Category Archives: Family

Justice for All, Love Your Enemy, and A Call for Separation (Exodus 23)

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Scripture reading – Exodus 23

The instructions that gave practical applications of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) continued in Exodus 23. As noted in the prior devotion (Exodus 21-22), you will recognize in today’s Scripture the foundational principles of civil society.

A Demand for Judicial Integrity: Justice for All (Exodus 23:1-3)

The ninth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (20:16). For justice to be fair and impartial, God’s Law demanded that Israel’s judges be above reproach and intolerant of any who would pervert justice (23:1-9). Therefore, a witness was commanded to state the truth and not bring a false accusation against an innocent man in a judicial matter, nor should a witness’ lie spare the guilty their due punishment (23:1-2). There was one law and one standard, and neither the poor nor the rich were granted a charitable judgment or spared the weight of the Law (23:3).

Blind, Compassionate Justice: “Love thy enemy.” (Exodus 23:4-5; Matthew 5:43-44; Romans 12:20)

Exodus 23:4-5 challenged man’s natural bent for vengeance when wronged and commanded God’s people to show kindness and grace even to an enemy. Understanding Israel was chiefly an agricultural nation throughout its history, the illustration of returning an ox or ass to its owner (even if he was an enemy) is practical and easily applied in our modern day. Essentially, God’s people are to offer aid and not sit by idly when they know an enemy is struggling or has suffered a loss.

Justice for All (Exodus 23:6-9)

Exodus 23:6-9 returned to judicial matters and the demand for impartial judgment. Under God’s Law, the poor were not to be denied representation or justice (23:6), and judges were to see that righteous judgment prevailed (23:7). Judges were not to be bribed (23:8), and non-Hebrews (“strangers”), were to be judged fairly (23:9).

The Sabbath Year (Exodus 23:10-12)

Emphasizing the significance of “Sabbath Rest” (20:8-11), Israel was commanded to observe a “Sabbath Year.” Every seventh year the land was to remain fallow (not to be plowed), and crops were not to be planted (23:10). The land was to rest, and if seeds volunteered and grew to bear fruit, the poor and the “beast of the field” were given liberty to eat (23:11). For both man and beast, the Sabbath was to be observed as a day to rest and “be refreshed” (23:12).

Three Feasts (or Festivals) were Observed by Israel (Exodus 23:14-19)

Israel was commanded to observe three annual festivals (23:14-19). First, there was the “feast of unleavened bread” and the Passover (23:15, 18), commemorating the Passover in Egypt when the LORD spared the firstborn of Israel. The “feast of the harvest,” known as Firstfruits and later celebrated as Pentecost, was observed at the beginning of harvest (23:16a). At that time, the first fruits of the harvest were offered to the LORD (23:19a). Finally, there was also the “feast of the ingathering,” that was observed at the end of the harvest season (23:16b), and was a time of thanksgiving.

Three Promises (Exodus 23:20-28)

The LORD made three promises to Israel, whose fulfillment was conditioned upon the people hearing and obeying His Law and Commandments (23:20-28). First, He promised to “send an Angel” before the nation to “keep [Israel] in the way, and to bring [the nation] into the place which [God had] prepared” (23:20). (I think that this “Angel” was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.) The LORD promised that if Israel obeyed the “voice” of the Angel, He would fulfill His covenant and “be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries” (23:22).

Secondly, the LORD promised His “Angel” would protect Israel, and “go before” the nation and cut off those nations that occupied the land of Canaan (23:23). The Angel would give Israel protection (23:23), provisions (23:25), and posterity (i.e., future generations; 23:26). Unlike other nations that adopted and sacrificed to the gods of the land they conquered; Israel was to destroy the idols of the Canaanite people (23:24).

Finally, God promised to set the boundaries of the land He covenanted with Abraham (23:31). He warned Israel that the people were not to befriend or make any covenant with the Canaanites they conquered or worship their gods. Furthermore, the LORD admonished that the heathen “shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee (23:33).

Closing thoughts:

**Although it is rarely preached in the pulpit nor practiced in the pew, the principle of radical separation is found throughout the Scriptures,**

Israel was admonished to drive the heathen out of the land. Should they fail, the children of Israel would invariably adopt the sins of their neighbors (23:33). Tragically, that same truth is all too evident in today’s churches. In his first letter to believers in ancient Corinth, Paul exhorted, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). In his second letter to the same church, Paul admonished, “Wherefore come out from among them [the unsaved], and be ye separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17a).

Israel was called to separate from the heathen they conquered and to destroy their gods. So, too are believers to separate and distance themselves from the ungodly, lest we become like them! We are commanded and exhorted, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Questions to consider:

1) How did the Law illustrate God’s demand that His people have compassion for an enemy? (Exodus 23:4-5)

2) What were the Israelites not to do during the Sabbath year? (Exodus 23:10-12)

3) What were the three feasts Israel was commanded to observe yearly? (Exodus 23:14-19)

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

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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 21^st 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)

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The Ten Commandments – Part 2 (Exodus 20)

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Scripture reading: Exodus 19-20

All of Israel witnessed the outward manifestation of God’s heavenly glory as smoke and fire engulfed Mount Sinai. The trumpet blasts warned man, woman, and beast that none dared approach the mount and live (19:12-13). Then, out of the midst of the mountain, the LORD was heard saying, “I am the LORD [Jehovah; Eternal, Self-Existent God] thy God [Elohim], which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (20:2).

Exodus 20

The Ten Commandments were part of the LORD’S covenant with Israel, and the people were commanded to hear, heed, and obey them (20:1-17).

The first commandment stated, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (20:3). Unlike the neighboring nations who worshipped innumerable gods, Israel was to worship one God—Yahweh, Elohim, the True, Eternal, Self-existent One.

The second commandment was, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: ⁵Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; ⁶And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (20:4-6). Unlike their neighbors, Israel was not to worship idols or images like Israel’s God. The people were warned that the family would bear the guilt for violating the second commandment and thereby invoke God’s judgment “upon the children” (20:5).

The third commandment reminded Israel that the essence of God’s character was summed up in His name. We read, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (20:7). God’s name was to be honored and not spoken of lightly or in vain. The name and meaning of Israel’s God was to be hallowed.

The fourth commandment served as a reminder that Israel’s God was Creator, and the Sabbath would serve as a day of rest and a memorial to His handiwork. Of the Sabbath, we read: “⁸Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (20:8-11). The Sabbath Day, the seventh day of the week, was dedicated to the LORD as a day of worship and rest (31:16-17).

The fifth commandment moved the emphasis of the Law and Commandments from man’s relationship with his Creator to his relationship with his fellow man. Israel was commanded, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (20:12). Because fathers and mothers represented God’s authority, sons and daughters of Israel were to honor and revere their parents. Likewise, the elderly were to be honored and revered; any who failed were condemned (Deuteronomy 27:16). The fifth commandment also carried a particular promise and reward–long life (20:12b; Ephesians 6:1-3).

The sixth commandment was a reminder of the sanctity of human life: “Thou shalt not kill” (20:13). Because Adam was created in God’s image, the life of man and woman were to be valued as sacred (Genesis 1:27; 2:7, 21-22).

The seventh commandment served as a reminder of the sanctity of marriage. The LORD commanded Israel, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (20:14). From the beginning, God established the institution of marriage as a sacred covenant between Himself and the man and woman. It was ordained by their Creator that “man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). As “one flesh,” the bond between the husband and his wife is not to be broken (Genesis 2:24). So sacred is the institution of marriage, that it served in the New Testament as a picture of Christ’s enduring love for believers and the church (Ephesians 5:30-32; Matthew 5:27-29).

The eighth commandment established the right of ownership. It stated: “Thou shalt not steal” (20:15). Thus, to take that which belonged to another (whether by theft or deceit) was a sin against God and man (Ephesians 4:28).

The ninth commandment demanded that truth would prevail. We read, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (20:16). God’s people were to speak the truth (Ephesians 4:15, 25, 29), and libel, slander, or bearing false witness was a grievous sin.

The tenth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not covet,” and focused upon desires for that which belonged to another. So we read, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (20:17). Though manifested outwardly, covetousness is deeply-rooted within the heart of man.

The Manner of Worship Required by a Holy God (Exodus 20:18-26)

Having forbidden idols and images of Himself (20:4-6; 23-25), the LORD was also concerned about the attitude and manner of those who approached His altar to worship and offer sacrifices. Therefore, steps were forbidden at the altar to preserve a modest, respectful decorum, lest those who worshipped be perceived as immodest (20:26).

Closing thoughts:

The LORD’S expectations for Israel’s altar, and His demand for modesty, should be instructive. The priests were commanded to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the holiness of God. There were not to allow “nakedness” (immodesty) to distract those who worshipped the LORD (20:26).

Tragically, “anything goes” seems to be the mode of worshippers in the 21^st-century church. I fear there is little thought given to the manner or style of worshiping God who is holy.

Questions to consider:

1) Was Israel permitted to have and worship a physical likeness (image) of God? (Exodus 20:4)

2) What were the people promised if they kept God’s Commandments? (20:6)

3) Why was Israel commanded to consider the Sabbath a holy day? (20:11)

4) What two commandments stressed the sanctity of human life and marriage? (Exodus 20:13-14)

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Does Character Matter? (Exodus 18)

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Scripture reading: Exodus 18

A Family Reunion (18:1-8)

With the defeat of the Amalekites (17:13-16), the LORD magnified the standing of Moses and Joshua. Soon, the news reached the nations of “all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and [how] the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt” (18:1). Soon after, Jethro, “the priest of Midian” and the father-in-law of Moses, journeyed to Israel’s encampment (18:1), and reunited him with Zipporah, Moses’ wife “and her two sons,” Gershom and Eliezer (18:1-5).

A beautiful scene unfolds as we are privy to the family reunion and the visible signs of love and respect evidenced by Moses and his father-in-law (18:6-8). Although he had proved himself to be a great leader, when Moses learned his father-in-law had come, he honored him and “went out to meet [him]… and did obeisance [bowed before him], and kissed him” (18:7a).

What a blessed reunion, as Jethro and Moses “asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent” of Moses (18:7b). We do not know the number of hours that passed as Moses rehearsed “all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them” (18:8a). Remembering Moses’ when the LORD had first called to him from the midst of the burning bush (Exodus 3), I am sure Jethro took pride in the man who was his son by marriage.

Moses shared not only the victories, but “all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lorddelivered them” (18:8) from thirst and hunger, and gave Israel success over the Amalekites (17:8-16).

A Proud Father-in-law (18:9-12)

Jethro rejoiced in the LORD’s goodness and how He had delivered Israel out of slavery (18:9-10). He declared, “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them” (18:11). Though he was a Midianite and not numbered among the Twelve Tribes of Israel, Jethro was a man of faith in the God of Israel (for the Midianites were descendants of Abraham through his wife Keturah, Genesis 25:1-2, 4). Therefore, Jethro “took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God” (18:12) and invited Moses, his brother Aaron, “and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread…before God” (18:12).

The Daily Toil of Leadership (18:13-22)

The reunion celebration was short-lived, for the next day, Moses returned to his all-consuming task as he “sat to judge the people” (18:13). Jethro looked on as the people gathered “from the morning unto the evening” (18:13), waiting for Moses to weigh their concerns, and pass judgment. He then enquired of Moses, “What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?” (18:14)

Moses then explained that his role was not to make laws, but to make “the statutes of God, and His laws” known (18:15-16). Jethro, concerned for his son-in-law’s well-being, said to Moses, “this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone” (18:18). He proposed there was a better way to judge the people, and that was to “teach [the people] ordinances and laws, and [show] them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do” (18:20).

Rather than serve as the judge of the people, Jethro suggested Moses should be God’s mediator and “teach them ordinances and laws…wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do” (18:19-20). He urged Moses to choose “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them…²²And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee” (18:21-22).

Closing thoughts: Character Matters (18:23-26)

Moses wisely heeded his father-in-law’s counsel and “chose able [capable] men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people…and they judged the people at all seasons [as the need arose]: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves” (18:25-26).

What manner of men were chosen to judge the people? First, they were men who feared God (indicative of all who walk in His Law and Commandments). They were pious, godly men, “men of truth” and worthy of trust (18:21). Those who sat in judgment were to hate “covetousness” and therefore not favor the poor or the wealthy, the weak or the strong. They were to be men of integrity and above reproach (18:21)

Tragically, the same cannot be said of men and women in places of authority in our day. How different our society, world, and churches would be if we demanded that those in authority must be “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, [and] hating covetousness” (18:21)

What about you? Do you have the spiritual qualities God seeks so that you may serve Him?

Questions to consider:

1) What was Jethro’s response when Moses told him all the things God had done in delivering Israel? (Exodus 18:9-11)

2) What overwhelming task did Jethro observe Moses doing in his leadership role? (Exodus 18:13)

3) What were Jethro’s concerns and advice to Moses? (Exodus 18:17-18)

4) What manner of man was Moses to choose to sit in judgment of the people? (Exodus 18:21)

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Humility: The Essence of a Servant-Leader (Exodus 11) – Part 1 of 2 daily devotions.

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Scripture reading: Exodus 11-12

Exodus 11

The Man (or Woman) God Calls

Before the LORD sent the tenth, and final plague, He instructed Moses to communicate to the people that they would “borrow [to request or demand] of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold” (11:2).

This seems a strange request for a people preparing to sojourn in the desert; however, I suggest two motives for the demand. First, the Egyptians had enslaved God’s people for four centuries, and the value of what they demanded in precious metals would scarcely be regarded as full payment for their toil. A second purpose, the “jewels of silver, and jewels of gold” would be required to decorate the tabernacle and fabricate vessels that would later be used in worship.

Before I address the tenth plague, consider what the LORD had done in this contest between Pharaoh and His servant Moses.

The LORD had magnified Moses in Egypt, and the fears he had entertained in returning from the wilderness were overcome by God giving him “favour in the sight of the Egyptians” (11:3a). Forty years of herding his father-in-law’s sheep had humbled this once proud prince of Egypt. However, the LORD had so magnified him that he became “very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people” (11:3).

Forty years earlier, Moses’ flight into the wilderness left behind everything that gave him rank and privilege as a prince in Egypt. Now, having departed from the quiet pastoral life of a shepherd, God had blessed and elevated him above the king of Egypt in the eyes of the people.

The Tenth Plague

The final plague severely affected Egypt’s proud, obstinate king. The Egyptians viewed Pharaoh as a god (though human, they believed he was an intermediary between the gods and humanity), and the tenth plague assailed the king and his son, the future heir to Egypt’s throne. Thus, Moses prophesied, “Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: ⁵And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die…⁶And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more” (11:4-6).

The LORD promised to spare Israel’s firstborn and “put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel” (11:7), but only if the people followed the Word of the LORD as Moses instructed. If they refused to obey God’s Word, they would be no different from Egypt. But, as we will see in Exodus 12, God did withhold His judgment of Israel because of the blood of the Passover (12:13). (The succeeding devotion will establish the central meaning of the Passover and its significance, Exodus 12).

Moses: A Model of Humility.

Take a moment and reflect on Moses’ example of humility. When God called and commanded him to leave his sheep and return to Egypt, the once proud prince of Egypt protested. Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?” (3:11a) The solitude of the desert and the calling and promises of God did so transform his life that we will later read in the Scriptures, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3).

Closing thought:

It is rare to find a man or woman of great talents and abilities humble enough to trust, obey, and serve the LORD!

Unlike Moses, who was a model of humility and meekness, our society, including churches, has produced a generation given to “selfies” and self-promotion, the antithesis of humility. Is it possible that the dearth of men and women entering ministry indicates a generation too proud to serve?

In his epistle to believers in Corinth, Paul wrote: “Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: ²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty…²⁹ That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

There is a desperate need for men and women humble enough for God to use (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) and bold enough to declare the Word of the LORD unapologetically!

* A second devotional will follow and focus on Exodus 12.

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“God Meant it Unto Good” (Genesis 50)

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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)

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

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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:

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

What two covenant promises did Jacob rehearse with Joseph? (Genesis 48:4)

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)

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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:

What did Jacob (Israel) do before he entered Egypt with his family? (Genesis 46:1)

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).

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Forsaken by Man, But not By God! (Genesis 45)

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Scripture reading – Genesis 45

Unable to contain his emotions, Joseph cried out suddenly, “Cause every man to go out from me” (45:1b). With only his brothers present, he wept so forcefully that his servants and those of Pharaoh’s household heard of it (45:2). Speaking for the first time without an interpreter, Joseph cried out in Hebrew, “I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?” (45:3)

Imagine that moment! They had betrayed and sold their brother as a slave, but now he stood before them. He was a powerful ruler in Egypt and a man to whom they bowed in fear and reverence. With the authority of a sovereign, and the compassion of a brother, Joseph stated in their tongue, “Come near to me, I pray you” (45:4a). With fear, awe, and dread, his brothers drew near, and he confessed, “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt”(45:4b).

Then, he calmed their anxieties and consoled his brothers, saying, “be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life” (45:5).

Take a moment, and meditate on the last phrase: “God did send me before you to preserve life” (45:5).

Rather than bitterness, and vengeance, Joseph’s words conveyed a reassuring spirit of faith and forgiveness. He had come to see the hand of God’s providences in his life. He confessed his faith and said, “⁸So 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 [with power and authority] throughout all the land of Egypt” (45:8).

Knowing there were yet five years of famine (45:6, 11), Joseph commanded his brothers, “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” (45:9). He then assured his brothers, “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” (45:10).

When he finished speaking, Joseph “fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. ¹⁵Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him” (45:14-15). Imagine the conversation that must have passed between Joseph and his brothers. Through tears and laughter, Joseph conveyed all that had passed in his twenty-two years apart from them.

The news of Joseph’s reunion with his brothers reached Pharaoh’s household, and the king of Egypt was pleased (45:17-18). The king decreed that wagons should be taken to Canaan, and the children, wives, and Joseph’s father conveyed to Egypt (45:19). Pharaoh promised that the “good of all the land of Egypt” would be theirs, and they would have need of nothing (45:21-25).

Stunning News: Joseph is Alive! (45:25-28)

Imagine the scene as an Egyptian caravan came within sight of Jacob’s encampment in Canaan (45:25). Jacob was told not only was Joseph alive, but he was “governor over all the land of Egypt.” We read the old man’s “heart fainted, for he believed them not” (45:26). Yet, seeing the wagons and all the provisions that were sent to him by his son, Jacob’s spirit was revived (25:27). “Israel (Jacob) said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die” (45:28).

Jacob was content. The LORD had preserved his life into old age and answered the longing of his heart: He would be reunited with Joseph.

Closing thoughts – Take a moment and reflect on God’s providences in Joseph’s life.

While there was often cause for sorrow, in looking back, Joseph saw the LORD orchestrate events that together worked for good (Romans 8:28). He was a teenager when his mother died giving birth to his brother Benjamin. His brothers resented, hated, and would have killed him had they not sold him as a slave. In Egypt, he was wrongly accused by his master’s wife. He became a prisoner until the LORD moved on Pharaoh’s heart to promote him second only to himself in Egypt. Though rejected, tried, and forsaken by man, Joseph accepted the hand of the LORD was ever upon him!

Friend, perhaps you find yourself in a place of rejection, afflictions, and sorrows. Take inspiration and hope from Joseph, and trust the LORD. God’s Word promises, “¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the righteous: But the Lord delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).

Questions to consider:

Why did Joseph wait to identify himself to his brothers? (Genesis 42:7-8; 43:26-30; 45:1-4)

Why didn’t Joseph harbor bitterness and take the opportunity to seek revenge against his brothers? (Genesis 45:5-8)

What spiritual lessons can you take from Joseph’s response to the trials and troubles he suffered?

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Remember: It’s Darkest Before Dawn! (Genesis 43-44)

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Scripture reading – Genesis 43-44

Genesis 43

The famine had continued in Egypt and neighboring countries, and Israel (once named Jacob) realized the grain his sons had carried from Egypt would soon be depleted (43:1-2). So, telling his sons, “Go again, buy us a little food” (43:2b), Judah, the fourth-born son, reminded his father, saying, “The man [Joseph] did solemnly protest [warned sternly] unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your [youngest] brother be with you” (43:3).

Judah stated plainly that he would return to Egypt only if Benjamin traveled there with them (43:4-5). Jacob, frustrated with his sons, impugned them for revealing to the Egyptian ruler (Joseph) that they had a younger brother (43:6). Of course, had they failed to answer Joseph’s questions honestly, the circumstances in Egypt would probably have gone badly for them (43:7). Judah entreated his father for Benjamin. He pledged himself as surety should he fail to return (43:8-9) and complained that they should have already departed for Egypt (43:10).

Reluctantly, Israel (Jacob) accepted Judah’s plea and ordered his sons to bear gifts and double the money (supposing their money having been returned to them on their first journey was “an oversight,” 43:11-12). Then, with Benjamin in their company, Israel (Jacob) blessed them and resigned himself to the LORD, saying, “God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother [Simeon], and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved” (43:14).

Arriving in Egypt, the brothers “stood before Joseph.¹⁶And 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” (43:15b-16).

What thoughts and emotions must have swirled through the brother’s hearts when they were taken from the granaries to Joseph’s house? (43:17) The answer is made known to us when we read, “And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house” (43:18).

Knowing the story’s outcome helps us enjoy the humor of the moment when Joseph’s brothers approached his steward to plead their case (43:19-23). The steward’s response suggested the influence of Joseph’s testimony in his home, for his servant answered, “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” (43:23). The steward’s assurance was immediately followed by a family reunion when “he brought Simeon out unto them” (43:23). How baffling it must have been for Joseph’s brothers when they, and their animals were given the “royal treatment” (43:24)!

Anticipating the arrival of the Egyptian ruler, Joseph’s brothers made ready their presents (43:25). When he entered the house, they “bowed themselves to him to the earth” (a fulfillment of Joseph’s dream from his youth, 43:26). Through an interpreter Joseph asked concerning his father’s welfare. Again, they bowed to him (43:27-28).

The dreams and visions of Joseph’s youth were being fulfilled as the LORD promised (37:5-11). So then, when Joseph “lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son” (43:29a), he asked, “Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son” (43:29b).

No longer able to contain his emotions, Joseph rushed from the room and “entered his chamber, and wept there” (43:30). (Remember, Joseph had not yet made himself known to his brothers. Instead, he had continued to speak to them through an interpreter and maintained the conduct and manner of an Egyptian ruler.)

Joseph then returned to his brothers and commanded that lunch be served. Now, knowing “the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians” (43:32), Joseph was careful to dine at a table apart from his guests. He then commanded his brothers to sit at the meal according to their birth order. Perplexed and amazed, they “marveled one at another” (43:33) as Joseph directed that Benjamin’s meal would be five times as much as their own (43:34).

Genesis 44 – A Crisis and a Confession

When the meal ended, Joseph commanded his servants to fill his brother’s sacks with grain. Once again, he commanded “every man’s money in his sack’s mouth” (44:1). Then, Joseph covertly made an additional request: that his silver cup should be placed in Benjamin’s grain sack (44:2).

The brothers set out on their journey and were soon overtaken by Joseph’s steward, who accused them, saying, “Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?” (44:4)

The brothers protested their innocence (44:5-8) and vowed, “⁹With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen” (44:9). A search was made, beginning with the eldest, until coming to Benjamin’s sack where the silver cup was found (44:10-12). Then, overwhelmed by emotions, the brothers “rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city” (44:13) and fell on the ground before Joseph (44:14).

To this point, Joseph continued to speak through an interpreter and confronted his brothers as such, demanding, “What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?” (44:15)

Remembering how Judah had taken responsibility for his youngest brother’s care, true to his word, he confessed his brother’s sin saying, “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” (44:16). Joseph prolonged his brothers’ agony, vowing that Benjamin would be his servant (44:17), and sending them away to their father.

Judah approached Joseph humbly and pled for him to consider the grief his father would suffer should Benjamin not return. He reminded the Egyptian ruler (Joseph) that their father had lost one son whom he presumed was dead (referring to Joseph, 44:18-28).

Then, in a dramatic moment of contrition, Judah begged to become Joseph’s servant in Benjamin’s stead. He explained that he desired to spare his father a sorrow that might send him to his grave (44:30-34).

Closing thoughts – Our study of Joseph’s life and God’s providences will continue in our next devotional (Genesis 45). For today, however, I encourage you to remember that the same LORD who worked through Joseph’s life has promised: “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Questions to Consider: Fearing prison themselves, Joseph’s brothers dared not return to Egypt without Benjamin, their youngest brother. (43:3)

Why was Israel (i.e., Jacob) reluctant to allow Benjamin to accompany his brothers to Egypt? (Genesis 42:38)

How did Joseph’s brothers respond when they found their money in their sacks and Joseph’s cup in Benjamin’s? (44:11-13).

What did Judah fear would become of his father if he returned to his father’s house without Benjamin? (Genesis 44:31)

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