the pastor's authority. 1 Peter 5:5,6, 1 Thessalonians 5:12,13.
11. If the pastor becomes apostate then he becomes an object of the Lord's discipline. If the church cannot convince him
of his error he may be removed, or the people must withdraw from him to make room for the Lord to judge. 1 Timothy
6:3-5, James 5:19-20.
CHURCH: -SHEPHERDING THE SHEEP
1Peter 5:2-4 “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not
for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And
when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
1. As pastors we are all “fellow-elders”, equals before God, tried by suffering, focused and empowered by the Holy Spirit,
and with a heart for service, and an expectation of glory within to drive us.
2. We are to “shepherd the flock; loving, self sacrificial service is in view here.
3. We are to feed the flock; they must not starve when they are with us.
4. They are God’s flock, not ours. We have the care and responsibility, but we answer to the Lord himself for our work
with the flock he has given us.
5. We are to exercise oversight, so as to receive a good report from the Lord, and we are to be focused, as we serve
Him, on His well done not anything else (Matthew 25:21-23).
6. We are to serve in a free way, under the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, not from any other “constraint”. No
compulsion is to drive us except the desire coming from within from love for our Lord.
7. We are to be as keen as a volunteer, and with all the passion that this involves.
8. Lust for money, power, authority, position, or reputation, are not to be a part of our lives at all. Such lust for power is
illustrated by Diotrephes (3 John 9-10).
9. We are to be filled with passion, ready to serve, with total zeal for the task to which we are called.
10. Not lording it over the flock, as monarchs or dictators.
11. Being patterns, role models that others can follow in holy and joy filled living.
12. Being focused on winning the crown of glory, that is the eternal reward for the pastor who serves well. This involves
being prepared to wear the crown of suffering in time with glory in our hearts, for they are fixed on eternal realities, where
our true reward will be received.
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Lazy pastors, power or money hungry pastors, are strongly rebuked here, and are reminded that the Lord’s expectation
of them is serious, and the consequences of failure or success (as the Lord determines it), are eternal. The Lord is the
Chief Shepherd, he is the one to whom we must give account, and it is his well done that we are to focus on.
GENESIS 43:16-34
“16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and
slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. 17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the
man brought the men into Joseph's house. 18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into
Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we
brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. 19
And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, 20
And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: 21 And it came to pass, when we came to
the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in
full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. 22 And other money have we brought down in our hands
to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. 23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your
God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought
Simeon out unto them. 24 And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they
washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. 25 And they made ready the present against Joseph
came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there. 26 And when Joseph came home, they brought
him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. 27 And he
asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? 28 And
they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and
made obeisance. 29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and washed his
face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. 32 And they set on for him by himself, and for
them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might
not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the
firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at
another. 34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so
much as any of their's. And they drank, and were merry with him.”
REFLECTION
Verses 16 – 18.
Joseph is still testing his brothers. He wants to do things to them that make them see and feel
the grace of God towards them, so that they will be ready to see that they are forgiven. As they gather before Joseph for
the second time he sees Benjamin with them. He is going to give them a banquet in his own house/palace and Simeon
will have joined them by then. They are receiving grace blessings and they have no explanation, and their response is
fear.
Men are always baffled when they receive blessing, when they expect, through their guilt, judgment. These men deserve
death and they know it, and so they feel unable to relax and enjoy blessing, for they feel unworthy. Unconfessed sin
always robs us of enjoyment of life. They judge Joseph on the basis of their own behaviours. They believe he is after
their asses and servants as they would think back home. This is the reminder that they have come to Egypt with a
significant group of serving men and asses/camels. They have come here for hundred of tons of food, not just a little.
They are however still thinking as petty minded men of Canaan; think for a minute about the wealth Joseph has at his
disposal, for one of the richest men in the world does not need their asses!
When we judge others on the basis of our experience rather than the reality of their own, we betray the fact that our
thinking is limited and flawed! When we walk with the Lord we are enlightened by the Holy Spirit and so we think at the
right level to achieve the results God wants from us, for we see things God’s way, rather than in accord with our own
natural man’s limitations.
Verses 19 – 22.
They defeat their fear by honesty here. They know that they are in a place where they can
easily be set up and made to appear thieves, so they quickly report to Joseph’s chief steward the discovery of the gold
and silver in the top of their sacks after their last visit. They make it clear, even before they cross over the threshold of
Joseph’s house that they have brought the money back and doubled the amount for the grain this year.
The servant of Joseph gives them the believer’s greeting; be at peace. All is well for these men, for they are in their
master’s hands, and those hands are God’s. Refer to the BTB study of GOD – FAITHFULNESS OF GOD, GOD CARES
FOR YOU.
Verses 23 – 25.
The servant has his “script” from Joseph in advance for their possible explanations of the
money being present in their sacks. The servant reports that he was paid and clearly the Lord their God has given them
the money as a blessing. It is the reminder that Joseph has led his own servant to the Lord and he is a man of faith who
is used to speaking of the Lord God. It is a challenge to the brothers to pray and seek their answers to the unanswerable
questions within the character of God, not the plots of men. Refer to the BTB study on GOD – CHARACTER OF GOD.
Hebrews 13:5-6, 13-18. They are ready to bless Joseph when he arrives for lunch and they wait nervously for his arrival
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at his palace. They prepare their gifts and the money is also laid out ready to show that they come as traders seeking
food, not as spies seeking knowledge of Egyptian strengths and weaknesses.
Verses 26 – 27.
Joseph’s servant provides water for them and their animals, and water for the washing of their
feet after their journey. They are able to clean themselves up and prepare to be entertained by the second in charge of
Egypt. It is a reminder to us that Joseph has a palace with extensive space and servants to care for these men and their
vast animal train and all their servants. To feed several hundred men and animals requires significant resources and as
these men lay out their “gifts” they will be thinking surrounded by the wealth of the greatest nation of their day, that their
gifts are paltry things when compared to the wealth of Joseph.
Just so it is with the Lord and ourselves; we bring our gifts before the Lord, and they are small against the great grace we
have received, yet the Lord uses all we bring before him. One saint said of his giving to the Lord, which was extensive. “I
just shovel all I can out to the Lord’s work, and the Lord shovels back into my life, and I have discovered that God’s
shovel is always bigger than mine.” The sons of Jacob now bow to the earth again before Joseph their brother, and so
fulfil the prophetic dream yet again.
Joseph then asks them concerning their family and the health of their father especially, given the great age they said he
was. Such an inquiry will not bring suspicion, for to ask after the health of a father is still a common thing in the Arabic
world, and to bless a visitor’s father is a common way of showing friendship and real concern for the visitor. Joseph is
blessing these men and they know it, and they see that their paltry gifts, although accepted with graciousness, are not
going to be the basis of any dealings with this man.
Joseph wants them to see that they are in God’s hands and slowly they are starting to see that. Joseph has returned
Simeon and he is in better shape than they are, so they know he is a man of integrity, but they are yet to be tested
further in the matter of Benjamin. They failed to protect Joseph from their own malice, and none would lay his life on the
line to save their brother; will they this time act to save their youngest brother?
Verses 28 – 34.
Joseph then look hard at them all and sees Benjamin, his full brother and his mother’s little
boy, now fully grown, and he weeps, tears flooding down his face. The brothers do not see this for their heads are well
and truly pressed into the marble floor. Joseph quickly leaves the room and composes himself.
The brothers will be staying in their prostrate position through this time and the pause between Joseph’s words with his
abrupt leaving the room will simply add to their consternation. They are feeling their utter powerlessness and so they
should, for they have always been in God’s hands and so are we all. We kid ourselves with our pretence of
powerfulness, for against God’s plan we are pathetic. We live and move and have our very being in the grace, love,
mercy and plan of God alone! Acts 17:24-28.
Joseph orders the food to be served and the servants will call the prostrated men to the table. They do not see Joseph
for a time, but they do see a table set with a banquet fit for kings. Joseph eats separately to them, at a table a distance
away, but once again within the culture of the time, this was acceptable, for he was a king. For him this means he is not
emotionally overcome, and also it means that they cannot see him too closely and spot who he is before he is ready to
disclose himself.
The brothers would expect to be eating separately, and it gave them time to speak amongst themselves and for their
conversations to be overheard. Every stop of this process is focused upon their thinking, for Joseph needs to know that
they have changed and are different men to the ones who sold him as a slave. He will only move to disclose himself
once he is sure that they have learned and repented fully.
Moses makes it clear that the reason the Egyptians did not eat with the men of Canaan, is that they were disgusted with
their table manners and also they ate different foods. The Egyptians were refined and these men of Canaan are wild field
and tent dwellers. There was a cultural gulf between them. The brothers understood they were different and felt their
strangeness and inferiority again.
This conviction is what Joseph wants to amplify, for it will lead them to the truth about their behaviours towards him.
Joseph does another thing to suggest that they are well known to him; he sets the table with their names and places
assigned to them in accord with their age in the family, but Benjamin receives five times as much food as the others.
They eat and drink and have a great time, but they note these things as “strange”.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
Joseph is focused upon his brother’s spiritual state. He seeks to help them any way he can to confront the truth
about their past sin and their present state of grace under God and his own care. Joseph is a picture of the love
of the Lord Jesus Christ for us, who is ever focused upon our learning and our good. Let us be focused upon
the good we can do to others, rather than any self centred motivation.
2.
Unconfessed sin hinders the enjoyment of all the details of life. The brothers suffer because they will not face
their sin and deal with it. This is God’s warning to us all; deal with sin or it will spoil far more than your fellowship
with the Lord. It will destroy your very enjoyment of life itself.
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3.
Joseph is prepared to spend great resources of time and money to try to assist his brothers to come to terms
with their sin and need for forgiveness. We must ask ourselves how far we would go to assist our brethren when
they are in need of facing their sins. We must be ready to do anything to assist those who the Lord lays upon
our heart. Joseph gives everything he can to achieve his results. This is the Christ like character that sets us
the example to follow.
DOCTRINES
CHRIST: TYPES – JOSEPH AS A TYPE OF CHRIST see page 9
GOD: CHARACTER OF GOD
1. Whilst God is three persons all three persons have exactly the same essence or character:
a) SOVEREIGNTY
The Father (Ephesians 1:11 , cf Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 6:10, Hebrews 10:7, 9)
The Son (John 5:21, Revelation 19:16)
The Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11 , cf Hebrews 2:4)
b) RIGHTEOUSNESS
The Father (John 17:25)
The Son (Luke 1:35, Hebrews 7:26, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
The Spirit The Holy Spirit
c) JUSTICE
The Father (Job 37:23, cf 8:3)
The Son (Acts 3:14, John 5:22, Revelation 19:11
The Spirit (Nehemiah 9:20)
d) LOVE
The Father (John 3:16)
The Son (Ephesians 5:25, 1 John 3:16)
The Spirit (John 16:7-11, 1 Corinthians 2:10)
e) ETERNAL LIFE
The Father (John 5:26)
The Son (Micah 5:2, cf John 1:1-2, 1 John 5:11
The Spirit (Isaiah 48:16)
f) ALL-KNOWING
The Father (Hebrews 4:13, cf Matthew 11:27, 1 Peter 1:2)
The Son (John 18:4, cf Matthew 9:4, John 2:25, 1 Corinthians 4:5)
The Spirit (Isaiah 11:2, cf 1 Corinthians 2:11
g) EVERYWHERE
The Father (2 Chronicles 2:6)
The Son (Matthew 28:20, cf Ephesians 1:23)
The Spirit (Psalm 139:7)
h) ALL-POWERFUL
The Father (Mark 14:36, cf 1 Peter 1:5)
The Son (Hebrews 1:3, cf Matthew 24:30, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 3:21)
The Spirit (Romans 15:19)
i) UNCHANGEABLE
The Father (Hebrews 6:17, Psalm 33:11)
The Son (Hebrews 13:8)
The Spirit (John 14:16)
j) TRUTH
The Father (John 7:28, John 17:3)
The Son (1 John 5:20, cf John 1:14, 14:6, Revelation 19:11)
The Spirit (1 John 5:6, cf John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13)
GOD - GOD CARES FOR YOU
1. God knows ...
a) Our sorrows. (Exodus 3:7)
b) Our devotions. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
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c) Our thoughts. (Psalm 44:21)
d) Our foolishness. (Psalm 69:5)
e) Our frailties. (Psalm 103:14)
f) Our deeds. (Psalm 139:2)
g) Our words. (Psalm 139:4)
h) The composition of the universe. (Psalm 147:4)
i) All things. (Proverbs 15:3)
j) Our needs. (Matthew 6:32)
k) About animal creation. (Matthew 10:29)
l) Mankind. (Matthew 10:30)
m) What might or could have been. (Matthew 11:23)
n) His own. (John 10:14)
o) Past, present and future. (Acts 15:18)
2. God is able to ...
a) Save forever those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ - Hebrews 7:25
b) Supply every need - 2 Corinthians 9:8
c) Deliver all who are tempted - Hebrews 2:18
d) Sustain the weak believer and make him stand - Romans 14:4
e) Keep us from falling and make us blameless - Jude 24,25
f) Surpass all that we could ask or think - Ephesians 3:20
g) Raise us up in resurrection in the likeness of His Son - Hebrews 11:19
3. With God, all things are possible - Matthew 19:26
4. God is in control. Nothing will ever happen to you that you are not able to deal with. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
5. God's character is stable.
a) if God is for you who can be against you. (Romans 8:31-34)
b) no matter what happens God's love is stable. (Romans 8:35-39)
6. God's promises are secure for he is always with us. (Matthew 28:19-20, Jeremiah 1:19)
7. God's power is always the same:a) He will always keep us. (John 10:29, 2 Timothy 1:12,)
b) God does not forget us or lose His power to keep. (Jude 24)
c) Even if we fall away from fellowship we still are saved. (2 Timothy 2:13)
8. God knew before time what we would need in time and has provided for the supply of all our needs. (Philippians 4:19,
Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 3:12,)
9. God has the power to bless us. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
10. God is able to make all grace abound towards us. (Ephesians 3:20)
GOD: FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
1. God's faithfulness is based on his unchangeability - Hebrews 13:8
2. God's faithfulness is renewed "every day" - Lamentations 3:21-24
3. His promises are sure. - Hebrews 10:23
4. The faithfulness of Christ continues even when we are unfaithful. - 2 Timothy 2:13
5. Christ is a faithful and merciful high priest - Hebrews 2:17
6. God is faithful to forgive sins - 1 John 1:9
7. God is faithful to keep us saved - 2 Timothy 2:13
8. God is faithful to deliver us through temptation - 1 Corinthians 10:13
9. God is faithful to keep His promises to us - Hebrews 10:23
10. God is faithful to us in suffering - 1 Peter 4:19
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11. God is faithful in fulfilling His plan for us - I Thessalonians 5:24
12. God is faithful to strengthen us - 2 Thessalonians 3:3
13. God is the faithful partner of our union with Christ - 1 Corinthians 1:9
14. Christ is a faithful and merciful high priest - Hebrews 2:17
15. Jesus Christ is synonymous with faithfulness - Revelation 19:11
NOTES
CHAPTER 44
INTRODUCTION
Jacob has been selfish and out of fellowship as a believer for many years now, with his favouritism in the past and his
inaction in the present making others suffer. It is the Lord’s warning to us all, if we do not deal with mental attitude sins
specifically we will make others suffer. Envy and bitterness will eat away at people, destroying them and their happiness
from within. Jacob had waited until they have eaten everything up before acting to get more food for the coming year. It is
going to take a month to go down and come back with food for the family. During that time those left behind will be
hungry. Sin places you in a position where if you do not act quickly enough to sort out your problems then you and
everyone around you suffers.
ARGUMENTS OVER BENJAMIN GOING TO EGYPT
Judah, as we have seen, tells Jacob that if he does not allow Benjamin to come down to Egypt they will not be able to
show their faces there. Jacob is called Israel through chapters 42-43, although he is not really acting like Israel. They are
brethren even though they are not acting as brethren should. They are believers in the Lord, even though their carnality
hinders their enjoyment and relaxation in that fact.
Why did you tell him you had a younger brother? said Jacob. This is so pathetic for such a great man to be reduced to
this. Judah identified that they had to tell the man the truth. Judah said to Israel, send the lad with me. Judah, from
whose tribe David and the Lord will descend, sees the situation clearly as well as the action required. He tells his father
that they have to play straight with this man. “If we do not go we are all going to die”, says Judah, and he notes that he
will be surety for Benjamin. This is a far more sensible than the alternative suggested by Reuben.
If they had not procrastinated they would have been down to Egypt and back with food by this point. As a believer you
will come up against many stubborn Christians, just like Jacob, and you need to be honest with them or you will see them
suffer like these men and their families do. Lack of doctrine applied makes fools of us all and failure to deal with sin
destroys our peace. The rebuke of Judah snaps Jacob out of sin and at this point he prayed, perhaps for the first time in
20 years.
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FAVOURTISM
In these previous chapters we see that the problem of favouritism is still present in the family of Jacob, with Benjamin
having replaced Joseph. This is given in the passage that compares Simeon with him. Jacob is fatalistic in saying that if
he is bereaved of his children he is bereaved. There should be no fatalism in the Christian life. Believing faith is nowhere
near fatalism; it is belief in the Plan of God. However Jacob is on the way back to some form of spiritual understanding,
which is better than it was. When you are counselling someone who has been out of fellowship for a long time do not
expect them to become mature and stable immediately. We should keep short accounts with God so that we retain our
level of maturity, but if we do not, then we will resemble Jacob. We should be trusting God in complete faith. God has
been giving mercy all the time although Jacob, who has been out of fellowship, has not been able to see it. This story is a
reminder to us to be patient with those who have walked away from the true path for their life, for it will take some time to
come back.
THE SONS IN EGYPT
When they arrive in Egypt Joseph asks his servants to bring them to his home and to prepare a meal for them. All the
brothers are brought into Joseph's house and they are all afraid. They believe Joseph is going to accuse them of stealing
money because of the money in the sacks and steal their asses which in the modern days would mean confiscation of
their cars. These are country boys whose status symbol was the ass. (Quite appropriate for them!) They have been
convicted and are starting to think about right and wrong. They really have not truly confessed their sins to God and are
still living in fear, but like their father, they are starting to face the facts about their guilt before God.
They think that they ought to be honest about the money. They say that they found the money in the sacks and brought it
back. It is of interest that the steward of Joseph’s house has been converted and brings up the Lord God’s name before
them. Another challenge is given them to repent.
The servant brings Simeon out to them, their feet are washed and the animals provided for. As Joseph arrives they bring
presents to him and they bow to the earth in conformity with his original dream. He asked after Jacob and saw Benjamin
and he blessed his younger brother who does not yet recognise him. He orders his servants to set the table. He is testing
his brothers to see what has happened in the couple of months since they were here last. He sets the table in the order
of their age and provides Benjamin with five times more than the others. Will they notice, and will they be jealous? They
pass this test.
THE BROTHERS ARE TESTED FURTHER
In the New Testament times the master of the feast would guide people to the high or low table. In the feast it is the
master of the feast who allocates the place of honour. This is important as it tells you of your position in that organisation
or gathering. Joseph however does not eat with them. He sets parcels of food in front of all the brothers, with the parcel
in front of Benjamin some five times larger than that in front of the rest of the brothers.
What is the problem in this family and caused them to put Joseph in the pit? Jealousy is their mental attitude sin. Joseph
is testing his brothers to see if they are jealous of Benjamin as they were of him. This is to see if he can embrace them
as brothers or if they are still murderers at heart. This is to see if God has dealt with them and rid them of the envy,
jealousy and hatred in their soul. They passed the test. They ate and drank and enjoyed themselves and no one was
concerned that Benjamin had so much more than anyone else. They are starting to look to their own path and not be
jealous of others.
They have dealt with jealousy but how will they deal with injustice? Joseph's action in chapter 44 is unjust and it is
deliberately so. He not only puts the money in the sack but puts his own silver goblet in Benjamin's sack. They have only
gone a couple of kilometres when a servant of Joseph, with a small army in tow, catches up with them and asks them
what have they done. He is very angry with them, saying, “you have drunk with my Lord and done evil”. He is likely to be
accompanied by several hundred soldiers.
They deny his accusation, and say that they are not guilty, which is true. They however have not confessed their earlier
sin. They say that anyone who stole silver out of the house of Joseph should die and the rest should be his slaves. The
cup is found in Benjamin's sack and they all rend their clothes, which is a sign of great anguish. They know it is a set up,
they know that there is something wrong, and they know that their brother will die and are overcome with grief and
mutual guilt and confusion.
Judah goes to Joseph and falls on his face before him. Joseph says that he reads minds, and so, “do not try and get
anything past me”. In Egypt he is known as the diviner of dreams. He is not being arrogant; he is pushing the brothers to
an extreme, as they need to confess their own sins and to be honest about everything. Judah knows they are not guilty
but he takes the rap, he is admitting responsibility, he is learning to say “no excuse sir”, even when he has got one. This
is a major issue for service as a leader before the Lord for us all. Learn to handle injustice and leave it in the Lord's
hands for Him to set it right.
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Joseph again puts the pressure on by stating that the person in whose sack the cup was found shall be his servant for
ever. “You go back to your father”, he tells the rest of them. If they go back they will show that they do not really care for
him, and if they do anything other than offer themselves for Benjamin, it will show that they are not changed men.
JUDAH THE SUBSTITUTE
In verses 22 and following Judah now tells the whole truth including the fact that Israel has said that if anything happens
to Benjamin it will kill him. Joseph now realizes what his father had thought of his disappearance. They are concerned for
the brother as well as the father. They love their father and do not want to hurt him. These people have been treated as
second class family as far as Joseph and now Benjamin is concerned. Even though they have been treated in that way,
they now love and respect their father, and have learned to love their brother.
Judah says that he will stay as a substitute for Benjamin. Judah is prepared to suffer in Benjamin's place, he is willing to
die so that Benjamin and his father might live, which is a great picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When carnal believers start dealing with sin they can recover. Joseph by pressure has brought them into a position
where they are going to be brought into a right relationship with God and their brother who they thought was dead.
Moses message to us through these chapters is a strong one. Come clean with God and be the person you should be
and the Lord will lift you up. 1 Peter 5:6-7. We have not got the same time frame as these brothers, so keep your
accounts short! Now that they are acting in accordance with God's standards they are going to be blessed in a way they
did not think possible.
GENESIS 44:1-34
“1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can
carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. 2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of
the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the
morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. 4 And when they were gone out of the city,
and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them,
say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? 5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and
whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. 6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them
these same words. 7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy
servants should do according to this thing: 8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we
brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or
gold? 9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.
10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and
ye shall be blameless. 11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every
man his sack. 12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in
Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. 14 And
Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. 15
And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly
divine? 16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear
ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he
also with whom the cup is found. 17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the
cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. 18 Then Judah came
near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine
anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a
father, or a brother? 20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a
little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. 21 And thou
saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. :22 And we said unto my
lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. 23 And thou saidst
unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. 24 And it
came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father
said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us,
then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us. 27 And thy
servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: 28 And the one went out from me, and I
said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief
befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to thy
servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; 31 It shall come to
pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs
of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father,
saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33 Now therefore, I pray
thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. 34
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come
on my father.”
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REFLECTION
Verses 1 – 4.
Joseph sets up Benjamin and his brothers. This is the last and greatest test for them all; the
pushing of them beyond limits, so they feel the deepest fear and sadness possible. Why does Joseph punish them this
badly? Only by pushing them this far can he truly know that they have nothing but love and concern for their father and
their young brother. They are set up with all the food they can carry, and once again the money is returned in the top of
each brother’s sack.
The silver cup is in Benjamin’s sack, but he doesn’t see this, for he would not check his load and the others don’t think to
this time. It has been a year since they last found the money and they probably hadn’t thought to look this time until too
late. The loading is done overnight and the asses are ready to head away in the morning and the servant sends them
away from Joseph’s house without Joseph himself seeing them off. They would not expect the second ruler of Egypt to
personally farewell them so this also would not make them think twice. Joseph does not let them get very far this time
before sending a hot pursuit after them.
They have not had time to stop and check their asses’ loads at all by the time Joseph’s servant catches them up,
probably with a couple of hundred cavalry with him. This is not a polite and calm exchange that will occur here. The
opening words that the servant is to utter are, “why have you given evil for good?” In other words, they are accused of
betraying the hospitality of the ruler of Egypt! It doesn’t get more serious that this for these men!
Verses 5 – 9.
The cup that has been stolen is a famous cup; it is what was called a “divining cup”. There are
a number of explanations for this, from the cultic to the fantastic. The cup was clearly a cup associated with Joseph,
whose name was “the man who interprets dreams”. It was his personal cup of office, possibly made by order of Pharaoh
for his personal use.
It was like a cup of office that represented all that he stood for as a diviner of dreams of the pharaoh and spiritual high
priest for the nation. It probably had symbols upon it that represented the interpretation of dreams, although Joseph
didn’t need such a cup in order to interpret dreams, but the cup represented the work God had done through him for
pharaoh. To steal an ordinary golden cup was to spend the rest of your life in prison, but to steal an official cup like this
would be to die horribly! The servant makes clear that an offence has been committed that is far above simple theft!
Joseph’s brothers are mortified, shocked and strongly proclaim their innocence, for they are guilty of nothing here and
with clear consciences they proclaim the truth. They call on the Lord God to witness to their innocence. They are thinking
of the Lord now, but use his name in vain here, for they have been framed thoroughly and they do not realise how
thoroughly until the sacks are opened and they discover the money again and this time the double amount! The worst
shock is the discovery of the special golden cup in Benjamin’s sack.
Has the Lord left them in all this? The answer is a resounding “NO!” They have been out of living fellowship with the Lord
for many years, but the Lord has not let them go, and in their conviction here, and their entrapment, they are being
brought back to Him. God does hear their cry here. Moses will reflect upon the way the Lord works upon them for he
sees that he works also the same way upon the Exodus generation. Deuteronomy 8:1-6. The New Testament writers
also reflect upon the discipline and loving care of the Lord. Romans 8:28-39, Hebrews 12:5-23.
Before they realise that both lots of money are in the sacks they remind the servant that they confessed that they
discovered the first money last time and brought it back this time. Why would they steal anything, given that they brought
so much gold and silver back this time? They do not need to steal silver or gold. That is why it was the “diviners cup” that
Joseph caused to be hidden in the sack, for a different motive than simple theft would lead a man to steal a religious
object that may be an object of spiritual power. Joseph is testing their religious scruples here and seeing whether they
have an answer to this accusation. Paganism has plagued Jacob’s family since Rachel stole the family gods of her
father. Are the brothers still partly pagan, or do they worship the one true God alone?
They deny the theft of anything on the basis of no need to steal silver and gold, and then they state their certainty that
none of their number would be tempted by this religious object by their next answer. They are so sure of the spiritual
beliefs of each man there that they know no-one would steal a religious object for any desire for cultic power. They are
so sure that they offer the execution of the guilty man and the slavery of the rest if one is found to have done this. All the
brothers jointly swear this before the servant, without the leadership of any one of them dominating, so all are united in
their faith in each other’s honesty and religious integrity now. This is a changed family to the one Joseph was sold from.
They can stand with David in Psalms 7:1-10.
Verses 10 – 12.
The servant then gives them the prepared verdict upon the guilty one, which is far less harsh
than that suggested by the brothers. This is the clue that this has been hatched in advance by Joseph, for he has the
sentence all ready to be pronounced. The sentence is clear; the guilty one will be a slave forever (Bond servant – never
able to be set free for life), but the others will go free and can return home. This is not as serious as it could be, for death
would be the norm, so it appears to be mild, and if the brothers have any resentment towards Benjamin, then it will come
out, for his slavery means they all live! If they don’t love him they may try to get him to accept this, or at least argue about
it openly, but if they love their father and Benjamin they cannot accept this “mercy” on the part of Joseph. The sacks are
opened from the oldest to the youngest and the cup is found in Benjamin’s sack.
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Verses 13 – 15.
The brothers realise they have been set up now, but they have no idea who has the apparent
malice against them. They are in greatest grief now and tear their clothes. They load their asses and head back towards
Joseph’s house, with Benjamin under arrest. Verse fourteen tells us that a leader has emerged now and it is Judah; the
one who made himself surety for Benjamin. He has the responsibility and he takes it firmly and clearly here and is ready
to do so unto death.
This man and the others have come a long way in their journey to truth and righteousness by this point. Joseph is waiting
at home for their arrival and they come in and fall on their faces before him in abject fear and concern for their brother.
They must face the full consequences for what they have done and do now what they failed to do to stop Joseph going
into slavery, for only then will Joseph know that they are changed men 100%. Do they have what we now call the Christ
like humility of changed men? Philippians 2:5-13.
Joseph then states the obvious thing, given his name; that he is a prophet of God and they cannot fool him. He invites
them to explain why they thought they could fool him and steal the cup and he would not know it and find it.
While Joseph keeps the conversation centred in the cup, it is actually about their trying to pretend he is dead, when he is
not! They have written Joseph off, but God didn’t, and he is there before them. They don’t see it, but they will soon.
Isaiah 55:9. Why do people think they can out play God? Why do limited human beings try to pretend about sin and hide
it, when nothing is hidden from God? The Lord challenges us to be honest with him about everything. Deuteronomy
30:11-21, 2 Corinthians 4:1-2.
Verses 16 – 17.
Judah approaches Joseph and speaks on behalf of the group. Judah takes corporate
responsibility and makes two things clear in his initial words. Firstly he is determined that all will suffer whatever befalls
Benjamin; they will share his fate, whatever it is. They are totally united in their love and bond as brothers now. Secondly
he makes it clear that they acknowledge that the Lord has found out their iniquity. Judah uses a strong word here and
indicates that he believes (and the others by implication), that they are suffering this because they sold Joseph into
slavery in Egypt.
They sinned against their brother and sold him into Egypt, and so in Egypt, God has brought them to judgment. They
accept that they are in Joseph’s hands, but even more they are in God’s hands. Judah does not try to explain anything
away, he is silent before the accusation, for they have no explanations, just acceptance that God is working his purposes
out, and it is all beyond them, but they accept God’s will. Refer to the BTB study GOD – THE PLAN OF GOD on page
16, CHRISTIAN LIFE: SUBMISSION on page 35 and GOD: DIVINE GUIDANCE below .
Verses 18 – 20.
Joseph has repeated, verse 17, that only the guilty one is to stay as a slave, and the others
are free to go. This is being said the second time as a test to them all, but they are now united in purpose and love for
Benjamin. They will share his fate whatever it is. Judah bows again and takes his life in his hands to speak again, and he
acknowledges this by saying to Joseph, “you are as Pharaoh”. It is a way of reminding him self that if he messes up here
he dies. Judah then tells the story of their return from Canaan and the things said by old Jacob.
He speaks with genuine affection of his father, and this must have warmed Joseph’s heart, because these men had been
on the wrong side of Jacob’s favouritism of Joseph. Now as older men themselves they see and feel nothing but love for
their father, and they understand his love for Joseph and Benjamin now, as the sole survivors of their mother, who has
died. They feel the tragedy that Jacob felt at Rachel’s death and the reasons for his favouritism. Even though Jacob was
wrong, the others now see that this “problem” of their father should not have led them to plan murder. They see that they
sinned against love, and they feel it’s deep bitterness now as they weep and plead for the life of Benjamin.
Judah is respectful to Joseph, calling him “my Lord” several times, reflecting again the fulfilment of Joseph’s dream, but
also Judah’s acceptance that he is totally in this man’s hands, and through this man, in God’s hands. The brothers have
written Joseph off as dead by now. They have no hope that he has lived, and they all feel the deep burden of their guilt
before God. Judah had moved to the plains for twenty years to escape this reality, and lived the high life with his friend
the Canaanite, but he has returned to the family encampment, and he has faced his sin as he grows older. As men draw
closer to death they often confront the deeds of their younger days and as they contemplate meeting their maker their
sins have no appeal, but making their peace with God does.
Verses 21 – 28.
Judah tells Joseph that it was he who asked of their father and their younger brother and it is
in response to his request that Benjamin is there today. Judah makes it clear that the loss of this boy will bring death to
their father, just as Joseph’s loss nearly killed him twenty eight years before this time. He makes it clear that Jacob only
released the boy to come to Egypt because the family is in such dire straights with the famine in the land. They also tell
Joseph what Jacob’s conclusion about his fate was; that he was torn apart by wild animals.
In God’s sight the truth is quite close to this, for the brothers acted like wild animals in their dealings with Joseph. Their
guilt and distress is extreme here, but it needs to be, for the Lord seeks honesty in our confrontation with our sins, and
these men will have every gram of hypocrisy and self righteousness purged from their souls by this experience. Look at
the words of the psalmist in Psalms 51:1-17, 88:1-9, and see the depth of emotion and thought in their confession of sin,
their despair about what it did to them, and their joy in the Lord as their redeemer.
Verses 29 – 34.
To fail to return with the boy is to kill their own father. These men face the terrible guilt of the
thought that they have killed their own brother, and they cannot face this ultimate disgrace of killing their father also.
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They now see that sin which is not faced grows in it’s destructive power and they cast themselves upon Joseph’s mercy
for their brother and their father’s life. Judah then offers himself for his brother, in accordance with his promise to his
father before their trip. His life is formally offered for Benjamin’s life. Judah stands where the Lord Jesus Christ stood for
us all, and his actions here illustrate where we need to stand before the Lord and our own brethren; ever ready to put
others before ourselves, even to die for them. James 4:11, 5:7-11, 1 Peter 1:22-25, 3:8-17, 1 John 2:7-11, 3:13-24. Refer
to the BTB studies. CHRISTIAN LIFE – LAWS OF LIBERTY AND RESPONSIBILITY, LOVE, and then SACRIFICES IN
THE NEW TESTAMENT.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
Judah has matured in his understanding of the meaning of family love, and he is ready to place his body on the
line for his brother. Love for the brethren is a living sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. It is this sign
that ought to be present in our lives. If there is no love for other believers there is no spiritual presence in us.
2.
The brothers have started to learn that they are helpless before the Lord. They have started to see that their
hope rests in the Lord alone. We have no source of deliverance from any trouble other than the Lord’s
deliverance of us. We are called to cast al our cares upon Him, for he alone cares for us and has the power to
deliver. We are called to “Faith-rest” upon the holy and dependable character of almighty God, and the multiple
promises of God’s holy Word.
3.
Christian leadership requires stepping out to the front to take the pressures of the entire group. Christian
leadership is sacrificial leadership and always requires the pastor-teacher to be ready to suffer for his people
and set the example of suffering in faith and confidence before the Lord. Refer to the BTB study on CHRISTIAN
LIFE: SUFFERING on page 13, for it is in this subject that we see the important lessons the brothers have to
learn about their sin, and about God’s education process to bring them back to living fellowship with Him.
DOCTRINES
GOD: DIVINE GUIDANCE: THE WILL OF GOD
1. Three categories of will in history
a) Divine will (sovereignty)
b) Angelic will.
c) Human will.
2. Main areas of the will of God (1 John 3:23)
a) For the unbeliever - salvation (2 Peter 3:9)
b) For the believer - spirituality (Ephesians 5:18)
3. Christ has free will (Matthew 26:42, Hebrews 10:7, 9)
a) No free will in mankind would imply no free will in Christ.
b) The basic principles of divine guidance however is based on the fact that man possesses free will to choose for or
against God.
4. Type of will of God as related to the human race (e.g. Balaam)
a) Directive (Numbers 22:12) -what God directs.
b) Permissive (Numbers 22:20) - What God allows
c) Overruling (Numbers 23) - When God overrules
5. Principles of Guidance
a) Knowledge of biblical principles in the believer (Psalm 32:8, Proverbs 3:1-6, Isaiah 58:11, Romans 12:2)
b) Surrender and filling of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 5:17-18, 1 John 1:9)
c) Growth - to eat meat and not rely on milk (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
6. Categories of the will of God
a) Viewpoint will of God - What does He want me to think?
b) Operational will of God - What does He want me to do?
c) Geographical will of God - Where does He want me to be?
7. An example of the will of God (Acts 11) - the Guidance of Peter
a) Guidance through prayer (vs 5)
b) Guidance through the mind (vs 6)
c) Guidance through the word (vs 7-10)
d) Guidance through providential circumstances (vs 11)
e) Guidance through the filling of the Spirit (vs 12)
f) Guidance through fellowship and comparison of data (vs 13-15)
g) Guidance through remembering Scripture (vs 16)
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CHRISTIAN LIFE – LAWS OF LIBERTY AND RESPONSIBILITY
1. THE LAW WHICH WE ARE NOT UNDER - THE MOSAIC LAW
Christ fulfilled the requirements of the Mosaic Law (Matthew 5:17). If the Holy Spirit has control over us we
automatically fulfil the righteousness of the Law.
2. THE LAW OF LIBERTY
This law is directed towards oneself. Biblically speaking you have the right to do certain things that will not cause you
personally to fail the Lord in any way. (1 Corinthians 8:8)
3. THE LAW OF LOVE
This law takes other believers into consideration. In effect this law says that because of your love for the weaker brethren
and in order not to offend or upset them you refrain from doing certain things which you have the liberty to do.
You refrain not because they are wrong in themselves but rather you wish to help other believers rather than hinder
them. (1 Corinthians 8:9)
4. THE LAW OF EXPEDIENCY
This law concerns the unbeliever. It is expedient that your life tells the world of Christ. The unbeliever has set up
standards of conduct for the Christian.
Therefore you refrain from or do certain legitimate things - not because they are wrong but because they may offend an
unbeliever and prevent him from seeing the real issue that Christ Died For His Sins (1 Corinthians 9, 20-23)
5. THE LAW OF SUPREME SACRIFICE
This law is directed towards God. It involves the believer forsaking a completely legitimate function in life in order to more
perfectly serve the Lord. Missionaries often function under this law when they live in primitive conditions on the mission
field. This law can also operate under Australian conditions. (Matthew 3:1-6)
6. PRINCIPLE:
As Christians we have liberty, but total freedom for ourselves may enslave others. We have to use our liberty in such a
responsible manner that it does not infringe on the liberty of others. As Christians we must act responsibly. (Ephesians
5:15)
CHRISTIAN LIFE: LOVE
1. Love for God is total appreciation for all He is and has done.
2. Words for love in Greek language
a) eros (sexual love) not used in the New Testament
b) storge (comradeship) not used in New Testament
c) agape (concerned love for others, great esteem for the loved one, reverence, a love that springs from adoration and
veneration, and is a love of the will that chooses the loved one and devotes self to them to the exclusion of lesser
objects. It may mean a self denying and compassionate devotion to the loved one)
d) phile (a love that embraces and kisses. This love is that of the affections and speaks of friendship and all one will do
for a friend).
3. Our Lord makes it clear to Peter in John 21: 15-19 that he wants Peter to love him with agape love that flows from a
deep occupation with the Lord. Agape, as a love of the will, must work out in service of the Lord, and this will express the
believers love (agape) for other believers also.
4. Do not love of the things the world has to offer 1 John 2:15-17.
5. True love of God will always lead to love of the brethren. 1 John 1:3 -11, 1 John 3:1-3, 10, 4:7 -12, 19,
6. Love is expressed in worship and in service. 1 John 5:1-5.
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7. Love for God will flow and grow from knowledge of his word. 1 Corinthians 2:9.
8. This deep love will be expressed in witness for the Lord to others, 2 Corinthians 5:14.
9. God loves every believer with perfect and unchanging love because we are united with His beloved Son.
10. It is also noted that the unbeliever has “agape” love for darkness rather than light John 3:19
11. Love for others is an important feature of the Christian life.
12. There are three types of love:(a) love for God.
(b) love for your spouse.
(c) love for other members of the human race.
13. It should be noted that only in type (b) is the body involved. The rest involve the soul or soul and spirit only.
14. Love For God
(a) Love for God is a response to the love of God. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
(b) The capacity for this love depends on your maturity. ( Philippians 1:20,21; Ephesians 3:17-19; 1 John 4:17-18)
(c) For the Church age believer love for God occurs first through the filling of the Spirit. Confession of sin is therefore
critically important. (Ephesians 5:2, c/f 5:18)
(d) Jesus Christ is the initiator of love of God through grace. (Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 4:8-10; 4:19)
(e) The believer loves God using his free will.
(f) The believer who does not love Christ is under a special curse and perpetual discipline. (1 Corinthians
16:22)
(g) Love for God is the true motivator for working for God such as witnessing. (2 Corinthians 5:14)
(h) This love is initiated by grace and increased in the believer who has a gracious attitude towards God and mankind.
(Daniel 9:4; Psalm 31:23; 119:132; 1 Corinthians 2:9)
(i) Love for God was commanded to all Old Testament saints. (Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12; 11:1; 11:13)
(j)] Love for God is the basis of all true happiness as well as capacity for loving members of the human race.
(Deuteronomy 30:16)
(k) Love for God provides courage in battle. (Joshua 23:10-11)
(l) As we see God through his Word it is impossible to love God except through his Word. ( Psalm 119:165-167, 1 Peter
1:8)
15. Love For Your Spouse
(a) This is love for a member of the opposite sex designed by God for you in eternity past unless you have the gift of
celibacy. ( Song of Solomon 8:6-7)
(b) It is as strong as death and is a provision from God.
(c) Death does not destroy this love. (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6)
(d) This type of love is exclusive to one person. (Proverbs 5:18-19)
(e) This type of love is protective both in absence (Song of Solomon 1:13, 4:6) and in presence. (Song of
Solomon 2:4) The man is a banner of protection to the woman.
(f) Love for your spouse illustrates relationships with the Lord. (Ezekiel 16:8, Ephesians 5:23-33)
(g) Mental sins attack all forms of love. (1 John 5:18)
(h) God has set aside time in each life for love. (Ecclesiastes 3:8)
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16. Love For Others
(a) Love for others has great stability and power. (2 Samuel 1:26, Proverbs 27:9,10, John 15:13, Galatians 5:4)
(b) Love for others provides pleasant and relaxing environment. (Romans 13:10, Proverbs 10:12)
(c) Love for others is free from hypocrisy. (Romans 12:9)
(d) Love for others is outgoing and objective. (Galatians 5:13, 2 Samuel 1:26)
(e) Love for others promotes orientation to grace. (Philemon 9-12)
(f) Love for others has enemies and can be destroyed by:(i) Mental attitude sins. (Job 19:19, Proverbs 16:28)
(ii) Sins of the tongue. (Proverbs 17:9)
(iii) National catastrophe. (Jeremiah 6:21-23, 20:4-6)
(g) Love for others can be counterfeited. (Proverbs 19:6-7)
(h) Love for others can be removed because of divine discipline. (Psalm 38:11, 88:18)
17. We are recipients of Gods love (AGAPE=ultimate concern) through the cross. 1 John 4:10,19, John 3:16.
18. We must give out the gospel to all that they might see Gods love towards them Matthew 28:18-20.
19. Our attitudes to one another should show Gods love in action. 1 John 4:12, John 13:35.
20. Love is commanded of all believers towards other believers, John 13:34, 1John 4:7,8, Philippians 2:2-8.
21. This only becomes possible as we grow in Christ, as his word changes our minds giving us the capacity for love.
1Peter 3:18. Love is a fruit of the Spirit.
22. Agape love in the believer puts the eternal issues of the other persons life ahead of all else, so that all is done to
them with their eternal state in mind. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8.
23. We show our love towards believers by our practical concern for their spiritual growth and physical welfare. 2
Thessalonians 3:15, James 5:13-16, 1 Timothy 5:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 5:11-24.
24. We have strength to love others through the word in which we see that we are under the much more love of God: We
are in the beloved and the beloved is in us, we are always recipients of His love. Romans 8:37, John 13:1, 20:2, 21:7,20,
15:9, Ephesians 2:4, 5:2, 25, Revelation 1:5.
SACRIFICES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
In the New Testament there are four sacrifices mentioned:1. Sacrifice your body. (Romans 12:1,2)
2. Sacrifice of praise. (Hebrews 13:15)
3. Sacrifice of good works. (Hebrews 13:16)
4. Sacrifice of giving. (Hebrews 13:16)
NOTES
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CHAPTER 45
INTRODUCTION
In Genesis 45 Joseph's brothers have been tested, making sure that they have learned the lessons that they had to
learn. This consisted of recognizing their sin and seeing the need to be true and honest to God. In verse 1 Joseph sends
out everybody other than his brothers so that he could have the private and emotional discussion with them and reveal
himself to them. His love for his brothers is now able to come out, for they have come to the place of full repentance.
There are some people who, because of their carnality, you are not able to love, other than from afar, but at this point
Joseph’s brothers have returned to the Lord, so he was now able to reveal himself to them and show love to them
without their response being hypocritical or fake.
RECONCILIATION AND FORGIVENESS
He is able to show that the man they sold into slavery is now running Egypt. He tells them not to be afraid or angry with
themselves, for God has sent him before them in his wonderful plan to preserve their lives. He says that he has been
sent in advance to save the patriarchs from starvation. He is able to give a great testimony as to what God has done. He
does not minimize their sins. This is a wonderful picture of some of the doctrines of SALVATION; THE BARRIER,
JUSTIFICATION, RECONCILIATION.
When you come to reconciliation it is important that you do not minimize the sin that has caused the fracture. Deal with it
honestly. God had a plan in this as in all things, but that does not mean we excuse the sin, or fail to confront it fully.
Romans 8:28 operates within the sphere of 1 John 1:5-10.
Joseph now gives them a short talk on the significance of the principle behind Romans 8:28. The same principle works
for us as well, with God being able to bring blessing out of cursing. God has been working His purpose out regarding this
and you all are going to be blessed because of this says Joseph.
He tells them to go and get their father quickly and that they will go to live in the land of Goshen so that they will be close
to Joseph. Also he tells them that this is only the second year of a seven year famine. He is repeating himself a number
of times here because the brothers are in shock. They think about all the lies that have been told in the past. Their father,
Jacob, believes that Joseph is dead. Sin begets sin. These people have lived a lie for almost thirty years. They are going
to have a lot of thinking to do as they travel up to Canaan on their asses as to how they are going to tell their father what
has happened. Joseph and Benjamin wept together as they were so happy to be together again. After this Joseph let
them know that they had all been forgiven. This is the pattern that we saw in James 1:22 - 27.
So you have been wronged, then show your maturity by forgiving. James 5:16. In Galatians 6:1ff, we are told that if you
think yourself as mature as a believer, then you are challenged to show your maturity by helping those who have been
caught up in sin. Do not take things personally even when they are meant personally, you relax in the Lord’s hands and
do what he directs. We follow doctrine not emotion! Refer to the BTB study of CHRISTIAN LIFE: MATURITY on page
10.
Joseph now talks about the Lord, as he has a right relationship with the Lord, and his desire is that his brothers have
their relationship with the Lord restored fully, just as it has been with him. In many churches you will find make believers
who do not have that relationship, and will be embarrassed about talking about the Lord. We should be happy about
what the Lord is doing in our lives and be willing to share this with others. When a person is not overjoyed to speak of the
Lord, they do not know him! In liberal churches where ministers may not be born again believers the church dies
because there is no love for the Lord and people do not speak much of him.
Pharaoh is very pleased because Joseph has got his family back. He confirms that he is going to give them the best
grazing land in Egypt and says that he will make sure that they are treated as princes in Egypt. They are to bring
everything down and that if there is anything they have to leave behind, they are not to worry about that, that he will
make it up to them. Thus the family of Joseph is told that they are welcome. They came on asses and went back on
wagons and were given provisions for the way there and back again.
They were given a change of clothes. Clothes in the ancient world were very expensive, with a set of clothing taking up
several months wages to purchase. Benjamin was given five sets of garments and 300 pieces of silver. This was another
test on his brothers to ensure that they did not get jealous. Joseph sent a large amount of goods up with them to
Canaan, ten asses loaded up with corn and dried meat. He tells them to see that they do not fall by the way. Do not
delay, do not fall out with one another. They have a week's journey back to Jacob. Do not argue with one another. Do not
get jealous of one another.
With confession of sin you speak directly to God about your wrong doing - 1 John 1:9. If you have wronged your brother
you must set it right later; first you set yourself right with God. These men have therefore got to face their father with
these things. Confession of sin does not give you a license to sin, nor does it free you of the consequences of your sins,
for it is facing the one (God) whom you have wronged. They arrived home to tell Jacob that Joseph was alive and Jacob
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did not believe them. He believed the lie until they had got through all the details. This motivates Jacob to go and see
Joseph before he dies. He is still depressed but much of the depression is of his own making and it will lift as he obeys
the command of his son and goes down to Egypt.
JACOB BECOMES REVITALISED SPIRITUALLY
Jacob has failed more than he has succeeded in the spiritual life but he bounces back now. In verse 27 he is called
Jacob whilst in the following verse he is called Israel meaning Prince of God, so he is back on the track. This reminds us
that it is never too late for a person to bounce back to spiritual life. If we are alive there is hope. He offers sacrifices to
God. He had delayed sending them back into Egypt but now that he is back in fellowship he starts back on the correct
path. When you have been out of fellowship with the Lord your life will be miserable. During the last years however
Jacob, who should have been enjoying his grandchildren has been worrying about his sons. He has been a poor father
and he has reaped the reward for it, but God in grace has delivered him and them all.
God tells Jacob that when he dies Joseph will close his eyes, which was the responsibility of the eldest son. It is God's
way of telling Jacob that he will have dying grace. In effect God is saying, ”You have not enjoyed your life as you should
have but you will enjoy your death”. It is a wonderful thing to think upon that we are dying in Christ Jesus. Psalms 68:20,
116:15, Jeremiah 15:1, 24:4-7. Refer to the BTB study of DYING GRACE
GENESIS 45:1-28
1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go
out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 2 And he
wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am
Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am
Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that
ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine been
in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent
me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it
was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house,
and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith
thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: 10 And thou shalt dwell in
the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy
flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: 11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of
famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. 12 And, behold, your eyes see,
and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. 13 And ye shall tell my father
of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. 14 And
he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed
all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him. 16 And the fame thereof was
heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the
land of Canaan; 18 And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good
of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. 19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you
wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20
Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is your's. 21 And the children of Israel did so:
and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the
way. 22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of
silver, and five changes of raiment. 23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the
good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. 24 So he
sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. 25 And
they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, 26 And told him, saying,
Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them
not. 27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons
which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: 28 And Israel said, It is enough;
Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.”
REFLECTION
Verses 1 – 3.
Joseph is beside himself with overflowing emotion towards his brothers. He is overwhelmed
by them. It was not normal for the Egyptian pharaohs to show emotion, for they were seen to be god like, and so stable
and calm in the midst of the fluctuating emotions of lesser men and women. They were seen to be above such things.
Joseph maintains his dignity by sending all the Egyptians out of the room, including his guards, officials, and servants. It
is a reminder that he was a senior cabinet minister of the greatest nation on earth and they had a large “court”.
This meeting between Joseph and his brothers is in a palace hall with possibly several hundred others present. Moses
speaks of this casually, for to him it is a normal thing, as he also was a prince of Egypt, but we need to see the little clues
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Moses gives to the numbers of people involved. He sends everyone away, but his officials stand by the outer door and
they hear his weeping aloud and his words to his brothers and these are later reported to pharaoh.
He weeps aloud and is not ashamed of his tears. Joseph’s weeping here is an expression of joy and happiness, the
normal outpouring of great emotion towards these men who he loves, but they are not expecting this, nor the fact he then
reveals to them, and they are in total shock. Refer to the BTB doctrinal study WEEP AND HOWL, WEEPING.
Joseph reveals himself to them by name, speaking now their own language without an interpreter. He announces a truth
they have long ago ceased to believe in; their brother is alive and very well indeed! They had written Joseph off, but he is
the centre of God’s plan for them and their survival as a people. Their shock is a prophetic picture for Israel, as in a
future day the descendents of these men will weep for the one they rejected for two thousand years, but who is still the
centre of God’s plan for their deliverance and eternal destiny. Daniel 9:25-27, Zechariah 12:10-14, 13:6, Acts 9:1-6.
Verses 4 – 6.
Joseph has to repeat his message to them all, their shock is so great. For nearly thirty years
since that terrible day when they ignored his cries for deliverance, they have believed they had killed him. Their evil has
become their deliverance, as the one they refused to deliver from slavery, sets them free from bondage to the famine,
and to their fears and guilt.
They will be healed by Joseph of the physical and emotional scars this day. He very specifically names their great sin of
selling him into slavery, and directs them to God who has delivered him, and who can forgive and deliver them from their
Old Sin Natures. Joseph is focused upon their emotional state and tries by his words to heal their wounds, even though
they were self inflicted ones. This is what forgiveness does! Joseph gives them the gracious orders of the mature
believer; do not grieve over your sins, but rather, deal with them, and do not blame yourselves any longer, but see what
God has done with your actions. Get God’s perspective on the sadness rather than stay with your own guilt ridden one.
He reminds them that the famine has only been going for two years now and there are five years to run of this great
period of suffering. God has sent him before them to ensure they are delivered. They are part of the plan of God and as
such they will be cared for, and have been, even while they were away from their Lord and God. Refer back to the study
on the PLAN OF GOD on page 16 and remind yourself of the wonderful grace you have as a part of God’s plan. You are
kept even when in carnality, but blessing starts to flow again as you deal with your sins and return to living and blessed
fellowship through confession and spiritual growth again. Refer to the BTB study of BACKSLIDING AND RECOVERY,
DESTINY OF BELIEVERS, GRACE below and CHRISTIAN LIFE: REPENTANCE on page 69.
Verses 7 – 9.
Joseph directs them to the actions of God in all the things that have happened. They have
meant things for evil, but God has worked all things out for good. They will still doubt Joseph’s forgiveness of them and
after their father’s death they will fear again. So deeply do they feel their sin. It is not a bad thing to feel guilt when it is
real, for it can keep us from greater sin later, but guilt must not be left unchecked, but must be brought before the Lord
and left there, for we are forgiven, and so we are called to forgive others, and ourselves! Psalms 103:8-17, Matthew
6:12-15, Mark 11:25-26, Luke 6:37, 2 Corinthians 2:7-10. Refer to the BTB study, GOD – FAITHFULNESS OF GOD on
page 80 .
Verses 10 – 12.
Joseph has already planned where the family will be able to be resettled for the famine and
the years afterwards. The area he has set aside is the delta pasture lands of Goshen, close by to the capital of Lower
Egypt, that was where these Pharaoh’s ruled from. Joseph wants them close to him and this part of the land would be
the only part that would support their surviving flocks and herds. In that place Joseph will ensure that they do not come to
any harm, nor suffer from the effects of the famine that will continue to sweep through the lands around them for another
five years. The brothers are still in great shock and are standing there with their mouths open. Joseph then directly
addresses Benjamin and speaks to him and calls him to hear his words and recognize his older brother.
Verses 13 – 15.
Moses now tells of the tender meeting and briefly refers to the hugging and weeping that went
on. The brothers have heard they are forgiven, and would have said many things to Joseph that is quietly and
respectfully glossed over by Moses. This is a very private moment for them all. Even though each, I suspect, would have
given his tearful apology, as we have seen above, they will still later fear that they are to be judged later. Men who are
not used to grace find it hard to accept, but at this point they will be shaking with their tears and relief. Their relief must
have been enormous at this point, for all their questions about the dealings with Joseph over the last year are answered,
and it is only later that their fears will re-emerge, and then only after their father’s death. Genesis 50. Joseph makes it
clear to them that his priority is that their father be brought down to Egypt as soon as possible.
Verses 16 – 20.
Pharaoh hears of everything that happens in Joseph’s household, for spying on the cabinet
was an art form in Egypt! Every one who exercised any power at all was spied upon by their masters in the ancient world
and none were offended at it. Pharaoh is very happy with the news his spies bring to him and he formally backs Joseph’s
desires.
Notice the king tells them exactly what they are to do and also ensures by his proclamation that they are able to take all
that they need to bring their families down in comfort. He tells them that they are not to bring everything down, and
anything worn, torn or ugly is to be left behind. They are not to be sentimental about their possessions and cling to things
that are worn and useless, for all they need and are short of will be made up by the supply centres of Pharaoh. It is a
polite way to ask them not to bring old stuff into the land of Egypt! If it is fit for the dump they are to leave it in the dump of
Canaan, not pollute the land of Egypt.
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I am always amazed at those who cling to old possessions that will not have any value later as antiques; it is as if their
security is in being surrounded by things. Things are to be used for the Lord’s service and our lives, but once they are
past their “use by date” they are to be discarded, and that doesn’t mean, when they are useless that they are given to the
church! The best is for the Lord and the worn out is for the dump! Deuteronomy 15:21, Malachi 3:8.
Pharaoh challenges them to faith here. They are to step out and trust him and come to Egypt quickly and he will look
after them. Speed will be important for this move, for once it is known that this extended family is heading for Egypt there
may be a rush of other pastoralists to join them. If they delay and say farewells and make a big deal of leaving, the news
will spread of their invitation to Egypt, and the borders of Egypt might be over run by people seeking shelter from the
famine. They are to slip away quietly and head for Egypt without anyone knowing where they are going.
Pharaoh is smart enough not to take all refugees, lest they become a security problem. Rulers cannot be ruled
themselves by care for people of other nations, or they will create security problems for their own, and may create the
collapse of their own economy. This has happened in many places through the centuries, where refugees have
overwhelmed the social fabric of neighbours and destroyed the economy of their neighbours. A ruler may show
compassion, but it must be first to their own people, and then be measured to others lest they destroy the nation. The
instructions are specific and the brothers of Joseph are fully briefed; they are to arrive in Canaan on day one, and leave
on day two, without any fuss or fanfare. They are not to draw undue attention to them selves.
Verses 21 – 24.
Joseph is in charge of execution of Pharaoh’s orders regarding the wagons, as he would have
many for the work he has done over the previous nine years. Ample wagons are provided for all the families to travel in
some comfort, and the animals to pull them and the teams of men to drive them. These wagons are grain wagons,
suitable for a trading caravan, they are not formal and golden chariots. All this is in addition to the asses that the brothers
have brought down with their men, for all these are loaded with food supplies of all kinds to ensure the families are fully
fed and healthy during their trip down to Egypt.
The wagons are also loaded with presents and clothing for the families; Egyptian clothing so that they will fit in within
their new land when they arrive in it. Once they are there, they are no longer to dress as the wandering pastoralists but
as servants of the pharaoh of Egypt. They are to fit into their new society and work alongside the Egyptian locals. They
are not just guests, but family of pharaoh now.
Benjamin is given three hundred pieces of silver, many more pieces of silver than Joseph was sold for. Genesis 37:28.
He is also given five changes of clothing, this is not favouritism but repayment for all the lost years when he missed out
on life because his father was so scared that his brothers would “lose” him, as they “lost” Joseph. It is also a test to the
brothers, to ensure there is no vestige of jealousy amongst them towards Joseph or Benjamin. God always makes good
any apparent losses we experience in his service. Joel 2:25, Philippians 4:11-13.
Verses 25 – 28.
The several week trip back would have been a mixture of joy and apprehension, for they have
lied to their father for thirty years about Joseph and now they must confess their great past evil. Their father will be
relieved but also deeply saddened by their news, for he feels the consequences of his earlier favouritism. Jacob has
brought the suffering upon himself, but the brothers bear the responsibility totally, as is right before God, for they let
jealousy get hold of their hearts and became in effect murderers.
The brothers tell their father that Joseph is alive and well and now governor over all the land of Egypt. It is a shock to the
old man, and he nearly has a heart attack on the spot. Literally, his heart “froze”, for he could not take the news in and
believe it. They tell him the words of Pharaoh and Joseph regarding the travel immediately that they are to undertake,
and they can point to the Egyptian wagons and the clothing and food gifts; all far more than would be normal for a trade
transaction. He can see the evidence that he is called for. Some ask a powerful question at this point. Why didn’t Joseph
go himself to bring his father down in style? There are several things that emerge from this that have relevance to
Christian service.
Firstly, Joseph is second ruler of Egypt and has responsibilities that cannot be laid aside to undertake personal errands.
Remember Jesus words, “let the dead bury their dead”. These words are harsh yet must be taken into account, for they
are the words of the Lord. Matthew 8:22, Luke 9:60. When we serve the Lord in a great matter it is to be our sole focus
and no family entanglements are to get in the way.
Care for family is legitimate and required of all believers; if we do not look after our dependent relatives as we are able
we disgrace the name of the Lord. What the Lord’s words mean is that we are not to be side tracked from our task by
things others can do. 1 Timothy 5:8, 2 Timothy 2:4. Joseph can leave his brothers to bring their father down, for he has
great matters of State to attend to daily, but his brothers are free and can care for their father. Also they need to face
their father with their sin against Joseph and himself and it is right that they have privacy to address that.
Secondly, the journey to and from Canaan needs to be done quietly, without drawing too much attention from wandering
tribes, or desperate people seeking shelter in Egypt. Joseph has provided the heavy grain wagons and they will not draw
attention to the caravan as special, or a target in any way. There are ample armed men to guard the company against
desert tribes. He does not want any official Egyptian presence in the caravan least others think they can come down to
Egypt and the nation be over run. Egyptian drivers of the wagons would not be a problem for trade between Canaan and
Egypt was daily camel, ass and wagon trains both ways.
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Thirdly, Joseph cannot travel, as an important and key man, without a large retinue. He is simply too valuable to
pharaoh, and would travel within Egypt with several hundred soldiers of the elite guards regiment at all times around him.
Assassination was common in the ancient world and so travel as a “private individual” was out for all who held such an
office as Joseph held. He has no rights to private travel in his role. That is the price of fame, as some today still discover.
There is a price to pay to live in palaces, and this is the price he had to pay. He could not please himself. John 8:29, 1
Corinthians 7:32-34, Galatians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:1.
Fourthly, for Joseph to enter Canaan was to enter another political sphere of influence. Canaan in this day was the
meeting place of the Hittite Empire and the Egyptian, and the city States of Canaan were the pawns to be played with in
battles for power and influence in the region.
Joseph is second in command of the nation, and so for him to start to march in grand procession towards Canaan, was
potentially to declare war on the city states of Canaan and threaten the Hittite Empire. It was to provoke a war to enter
this region with an army. Spies abounded in the deserts of Sinai, and the nation States would pay a tribe to report all
strange movements of potential enemy forces. A strongly armed caravan would not raise suspicion, but Joseph’s
presence would have. He simply could not enter Canaan again, except with a peaceful and powerful reason and great
diplomacy would be required; this will occur after the death of Jacob.
Note finally in this chapter Jacob’s words as he accepts the words of the brothers. He is very depressed. Don’t miss this
observation, for Moses tells the story to allow us to see the mental state of the players throughout. Jacob is sad as he
faces his death even though the prospect of meeting Joseph brings joy, but it is tinged with deep depression. He knows
that he has made a mess of his family life, and it will only be in these last years that he will have rest and see his family
operating well as a unit.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
We are used to quoting the words, “we are not our own, we are bought with a price, the precious blood of
Christ.” 1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23, 1 Peter 2:1. We often fail to follow the logic of these words through and see
what it may mean if we are called to a “great matter” of service for the Lord. All our personal desires and plans,
and even familial obligations are secondary to the great purpose the Lord has called us to. We meet our
obligations to family by monetary or prayer means but we may not be attending the gatherings that family may
expect. Our holidays and daily routines are all guided and controlled by the Lord’s purposes, and our timetable
is not our own.
Many wonder why the Lord does not use them more, but their schedule is so full that the Lord cannot get any
time with them! Let us examine our timetables and bring everything into the Lord’s control and so be blessed as
he intends for us to be in his service. We may lose many earthly pleasures and activities in the Lord’s service,
but we will never lose out on blessing that lasts! The first may be last in the end, and the last may be first for
eternity! Matthew 19:28-30, Mark 10:28-31.
2.
Do not be afraid of emotions. Joseph weeps aloud at the meeting with his brothers, for joy and sadness.
Emotions are bona fide expressions of the heart, but are not the guide for our thinking. They are designed by
God to be enjoyed, but not to dominate our lives. Let us get things in their proper order and so enjoy our
thoughts, our emotions and our actions.
3.
We all need the Lord’s perspective of the events of our lives, and to be freed from man’s limited perspective.
The Plan of God is for glory, not despair. If we despair it is because we are seeing things man’s way, rather
than God’s way. People may mean things for evil, but in the plan of God they are turned for our good and the
blessing of others also. God seeks to bless us, and anything else that is happening needs to be seen as a path
to later blessing, for that is what the future will reveal all things to be. Let us see our temporary suffering as a
path for glory, and seek the things in the midst of it to bring glory to God and blessing to ourselves and others.
Romans 8:18, 38, Galatians 1:4, Hebrews 12:11ff.
4.
Forgiveness is freely given to all who confess their sins and turn from evil. God means us to be free from sin
and the guilt associated with it. We are forgiven by God, but often we need to be encouraged to forgive
ourselves and keep moving forward. Let us not waste time on pointless guilt for past stupidity and even evil; let
us truly repent of it, and prove that our repentance is real by moving forward to the glory of God.
5.
Be loosely attached to your possessions. Once they have served their purpose give them away, or destroy
them. Do not be a person surrounded by things, for they cannot save us from anything. Be a person attached
only to the purposes of God for you, and your desire to serve Him. Use all you have for the Lord’s work and
desire no other things. Be content with the things that the Lord leads you to possess for his work. Remember,
we leave every thing behind on this earth for others at our death; we take only the work done in the filling of the
Holy Spirit with us into heaven.
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DOCTRINES
DYING GRACE
1. We are all here upon the earth as in a “strange country”; we are strangers and pilgrims upon the earth, and are not
meant to be too comfortable here. Philippians 3:12-17, Hebrews 11:13, 1 Peter 2:11.
2. Death is the strangest thing we confront on this earth; the weirdness of being her one minute, alive, alert and warm,
then a second later, dead, cooling and inert. Death is meant to appear strange to us, for it is the evidence before us that
we are not permanent inhabitants here, but simply playing out a part as we pass through. This is not a place we are
meant to get attached to. Refer Death.
3. The death of believers is a precious thing to the God who has given his life to save us from the judgment of sin and
death. 1 Samuel 26:21, 2 Kings 1:13-14, Psalms 49:8, 72:14, 116:15, 1 Peter 1:7, 2:4. Refer Grace.
4. We all must die, but that is not the end. 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 11:13. The mature believer facing death see
through it, to the other side where they meet with the Lord face to face. 1 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10.
5. Dying grace is provided to all believers who are looking to their Lord as they die, for his perfect provision for each of us
from eternity past has everything we need provided in advance of our life, let alone our death itself. There are no
surprises to God, and all things we face have provision for them there to be claimed by faith. 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2
Thessalonians 3:3, 2 Peter 2:9, Jude 24-25.
SALVATION: SIN - BARRIER BETWEEN MAN AND GOD
INTRODUCTION
1. The Character of God:
a) God is sovereign, absolute righteousness, justice, love, eternal life, all powerful, all knowing everywhere,
unchangeable and truth.
b) God is one in essence but three in personality: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three
personalities have the same essence.
c) God the Father is the planner of man's salvation; God the Son is the executor of the plan of salvation, and God the
Holy Spirit is the revealer of this plan.
2. God's Divine Plan:
a) A conference was held in eternity past between God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Divine Planning) whereby it was
made possible for man to have fellowship with God.
b) God's foreknowledge recognized a barrier would exist in time and that all people would be behind this barrier.
(Romans 3:23)
c) Sin is a failure to measure up to God's perfect righteousness, a failure to possess "The perfect righteousness". Man
cannot remove this barrier. God's Righteousness and Justice must be satisfied before His love can come to man.
d) God the Father is the author of a plan whereby He decided to treat the human race on the basis of Grace (all the
Father does for us). Grace is receiving a gift. It is undeserved and unmerited, and contrary to all human concepts.
e) God the Son removed the barrier by His death on the cross. We receive Him as our personal Saviour, and perfect
righteousness is credited to us. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
AN EXPLANATION OF THE BARRIER AND ITS REMOVAL
1. Problem of Sin:
a) Sin exists in three categories: imputed sin, (all sinned when Adam sinned) inherent sin (the sinful nature) personal sin
(sins committed).
b) Man is a sinner because Adam sinned and passed down the sin nature to the human race. The penalty of sin is
spiritual death (Romans 5:12, 6:23) Every member of the human race is a sinner as far as God is concerned. (Romans
3:23)
c) In John 8:31-32 Jesus Christ addressed the Jews who believed on Him and told them to go on in truth and use what
He provided. Truth sets us free from the Mosaic Law to serve the Lord and operate in grace.
d) The unbelieving, religious Jews (v 33) said they were Abraham's seed and not in bondage. They were actually in
bondage to the Roman Empire, their religious leaders, and the Mosaic Law. He told them about the bondage of sin.
e) They are all born in the slavery of sin, for no member of the human race can free himself or other members of the
human race. Jesus Christ became true humanity to liberate the human race. He was born outside the slavery of sin by
the virgin birth as the God-Man. He paid the price for freedom of the human race - this is redemption.
2. Solution to the Problem of Sin: Redemption and Atonement:
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a) The "son abides in the house forever" (John 8:35), for Jesus Christ is "the son". He is eternal life and holy and when
man believes on Him man is free and enters into union with Jesus Christ. Christianity is a relationship to Jesus Christ,
not a religion.
b) The purchase price of our redemption is His blood (1 Peter 1:18,19, Ephesians 1:7, Revelation 1:5, Hebrews 9:11-14,
Galatians 3:13) , representing His death. Jesus Christ bore the sins of the whole world (past, present and future) on the
cross.
c) God is absolute righteousness and justice; the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23, Colossians 2:14). Jesus Christ
cancelled the "IOU" the human race owed God. The human race owes God perfect righteousness.
d) God is perfect righteousness and we cannot pay perfect righteousness. Jesus Christ died on the cross, paying the
penalty of our sins. This is expiation (Romans 5:8)
e) The doctrines of Redemption and Expiation are found in Psalm 22:1-6. God the Father and Holy Spirit left the Son
because He was bearing our sins on the cross. (Matthew 27:46)
3. The Problem of the Penalty of Sin solved by Expiation (Colossians 2:14)(Romans 6:23)
a) Expiation and Propitiation are two sides of the same coin with propitiation being in relation to God while expiation
looks at the problem from man’s side.
b) By expiation the offence which renders the person guilty in the sight of God is covered from the eyes of God by the
effective dealing with the problem by propitiation.
4. The Problem of Physical Birth (John 3) and its Solution: Regeneration:(John 3:1-15)
a) Nicodemus (v 1) was a Pharisee. He was a very religious man, attending church three times a day and praying seven
times a day. He was sincere and was a product of "salvation by works".
b) He was also a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night because he was too busy during the day doing "good". (v
2)
c) He called Jesus Rabbi or "Doctor". He admitted more than most Pharisees for he said they knew Jesus came from
God, for no one could keep doing the miracles He did except God was with Him. (v 2)
d) Jesus interrupted, knowing his problem. "Except a man be born again". Nicodemus needed to be born again. (v 3)
e) Why is the new birth necessary? Man is born in this world with a soul (ability to understand and categorize human
phenomena), a conscience (standard by which we judge right or wrong), and a sin nature (the source of all personal
sins). The human spirit is inactivated. We are born physically alive and capable of having fellowship with members of the
human race, but we are spiritually dead and cannot have fellowship with God (Ephesians 2:1). We need to be born
again.
f) Nicodemus' response (v 4). He cannot think in terms of spiritual things for he has no human spirit. He asked if he could
be born again physically.
g) The new birth is a spiritual birth (v 5), so Jesus Christ uses spiritual language, - water.
i) The context determines the meaning of "water" (1) Salvation - (Isaiah 55:1, Revelation 22:17) (2) God the
Holy Spirit - (John 7:37-39) (3) God's Word - (1 Peter 1:23, Ephesians 5:26, James 1:18)
ii) Here "water" is used symbolically for God's Word. The new birth is a spiritual birth. The Kingdom of God is
the kingdom of eternal relationship with God.
h) Contrast of two births (v 6). "That which is born of the flesh is flesh (physical birth). That which is born of the Spirit is
spirit (spiritual birth)." Nicodemus should not be surprised (v 7). He needed to be born again.
i) The illustration (v 8) the wind. It can be heard but not seen. The new birth is not visible. Nicodemus still does not
understand (v 9).
j) Jesus Christ used sarcasm (v 10,11) to shock Nicodemus. He is a doctor of divinity and does not understand. The
Trinity ("we") knows what they speak (all knowing). Nicodemus does not have an open mind.
k) No member of the human race (v 13) ever ascended, but Jesus Christ who came from heaven (as the God Man). As
God He is everywhere, and as God and Man, Jesus Christ is on earth at the same time.
l) How to be born again (v 14,15). Jesus Christ refers to (Numbers 21:4-9) the incident of the brazen serpent which was
raised on a pole. This pictures Jesus Christ hanging on the cross bearing the sins of the world. (Colossians 2:14,15)
m) The result (v 15). Whoever believes in Jesus Christ shall not perish but have eternal life. The problem of physical birth
is removed by the new birth. We are born spiritually by regeneration or the new birth.
5. Problem of Human Righteousness and Its Solution: Justification and Imputation:
a) Man has no righteousness in himself as far as God's viewpoint is concerned although he may be more righteous than
other members of the human race when he compares himself with them. (Isaiah 64:6)
b) God is absolute righteousness and He cannot have fellowship with us when we have human righteousness. Good
deeds put us more in debt to God. (Romans 4:1-4)
c) Perfect or absolute righteousness is credited or imputed to us at the moment of salvation. (2 Corinthians 5:21) imputation.
d) We are justified or made righteous on the basis of the absolute righteousness which God gives us.
6. Problem of the Character of God and Its Solution: Propitiation and Reconciliation.
a) Propitiation is an act of God whereby He is satisfied with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus Christ satisfied
the righteousness and justice of God.
b) Reconciliation looks at the cross from man's viewpoint. Man is reconciled to God. God is never said to be reconciled.
Propitiation looks at the cross from God's viewpoint.
7. Problem of Position in Adam and Its Solution: Positional in Christ
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a) At the moment of salvation we enter into union with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:38,39, 2 Corinthians 5:17). This is called
the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13)
b) By our first birth we are "in Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:22). By the new birth we share Christ's eternal life, His
righteousness, His destiny, His sonship, His priesthood. etc. Everything He is, we are-, and all He has, we have.
c) Christianity is a relationship to Jesus Christ that cannot change. The barrier between God and man has been removed
by Jesus Christ on the cross.
d) The issue now is the person of Jesus Christ. He has solved the problem of sin in the human race.
SUMMARY OF THE BARRIER AND ITS REMOVAL
BARRIER
WORK OF CHRIST
SIN
(Romans 3:23)
Redemption (1 Corinthians 1:29-30, Colossians 1:14)
Atonement (1 John 2:2, 2 Peter 2:1)
PENALTY
(Romans 6:23)
Expiation (Colossians 2:14)
BIRTH
(John 3:6)
Regeneration (John 3:3, Galatians 3:26, John 1:11-12)
CHARACTER OF GOD
(Romans 3:23)
Propitiation (1 John 2:2, Romans 3:25)
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MAN
(Isaiah 64:6)
Justification (Romans 3:24, Romans 5:1)
Imputation (Romans 3:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
LIFE
(1 Corinthians 15:22)
Position in Christ (1 John 5:11-12)
SALVATION: JUSTIFICATION
1. Justification means "vindication", therefore it is the judicial act of God whereby he imputes His righteousness to the
new believer at the point of salvation, thereby justifying him. (2 Corinthians 5:21
2. Salvation justification occurs at the moment of faith in Christ. (Romans 3:28, 5:1, Galatians 3:24)
3. Salvation justification is based on the principle of grace. (Romans 3:24, Titus 3:7)
4. Therefore salvation justification does not occur through the Mosaic Law. (Romans 3:20, 28, Galatians 2:16)
5. Salvation justification is the imputation of divine righteousness to the one believing in Christ. (Genesis 15:6, Romans
3:22, 4:4, 5, 16, 8:30-32)
6. The work of justification was accomplished by Christ on the cross. (Romans 5:8, 9)
7. Because the work for our justification was accomplished on the cross, Christ was resurrected to relate justification to
victory. (Romans 4:25)
8. Post salvation or Christian life justification is the production of maturity. (James 2:21-25)
SALVATION: RECONCILIATION
1. Reconciliation is the removal of the barrier between God and man, or peace between God and man. While redemption
is sinward and propitiation is Godward, reconciliation is manward. (2 Corinthians 5:18, Ephesians 2:16, Colossians 1:20,
21)
2. Reconciliation and the blood of Christ.
a) The blood of Christ is a synonym for the saving work of Christ on the Cross and the basis for reconciliation.
(Colossians 1:20)
b) Hence the work of the Cross is associated with reconciliation. (Ephesians 2:16)
3. Reconciliation and Mankind: mankind is regarded as the enemy of God, and needs to be reconciled to God (Romans
5:10, Colossians 1:2 1)
4. Peace, a synonym for reconciliation, reconciliation finds man the enemy of God, but the saving work of Christ on the
Cross gives peace between God and man. (Ephesians 2:14 cf. 2:16 cf. Colossians 1:20)
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5. Reconciliation portrayed in the Levitical Offerings: the peace offering of Leviticus 3 depicts reconciliation or Christ's
removing the barrier between God and man. (Leviticus 7:11-38, 8:15)
6. Application of reconciliation to the Church Age believer: every member of the Body of Christ is an ambassador
representing Christ on earth. Therefore each member of the Body of Christ has the ministry of reconciliation. (2
Corinthians 5:18-20)
7. The prophecy of reconciliation. (Isaiah 57:19)
8. The means of reconciliation - the removal of the barrier:
a) Sin removed by unlimited atonement. (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15, 18, 1 Timothy 2:6, 4:10, Titus 2:11, Hebrews 2:9, 1 John
2:2)
b) Penalty of Sin removed by expiation. (Psalm 22:1-6, Colossians 2:14)
c) Problem of physical birth removed by regeneration. (John 3:1-18, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:23)
d) Relative righteousness removed by imputation. (Romans 3:22, 9:30, 10:10, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9,
Hebrews 10:14) and justification (Romans 4:1-5, 4:25, 5:1, 8:29, 30, Galatians 2:16, Titus 3:7)
9. The barrier of God's perfect character removed by propitiation. (Romans 3:22-26, 1 John 2:1, 2)
10. Problem of position in Adam removed by positional sanctification. (1 Corinthians 15:22, 2 Corinthians 5:17,
Ephesians 1:3-6)
CHRISTIAN LIFE: - DESTINY OF BELIEVERS
1. He who believes in Jesus Christ has eternal life now (1 John 5:11-13). He will never die (John 11:25,26, John 8:51)
2. Believers are said to "fall asleep" at their death (1 Thessalonians 4:14). The soul departs to be consciously present
with Christ, but the body "sleeps" in the grave until the resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)
3. When Christ comes at the Rapture, the bodies of those in Christ shall be raised from the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16,
1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
4. Our physical bodies will be replaced by immortal bodies (2 Corinthians 5:1-4) - conformed to the body of Christ
(Philippians 3:20-21)
5. We shall be like him (1 John 3:2) seeing His glory and reflecting it in ourselves (Colossians 3:4, John 17:22).
6. We will be rewarded because of works of faith (Luke 19:12-19) which will vary in proportion to our faithfulness in
serving God (Matthew 6:20, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
7. In the Millennial Kingdom, we shall reign with Christ as priests of God and Christ (Revelation 20:6).
8. To the overcomer (1 John 5:4-5) Christ will give to eat of the tree of life (Revelation 2:7) and shall not be hurt by the
second death - the lake of fire (Revelation 2:11). He will be given authority to rule over nations (Revelation 2.26-27)
Jesus will acknowledge the believer before God (Revelation 3:4-5) who will be made a pillar in the temple of God.
(Revelation 3:12) and will be seated with Christ in His own throne. (Revelation 3:21)
9. God will wipe away all tears from his eyes; sorrow, crying, pain, and death shall be no more (Revelation 21:4)
10. We shall know all things perfectly (1 Corinthians 13:12)
11. We will receive an incorruptible inheritance. (1 Peter 1:3-5) kept by our all powerful God in heaven.
CHRISTIAN LIFE - BACK-SLIDING AND RECOVERY
1. Definition - falling from the standard of living that the Lord calls us to and living at a lower level of belief, behaviour,
and emotion. Living in a state of embarrassment at the gospel, thinking as an unbeliever would.
2. The Lord knows who are his, we don't. 2 Timothy 2:19. A backslider is out of fellowship, and may resemble an
unbeliever in every way yet still be saved. They are like the prodigal son. Luke 15:3ff. These people are different
(although they appear to be the same) to religious unbelievers. 2 Peter 2:1 -22, Jude 4 -13, 18, 19, 22.
3. The Lord desires these people to be restored. Matthew 18:12 -14, Luke 15:3 -32. In the Old Testament this message
is also clear. Hosea 4:14-19, 11:7, 8, 14:1-4, Jeremiah 2:19, 3:6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 22, 5:6, 8:5, 14:7,Jeremiah 31:22, 49:4.
4.Believers who are "offended' at the Word have failed to grow spiritually John 6:61 -63, Matthew 11:6, 1 Corinthians 10:
13, Matthew 13:21, Mark 4:17, John 16:1, Matthew 24:9, 10.
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5. The disciples all were offended at the Lord at his death. Matthew 26:31, 33-35, cf. 67-75.
6. Falling from grace is another way of expressing backsliding. Colossians 1:23, Galatians 5:4, 2 Peter 3:17. It means to
fall from a place where you stand for grace and adopt an inferior way of living the Christian way of life, like legalism.
7. God disciplines the backslider, but their eternal security is secure. Hebrews 12:5 -13, 16, 17, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 1
Peter 1:4, 5, 2 Timothy 2:11- 13, John 1:12, Ephesians 1:13.
8. The Lord is able to keep us from falling, although we can walk away from his provision by following our pride rather
than his truth. Jude 24. 1 Corinthians 10:11 -14, 1 Timothy 3:6, 7.
9. At the end of the church age the Lord prophesied that there would be a time of almost total backsliding on the part of
the organised church.2 Thessalonians 2:3, 1 Timothy 4:1- 6, 2 Timothy 4:3, 4.
10. The Lord warns all backsliders very directly in Revelation 2 : 5. No fruit for too long = sin unto death! John 15:1-5.
11. Backsliding and Recovery
Seven Steps Downwards
a Trifling with Sin Romans 13:14
b. Yielding to Sin Romans 6:13
c. Habitually Serving Sin 2 Peter 2:8
d. Abandoning Ourselves to Sin Ephesians 4:19
e. Being Abandoned by God to Sin Romans 1:24,26,28
f. Encouraging Others to Sin Romans 1:32
g. Experiencing Hell on Earth James 3:6, 1 Timothy 5:6
Seven Steps Upwards
a. Resisting Sin in our Attitudes James 4:7
b. Overcoming Sin by Faith in Christ Galatians 5:16
c. Habitually being Victorious over Sin Romans 6:14, 1 John 5:4-5
d. Entering into the Secret of a Victorious Life Hid with Christ in God Romans 8:37, 2 Corinthians 2:14, Colossians 3:1-3
e. Being Taken by God into Deeper Fellowship 1 Timothy 1:12, 1 Corinthians 4:2
f. Delivering Others from Sin. Jude 22-23
g. Experiencing Heaven on Earth Jude 24-25, Philippians 4:6-7
WEEP AND HOWL
"Weep and howl" is a phrase used as a prophetic warning
1. It is used in association with the Fifth Cycle of National Discipline for Israel. (Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 30, 31)
2. It is a phrase that indicates the "Day of the Lord" is at hand. (Isaiah 13:6)
3. It is a phrase associated with the destruction of the land of Palestine in war. (Isaiah 14:31, Ezekiel 21:8 –13)
4. It is also associated with the destruction of other cities and nations.
[a] Moab - Isaiah 15:1ff
[b] Tyre - Isaiah 23:1
[c] Heshbon - Jeremiah 49:3
[d] Babylon - Jeremiah 51:8
[e] Philistia - Jeremiah 47:1, 2
[f] Egypt - Ezekiel 30:1,2
[g] Maktesh - Zephaniah 1:11
[h] Lebanon - Zechariah 11:1-3.
5. Howling is associated with people longing for deliverance (Isaiah 52:5). Also associated with people repenting of evil
in the midst of divine judgement for their sins (Jeremiah 4:8, Micah 1:8).
6. Howling is also associated with believers who have got way out of fellowship with the Lord (Isaiah 65:14).
7. False teachers/shepherds days are numbered and they will howl! (Jeremiah 25:34, Joel 1:11).
8. Alcoholics howl (Joel 1:5).
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WEEPING
1. Weeping is an expression of unbelief. e.g. The weeping of Numbers 14:1 and Hebrews 3:19.
2. Sinful type weeping
a) David's tears of failure. (2 Samuel 18:33, 19:1-4)
b) Breakdown of the mentality in catastrophe. (1 Samuel 30:4, Psalm 42:3)
c) Weeping of the frustration and bitterness of old timers at the dedication of the second temple. (Ezra 3:12, 13)
d) The crying of the drunkards in national disaster. (Joel 1:5)
e) The weeping of fear because of the giants in the land. (Numbers 14:1)
f) The weeping of unbelievers at judgment. (Matthew 8:12, 25:30, Luke 13:28)
3. Bona-fide areas of weeping.
a) Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35). Weeping is therefore bona-fide at bereavement.
b) Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) Weeping of patriotism.
c) Jesus wept on the cross (Hebrews 5:7)
d) As a mourner (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
e) An expression of happiness and faith
f) A reaction to pain.
4. There comes a time when all weeping is going to cease. (Isaiah 30:19, Revelation 21:4) after death.
GRACE
1. Grace is all that God is free to do for man on the basis of the cross. Therefore Grace is unmerited favour from God.
2. Grace depends on the character of God therefore Grace depends on who and what God is. Grace is what God can do
for man and still be true to his own character.
3. The believer must recognise the difference between legalism and grace. Legalism is man's work intruding upon the
plan of God.
4. The greatest thing God can do for the saved person is to make him exactly like His Son Jesus Christ. This is
accomplished in three stages of sanctification.
5. Positional Sanctification: At Salvation every believer enters into union with Christ. (Hebrews 1:2) Jesus Christ is
seated at the right hand of the Father and is therefore superior to all angels in his humanity. At the point of salvation we
are entered into union with Christ thus we are positionally higher than angels. We are positionally seated with Christ at
God's right hand.
6. Experiential Sanctification: During the Christian's life on the earth the time spent under the power of the Holy Spirit.
During this time we produce the character of God in our lives - gold, silver, precious stones. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
7. Ultimate Sanctification: When the believer receives a resurrection body he loses the sin nature and all human good.
At this point the believer is physically superior to all angels. He remains in this perfect state eternally.
8. All believers have tasted of Grace at least once (1 Peter 2:3). This refers to the point of Salvation at which the believer
receives at least 34 things which he did not earn or deserve. (Ephesians 2:8, 9) Disorientation to grace is the believer's
greatest occupational hazard in his Christian life. (Galatians 5:4, Hebrews 12:15)
9. The divine attitude to grace is expressed in (Isaiah 30:18, 19) God is constantly waiting to pour out his blessing on all
believers in the Christian life.
10. Grace in salvation is expressed in many ways. It is always the same - believing in Jesus Christ (Psalm 103:8-12,
Romans 3:23-4, Romans 4:4, 5:20, Ephesians 2:8, 9)
11. There are many ways in which the Christian life expresses GRACE:
a) Prayer (Hebrews 4:16)
b) Suffering (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10)
c) Growth (2 Peter 3:18)
d) Stability (1 Peter 5:12)
e) Lifestyle (Hebrews 12:28, 2 Corinthians 1:12)
f) Production of Divine Good (1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 6:1
12. Grace is the correct attitude in relation to giving. (2 Corinthians 8 & 9)
13. Grace is the only means of coping with suffering in the Christian life. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Through Grace God is
able to bless the believer in the midst of the pressures and adversities of life. (1 Peter 1:6,7)
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14. Implications of grace:
a) God is perfect, his plan is perfect.
b) A perfect plan can only originate from a perfect God.
c) If man could do anything in the plan of God the plan would no longer be perfect.
d) A plan is no stronger than its weakest link. Grace therefore excludes all human merit, all human ability.
e) Legalism, human works is the enemy of Grace.
f) The works of human righteousness have therefore no place in the plan of God. (Isaiah 64:6)
NOTES
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CHAPTER 46
INTRODUCTION
OLD ISRAEL BECOMES REVITALISED SPIRITUALLY
Jacob has failed more than he has succeeded in the spiritual life but he bounces back now. In verse 27 he is called
Jacob whilst in the following verse he is called Israel which is Moses way of telling us that he is back on the track. He
offers sacrifices to God. We have waited nearly thirty years of history to see him do this again. He had delayed sending
them back into Egypt but now that he is back in fellowship he starts back on the correct path, and it is towards Egypt.
When you have been out of fellowship with the Lord your life will be miserable, but confession and restoration can be fast
once you accept the truth. During the last years however Jacob, who should have been enjoying his grandchildren has
been worrying about his sons. He has been a poor father and he has reaped the reward of it.
God tells Jacob that when he dies Joseph will close his eyes, which was the responsibility of the eldest son. It is God's
way of telling Jacob that he will have dying grace. In effect God says to him, “You have not enjoyed your life as you
should have but you will enjoy your death”. It is a wonderful thing to think upon that we are dying in Christ Jesus. Psalms
68:20, 116:15, Jeremiah 15:1, 24:4-7.
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BECOME A SIGNIFICANT NATION
There are apparently around 70 immediate family members who went down into Egypt. From these figures and the
several hundred that were previously part of Isaac and Jacob’s extended households we can see that there has been
lack of blessing upon this family for the last few decades or years. They have either significantly shrunk in numbers
through this period, or they leave all their slaves and servants behind in Canaan. We cannot be sure of this.
The seventy immediate family grow in the years in Egypt so that by the time of the Exodus this small group of people has
grown to a nation of a million or so. Jacob and the family are introduced to Pharaoh. The Egyptians did not like
shepherds as they were very refined people and did not like the smell of goats or sheep. People that spend their time out
in the fields with goats, sheep or even cattle start to smell like them. We will also see that the figure seventy was an
approximate figure only; for several of the names we are given in the lists here, were clearly born later than the arrival in
Egypt described in this section.
This is why the change of clothes was provided for every family member, so that after they arrived, they were bathed and
cleaned up, and dressed like Egyptians by the time of their meeting. This is the same as a person today receiving an
audience with their head of State. They shower and get cleaned up, and they dress in appropriate clothing for the formal
meeting. Respect for the nation’s authority figures is a hallmark of the spiritual believer. A dirty, smelly believer is a
person who is out of step with God. We are ambassadors of the court of heaven, and any time we are meeting new
people it is right that we dress and appear in the best possible way, and the most appropriate to the situation and person.
Refer to the BTB study CHRISTIAN LIFE: AMBASSADORSHIP.
Joseph introduces Jacob to Pharaoh and Jacob blesses Pharaoh in God’s name. Pharaoh asked Jacob how old he was
and Jacob says 130. This is a significant reminder that you are never to old to serve God. If you are alive, there is a
purpose for your remaining years and prayer is required to find and apply it. Spiritually Jacob has made a complete
comeback by the time we enter this chapter. The family are given an area to settle around the city of Ramses. Joseph
through the next years worked on the nationalization of much of the arable land on Egypt. If there was anyone in trouble
from the famine, Joseph would say that he would help them out, but they had to surrender the title deed to their land to
the crown in order to receive the food.
Remember, as we have seen before, Genesis 42:3, the grain was bought and then sold back to the people. It was fair
both ways, without inflated prices, so those who had not saved in the plentiful years were left with only their land as
equity. Joseph would sell them grain to live, but their land was sold to pharaoh to pay for the grain. In this way the land of
Egypt came under the Pharaoh's control. This laid the foundation for Egyptian greatness in the future years of this
dynasty.
Many people say nationalization is a bad, or communist thing, but here however, we have one of the greatest of
believers practicing it. It is a reminder that we have to make sure that we do not make business statements that the Bible
can refute. By this economic means Joseph made Egypt, in the midst of a famine, into the most prosperous nation in the
then known world. The people who previously owned the land rented it back from pharaoh and worked it again when the
rains came back into Africa and the Nile flooded once more. Stability was maintained without charity, by sound economic
practise. The land became the source of food, even after it bore no food itself.
We get attached to land, yet it’s ownership is an almost “mythical” thing, for at death we leave it all behind. Land title
regularly changes with new conquerors of the land through the centuries. In England the British tribes lost their land title
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to the Romans, then the Romano-Britains lost title to the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Danes, and then their title was
extinguished by the Normans. Since that day there has been stability, but that is just “for a time”, as all the arrangements
of man are. Let us focus our eyes upon the secure title of eternity that we all have in Christ Jesus. Refer to the BTB study
CHRISTIAN LIFE: ETERNAL LIFE, and CHRISTIAN LIFE: REWARDS AND CROWNS.
GENESIS 46:1-34
“1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God
of his father Isaac. 2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said,
Here am I. 3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of
thee a great nation: 4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph
shall put his hand upon thine eyes. 5 And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob
their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 And
they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob,
and all his seed with him: 7 His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and
all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. 8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into
Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn. 9 And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and
Hezron, and Carmi. 10 And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and
Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman. 11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 And the sons
of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the
sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.
14 And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto
Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.
16 And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. 17 And the sons of
Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and
Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto
Jacob, even sixteen souls. 19 The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; Joseph, and Benjamin. 20 And unto Joseph in
the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On
bare unto him. 21 And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and
Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls
were fourteen. 23 And the sons of Dan; Hushim. 24 And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and
Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto
Jacob: all the souls were seven. 26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins,
besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six; 27 And the sons of Joseph, which were
born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore
and ten. 28 And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the
land of Goshen. 29 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and
presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 30 And Israel said unto
Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. 31 And Joseph said unto his
brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my
father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me; 32 And the men are shepherds, for their
trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. 33 And
it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? 34 That ye shall
say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers:
that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.”
REFLECTION
Verses 1 – 4.
Moses uses the name Israel to remind us that old Jacob has well and truly bounced back into
the spiritual walk that he has been away from all these years. It is a reminder that even at 130 years of age it is not to
late to turn back to the Lord if you are still alive. While we live there is hope for us and for our fulfilling of the Lord’s plan
for us. Refer to the BTB studies on CONFESSION see page 21, DESTINY on page 97, THINKING BIBLICALLY on page
57 and CHRISTIAN LIFE – CONFIDENCE, CONSECRATION, below
Old Israel dedicates this great move to the Lord. He is in fear and doubt, for to leave the land of promise is to step away
from the revelation of the Lord to Abraham, and so secure guidance is required before Israel believes he is to follow the
clear encouragement of Joseph and his other sons. Circumstances involving the famine make it logical to head down to
Egypt when asked to, but Israel seeks further confirmation of the Lord, for he has been away from the daily walk with
God for so long now that he needs real assurance before moving. This is not a bad thing in itself, but it reflects his lack of
fellowship over the last thirty years. Refer to the BTB study, GUIDANCE – THE WILL OF GOD on page 86.
Abraham received the promise that in Canaan would be the blessing for his descendents and so staying in Canaan, and
trusting in the Lord’s provision there, would be the spiritual thing to do. Genesis 15:13-16. Israel recognizes, now that he
is back in the place of faith, that impossible situations are to be seen as simply challenges to faith, and that believers are
to seek the Lord’s path through a problem, if we seek the road of safety and blessing. It was right for him to build the altar
and pray, as he now knows that the Lord can preserve him in or out of Canaan, and he seeks the Lord’s will now alone.
God honours his godly doubts about leaving the land of promise and confirms the path forward to Egypt is the right one.
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This is the reminder to us all, that even when a situation appears to be very clear, we are to pause, reflect upon the Word
received previously and pray for confirmation if there are any doubts at all about direction. The Lord wants us to walk
carefully and prayerfully.
Israel moves camp from Hebron to Beersheba. This will not excite any surprise amongst the other pastoralists, and the
pause in Beersheba is a normal one, as it was the place of Abraham and Isaac’s sojourning also for extended times.
Genesis 21:14-31, 22:19, 26:23, 33, 28:10.
This was the place where altars had been built and so he builds again the ancient altar and offers prayers here. He
spiritually returns to the place of God’s revelation. It is here that he has a dream in the night, and hears the voice of God
giving him similar re-assurance to that which he received at Beth-El on the way to Haran all those years ago. Genesis
28:12ff.
Moses must feel strange as he writes this, for the Lord speaks to him the same way, Exodus 3:4ff, and his response is
that of Israel. Moses recognizes as he writes these things that he stands in the tradition of Israel his ancestor, and has
the same promises to rest upon as Israel did. We also share this, and can share the faith of Moses, as we apply
ourselves to the Word of God and apply it into our daily life. 1 Peter 1:8-12.
God calls Israel by his given name, Jacob, as a reminder that he is called in his weakness, so that through the truth of
God he might become strong. He is reminded that he is a man who needs the grace and power of God to achieve
anything before God. He is also reminded that God is the Lord of all, and is the one who steps into history. The creator
speaks to his creatures and operates within this world, and his plan encompasses all things that go on here. We are not
just the “visited planet”, but the place where God regularly meets with men and women who are called to play their part in
the plan. God speaks today, as he always has done, regularly through his Word and through prayer, and occasionally
through prophetic words and gifting. Refer to the BTB studies, PLAN OF GOD on page 16 and REVELATION on page
14.
The promise is that just as God has been with Isaac, just so he will be with him, and that he is going to be accompanied
down to Egypt, and that God will work with him to bring about the fulfilment of all the promises there. The nation will
become great within the land of Egypt. He will be able to rest in the grace provision of the Lord for his descendents, and
Joseph will close his eyes in death. This was the traditional role of the oldest son, but Joseph as the senior man of God
given power in the family, and as God’s chosen leader and deliverer, he will fulfil this role in Egypt.
Verses 5 – 7.
Notice the words of Moses carefully here. Notice firstly that they took all their goods and their
cattle. For the first time there is no mention of flocks. They have apparently sold their sheep and goats. All smelly
professions are disgusting to the refined Egyptians, and shepherds are an abomination particularly to the Egyptians,
Genesis 43:32, 45:10, 46:34.
If you read these three verses and put them together you see a subtle change in Joseph’s realisation about how the
family are to “market” themselves to the Pharaoh. They will not bring their flocks to Egypt, but cattle only, for they were
sacred to the Egyptians. They will be able to sell their flocks, for sheep and goats can survive severe droughts, so there
will be a market for them in Canaan. They bring the money made from the sale, but not any sheep or goats. All the
people travel down, with the women and children, and the old people in the wagons, and the men walking, leading the
animals, or riding on their asses. Their servants are apparently left behind, from the general list of people given here.
They are to bring the “goods”, that is the clothing, furniture and silver and gold they have gathered while working the
land, but not anything that the Egyptians will find disgusting. Now this involves a setting aside of “cultural values” and
adjusting to the demands of the dominant culture amongst whom they will dwell for the next three hundred years. In
today’s world we are used to arguments for multi-culturalism, with tolerance for all minority groups. That is not the biblical
picture we see here.
As believers we must be ready to cast aside the practise of centuries to fit in with the people the Lord has led us to live
amongst. We must swim as fish in the cultural sea we find ourselves in, not expect those people to accept us “as we
are”.
There is to be no arrogance about cultural practises, by way of clothing, custom, or work. The only thing that does not
change is belief system, although it’s expression may alter in the new context. This is the picture we will see emerging
throughout scripture; focus is upon the plan of God and fitting in to that. Any change to be made to be obedient to the
details of the plan is made without complaint or sadness for an old habit that is to be put aside. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23,
Philippians 3:4-11.
Verses 8 – 15.
The first list of names involves the descendents of Jacob and Leah. As the senior wife she
has priority in the lists. The names are given in birth order, with relevant sons. The names listed here are all those who
will establish clans amongst the tribes, so the men named have descendents who are named after them as independent
family groups. It will be noted that two daughters only are named in the lists. This was not because of the low value of
women; for that is not biblical, but because these two women had major roles to play in the family. Several grand-sons of
Jacob are listed here, for they establish tribes or sub-tribes as significant by Moses day to those established by the other
sons.
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Leah’s sons are listed now. Firstly Reuben, and then his sons are mentioned as men establishing clans within the tribe
of Reuben. They are, Hanoch, meaning to be initiated (same name as Enoch), Phallu, meaning “to divide”, Hezron,
meaning “the court yard”, and Carmi, meaning “gardener”. There may be little personal and family reasons behind these
names, but none indicate any spiritual significance.
Secondly the line of Simeon is given. His sons establishing separate clans within his tribe are, Jemuel, meaning “day
of God”, Jamin, meaning “right hand” – possibly meaning my right hand or my later strength, Ohad, meaning ”to be
united”, Jachin, meaning “he will establish”, and Zohar, meaning “dazzling whiteness” . His son Shaul (meaning “asked
for”) is mentioned separately, as born illegitimately of a Canaanite woman, but within the tribe he establishes an
accepted clan in his own right. It is a reminder that being born in an inappropriate manner does not reflect upon the child,
and through his relationship with the promises of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob the child becomes a full member of the
community. There are personal names here, but also some indication of spiritual aspects of Simeon’s life in the naming
of some of the sons.
The third son is Levi(Moses own ancestor – Exodus 2) . His sons are Gershon, meaning “a refugee”, Kohath, meaning
“alliance – to ally oneself”, and Merari, meaning “bitter”. The names of Levi’s boys do not tell us much about Levi, other
than his negativity perhaps.
The fourth son is Judah, whose sons are Er and Onan, who both died, as we saw in Genesis 38. His surviving sons,
from whom the families of the later nation that bore his name derive, are Shelah, meaning “request”, and the twins,
Pharaz, meaning, “a breech – breaking forth”, and Zarah, meaning, “rising of light”. The family of Pharez also becomes a
major sub group of the tribe and his two sons are counted with their uncles as leaders of the clans of Judah; they are
Hezron, meaning, “the court-yard”, and Hamul, meaning, “pitied“. Moses does not know it, but the line of kings of Judah
will come from the sons of Judah, through Pharez and Hezron. Matthew 1:3, Luke 3:33.
Variations in spelling of names crop up in this case, and is not a problem, for the Bible was written later in Hebrew, a
language that has not been formed in it’s final form for another 600+ years after the days of Jacob. Languages change
their forms through the centuries. These names are probably Akkadian in their form at this point, as this was likely the
written language of the tablets Moses inherits and edits/writes up as the Pentateuch during the wanderings in the desert.
The fifth son is Issachar whose sons are, Tola, meaning, “worm”, Phuvah, meaning, “a blast of wind”, Job, meaning,
“howler”, and Shimron, meaning, “preserved, guardianship” .
The sixth son is Zebulon, whose sons are, Sered, meaning, “trembling”, Elon, meaning “oak – strong tree“, and Jahleel,
meaning, “expectant of God”. This ends the list of the sons of Leah, that she gave birth to while they lived in PadanAram (the city of Haran). She also gave birth to a named daughter Dinah. There were other girls in this branch of the
family, for a total of this family of sons, and key grand-sons and daughters was thirty three (33) in number.
Verses 16 – 18.
Next was the seventh son, Gad, born to Zilpah, the servant of Leah. Gad’s sons were,
Ziphion, meaning, “watch tower”, Haggi, meaning “festive”, Shuni, meaning, “quiet”, Ezbon, meaning, possibly “grasping
a finger”, but this is uncertain, Eri, meaning “watchful”, Arodi, meaning, “fugitive”, and Areli, meaning, “a hero”. These last
two names may also refer to the places where the boys were born.
Also born to Zilpah was the eighth son, Asher. His son’s names were, Jimnah, meaning, “prosperity”, Ishuah, meaning,
“God will level“, Isui, meaning, “God will lend”, and Beriah, meaning, “in trouble”. They also had a sister, Serah
(abundance). The sons of Beriah prospered to the extent that they also became sub clans within the tribe. Their names
were, Heber, meaning, “community”, and Malchiel, meaning, “king of God”. Of the sons and key grandsons of Zilpah
there were sixteen (16) clan leaders.
Verses 19 – 22.
Rachel’s two sons, Joseph and Benjamin also bore sons to carry on their names and the
tribes of both were great at times in Israel’s history, although the weakness of their mother for idolatry would overwhelm
both households over time. The ninth son, Joseph, would have two sons and each would form a great tribe in
themselves. Ephraim and Manasseh would become two tribes of power and influence and would give their name to the
Northern Kingdom in the latter days of the kings, but it would be materialism, alcoholism, and idolatry that would bring
them down to death. Both tribes would survive only as a remnant by fleeing south in the 720 BC to join the people of
Judah.
Isaiah and Hosea preach repentance, but there is none amongst the majority and most perish in Assyrian captivity. A
remnant is saved by fleeing south, and some more are saved through dispersion and return with the other Jews from
Babylonian exile in 535 BC and later. Isaiah 28:1-3, Hosea 4:17ff. By the time of the early church the writers speak not
of the two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, but of the “Twelve Tribes” again, telling us that enough survived from each to
rebuild the tribes. Acts 26:7, James 1:1. In Revelation the writer describes the sealing of the Jewish evangelists as
coming from all the twelve tribes. Revelation 7:5-8.
The tenth tribe was of Benjamin was also a tribe afflicted by the sins of their mother Rachel. Their tribe nearly brings
itself to total disaster in the days of the Judges due to it’s gross immorality and idolatry. Judges 19-21. The story in those
chapters is an evil one, for “every man did as it seemed right in his own eyes”, and the result was total immorality and
violence all around, but out of it came great blessing for Israel, for from this tribe would come one man, Saul, to become
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Paul of Tarsus; a man who would bring the message of the Messiah of all Israel to it’s people far and wide around the
known world.
The sons of Benjamin are listed here, and can only have been born in Egypt, for he would not have been old enough to
have these boys when he entered Egypt. He has sons called, Belah, meaning, “destruction”, a place name, Becher,
meaning, “early fruit – youth”, Ashbel, meaning, “flowing”, Gera, meaning, “grain”, Naaman, meaning, “pleasantness”,
Ehi, meaning, “brotherly”, Rosh, meaning, “to shake the head”, Muppim, meaning, “waving”, Huppim, meaning,
“chambers”, and Ard, meaning, to wander – fugitive”. Of the sons of Rachel there were fourteen (14).
Verses 23 – 25.
The next tribes were the descendents of Bilhah the servant of Rachel. They form the
Eleventh tribe, whose father was Dan. His son was Hushim, meaning, ”hasters”.
The twelfth son was Naphtali, whose sons were Jahzeel, meaning, “God will assign (blessing)”, Guni, meaning,
“protected one”, Jezer, meaning, “purpose in mind”, and Shilem, meaning “recompense”. The key descendents of Bilhah
were seven in number (7).
The grand total of all was 70, but this clearly includes some of those, of Jacob’s grand-sons and even great grand-sons,
born in Egypt also. They were looked upon as coming into Egypt “within the loins of their fathers”. (The Latin phrase is
often used to discuss this – in lumbis patrum).
In Middle Eastern thinking, the grand-sons yet to be born were in their fathers as they entered the land. Moses uses this
concept to list the key sub-tribe (clan) leaders of the families that will march out with him. He has seventy sub-groups
within the twelve tribes, and I suspect it is one man from the leadership of each sub-group that makes the first Sanhedrin
that he appoints. Exodus 1:5, 24:1-9, Numbers 11:16-25.
Verses 26 – 29.
Seventy becomes a key number for the nation as it advances into the land after the Exodus.
In the study of numerology, the Jewish people considered the number 3 to stand as the divine number, 4 as the number
of the world. Added together this signifies the joining of God’s purpose with the will of men upon the earth. The entire
number is multiplied by 10, which is the complete number, and this means the plan of God in this case is complete and
encompasses the covenant people who will complete the plan. Refer to the BTB study NUMEROLOGY. Some of these
men listed are born after the entry into Egypt, and in at least one case involve a great-grand-son of Jacob, when we
compare the list of names in Numbers 26.
In the family of Benjamin for example, he was too young to have had ten sons by the time of entry into Egypt. He could
have been as young as 23 years at the time of coming down to Egypt. The list of sons in Numbers 26: 38-40, records
him finally having eight sons and two grand-sons who are mentioned/recorded as tribal leaders. In later Jewish thought,
as well as amongst the Arab people there is not a great distinction between a son and a grand-son, who will often be
adopted as a son, if he has leadership potential.
As the family enters Egypt they head first for the land assigned to them, and Judah rides ahead to scope out their
requirements and set things up for the encampment. Joseph’s people would have been there ahead of them preparing
the area also. Judah is taking the leadership role as the organizer of things. The family will settle, rest and refresh
themselves after their long journey before formally being brought, washed and in clean clothes, before Pharaoh. Joseph
meets his father on the way and there is a tender and emotional meeting with great love and sadness, as they embrace
and kiss.
Verses 30 – 34.
Old Jacob is a sad and yet blessed individual by this point. He is relieved and full of quiet joy
at seeing his son again. He is also a man ready to die, very old and weary of this world. He has paid a terrible price for
his early life, but has been blessed as he has obeyed. He remains a figure that teaches us hope and confidence in the
Lord as we advance through life. This man has suffered much, but is brought to his death with joy in his Lord and seeing
his family united in the purpose of God for them all. The grace of God is seen in the history of Israel, that at the worst
time of satanic hatred towards Israel as a nation, the Great Tribulation period of history, there are still 12,000 believers
able to be sealed for ministry from each tribe. Each of these sons of Jacob bear a believing remnant through history and
none are bereft of men and women standing for God. Revelation 7:1-12.
Joseph now gives his briefing to the family on what they are to say and not say about their life in Canaan and their life
style here in Egypt. It would be easy to tell the whole truth about their life, for they are used to talking of their “flocks and
herds”, but the Egyptians hate shepherds, and culturally they will be outcasts and it will reflect badly on Joseph if they
speak of sheep. The Egyptians of this time hate sheep and goats and all who work with them! The very smell offends
them. Egyptian pictures from this period of shepherds show mangy men and mangy animals; they clearly hate them.
Joseph wants the family to speak only of cattle and their work as “ranchers” of cattle. They are not to lie to pharaoh, but
they are to give only half the truth; the sheep and goats sold in Canaan are to be forgotten.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
Joseph goes to long lengths to not offend the sensitivities of the Egyptians. His family sell their flocks and bring
only their herds into Egypt, and then they are to speak no more of sheep and goats. They are to cast aside their
normal dress and wear Egyptian clothes only as the meet pharaoh. They are to “fit in” within their new place of
service. We are to learn from this ourselves, and in ministry in any culture, we are to fit in, within that culture.
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Our own desires and habits are to be set aside and we are to focus upon the cultural practises, desires, and
concerns of the people to whom we minister. Our sole concern is to communicate truth to these people. Our
cherished practises are to be cast away as worthless things that we might win the lost to Christ. 1 Corinthians
9:19-22, Philippians 3:4-11.
2.
All moves and change in life need to be offered up to the Lord in prayer. Rebuilding the prayer altar is a good
thing in our lives, but a better thing is not to stop using prayer in the first place. Prayer is meant to be a daily
activity, saturating our waking hours. Let us speak and listen to our Lord often. Just as God met Israel in his
weakness so he meets us each day in our needs. We rest in the grace, mercy, love, and plan of God. We are
his ambassadors, and so it is his responsibility to attend to our every need, and his promise is that he will do
that. Our job is to cast our cares upon Him.
3.
The grand-sons of Israel are named by their father’s for all sorts of things, but few of them reflect upon anything
spiritual. The names of this chapter are a reminder that the sons of Israel have been away from the Lord just as
their father has been. Let us keep close to the Lord, so that our children bear his godly name upon them, and
that they serve the Lord in truth and confidence all the days of their lives. Let us set godly example.
4.
The twelve tribes still exist and will yet serve the Lord from the land promised to Abraham. The greatest miracle
of preservation in world history is the survival of the Jewish people. So many times they have been persecuted
and satanic hatred has burned against them to the point where a remnant only has survived at times. God’s
preservation of his people is a miracle, and it points to the power of God to keep those who are within his plan,
even when they are in rebellion. Anyone doubting God’s ability to bring them through needs to look at the
survival of Israel.
DOCTRINES
CHRISTIAN LIFE: AMBASSADORSHIP
1. An Ambassador does not appoint himself, he is appointed by the nation he represents, the king he represents, the
person he represents. We are appointed by God. (2 Corinthians 5:20).
2. An Ambassador does not support himself. We are sustained and protected by God (Philippians 4:19).
3. An Ambassador does not represent himself. We represent God on earth. (Matthew 28:19-20).
4. An Ambassador does not belong to the nation to which he is sent. Positionally we are in heaven, experientially we are
in the world. (Philippians 3:20, John 15:19).
5. All Ambassadors have instructions in written form. We have the Word of God. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2).
6. An Ambassador representing his country does not treat any insult as personal. (Matthew 5:11-12).
7. When an Ambassador is recalled from a country it is tantamount to declaration of war. After the Rapture there will be
massive warfare on earth. All Christians will be recalled at the Rapture.(1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
CHRISTIAN LIFE: CONFIDENCE
1. The source of confidence. (Jeremiah 17:7)
2. The results of confidence:a) Protection. (Proverbs 3:25-26)
b) Strength. (Isaiah 30:15)
c) Blessing. (Jeremiah 17:7)
3. Examples of confidence:a) in God's provision. (Genesis 22:18)
b) in God's sovereignty. (Genesis 50:20)
c) in God's deliverance. (Daniel 3:17-18)
d) in God's power. (1 Kings 18:36-39)
e) in God's presence. (Psalm 71:5)
f) in extremity. (Job 13:15)
4. Confidence relating to prayer:a) confident access. (Ephesians 3:12)
b) confidence to draw near. (Hebrews 4:16)
c) confidence to enter. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
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d) confidence to ask. (1 John 5:14-15)
5. Confidence in the day of judgment. (1 John 4:17)
6. Confidence to complete His work in the believer. (Philippians 1:6)
7. Exhortation to maintain confidence. (Hebrews 10:35-39)
CHRISTIAN LIFE: CONSECRATION
1. Consecration means full surrender of self to God. (Romans 6:13)
2. This is the attitude of "denying self" and "not my will, but yours be done" (Matthew 16:24, 26:39, Galatians 2:20).
3. This is the only acceptable gift to God. (Romans 12:1,2)
4. The consecration of the Temple is a picture of the believer's life: the Outer Court (the body), the Holy Place (the soul)
and the Holy of Holies (spirit)
5. You are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and therefore must be set apart as a holy vessel (Romans 12:1-2 cf 1 Kings 8:1-11)
CHRISTIAN LIFE: ETERNAL LIFE
1. DEFINITION: Life belonging to the ages (Greek word aionios). This is the life of the believer who had a beginning in
time but whose life will continue through the other side of death into the infinite future.
2. Mankind were created for eternity. God's purpose was to create a being to enjoy fellowship with forever. 2 Peter 3: 9.
3. The issue for entry into eternal life is faith in Christ. The choice for man is clearly stated in John 3:36, 5:24, Acts 13:46,
Galatians 6:8, Matthew 25:6.
4. Those who are serious about life and concerned about death ask about it. Matthew 13:40-43, 19:16, Mark 10:17, Luke
10:25, 18:18.
5. The Lord's words provide the answer to the questions about eternal life. John 6:68, Romans 5:20, 21, Romans 6:22,
23.
It is the Lord who gives eternal life, John 5:39, 40, 12:50.
6. The Lord gives eternal life to those who believe on him, John 10:28, 17:2,
The door to fellowship and all that goes with it is opened by faith in him as Saviour. John 3:15,16, Acts 13:48, John 6:40,
47.
“To Eat His Flesh and Drink His Blood” is graphic language to picture his work and our need to appropriate it for
ourselves. John 6:54, 4:14.
7. While it may only be fully known in heaven the believer may grasp a glimpse of eternal life here and now by way of
anticipation and relationship. Knowing God is a glimpse of eternal life now, John 17:3, and fellowship with him is the joy
of every believer now and forever. 1 John 1:1-4, 5:10-12, 20, 1 Timothy 6:12, 19.
8. Eternal life is received in full at the resurrection/rapture when we all receive our new bodies from the Lord. Rewards
are received then to enjoy with the Lord forever. We are all urged to live each day with the eternal life perspective in
mind, thinking of our place with the Lord forever. Matthew 19:29, 30, Mark 10:29-31, John 12:25, John 4:36, Romans
2:6,7.
9. Eternal Life is the believers hope, associated with the Rapture and Resurrection, and should be on our mind through
each day, as it sets us apart from the unbelievers who have no such hope. Philippians 3:20, 21, Titus 1:2, 2:13, 3:7, 1
Thessalonians 2:19, 4:13, 1 Peter 1:3,
10. The assurance of eternal life is grounded in the promise of God given through Christ. 1 John 2:24,25, 1 John 5:13-15.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: REWARDS AND CROWNS
1. Rewards and Salvation are carefully separated in the scriptures. Salvation is a free gift from God, rewards are for
meritorious service in the power of the Spirit.
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2. Salvation - a free gift to the lost. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 6:23, John 4:10) - an everlasting possession. (John 3:36,
John 5:24, John 6:47)
3. Rewards - to the saved who faithfully work for the Lord. (1 Corinthians 9:24, 25, Revelation 22:12) - distributed at the
Judgment Seat of Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:10) which takes place after the Rapture
of the Church Revelation 19:7,8
4. Rewards are often pictured in the form of crowns:a) The incorruptible crown - for faithfulness in exercising self control. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
b) The crown of glory - for faithfulness in suffering. (1 Peter 5:4)
c) The crown of life - for faithfulness under trial. (James 1:12, Revelation 2:10)
d) The crown of righteousness - for faithful testimony. (2 Timothy 4:8)
e) The crown of rejoicing - for faithful service. (1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20, Philippians 4:1
5. Rewards come after you have entered into the Plan of God through regeneration
6. Rewards are based on the use of divine operating assets including the filling of the Holy Spirit
7. You can lose rewards but never salvation 1 Corinthians 3:14-15, 2 Timothy 2:12,13
GOD: DIVINE DECREES
1. This is the term in theology that refers to the plan of God coming to us from eternity past. It means that the Lord God,
our heavenly Father, has had a plan from eternity past (before time and space were made) and that plan has been
“decreed” to be the plan for this universe, and that this plan is as certain as there was a beginning to this universe, and
that there will be an end. Though the universe will end, the plan of God, as it came from before the universe, continues
on in its effect after this universe is ended and has been replaced by the new one. 2 Peter 3:10-13, Revelation 21:18.
2. The plan centres on the person and work of the second person of the Trinity; it centres around the person of Jesus
Christ. Ephesians 1:4-6, 1 John 3:23.
3. Entrance into the plan of God is dependent upon grace. The sovereignty of God expressed in the divine decrees he
has made about the plan, meet man’s free will at the Cross. Grace + faith = salvation. By saving people by grace, God’s
perfect holy character is not compromised by the transaction. No-one is saved by works, for there is nothing that a
creature of space and time can do to impress the creator of space and time, nor is there anything that sin can do to
impress or pressure holiness. John 3:16-36, Ephesians 2:8-9.
4. God’s plan for this universe is designed in such a way that every event is “decreed”; his plan includes all causes,
conditions, and outcomes, there is no real contingency that has not been foreseen and planned for from before time. All
this has been achieved in accordance with the holy purposes of God, yet without violating human volition, man’s free will.
The universe is one of both freewill and determinism. Such a contradiction exists only in our minds, limited as they are by
space and time. This plan is far greater than our minds can comprehend, for it was made by the creator of space and
time, who lives and moves and has his being beyond such limitations of thoughts and realities. When we consider this
doctrine of decrees, we enter a realm beyond our dimension, and far above and beyond any space travel fantasies of
man. Acts 2:23, Romans 8:29, 1 Peter 1:2.
5. God’s plan comes from his entire character, not just foreknowledge. It has been drawn up with no violation of man’s
free will choices, for which each is held responsible. The outcomes are certain because of the divine decrees that make
them so, yet the people within the plan have the freedom to choose and no-one before the throne of the creator will be
able to say, “I had to fall; you predestined me to!” Each will be judged by their works, freely chosen, and by their rejection
of the Lord, freely done. Revelation 20:11 – 21:1.
6. Neither Calvinism nor Arminianism in their theologies capture the full magnitude of the divine decrees, for both try to
explain in the human terms of, sovereignty, foreknowledge and free will, yet the reality of the Plan of God comes from
beyond all such time and space limited concepts. This doctrine is bigger than our limited minds and languages, and it
behoves all who discuss this to recognize their limits as they speak of such things as this. How can a thing be certain
and yet also freely done? A moment’s reflection gives us the answer once we think about different perspectives on an
event; from time and non-time. The only reason people have difficulty with such things is because most have not been
trained in philosophy of science or physics.
7. Whenever Paul discussed these things he sang of them; if we understand the truth about the greatness of the
character and plan of God we will still be baffled over this, while we live in time, but we will go on our way rejoicing. Acts
8:39, Galatians 6:4, Hebrews 3:6. Refer ELECTION, CHARACTER OF GOD, ETERNITY.
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GOD: DIVINE INSTITUTIONS - FREEWILL
1. Definition :- Volition or free will is the responsibility before God to choose different ends and means in life.
2. The above definition does not say that one has the power to do what you choose but it does give the opportunity to
choose.
3. God gave Adam a choice in the garden in (Genesis 2:16,17) where God told the man "thou shalt not eat" in the
imperative mood which is a command.
4. Free will gives you the opportunity to want to accomplish things in conformity with God's will without having the natural
ability to do so. (1 Kings 3:5-10) Solomon in this case wanted to judge but could not because of his own limitations.
5. In (Psalm 13) David's free will continued to be positive even though he had not been successful.
6. One of the reasons for the delay in the answering of prayer requests is to allow the strengthening of free will to desire
to do God's will.
7. Free will in both believer and unbeliever. (John 7:17)
8. Free will in giving. (2 Corinthians 8:12)
9. Free will cannot be coerced or compromised thus Christianity is a matter of obedience. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
10 As God is to judge all men it means that man is responsible for his actions and that all normal members of the human
race have free will. (Revelation 20:11-15)
11.Relationship of free will is vertical, between man and God not man and man. (Ephesians 6:5-9)
12.Because man is subject to judgment there is an age of accountability as portrayed by the "rich young ruler".
13.Animals and plants are not judged.
14.Free will also puts the responsibility on both ends and means. An example of the right end but wrong means is the sin
unto death of Moses. (Numbers 20)
15.By application just because God is blessing a ministry, in the case of Moses by providing water it does not mean that
the person is necessarily in God's will. God blesses through his grace and not necessarily because they are doing things
by God's way.
16.Human viewpoint attack on free will - Determinism.
(a)
The concept is that if one starts out with any physical item and I know everything there is regarding it and the
laws that control it then I can dogmatically predict the future state of that item.
(b)
This concept is incorrect as shown by the power of prayer (James 5:17).
(c)
It is possible for God to manipulate His universe. (Acts 16:26).
17.
(a)
(iii)
Types of miracles in the bible
natural - a variation of a natural law
(i)
Elijah and the drought
(ii)
Paul and the earthquake
Moses at the Red Sea with the east wind
(b)
supernatural - a direct violation of a natural law
(i)
The resurrection of Christ
(ii)
Being born again
18.In physics this concept is called "Heisenburg's Uncertainty Principle" after the German Nobel prize winner who
postulated it. Modern science now views a lot of the formulae of physics as occurring the vast majority of times but on
odd occasions not complying with observed laws. Such non compliance would include miracles or manipulation by God.
19.Evolution is an attack on free will as it states that man is evolved from animals and is a higher form of animal. This is
often reinforced in text books which state "men and the other animals" indicating that man differs in degree only and not
in "kind".
(a)
"Difference in degree" - hot and cold is a matter of relative heat; ice, water and steam are all water and of the
same kind.
(b)
"Difference in kind - a square and a triangle.
(c)
Solomon in (Ecclesiastes 3:21), a believer out of fellowship assesses man as different only in degree from
animals.
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(d)
Based on evolutionary principles abortion can be justified and atrocities condoned against other races such as
the Nazi reaction to Jews, gipsies and the Slavs. From this comes the concept that if we knew everything about animal
behaviour we could then describe man.
(e)
The Biblical view however is that we do vary in kind, not in degree (Genesis 2:16) with the thing that sets man
apart from the animals being volition.
(f)
By implication man is never totally determined by his environment.
(g)
Hell is a monument to the fact of free will because if you do not have a choice you cannot be judged.
20.
Three problems which the Bible solves regarding free will (a)
What about babies who die before they hear the gospel or those who are mentally not able to decide ?
Solution - (2 Samuel 12:18) where a child born to David and Bathsheba dies on the 7th day, the day before circumcision
which would have brought the child into a covenant relationship.
David says that he will go to be with the child indicating the child has been automatically saved without a covenant
requirement.
This is the principle of "unlimited atonement". (1 John 2:2)
(b)
What about the physical damage which hinders the person causing a restriction of free will ?
Solution - (John 9:1-7) where a man blind from birth is healed. Jesus did not bypass the free will but made up for the
blindness. He breaks down the barriers for a person to do God's will but the free will of the person is not manipulated.
(c)
What about spiritual damage to free will ?
Solution - (Genesis 3:8) where after the fall God sought out Adam and Eve in the garden where they had hidden from
him. God who is all knowing asked the question "Where are you ?"
The principle of the "total depravity of man" is seen here in the fact that man will not of his own free will seek God.
In (Deuteronomy 5) Moses and all the Israelites heard a public address by God which the Israelites shrank back from.
God speaks to man in three areas:(a)
He speaks to all men. (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17)
(b)
He has a more intense form of calling. (Genesis 6:3, Romans 13:1)
(c)
He calls through the gospel of Jesus Christ. (John 16:8-11)
It is however possible to so damage the free will regarding spiritual matters that it becomes impossible to believe or
repent.
Examples
(a)
the Amorites and Canaanites of Joshua's day. (Genesis 15:16)
(b)
the Pharaoh of the Exodus. (Exodus 7- 11)
(c)
those who accept the mark of the beast. (Revelation 13:8)
(d)
the reaction of unbelievers at the second advent. (Revelation 6:16)
21.However there are many areas over which even those who have had limited free will have control and the person who
searches will find. (John 7:17)
22.If God is truly sovereign how can man have genuine free choice? God has absolute sovereignty as shown by a study
of His character. It is also clear that man has free will.
God uses his free will as creator whilst man uses his as a part of creation.
23.One way of looking at this is fatalism which is the basis of most eastern religions which state that man's destiny is set
and certain.
24.Another way is autonomy which says that all things are uncertain and therefore history goes on chaotically.
25.True biblical sovereignty is based on the creator/creation concept with the creator outside the universe and the
created beings within.
Three non salvation examples:(a)
Paul as a prisoner on a ship bound for Rome predicts, having received advice from the angel of God, that there
will be no loss of life but the ship will become a wreck. The guarantee is a sovereign guarantee and therefore absolute.
Paul however tells the soldiers that they must stay on the boat to be saved. They do and they are saved. Sovereign
decrees by God therefore contain free will decisions by man. (Acts 27)
(b)
The sovereign decree is that all things work together for good towards the goal of predestination and eventual
glorification. We have a guarantee that we will be in heaven. We need to be actively involved in the chain of events.
(Romans 8:28)
(c)
Daniel understood the time of "desolations" as seventy years as prophesied by Jeremiah and knew that it would
end on time. He now seeks by supplication with sackcloth and ashes forgiveness for Israel's sin on the basis that no
discipline is going to be removed without the sin having been forgiven. (Daniel 9:2)
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God promises certain things but they are contingent on our prayer Using the principle of the sovereignty of God we can
be confident in prayer if we are controlled by the Holy Spirit. (James 4:2)
26.Can free will be neutral ? The answer is no, one is either positive or negative towards God. For instance if a young
man is keen on a girl and is asked if he is going to marry her and he answers he does not know. As long as he debates
the question he will not marry her and is therefore negative to marriage.
27.Every attack in the Christian life has one common feature, the denial of the Word of God as shown in the temptation
of our Lord. Each of them therefore is an attack on the character of God.
28.The act of negative free will to the plan of God is given in (Romans 1:18-32.)
In this passage:(a)
the unbeliever hold the truth in unrighteousness. (v18)
(b)
the power of God is clearly seen by all men. (v19-20)
(c)
they became vain in their imaginations and worshipped part of the creation rather than the creator. (v21-23)
(d)
the result is sexual and other perversions. (v24-31)
(e)
they end up encouraging others to defy God. (v32)
29.Are the majority always right ? A scriptural example of this was Elijah and the prophets of Baal in (1 Kings 18) where
on a public opinion basis Elijah would have been considered wrong.
The concept that public opinion is always correct comes from the French philosopher Rousseau who stated "the most
general will is always the most just also, the voice of the people is in fact the voice of God".
Another good example of this would be the public opinion that happened at the crucifixion of Christ.
30.There are therefore two classes in the Christian life, positive or negative to God's will.
31.In Old Testament times physical idols were common. The idols nowadays are commonly abstract in the form of ideas
and concepts. It is up to the Christian to challenge these concepts where they occur.
ISRAEL
1. Israel has a future which was promised to Abraham. (Genesis 12:1-3)
2. Israel's future is based on regeneration. (Romans 9:6-14)
3. Israel's future is related to the land of Palestine. (Genesis 15:18, Numbers 34:1-12, Deuteronomy 30:1-9)
4. Israel has a King forever - the Son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ in the Millennium. (2 Samuel 7:8-16, Psalm 89:2037)
5. The promises were confirmed to Jeremiah in the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31ff, Hebrews 8:8-13)
6. Israel's future begins as a nation at the Second Advent of Christ. (Zechariah 14:1-9)
7. Israel's future is guaranteed, even though the nation is now in dispersion under the discipline of God. (Isaiah 5:26-30,
14-1-3, 10:20-23, 11:11-16, Zechariah 10:6-12)
8. Israel had a purpose
a) To witness to the holiness of the one true God. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10,12)
b) To illustrate to the nations the blessings derived from serving the one true God. (Deuteronomy 33:26-29, 1 Chronicles
17:20-21, Psalm 144:15)
c) To receive, record and broadcast the Scriptures. (Deuteronomy 4:5-8, Romans 3:1-2)
d) To receive and proclaim the promised Messiah. (Genesis 3:15, 12:3, 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6)
9. The nation Israel is now in dispersion under the discipline of God. The Church has replaced the mission of Israel
during the Church Age. (Romans 11) When the Church is removed in the Rapture, Israel will again take up its purpose
during the Tribulation (Revelation 7:4-8)
NUMEROLOGY
1. Traditionally, and in the Bible, letters of the numeric values have been assigned to letters of the alphabet, and various
numbers, in turn, have specific symbolic meanings.
2. Very intricate numeric patterns can be seen in the Scriptures in the original languages.
3. Numbers assigned to letters of the alphabet.
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Number
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
20.
30.
40.
50.
60.
70.
80.
90.
100.
200.
300.
400.
500.
600.
700.
800.
900.
Hebrew Greek
ALEPH ALPHA
BETH BETA
GIMEL GAMMA
DALETH DELTA
HE
EPSILON
VAU
DIGAMMA
ZAIN
ZETA
CHETH ETA
TETH THETA
JOD
IOTA
CAPH KAPPA
LAMED LAMBDA
MEM
MU
NUN
NU
SAMECH
XI
AYIN
OMICRON
PE
PI
TZADDI KOPPA
KOPH RHO
RESH SIGMA
SCHIN TAU
TAU
UPSILON
PHI
CHI
PSI
OMEGA
SAMPI
4. Symbols assigned to various numbers.
1.
Unity or unit.
2.
Separation or witness.
3.
Godhead or Perfection.
4.
Creative work or world.
5.
Grace.
6.
Man (under sin).
7.
God's seal - the perfect number.
8.
Resurrection or new beginning.
9.
Finality.
10.
Ordinal perfection.
11.
Disorganisation.
12.
Perfect Government.
13.
Sin or rebellion.
37.
The word.
40.
Probation or testing.
5. Examples of numbers in Scripture:
a) The number of the antichrist (666) in Revelation 13:18 is made up of 3 (perfection) 6's (man/sin). The antichrist,
therefore, is seen as the ultimate sinful man.
b) The number forty signifies testing or judgment.
i) It rained forty days and nights in the Flood of Noah
ii) The Jews wandered for forty years in the wilderness.
iii) Jesus was tempted in the desert for forty days.
iv) Many of the kings of Israel reigned for forty years.
c) The number twelve signifies government. It is found as a multiple in all that has to do with rule.
i) There were twelve judges in Israel
ii) There were twelve sons of Israel. Whilst there were actually thirteen tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh came from
Joseph), only twelve are mentioned in any lists.
iii) There were twelve people anointed in the Old Testament, five priests and seven kings. It is interesting that Saul was
the sixth anointed, six being the number of man, Saul being man's choice. David was the seventh, seven being God's
number, David being God's choice.
iv) There were twelve disciples and twelve apostles. The twelve apostles will sit on twelve thrones
v) There are twelve gates, twelve pearls and twelve foundations into the New Jerusalem
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CHAPTER 47
INTRODUCTION
Having told his family very carefully to avoid the use of the word “shepherd”, that is the impression that Joseph
apparently gives to pharaoh when he introduces some of the family members to him. A closer study reveals that Joseph
has used an inclusive term for “herdsman” that could refer to flocks or herds, and he has mentioned flocks in his
introduction, although it would appear they have not brought down the hated sheep.
When the men however meet Pharaoh, they use the word “shepherds”. Pharaoh is not put off, but he uses the term for
cattle only, and then he meets Jacob and receives his blessing. Pharaoh gives Joseph the task of placing his brothers in
charge of Pharaoh’s cattle herds as they will grow through the famine time.
Egypt will be blessed by association with these people for the next two hundred years, and only when the new rulers of a
new dynasty rise up, who “know not Joseph”, and persecute them, does this blessing stop. God’s people bring blessing
to those who they work with, live with, and serve. This principle applies right into our own days. Refer to the BTB studies
on CHRISTIAN LIFE – BLESSED IN HEAVENLY PLACES, BLESSING OF THE BELIEVER.
GENESIS 47:1-31
“1 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds,
and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen. 2 And
he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. 3 And Pharaoh said unto his
brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also
our fathers. 4 They said morever unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no
pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy
servants dwell in the land of Goshen. 5 And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren
are come unto thee: 6 The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to
dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make
them rulers over my cattle. ,7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob
blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days
of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life
been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. 10
And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. 11 And Joseph placed his father and his
brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as
Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household,
with bread, according to their families. 13 And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore,
so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up
all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought:
and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the
land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy
presence? for the money faileth. 16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if
money fail. 17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses,
and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their
cattle for that year. 18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We
will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not
ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: 19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes,
both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and
give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. 20 And Joseph bought all the land of
Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the
land became Pharaoh's. 21 And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of
Egypt even to the other end thereof. 22 Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion
assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their
lands. 23 Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo,
here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give
the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for
them of your households, and for food for your little ones. 25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us
find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants. 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land
of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part, except the land of the priests only, which became
not Pharaoh's. 27 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions
therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the
whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. 29 And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and
he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand
under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: 30 But I will lie with my
fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place. And he said, I will do as thou
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hast said. 31 And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's
head.”
REFLECTION
Verses 1 – 3.
These men will not lie about their occupations, even if it causes problems to Joseph. They are
not good at following simple instructions here, and call themselves shepherds, but they get away with it. Hebrews 2:11.
They are foolish, but honest and Pharaoh ignores the unacceptable and focuses upon the thing he can use them for; to
care for his herds. They have compromised with their dress and will “fit in” within Egypt, and they will play down their
care of sheep and goats for the next hundred years as their main occupation, and they will concentrate upon cattle.
It is a double reminder to us that God wants us to fit in where we serve, and not upset the people to whom we minister
truth, and he also wants us to speak truth. God also delights in using the rejected of men, the despised trades, and their
ignored people, and he ignores the prejudices of men; all he seeks is our devotion to his will for our lives and our
readiness to go anywhere to serve him. Amos 7:14-17, Acts 9:43.
By the time of the Exodus the Jewish people have started to farm their sheep again in large numbers. They are all
despised slaves by then, and so it doesn’t matter by then. Exodus 1:8-14. It will be, in the days of Moses, the despised
lamb that will be the substitutionary sacrifice for their sins. Exodus 12:1-13.
The despised lamb will become the heart of the Lord’s Passover Feast and they will leave Egypt with their acquired
sheep, goats and many cattle. Exodus 12:32-38. Grace is Moses theme, and that is the key word behind this story, for
these men do not present their best front, nor do they behave in a dignified and diplomatic way. It is God’s grace alone
that keeps them. Joseph has chosen the best five of the twelve to meet pharaoh, and even they can’t follow instructions
and say too much!
Verses 4 – 6.
These men don’t just stop with the word shepherd, but use the word flocks, and say too much
about their business and what they want in Egypt. They are under the grace of God and at the pleasure of pharaoh. Their
only really correct response to pharaoh’s question was, “We are here as a result of Joseph’s invitation and we await your
grace and pleasure”. They are too used to blunt conversations in Canaan to play any political games. They blurt out a
request to live in Goshen, which has already been given them by Joseph. They don’t have to ask to be let live in the land
of Goshen, nor tell pharaoh that there is famine in the land. He knows these things already!
The interchange is so embarrassing that Pharaoh doesn’t answer them, he turns to Joseph and says, “Let them live in
Goshen”. He has already said this before, so it is superfluous, and indicates he is irritated with them, and the audience is
short. In grace, gratitude to Joseph, and perhaps desperation to find these men something to do to stop them being so
annoying, the smart ones are to be given roles as herd managers. There may be sarcasm in pharaoh’s words, “if there
be any man of activity amongst them”. What this means is any man of intelligence and ability, (fit in mind and body) and
from the meeting with these five, I suspect he doubts it, but trusts Joseph’s ability to select people who may be useful to
Egypt.
The brothers didn’t need to ask for anything, for Joseph had been given delegated authority to provide it. Exodus 45:1720. They needed simply to introduce themselves and thank pharaoh for his grace and favour. The whole thing is an
embarrassment! They are like “hicks from the hill country”. They are country cousins, and even in their best Egyptian
clothing, with only five chosen, as the most likely to make a good impression, they mess things up. It is a good picture of
God’s over-ruling power. They do not earn or deserve the favour of the Lord, and they stumble and bumble through their
formal meeting with the greatest ruler of their day, but they are blessed anyway. Refer to the BTB study of GRACE on
page 99.
God is good to us, and we are covered within his plan, even when we get things as wrong as these five did this day.
Joseph will have opportunity over the next five years to secure pharaoh’s greater gratitude, and so his politically dumb
brothers are covered by Joseph’s brilliance, and this was God’s plan all along. Joseph becomes the centre of their
universe, and he shines glory upon them, and they bow in appreciation for what he provides, just as God had shown
twenty years before in the dream. Genesis 37:9-11.
Verses 7 – 10.
Joseph possibly tries to impress pharaoh, after the disaster with the five brothers, by
introducing his father, hoping the spiritual status of Jacob will cover the embarrassment of the five “hicks”. He is right in
this, for Jacob is a spiritual giant, and pharaoh recognizes the spiritual lineage that flows now through Joseph. Jacob
blesses pharaoh going in and coming out of the meeting. Numbers 6:23 – 27.
Jacob is old, and pharaoh asks just how old. Notice Jacob’s wonderful answer. He now sees his life as a pilgrimage
towards heaven. It has taken him a while, but he has arrived at a full understanding of his journey through this world. He
sees that his life is just a temporary “tenting”, or “sojourning”, on the path to a more permanent home in heaven. Moses
will use the same word to describe the land of Canaan, as the land of his fore-father’s pilgrimage. Exodus 6:4. As the
Psalmist says, Psalms 119:54, God’s Word is the comfort to all his people in the houses of their pilgrimage. There is one
place that we are designed to feel at home, and that is in heaven. Our permanent home is heaven. John 14:1ff. Refer to
the BTB studies, PILGRIM, CHRISTIAN CHARACTER, CHRISTIAN LIFE.
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Verses 11 – 12.
The five brothers asked for the land of Goshen instead of waiting for Joseph to confirm a gift
of land with Pharaoh. Pharaoh however confirmed the grant of this land to the people of Israel and they are formally
given possession there. What happened to the previous inhabitants? They are moved off the land. The Pharaoh had
absolute power and was able to do anything, and Joseph himself will move the entire rural population into the cities
before the famine ends as we will see below. The possession of the entire land/province of Goshen (in Moses day and
later called the “Land of Ramses”) by these cattle herders is going to cause resentment amongst the Egyptians over
time, and over a hundred years later it will burst out in active persecution. Exodus 1:7-15.
In this generation however there will be peace and prosperity for all the family of Israel. The entire extended family will be
blessed, and it will expand, and all members will be fed by Joseph’s provision of grain to them. They are granted the use
of the land, but not the ownership of it, but that is all they need, for their wealth is their animals and what they provide for
them. The delta land they live upon is going to retain some fertility for growing vegetables, with a little water from the
much reduced river and the animals will survive and be healthy, providing milk and meat.
The entire land of Upper Egypt is however not so lucky; without the annual flood, the ground away from the river is hard
and dry and nothing grows, except basic vegetables grown on the river bank with water hand drawn from the river.
Famine and any form of shortage should have an immediate impact upon a people; it ought to produce serious
repentance and prayer. Jeremiah 9:10-14, 14:1-12, Joel 1:10-14.
At times in their history God punished Israel for their sins through famine, and any shortage we confront ought to be
confronted with prayer. Refer to the BTB study, CONFESSION on page 21. For believers facing shortage, or “fiery trial”,
faith-rest and prayer are our path through. Hebrews 3:17 – 4:12, 1 Peter 4:10-13.
Verses 13 - 15.
The famine goes on into it’s later years and the people of Egypt (and Canaan) exhaust their
savings to pay for the grain they need to survive. These verses also tell us that through the famine Joseph has gained
political control of the land of Canaan also. Moses mentions both Egypt and Canaan in the same terms, and thereby
indicates that Egyptian political control of Canaan has been achieved. Joseph has brought the land of Canaan into
pharaoh’s orbit by his use of the sale of grain. By getting the peoples of Canaan to buy grain, they exhaust their
government funds, and so must submit to Egyptian rulership as tribute city states. Egypt has gained control of the land of
Canaan by economic means, without the use of force.
Joseph has been careful about getting his family out of Canaan, and this information may indicate another reason for
their stealthy departure. Joseph wants to stop any mass migrations, but also he may have feared that his family would be
held hostage for grain if they remained any longer in the land, once their relationship with him got out. Through clever
use of monopoly trade, he controls the land of Canaan and it’s rulers, whose people do not eat without his grain. The
land of Egypt would later keep the Roman heartland alive through it’s produce also, and this remained the strength of
Egypt for over a thousand years after Joseph.
Verses 16 – 17.
The reason to have his brothers in charge of the animals now becomes apparent. The best of
the animals will need to be kept alive until the end of the drought for breeding purposes so that the land can be restocked
when the rains come to Africa and the Nile floods again. This will involve careful selection of the best stock for keeping
alive as breeding herds and flocks, the organizing of their care, and the use of the other stock for food, so that there is
meat in the land. The eleven brothers could all have been busy, from one end of the land to the other organizing the
collection, recording and selection of stock for slaughter or for breeding later. The animals will also need to be fed and
kept alive through the next five or six years before the rains come again to central Africa to raise the Nile.
The people are forced to sell all their animals to pharaoh. This “nationalization of stock” was the best solution here, for
private enterprise would have failed totally to be able to prepare for the years required before the famine was to be over.
Only divine viewpoint can save the day here, and Joseph has that as a prophet of God. This stock pool and their
selected bred offspring will repopulate the land after the famine with stronger and better animals. The technique that
Jacob used to build his flocks and herds is probably the one used by his sons to save the best of Egyptian live stock.
Genesis 30. The famine will be used to improve the quality of the live-stock of the entire land, and the animals will
probably be leased back to the farmers, who over the years of new harvest will be able to buy the new stock back. (This
view is based on what happens with the land itself - below). Everyone gains from Joseph’s plan and the execution of it.
Verse 18 – 19.
The famine is really biting now and the people, having sold their animals have nothing left to
sell except their land and themselves as slaves/servants to Pharaoh. The entire farming population in the fields is
starving unless they get food from Joseph. They make their offer. This may appear shocking to us, but it was an
accepted way in the ancient world for the poor to ensure they were fed by those who had the assets to support them. By
selling yourself to a master, they had responsibility to feed you and you had the responsibility to work for them from after
dawn till before dusk for your food and board. In most places this situation was not abused, and operated for the mutual
benefit of all, and could be for a limited time frame. Those who were unable to look after their own affairs got cared for, in
return for their work.
Moses will institute this system of welfare in the Mosaic Law, with a limit set for a Hebrew sold as a slave for poverty
reasons. Moses set the limit at seven years service for a person in this state, although if they were dealt with as a
servant with property rights, they could elect to stay with their master for their whole life. Exodus 21:1-11, Leviticus
25:35-44. This system gave security to those who did not have the ability to administer their own affairs and would
otherwise have starved to death, having lost their goods by their poor management, unfortunate circumstances, or bad
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decisions. Such people today are on welfare with the State and are often worse off than a servant would be living in a
great house with their daily routine set for them and everything they needed provided. Refer to the BTB studies,
WELFARE, WORK.
Verses 20 – 22.
All the arable farming land of Egypt passes into the hands of Pharaoh, and the people
become his servants, to do his bidding. At this point there is not much to do on the land, although from verses below, it
appears that the people were used for building projects through this period. To assist with the administration of these
projects, and make the grain distribution easier, Joseph moves the rural population into the cities as a temporary
measure.
Pharaoh gets all the civil works he needs done through this period, and possibly as well as public building repairs and
new construction, new canals may have been dug, in readiness for the coming Nile floods. All work that needed to be
done for infrastructure could be achieved in this four or five year period, before the Nile floods again. It is a dangerous
thing to have people sitting idle and just getting food, and the ancient world concept was that such a thing was evil, so
work would have been done for food. Such a thing is so normal to them that Moses doesn’t have to mention it
specifically. The priests alone were exempt from this purchase of land, for their lands were held under pharaoh’s
rulership, for he was the god’s representative upon the earth as the Egyptians saw it.
Verses 23 – 26.
Joseph sets an open form of servitude for the land. It is welcomed by the people, for they are
so relieved to be alive, and also they could have been reduced to total serf status, whereby they owned nothing and were
forced to give 80% of their food production to Pharaoh. Joseph’s solution will allow them to re-purchase the animals and
have a good life style, while pharaoh gets to keep the ownership of land and receives 20% of every harvest, so that the
use of grain for trade and future need is safeguarded.
The great granaries Joseph has built will be able to be refilled again by this means and used for trade-diplomacy with
other nations, or to raise further funds for war or public building. Joseph has laid the foundation for prosperity in Egypt for
the next 2000 years. The 20% tax on grain remained the main taxation standard in Egypt at least until the days of Moses
430 years later. It is of note that politicians still try to argue for such a flat tax rate even in modern days, although the
nations today do not have the wisdom guiding them that Joseph brought to bear upon Egypt. Remember the principle,
that we will see many times in the scriptures; that all systems of man’s government can work with the right, God-directed
and controlled people leading or administering them.
Verses 27 – 31.
The descendents of old Israel live in Egypt and are blessed there. Their families grow with
sons and daughters and they eat well, and have status under Joseph. I suspect they may have had significant roles
assisting with the animals, as noted above. The whole family is blessed by their association with Joseph and his position
as second in charge to pharaoh. Joseph is secure, because of his service, for he has brought wealth and a doubling at
least of Egypt’s power through his administration and wisdom. As the old patriarch draws near for his time to die, he calls
his son Joseph to him and gives him the instructions that would be normally given to the oldest, but here to the most
powerful. Joseph is the one with the power and authority to ensure that Israel’s dying wishes are followed through.
As the father of the second in charge of Egypt, old Israel will be given the right to be buried in a massive tomb with
royalty. He will have the opportunity to be mummified and treated by the priests of the Egyptian temples as a god
himself, and be treated with great dignity by them. All this is very good for those who do not think with divine viewpoint,
but for Israel, he desires a godly burial with his ancestors, so that he stands in his resurrection body, in the company of
his godly relatives. He does not seek the greatest honour that cultured and respectful pagans can pay him, he seeks the
blessing of God’s people and seeks to have his body laid with Abraham and Isaac. He urgently seeks Joseph’s swearing
that this will be allowed, and that Joseph will ensure it happens.
When a great person neared their end, a tomb was readied for them and arrangements were made for their funeral.
Israel may have been entitled to a state funeral given his relationship with Joseph, and so it is vital that his wishes are
clearly understood by Joseph, and that he solemnly swears to follow through on his father’s wishes. He does so and
Israel relaxes into his death bed. It may have been several days before he died, but he now knows that his body will be
dealt with after his death as he wishes.
This is important for us all, for our last testimony is the manner of our funeral and our burying. All bodies decay away,
and so the argument about cremation as the destruction of the body and in some way stopping the resurrection is a
nonsense. Many people are unable to be buried, for their bodies are blown apart in war, burned to nothing in an accident,
or buried in places where they decay to nothing in acidic soils. The state of the physical body is of no consequence for
the resurrection, for the creator of the entire universe is able to give the resurrection body to the believer at the point their
body was laid, buried, ashes scattered, or destroyed.
The significance of burial is in the picture it gives of the expectation of the person who has died. By burial you testify that
you expect a resurrection body to be received at the place where the body is laid aside. By selecting the company to be
buried in, or place of your burial, you also testify to your expectations and your desire to stand in resurrection body with
those you respected and loved. If to be with them you need to be cremated, then that is not going to stop the reception of
the resurrection body. Where we are buried is of significance, as Israel makes clear, and as later Joseph will declare
regarding his own body.
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PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
It is grace all the way in God’s Plan. The sons of Israel are not good at following instructions from Joseph and
say things that could make pharaoh think badly of them, but God in grace over rules and they are blessed
anyway. God always treats us in grace and love, rather than what we deserve. Let us give thanks that our
stupidity at times has not stopped the Lord’s blessing of us and his use of us through the years.
2.
Like old Jacob, we are meant to be a blessing to all we meet. We are meant to bless all along the way with truth
to them, prayer for them, and loving concern around them. Let us focus on being a blessing, rather than
acquiring wealth or power. Old Israel sees that it is in blessing and being blessed that life finds it’s meaning, not
in the abundance of possessions. Let us be content with what we have before the Lord. Matthew 6:25-34.
3.
Even at 130 years of age, Jacob’s life is “short”, and he feels the vanity of the success that men hold dear to
them. No longer does he see wealth as his goal, and status through his family as his aim. He sees his life as a
journey towards his death and his real eternal reward with God. Psalms 39:4-5, 89:47, 90:3-12. Meditate upon
these words about mortality from the Psalms, and be comforted and corrected as to what you value in this life.
Israel will live for another seventeen years, and will die at 147 years of age. He enjoys his last years and
rejoices in the prosperity that God has given to balance out the dark days of Joseph’s loss. He had seventeen
years with him before his being sold into Egypt and he has seventeen years with him after his reuniting. God
has blessed Israel with joy from his sadness.
4.
This chapter is a reminder not to make any political or economic system or theory the “biblical one”, for many
economic systems are described in the Bible and all work, when administered by godly men or women. Joseph
administers a dictatorship model, with State ownership of all property, but it works well.
Many today think that “private enterprise capitalism” is God’s divinely appointed way to govern. This chapter
reminds us that it is not. We are to pray for our governments, whatever their nature, and whether they have
satanically inspired leaders or godly ones. Romans 13:1-4, 1 Timothy 2:1-2. If we are called by God to serve in
the political realm, then let us serve like Joseph, with godly wisdom guiding our steps, and if not, then let us
pray for our leadership that they do not interfere with the work of God’s people within their State.
DOCTRINES
CHRISTIAN LIFE: BLESSED IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST
1. Believers are said to be blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
2. The same Greek word is used in (John 3:12) where the word 'things' is mentioned.
3. The heavenlies is the area of the believer's spiritual experience as identified with Christ in various ways:a) Divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)
b) Life (Colossians 3:4; 1 John 5:12)
c) Relationships (John 20:17; Hebrews 2:11)
d) Inheritance (Romans 6:16,17)
e) Service (John 17:18; Matthew 28:20)
f) Suffering (Philippians 1:29; 3:10; Colossians 1:24)
g) Future glory (Romans 8:18-21; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10).
4. The believer is a heavenly man and a stranger or pilgrim on the earth. (Hebrews 3:1,1 Peter 2:11).
5. The believer is an ambassador from Heaven. (2 Corinthians 5:20).
CHRISTIAN LIFE – BLESSING OF THE BELIEVER
1. Scripture views blessing as a sense of "peace and happiness". Peace (eirene) in the New Testament means both
inner tranquillity of soul and great prosperity of Life. This is Paul’s prayer for all believers that they might know the
blessing of true God given prosperity. Romans 1:7, 1Corinthians 1:3, 2Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Colossians 1:2,
Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, 1Thessalonians 1:1, 2Thessalonians 1:2, 1Timothy 1:2, 2Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4,
Philemon 3
2. To be spiritually minded is peace, (Romans 8:6), i.e. to be thinking as God would have us think. Peace means
contentment, tranquillity and spiritual prosperity in life. Paul uses this prayer as a greeting in many of his letters. It is
similar to the Hebrew greeting, Shalom, which implies peace and prosperity.
3. Blessing comes by giving God and His righteousness first place. The details of life such as money, house, car, job,
marriage partner are then able to be sorted out correctly. Matthew 6:31-34, 1Corinthians 10:13, cf. Philippians 4:11.
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4. Believers should not have it as their aim in Life to be the richest person in the cemetery. Luke 12:16-21. Having eyes
on money first is a foolish thing. Matthew 6:21 cf. James 5:1-6. Godliness and contentment are God's will for your life,
irrespective of wealth or possessions (1 Timothy 6:6-12)
5. Our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ is our treasure (2 Corinthians 4:6-7).
6. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ - we share everything that He is (Ephesians 1:3)
7. God often uses material blessings to accompany spiritual blessing (3 John 2). However, we are to be content in all
circumstances (Philippians 4:11-13)
8. Blessings from God include such things as:
a) Peace (Psalm 29:11)
b) Comfort (Matthew 5:4)
c) Riches (Proverbs 10:22)
d) Rain (Ezekiel 34:26)
9. The believers who enjoy God's blessings are:
a) Righteous (Psalm 5:12)
b) Just (Proverbs 3:33)
c) Faithful (Proverbs 28:20)
d) Pure in heart (Psalm 24:4,5)
10. God's blessings are secured by:
a) Delighting in His Word (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1 -3)
b) Obeying the Word (Deuteronomy 28:1,2; James 1:25)
c) Teaching from the Word (Psalm 94:12; Hebrews 12:5-11)
d) Kindness to Jews (Genesis 12:3; Psalm 122:6).
e) Generosity (Proverbs 11:26; Malachi 3:10)
f) Walking in God's way (Psalm 128:1-4)
g) Prayer (James 5:16).
11. There are blessings in the book of the Revelation for those who
a) those who heed the words of the book - 1:3, 22:7
b) those who die in the Lord - 14:13
c) those who are alert in the Tribulation regarding the Second Advent 16:15
d) those who attend the marriage supper of the Lamb - 19:9
e) those who are part of the first resurrection - 20:6
f) those who as believers will have eternal blessings in heaven. - 22:14
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
1. True Christian character is Christ like ness. Ephesians 4:13.
2. True Christian character is produced by dealing with sin regularly. 1 John 1:5-10.
3. True Christian character is produced by feeding on God’s Word and applying it in life in the power and filling of the
Holy Spirit. Hebrews 4:1-2.
4. It is in tune with the will of God for the life, by being responsive to the Holy Spirit in all the daily details of life.
Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19.
5. Character is formed by the power of God working on an obedient, yielded life. Romans 12:1-2.
6. Character radiates God’s power and presence through the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:11.
CHRISTIAN LIFE
1. God is pleased with believers
a) By asking for the right things. (1 Kings 3:9, 10)
b) By living a separated life. (2 Timothy 2:4)
c) By doing his will. (Hebrews 13:20, 21)
d) Walking in fellowship with him. (Hebrews 11:5, Genesis 5:24)
e) By praising God. (Psalm 69:30, 31)
f) By resting by faith in God's provision. (Hebrews 11:6)
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2. The Christian life involves walking.
a) in the Truth (2 John 4)
b) by means of faith in wisdom. (2 Corinthians 5:7, Colossians 4:5)
c) in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25)
d) in Love. (Ephesians 5:2)
e) in newness of Life. (Romans 6:4)
f) worthy of our vocation. (Ephesians 4:1)
g) worthy of the Lord. (Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12)
h) honestly as in the day. (Romans 13:13)
i) in good works. (Ephesians 2:10)
j) in light. (Ephesians 5:8, 1 John 1:7)
k) in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 2:6)
l) circumspectly. (Ephesians 5:15,16)
m) as ye ought. (1 Thessalonians 4:1)
3. The Christian life demands honourable conduct:
a) Believers have freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1), but our conduct must not
i) harm the weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9);
ii) be hypocritical (1 Peter 2:16);
iii) does not edify (1 Corinthians 10:23);
iv) lead to habits which enslave (1 Corinthians 6:12);
v) lead to self-indulgence (Galatians 5:13);
vi) offend personal conscience (Romans 14:5).
b) Our conduct towards God.
i) Done in His Name. (1 Timothy 6:1)
ii) As unto Him. (Colossians 3:23)
iii) For His glory. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
iv) To be worthy of Him. (1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:5)
c) Our conduct towards others.
i) Be a good example. (Romans 14:7; 1 Timothy 4:12)
ii) Worthy of our calling. (Ephesians 4:1)
iii) Honest. (2 Corinthians 8:21)
iv) Free from the appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
v) Helpful to a neighbour. (Romans 12:18; 15:2)
vi) Not a cause of stumbling. (Romans 14:13)
vii) Honouring one's parents. (Colossians 3:20)
viii) Honouring to the government. (Titus 3:1)
ix) Must not entail unequal yoking. (2 Corinthians 6:14)
x) Not to judge others (Romans 14:10-13)
xi) Not to cause others to stumble by our actions (Romans 14:15,21-23)
d) Our conduct towards self.
i) Pure and not lustful. (1 Timothy 5:22; 1 Peter 2:11)
ii) Must not defile. (1 Corinthians 3:17; Titus 1:15)
iii) Must not condemn. (Romans 14:22)
iv) Must do good works. (Titus 3:8)
e) This conduct is only obtainable under the filling of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18; 1 John 1:9).
4. The Christian life demands diligence:
a) Love towards others. (Galatians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 8:8). We should be eager to help those who are less fortunate
than ourselves especially by giving them the gospel.
b) We should be keen to take care of the saints (other believers) (Hebrews 6:11, 2 Corinthians 7:12, 2 Corinthians
8:16,17, 2 Timothy 1:17)
c) We should be eager to rest in the promises and principles of God. Happiness comes from this. An example of not
resting in the promises is the Exodus generation.(Hebrews 4:11)
d) Confirmation of our calling (2 Peter 1:5, 2 Peter 1:10) We should witness for Christ eagerly, zealously.
e) Unity of the body. (Ephesians 4:3) We should be zealous in maintaining the unity of the body.
f) For the commendation of God. (2 Timothy 2:15). Be eager to show yourself approved by God.
g) To have a life without spot or blemish. (2 Peter 3:14) We should walk close to the Lord and not expose ourselves to
unnecessary areas of temptation.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: PILGRIM
1. A pilgrim is a sojourner in a strange place; a stranger in a foreign country.
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2. The believer is a pilgrim in this world as our real home country is a heavenly one (John 15:19 Ephesians 2:19; 1 Peter
2:11).
3. This is illustrated in the lives of the patriarchs (Genesis 47:9; Exodus 6:4; Hebrews I I:8-10; 13 -16).
4. When the people of Israel were living in the promised land they were, from a spiritual point of view, still pilgrims (Psalm
39:12; 119:54).
5. So too are Christians, even when living in peace and prosperity under a Christian government (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke
12:34).
6. The life of a Christian is a pilgrimage. This theme is worked out in great detail in John Bunyan's well-known allegory,
"The Pilgrim's Progress".
7. Our heavenly home will not come gradually. The existing system will be destroyed and replaced by God Himself (2
Peter 3:12-13; Revelation 3:12; 21:2,10).
WELFARE
1. God has always been concerned for the needy poor, the weak and the oppressed. Exodus 22:21-27, Deuteronomy
15:11, 24:14,15.
2. Orphans and widows were especially concerns of the Lord from the beginning. Deuteronomy 10:18, Ezekiel 22:7.
3. Any violation of the trust of others with money was also a concern of the Lord. Exodus 22:26, Amos 2:8,
4. The needy poor of the land were to be cared for. Only the needy were to be cared for, as those who were able to work
should, and those with ability were expected to use it. Isaiah 1:23, 10:2, 3:14,15, Amos 4:1, 5:11, 8:4,6, Micah 2:2,8,9,
Zephaniah 3:1, Habakkuk 1:4, 2:10-15, Jeremiah 5:28, 7:6, Ezekiel 18:12,16, 22:29, Zechariah 7:10, Malachi 3:5.
5. The Lord addressed the poor and needy directly and met their needs, for food but more than that for focus on their
purpose in life. Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 4:18, 6:20.
The Lord recognised that there will always be people who are poor, that need will always exist within a fallen world and
that no attempt of man will change this. Matthew 26:11, Mark 14:7.
6. The early church during the time of greatest growth in Jerusalem adopted a dramatic welfare policy to deal with the
numbers being saved and the numbers of martyrs and their dependents who needed the church to care for them.
In Acts 4:32-37 tells us that many (not all or they would not have had a home to meet in) the church sold their worldly
wealth to ensure the work was not halted for lack of funds, or time to devote. It was a temporary measure and restricted
to Jerusalem but it helped the church get established and made sure that no-one starved at a time when there was great
expansion but also great persecution.
Because of the church's needs they were permanently poor and other churches had to help the Jerusalem church
throughout its history until 70AD. 1 Corinthians 16 : 3.
7. The churches cared for the poor and needy by regular giving, and through the office of the deacons who were the
social welfare officers for the assemblies. Romans 15:26, Galatians 2:10, James 2:2-7,
Relatives were expected to look after their own first. 1 Timothy 5:8,
If people could work they were expected to; such were not needy poor! 1 Thessalonians 2:9 -12, 2 Thessalonians 3:712.
WORK
1. Since the Fall, man has had to work for a living by the sweat of his. Genesis 3:17-19.
2. Our attitude to work as believers should, however, be an offering of praise to God. Romans 8:19-32, 1 Corinthians
10:31
3. Our attitude to work is witness to all. Workers are told to follow some simple guidelines to open the door for witness in
the work place - Titus 2:9,10.
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a) "Be Obedient" - The Greek verb hupotasso is the same one used for wives of their husbands, and involves
responsiveness to the will of the other. The believer is to be the best worker in the situation and is to be known as the
one who can be trusted to perform what is required.
b) "Not answering again" - Talking back, or "back chat" has always been a problem where authority is resented. Such
resentment is to have no place in the Christian's life as they are to see every situation they find themselves in as one
where they are called to show themselves servants of their master in heaven and live up to his standards and their high
calling as ambassadors of Christ.
c) "Not purloining" - It was always a temptation for slaves to steal, as they had been "stolen" and the only way to get
freedom was to buy it with money they saved. Paul's point here and elsewhere, was that freedom was not to be the goal,
rather service for the Lord. Freedom was not to come at any price! The believer was to pay taxes and to recognize others
wealth as the other person's property and not steal it, even if that other person was not "entitled to it". Ephesians 4:28.
d) "Showing good fidelity" - The Christian worker was to shew by all he or she did that they were trustworthy in all things.
e) "Adorn the doctrine of God" - Become a credit to the doctrine of God. The English word for cosmetics comes from the
word adorn. It means to decorate or present in a good light.
As men will take a second look at a woman who is well made up with cosmetics so Paul wanted the masters to take a
second look at slaves who served well and so hear what made them different from the rest, namely the gospel. 2
Corinthians 5:20.
These principles apply to all workers and managers in industry today.
4. Christian employers must be a just and fair. Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3: 22-4:1, 1 Timothy 6:1-8.
5. All Christians who can should be working for their living. If they are unable to work they will be able to do something
for the Lord, and such service should be supported by the church. 1 Thessalonians 3:10-12
6. Even Paul who ministered nearly full time, was a tent maker by day and a preacher and Bible teacher by night. 1
Corinthians 9:18, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12, 4:11-12
7. Paying the pastor is legitimate, following the principle of the oxen treading out the grain; it ate whatever it needed to
keep doing the job. 1 Corinthians 9:6-14, Galatians 6:6, Romans 15:27, Deuteronomy 25:4, 1 Timothy 5:17, 18.
8. Everything we do is to be looked upon as service to the Lord. Colossians 3:23.
NOTES
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CHAPTER 48
INTRODUCTION TO THE DEATHS OF JACOB AND JOSEPH
Towards the end of Genesis we find three chapters taken up with the death of Jacob and Joseph. This is more space
than for any deaths in scripture except the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, so we can be sure, even before we study
these chapters, that they are significant and carry vital truths for all time. In Chapter 49 Jacob says where he wants to be
buried and gives one of the great prophecies of the scriptures; that of the future of the twelve tribes who will descend
from his twelve sons. We have the prophetic future in this one chapter.
We see here the importance of the site of the burial of believers, and why, as far as is possible, that we select the place
for burial as a testimony of our faith. Jacob was buried with his father and grandfather as he wanted to be in their
company at the resurrection. When you are resurrected from the dead you are resurrected at the site of your burial, or
place of death, if the body was destroyed, and Jacob wanted to be with his family.
Pharaoh will lead an army to escort the body to it’s place of burial. Joseph closed his father's eyes and embalmed him,
and over a forty day period Egypt mourned the death of Jacob, such was his status as father of the second ruler of the
land. The escort through Canaan would have been something to see, and the kings of the land would have turned out to
pay their respects on the way, as all Canaan is now paying tribute to Egypt as a result of Joseph’s service to them
through the great famine.
Everybody in Egypt knew that he had died, giving a good testimony of what he stood for and believed. He could have
been buried in the Valley of the Kings, but he wants to go back to Canaan, to be buried in the cave with his father and
grandfather, because he believes he is to be raised from the dead. Every funeral should be such a testimony to the fact
of the resurrection of the believer, and that sure belief means that we want to select our company in the resurrection.
With the death of Jacob his other sons get concerned that Joseph is going to give them a hard time and sends a
message to Joseph that Jacob had said before he died that Joseph should forgive them for their trespasses. Joseph
wept when he saw this, for it showed that they had little understanding of his forgiveness, and his grace mental attitude.
Even though the brothers again said that they would be his slaves, he said for them not to worry, and that he would
protect and sustain both them and their little ones.
THE DEATH OF JOSEPH
Joseph lived until he was 110 years old and saw his sons to the third generation. When he was dying Joseph prophesied
to the Jewish people that God would protect them and take them out from the land. He gave them specific instructions
regarding his burial, “You are to take my bones with you”. They embalmed him and put him in a coffin in Egypt, but he
was not buried. His coffin became a testimony to his belief that one day they would leave the nation that had saved them.
Joseph’s coffin became their “gospel” tract to go to and look at and remember that they were leaving this nation one day,
and then they would take him with them. Joseph also would have been entitled to be buried with his Pharaoh, but selects
not to be. These men turned away from the blessing of man to the lasting blessing of God.
Genesis begins with a perfect man in the Garden of Eden and ends with a body in a coffin in Egypt, but this coffin is a
thing of hope. It became the Bible to the Jews and several generations of Jews were brought before the coffin and were
told, “that as God had brought us into Egypt so he will bring us out”.
The coffin represented, “God will visit us, we will not be here for ever”. God has not forgotten us even though we may be
in an area of great difficulty. We will be where he wants us to be if we remain in fellowship. When Moses went out of
Egypt, leading the army was the Coffin, in which were the bones of Joseph. It reminded them that when God says
something, he means it. In faith Joseph knew that he would go to Canaan for burial and resurrection, but allowed his
body to stay in Egypt as a testimony. His belief was, that what God says, he will do. Joseph was prepared to leave his
body unburied for four hundred years for his coffin to be a testimony and encouragement to his people.
Joseph will leave the site of his burial to his descendents. He does not request to be buried with his father, grand-father,
and great grand-father in the family tomb in what is now modern Hebron. He leaves it to his descendents, so that they
are free to bury him close by to where they will live in the land when they return. This was a good call on Joseph’s part,
for otherwise his body would have been buried in a place where his descendents could not have visited. As it was
Joshua decided that the place for Joseph’s burial was at Shechem where Jacob had purchased land as testimony that
his descendents would one day live there permanently and had built an altar there. Genesis 33:18-20. This grave is
outside modern Nablus. Joshua 24:32-33.
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GENESIS 48:1-22
“1 And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him
his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto
thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. 3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty
appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee
fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after
thee for an everlasting possession. 5 And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto
thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be
mine. 6 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their
brethren in their inheritance. 7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of
Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of
Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem. 8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? 9 And Joseph
said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray
thee, unto me, and I will bless them. 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And
he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had
not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed. 12 And Joseph brought them out from
between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in
his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought
them near unto him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the
younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which
fed me all my life long unto this day, 16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my
name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in
the midst of the earth. 17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it
displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. 18
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. 19
And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be
great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as
Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall
be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion
above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.
REFLECTION
Verses 1 – 2.
Things go on very normally for the remaining years of the great famine, and in the years
following the actions of Joseph bear incredible fruit in the land of Egypt, which prospers and grows in power and
influence as the land returns to full productivity after the seven years of fallow. The farmers return to their land, now
owned by pharaoh, but they pay only a twenty percentage tax on their crops for their rental tenure, and are able to return
and repair their houses, and they have all survived a famine that has killed hundreds of thousands else-where in Central
and Northern Africa.
One day Joseph hears that his father is ill unto death. When an old man has been around a long time there is the quiet
but unrealistic expectation that they will be around for ever. The survival of such a man as Jacob was a phenomenon in
the entire land. None had lived this long before in their land. Jacob was famous for his longevity, but even more as a
prophet of the God of Joseph who had saved them. Jacob was right when he had earlier spoken to Joseph about his
burial, for once it occurs things will happen fast, and he needs to know that his will is going to be followed by his son.
Joseph understands the urgency of the request to visit his father this time and rushes to travel to Goshen and see him.
He takes his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh with him, and when a servant tells old Israel that his son is there, the old
man strengthens himself and sits on the side of his bed to welcome his son and grandsons.
Verses 3 – 4.
Israel reminds Joseph that all that has happened and all that will happen is in accordance
with the plan of almighty God. As Israel grounds himself in the promises of God, just so he wants Joseph to ground
himself in the promises of almighty God. That central promise made to Israel, built upon those made to Abraham and
Isaac; that they would become a great people and inherit the land of Canaan for their descendents. Genesis 17:1ff, 8-13,
28:12-28, 35:9-19. Refer to the BTB studies, COVENANTS – ABRAHAMIC, PALESTINIAN below , JACOB –
PATRIARCH see page 14, JOSEPH – PLAN OF GOD seepage 15 , ISRAEL see page 111.
The most important point that old Israel makes, is that the entire plan of God is centred in the family that he has led into
Egypt and that Joseph has a key part to play into the future, as have his sons. All of God’s plan centres in Israel, and the
tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh will be the most numerous. Deuteronomy 32:8-9, Amos 9:14-15.
Verses 5 – 6.
Jacob now does something that must have surprised Joseph and the boys; he formally
adopts these boys as his own sons, on a par to the two oldest. It is a way of saying to them all that these two boys will be
the leaders of the people in numbers and will surpass the oldest two by far. Jacob then refers to other children of Joseph
as being “his” directly, but that these two boys are counted with the twelve tribes and become tribes in their own right in
place of Joseph.
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No tribe is named for Joseph, but two are added in his place as having inheritance in the land of Canaan. They will be
two of the twelve, with Joseph not counted, and Levi also set aside as the priestly family with no set aside land as their
inheritance, only cities to live in amongst the other tribes. This blessing of Israel will be acted upon by Joshua. Joshua
13:7-14, 14:1-5, Joshua 16-17. They will fail and fall into alcoholism and idolatry, but there is hope in salvation through
their return to the Lord, and this is the story of their history. Isaiah 11:13, 28:1-16, 43:1-7, Hosea 4:17, 13:1-12.
As old Israel blesses these two handsome, educated, and noble young men, there is hope and confidence for the future,
and that same hope and confidence will be there whenever their descendents were obedient to the Lord their God who
called them to follow him. Just so with us, there is blessing and confidence whenever we serve the Lord our God in
obedience and let the Holy Spirit make up for our flagging human energy. Praise the Lord alone, for in Him alone is our
strength. Exodus 15:2, Nehemiah 8:10, Psalms 28:7-8, 46:1, 62:7, Proverbs 10:29.
Verses 7 – 8.
As Israel does this he remembers Rachel, Joseph’s mother, and he honours her in the
naming of her two grand-sons as a double tribe. The great love Israel had for Rachel is recorded here, even though she
failed and was spiritually weak through her idolatry, she was loved and adored, as a wife should be by her husband.
Rachel may have died the Sin Unto Death for her unfaced sins, but she is still blessed in her posterity, and will be raised
to eternal life in joy, from Bethlehem where her body lies.
Israel remembers her and honours her, and Moses records her place of burial. She is buried in what will become
Bethlehem. She is not in the land that will be received by her grand-sons, but in the town that will be blessed by another
birth, that will end the sting of death forever. She dies in Bethlehem, but the one to be born there later will live, and his
mother will live, and all mankind will live because of him. Jesus will be born where Rachel died. Out of the curse of death
will come the blessing of eternal life. Ruth 4:11-14, 22, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58. Refer back to the BTB study on SIN
UNTO DEATH, but also to, CHRIST – FIRST AND SECOND ADVENTS, FIRSTBORN, VIRGIN BIRTH.
It is clear from Israel’s comment when he sees the two boys draw near to him that he has not seen the boys for some
time, also his eye sight is very bad now, and it may also be that he has some memory failure associated with the heart
failure that characterizes old age. As we get older we may forget some things or people, but once the memory is jogged
by a word or phrase, all comes back quickly and completely. Moses will comment further on this below. It is probably a
mix of these things, for as travel would be only for special occasions in this day, and several trips a year to Goshen
would have been all that Joseph and his boys would probably manage.
There is a modern myth that we need to be living in each other’s pockets to be a true family. This is not borne out by the
record of scripture here and elsewhere. As a ruler of a great nation Joseph has his time taken up daily with his duties,
and would have seen his father when he could. Grandparents did not necessarily have a great deal with do with their
older grand-children, much as today. Grandchildren love their grandparent’s company up until around puberty, and then
for a number of years will be busy with their own lives as teenagers, and only later will return to hear the stories of their
grandparents and share their fellowship again. This has happened here and it is normal, and there is no tragedy. Israel
does not need to be surrounded by family to feel good, for he is back in living fellowship with his Lord now. Our
challenge, if we are grandparents, is to be spiritually interesting people to fellowship with!
Verses 9 – 10.
Moses emphasizes that it is an eye sight problem that is the primary one in Jacob’s case. His
spiritual and mental faculties are good once he is told the boys names. He sits on the edge of the bed and brings the two
boys to him and kisses the boys and hugs them with love and joy. In these boys he probably sees himself as a young
man, and also in them he sees the answers to prayer of the Lord and the future hope of the people. His sole desire is to
bless these boys and pass on the spiritual mantle to them as future leaders in their own right. As God has given them to
Joseph, so he gives them back to God in blessing them, placing them firmly in the hand of the one who gave them. This
is the principle for us all; as we receive from the Lord so we bless the Lord and pass all we have back to Him. Moses will
do the same as Jacob does here at the end of his own life. Deuteronomy 33:1ff, Ephesians 3: 14-21, Hebrews 11:21-22.
Verses 11 – 12.
This is a tender moment indeed. The old man holds the boys and weeps as he tells Joseph
how he had despaired of ever seeing him again, and yet God in grace has given him the sight of Joseph’s sons also. Old
Israel praises God for the joy of seeing the promise of God fulfilled with his posterity numbering more than seventy in this
next generation, and he can see that his family will grow into a nation, just as God has promised. He glimpses the
fulfilment of the promise and rejoices in what he cannot see, but is assured of in the plan of God. Romans 8:24-28, 2
Corinthians 4:16-18, Ephesians 3:18-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 21, 1 Peter 1:6-11. Read each of these passages and you will
have a great meditation upon faith and praise from this incident for any Bible study.
Verses 13 – 15.
Joseph bows to the earth before his father. This prostration is exactly as you see in a mosque
in Moslem worship today. Joseph thereby honours his father and his boys do likewise. They are rulers of Egypt and
second only to pharaoh and his sons, but they honour the spiritual position of Jacob as the head of the promised nation
that will flow from them all. They recognize the promise of God and the Plan of God and in their worship before Israel,
they do not worship him, but all he stands for in the plan.
Old Israel has been a spiritual fool much of his life, for he has not been the spiritual giant he could have been in early
years, but he has grown in grace and knowledge of the Plan of God, and now he is the man he needs to be to leave this
earth in glory. Israel is a wonderful picture of God’s grace, and a reminder, as we have seen before, that it is never too
late in the plan of God to become who you need to be.
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Joseph brings the boys out from between Israel’s knees where they had been embraced, and now, having made his
prostration before his father, presents the boys formally for their blessing. He has his youngest son Ephraim on his right
hand (Israel’s left) and his oldest son Manasseh on his left (Israel’s right), ready for his father to simply place his hands
directly forward upon their heads to give their blessing according to the custom of oldest first. What Israel does surprises
Joseph, and the boys. He crosses his hands over, so that his right hand goes to Joseph’s right, to Ephraim as if he is the
oldest. Moses notes that he does it deliberately, and the three men realise that Israel is doing this for some purpose.
He then begins by blessing Joseph, while his hands are upon Joseph’s sons. He does this to indicate that the blessing of
Joseph is to be upon his sons, not upon himself. He recognizes that the blessing is all of grace, and not of any power
Jacob has had. Gone is the man who wrestled with the angel in the night, Genesis 32:24-32. He no longer fights God for
blessing, but sees that he has, from God’s abundant grace, received blessing, well above and beyond his desserts, and
it is all from God’s abundance, not as if wrestled out of God’s reluctance. Israel has now walked as his fathers walked
before the Lord and knows the God of Grace. Refer to the BTB studies, GRACE on page 99, FAITH on page 39,
CHRISTIAN LIFE: WALKING on page 12, and PRAYER below.
Verses 16 – 18.
Israel refers to the “angel” of the Lord who protected him. This is probably a general reference
to all the revelation he had received by way of the Angel of the Lord. Genesis 16:7-11, 28:15, 31:11-24. The one who
kept Israel is the one who still keeps his descendents, the Angel of JHWH; the Lord Jesus Christ. The day is coming
when all Israel living will recognize the one who has kept them and paid for their salvation, just as old Jacob here
recognizes him. Zechariah 12:10-14, 13:6. Joseph hears the blessing and then realises that the hands are, in his mind,
on the wrong heads. With this general blessing it isn’t that important, but if Israel gives a “birth-right” blessing, then it will
be important that his hand is on the right head. He tries to move his father’s hands. It is always a foolish thing to try to
move a father’s hands, for he is the one giving the blessing; we are simply the receivers. He knows best, and Joseph will
discover this.
Verses 19 – 22.
Old Israel tells Joseph that he isn’t as blind as Joseph may fear, and that his action in
crossing over his arms is a genuine case of prophetic gifting, not any mistake on his part. The younger son’s
descendents will outnumber the older one and a nation will be named after him. Ephraim will indeed become a great
nation and will form the heart of the Northern Kingdom from the 900s through until it’s destruction in 720 BC and the
deportation of the population.
In exile the northern people are either absorbed into the Assyrian masses, or for some of them, who remained true to
their identity, they later returned to the reborn nation Israel as a province of the Persian Empire under Joshua or Ezra. All
the northern tribe’s survivors who remained true to their faith were a part of the nation that the Lord came to and died for.
James 1:1. There are no “lost ten tribes”! God does not lose his people, nor does he replace them with others. We are
recipients of grace in the church today, with Israel set aside for a time, but they will be taken up again, and then all the
ten tribes will provide evangelists to reach the lost. Refer to the EBCWA commentaries on Romans 11, Revelation 7.
The younger will outgrow and rule over the older. In God’s plan it is not our natural birth that matters, but our being born
again and growing, through obedience to the Word of God, into the plan of God, in the power of God. Ephraim will fall
from their great height through their disobedience, but the hope of the scriptures is that they will rise again and glorify
God. No tribe will be missing when the Jewish people turn to and find their Messiah. Zechariah 12:10ff. Refer to the BTB
study PROPHECY – SEQUENCE OF END TIME EVENTS.
Old Israel is dying and he knows it. He is relaxed about that, for he rests in the grace and love of God. He blesses the
sons of Joseph. His thoughts as he dies are of others rather than of himself. Israel reminds Joseph that the Lord will
continue to be with him, for he walks in the plan of God for his life and the lives of the others. He will receive the double
portion of the blessing of the land and inherit far more than the other tribes will inherit of the land of Israel. When you look
at the allocation of the land under Joshua, you will see this clearly.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
Dying grace is the promise of the Lord to all who love him. Jacob dies in grace and blessing; his eyes fixed
upon the plan of God for his descendents. He has a glimpse of the greatness that is to come and rests in the
power of God to fulfil all that he has promised to his fore-fathers and himself.
Let us also rest upon the promises of God. It is our vital, living, spirit filled fellowship with the Lord our God that
prepares us for our eternal fellowship with the Lord. As we walk with the Lord so we die with the Lord; absent
from our body and face to face with our Lord. When we die, we see our Lord immediately, just as Stephen did.
We have God’s Word upon it. Acts 7:55ff. Refer to the BTB study DYING GRACE on page 94
2.
It is never too late to serve the Lord and worship his holy name in joy. At whatever age we find ourselves, it is
the right time to praise and glorify the Lord. If a person lives there is hope for them to win renown in their walk of
faith. Let us be preachers of hope, for in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, there is always hope and
power to walk for him.
3.
The Plan of God will work out eternally. We are to serve the Lord through obedience to the plan as it applies
into our own life. We are to walk in the filling of the Holy Spirit, so that we serve the Lord in truth and with
focused energy to achieve in his power and direction the things set aside for us to do. In God’s plan there is
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rest, power, and success, on the path of life. Let us walk forward today into whatever this day brings in
confidence that the Lord will bring us through. Let us sing the doxology as we go. Jude 24-25.
DOCTRINES
COVENANT: PALESTINIAN COVENANT
1. The Palestinian Covenant deals with the Jews controlling an area of land in the Middle East which was unconditionally
given to Abraham. It should be noted that the Jews have never possessed the land as specified, but will do so during the
Millennium. (Deuteronomy 30:1-9, Isaiah 11:10-12, Jeremiah 23:3-8, Ezekiel 37:21-25).
2. The Palestinian Covenant gives:
a) Dispersion for disobedience (v 1) (Deuteronomy 28:63-68).
b) The future repentance of Israel (v 2).
c) The return of the Lord (v 3) (Amos 9:9-14; Acts 15:14-17).
d) Restoration to the land (v 5) (Isaiah 11:11,12; Jeremiah 23:3-8; Ezekiel 37:21-25).
e) National conversion (v 6) (Romans 11:26-27; Joel 2:14-16).
f) Judgment of Israel's enemies (v 7) Joel 3:1 -8).
g) National prosperity (v 9) (Amos 9:11-15).
3. It is unconditional - God will fulfil it.
COVENANT: ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
1. Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3) founds the nation of Israel
2. It is confirmed with Abraham with emphasis on the land (Genesis 13:14-18), the spiritual seed (Genesis 15:1-6) and its
everlasting quality (Genesis 17:6-8).
3. It is an unconditional covenant - God will fulfil it. (God caused Abraham to fall asleep as He ratified the covenant alone
Genesis 15:12-18)
4. The seven-fold covenant (Genesis 12:1-3) is fulfilled as follows:a) PROMISE "And I will make of thee a great nation.
FULFILLMENT Jews (Genesis. 13:16; John 8:37), Arabs (Genesis. 17:20), In Christ (Romans 4:16-17, 9:7-8; Galatians
3:7,29).
b) PROMISE "I will bless thee".
FULFILLMENT To Abraham (Genesis 13:14-17, 15:18-21. 24:35), To believers in Christ (Genesis 15:6; John 8:56)
c) PROMISE "And make thy name great.
FULFILLMENT Abraham is renowned, not only in Christianity but also in Judaism and with the Moslems.
d) PROMISE "And thou shalt be a blessing.
FULFILLMENT With the work of fulfilment of Abraham's seed, Jesus Christ, he was a blessing. (Galatians 3:13,14).
e) PROMISE "And I will bless them that bless thee.
FULFILLMENT This is seen in the rise of many nations eg Britain in the 19th century, the rise of the USA.
f) PROMISE "And curse him that curseth thee.
FULFILLMENT The decline of nations such as the Spanish Empire after the Armada, the fall of Nazi Germany, the fall of
the Czars of Russia, the decline of Egypt at the Exodus. Scriptural examples:(Deuteronomy 30:7; Isaiah 14:1-2; Joel 3:18; Micah 5:7-9; Haggai 2:22; Zechariah 14. 1-3; Matthew 25:40-46).
g) PROMISE "In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
FULFILLMENT The whole world can be blessed through Jesus, the son of Abraham. (John 8:56-58; Galatians 3:16).
5. It is clear that the we should support the Jew as it is a sure means of enjoying divine blessing.
CHRIST: FIRST AND SECOND ADVENTS
1. Old Testament saints had difficulty in distinguishing between the two advents of Christ. (1 Peter 1:10,11)
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2. Old Testament prophecy has Christ coming as a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. (Isaiah 53:7)
3. Old Testament prophecy has Christ coming as the conquering King and Lion of the tribe of Judah. (Isaiah 11:1-12)
4. Jesus commenced his ministry announcing the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17) This connects the first
and second advents.
5. Old Testament Prophecy showed that the Messiah would:a) be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14)
b) be of the tribe of Judah. (Genesis 49:10)
c) be of the house of David. (Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 33:21)
d) die as a sacrifice. (Isaiah 53:1-12)
e) be crucified. (Psalm 22:1-21)
f) be resurrected from the dead. (Psalm 16:8-11)
g) return to earth at his second advent. (Zechariah 8:3)
h) be seated at the right hand of God. (Psalm 110:1)
6. It should be noted that the return of Christ for the Church (the Rapture) as given in (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18) was not
revealed in the Old Testament - it is a mystery doctrine of the Church (Colossians 3:4-6)
7. The day of the Second Advent is characterised by supernatural darkness
a) When Christ returns every eye shall see him (Matthew 24:29-30) Christ is the light of the world and he will return to a
world covered in darkness (symbolic of sin).
b) The darkness is similar to the darkness of the day of our Lord's crucifixion which hid the Lord Jesus Christ from man's
sight whilst he was bearing our sins. (Mark 15:33)
c) The Second Advent delivers the Jewish believers besieged in Jerusalem by the King of the North. (Daniel 11,
Zechariah 12:1-3, 14:1-4)
d) Other passages indicating that the day of the Second Advent is a day of total darkness on the earth. (Isaiah 13:9-10,
Ezekiel 32:7-8, Joel 2:10-11, Joel 3:14-15, Amos 5:18, Zechariah 14:6, Matthew 24:29-30, Luke 21:25-27, Revelation
6:12-17)
8. Heralds of the Two Advents of Christ
A herald is a person who preceded' a King in ancient times to announce his arrival. The King that we study is the Lord
Jesus Christ.
a) First Advent
i) Human herald - John the Baptist (Matthew 3)
ii) Angelic heralds - Angels (Luke 2:1-15)
b) Second Advent
i) Human heralds - Moses, Elijah (Revelation 11)
ii) Angelic herald - The mighty angel (Revelation 10)
CHRIST- FIRSTBORN
1. He is the firstborn of all Creation - Colossians 1:15, John 1:18, 1 John 4:12
2. He is called the firstborn of Mary. As such he is the elder of the household and as He is descended from David
through both of His genealogies he inherits the kingdom of David. Through Mary He has his title as Messiah - Matthew
1:25, Luke 2:7
3. The Lord is the firstborn of the Royal Family of God - Romans 8:29
4. He is the firstborn in resurrection, He is the first to be raised from the dead - Colossians 1:18, Hebrews 1:5,6
5. He is the first fruits of resurrection. - 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
6. The church is called the assembly of the firstborn. - Hebrews 12:23
CHRIST - VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
1. Jesus Christ had to be born of a virgin to fulfil prophecy. (Isaiah 7:1 4)
2. Jesus had to be born of a virgin to confirm the curse of Coniah. (Jeremiah 22:28-30)
a) Coniah was a believer but an evil king at the time of the Babylonian captivity.
b) Coniah is also in the direct line of Christ in Joseph's lineage from David (Matthew 1:6, 1:11, 1:16) through Solomon.
This is the Kingly line.
c) Mary was also in the direct line of Christ from David (Luke 3:23, Luke 3:31) through Nathan. In Luke 3:23 Joseph is
the son-in-law of Heli, Mary's father.
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d) Both lines, Solomon's and Nathan's meet in the person of Jesus Christ but by the virgin birth Coniah's line is cut off as
Joseph is the legal but not natural father of Jesus Christ.
3. Jesus had to be born of a virgin to not have the sin nature of Adam. The sin nature of man comes down through the
male. (1 Timothy 2:14)
a) Adam, as the head, was responsible for his wife.
b) Eve was deceived and sinned.
c) Adam made deliberate choice.
4. In order to be the God-Man Jesus had to be conceived of the Holy Spirit to Mary.
5. The virgin birth is therefore critical especially in the doctrine of Redemption, Imputation and Propitiation. NO virgin birth
- NO salvation.
CHRISTIAN LIFE: PRAYER
1. We may know the provision of God but we must communicate with Him in order to obtain this provision.
a) Prayer is the believer's means of communicating with God.
b) The Bible is God's way of communicating with man.
2. Promises Involving Prayer
a) Matthew 21:22 We should ask believing.
b) Matthew 18:19 The power of corporate prayer.
c) Psalm 116:1, 2 God is always available to hear our prayer.
d) Isaiah 65:24 God will answer while we are yet praying.
e) Matthew 7:7 We are commanded to pray.
f) John 14:13-14 We can ask for anything in His name.
g) Philippians 4:6 The prayer should be with thanksgiving.
h) 1 Thessalonians 5:17 We should pray without ceasing.
i) Hebrews 4:16 We can come boldly to the throne of Grace.
3. Prayer Divided into 4 Segments
a) Confession of sins (1 John 1:9)
b) Thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
c) Intercession for others (Ephesians 6:18)
d) Petitions for one's own needs (Hebrews 4:16)
4. Power of Prayer
a) Individual - Elijah and the burnt offering (1 Kings 18:36-39)
b) Corporate - the release of Peter from prison (Acts 12:1-18)
5. One Prayer that could not be Answered The prayer of our Lord on the Cross (Psalm 22:1-18)
6. To Whom are Prayers Addressed?
a) Directed to the Father - (Matthew 6:5-9)
b) In the name of the Son - (Hebrews 7:25)
c) In the power of the Spirit - (Romans 8:26-27)
The Son (Jesus) and Spirit are interceding for us.
7. Prayers can be Divided into Petition and Desire
a) Petition - What you ask God for (e.g. a new car).
b) Desire - The desire behind the petition (e.g. happiness because you have a new car).
8. Four Possible Combinations
a) Petition answered - Desire not answered. Psalm 106:15 - The quails of the Exodus generation. 1 Samuel 8:5 - A
King to reign over Israel.
b) Petition not answered - Desire answered. Genesis 18:23 - The preservation of Sodom. 2 Corinthians 12:7 - Removal
of the thorn in Paul's side.
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c) Petition answered - Desire answered. 1 Kings 18:36-37 - Elijah requests fire for the offering. Luke 23:42 -The
penitent thief's prayer. Type c) represents the perfect prayer.
d) Petition not answered - Desire not answered. Type d) unanswered prayer has 8 main reasons which are shown in
paragraph 9.
9. Reasons for Unanswered Prayer
a) Lack of belief (Matthew 21:22)
b) Selfishness (James 4:3)
c) Unconfessed sin (Psalm 66:18)
d) Lack of compassion (Proverbs 21:13)
e) Pride and self righteousness (Job 35:12-13)
f) Lack of filling of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18)
g) Lack of obedience (1 John 3:22)
h) Not in the Divine will (1 John 5:14)
Most of the reasons for unanswered prayer, is some form of sin in the life, which can be solved by confession of known
sins as per paragraph 3 a) under the concept of 1John 1:9.
10. Intercessory Prayer
a) This is one of the four factors in a prayer, which are:i) Confession of sins
ii) Thanksgiving
iii) Intercession
iv) Own needs.
b) The power of intercessory prayer is taught in (1 Kings 18:42-46) the principle being found in (James 5:16-18)
c) The power of prevailing prayer is shown in (Acts 12)
d) The prayer for the unbeliever (Romans 10:1)
e) Prayer for an unknown believer (Colossians 1:3-11)
f) Prayer for the known believer (Ephesians 1:15-23)
DEATH
1. In essence, death means "separation".
2. Types of death:
a) Physical death - is the separation of the soul from the body (Genesis 35:18).
b) Spiritual death - is separation from God, having no relationship with God (Ephesians 2:1,12, Genesis 2:17,3:8)
c) The second death - this is the Great White Throne judgment followed by the lake of fire for unbelievers - separation
from the presence of God, punished forever (Revelation 20:12-15, 21:8)
d) Positional death - Christians are identified with Jesus Christ in His death (separation from sin) and in His resurrection
(living in righteousness) Romans 6:3-14 Colossians 2:12-14
e) Sexual death - inability to procreate (Romans 4:17-21, Hebrews 11:11-12)
f) Operational death - faith without works is non operational (James 2:26)
g) Temporal death - a carnal believer, out of fellowship with God (Romans 8:6-8,13, Ephesians 5:14, 1 Timothy 5:6,
James 1:15, Revelation 3:1)
3. Reasons for death:
a) The work is finished. (John 19:30 cf Luke 23:46, 2 Timothy 4:7)
b) For the glory of God - martyrdom (John 21:19, Acts 7:55-60)
c) The sin unto death - extreme discipline for believers with hardened hearts against God (1 John 5:16)
d) Suicide - superimposing your will over God's will for your life (1 Samuel 31:4, Matthew 27:5
e) The unique death of Christ - committing His own spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46)
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PROPHECY: SEQUENCE OF END TIME EVENTS
1. Note: Some of the events in the Tribulation may occur in a slightly different sequence.
2. CHURCH AGE
a) Rapture of the Church (1 Corinthians 15:51-58, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
b) Judgment Seat of Christ (believers only - purpose is rewards) (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
3. TRIBULATION (first 3 1/2 years)
a) Revival of Roman Empire, Ten Nation Confederacy (Daniel 7:7, 24, Revelation 13:1, 17:3, 12, 13).
b) Rise of Middle East Dictator (Daniel 7:8, Revelation 13:1-8).
c) Temple rebuilt in Jerusalem
d) Seven seals judgments (Revelation 6:1ff) and seven trumpets judgments (Revelation 8:7ff).
e) Two witnesses preach from Jerusalem until killed.
f) Peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27).
g) World church established (Revelation 17:1-15).
h) Russia attacks Israel about four years before the second coming of Christ (Ezekiel 38, 39).
4. GREAT TRIBULATION (second 3 1/2 years)
a) Peace treaty with Israel broken
b) Antichrist sets up Abomination of Desolation and demands worship (Matthew 24:15,21).
c) World government, world economic system, world religion begins (Daniel 7:23, Revelation 13:5-8, 17:16, 17).
d) Seven bowl judgments (Revelation 16:2ff).
e) Martyrdom of many Tribulation Saints and Jews (Revelation 7:9-17, 13:15).
f) Catastrophic divine judgments poured out on the earth (Revelation 6:17).
g) World war breaks out in Middle East; battle of Armageddon (Daniel 11:40-45, Revelation 9:13-21, 16:12-16).
5. SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST
a) Second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:27-31, Revelation 19:11).
b) Tribulation surviving believers proceed into the Millennium (Matthew 3:12).
c) Unbelievers cast off the earth (Ezekiel 20:33-38, Matthew 3,12, 25:31-46, Jude 14, 15, Revelation 19:15-21, 20:1-4).
d) Satan bound (Revelation 20:1-3).
e) Resurrection of Old Testament saints and Tribulation martyrs (Revelation 20:4).
6. MILLENNIUM
a) Millennial kingdom begins (Revelation 20:5, 6).
b) Christ reigns on earth for 1,000 years in perfect environment and peace (Revelation 20:4-6).
c) Satan released at the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:7-9).
d) Rebellion of Gog and Magog at the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:7-10).
e) Resurrection of all unbelievers (Revelation 20:5a).
f) Great White Throne Judgment (unbelievers only - purpose is judgment) (Revelation 20:11-15).
7. ETERNITY
a) New heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem (Revelation 21, 22).
b) Believers blessed forever with Christ (Revelation 21 - 22:5).
c) Unbelievers punished forever with Satan (Matthew 25:41).
NOTES
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CHAPTER 49
GENESIS 49:1-15
1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall
befall you in the last days. 2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel
your father. 3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of
dignity, and the excellency of power: 4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy
father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. 5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of
cruelty are in their habitations. 6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour,
be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self will they digged down a wall. 7 Cursed be
their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in
Israel. 8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy
father's children shall bow down before thee. 9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up:
he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10 The sceptre shall not
depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of
the people be. 11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his
garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: 12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white
with milk. :13 Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border
shall be unto Zidon. 14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: 15 And he saw that rest
was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto
tribute.”
REFLECTION
Verses 1 – 2.
Having spoken blessing upon Joseph and his sons, and having already given the “double
portion blessing” to the sons of Joseph, old Jacob now requests that the other sons be brought in. it would probably be
that all the sons and grand-sons would have been there at this time. It was the passing of an era and so the importance
of the moment would have meant every member of the family would have been gathered together. The whole tribe of
Israel gathers, and he then makes it clear he is operating under prophetic gifting in what he is to say to them all.
His words will be directed towards the “last days” of their descendents, not to the immediate future. He uses the two
names for himself to underline both the carnal inheritance (Jacob like) they have with his Old Sin Nature passed on to
them all, with all the weaknesses he had, but also the spiritual (Israel like) inheritance they share through the grace of
God. They are “sons of Jacob”, but they also have Israel as their father. Just like ourselves, who are sons and daughters
of Adam, but our father is God through our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. Refer to the BTB study GOD – FATHERHOOD
OF GOD.
The reference to the “end times” by Israel is interesting, for it is the first reference to a time period that is identified by
later writers of scripture as beginning with the days of the Church Age. 1 John 2:18. John’s words make it clear that the
period Israel referred to had begun by John’s day, and it has continued now for 1900 years! We have been living in the
“last days” all through this period.
Why is it referred to this way? It is the last phase of history before the Lord’s return to establish his Kingdom upon the
earth. The prophecies of Israel here in Genesis refer to the ultimate destiny of the nation that bears his name, as they go
through Great Tribulation, and then come into their final inheritance under the Lord’s personal reign upon the earth, as
we will see when we get to the prophecy regarding Judah. Refer to the BTB studies on KINGDOM, KINGDOM –
MILLENNIAL KINGDOM below and PROPHECY – SEQUENCE OF END TIME EVENTS on page 129.
Balaam also prophecies into this same time period. Numbers 24:14ff. Moses also does the same. Deuteronomy 4:29-31,
31:29, 33:6-29. Isaiah then speaks of the “last days” also. Isaiah 2:2ff. The message of the prophets is that Israel will
come into it’s physical inheritance fully and finally as they enter their spiritual inheritance through repentance and living
the life of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. As they worship their God in truth, so they enter their inheritance in truth. Jeremiah
23:16-24, Daniel 2:27-30, 10:12-21, Micah 4:1ff, Zechariah 12:10-14, 14:1-9, 20-21. Old Jacob gets a glimpse of all
these things and shares this in his blessings and observations over his sons.
Verses 3 – 4.
Reuben was the oldest and by birth right had the leadership and the double portion, but both
were lost because of his unstable and sexually immoral character. He demonstrated his lust-ruled character when he had
sex with Bilhah, who was Jacob’s fourth wife. Genesis 35:21-22. Now the reason for this sexual transgression may have
been related to the death of Rachel, Bilhah’s mistress. Bilhah may only have been ten to fifteen years older than Reuben,
who was born first to Leah. It may be that she was so distressed by Rachel’s death that in the emotional vulnerability that
grief can bring she sought comfort with the young and handsome Reuben, and he took advantage of the opportunity. The
death of Rachel was certainly an emotionally fraught time for Jacob and in his grief based distraction Reuben stepped in
and had sex with Bilhah. It is a reminder to us all, that whatever the emotional vulnerability we are experiencing at any
time in our life, sexual immorality is sexual immorality, and before God it is wrong and an evil! It is a further reminder that
there are lasting consequences for some actions. Refer to the BTB study GOD: DIVINE INSTITUTIONS - MARRIAGE.
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Sexual immorality hinders or eliminates altogether the leadership potential of those who engage in it. The pastor-teacher
of the local church is to be a “one woman man”. He may have lost his first wife and be married to a second, but he must
have eyes for his own wife and not be tempted by other men’s wives. 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:5-9.
Sexual immorality joins the child of God to an evil that pollutes the body both physically and spiritually. Our bodies are
the Temples of the Holy Spirit and are not to be joined to idols, idol worshippers, or any person who is not our right
partner for this life. It is a sin that Paul urges the Corinthians to “flee from”. This means, to run as if their lives depended
upon it, because spiritually they do. 1 Corinthians 6:13-20, 10:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:3.
Moses saw the terrible results of immorality when 20,000 people are judged by God for this evil in one day during the
Exodus. Exodus 32:1-6, Numbers 25:1-9. Solomon spent several chapters of Proverbs warning his sons against sexual
temptations that he saw would destroy them, as they had destroyed much of his spiritual life. Solomon’s kingdom was
lost to rebellion and disaster after his death, because of his failure to follow through on his own advice. 1 Kings 11:1-10,
Proverbs 2:12-19, 5:3-23, 6:23-35, 7:5-27.
Notice the words old Israel uses for Reuben. As he was born he was his hope and his joy; his first child, and a strong
son, who grew powerful and looked good. He was his “might”; his strength, his substance, his wealth. As a boy this child
looked as if he would truly be the first born and the one to lead, but as he grew older other things emerged in his
character. He was an excellent specimen of dignity and majesty, and also of power. He was big and strong and looked
the part of a king, just as King Saul would later. He was a Hollywood style King, and had a fall of one. 1 Samuel 9:1-2.
Having spoken of his great strengths the old prophet then bluntly tells him of his fatal flaw. Like the heroes of
Shakespeare’s tragedies this man has a tragic fatal flaw. In a lesser man it would make him a nuisance and a problem to
his neighbours, for he would chase their wives. His weakness was sexual. He had an uncontrolled sexual appetite.
Now remember back to the observations we made about Jacob himself, for this boy has his father’s weaknesses, but
they are not controlled. We inherit our Old Sin Nature from our father, and this boy gets this weakness. All of us have
inherited our weaknesses towards sin from our parents, and all of them are different, and it is “unfair”; but we are to “get
over it” and take action to control what he have inherited! Our inheritance is the result of Adam’s sin, and that is why we
need a Saviour, and need to walk every moment in the power of the Holy Spirit. He is judged by God and man for what
he does with his weaknesses, just as we all are. Refer to the BTB study SIN: OLD SIN NATURE on page 18.
Old Israel tells him bluntly that he is as weak and unstable as water. As he feels passion he just lets it out and expresses
it. He lacks any sense of the need to control himself, and he has not fully dealt with this even at this late stage when he is
an older man, at least in his sixties, possibly in his seventies by this time. He never really got control of his passions and
so is unfit to lead the others. His sin with Bilhah may be forgiven, but it is a sin that reflects his weakness, and that
weakness cannot be forgiven, or ignored, for it is destructive. His sin was also a direct insult to his father, for he had sex
with his father’s wife on his father’s bed!
We must meditate upon this principle here ourselves, for while all confessed sin is forgiven, and people can be restored
to fellowship in a church, there are consequences for their future role in the church. When it comes to positions of
leadership, after immorality has been dealt with by confession and life change, that person is still unfit to be a leader of
the local church. Some would argue permanently, others at least until they are clearly and evidentially proven to be a
“one woman man”. Matthew 7:13-23, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 2 Corinthians 2:1-11.
The early church waited for at least seven years before allowing people who had committed adultery to even be a part of
worship services again. Sin had consequences in the area of trust, and this was identified as the key element for all
leadership; for if you cannot morally/sexually/financially trust a person, then they cannot lead!
Reuben has the fruit of evil in his life and he loses his double portion to Joseph’s sons, and his leadership role to Judah.
In the latter days of the nation the descendents of Reuben must make sure that they deal with this weakness, inherited
from their father, or those who fight then will be disabled just as their forefather was!
Verses 5 – 6.
The next two brothers have another weakness but it was equally devastating. They had anger
and rage to an extreme. They could not at times control their anger and they murdered men in their hatred of them.
Simeon and Levi will have strong roles in the family and they will lead the battle to avenge Dinah, but they have anger
that goes way beyond the bounds of justice at times.
Jacob reminds them of their murderous actions against the men of Shechem (Genesis 34:25ff) and possibly other events
not recorded by Moses in Genesis. We must remember that Moses has a great deal of written material and he edits and
condenses it into what we have before us. They were not just violent, but they were cruel as well. They didn’t just kill
those who crossed them; they made the condemned person suffer! This is not pleasant reading. Israel would have no
fellowship with them because of their cruel anger. He did not find them pleasant company, and he hated their mind set.
Old Israel wouldn’t even be seen in company with these two boys, and he didn’t want his honour tarnished by their
actions, nor did he want to be known by their actions. They had acted with wanton cruelty, killing the men of Shechem,
but also they “digged down a wall”; literally in the Hebrew, this means they hocked the oxen of the Shechemites, cutting
their Achilles tendons.
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They caused awful pain to animals, rendering them useless to men, and in pain until someone killed them. God cares for
animals and those who injure them thoughtlessly are under judgment. Matthew 10:29-31. This was a terrible thing to do
to animals. It shows the blind hatred of these men; their lust for vengeance on the men and even on their animals. It was
a great evil in God’s sight and they are judged for it and their descendents will have no share in the land of promise,
except as guests of the larger tribes.
Simeon will become the smallest of the tribes by the time of the Exodus. Numbers 26:14, while in Moses blessing in
Deuteronomy 33 they are not even mentioned. By the time of settlement of the land under Joshua they only receive a
few cities amongst the tribe of Judah. Joshua 19:1-9. By the days of 1 Chronicles 4:27 they have some increase in
numbers, but their strongest groups leave the Promised Land to search for cattle grazing land. 1 Chronicles 4:38-43.
Anger is a curse, and if uncontrolled produces a curse upon the angry person. Refer to the BTB study on ANGER.
Levi will be judged by deliberately being left out of any inheritance in the promised land. They will repent, and their
leadership in the Exodus will redeem them into a position of blessing, and they will become the priests of the nation
however. Moses was from this tribe. Exodus 2:1ff. Moses writes this curse upon his own ancestor carefully down. It is a
reminder to us that Moses was not himself going to have any inheritance in the land himself, for he was their leader, but
also of the priestly line, which his brother Aaron would head up for worship purposes.
Moses as a prophet and priest stands before the people to serve the Lord in caring for them. By his service he wipes
away the stain of his ancestor Levi, but as a tribe they will not have any inheritance in the land, either in the days of
Israel’s nationhood, nor in the millennial kingdom. They will serve the Lord however in the place of honour and hold holy
things. Sin does have a flow on effect, but there is hope if we serve the Lord and seek to do whatever is in our path to
honour God. As two brothers who were inseparable, the two men’s descendents will be scattered people, living amongst
their brethren. In the “latter days” of the Great Tribulation they must ensure that they are not guided by their anger, but by
their battle orders, for only then will they be controlled enough to be of use in the final battles.
Verses 8-10.
Judah is given a blessing and it centres in the one who will come from Judah’s line, the
Messiah, referred to here as “Shiloh”. Judah will be praised by their brethren and the others will look to them for
leadership eventually. As Joseph’s dream indicated in his generation that his brethren would bow to him, so this
prophecy tells Judah that all the descendents of Jacob will bow to his descendent, the Lord of all. They will begin this
process in bowing to David. 1 Samuel 16:1-7, 13, 2 Samuel 2:1ff.
The descendents of Judah will be victorious in the armies and they will rule the land for over five hundred years, from the
days of David through until his last corrupt descendents Jeconiah, and Zedekiah fell into the Babylonians hands and
were taken captive to Babylon. They would be the forefathers of the two lines of people that would lead to Mary and
Joseph, who would have the honour of being parents to the Messiah.
Judah’s symbol was and is the lion, and this is the image that the old man has of Judah. He was a man who had sexually
sinned also, but he faced his evil and confronted his weakness and resolved the problem. He became more and more
lion like through his life and he rules because of his strong character and nobility that comes from his self control and
honesty in facing his weaknesses. While he and his descendents act as the “lion of God” they are blessed, but when they
sin, and fail to confront their sin, the Lord will become a lion to them and tear them apart! Hosea 5:4, 14.
David, Solomon, and their descendents, will succeed or fail in direct proportion to their confrontation with the truth about
their nature, and their dealing with their Old Sin Nature sinful tendencies, by confession and spiritual growth. Judah will
overcome the tendency to depend on the flesh, and will find strength when he depends upon the power of God. So do
we! Psalms 18:43-50, 78:67-72, Philippian2 2:9-13.
Like the lion, Judah as a tribe will rise up in strength and grow to prominence through the centuries. Numbers 23:23-24.
The old prophet Israel, as Balaam later, draws the analogy of the lion growing in power, failing (stooping) at times, but
continuing to grow and develop, and then in it’s greatest age of strength and power lying down upon a mountain, the
picture of majesty and threat, and no-one dares come near to stir the lion up at this time. The day will come when all
threats to the rulership of the house of Judah/David will cease because the heir of that house will rule from the mountain
(Jerusalem) and none will dare raise rebellion any more. Daniel 9:24-29, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:6.
The rulership of the old lion is based on majesty and threat, but the rulership of Judah will be based upon the “willing
obedience” of the people who bow to the heir of Judah. This is the first direct reference to the one who comes as
Messiah, and his name here is given as Shiloh (While this word’s final meaning is “tranquil”, it’s origin and meaning at
this time of usage is unknown. My suspicion is that the name given here is the prophetic name for Messiah, meaning “the
one who will alone bring tranquillity to the earth and fulfil the Abrahamic Promise. The people will, after their conquest of
the land gather at a place they will call Shiloh, and there the Ark and Tabernacle will rest until the days of Eli).
He is the only one who gathers the people of earth together in peace. The symbol of rulership in the ancient Middle East
was the sceptre, or staff of authority, which the king held in his hand, it’s bottom resting between his feet when he sat
upon the throne to give judgment. 2 Samuel 7:8-16, Psalms 72:7-15, Isaiah 2:2-5, 11:1-13, 42:1-9, 49:1-9, 22-23, 55:3-7,
60:1-5, Zechariah 2:10-13, 8:20-23. Refer to the BTB study on NAMES OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, GOD – NAMES
AND TITLE OF GOD, NAMES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
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Verses 11 – 12.
The sceptre of rulership did not depart from the house of Judah, even when evil men
corrupted the kingship in it’s last days under Manasseh, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah. The evil men in the line of
David did not destroy this promise, for the true line was still there and through the remnant the grace plan of God still
flowed. The genealogy of Joseph, the adoptive father of the humanity of the Lord Jesus, is given in Matthew 1:1-17.
The writer specially identifies the group of kings who fell and led Judah into captivity in verse eleven. Jeremiah’s
prophecy needs to be read at that point in the text. Jeremiah 22:24-30. This line of kings through Solomon to Jeconiah is
under judgment for their sins and will not rule. The sceptre is taken from them, but it never leaves the true line, which is
leading to Mary, and to Jesus. Mary’s genealogy is given in Luke 3:23-38. This line goes from David through his son
Nathan, and then through the centuries to Mary. The sceptre never left this line after David, but it was never held by them
in hand, for it awaited the one who was fit to hold it permanently.
The images of these next verses are strange to our eyes and ears. Why mix the metaphors here with asses and grape
vines? What does it mean? To understand these verses we must ask one simple question; what did these symbols mean
in this day and age? The ass’s colt and the foal of the ass, were both the normal riding animals of the day. These men all
rode asses. Genesis 22:3, 42:26, 44:3. Kings in majesty or in war, and cavalry, rode horses or camels, but ordinary men,
and kings coming in peace rode asses or donkeys.
The vine became the symbol of the nation Israel itself. Jesus himself will use this symbol in John 15. If we take these
word pictures, the challenge to Judah is to come in peace to the mature vineyard of Israel. He is to tie his ass to the
mature grape vine; to live in the vineyard and care for it. He is to put aside violence and be a man of peace towards his
brethren and serve them. The rulership is that of the steward of the vineyard, not the conqueror of it. This is the picture
that the Lord builds upon in John 15. This is exactly what occurs with David’s ascension to the throne, for he comes to an
established nation and the Lord requires of him to care and protect the people and produce peace for them.
The next image is one that could be taken as of total carnage, in marked contrast to the tranquil image of the steward of
the vineyard with his ass tied to the mature grape vines. The grape is a symbol of prosperity, but also the treading of the
grapes, and the blood red soaked garments of the wine press symbolized judgment and death to the enemies of the
king. Isaiah 63:1-3, Zechariah 9:9, Revelation 19:11-16.
The question here is, does this symbol indicate judgment, or is it another way of illustrating the prosperity of the land that
Judah will inherit? His eyes are red; but are they red with anger, and the fire of judgment, or just with the reflected
redness of the great abundance of ripe grapes from the harvest? The clue to the correct interpretation here is the
reference to the whiteness of his teeth; his teeth are described as white as milk. This is a clear reference to health and
prosperity in this day and age. The rotting of the teeth is the first sign that there is famine or disease. Here the picture is
of robust health, with shining and healthy teeth.
White teeth are not an image to be associated with judgment. This picture then is the symbol of prosperity, and so the
grape press is not the press of wrath of the latter days of the Great Tribulation period, but the prosperity of the days of
Judah’s greatness under David and Solomon, but even more of the great prosperity of the land given to Judah under the
Messiah’s rule in the millennial kingdom. Refer to MILLENNIAL KINGDOM below.
There will be great judgment over Judah at various time, especially during the Great Tribulation period around
Jerusalem, but the blessing of Jacob here keeps the focus upon the prosperity there is when Judah is obedient to the call
of the Lord their God. It is also a reflection of the great prosperity of the land that Judah will inherit as a tribe. They are to
keep their focus upon the victory that is theirs in their Messiah, not the at times painful path to that victory. Messiah is
coming to deliver them, and they must see past the carnage of battle to the certain hope that is coming.
Verse 13.
Zebulun’s name means “dwelling”, and it is this that old Israel uses as his springboard to the
prophetic word about the portion of the land that will be theirs. Yet, when we see the land given to this tribe under
Joshua’s guidance, it does not appear to be in accordance with Israel’s blessing. They are by Israel’s word to be given
and dwell in the part of the land that is coastal and closest to the country of the Phoenicians; to the city of Sidon, yet this
land will be given by Joshua to Asher and Naphtali.
Zebulun’s land will be a “haven” for sea farers, who will find safety within his ports, and the prosperity that this will bring
will make them rich. Deuteronomy 33:18-19. They certainly gained from the trade of the coastal lands that flowed through
their portion, but there was no coastal land given them under Joshua. Joshua 19:10-16. This fact clearly indicates that
this prophecy in Genesis was recorded well before the days of Joshua, for the two do not apparently marry together, and
no scribe has attempted to make them do so.
Joshua knew this prophecy from Moses work, so why did he not grant them a coastal strip to ensure the prophecy was
fulfilled? The only answer to this issue may be found, either in our interpretation of the meaning of the prophecy, or
possibly in the Millennial Kingdom, where the tribe of Zebulun inherit a coastal strip on the Mediterranean whose
northern border faces, as all do, what was the Phoenician country. In the Millennial Kingdom the land controlled by Israel
will be far larger than that controlled by them at any time before, from the coast by the Orontes River in what is now
Syria, to the River of Egypt in the South. Ezekiel 48:1-35. This vast area will be the nation Israel in the Millennium. The
tribe of Zebulun in that Millennial period will however live further south than they did under Joshua’s division of the land,
in a strip of land, below the latitude of Jerusalem, so it is well away from what was Phoenicia.
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We are left with an apparent non-fulfilment of this blessing upon Zebulun, and that makes me feel we have a problem
with our interpretation or understanding of the words here, that may refer to the blessing of the sea ports/coastal lands,
flowing through his land rather than being upon the coast itself. We also need to remember that the blessing of Old Israel
applies most powerfully in the “latter days”, and may find it’s fulfilment during the Great Tribulation period where this tribe
may hold land in the northern coastal region, or cover and attack the enemy’s supplies routes that pass from the coast
through their land area. We will understand this prophetic word when we better see the story of history; from the other
side of it. Those of this tribe during the “later days” will be able to identify what the application is and take advantage of it
for victory over their enemy. Refer to the BTB study of the COVENANT – PALESTINIAN COVENANT on page 125.
Verses 14-15.
Issachar’s blessing is as interesting as the previous one in it’s meaning. One great
commentator says of this, “ease at the cost of liberty will be the characteristic of the tribe of Issachar”. They will prefer to
be prosperous to being free of tribute to powerful neighbours. Deuteronomy 33:18-19. They are pictured as a strong ass;
quite content to serve and work hard for the rewards that hard work brings. They will be distracted by prosperity and will
be content to feel and enjoy that richness in their land and goods, and happily pay tribute to their rulers, be they foreign
or local, in order to keep on feeling the joy of their land.
They would inherit under Joshua the fertile Jezreel Valley and the Lower Galilee with it’s fertile and rich pastoral lands.
They were called, as Israelites to bend and bow their neck in servitude to no-one, rather they were to rule over and
destroy the Canaanites of the land. Deuteronomy 20:15-20, Joshua 19:16-23. The book of Judges records the Song of
Deborah, Judges 5:12ff, and this records the great feats of prowess on the battle field of the first generation of warriors
that took the land given to them, but over time they relaxed and apparently grew fat and lazy. In latter days it may mean
they surrender quickly and are enslaved as workers for the enemy army that uses the Jezreel Valley as it’s staging place
for the move inland.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
It is said that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance against potential enemies. It is also true that the price of
liberty is the determined and habitual commitment to physical fitness and a mental attitude that befits a warrior
who values his freedom ahead of his ease. There is nothing wrong with enjoying prosperity and rest, as long as
you do not expect it to continue in this present world without real effort to maintain it. We live in a fallen world,
and those who seek the “easy life” will find it comes at a high price. If we forget that this present world is not yet
the Millennial Kingdom, then we will be enslaved by our own lusts, or we will become a slave to other people’s
desires. Let us remember Paul’s advice to Timothy, and keep a soldier’s fitness, a soldier’s mental attitudes,
and live powerfully and strongly in this present world, focused upon serving our Lord, not enjoying the “big
easy”. 2 Timothy 2:1-10, 11ff.
2.
Sexual sin is destructive of the person involved in it and all those around that person. Sexual immorality
destroys leadership potential and makes the man or woman who gives in to their temptations in this area unfit to
hold any leadership role. All of us are tempted to different sins, and none is worse than any other, but all are to
be dealt with, or they will destroy us, and lose us our potential in the Plan of God. Sin is to be faced and
eliminated as a driver in our life, or we will go no-where in leadership. We face and deal with our sin, or we face
disgrace and lose our leadership potential and our eternal rewards.
3.
Anger is as destructive as lusts of other kinds. The uncontrolled anger of the two brothers who led the murders
of the men of Shechem is characteristic of their lives and their cruelty leads to the near disappearance of one of
their lines of descendents. Anger is a great sin and leads always to great evil. Anger is very rarely “righteous”,
and when it is the decision making as to how it is to be expressed needs to be guided by Bible doctrine, never
the anger. Those who cannot control their anger cannot be leaders in God’s Plan. 1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7.
4.
We are to be the Lord’s Lions, in majesty, honour, Holy Spirit strength and power, and determined service to our
Lord. Judah reminds us that no matter what our past evils we can rise up to full potential if we repent and are
restored to full fellowship and service again. God seeks to move forward with us; all that stops this is our
disobedience and spiritual slackness.
5.
The rise to power of evil men and evil times does not stop the plan of God in it’s advance forward to the coming
of the Lord again. The plan is certain and the end secure. The only challenge to ourselves is to be a living part
of it through our obedient walk. Let us stand like Judah in his strength, in the truth of God’s Word and Plan, not
fall like him in his weakness and stay there in sin. Let us deal with our sins, not relax into them! It is in spirituality
that the greatest blessings of life reside.
DOCTRINES
GOD - FATHERHOOD OF GOD
Fatherhood comes in various concepts:-
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1. The Fatherhood over creation - Ephesians 3:14-15 - all beings have their origin in God. We get our life and very
existence from God. There is therefore a brotherhood in the creation. The liberals however take this a step further and
talk about the brotherhood of man and the universal Fatherhood of God which is a lie which is exposed by the Lord
Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ said that all men are not brothers but only become such in Christ. Even Satan was given his
life by God. There is no relationship in the Father creatorship combination.
2. Fatherhood by intimate relationship which is the concept of the relationship between God and Israel. In Exodus 4:22
Israel is my son - this is my firstborn. This is more than God saying that He is their creator but it is less than saying that
they are regenerated. In the New Testament it says that all Israel is not Israel. There is however a relationship between
the Father and Israel, a care for Israel. He preserves the nation. In the Bible the word father is used a large number of
times in relation to the relationship between God and Israel. However only a few Jews were regenerated.
3. A specific relationship between the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ - Ephesians 1:3. The first specific revelation of
the New Testament is that God the Father is the father of the Lord Jesus Christ. It also shows without any doubt the deity
of the Lord Jesus Christ by His attributes and His works. The words father and son are used in the New Testament to
show the intimacy of the relationship between God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ with out fulfilling all the
relationships which would be true of a human relationship of Father and Son. This was the error of the Arian theologians
who said that he was a son of God but not equal with God.
4. The second person has been the Son from eternity past. For eternity there has been this close relationship between
the Father and the Son. In Isaiah 9:6 it shows that a child is born but a son is given. The baby was born but the Son was
given as the Son had existed forever. What they are saying is that you think of the most noble father and the best
possible son and the love between those two and you get a small glimpse of the relationship between the Father and the
Son.
5. The Father of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6-7)
a) Only in Christ do we become brothers. (Galatians 3:27-29) This is the result of the Holy Spirit who baptizes us into the
body of Christ and makes us a new creation in Him. (1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:5)
b) God is not the spiritual father of the unregenerate man, they are His creation but not His children. (John 14:6) Before
salvation we were sons of our sinful nature. (John 8:42-47, Ephesians 2:19)
6. In summary therefore
[a] The Son of God is said to have been begotten of the Father - Psalm 2:7, John 1:14, 18, 3:16,18 1 John 4:9
[b] The Father acknowledged the Lord Jesus Christ as His Son - Matthew 3:17, 17:5, Luke 9:35
[c] The Father is acknowledged by the Son - Matthew 11:27, 26:63-64, Luke 22:29, John 8:16-29, 33-44, 17:1 The Son is
subject to the Father's plan but it should be remembered that the plan had been a joint plan when it was conceived with
its recognition of role and responsibility.
[d] The fact that God the Father is acknowledged by men to be the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ - Matthew 16:16,
Mark 15:39, John 1:34, 49, Acts 3:13
[e] The Son acknowledges the Father by being subject to Him - John 8:29,49
[f] Even the demons recognise this relationship between the Father and the Son - Matthew 8:29 Satan's eternal
damnation relies on this relationship and its permanency
7. Before salvation all members of the human race were "sold under sin", we were strangers before God, not sons.
Romans 7:14, Ephesians 2:19. Spiritually we were dead, we had no relationship with God other than creatures to the
creator we did not recognize Ephesians 2:1
8. Before salvation we were all of different races, the only brotherhood we can ever have is in Christ. Galatians 3:27-29.
9. Salvation alone makes us children of God. Before we were slaves of sin, sons of our old sin nature, children of
rebellion. Ephesians 2:19, John 8:42-47, 1John 3:10-15.
10. Only God can make us his children, for only God has that power. John 1:12,13. We are either 'born-again', born from
above or we remain spiritually dead, children of Satan, John 3:3,6,36.
11. Unbelievers cannot and will not see this unique relationship. 1John 3:1, 1 Corinthians 1:18. As sons of rebellion they
believe their father’s lie i.e. the universal fatherhood of God and universal brotherhood of man (both of which are false
concepts). John 8:44. This lie perpetrates the idea that God is a “soft-touch” and will not judge man for their sin, but all
will be well in the end. This is declared false by God in his word.
12. Believers sonship guarantees heirship, eternal life and fellowship for them. 1 John 3:2,3, Romans 8:16-18.
13. The Holy Spirit is God’s down payment on the believer’s inheritance - the assurance of more to come, Ephesians
1:14.
14. Believers are heirs of eternal life through relationship with God in Christ John 8:35, 51.
a. receiving rewards: Colossians 3:24,25, 2 John 8, 1 Corinthians 3:8 and,
b. receiving a resurrection body. 1 Corinthians 15:50-54.
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15. The source of our confidence is based in the Lords resurrection. He is therefore our "lively hope", 1 Peter 1:3-5. He
can be depended upon to meet all needs for we will be with him forever. John 14:1-4.
GOD: NAMES AND TITLES OF GOD
1. Father, Son and Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19,20. These titles emphasise the function of each member of the Trinity.
a) Father - the sovereign authority, who decreed the plan of salvation
b) Son - the obedient Son, who offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin according to the Father's will
c) Holy Spirit - the one who reveals the Son to mankind, thereby bringing honour and glory to Him
2. At the Lord's Baptism - Matthew 3 where the Spirit descends, the Father speaking from heaven and the Son being
baptised.
3. We have the Father sending the Son in John 3:16, in John 14-17 we have the Son sending the Spirit.
4. We have the three fold titles of God Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 1, Romans 15
5. The Holy Spirit is called God in Acts 5, 1 Corinthians 3 and called the Lord in 2 Corinthians 3:17.
6. The works of the Lord are ascribed to the Father John 17, the Holy Spirit responsible for the procreation of the Son
Luke 1:35, 2:11; the Son doing the will of the Father John 8, 10, the Holy Spirit sustaining the Son. Matthew 18:28, John
3:34
7. The Trinity are involved in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in the first advent. The death of the Lord Jesus Christ
is the co operative work of the Trinity, the Father gives the son Romans 8:32, the Lord lays down his life John 10:18, the
Holy Spirit empowers Him to offer Himself on the Cross Hebrews 9. On the Cross He addresses the other two members
of the Trinity when He cried out "My God, My God why has thou forgotten me?"
8. All three were involved in the resurrection
[a] the Father - Colossians 2:12
[b] the Son as the person who was raised - John 2:19, 10:18, 1 Peter 3:18
[c] The Holy Spirit was involved in His resurrection - Romans 8:11 The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit will be involved in
our resurrection.
9. The indwelling of the believer - John 14:23, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 6:19, we have the
power in us - Ephesians 4:6, the Lord in us - Colossians 1:27
GOD - NAMES OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
God reveals Himself and His character by His names.
1. EL - The strong one (singular) - 2 Samuel 22:33
2. EL ELYON - The most high God - Genesis 14:18-22
3. EL OLAM - The everlasting God - Genesis 21:33
4. EL SHADDAI -The almighty one - Genesis 17:1
5. ELOHIM - The all powerful one. (plural) - Genesis 1:1
6. JEHOVAH - The self-existent one - I AM Exodus 3:14
7. JEHOVAH-ELOHIM - Lord God, Creator - Genesis 2:4
8. JEHOVAH-JIREH - Jehovah will provide - Genesis 22:13, 14
9. JEHOVAH -NISSI - Jehovah is my banner - Exodus 17:15
10. JEHOVAH-RAAH - Jehovah is my Shepherd - Psalm 23:1
11. JEHOVAH-RAPHA - Jehovah that Heals - Exodus 15:25, 26
12. JEHOVAH-SABOATH - Lord of hosts - Psalm 46:7, 11
13. JEHOVAH-SHALOM - Jehovah is peace - Judges 6:24
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14. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH - Jehovah is there - Ezekiel 48:35
15. JEHOVAH TSID KENU- Jehovah our righteousness - Jeremiah 33:16
KINGDOM
1. The Kingdom of Heaven is distinguished from the Kingdom of God.
a) Kingdom of Heaven
i) The Kingdom of Heaven will be the visible future Kingdom of the Lord on the earth. (Luke 1:31-33)
ii) Entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, includes those physically alive going into the Millennium. (Matthew
13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50)
b) Kingdom of God
i) The Kingdom of God is spiritual (John 3:3, Romans 14:17, Luke 17:20)
ii) Entrance into the Kingdom of God is through regeneration. (John 3:3-7)
iii) The Kingdom of God covers the divine authority over all creation for all time. (Luke 13:28, 29, Hebrews
12:22, 23)
2. The King was born as prophesied of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14 cf Matthew 1:18-25) and in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2 cf
Matthew 2:1)
3. The Kingdom was announced as at hand (Matthew 4:17) but was rejected by the Jews both from a moral (Matthew
11:20) and official viewpoint (Matthew 21:42-43). As a result the King was crowned with thorns.
4. Afterwards He announced His purpose to build His church. (Matthew 16:18)
5. The mysteries of the Church and the Kingdom of Heaven were seen as concurrent - they both refer to the spiritual
kingdom. (Ephesians 3:9-11)
6. When He returns at the second advent, the Lord Jesus Christ will establish the Kingdom for 1000 years before eternity
resumes. (Matthew 24:27-30, Luke 1:31-33, Acts 15:14-17, Revelation 20:1-10)
7. At the end of the Millennium, Jesus Christ will deliver up the Kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28)
. The eternal throne is of God and the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1)
KINGDOM: MILLENNIAL KINGDOM
1. "Thy will be done on earth, " will be fulfilled in the Millennium. (Matthew 6:10)
2. The Kingdom is the Millennium, the first 1,000 years of Jesus' eternal reign. It will be after the second advent, on the
old earth. (Revelation 20:4-6)
a) Promised (2 Samuel 7:8-17, Psalm 89:20-33)
b) Prophesied (Isaiah 2:1-5, 2:11, 12, 35, 55, 56, 62:11)
c) Presented (Matthew, Mark, Luke ) Israel, not the church)
d) Postponed Epistles of New Testament (for church age)
e) Proclaimed (Revelation 10) (Angelic herald) (Revelation 11:1-1 4) (Human heralds)
f) Plagiarized (Revelation 13)
g) Perfected (Revelation 11:15-19)
3. Issues relating to the Kingdom
a) The Character of God - will He keep His word to Israel? Yes. Jesus Christ will reign.
b) Unconditional Covenant - will He keep Covenant? Yes. Abrahamic, Palestinian, Davidic, New - all fulfilled in the
Millennium.
c) Dispersion of Israel - will He recover them again? Yes. At the second advent.
d) Advent - will He return to earth at the worst period in history? Yes. At the end of the Tribulation.
e) Millennial - The Kingdom of Jesus Christ is eternal, why the emphasis on the first 1,000 years? Jesus will do what
Satan has been trying to do for 6,000 years; He will create perfect environment in an instant, as a demonstration to prove
that perfect environment is not the answer; regeneration is.
4. Principles from Micah 4:1-8
a) The Kingdom will be supreme. (Micah 4:1)
b) The Kingdom will be universal. (Micah 4:2)
c) The Kingdom will be peaceful. (Micah 4:3)
d) The Kingdom will secure universal prosperity.(Micah 4:4-5)
e) The nation of Israel ruled by the Lord for the Kingdom. (Micah 4:6-8)
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GOD: DIVINE INSTITUTIONS - MARRIAGE
1. Man and angels have personality but only men and animals have "nephesh" and experience physical death. Angels do
not die because they are spirits.
2. Marriage requires both personality and life, therefore it is only applicable to man. There is no marriage in the angelic
realm. (Matthew 22:30)
3. Definition:- the personal relationship between a male and female member of the human race which typifies the saving
relationship between Christ and believers.
4. God's instruction - "Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish and
the fowl and every living thing". This shows that man should subdue and have dominion over the animal kingdom.
5. If God was a solitary personality there would be no divine example of relationships, however with the three
personalities in the Godhead relationships are demonstrated. He is a personal God and we can therefore have a
relationship with him.
6. Marriage typifies the relationship between Christ and the church.
a) in the form of grace and faith (Ephesians 5:22), the word submit meaning to fall into line to the law of God which the
carnal mind cannot do. (Romans 8:7; 10:3)
b) you submit yourself by an act of freewill.
c) a family can strain marriage relationships if they are not submissive. (Romans 13:1,5)
7. Grace is typified by the male and faith by the female. If this pattern is not adhered to it results in misery and suffering.
8. Grace and the man.
a) the man is in the role of an initiator.
b) the man provides information to which the woman can respond but must not coerce her free will.
c) the man has to show his character to the woman.
d) the man has to be patient, a form of grace.
9. Faith and the woman.
a) the woman is in the role of a responder.
b) the woman makes the choice of her free will.
c) she is the one who uses faith.
d) the woman needs time to grow.
10. Glory revealed.
a) The glory of God is shown in the man in the form of a changed life through regeneration.
b) The glory of the man is shown in the woman by changes in the woman.
11. Compatibility.
a) The important area of compatibility is that in the spiritual realm as one can be psychologically compatible with many
people.
b) Spiritual compatibility is indicated by the phrase "one flesh" and is a picture of the union of Christ and the church.
12. Satan will attempt to blur the differences between man and woman and cause role reversals. The degree to which
this occurs reflects the level of decadence in a society.
13. Legitimate reasons for the termination of marriage :a) the death of one of the partners.
b) the desertion of a believer by an unbelieving spouse where one of the two partners has become a Christian after
marriage. (1 Corinthians 7:10-16)
c) inappropriate marriage partners such as close relations as specified in (Leviticus 18).
d) adultery or fornication as this causes the destruction of the one flesh principle by forming another one flesh. (Matthew
5:32; 19:9)
ANGER
1. The explosion of uncontrolled anger is always wrong. Titus 1:7.
2. Exploding does not solve the problem. Only a fool gives way to anger. Proverbs 29:11, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs
15:28.
3. Anger in itself isn't necessarily wrong. There are some things that we should be angry at, like injustice, evil, sin, etc.
God is righteously angry at sin constantly. Psalms 7:11, John 2:17, Mark 3:5.
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4. We should learn to deal with anger without sin getting hold of us. Ephesians 4:26. Anger must be examined, analysed,
and dealt with properly so that what caused the anger is being faced and solved.
5. Any anger that has no legitimate source in righteousness must be confessed in accordance with 1 John 1:9 as the sin
it is.
6. If the anger has a legitimate source (namely, it is anger at something that God hates also), then the believer is faced
with the task of working out what God would have him/her do to follow God's prescription to face the issue.
CHRIST: - NAMES OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
1. LORD - kurios - emphasises the authority of God. This is His divine title - it emphasises His deity.
2. JESUS = Joshua = Jehovah Saves. This is His human name - it emphasises His humanity.
3. CHRIST = Messiah = The Chosen One. This is His calling - it emphasises His purpose.
4. It is respectful and accurate to refer to Him by His full title: the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. SON OF GOD which emphasises deity - John 5:18, 10:33
6. SON OF MAN which emphasises humanity. He calls himself this 30 times in Matthew, 15 in Mark, 25 in Luke and 12
in John.
7. SON OF DAVID - He is King of the Jews on the throne of David forever.
8. THE LAST ADAM (1 Corinthians 15:45)
9. ADVOCATE (1 John 2:1)
10. AMEN (Revelation 3:14)
11. BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD (Revelation 3:14)
12. BRANCH (Zechariah 3:8, 6:12)
13. BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR (Revelation 22:16)
14. CORNERSTONE (1 Peter 2:6)
15. DAVID THE KING (Jeremiah 30:9, Hosea 3:5)
16. DAY SPRING (Luke 1:78)
17. DELIVERER (Romans 11:26)
18. ELOHIM (Isaiah 40:3, 9:6,7, John 20:28, Titus 1:3, 2:13, Romans 15:6, Ephesians 1:3, 5:5,20, 2 Peter 1:1, 1 John
5:20,, Romans 9:5
19. EMMANUEL God with us - (Matthew 1:23)
20. THE FAITHFUL AND TRUE - Revelation 19
21. FIRST AND LAST (Revelation 1:8, 17)
22. FIRST BEGOTTEN FROM THE DEAD (Revelation 1:5)
23. HIGH PRIEST (Hebrews 5:1,5)
24. HOLY ONE (Luke 4:34, Acts 3:14)
25. IMAGE OF GOD (2 Corinthians 4:4)
26. JEHOVAH - Zechariah 12:10, Jeremiah 23:5,6, Psalm 68:18, Ephesians 4:8-10, Psalm 102:12, Hebrews 1:10ff,
Revelation 1-22, Malachi 3:1
27. JUST ONE (Acts 3:14, 7:52)
28. KING OF ISRAEL (John 1:49)
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29. KING OF THE JEWS (Matthew 2:2)
30. KING OF KINGS (Revelation 17:14)
31. LAMB OF GOD (John 1:29, Revelation 5:6)
32. LIGHT TRUE (John 1:8, 9)
33. LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH (Revelation 5:5)
34. LORD (John 20:28)
35. LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 17:14)
36. LORD OF GLORY (1 Corinthians 2:8)
37. LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 23:6)
38. MAKER AND PRESERVER OF ALL THINGS (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16)
39. MEDIATOR (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 12:24)
40. MESSIAH (John 1:41)
41. NAZARENE (Matthew 2:23)
42. PASSOVER (OUR) (1 Corinthians 5:7)
43. PRINCE OF LIFE (Acts 3:15)
44. PRINCE OF PEACE (Isaiah 9:6)
45. PROPHET (Deuteronomy 18:18, Luke 24:19)
46. REDEEMER (Job 19:25)
47. ROOT OF DAVID (Revelation 5:5, 22:16)
48. RULER OF ISRAEL (Micah 5:2)
49. SAVIOUR (Luke 2:11, Acts 5:31)
50. SHEPHERD (John 10:11, Hebrews 13:20)
51. SHILOH (Genesis 49:10)
52. SON OF GOD (Matthew 3:17, Luke 1:32)
53. SON ONLY BEGOTTEN (John 1:1 4, 18;
54. SON OF MAN (Matthew 8:20, John 1:5 1)
55. SON OF DAVID (Matthew 9:27, 21:9)
56. STAR AND SCEPTRE (Numbers 24:17)
57. WAY TRUTH AND LIFE (John 14:6)
58. WITNESS FAITHFUL (Revelation 1:5)
59. WORD (John 1:1, Revelation 19:13)
GENESIS 49:16-33
“16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in
the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. 18 I have waited for thy salvation, O
LORD. 19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. 20 Out of Asher his bread shall
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be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. 21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. 22 Joseph is a
fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: 23 The archers have sorely
grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were
made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) :25
Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of
heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: 26 The
blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the
everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate
from his brethren. 27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he
shall divide the spoil. 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them,
and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. :29 And he charged them, and said
unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron
the Hittite, 30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which
Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place. 31 There they buried
Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. 32 The
purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. :33 And when Jacob had
made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was
gathered unto his people.”
REFLECTION
Verses 16 – 18.
The tribe of Dan descends from a servant, but their nobility and bravery will be equal to all
and superior to most. They will be judges of their nation, and will provide those who are wise to judge the other tribes.
This is taken by many commentators to refer to the judge Samson, who comes from this tribe, but we must keep
remembering the words of old Israel that began this section of blessings, or better, prophetic words. Verse One. These
words refer to the time of “Jacob’s Trouble”, the Great Tribulation, and beyond it into the Millennial Kingdom. So while
these words may be prophetic regarding the days of the judges also, their main application is in “latter days”.
The tribe of Dan will inherit parts of the land that will be heavily invaded through the centuries, but will be especially the
focus of attack during the Great Tribulation period. These verses give them their technique for dealing with overwhelming
forces; they are to adopt guerrilla warfare tactics and strike at the heels of their opponents, for then even the smallest
groups can defeat and disorient the larger forces they will face. The image is that of the sand serpent, or “arrow snake”,
that lies perfectly still on open and semi open ground and waits for a prey to pass, and then strikes fast into the heel of
the animal or person.
People do not look down but around for danger and so they fail to notice the hidden menace under their feet and their
heel is bitten and they die. The tribe of Dan will utilize this tactic in the latter days, hiding their troops in dug outs so that
they can hit the superior numbers of the enemy forces from hiding, strike fast, and then disappear equally fast into
hidden cover under ground, ready to strike again and again. Deuteronomy 33:22, Judges 13:1 – 16:31,
The prophetic word ends with a prayer for deliverance. The earliest Jewish Commentators in the Jerusalem Targum said
of this verse, that it had messianic application. “Not for the deliverance of Gideon, the son of Joash, does my soul wait,
for that is temporary; and not for the redemption of Samson does my soul wait, for that is transitory; but for the
redemption of Messiah, the Son of David, which Thou through thy word has promised to try thy people, the children of
Israel; for this, Thy redemption, my soul waits.” They saw that it applied to the “latter days”, when Messiah would come to
deliver the people as they fought in the land against the invaders that swarm through it in that last great battle against the
Jewish people. Refer to the BTB studies, TRIBULATION SIGNS, TRIBULATION IN MATTHEW 24, JUDGMENTS IN
REVELATION, PROPHECY – SEQUENCE OF END TIME EVENTS on page 129
The prophetic word ends with this prayer for the Lord’s deliverance in his grace and mercy, as do many of the Psalms
later; for it is these Psalms that will be the prayers of the people in these very latter days. Psalms 14:7, 25:6-7, 40:1-2,
62:1-6, 85:4-13, 119:41-45, 166-176, 123:1-2, 130:1-8.
All Israel will sing these Psalms in the later days, as they wait for the Lord’s return, and they will remember the promises
made through Jacob and apply them into the battle field of their day. Zechariah 12:10-14:5. Two thirds of the population
of Israel will be killed in the battles, but the surviving third will be brought through the fire to see the Lord’s return in glory
to the Mount of Olives. The prophet Isaiah is also given prophetic words to encourage the fighters of that terrible day,
and his words will encourage the people and give them solid promises to apply in the midst of the battles. Isaiah 1:24-27,
8:17, 25:7-9, 26:1-6, 30:18-21, 33:2-10. Read through these Psalms and the passages from Isaiah in order, and then
your heart will sing as the fighters of that future day will sing, as they await the Lord’s final and full deliverance.
Verse 19.
Of the tribe of Gad the prophetic word is short, but like Dan, gives them their battle tactic for
the latter days. Their task is to “press” their enemy from their rear. They will be overcome and overwhelmed by the
numbers of the enemy forces, but they will circle around the superior forces and attack, like lions, from the rear and
discomfort their enemies and they will survive to rejoice in the final victory. 1 Chronicles 5:18ff, 12:8-15. They will fight
like lions and operate with the swiftness of the deer; both traits being needed in the final phases of the Battle of
Armageddon which is the term used to describe the final phase of the attack upon the land by the Western forces in the
last days of the Great Tribulation.
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Verse 20.
Asher receives an altogether different prophetic word. He will dip his bread in olive oil, and he
will produce from his land royal foods, fit for king’s tables. Deuteronomy 33:24-25. The land given to Asher was the lower
slopes of Mount Carmel, stretching northwards to Tyre. Joshua 19:24-31.
This area is now in the Lebanon, but will return to Israel’s control under the Lord again. It was briefly under their control in
the battles of the latter years of the twentieth century, but lost again. In the days of Solomon this land did produce the
dainties for the tables of King Hiram of Tyre, Solomon’s great friend and ally. It will again be a place of blessing for Israel,
and will again be under the control of Asher. Ezekiel 48:2.
Verse 21.
Naphtali is given it’s word next. This also is a clear instruction given to the forces of Naphtali
in their latter days, and it parallels their strengths in the days of Joshua. Their forces are to be fast moving and swift in
attack and withdrawal, not pinned down in dug outs, but free moving across the land, to hit the enemy and move on
quickly. They are compared to the deer. 2 Samuel 2:18, 1 Chronicles 12:8, Psalms 18:32-33, Habakkuk 3:18-19.
Verse 22 – 24.
The family of Joseph is compared to a fruitful tree by a deep well, with it’s fruit overflowing
and shading the well. The image is of cool, fresh water, with the fruits of the land hanging in rich bunches above the
water. It is the strongest possible picture of prosperity, but linked to it is the military prowess and power of the sons of
Joseph.
Unlike the cut and thrust battles of the previous tribes, the tribe of Joseph is more besieged and responding to siege,
than able to move about and manoeuvre to make darting attacks. Their strength is to keep on firing their arrows at range
and keep the enemy pinned down. Those in the area controlled by the tribes of Joseph are thereby given their battle
orders for the last battle; they are to lay down supplies of artillery, mortars and guns of all sorts, for their survival depends
on pinning down their attackers, and returning their fire with courage and accuracy. They are simply to hold out until the
end, by sheer accuracy of fire power, and courage.
They are to be encouraged that the Lord will uphold them in their fight, and the verses above from the Psalms and Isaiah
are to strengthen their hands until Messiah comes. We are reminded that sheer malice will drive the attackers from the
Western and other Forces that surge through the land in these dark days. They will sorely wound the sons of Joseph in
their hill defences around Samaria, and they will do so with hatred driving their actions. Anti-Jewish feeling will rise to it’s
worst satanic fever pitch in these last days, as the Anti-Christ will throw all his malice against Israel, but the Lord will
bring them through the fire, but with 60% casualties.
Those who die are not necessarily those who rejected Messiah; they are simply those whose destiny was to give their life
in order that others might live. Their lot will be resurrection to newness of life forever, so they do not miss out, and the
doctrine of resurrection is to strengthen the survivors of that time, as they know that their dead friends have not died in
vain, nor have they missed the blessing God has for them. Refer to the BTB study on RESURRECTION.
The Lord who delivers them and stabilizes them under such great losses of personnel is called the “Shepherd” and the
“Stone” of Israel. This is a clear reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Good Shepherd, and this image from the
past of Israel will strengthen the soldiers as they fight in the dark days of the battle of Armageddon. Numbers 27:15-21,
Deuteronomy 34:9, Joshua 1:1-9, Psalms 23:1ff, 80:1-19, John 10:11.
The Messiah is also described as the mighty Rock from which all stability comes, the sure foundation of the faith and
confidence of the people in their dark hour. Deuteronomy 32:4, 7-11, Joshua 1:1-9, Psalms 118:21-26, Isaiah 28:16-21,
Zechariah 3:9-10, Matthew 21:42-44, Acts 4:8-12, Zechariah 12:10-14, Ephesians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:4-10, Revelation
18:21, 22:16-21.
Verses 25 – 26.
The blessing upon the sons of Joseph will stem from the same source as the blessings upon
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; from the person, and power, and plan, of Almighty God. Deuteronomy 33:27-29. The
blessing of Joseph and his sons will be greater in land and prosperity than those of his brothers, and this is an important
point to note, for if it applies to “latter days”, it means that the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh not only survive but
prosper in the Millennium, as they prospered in the early days of the nation. Deuteronomy 28:1-14, 33:13-17.
Verses 27 – 28.
Benjamin is like a wolf who tears his prey. They were the warrior tribe that produced Ehud,
Judges 3:15ff, then the first king, King Saul, and his warrior son Jonathan. 1 Samuel 11ff. During the days Israel says he
fights and in the evening he divides the things taken off the enemy, so as to live off the things looted from their bodies.
The land of Benjamin is tough and rough in terrain and suits moving small bands that strike quickly and then disappear
again into the rocks.
This land does not bear it’s own food easily. During the times of warfare coming the only way for the troops, and people
with them, to live in their cave hide outs, will be to strike the enemy, steal their water, food provisions, weapon, and
ammunition and so use the enemy’s supplies as their supply train.
This will be the prophetically prescribed tactics for the men of Benjamin in the Great Tribulation period. This ends the
blessings of their father towards the tribes of Israel from their father. Right through until the last days when Messiah
comes, if they read, believe and apply his prophetic words, they will be delivered.
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Verses 29 – 33.
Old Israel knows he is dying, and is close to his end. He solemnly makes them all swear that
they will ensure he is buried in the cave of his father and grand-father. He has already asked Joseph this, Genesis 47:2931, but here makes sure all know why Joseph is insistent on the burial in Canaan, rather than their father having the
honour of burial amongst the kings of Egypt.
This group of twelve men are such that they would fight over the most obvious thing, and the desire Jacob has to lie with
his ancestors is to be honoured without dispute. For some or even many they would have desired to have their father’s
grave nearby, but he knows they will be here only for a time and then their descendents must return to Canaan. Refer to
the BTB study, JACOB – THE PATRIARCH on page 14 .
Old Israel gives them a full account of why he wishes to be buried in this cave; he recounts who is buried there and that
this is the place he is to lie down in death, for this is the place that he wishes to rise from the dead from. He wishes to
stand with his ancestors around him. A mosque now stands over this holy spot, in what is now Hebron, where all the
Patriarchs lie, with their key wives, Sarah, Rebekah, Leah. He reminds them all that this land was purchased from the
Hittites for burial, so that there is no dispute from the men who now inhabit the place.
Having given this instruction, he draws his legs up, takes his last breath and dies. Notice the phrase Moses uses. “He
was gathered to his people”. He joins those who have died, in the afterlife, not in soul sleep. The dead are not
senseless, nor asleep. The body as it were “sleeps” awaiting it’s resurrection, but the soul of those who have died go
directly to join those who went before. 1 Corinthians 13:10-12, 15:12-22, 35-45, 51-58, 2 Corinthians 5:6-9.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
The plan of God is perfect, even down to instructions given to soldiers 3800 years before they will need them!
The soldiers of the Great Tribulation period will be able to read these words and be encouraged as to the
different tactics that are required in each sector of operations within the land. The Lord truly delivers his people.
2.
All we have is given, even down to the Psalms to sing and the prophetic words to rest upon. Each person in
their troubled times can rest in the Word of God and take comfort from the promises of the Almighty God who is
our refuge and our strength.
3.
Those who die in the battles of this future day can look to their father Jacob and draw the same strength that he
did, for as their body falls on the land of Canaan, just so it will be raised in that place and glorify the Lord in
resurrection forever. They can also know the assurance that until their day of resurrection they rejoice with the
Lord in heaven, and miss nothing that others enjoy upon the earth. The service of the Lord means we miss
nothing that is in the plan for us. We live and die with our Lord, for his glory and our eternal blessing.
PROPHECY
PROPHECIES OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL.
Towards the end of his life Jacob gave a prophetic blessing to each of his twelve sons. These prophetic blessings are
given in Genesis 49, dating from some 1800 BC.
REUBEN - Genesis 49:3,4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Jacob called him the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power (Genesis 29:31,32).
The firstborn was the leader, the priest and had a double portion (Deuteronomy 21:17).
Reuben lost his leadership to Judah, his priesthood to Levi and the double portion to Joseph.
He was, however, seen to be as unstable as water and would not excel because of his sin in Genesis 35:22.
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine;
and Israel heard it.
Instability was a characteristic of Reuben and his descendants.
Dathan and Abiram, descendants of Reuben, joined the rebellion of Korah against Moses (Numbers 16).
Reuben's tribe was one of only three tribes who requested land on the east side of the Jordan (Numbers 32).
This action almost resulted in civil war (Joshua 22).
Reuben's indecision as a tribe was criticised during the crisis of Judges 5
The tribe of Reuben's numbers fell from 46,500 in (Numbers 1:21) to 43,730 in (Numbers 26:7).
The numbers were such that Moses prayed a blessing on Reuben that they might prosper (Deuteronomy 33:6).
Indecision in the Christian life causes instability (James 1:8).
SIMEON AND LEVI - Genesis 49:5-7.
1.
Simeon is related to the Hebrew word for 'hear' or 'heard' (Genesis 29:33), whilst Levi means 'joined'(Genesis
29:34).
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Both these brothers were particularly cruel.
It was Simeon and Levi who had killed a large number of the Canaanites by subtlety in Genesis 34.
Jacob prophesied that they would be divided in Israel so that neither Simeon nor Levi were to possess a
separate portion of the promised land. Simeon's portion of the promised land is in Joshua 19:1-9 with their
inheritance within the area allotted to Judah:
All these cities were in the arid and barren region which we now know as the Negev.
Simeon also decreases in numbers from the beginning 59,300 (Numbers 1:23) to the end of the wilderness
wandering when it was 22,200 (Numbers 26:14).
In the reign of Hezekiah a large group of Simeonites migrated into Edom where they conquered the Amalekites
(1 Chronicles 4:38-43).
Jewish tradition states that all poor Jews came from this tribe.
Regarding Levi in Numbers 35:1-4 the Lord commanded that the Levites be given cities instead of a portion of
the land. In Joshua 21:4-7 the Levites were given 48 cities scattered throughout the other tribes.
Levi, however, had the Lord as their inheritance. Deuteronomy 10:9.
They were also supported by the people so that they could give themselves to ministry (Deuteronomy 18:1-5).
Moses came from the tribe of Levi, as did Aaron, from whom the Aaronic or Levitical priests are descended. He
blessed them in Deuteronomy 33:8-11 with divine wisdom using the Thummim and Urim.
The Levites were zealous for a righteous cause (Exodus 32:28,29) and they began to bear the ark
(Deuteronomy 10:8).
Even today the Levites have privileges in religious meetings.
JUDAH - Genesis 49:8-12
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
As a tribe there is more said about this tribe than any other. Jacob blessed Judah as the kingly tribe, the future
leader of the children of Israel.
Judah means 'praise'. - (Genesis 29:35).
Moses also blessed Judah, asking for divine protection (Deuteronomy 33:7).
Judah's leadership was seen in the sparing of Joseph (Genesis 37:26,27) and he was the spokesman for the
group going down into Egypt (Genesis 44:14-34).
When the tribes were marching through the wilderness it was Judah that went first (Numbers 10:14).
The first tribe to receive a portion of the land was Judah (Joshua 15:1).
In the census taken over the 40 year wandering in the wilderness, Judah had the largest tribal population.
Judah's conquering ability is shown in King David who was the greatest conqueror other than the Lord Jesus
Christ that Israel ever saw.
Judah was also protected from onslaughts such as that of Sennacherib. This confirms Moses' blessing on this
tribe.
The final king is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 5:5).
The Lord anticipated that one day there would be kings of Israel (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). The first king was
Saul of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:1,2). David however, of the tribe of Judah, commenced the kingly line
from which Jesus Christ was born (Matthew 1:6-17) and (Luke 3:23-31).
The coming of Shiloh, which means ' to whom it belongs', is a name for the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ who
will reign over Israel to confirm the Davidic Covenant.
Even though the ten tribes rebelled against Judah's leadership after Solomon, it was the kingdom of Judah
comprising the tribes of Judah and Benjamin that survived, the other tribes going into captivity under the
Assyrians in 712 BC.
ZEBULUN - Genesis 49:13
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Zebulun means 'dwelling'. This was Leah's sixth son. - (Genesis 30:20).
Jacob's prophecy speaks of Zebulun being related to ships and by implication trade by those ships.
It is of interest that in the Hebrew the word 'seas' is used rather than sea. This refers to the Mediterranean and
the Sea of Galilee.
In Deuteronomy 33:18,19 Moses amplified the prophecy.
The land which Zebulun was allocated is given in Joshua 19:10-16. Located in the western end of the valley of
Jezreel, the tribe of Zebulun was traversed by the main route from Syria to Egypt. It is also of note that one of
the cities that was allocated to them was Bethlehem of Zebulun (Joshua 19:15).
The city of Sidon was a great Canaanite city now sited in Lebanon. Zebulun's tribal allotment was separated
from Sidon by the tribe of Asher (Joshua 19:24-31). The Asherites were not able to dislodge the Canaanites
from their coastal area and in later times the Zebulunites began to infiltrate into this coastal area bordering
Sidon. This fulfilled Jacob's prophecy.
The most famous member of the tribe was Elon who judged Israel for ten years (Judges 12:11,12).
The Zebulunites were brave (1 Chronicles 12:33) and were stable, unlike Reuben.
ISSACHAR - Genesis 49:14,15
1.
2.
lssachar was the fifth born son of Leah. At his birth she said, God hath given me my hire. Issacher means ' hire
or wages'(Genesis 30:17,18).
In the blessing of Moses, Issachar is said to be ' in thy tents' (Deuteronomy 33:18). This is in contrast to
Zebulun who is said in the same verse to go out or to trade.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
To be called a donkey in the ancient world indicated transport. The donkey was also associated with the
Messiah (Zechariah 9:9).
The tribal allotment to Issachar is given in Joshua 19:17-22 which indicates that he was assigned the fertile
eastern section of Jezreel valley. The valley is between two mountains -Tabor and Gilboa.
One of the few members of the tribe mentioned in the Scriptures is Tola, who judged Israel for 23 years (Judges
10:1,2).
lssachar was brave as a tribe in battle (1 Chronicles 7:1-5). They were also wise (1 Chronicles 12:32). By
being wise he was able to carry others burdens.
Issachar typifies the person in Galatians 6:2, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
DAN - Genesis 49:16-18.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
The name Dan means 'judgment'. He was so named by Rachel who had given to Jacob, Bilhah her
maidservant. In Genesis 30:5,6 Dan's birth is recorded.
The giving of the handmaid by Rachel to Jacob was in conformity with the customs of the day as shown by the
code of Hannurabi.
To reinforce the position of Dan and the other patriarchs born to the handmaids Bilhah and Zilpah as full tribes
of Israel, Jacob states that Dan shall rule Israel as one of the tribes.
The great judge of Dan was Samson (Judges 13), who had the Danite characteristic of disobedience.
The tribe of Dan was given a portion of land on the south west Mediterranean coast (Joshua 19:40-48).
Because of Philistine pressure, Samson was able to use his immense strength to control for some time their
invasions.
The Danites accomplished things by cunning rather than by confrontation.
Jacob's prophecy showed that Dan would be subject to Satanic influences. An example of this is in the
conquest of Laish (Judges 18:1-31). The Danites took 600 fighting men together with a renegade Levite who
brought along a graven image. The Danites conquered Laish and renamed it Dan. They then set up the image
for worship.
When Jeroboam rebelled against Rehoboam he encouraged idolatry to discourage pilgrimage to the southern
kingdom (1 Kings 12:28-30). Jeroboam made two gold calves: one he set in Bethel, whilst the other was
erected in Dan. The people went to worship at Dan.
In 2 Kings 10:29, whilst there was a revival in Israel, idolatry still raged in Dan.
Dan was the last to receive its allotment in the promised land (Joshua 19:40-49).
In Revelation 7 during the tribulation period, the 144,000 witnesses come from all the tribes except Dan, with
Joseph and Mannaseh providing a double portion for the tribe of Joseph.
Dan, however, does receive a tribal inheritance in the millennial kingdom (Ezekiel 48:1,2).
GAD - Genesis 49:19
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Gad means 'warrior'. When Gad was born to Leah's handmaid Zilpah, Leah said, A troop cometh (Genesis 30:1
1).
Moses blessed Gad in Deuteronomy 33:20,21,
Gad, together with Reuben and part of Manasseh, were allotted a portion of the land to the east of the River
Jordan (Joshua 13:24-28). They were oppressed by pagan tribes in the area, the Ammonites and Moabites.
The Gadites earned a reputation as a warrior tribe (1 Chronicles 5:18-20; 12:8).
This vigorous state is also reflected in Moses 'blessing that Gad would dwell as a lion and tear the arm.
The most prominent Gadite was Jair, who judged Israel for twenty years (Judges 10:3-5).
Through perseverance Gad is seen to overcome at last.
ASHER - Genesis 49:20
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Asher means ' happy'. Asher was a full brother to Gad. At his birth Leah said Happy am 1, for the daughters
will call me blessed (Genesis 30:13).
In Deuteronomy 33:24,25 Moses blessed Asher.
Asher enjoyed the products of a rich and fertile land, and supplied the delicacies in the ancient world.
The most famous descendant of Asher was Anna, the prophetess, who greeted the infant Jesus in the temple in
Luke 2:36-38
As Asher was one of the ten 'lost' tribes who were dispersed in 712 BC, it is of interest that this tribe still had
discernible representatives in Jerusalem at the time of our Lord's first advent.
The word 'fat' in Genesis 49:20 should be translated 'oil', and complements the blessing of oil in Deuteronomy
33:24. This prophecy has been the basis of some oil exploration in the area allotted to Asher.
Asher was able to share good tidings with his brethren. As Christians we should produce royal dainties in the
form of divine good and be willing to share this with other believers. Oil often represents the Holy Spirit in the
Scriptures.
NAPHTALI - Genesis 49:21
1.
2.
3.
Napthali was a full brother of Dan. His name means 'wrestling' , as Rachel noted in Genesis 3O:8
Moses added his blessing in Deuteronomy 33:23.
The hind is a female deer or doe (Psalm 42:1; Isaiah 35:6).
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
6.
The deer was both fast-moving and agile. It was supposedly Naphtali who carried the news swiftly to Jacob that
Joseph was still alive.
In the famous story of Deborah and Barak, Barak was of the tribe of Naphtali (Judges 4:6). His tribe was
singled out in the song in Judges 5 for its bravery.
Jesus began his ministry in Naphtali in Galilee and called his disciples in that region (Matthew 4:13-15). Most of
his disciples therefore came from that region.
Jacob prophesied that "he giveth good words". In fact the gospel came so to speak out of Naphtali.
The bringing of the gospel is given in Isaiah 52:7.
This is re-echoed by Paul in Romans 10:14,15.
JOSEPH - Genesis 49:22-26
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Joseph was the elder son of Rachel, the wife that Jacob had so willingly spent years of his life working for,
having been tricked into marrying Leah.
Rachel pleaded with the Lord in Genesis 30:1, Give me children or else I die.
Joseph means 'may he add', which was a plea for further children. And she called his name Joseph; and said,
The Lord shall add to me another son (Genesis 30:24).
Moses blessed Joseph in Deuteronomy 33:13-17.
Joseph was promised fruitfulness by both Jacob and Moses. The double portion, which by birthright should
have been Reuben's, fell upon Joseph, as portrayed by both Ephraim and Manasseh having tribal status by the
blessing of Jacob in Genesis 48:1-22.
Jacob showed that Joseph has had many trials, but through the strength of God, Joseph had overcome his
problems. Joseph was living proof that We know all things work together for good to them that love God, to
them that are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
In the census of Numbers 1 the tribe of Joseph was the largest, with 79,900, whilst at the end of the wilderness
wanderings it had grown to 85,200 (Numbers 26:34,37).
Ephraim played a major part in the northern kingdom, which was sometimes known as Ephraim, showing the
importance of this tribe, which Jacob has blessed ahead of his elder brother Manasseh (Genesis 48:17-19).
This is shown in Hosea 12:1,2.
By his example Joseph shows the truth of l Peter 5:6,
BENJAMIN - Genesis 49:27
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Rachel died in childbirth at the birth of Benjamin. As she was dying she called out 'Benoni', which means 'son
of my pain'. Jacob, however, called his twelfth son Benjamin, or 'right hand son' (Genesis 35:18).
With Joseph having disappeared, the aging Jacob made Benjamin the centre of his affection, not allowing him
to go into Egypt on the first trip (Genesis 42:4).
Moses blessed Benjamin in Deuteronomy 33:12, And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell
in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
Benjamin was allotted the area between Judah and Ephraim, which contained a number of important cities,
including Jerusalem. (Joshua 19:28).The covering of the Lord can be associated with the fact that the temple
was built in Jerusalem as the place of presence of the Lord God.
That the Benjaminites were ferocious and tearing flesh (ravin) as a wolf, is seen on a number of occasions.
Some examples are:
(a) Ehud, the second judge of Israel, was from the tribe of Benjamin, and assassinated the king of the Moabites,
Eglon, using a concealed dagger. He thus released the children of Israel from 18 years of oppression and
ushered in a period of 80 years of peace.
(b)Benjamin was at the centre of a violent civil war. During this they were particularly violent (Judges 19),
resulting in the rest of the tribes taking punitive action against Benjamin. For a while the other tribes were
repulsed, with 40,000 casualties in the first two days of fighting (Judges 20:21,25), but eventually they were
overcome and reduced to 600 men (Judges 20:47).
(c) Saul, the first king of Israel, was of the tribe of Benjamin. His rule was quite ferocious in warfare with his
enemies. Abner, commander of Saul's army, was without mercy as he killed Asahel. The effect of Saul's rule
was felt in many surrounding kingdoms.
This tribal vigour could also be channelled to great blessing, as seen in :
(a)
Esther and Mordecai, who boldly saved the children of Israel in Persia, thus dividing the spoil, as
prophesied in Genesis 49:27.
(b)
Jonathan, the son of Saul, whose vigour was devoted to the way of the Lord, acting on the promises of
God (1 Samuel 14:6,12).
(c)
Paul, the great oppressor of the church, was a member of the tribe of Benjamin. On conversion,
however, his tenacity and zeal were turned to the spread of the gospel under almost constant
pressures. Saul the ravin wolf against the church, became Paul the zealous missionary.
DOCTRINES
TRIBULATION: SIGNS
1. One World
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a) One Worldism (Revelation 13:7, 16-18)
b) One World Church (1 Timothy 4:1, Revelation 17)
c) One World Economy (1 Timothy 6:10, Revelation 13:16, 17)
2. Political Signs
a) Israel (Luke 21:29-32)
b) King of the North (Ezekiel 38:1, 12)
c) King of the East (Revelation 16:12, 9:16)
d) King of the West (Daniel 11:40-45)
e) King of the South (Daniel 11:40-45)
3. Natural Signs
a) Earthquakes (Luke 21:11)
b) Famines (Matthew 24:7)
c) Weather (Luke 21:25)
d) Diseases (Luke 21:11a)
4. Man made Signs
a) Wars Hot and Cold (Matthew 24:6, 7)
b) Preparation for War (Joel 3:9, 10)
c) Knowledge and Technology (Daniel 12:4)
d) Travel (Daniel 12:4)
e) Pollution (Revelation 8:10-11)
f) Moral Decline (Luke 17:26, 2 Tim 3:3)
g) Homosexuality (Luke 17:28-30)
h) Apostasy and False Prophets (Matthew 24:5, 24)
i) Witchcraft and Occultism (1 Timothy 4:1, 2)
j) Drugs (Revelation 9:21)
TRIBULATION IN MATTHEW 24
The second half of the Tribulation or Great Tribulation is portrayed in (Matthew 24)
1. It commences with the erection of the abomination of desolation, the statue of the Antichrist being erected in the
Temple in Jerusalem. (v 15)
2. Believers in Jerusalem are told to flee to the mountains of Ammon, Edom and Moab (v 16-20)
3. It will be a time of maximum terror and pressure with many false Christs, signs and wonders. They are not to be led
astray as believers as they know that when the Lord returns He will be seen by all. (v 21-26)
4. The next item seen is the smiting of the armies by the Lord Jesus Christ as He returns. (v 27-28)
5. The glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, visible to all, and the gathering of Israel from the four corners of the
earth to the land now occurs. (v 29-31)
6. The fig tree prophecy shows that with the emergence of Israel and many other nations we are the generation that will
see the Second Coming of Christ. (v 32-35)
7. The passage concludes with a warning to be prepared for the return of the Lord in glory. (v 36-51)
JUDGMENTS IN REVELATION: SEALS, TRUMPETS, BOWLS
SEVEN SEALS
1. White Horse of Peace. (Revelation 6:1-2)
2. Red Horse of War. (Revelation 6:3-4)
3. Black Horse of Famine. (Revelation 6:5-6)
4. Pale Horse of Death. (Revelation 6:7-8)
5. Persecution. (Revelation 6:9-11)
6. Destruction. (Revelation 6:12-17)
7. Seven Trumpet Judgments. (Revelation 8:1)
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SEVEN TRUMPETS
1. Hail, Fire and Blood. (Revelation 8:7)
2. Burning Mountain. (Revelation 8:8- 9)
3. Wormwood. (Revelation 8:10-11)
4. Universe Struck. (Revelation 8:12-13)
5. Locusts. (Revelation 9:1-12)
6. 200 Million Man Army. (Revelation 9:13-21)
7. Seven Bowls Judgments. (Revelation 11:15-19)
SEVEN BOWLS
1. Severe Sores. (Revelation 16:2)
2. Sea of Blood. (Revelation 16:3)
3. Rivers of Blood. (Revelation 16:4- 7)
4. Scorching Heat. (Revelation 16:8- 9)
5. Darkness and Pain. (Revelation 16:10-11)
6. Armageddon. (Revelation 16:12)
7. Earthquake and Hailstones. (Revelation 16:17-21)
RESURRECTION
1. The resurrection of Christ is central to the gospel. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
a) Had there been no resurrection then we would all still be in our sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17).
b) Resurrection indicates completion of justification. (Romans 4:25, 2 Corinthians 5:2 1)
c) Resurrection is a guarantee of ultimate sanctification. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
d) The resurrection is the Father's seal on Christ's completed work, and the public declaration of its acceptance.
e) Without the resurrection it is impossible for Christ to be glorified. The humanity of Christ is glorified higher than the
angels. (John 7:39, John 16:14)
2. Historical proof of the resurrection:
a) The empty tomb. (Matthew 28)
b) Many of witnesses died rather than change their testimony.
c) Subsequent changes and confidence of the disciples after the resurrection.
d) The day of Pentecost. The reality of the resurrection was so well known that when Peter preached the first two
sermons in Jerusalem over 8000 people were saved. (Acts 2:41, Acts 4:3-4)
e) The observance of the first day of the week as the worship day. (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Revelation 1:10)
f) The historic existence of the church. The church worships a literal risen Saviour, and not merely the memory of a dead
martyr . (Romans 5:12,14,17, 6:3-9, 8:2, 1 Corinthians 15:26,54-55, Hebrews 2:14)
3. Baptism is a sign of the new resurrection life. (Romans 6:3-11, Colossians 2:12).
4. The Lord's Supper is a reminder of the expected return of the risen Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
5. Order of the resurrections:a) The first for believers only including Jesus Christ which is divided into four parts.
i) The resurrection of Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:23, Romans 1:4, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Peter 1:3)
ii) The Rapture of the church (1 Corinthians 15:51-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
iii) The Old Testament saints and tribulation martyrs at the end of the Tribulation. (Daniel 12:13, Isaiah 26-1920, Revelation 20:4)
iv) The Millennial saints and those who survive the Tribulation to enter the Millennium in their physical bodies.
b) The second resurrection occurs at the end of the Millennium and is for unbelievers only. They are judged and cast into
the lake of fire forever. (1 John 5:28, 29, Revelation 20:12-15, 2 Peter 3:7, Matthew 25:41)
c) Jesus, who must be the first eternally resurrected human., was not raised until three days after the crucifixion.
d) People in the Old Testament who were "raised from the dead" were merely resuscitated, and later died.
e) Matthew 27:52-53 is a transfer scene not a resurrection scene. The transfer is one of saints from paradise to the third
heaven (Ephesians 4:8). Some were given resuscitated bodies to witness to the Jews.
6. The sequence of events at the Lord's resurrection is as follows:a) Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of James and Joses head towards the tomb followed by other women
carrying embalming spices.
b) The three find the stone rolled away. Mary Magdalene goes back to tell the disciples. (Luke 23:55-24:9, John 20:1-2)
c) Mary the mother of James and Joses draws near to the tomb and sees the angel. (Matthew 28:2)
d) She goes back to the women carrying the spices.
e) Peter and John who have been advised by Mary Magdalene arrive, look inside the empty tomb and go away.(John
20:3-10)
f) Mary Magdalene returns weeping, sees two angels and then Jesus.(John 20:11-18)
g) As instructed by the Lord she goes to tell the disciples.
h) Mary the mother of James and Joses meets the women with the spices and returning with them they see the two
angels. (Luke 24:4-5, Mark 16:5)
i) They also receive advice from the angels and, going to seek the disciples, are met by Jesus. (Matthew 28:8-10)
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CHRIST – ROCK –CHRIST AS THE ROCK
1. Christ is the rock of salvation. (Exodus 17:1-7, 1 Corinthians 10:4)
2. Christ is the rock of judgment. (Isaiah 8:1 4, 1 Peter 2:8)
3. Christ is the rock of provision. (Isaiah 26:3, 4) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee
because be trusteth thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever for in the Lord is the rock of ages.
4. Christ is the foundation rock. (Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:22)
5. Christ is the foundation rock of the Church. (Matthew 16:16, 18, 1 Corinthians 3:11, Ephesians 2:20-22)
6. Christ is the destroying rock of the second advent. (Daniel 2:35)
CHRIST – THE SHEPHERD
1. In the Bible, sheep represent believers. Matthew 25:33,34 - they are contrasted with goats (unbelievers)
2. Sheep are helpless, they need to be led, fed and protected. They cannot defend themselves.
3. In the Old Testament Israel was called the sheep of his fold Psalm 74:1, 79:13, 95:7, 100:3 Jeremiah 23:1
4. The Lord Jesus Christ, the true shepherd came to the fold of Israel and while some responded most rejected him
and the Lord called out a flock to establish a new group - John 10:10-16
5. He is the only door to fellowship Acts 4:12 John 3:36, John 10:28,29
6.Judaism is the fold out of which the Lord led his sheep to form a new flock on the hills in freedom , the contrast
between the fold and the flock. The fold no longer exits it was Jewish and legal and is gone, there is neither Jew or
Gentile but we are all in Christ Jesus. This is the theme of the book of Galatians, Romans and Hebrews, the just will live
by faith. Our church should be a place where we learn to walk with the Lord under the control of the Holy Spirit.
7. In the fold the sheep are within four walls under the protection of the man in charge of the fold whereas the flock is
moving, feeding and are under the control of the shepherd. This is where the walk in the spirit occurs. Christianity is a
relationship and is active. Galatians 1:6-9 - here Paul says we must walk in the spirit not a lot of rules such as in
Judaism. We are to fight the enemy on the hills and be in the world but not of it.
8. There is only one flock and all sheep should know it. Believers show their character as sheep by how they respond to
the shepherd.
9. The Lord Jesus Christ is seen as the shepherd in five different ways in (1 Peter 2:21-25).
a) The suffering shepherd. (v 21)
b) The sinless shepherd. (v 22)
c) The submissive shepherd. (v 23)
d) The substitutionary shepherd. (v 24)
e) The seeking shepherd. (v 25)
10. The Shepherd as Christ appears in three successive Psalms.
a) Psalm 22 - the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep (John 10:11). He is the Door (John 10:9).
b) Psalm 23 - the Lord is my shepherd - the great shepherd of the sheep. (Heb 13:20).
c) Psalm 24 - the chief shepherd appears as the Man of Glory. (1 Pet 5:4).
d) These show the shepherd dying for His sheep, the resurrected shepherd tending and caring for His sheep and the
future shepherd ruling over His sheep.
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CHAPTER 50
GENESIS 50:1-13
“And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his
servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 And forty days were
fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him
threescore and ten days. 4 And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of
Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 My
father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there
shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. 6 And
Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear. 7 And Joseph went up to bury his
father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of
Egypt, 8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their
flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and
horsemen: and it was a very great company. 10 And they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond
Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father
seven days. 11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad,
they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which
is beyond Jordan. 12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: 13 For his sons carried
him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with
the field for a possession of a burying place of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre”.
REFLECTION
Verses 1 – 3.
Mourning rituals differ from country to country and the ways we deal with the death of a loved
one can be affected by many things. Rituals have changed down the centuries in Egypt, with the process of
mummification changing through the centuries and dropping into a very basic wrapping of a body by the Greek and
Roman period. The process itself stopped during the Christian period, and funeral and burial rites became a twenty four
hour process by Moslem times. It is good to reflect upon the way the Egyptians dealt with the death of Jacob and test
ourselves in this matter of the loss of a loved one, and ask ourselves how well our rituals assist us to deal with loss.
Firstly notice that there was open show of emotion by Joseph and an expression of this by tears, and by touching and
kissing his dead father’s face. There was no withdrawal from the body as if it was an unclean or scary thing, nor any “stiff
upper lip”, but rather a warmth towards the shell that had carried his loved father through this life, and a deep desire to
treat the body with the utmost dignity possible within Egypt.
The body was not worshipped, nor was it seen as god-like in any way, but it was to be treated with all dignity possible as
a mark of love towards the father of them all. Joseph and the others had forgiven their father his sins and short comings
and did all they could to honour his wishes. There was no harbouring of any resentments towards him; all there was in
each man was a gratitude for the life they had through their flawed father.
There was no attachment to the body itself either, as if the spirit was still there and waiting to leave for a few days, as
some believe. Once each had said their goodbyes to the body Joseph called for the special “doctors of embalming”; the
men who were in charge of the art of preparation of the body of great men for burial. Within a few hours of Jacob’s death,
his body was taken from the family, and placed in the hands of the embalmers, who began their work, and would work on
the body for the next forty days. The family would not be involved in this process, but would trust these “undertakers” in
the task. They passed over the body of their father and mourned in their own homes for this period without the body.
They “let go” of their father’s earthly remains at this point and focused upon their own grief, not the body, although
Joseph would have been superintending this process and I believe would have given very specific instructions regarding
his father’s body.
Mummification involved a number of incisions made in the body to remove the internal organs that were each washed,
anointed, wrapped, and then placed in canopic vases, and then placed in a painted chest that would accompany the
mummified body to burial. The brain was not kept, being considered by the Egyptians to be of no significance, for the
heart and liver were considered the main seat of emotion and intelligence by them. Many cultures/individuals have a
horror that their entire body will not be placed in the ground, as if the Lord needs every bit to ensure they are resurrected.
From Jacob’s burial we can see that this is not a requirement. The entire body will, if not treated as this body was, decay
away to nothing in many soils. There is nothing visible left of the body after a few years in certain soils. Does this
“disappearance” of the body hinder resurrection?
Does cremation, which simply speeds up this process, hinder resurrection? The Word of God is clear in 1 Corinthians
chapter 15, that where the body was laid, or disintegrated, or ashes scattered or interred, is where the resurrection body
is received. God needs no bits and pieces to accomplish this, for he made all things. Many believers have agonized over
organ donation and other issues after autopsies, and all their worries are dismissed by this burial process here before us
as of no consequence at all. God does not need all the body, or any of the body, for the resurrection body is an entirely
new thing. It is received where the old one was laid, or disappeared, only because that is the Lord’s plan for this.
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The resurrection of the dead is the Lord’s plan for mankind, and none will escape it by what happens to their bodies after
death. Remember the unsaved dead are also raised in new bodies, for it is in bodily form that they are cast into the Lake
of Fire. Their cremation and the scattering of their ashes will not hinder the Lord in judging them. So a missing piece of
your body, or it’s disappearance altogether in acid soils, will not hinder your blessing! 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18,
Revelation 20:10-15.
While the private mourning in the household of Israel was going on, the entire nation of Egypt was having a seventy day
period of official mourning. This would have involved rituals that would be held daily nation wide in every temple and
every public square. The entire nation mourned for this man as for a pharaoh.
Now for most they knew nothing of old Israel, but they knew Joseph, their Saviour, and many would have wept for old
Israel, because of who he was to Joseph, as each thought of the grief of losing their own father, and thought of the great
debt of gratitude they all had to Joseph for enabling them to be fathers and grand-fathers rather than perishing in the
great famine, as they would have without him.
The period of mourning moves to a new level when the body was formally returned to the family after the embalming
process. Old Israel would have been wrapped, then placed within an inner coffin, possibly covered in gold leaf. Certainly
this inner coffin would have been wonderful, then that coffin would be placed within an outer one of wood or stone ready
for it’s journey back to Canaan. The body would lie in state within Joseph’s own temple or house for the last thirty days of
official mourning.
The decorations on the coffins of ancient Egyptians of this period are readily seen in museums around the world. Scenes
of the person’s life are painted within and accounts of their great deeds. Within the bandages of the mummy little
statuettes of gods and charms were placed in a set order within the wrappings. To fail to have these in the wrapping was
to deny the person within the coffin the trip to eternity. The coffin becomes an introduction to them and their beliefs and
attitude, and a guide book to the afterlife.
Within the coffins were also the painted spells of the priests, from the Egyptian “Book of The Dead”, which were designed
to deal with the journey to the afterlife. None of these things were relevant to Jacob. I cannot help reflecting that Joseph
gave very specific instructions to the embalmers about the decoration to be painted on this series of coffins, and left out
all the statuettes that spoke of pagan belief and practise.
What was painted on the coffin boxes? The symbols there would be those that mattered to Jacob and Joseph and spoke
of the twelve tribes that would follow him. We cannot know any of this for sure, but we can be sure that Joseph had this
burial as a very different one than the “doctors of embalming” had ever done before. It would also have been the
opportunity for Joseph to prepare himself a series of coffins for his later burial and ensure his own paintings were done in
advance to make the right statements about his faith in his afterlife.
Verses 4 – 5.
The official mourning period tells us that the Pharaoh had probably set aside a tomb ready for
Jacob if he had wanted it, and that the approach to seek permission to have the body leave Egypt would be an
exceptional one. No-one in Egyptian history had sought to be buried outside the land that they believed to be the land of
God. To seek burial in Canaan, a wild frontier land, from which they had fled to avoid famine, would have seemed a
strange request, and only the most powerful entreaty would have had effect on Pharaoh.
Joseph does not personally approach the Pharaoh about this, and this is another sign of something strange happening
here. Joseph must speak to Pharaoh’s courtiers not the ruler himself. Now this is strange if the pharaoh was still the one
who had received Joseph as the “interpreter of dreams”, and made him second ruler of the kingdom. Joseph promises to
return again after the burial, but I am left with the conclusion that this Pharaoh is not the same one who made Joseph
second ruler, and that he may no longer hold that title or role. He certainly still has great influence and is a prince, an
important man, but the lack of personal contact between Pharaoh and him is strange.
Moses leaves us with a hint here that things have changed a little. Joseph is still important and his father’s death, and
later his own, will be treated with great seriousness and dignity, but he is no longer the ruler he was in the days of
famine. This happens in history a lot; the man who delivers his people may often be cast aside when peace or plenty
returns again. Winston Churchill is an example of this, for he served as Prime Minister of Great Britain through the
Second World War years, but then lost his post in a general election after the War was won.
Verses 6 – 7.
Pharaoh’s answer to Joseph is cold and formal and brief; another clue that things have
changed in Egypt. Another indication that the politics of Egypt and the neighbouring countries is not what it was comes
as we examine the route taken for the funeral procession, and later note the fact that the Egyptians will not enter the land
of Canaan.
Having received Pharaoh’s permission to take the body for burial Joseph will need to wait out the full seventy days
before leaving, and this time will be spent planning the expedition and the army rations that will be required, for a major
representation of the court and temples accompanies Joseph and an army would be in attendance. This is a major
incursion into a neighbouring land and diplomatic manoeuvring behind the scenes will change the shortest route into the
longest possible one, just as will occur later in the Exodus. Those going are the senior elders/officials of Pharaoh’s court,
the senior elders of the land (their priests), and the family members of Jacob’s household.
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Verses 8 – 9.
The small children were left behind, and possibly the women may have stayed behind to be
with them. The senior men of the household all went. With them was a cavalry and chariot army, as was befitting a prince
of Egypt and his father. Pharaoh does not come, as politics decreed that he left Egypt only to make war, and as this was
a peaceful mission he stays behind with the bulk of the army. This sort of travelling group will be a major event in the
Middle East and accounts of this group moving into Canaan will be told as far a field as the Hittite Empire of the far north
and Babylon and Ur themselves.
Verses 10 – 13.
The route travelled avoids the direct coastal route and ensures that the Egyptians do not
enter the land itself, but stay on the other side of the Jordan River. This may indicate a desire to avoid the Philistine
country in what is now the Gaza Strip.
There was war between these “Sea Peoples” and Egypt when they arrived around this time, and the avoidance of the
area may indicate some problems with these people. It may also be the reason for Pharaoh staying behind in Egypt and
the reason for such a serious army group accompanying the group. Look at the maps in the back of your Bible and see
that the group travels across the Sinai and goes up what is called the “King’s Highway” through what will later be Edom
and Moab and arrives at the threshing floor of Atad by a ford of the Jordan River. There great mourning rites were held
again by the Egyptians, and all the land knew about it.
Where was this site? Jerome, who believed he found nearly every Biblical site, believed it to be between ancient Jericho
and the Jordan ford, about 2-3 kilometres from each. In this case he probably was right. The Egyptian camp would have
covered a considerable area, and would need to be around a raised piece of land for defensive purposes, so a threshing
floor would be an ideal centre to their camp.
The body of Israel became the focal point and citadel of their camp while it was there, and then the Egyptian army group
waited the return of the brothers. Being about 2 kilometres from the ancient city of Jericho placed them exactly where the
Exodus Generation would be 400 years later before the siege of Jericho. They would walk the same path and the centre
of their camp may have been the same place. The Tabernacle and the Ark may have rested exactly where the body of
Israel rested. This may be why Moses gives such a specific placement of their camp, so that Joshua could ensure they
were in the same place as their ancestor had been.
The people of the land of Canaan were aware that a great man of Egypt had died, and their bafflement at why the burial
was in Canaan was finally answered when the sons of Jacob came across the river and they then knew fully who it was.
Given the route taken I suspect that diplomatic envoys have been going to and fro for some weeks to secure safe
passage and assure the people of the lands that Egypt was not declaring war.
The Egyptians stay put on the other side so as not to spark a diplomatic incident and cause a war. I suspect the people
of the land came out to pay their respects also to Jacob, for he was great amongst them before he headed south, and
Joseph was their Saviour during the famine, (but at a price!). It may be that the tensions from the famine days and the
heavy price to buy the wheat through that seven years secured Egyptian control of the area, but resentment has built
over the subsequent decade so that there is palpable tension now.
The full reasons for the Egyptians having to stay on the other side of the Jordan are intriguing, but sadly, at this distance
unknown. It will be over 400 years before the cave at Machpelah is visited again by the family of the patriarchs. Whatever
the reception they received in the land, Moses glosses over it, and the twelve sons of Jacob have no desire to return to
the land, and are happy to rejoin Joseph on the journey south again. Something has happened in the land to make it an
unpleasant place for them all, even though the rains have returned and the place would be blooming again.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
Burial rituals are important, both for the people’s own mourning processes and for their testimony to the
certainty of resurrection. It does not however matter whether people are buried with body (temporarily) intact, or
interred after cremation. Cremation does not hinder the resurrection process for the believer or the unbeliever, it
is just that burial, if it is possible, is a better picture of the expectation of resurrection than is cremation. If there
is no body, due to fire, explosion or nuclear war, then there is to be no concern for the believer, for the Lord
does not need the “bits” of the body in the ground for that person’s resurrection. The scattering of the body by
malice of an enemy likewise does not hinder their resurrection, for their place of martyrdom becomes the place
of their reception of their resurrection body.
2.
Mourning is a normal human activity and is to be encouraged as believers share their feelings of loss after a
loved one dies. We do not mourn, “as those with no hope”, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, but we do weep for the loss of
loved ones, for we will miss their company until we meet them again. Mourning is to be encouraged as a healthy
thing, and there are plenty of good role models for this in scripture, from the beginning to the end. Let us
encourage those who weep, just as Jesus did, and not be ashamed of our tears at the grave of a loved one, just
as Jesus was not ashamed of his tears at the grave of Lazarus. John 11:35. The reality of death is to be wept
over, for it reminds us of the sadness of Adam’s sin and the terrible legacy of it upon the human race.
3.
Pagan rituals are to be controlled at the death of a believer. Joseph allows the mummification process to be
undertaken, but he does not allow, I believe, the pagan associations that normally went with it. This burial and
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mourning process will be saturated with Bible doctrines, as ours should be. Let us think of our funerals and
ensure they are the last testimony of the truths we hold dear.
DOCTRINE
DEATH see page 126
GENESIS 50: 14-26
“14 And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after
he had buried his father. 15 And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will
peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. :16 And they sent a
messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto
Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now,
we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake
unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy
servants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought
evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21
Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto
them. 22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. 23
And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh
were brought up upon Joseph's knees. 24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit
you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 25 And
Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones
from hence. 26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in
a coffin in Egypt.”
REFLECTION
Verse 14.
The family returns to Egypt after the burial of their father. They must head back from Hebron
across the Jordan River and rejoin the army that waits for them there, and then head back by the King’s highway through
Moab and Edom back across the desert to Egypt again. This was the road that the Egyptians controlled in this day, and it
passed by the mines they used and was a safer route than the coastal one that clearly was unsafe or unwise to use at
this time.
The journey would have taken several weeks by foot, or even on horse back, for their speed was that of the slowest
animal and that would be the wagons. There were lots of times to talk and lots of time to reflect upon life as it was in
Canaan, and as it was now, as they saw the land after the famine. At no point do any of them express the desire to
return to the land of Canaan in their life time. They are content to rejoin Joseph in Egypt, although as they head back
there they all start to think about what Jacob’s death might mean for them, and whether Joseph really has forgiven them,
or is he just waiting until they are back so that they can all be imprisoned and killed for their selling of him as a slave all
those years ago.
Verses 15 – 16.
These men have difficulty accepting the gracious attitude that Joseph has had towards them
and on the return journey they start to think about their fate and his sense of justice. Will he kill them for what they did,
now that their father is dead. Moses gives us a little hint about the order of travel for them all also in this section, and this
may have contributed to their sense of paranoia. The eleven brothers are travelling separate from Joseph. He is not
riding along with them, for he is an official and is with the diplomatic contingent of Egyptians riding in a chariot. They are
away from him surrounded by troops that will probably be under his direct orders. They are absolutely powerless to
protect themselves and must rely on the Lord, but old habits die hard, and so they invent a story to try to keep them safe,
just as they invented a story to their father about Joseph’s fate! Genesis 37:31ff, Psalms 14:4-6, 58:10-11, Proverbs
28:1, 29:23-27.
Verses 17 – 18.
The story is, I believe, an invention, for Jacob knew the heart of Joseph and there was no
danger at all to the brothers, for Joseph had proved over the last fourteen years his love and care for his family and their
children. As Joseph hears their words he weeps, for he knows they don’t know his heart, nor have they forgiven
themselves for their great evil. They prostrate themselves before him and once again tell him that they are all his
servants, confessing their sin to him again. Genesis 37:5-11, 42:10, 44:16, James 5:16. He sees their hearts, for they
fear that his character is like their own. They couldn’t trust each other and so they still don’t feel that they can trust him.
Joseph however operates upon grace and he reminds them of that, and he tells them that it is the Lord who has made
the difference with him, and made him the man to make the difference for them. They are saved because of the Lord’s
grace and Joseph operates within that sphere, not the sphere of human vengeance. Joseph is able to freely say the
“Lord’s Prayer”, for he has forgiven freely, and so is able to rest in God’s forgiveness of him. Joseph’s attitude is to be
our own, even if we have suffered the indignity and injustice that he suffered. Matthew 6:9-15, Ephesians 4:30-32,
Colossians 3:12-14, Galatians 6:9-16.
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Verses 19 – 20.
Joseph does not avoid the truth of their actions. He reminds them that they meant evil to him,
but that God turned things around and has produced good for them. The Lord has turned out all things for their good, and
the Lord has placed Joseph in the place to be able to keep on helping them and he will be obedient to the Lord, and will
not take the Lord’s place and execute vengeance, as had Levi and Simeon upon the men of Shechem. Joseph will not
act for God and will neither seek nor execute vengeance. He has left his case in the Lord’s hands and is content to be
the Lord’s servant of grace. Do a group study of the following verses on the topic of fear, and gain the comfort that
Joseph wants his brothers to have. Matthew 14:25-33, Luke 24:36-49, Acts 3:12-21, Romans 8:28, 12:17-21, Hebrews
10:30-37.
Verses 21 – 22.
Joseph’s standards are those of the Lord Jesus Christ. He loves those who were his enemy
by their behaviours. Matthew 5:43-48, 6:14-16. His promise to them is that he will continue to feed them and their
children. His loving commitment to them is a life long one. Romans 12:17-21, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 1 Peter 3:8-17.
Joseph is given long life also, dying finally at age 110. This was an old age, even for this day. The ages of the Patriarchs
decline through the years, and settle around 70 years of age for mankind for the post flood world.
As more information comes in on the effect of the rays of the sun on aging, it would appear that after the vapour canopy
dispersed at the flood there was a decline of the protective screen around the earth in the thousand years afterwards,
with a flow on effect on the ages that people lived to, from well over a hundred to around the 70 mark for most of the
biblical period.
Verses 23 – 26.
Joseph lived to see his great grandsons mature. He was blessed to see an extensive family
lineage around him, and had the joy of seeing his great grandsons sitting upon his knee and being able to hold them and
love them. Job 42:16-17, Psalms 128:1-6. He speaks to his family members (these being Ephraim and Manasseh) and
makes very specific orders for how his body is to be treated after his death, for he knows the plans of the pharaoh
regarding his burial.
He would have given specific instructions about the embalming process and the decorations to be on his coffins, for he
intends his coffin to be a pictorial Bible for the Israelites through the next 300 years. He is going to ask for his body not to
be buried, but to be left lying in state in a secure place where it can be visited and touched. This was most unusual and
required very specific instruction and numerous witnesses for his wishes to be granted, for he would have been destined
by Egyptian protocol for burial in the Valley of the Kings.
Joseph wants his body in the coffin to be the “Gospel” message of the coming deliverance of the people from Egypt, for
at the right time in the Plan of God they are to leave Egypt and re-settle in the land of Canaan. Their sojourn in Egypt is
exactly that; they are not to stay. The promises of God to the patriarchs will be honoured and the Lord will give them the
land of Canaan as their inheritance, and it is to there that they must go. When they go, 300 years in advance, Joseph
tells them that they are to take his body back into the land of his birth and bury him there. Moses will continually remind
the people of these promises. Exodus 3:13-23, 33:1-3, Numbers 32:11-15, Deuteronomy 1:8, 6:6-15. The people must
stand like Joseph in faith and obedience to the revelation of God, or they will not inherit the land.
When they leave the land of Egypt under Moses leadership they take the coffin of Joseph and it is their banner to lead
the people out of Egypt to their deliverance from slavery, as he had been the one to bring their ancestors into the land for
their deliverance from famine. Exodus 13:17-22. When they entered the land the descendents of Joseph decided where
he was to be buried. Joshua 24:32.
PASTORAL AND PERSONAL APPLICATION
1.
We are to live by grace, through faith. It is hard for unforgiving people to relax in the forgiveness of the Lord,
and that is our daily challenge. Let us praise God for His grace towards us and rejoice and live in that loving
mercy and grace. We are forgiven, Hallelujah!
2.
Joseph enjoys the blessing of great age, as he sees his great grand-sons grow and serve the Lord. It is the
greatest joy to see your children serve the Lord. Numbers of grand-children is nothing if they grow up as
pagans. Let us bring up our children in the ways of the Lord, that our old age may be blessed.
3.
Our funeral is to be our last testimony as to what we stood for in this life. Believers ought to take care to instruct
their relatives and descendents as to what they want, so that the right things are said and done to amplify the
Gospel message. Joseph was careful to prepare for his death, so that for nearly 400 years his coffin was a
blessing to his people. Let us ensure we leave a godly legacy after our passing, so that any generation that
follows us may bless our name for the grace gifts they have received from us through the power of God that
worked through our life on this earth.
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SUMMARY OF DOCTRINES
DOCTRINE
ANGELS: ANGELIC CONFLICT
ANGELS: SATAN’S STRATEGY AND TACTICS
ANGER
BLOOD SACRIFICE
CHRIST: FIRST AND SECOND ADVENTS
CHRIST: FIRSTBORN
CHRIST: NAMES OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
CHRIST: ROCK –CHRIST AS THE ROCK
CHRIST: SACRIFICE OF CHRIST
CHRIST – SHEPHERD
CHRIST: TYPES – JOSEPH AS A TYPE OF CHRIST
CHRIST: VIRGIN BIRTH
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
CHRISTIAN LIFE
CHRISTIAN LIFE: AMBASSADORSHIP
CHRISTIAN LIFE: BACKSLIDING AND RECOVERY
CHRISTIAN LIFE: BLESSED IN HEAVENLY PLACES
CHRISTIAN LIFE: BLESSING OF THE BELIEVER
CHRISTIAN LIFE: CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
CHRISTIAN LIFE: CONFIDENCE
CHRISTIAN LIFE: CONSECRATION
CHRISTIAN LIFE: DESTINY OF BELIEVERS
CHRISTIAN LIFE: DISCIPLINE OF BELIEVERS
CHRISTIAN LIFE: ETERNAL LIFE
CHRISTIAN LIFE: ETERNAL SECURITY
CHRISTIAN LIFE: FAITH
CHRISTIAN LIFE: FAITH - OVERCOMING BY FAITH
CHRISTIAN LIFE: FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
CHRISTIAN LIFE: GIVING
CHRISTIAN LIFE: LAWS OF LIBERTY AND RESPONSIBILITY
CHRISTIAN LIFE: LOVE
CHRISTIAN LIFE: MATURITY
CHRISTIAN LIFE: MATURITY - CROSS TO CROWN
CHRISTIAN LIFE: MATURITY - SIGNS OF MATURITY
CHRISTIAN LIFE: MENTAL ATTITUDE
CHRISTIAN LIFE: PILGRIM
CHRISTIAN LIFE: PRAYER
CHRISTIAN LIFE: REPENTANCE
CHRISTIAN LIFE: REWARDS AND CROWNS
CHRISTIAN LIFE: ROYAL FAMILY OF GOD
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SERVICE
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SOLDIER IN EPHESIANS 6
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SPIRITUALITY
CHRISTIAN LIFE: STABILITY
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SUBMISSION
CHRISTIAN LIFE: SUFFERING
CHRISTIAN LIFE: THINKING BIBLICALLY
CHRISTIAN LIFE: WALKING
CHURCH: PASTORAL AUTHORITY
CHURCH: SHEPHERDING THE SHEEP
COVENANTS: ABRAHAMIC
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149
67
149
9
127
118
118
106
98
117
117
21
106
106
97
13
107
30
39
67
48
74
86
87
10
10
11
65
119
127
69
107
25
34
51
64
66
35
13
57
12
76
76
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COVENANTS: PALESTINIAN
DEATH
DISPENSATIONS OF ISRAEL
DREAMS
DYING GRACE
EVIL
FEAR
GOD: CHARACTER OF GOD
GOD: COMFORT FOR BELIEVERS
GOD: DIVINE DECREES
GOD: DIVINE GUIDANCE - THE WILL OF GOD
GOD: DIVINE INSTITUTIONS - FREE WILL
GOD: DIVINE INSTITUTIONS - MARRIAGE
GOD: FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
GOD: FATHERHOOD OF GOD
GOD: GOD CARES FOR YOU
GOD: NAMES AND TITLES OF GOD
GOD: NAMES OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
GOD: THE PLAN OF GOD
GRACE
HEART
HOLY SPIRIT: FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
HOLY SPIRIT: MINISTRIES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
ISRAEL
JACOB: THE PATRIARCH
JOSEPH: THE PLAN OF GOD
JUDGMENT: FOUR GENERATION CURSE
JUDGMENTS IN REVELATION
JUSTICE
KINGDOM
KINGDOM: MILLENNIAL KINGDOM
MERCY
NUMEROLOGY
PEACE
PROPHECY
PROPHECY – SEQUENCE OF END TIME EVENTS
PROPHET
RESURRECTION
REVELATION
SACRIFICES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
SALVATION: BARRIER
SALVATION: JUSTIFICATION
SALVATION: RECONCILIATION
SIGNS
SIN: ABOMINATION SINS TO THE LORD
SIN: ADULTERY
SIN: JEALOUSY
SIN: OLD SIN NATURE
SIN: SIN UNTO DEATH
TEMPTATION
TRIBULATION SIGNS
TRIBULATION IN MATTHEW 24
WEEP AND HOWL
WEEPING
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15
22
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33
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WELFARE
WORK
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