Category Archives: Elderly

Joshua’s Parting Challenge: Choose Whom You Will Serve! (Joshua 24)

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Click on this link for translations of today’s devotion.

Scripture reading – Joshua 24

Our study of the Book of Joshua concludes with today’s Scripture reading. Beginning with the Book of Exodus, our devotions have followed Israel’s forty-year journey through the wilderness. Then, under Joshua’s leadership, we observed the record of Israel’s battles with the Canaanites who inhabited the land the LORD promised Abraham and his heirs (Genesis 12:1).

The Final Call (Joshua 24:1)

With the land conquered and divided among the tribes, Joshua gathered the children of Israel at Shechem (24:1) for a final challenge. Why Shechem? Shechem was where Abraham received the LORD’s promise that his lineage would inherit the land (Genesis 12:6-7).

The Final Challenge (Joshua 24:2-14)

In his final address and challenge to the people, Joshua rehearsed how the LORD had chosen Abraham (24:2-4), delivered Israel out of Egypt (24:5-7), and guided them through the wilderness (24:7-10). Next, he reminded the congregation that God had given them the land as He promised (24:11-13). Finally, he challenged them to revere and serve the LORD (24:14-28).

The Final Charge (Joshua 24:15)

Showing his passion for serving the LORD had not diminished in his old age, Joshua exhorted the nation: “If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (24:15).

The Covenant Renewed (Joshua 24:16-25)

With one voice, Israel renewed its covenant with the LORD and said, “We will serve the LORD… The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.” (24:21, 24).

The Covenant Memorialized (Joshua 24:26-27) 

Joshua then memorialized the nation’s covenant with the LORD “and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak [and said to the people]…Behold, this stone shall be a witness [a memorial; a testament] unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God” (24:26-27).

The Conclusion (Joshua 24:28-33)

Three burials conclude our study of the Book of Joshua. First, having inscribed the people’s vow in stone, they then departed. Then, “after these things…Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 30And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in Mount Ephraim” (24:29-30). So Joshua, the last of his generation to depart Egypt, was dead.

A second burial fulfilled Joseph’s dying request (Genesis 50:25), and his bones were buried on the land purchased by his father Jacob (24:32).  Lastly, Eleazar, the high priest, the son of Aaron, died and was buried (24:33).

Closing thoughts:

Joshua’s challenge to Israel and his confession should stir our hearts to follow his example (24:15). As it was with Joshua, so it is with every believer. We must individually decide whether or not we will serve the LORD with our whole heart (24:14-24).

Choose this day whom you will serve!

Questions to ponder:

  • Why did Joshua gather “all the tribes of Israel” and rehearse the nation’s history and the providences of God? (Joshua 24:1-13)
  • After reflecting on all the LORD had done for Israel, how did Joshua challenge the people? (Joshua 24:14-15)
  • What did Joshua challenge the people to do if they sincerely desired to worship and serve the LORD? (Joshua 24:22-23)
  • How did Joshua memorialize Israel’s vow to the LORD? (Joshua 24:25-27)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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Joshua: A Place to Call Home (Joshua 19)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 19

The narrative concerning the division of the land the LORD promised Israel for an inheritance continues in Joshua 19. Here we read the record of the lands assigned to the remaining six tribes that received their territory by lot: Simeon (19:1-9), Zebulun (19:10-16), Issachar (19:17-23), Asher (19:24-31), Naphtali (19:32-39), and Dan (19:40-48).

The names of the borders and cities in this chapter are too numerous to list, so we will only consider a few details found in Joshua 19 that we should note. First, unlike the other tribes, the tribe of Simeon did not receive a distinct territory but instead discovered its lands “within the inheritance of the children of Judah” (19:1b).

Why was the tribe of Simeon not blessed with a territory of their own in Canaan?

The immediate explanation as “the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore, the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them” (19:9). However, there was a prophetic significance to the assignment of Simeon’s land, within Judah, and it was found in Jacob’s dying words. On his deathbed, Jacob remembered that Simeon and Levi had sinned and disgraced Israel.

Generational Consequences of Sin (Genesis 34)

Do you remember that Simeon and Levi had avenged the honor of their sister Dinah after she was raped by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite (Genesis 34:1-2)? When Simeon and Levi heard their sister was violated (Genesis 34:5-7), they set their hearts for revenge. They determined to deceive Shechem, his father, and their people into accepting circumcision under the guise of an accord between their families (Genesis 34:13-24).

On the third day of the circumcision, Simeon and Levi attacked and slew Shechem, Hamor, and the men of the city (Genesis 34:25-30). At that time, Jacob rebuked Simeon and Levi and said, “Ye have troubled me” (Genesis 34:30). Many years later, as he was dying, Jacob remembered the cruelty of Simeon and Levi (Genesis 49:5-6) and cursed them, saying, “Cursed be their [Simeon and Levi’s] anger, for it was fierce; And their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel” (Genesis 49:7).

“Divide and scatter” was Jacob’s prophetic curse, and it was fulfilled when the tribe of Levi did not receive land as an inheritance in Canaan. So also, the tribe of Simeon would be amid Judah and without a distinct tribal territory.

Joshua 19 concluded with the LORD commanding Israel to give Joshua an inheritance (19:49).

Like the servant leader he was, Joshua had served the needs of all the others and ensured each tribe had its inheritance. Now, “according to the word of the Lord, they gave [Joshua] the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein” (19:50).

Why did Joshua choose to build a city on Mount Ephraim?

First, Joshua was a son of the tribe of Ephraim. However, the principal reason for his choice was, in my opinion, that the Tabernacle was located at Shiloh, a city of Ephraim. I believe Joshua was content to live out his days near the LORD’s sanctuary, the symbol of God’s presence amid Israel.

Closing thoughts:

What about you? Are you content in the LORD? Is worshipping and serving Him a priority for your life and family? It was for Joshua!

Questions to ponder:

1) Within what tribe’s territory was the tribe of Simeon assimilated? (19:1)

2) What did the tribe of Dan do when it realized its land was “too little for them?” (19:47)

3) With the lands divided among the tribes, how did Israel honor Joshua? (19:49)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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“GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN” (Joshua 14)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 14

Dividing the Land by Lot (Joshua 14:1-5)

The tribes on the east side of Jordan were given their inheritance, as Moses had promised (Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua 13). Joshua now addressed the task of assigning the other tribes their inheritance by lot and according to the instructions established in the Book of Numbers (Numbers 34:2-12, 16-29).

We are reminded that Jacob had adopted the sons of Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim as his sons (Genesis 48:5). They were tribes of Israel in their own right. The LORD had chosen the tribe of Levi to serve as priests. Therefore, the Levites would receive no inheritance in the land, except cities and “their suburbs [lands around the cities] for their cattle and their substance” (14:4).

Caleb’s Claim (Joshua 14:6-12)

However, before the lots were cast and the lands were divided by tribes, an inspirational event occurred.

Caleb, Joshua’s fellow spy and warrior (they were the only men twenty years and older to come out of Egypt and enter the Promised Land), came before Joshua. Accompanied by representatives of the tribe of Judah (14:6) who came as his witnesses, Caleb reminded Joshua that Moses had promised him an inheritance in Canaan (14:6-7).

Caleb compelled Joshua and said, “Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea” (14:6).

Caleb had been forty years old when he searched out the Promised Land. He had brought back a report of all that was in his heart (14:7). While the other spies discouraged the people with their faithless report, Caleb, like Joshua, determined to trust and “wholly followed the Lord” (14:8).  Tragically, Israel believed the unfaithful spies, and refused to trust the LORD and enter Canaan (14:8a).

For his faith and faithfulness, Moses had declared to Caleb, “Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God” (14:9). Forty-five years had passed. Yet, although he was eighty-five years old, Caleb was determined to claim his inheritance as the LORD promised (14:10).

We have seen that Joshua “was old and stricken in years” (13:1), but such was not the case with Caleb. Though he had been through the hardships of the wilderness and the battles in Canaan, his spirit was determined, and his strength was undiminished. Caleb testified, “I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in” (14:11).

What an astonishing declaration. Caleb’s passion, faith, and physical strength had not waned. He was not ready to retire, retreat, or spend his days in a rocking chair. Instead, he was prepared to take by faith what the LORD had promised him for his inheritance.

Caleb asserted, “GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims [who were giants, and by Egyptian records were seven to nine feet tall] were there, and that the cities were great and fenced” (14:12).

Closing thoughts:

What was Caleb’s inspiration? Why would an eighty-five-year-old man claim what others had feared and fled? Caleb revealed the source of his passion and faith, saying, “If so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said” (14:12).

The fire of a warrior still burned in Caleb’s soul. Though chronologically old, he was ready to claim his inheritance and go to war, knowing the LORD was with him!

How did Joshua respond to the faith of his old friend?

“Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance” (Joshua 14:13)

Questions to ponder:

1) How were the lands assigned to the tribes? (Joshua 14:2)

2) Besides the sons of Jacob, whose children received land in Canaan? (Joshua 14:4)

3) How old was Caleb when Moses sent him to spy on the enemies in Canaan? (Joshua 14:7)

4) Apart from God preserving his strength, what gave Caleb confidence to drive the Anakims out of his mountain? (Joshua 14:12)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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“In the Sovereignty of God, Dreams Do Come True” (Genesis 41-43)

Dear Heart of A Shepherd Readers,

I invite you to watch or listen to a message I preached at Hillsdale Baptist Church, Tampa, FL, on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Much of the sermon is narrative in style, but the content and applications are powerful.

Joseph’s brothers’ hatred brought him to Egypt, but God’s providence guided him from slavery and prison to serve as the ruler of Egypt and second only to Pharaoh. Two decades passed, and like many, Joseph’s brothers lived a lie and never confessed to their father that they had sold Joseph into slavery (left him believing a wild beast had killed his son). Yet, in the sovereignty of the LORD, Jacob’s sons would come face to face with their brother. (Genesis 42)

Text – Genesis 41-43
Topic – God’s Sovereignty and Providential Care
Series – “Logos: A Journey of Faith, Hope, and Love”

With the heart of a shepherd,

Travis D. Smith
Senior Pastor

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

The Deaths of Miriam and Aaron (Numbers 20)

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Scripture Reading – Numbers 20

Though not stated, the events recorded in Numbers 20 marked the passing of a generation. This was the 38th year of wanderings in the wilderness since the people refused to trust the LORD and enter the Promised Land. Fulfilling God’s judgment, the desert had become a graveyard for the children of Israel, who were twenty years old and older and lacked the faith to claim the land God had promised for an inheritance. Entering the 40th year, the nation’s leaders were passing off the scene, leaving only two of that generation (Joshua and Caleb) to cross the Jordan River into the new land.

For Moses, Numbers 20 was a time of sorrow and disappointment. That great servant of the LORD, with whom God spoke “face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10), experienced the deaths of his sister Miriam (20:1) and his brother Aaron (20:25-29; 33:38).

Miriam’s Death (Numbers 20:1)

The death of Miriam, the eldest of three siblings (her brothers being Aaron and Moses), garnered little more than a passing mention. So, we read in the Scriptures, “Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there” (20:1).

Israel had been at Kadesh before (13:26), where they turned back thirty-eight years earlier. At Kadesh, we read, “Miriam died there, and was buried” (20:1). There was no mention of a season of mourning, but simply and abruptly, Miriam died and was buried (20:1).

Rebellion Arose in the Hearts of a New Generation (Numbers 20:2-13)

An adage goes, “Like father, like son,” Thus, a rebellion rose in the hearts of a new generation at Kadesh. Their fathers had rebelled before them, and now they took up the same pattern of sin. Encamped on the border of Canaan, they did “chode [quarreled] with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!” (20:3)

Did the people wish to die? Of course not! Sadly, their quarrel with Moses evidenced a lack of trust in the nation’s leader. So, they murmured and complained about a lack of water, suggesting they had been led to Kadesh to die (20:4-5). They assailed the land and declared it was not what the LORD had promised (20:5). Yet, it was not far from their destination and destiny as a nation! Israel merely needed to pass through this desert to complete their journey to the Promised Land.

Moses and Aaron’s Appeal and the LORD’s Answer (20:6-8)

Then, Moses and Aaron left the congregation, went to the door of the Tabernacle, and “fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them” (20:6). The LORD then directed Moses to take the rod in hand, assemble the people, and speak to the rock with the people watching. He promised, “It shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink” (20:8).

Moses and Aaron’s Failure and God’s Displeasure (20:9-13)

Moses obeyed the LORD but became exasperated with the people and angrily rebuked them. So then, rather than speak to the rock as he was commanded (for he had many years before struck the rock once), he “lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also” (20:11).

Concerning this occasion, some might observe, “All is well that ends well;” however, that was not the case. You see, God was not only interested in the outcome, but He was also invested in the process. He had commanded Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses had chosen to strike the rock, not once, but twice in anger. Why is that an important lesson? Because the rock was a type, a representation of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1-4).

God’s judgment seemed severe, but God was jealous of His testimony, and Moses disobeyed Him. Moses, not the LORD, received the glory for the water that burst forth from the rock (20:12). He sinned against the LORD in the sight of the people. Moses and Aaron lacked faith (“ye believed me not,” 20:12), and the LORD determined, “Ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them” (20:12).

The Edomites Refused Israel’s Passage Through Their Lands (Numbers 20:14-21)

I will address the Edomite’s refusal to allow Israel safe passage through their territory later. For now, let us remember that the Edomites were Esau’s descendants. He had been the twin brother of Jacob and the son of Isaac. In other words, there was a familial connection between the Edomites and Israel. Like Esau had shown compassion to Jacob (Genesis 33:1-17), Israel had hoped the same would be true for them as a people (20:17). Edom, however, refused Israel’s request and forced the nation to take another route (20:18-21).

Aaron’s Death (Numbers 20:22-29)

We are left without question concerning the passing of Aaron, the High Priest and brother of Moses, whose death was attended by both ceremony and mourning. Aaron and Moses had disobeyed the LORD when Moses struck the rock twice at “Meribah” (20:24). Therefore, he would not “enter into the land which [the LORD had] given unto the children of Israel” (20:24). We read, “Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. 29And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel” (20:28-29).

Closing thoughts:

Like the best of men, Aaron was far from perfect; however, he was the man God had chosen as Israel’s first High Priest. When Eleazar came down from the mount wearing the garments of the High Priest, and Aaron was not with Moses, the people mourned his death for thirty days. So it must be with every generation and with all men and women. We live, and we die. But those who trust the LORD will live forever with Him (1 John 5:13).

Psalm 90:12 – 12So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Questions to consider:

1) Why did the people complain and contend with Moses? (20:2-5)

2) How did Moses and Aaron respond to the people’s accusations? (20:6)

3) What did the LORD command Moses and Aaron to do? (20:8)

4) What did Moses do that displeased the LORD? (20:9-11)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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Sometimes Saying, “I’m sorry” is Not Enough! (Exodus 21; Exodus 22)

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(Additional languages available upon request by emailing HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com.)

Scripture reading: Exodus 21-22

Having established the Ten Commandments as the foundation of God’s Covenant with Israel, today’s Scripture reading states the practical and personal application of the Commandments. We read, “Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them” (21:1).

The following verses served not only Israel but have been the foundation of democratic law and government down through the centuries. You will find here the basis of your sense of justice and fairness. Yet, tragically, I fear the principles recorded here have been forgotten and discarded by leaders, politicians, and citizens of the 21st century.

Exodus 21 

Human Rights: Precepts for Slavery, Manslaughter, Rebellion, and Injury

Slavery and indentured servitude (21:1-11) have been practiced since ancient times and continue in some form to this day. Those who object to the inclusion of this topic in the Bible must realize it was a commonly accepted practice and had to be addressed righteously. Understanding poverty might reduce a man to slavery; the LORD instituted prudent principles that forbade injustice. Here we have guidelines to impart dignity to even the lowest household servant. Unfortunately, there is an epidemic of human trafficking and “sex slaves” today, perpetuating the shameful abuses God’s Law prohibits.

Slavery and Individual Sovereignty (21:1-6)

Should a Hebrew man become impoverished and reduced to slavery to pay his debt, he would serve his master no more than six years. Upon the seventh year, he was to be freed from his indebtedness and servitude (21:1-2). Should a married man be reduced to servitude, he, his wife, and his children would be released in the seventh year.

However, should a man take a wife during his servitude, he alone would be at liberty in the seventh year (21:3-4). Although freed from obligation, should the man love his master and not want to depart alone, he was permitted to choose to continue voluntarily as a slave (21:5). Such a man would have his ear bored through (21:6) and would serve either till the death of his master, or be set free with his family in the year of jubilee (which would occur every 50 years).

The Desperate Role of Daughters (21:7-11)

Poverty might sometimes force a father to part with his daughter and sell her to another as a household servant (21:7). Because this system was fraught with abuses, the Law provided guidelines to preserve the dignity and reputation of Hebrew daughters. For example, a poor man who desired a better life for his daughter sometimes permitted a wealthy man to purchase her and take her to his wife when she came of age. When she came of age, if the man or his son refused to marry her, they would send her away with a dowry enough to provide her food and clothing and with no further obligation to the benefactor (21:8-11).

The Sanctity of Human Life (21:12-14)

The sixth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not kill” (20:13). Prudently, God’s Law recognized a difference between murder and manslaughter (taking a life without intent, 21:12-14).

The Honor to be Afforded Parents (21:15, 17).

The fifth commandment said, “Honour thy father and thy mother” (20:12). Cursing or striking one’s parents was a capital offense, and death was mandated (21:15, 17). Still, we must understand that cursing or hitting one’s father or mother carried judicial stipulations. The commandments are filled with conditions, longsuffering, and love. In addition, all offenses were brought before a judicial body that ruled over offenses. As such, we do not have a Biblical account of any being put to death for this offense.

Justice and Fair Compensation for Loss (21:18-36)

Fair and adequate compensation was required for accidental injuries that did not result in death. Should a victim of injury be unable to provide for himself or his family, he was to be fairly and adequately compensated (21:18-32). The law states, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (21:24). Losses caused by one’s negligence were to be compensated (21:28-36). It did not require the offender to lose his eye, tooth, or life.

Exodus 22

Theft and Endangerment of One’s Livelihood were not Tolerated. (22:1-13)

The theft of ox or sheep was a serious offense (22:1-4) in an agricultural society where a man’s livelihood and his family’s well-being depended on farming and husbandry. Damage to a man’s vineyard or crops required fair compensation for the loss (22:5-6).

Personal responsibility and liability were important issues among God’s people, and fair compensation for losses, whether caused by theft or neglect, was mandated (22:7-15).

Loans and the Obligation of Debtors (22:14-15)

Exodus 22:14-15 states the obligation a borrower assumed when using another man’s property. For the sake of illustration, if a farmer borrowed another man’s ox to plow his field, and the ox was injured or died, the borrower became a debtor and was under obligation to “make it good” (22:14). In other words, one must choose to either repay or replace the ox.  An exception to the law of repayment or replacement was when the owner of an ox plowed another man’s field “for his hire” (22:15). Because he was hired to plow a field, the employer (owner of the field) was not under obligation to replace the ox.

Exodus 22 concluded with various laws that addressed moral and societal issues (22:16-23:19), including rape (22:16-17), witchcraft (22:18), bestiality (22:19), and idolatry (22:20).  The matter of borrowing, and indebtedness were addressed as well as charging excessive interest that imposed unnecessary hardships on the poor were condemned (22:25-27).

Closing thoughts:

The Law and its application to daily life necessitate honesty and integrity. Indeed, the need for spiritual principles and values is as great today as they were when they were given. Certainly, if we want the next generation to have integrity, they must be taught to be responsible. Justice and fairness demand that when one’s actions cause injury or loss, there is an obligation to make the injured party whole.

After all, sometimes saying, “I’m sorry,” is not enough! 

Questions to consider:

1) To pay a debt, a man might be forced to become an indentured servant (slave). What was the maximum number of years a man might be enslaved? (Exodus 21:2)

2) What would become of a man’s wife and children should he marry while enslaved? (Exodus 21:4)

3) What physical sign identified a man as a willing, voluntary servant? (Exodus 21:5-6)

4) The penalty for intentional murder was death (Exodus 21:12). What was the consequence of manslaughter (unintentional killing of another)? (Exodus 21:13)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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Mailing Address:
Heart of A Shepherd Inc
7853 Gunn Hwy
#131
Tampa, FL 33626-1611

You can email HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com for more information on this daily devotional ministry.

“God Meant it Unto Good” (Genesis 50)

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(Additional languages available upon request by emailing HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com.)

Scripture reading – Genesis 50

“[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” (49:33).

Named Jacob when he was born, he fulfilled the definition of that name in the early years of his life, for through his mother, he had supplanted his brother and been a trickster and deceiver. His life, however, was altered at a brook named Peniel (32:27-30) when God changed his name to Israel. Transformed into a man of faith, he became a man upon whom the power of God could rest.

Jacob (Israel) had borne the weight of great sorrows, but at his death, was surrounded by his family and comforted by the embrace of his son Joseph, the second ruler of Egypt (50:1). Jacob was then embalmed in the manner of Egypt, and even “the Egyptians mourned for [Jacob] threescore and ten days” (50:3). Joseph requested, and received, Pharaoh’s blessing for his father’s body to be taken up to Canaan and buried in the ancestral tomb of his father Isaac, and his grandfather Abraham (50:4-6).

Imagine the funeral procession that came from Egypt and made its way to Jacob’s tomb (50:7-13).

His body, borne in an Egyptian coffin, was escorted by “all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8And 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” (50:7-8).

The Canaanite people of the region observed the royal procession of mourners and named the place Abel-mizraim, meaning a “mourning or meadow of Egypt” (50:11). Arriving at the tomb, the sons of Jacob buried their father (50:12-13), and then returned to Egypt (50:14). Understanding the evil they had committed against Joseph, his brothers feared in their father’s absence, he might exact revenge for their wrongs against him (50:15-17).  Instead of revenge, however, “Joseph wept” (50:17b).

 

Though abused and rejected in his youth, Joseph had looked past his trials with eyes of faith and rested in the providence of God. He then assured his brothers and said, “Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20But 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” (50:19-20). So he comforted them, and said, “fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them” (50:21).

 

Sold as a slave when he was seventeen, Joseph lived the rest of his life in Egypt. Though a ruler in Egypt, his heart longed for the land God had promised. In death, he assured his brethren: “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” (50:24). Joseph repeated the promise and requested, “ye shall carry up my bones from hence” (50:25). “So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt” (50:26).

Closing thoughts – I conclude this commentary and thank you for accompanying me on this journey through the Scriptures.

Beginning with, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1), and closing with Joseph’s death and the request that his bones be taken up and buried in Canaan (50:25-26), we have witnessed God’s sovereignty and loving devotion to those who turn from sin to Him. Joseph confessed to his brothers, “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” (50:20).

It was God who worked to save Jacob, his sons, and the Tribes of Israel so that He might fulfill His Covenant Promise to Abraham that “in [him] shall all families of the earth be blessed” (a promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the world, 12:3; John 3:16). It is God who desires all men would be saved, and “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

God is working, and He invites you to “confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus” and “believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). I invite you to share your decision of faith or thoughts with this author by emailing HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com.

Questions to consider:

1) How did Joseph and his brothers honor their father after his death, and what lessons might we take from their examples? (Genesis 50:1-14)

2) Why did Joseph’s brothers fear him after Jacob, their father, died? (Genesis 50:15)

3) Rather than seeking vengeance and being bitter for the wrongs he had suffered from his brothers, Joseph expressed confidence in God’s sovereignty and faith in His providences. What did Joseph say? (Genesis 50:19-20)

4) Are you angry or bitter because someone wronged you? How would your life change if you adopted Joseph’s confidence in God’s sovereignty and providence?

5) What was Joseph’s dying wish? (Genesis 50:24-50)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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Jacob’s Last Will and Testament (Genesis 48; Genesis 49)

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(Additional languages available upon request by emailing HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com.)

Scripture reading – Genesis 48-49

Genesis 48

His father’s strength had been waning, and when Joseph received news his father was sick, he hastened with his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to Jacob’s bedside (48:1). Learning Joseph was approaching, Jacob (Israel) “strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed” (48:2). Joseph is about 56 years old when he comes with his sons to his father’s bedside.

Raising himself from his bed, Jacob reminded Joseph of the covenant promises God had imparted to him in Canaan and said: “Behold, I [God Almighty] 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” (48:4).

Jacob’s thoughts then turned to pronounce God’s providential inclusion of Joseph’s sons among his own (48:5-6). Ephraim, the younger, and Manasseh, the older, were foretold to be equal to Jacob’s sons and would therefore inherit a portion of the birthright blessings in place of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, who forfeited their portion through sinful choices (48:5b; 1 Chronicles 5:1; Numbers 26:28-37; 1 Chronicles 7:14-29; Hebrews 11:21). Reuben had morally sinned against his father (35:22), and Simeon and Levi had disgraced the family by their anger and violence (34:25-31). Though these sons were loved by their father, their sins had been so egregious that they were rejected from their full blessing and inheritance.

Joseph put forward Manasseh, his oldest son; however, Jacob took Ephraim in his right hand and insisted that the firstborn’s blessing would fall on him (48:8-19). Though he would die in Egypt, Jacob foretold that Joseph and his sons’ inheritance would not be in Egypt, but in Canaan (48:21). Thus, Joseph’s faithfulness to the LORD and his care of his father and family were rewarded, and he received through his sons a double portion of the inheritance (48:22).

Genesis 49 – A Parting Blessing

Jacob’s final words to his sons and prophetic insight into their lineages were recorded in Genesis 49. The words of that dying man were both a blessing and sobering (49:3-15).

The Six Sons of Leah (49:3-15)

Jacob’s firstborn, Reuben was a strong leader; however, the shame of his lying with his father’s concubine shadowed his life (49:3-4). Simeon and Levi, the second and third-born sons, were reminded of their angry, vindictive spirits and told their lineages would be scattered among the tribes in the Promised Land. The tribe of Levi would be priests to the LORD (49:5-7). Judah, the fourth-born son, would become a royal lineage, of whom David and Jesus Christ would be born (49:8-12). Zebulun’s family, the tenth-born son of Jacob, would settle along the Mediterranean coast (49:13). Issachar, the ninth son, would become an agricultural people (49:14-15).

The Sons of Bilhah (49:16-18; 21)

Bilhah, one of Jacob’s concubines, gave birth to two sons of Jacob. Dan was the fifth-born son; his name means “Judge,” and his lineage would judge the tribes of Israel (49:16-18). Naphtali, Jacob’s sixth son, would father a line said to be like a “hind let loose,” a swift female deer, and gifted in words (49:21).

The Sons of Zilpah (49:19-20)

Gad, son of Bilhah, was Jacob’s seventh son, and his lineage would be known as great warriors (Joshua 22:1-6; 1 Chronicles 12:8). Asher, the eighth born, would become a wealthy tribe and supply the other tribes with “bread…[and] royal dainties” (49:20).

The Sons of Rachel (49:22-27)

Rachel, Jacob’s first love, was the mother of Joseph, the eleventh son (49:22-26), and Benjamin, his twelfth son (49:27).

Jacob described Joseph as an overcomer who, though suffering the arrows of accusations from his brothers, had become a “fruitful bough” (49:22-23). As a result, God elevated him, and he became the shepherd of his family and the “stone (or rock) of Israel” (49:24). Though he had been separated from his father and brothers, Jacob promised God would bless Joseph “with blessings of heaven above” (49:25-26).

Benjamin, Jacob’s twelfth son, was described as ravenous as a wolf (49:27). His tribe would be fearless warriors (Judges 20:15-25), and numbered among his lineage would be Saul, the first king of Israel, and the apostle Paul (Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5). Benjamin’s tribe, along with the tribe of Judah, would be faithful to the LORD.

Jacob’s Death (49:28-33)

With his dying breaths, Jacob repeated his request to be buried in Canaan and the ancestral tomb where Isaac and Abraham were buried. Then we read, “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” (49:33).

Closing thoughts – Jacob’s death marked the end of an era, but not the end of our study. Now named Israel, the old patriarch was given the burial honors of a ruler; however, Joseph’s brothers feared that upon his father’s death, he would exact revenge for the evils they had committed against him.

Questions to consider:

  1. What was Jacob’s (Israel’s) final request before he died? (Genesis 47:29-31)
  1. What two covenant promises did Jacob rehearse with Joseph? (Genesis 48:4)
  1. The lineages of Joseph’s two sons would become two of the Twelve Tribes of Israel (in the place of the two sons of Jacob whose sins disgraced his household). What were the names of the two sons of Jacob who were displaced? (48:5-6).

Joseph was blessed with a double portion of inheritance for his faithfulness through his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. (48:20-22)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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Mailing Address:
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7853 Gunn Hwy
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You can email HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com for more information on this daily devotional ministry.

Promises Made; Promises Kept (Genesis 47 – Part 2)

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Scripture reading – Genesis 46-47

Genesis 47

Pharaoh’s Provision and Meeting with Jacob (Genesis 47:1-10)

With his family established in Goshen, a place known for its lush grazing land, Joseph chose five of his brothers “and presented them unto Pharaoh” (47:2). As he expected, Pharaoh questioned the men concerning their occupation. They answered, saying, “Thy servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers” (47:3).

Joseph’s brothers made it clear that their business in Egypt was temporal, for they were there “to sojourn in the land…for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan” (47:4a). Showing themselves men of humility, they asked, “let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen” (47:4b).

When his interview with Joseph’s brothers concluded, Pharaoh granted Joseph and his father a private audience (an indication of Pharaoh’s respect for Joseph). Pharaoh asked Jacob, “How old art thou?” (47:8). Jacob answered the king’s inquiry, giving not only his age, but his testimony: “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” (47:9).

One hundred thirty years was a long life; however, not nearly as long as his grandfather Abraham, who lived to be 175, or his father Isaac, who lived to 180 years old (47:9). When his meeting concluded, Jacob parted with a blessing before he “went out from before Pharaoh” (47:10). The form of that blessing is not known; however, I believe it was a verbal one, and perhaps a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for Pharaoh’s kindness.

Joseph’s Loving Care for His Family (Genesis 47:11-12)

Exercising the privilege of his office, Joseph ensured his family would enjoy “the best of the land…as Pharaoh had commanded” (47:11). While all of Egypt suffered famine, he “nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families” (47:12).

Famine Enslaved the Egyptians to Pharaoh (Genesis 47:13-26)

The famine continued for seven years and inevitably caused the people to become impoverished. With no crops to harvest, the people spent all their money to purchase grain (47:13-15). When the famine continued, the Egyptians were forced to part with their livestock and sold their cattle to Pharaoh (47:16-17). When the second year of famine was finished, the people came to Joseph, offered their lands, and finally became Pharaoh’s servants (47:18-20, 23-26b).

There were two exceptions to the ravages of famine. First, the priests, a politically powerful presence in Egypt, were given grain by Pharaoh and exempted from selling their lands (47:22, 26b). The second was Joseph’s family, his father, brothers, and their households, “had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly” (47:27).

Israel’s Longing for Home (Genesis 47:28-31)

God blessed Jacob, and he enjoyed the company of his son Joseph another seventeen years after moving to Egypt (47:28). When he was 147 years old, and knowing his death was imminent, Jacob summoned Joseph to his bedside. The private conversation that passed between them was recorded. Though he was Joseph’s senior in age, Israel’s (Jacob’s) manner deferred to his son’s office and made his parting request.

Genesis 47:29b–31 – “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: 30But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he [Joseph] said, I will do as thou hast said. 31And he [Jacob] said, Swear unto me. And he [Joseph] sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.

Joseph honored his father’s request and vowed to return Jacob’s body to Canaan, where he would be buried with his father, Isaac, and his grandfather Abraham. (47:31).

Closing thoughts – Genesis 48 records Jacob’s parting words, caution, and counsel to his sons and their families. Meditating on this passage reminds me that wise men and women plan for death and the inevitability of God’s judgment.

James 4:14 – 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

How about you, are you ready? “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

Questions to consider: After he counseled his brothers (Genesis 46:31-34), Joseph was discreet as he approached Pharaoh and interceded for his family (Genesis 47:1-2).

1) What lessons can we take from Joseph’s approach to and relationship with Pharaoh, his authority?

2) What decision did Pharaoh make after meeting Joseph’s father and his brothers? (Genesis 47:5-6)

3) What was Israel’s (Jacob’s) last request before he died? (Genesis 47:29-31)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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Mailing Address:
Heart of A Shepherd Inc
7853 Gunn Hwy
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You can email HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com for more information on this daily devotional ministry.

Hope Revived: Joseph is Alive! (Genesis 46)

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Scripture reading – Genesis 46-47

Today’s devotion will come in two parts. This devotion is part 1 and a brief review, followed by a study of Genesis 46. The bonus devotion that follows will focus on Genesis 47.

Review (Genesis 43-45)

Jacob had charted an astonishing journey in life. His spiritual walk was so evidenced in his daily life that God changed his name from Jacob (“trickster”) to Israel (“God wrestles,” 32:28), for he was a man who had power with God.

Though blessed by the LORD, Jacob’s life had not been without disappointments and sorrows that invariably afflict us all. Years passed and we find Jacob now in his twilight years, shadowed by the grief and deaths of his wives and the loss of two sons (he believed a wild beast had killed Joseph, and Simeon was a prisoner in Egypt). Famine forced Jacob to send his sons, including his youngest son Benjamin, to Egypt. Meanwhile, he resigned himself to the worst outcome (43:14).

One day, as Jacob waited to hear from his sons, he saw a caravan in the distance. His sons greeted him, bringing news from Egypt that caused the old man’s heart to nearly stop: “Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt” (45:26-27).

Though old and frail, the news that Joseph was alive revived his spirit (45:27). While the journey to Egypt would be challenging, the anticipation of being reunited with Joseph stirred Jacob’s heart. He looked forward to death with the contentment of a man whose life had been satisfied (45:28).

Genesis 46:1-7 – Journey from Beersheba

Beersheba was located at the southernmost point of Canaan before one crossed into the Arabian Peninsula, and it held a significant place in Jacob’s life. Israel (Jacob) began his journey to Egypt, but not before going to Beersheba, where he “offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac” (46:1; 21:30; 22:19; 26:23, 32-33). There God appeared to him and quieted his fears saying, “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: 4I 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” (46:3-4). So, knowing the LORD’s leading, Jacob and all his family made their way from Beersheba and arrived in Egypt (46:5-7).

Genesis 46:8-27 – Jacob’s Family Roster: The Twelve Sons of Jacob

Altogether, sixty-six men were identified among those who traveled to Egypt (46:8-26). Including Jacob, Joseph, and his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim; Jacob’s lineage numbered seventy souls (46:27).

Genesis 46:28-34 – Jacob’s Reunion with Joseph

Traveling with a large family, including livestock and belongings, made for a slow, arduous journey. When they arrived in Egypt, Jacob sent Judah, his fourth-born son, to Joseph, who “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” (46:29).

Imagine the moment Joseph embraced his father and the tears of joy that coursed down their cheeks as twenty-two years of separation were bridged by the love of a father and son. Then, “Israel (Jacob) said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive” (46:30). The son he had believed was dead was not only alive, he was the second ruler of Egypt!

We also learn that the Egyptians looked upon shepherds with loathing (46:34). Therefore, Joseph wisely prepared his family for their interview with Pharaoh (46:31). Knowing his brothers had also tended cattle, Joseph counseled them to answer questions concerning their trade, saying: “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” (46:32-34).

Joseph’s love and care for his father were commendable, as they should have been. Though he was a ruler of Egypt, there was no greater privilege than to be the son of Israel, a man who had power with God!

Questions to consider:

  1. What did Jacob (Israel) do before he entered Egypt with his family? (Genesis 46:1)
  1. Perhaps Jacob feared what the future might hold for him and his family. What assurance did God give to comfort Jacob as he departed Canaan? (Genesis 46:2-4).

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

The Internal Revenue Service recognizes Heart of A Shepherd Inc as a 501c3 public charitable organization.

Mailing Address:
Heart of A Shepherd Inc
7853 Gunn Hwy
#131
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You can email HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com for more information on this daily devotional ministry.