Category Archives: Hope

Moses: His Last Testament (Deuteronomy 33)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 33

Standing on the plains of Moab, the congregation of Israel gathered to hear the final words of the man who had dedicated his life to serving the LORD, and the people of Israel, delivering them from slavery. Moses had finished the song that memorialized the blessings of the LORD and His faithfulness to Israel. However, he concluded the song with a warning: Should the people break the covenant and turn back from the LORD, they would suffer the consequences of their wickedness. The LORD then commanded Moses to go up to Mount Nebo, where he would “behold the land of Canaan” (32:49), and there he would die (32:50).

Deuteronomy 33

Moses’ Benediction (Deuteronomy 33:1-5)

The man who led Israel out of Egypt and guided them through the wilderness was described in the Scriptures as “the man of God” (33:1). What an outstanding epitaph for a gravestone! Though he was imperfect, he was a “man of God.” He was not without his faults, for we have witnessed those in reading the books he authored under the inspiration of the LORD (2 Peter 1:21). Moses was, however, “the man of God” (33:1).

Before his departure, Moses rehearsed briefly how the LORD had delivered Israel and displayed His glory by bringing that nation through the wilderness. Why did the LORD bring the people out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and to the borders of Canaan? Because “He loved the people” (33:3). One by one, Moses addressed and blessed each tribe of Israel (except Simeon, for Jacob had prophesied that tribe would be scattered among the other tribes because of his sin, Genesis 49:5-7).

Moses’ Parting Blessing (Deuteronomy 33:6-25)

Moses named and individually blessed the tribes: Reuben (the first-born son of Jacob), Judah (the royal tribe), and Levi (the priestly tribe) were the sons of Leah (33:6-11). Benjamin (Jacob’s youngest son), and Joseph, were the sons of Rachel (33:12-17). Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph born in Egypt, had taken their place among the tribes of Israel (33:17). Zebulun and Issachar were also sons of Leah (33:18-19). Gad was the son of the handmaid Zilpah (33:20-21). Dan and Naphtali were the sons of the handmaid Bilhah (33:22-23). Asher was also the son of Zilpah (33:24-25).

Moses’ Final Benediction (Deuteronomy 33:26-29)

Concluding his benediction, Moses exhorted the people to remember the majesty of “the eternal God,” who had chosen them, and their unique identity in Him (33:26-29). He urged the nation to find its refuge in the LORD and their security in Him (33:27). He promised that if the people destroyed their enemies, as the LORD commanded, they would find safety and be blessed (33:28).

Closing thoughts:

As a pastor of forty-four years, I have been privileged to be at the bedside of many saints when they concluded their earthly sojourn and passed through what David described as “the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4). I have listened to the final words of a godly grandmother, who by God’s grace, found words to comfort her children and grandchildren. I have stood in the circle of a young family as they embraced at the bedside of a dying father, prayed, and sang songs of faith to comfort him as he drew upon his last breath. I have held the hands of dying saints, who, with the glistening dew of death on their brow, slipped from this life into the loving presence of their Savior.

The words, faith, and testimony of dying saints comfort family, loved ones, and friends. Therefore, let all who love the LORD obey His Word, and live in such a way, that it might be said he was “the man of God” (Deuteronomy 33:1).

Questions to consider:

1) What did Moses give to Israel before his death? (33:1)

2) What were the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel? (33:3-24)

3) How did Moses describe God in Deuteronomy 33:27?

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The End is the Beginning: Getting Ready to Depart (Deuteronomy 31; Deuteronomy 32)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 31-32

Deuteronomy 31

As we near the end of our study of the Book of Deuteronomy, I am reminded of a verse from the song Moses: “So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Keep in mind, as you read Deuteronomy 31-32, the balance of Moses’ life can be numbered in days, if not hours. This great leader, arguably one of the greatest of all time, was coming to the end of his earthly sojourn (31:2).

Moses’ Exhortation to Israel and Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:1-8)

Mindful of his mortality, Moses reminded the nation he was “an hundred and twenty years old,” and the LORD had said, “Thou shalt not go over this Jordan (31:1-2). With the urgency of a man who knows he will soon be passing, Moses exhorted the people: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (31:6). Then, “in the sight of all Israel,” Moses affirmed Joshua as the leader whom the LORD had chosen to lead the nation into the Promised Land (31:7-8).

Moses’ Challenge to Israel’s Spiritual Leaders (Deuteronomy 31:9-11)

Turning from Joshua, Moses challenged the spiritual leaders of the nation to be the custodians and teachers of the Law and keep the Law and Commandments before the people (31:9). Every seventh year, the priests were to gather the people together, and “read [the] law before all Israel in their hearing” (31:10-11).

God’s Confirmation of Joshua’s Succession (Deuteronomy 31:12-15)

The LORD then commanded Moses, saying, “Thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge” (31:14). The LORD then descended “in a pillar of a cloud…[and] stood over the door of the tabernacle” (31:15).

God’s Revelation of Israel’s Disobedience (Deuteronomy 31:16-18)

With Moses and Joshua standing at the door of the Tabernacle, the LORD revealed that after Israel conquered the Canaanites and took possession of the land, the people would “go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land” (31:16). They would break their covenant with Him (31:16b). and depart from the Law and Commandments. God then warned that He would hide His face and abandon them to the consequences of their idolatry (31:17-18).

A Song of Remembrance and Instruction (Deuteronomy 31:19-21; Deuteronomy 32)

To memorialize His prophecy against Israel, the LORD commanded Moses to write a song, “and teach it, the children of Israel…that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel (31:19). The song was to serve as a testimony of God’s faithfulness, and how He had fulfilled the promises He had made to their forefathers (31:20-21). And so, Moses wrote the song “and taught it [to] the children of Israel” (31:22).

A Public Charge to Joshua and Israel’s Leaders (Deuteronomy 31:22-30)

Deuteronomy 31 concluded with Moses giving a final charge to Joshua in preparing him to assume the leadership of the nation (31:23). Moses then commanded the Levites to take the record of the Law he had written with his hand (31:24) and “put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD” (31:26). He then stated, what the LORD had revealed to him concerning the hearts of the people, saying, “I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death?” (31:27).

Deuteronomy 32 – The Song of Moses and His Imminent Death

Given the length of Deuteronomy 32, a brief oversight of Moses’ song of praise, worship, and forewarning will need to suffice. First, you will notice the preface of Moses’ song in the first two verses and a declaration of its purpose (32:1-2). Moses then wrote, “I will publish the name of the Lord: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God” (32:3). He then declared that Israel’s God was “the Rock [strong and stable], His work is perfect [complete; lacking nothing]: For all His ways are judgment [He is Just]: A God of truth [trustworthy] and without iniquity [sinless], Just [Righteous; Innocent] and right [straight; upright] is He” (32:4).

After confessing the sinful character of the people, Moses memorialized the LORD’s compassionate care as a testimony of His grace, love, and mercies (32:7-18). He also recorded the tragic prophecy of the nation’s wickedness and God’s punishment that would follow (32:19-33). Yet, though the LORD would use other nations to judge His people, He promised He would not altogether forsake Israel (32:34-43).

After rehearsing the song he had written “in the ears of the people” (32:44), Moses challenged them: “Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law” (32:46).

Closing thoughts:

When Moses finished speaking, the LORD commanded him, “⁴⁹Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo…and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: ⁵⁰And die in the mount whither thou goest up” (32:49-50a). Moses evidenced no protest at the LORD’s command and was reminded he would not enter the land (32:51).

From Mount Nebo, Moses looked out on the vastness of the land the LORD had promised Israel (32:52). His sin prevented him from leading the people into the land; however, the LORD had chosen Joshua, and the mantle of leadership now rested on him.

Questions to consider:

1) What assurance did the LORD give Israel that they should be “strong and of a good courage?” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

2) What tribe was responsible for carrying the Ark of the Covenant into the new land? (Deuteronomy 31:9)

3) What solemn event was Israel to observe every seventh year? (Deuteronomy 31:10-11)

4) What did Moses command the Levites to do with the book of the law he had written? (Deuteronomy 31:24-26)

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The Curse of a Dying Nation: Feminine Men and Rebellious Feminists (Deuteronomy 28)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 28

The sum of today’s Scripture reading is essentially two words: Blessings and Curses. Deuteronomy 27 concluded with the people affirming their understanding of God’s Covenant and agreeing to its blessings and penalties (27:15-26). Deuteronomy 28 continued the same proclamation, detailing the LORD’s promise of blessings if the people would obey His Laws and Commandments (28:1-14) and curses should they disobey (28:15-68).

The Rewards and Blessings of Faithfulness (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)

The promise of blessings was conditional and would be fulfilled, but only if the people diligently listened to the Lord’s voice “to observe and to do all His commandments.” If the people would “hearken…observe…and do all His commandments,” the LORD promised He would “set [Israel] on high above all nations of the earth” (28:1). All would be blessed, both city and field (28:3), and would be fruitful and increase. Children would be born, cattle would calve, and the flocks of sheep would increase. The fields would give forth a great harvest (28:4-6).

Israel’s enemies would fall before them and be scattered (28:7). Her storehouses and treasuries would overflow (28:8-14). The LORD promised He would open the treasury of heaven, send rain upon the land, and the world’s nations would become debtors to Israel (28:12). All this was promised if Israel obeyed the LORD’s Law, and His Commandments (28:13-14).

The Penalties of God’s Judgment for Disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-68)

The balance of Deuteronomy 28 predicted the punishments that would befall Israel as a nation should the people turn from the LORD and disobey His Law and Commandments (28:15-68). In the same way, the LORD promised to bless the nation if the people obeyed Him; the opposite was true should they disobey Him. The curses are far too extensive for me to address individually; however, I invite you to observe their sum in today’s devotion.

Should Israel reject Him, the LORD warned He would abandon them to their enemies (28:45-47), and the people would become slaves to their enemies (this would come to pass during the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities and be repeated in the Roman era). Their enemies would eat the fruitfulness of their lands, trees, and storehouses. Their cattle and flocks would be destroyed (28:48-51).

Israel was warned that when their cities were besieged, the starving people would turn to cannibalism and eat “the flesh of [their] sons and of [their] daughters” (28:52-53).

Portrait of a Dying Nation: Effeminate Men and Embittered Women (28:54-57)

Their men became effeminate (“tender among you, and very delicate.” 28:54). Their women were no longer “tender and delicate” (28:56). The eyes of a wife would “be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter” (28:56). Leaving her natural affection, Moses warned a mother “shall eat [her children] for want of all things secretly in the siege” (28:57).

Because the people rejected the LORD and disobeyed His Law, He promised to bring upon the nation “great plagues…and sore sicknesses” (28:59). Israel would be overcome with plagues (28:58-60), and the births of the children would be few (28:62-63). Finally, the nation would be conquered, and the people scattered, oppressed, and enslaved (28:64-65).

Fear, dread, and depression would haunt the nation, and the people would dread the night and the dawn (28:66-67). Eventually, they would be taken from their land and “see it no more again…[and] be sold unto [their enemies]” as slaves (28:68). All that Moses warned is documented by the historian Josephus and came to pass in AD 70 when Titus, the Roman General, destroyed Jerusalem. Then, the Jews were scattered throughout the nations of the earth.

Closing thoughts:

Today’s Scripture reading reminded me that the pattern of decadence and decline foretold by Moses is seen in the nations of the world today. Such wickedness precludes the judgment of God upon those nations that reject Him. No nation can long reject God without experiencing moral decay and His judgment.

The trademark of God’s judgment is undeniable when I assess my country. I see the evidence of a nation that God has turned over to its enemies. The United States is an enslaved, debtor nation to our enemies. Our nation’s women have taken the lives of their unborn in grotesque abortions, as surely as if they cannibalize them from the womb (28:52-53). Effeminate men, “tender [and] delicate” (28:54), are celebrated, and rebellious women blight our society with an “evil eye” towards their husbands and children (28:56-57). We have experienced epidemics, a failing birthrate, a fear, and a dread of the future, as I have not witnessed in my lifetime.

The United States, like all nations, is doomed if we do not repent of our sins and turn to God.

Questions to consider:

1) What spiritual benefits would Israel gain if they obeyed the commandments of the LORD? (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)

2) What curses would befall Israel if the people refused to heed and obey the commandments of the LORD? (Deuteronomy 28:15-24)

3) Rather than men of strength, how were the rebellious men of Israel described? (Deuteronomy 28:54)

4) What afflictions did Moses prophesy would befall a rebellious nation? (Deuteronomy 28:59-61)

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Choices Always Have Consequences (Deuteronomy 26; Deuteronomy 27)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 26-27

Deuteronomy 26

A Confession of Indebtedness and a Prayer of Thanksgiving (Deuteronomy 26:1-11)

Moses continued his charge to Israel with laws and spiritual principles to guide the people as they became a nation in their land (26:1). Remembering that the blessing of the harvest comes from the LORD (26:1-11), the first-fruits offering was to be taken to the place of worship (Tabernacle). There it was given to the LORD, thus supporting the priests, the Levites, and their households.

Tithes and Offerings for the Poor (Deuteronomy 26:12-15)

A special tithe was given in the third year, coinciding with the tither’s confession that he had honored and obeyed the LORD’s commandments. Rather than taking the tithe of the third year to the Tabernacle, it was used locally to meet the immediate needs of one’s community and to support “the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled” (26:12-15).

The Benefits of Obeying the LORD and Keeping His Commandments (Deuteronomy 26:16-19)

Beginning with Deuteronomy 26:16 and continuing to Deuteronomy 31:13, Moses expounded on the benefits of obeying the LORD and keeping His commandments. He reminded the people that they were to do all that God had commanded with all their hearts and soul (26:16). Israel had been chosen by the LORD “to be His peculiar people,” and He promised “to make [Israel] high above all nations” (26:16-19).

Deuteronomy 27

Renewing the Covenant (Deuteronomy 27:1-10)

Continuing his challenge, Moses was joined by the “elders of Israel,” and he “commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day” (Deuteronomy 27:1).

Lest the people forget all the LORD had done for them, the elders of Israel were commanded to build a pillar of uncut stones on the west side of the Jordan River (Deuteronomy 27:2-8). The stones were to be plastered, and engraved upon them were the Commandments of the Lord, serving as a lasting memorial of the LORD’s promises and commandments. Also, an altar was to be built to sanctify the place (Deuteronomy 27:5-8).

A Rehearsal of the Blessings and Curses Sanctioned by the Law (Deuteronomy 27:11-26)

Continuing his speech to Israel and with the elders beside him, Moses reminded the nation that “Choices have Consequences.” He charged the people that by obeying the Law, they would invite the LORD’s blessings (27:11-12); however, disobedience would arouse His judgments (27:14-26). Should the nation disobey the LORD and reject His Law and Commandments, Moses warned that twelve curses would befall the nation (27:15-26). To each pronouncement, the people assented and answered, “Amen.”

The first through fifth curses (Deuteronomy 27:15-19)

The following violations of the Law and commandments invited God’s judgment and would be cursed: 1) Idolatry, a violation of the first and second commandments, was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:15). 2) Dishonoring one’s parents was cursed (27:16), for it is a violation of the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12). 3) Stealing the property and possessions of another by deceit, a violation of the sixth commandment, was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:17; Exodus 20:15). 4) Taking advantage of one infirmed or disabled was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:18). 5) The fifth curse was upon one who would treat “the stranger, fatherless, and widow” unjustly (Deuteronomy 27:19;Exodus 22:21-24).

Sexual impurity, a violation of the seventh commandment, was addressed by the sixth through ninth curses (Deuteronomy 27:20-23; Ex. 20:14). Specifically addressed and cursed were: 6) Incest with one’s stepmother (Deuteronomy 27:20; Leviticus 18:8-9, 17; Leviticus 20:11); 7) Bestiality (Deuteronomy 27:21; Leviticus 18:23); 8) Incest between siblings and parents (Deuteronomy 27:22); and 9) Incest with one’s mother (Deuteronomy 27:23).

The fifth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13), was the subject of the tenth and eleventh curses (Deuteronomy 27:24-25): 10) Intentional murder of one’s neighbor (Deuteronomy 27:24), and 11) hiring an assassin to kill another was cursed (Deuteronomy 27:25).

The twelfth and final curse (Deuteronomy 27:26), a sum of the twelve curses, was addressed to any child of Israel who failed to confirm God’s Law and Commandments.

And so the people affirmed all Moses commanded, and all the people gave their assent and said, “Amen” (Deuteronomy 27:26).

Questions to consider:

1) What was Israel to present to the LORD after they took possession of the land? (Deuteronomy 26:1-2)

2) What was Israel instructed to do with the tithes and offerings in the third year? (Deuteronomy 26:12)

3) What did the LORD promise Israel if they kept His law and commandments? (Deuteronomy 26:17-19)

4) What was the first thing Israel was to set up after they crossed the Jordan River? (Deuteronomy 27:2-3)

5) With what word did the people acknowledge and affirm the curses pronounced by the Levites? (Deuteronomy 27:15-26).

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Moral Dilemmas: Divorce, Debt, and Human Trafficking (Deuteronomy 24; Deuteronomy 25)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 24-25

Our Scripture reading continues with Moses setting forward various laws that would guide Israel in matters of marriage, family, societal civility, business, and government.

Deuteronomy 24

Principles Regarding Marriage and Divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-5)

Divorce is addressed, sadly indicative of man’s sinful heart. We understand that God’s desire for man and wife is: “A man…shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Yet, because man’s nature is bent away from God, the Lord allowed (through Moses) for a writing of divorcement when there was a valid reason.

Moses allowed for divorce in this passage; however, I remind you that was never God’s plan or will. What is the will of the LORD? The sum of God’s will for marriage is this: “A man…shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

The Pharisees questioned Christ on this subject and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife [divorce]for every cause?” (Matthew 19:3) The LORD answered, citing the “one flesh” principle and added, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6).

Displeased with His answer, the Pharisees pressed Him, saying, “Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?” (Matthew 19:7). Christ answered and diagnosed the deplorable basis for Moses permitting divorce (Deuteronomy 24).

Matthew 19:8–9 – ⁸He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered [allowed] you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

A Moral Guideline for the Borrower and Lender (Deuteronomy 24:6)

Taking an upper millstone is foreign to most until we understand Moses referred to the stones used to grind grain into flour. So, a lender was warned he could not take for a surety the “upper millstone,” for by it, a family could grind grain into flour and bake bread for the family.

A Solution to Human Trafficking (Deuteronomy 24:7)

One of the great abominations of the 21^st century is human trafficking (in essence, modern slavery). Forcefully taking children, women, and men and subjecting them to the darkness of moral depravity has been and continues to be an appalling wickedness. In the words of the Scripture, anyone found guilty of “[making] merchandise…or selleth [selling] him” shall be put to death (24:7).

If the judgment of the Scriptures were practiced in our day, victims of human trafficking would receive justice and human traffickers would be dispatched to a swift judgment: “Thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Deuteronomy 19:21).

Charitable Obligations (Deuteronomy 24:10-22)

Today’s false teachers and preachers have led many to believe the laws of the Old Testament were lacking in grace. They support their reason and boast that we live in an “Age of Grace.” Indeed, we do, but grace has been a part of every age because God is a part of every age. He has been and continues to be immutable – the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, characterizing the Law and Commandments as “graceless” suggests the LORD was graceless, which is heresy.

Deuteronomy 24:10-22 proved that God was sensitive and compassionate concerning the condition of the poor, the weak, the orphan, and the widow. For example, in ancient times, the poor often had nothing more than the “clothes on their backs.” Robes were the attire for those times, and men generally wore inner and outer robes. The inner robe afforded modesty, while the outer robe protected against the elements and provided warmth at night.

Should a man of little means borrow, his outer robe might serve as the surety or pledge for his debt (24:10-11). However, the lender was not to humiliate a debtor and take by force the robe of a poor man while he was in his house (24:10-11). Also, in the evening, the lender was to return the outer robe so that the man “may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee” (24:13).

Admonitions Against Injustices (Deuteronomy 24:14-18)

Day laborers were paid their wages at the end of a workday (24:14). Also, everyone was to bear the consequences and punishment for their sins. Therefore, a father was not to be punished for the sins of his children, nor were his children to be punished for the sins of their father (24:16).

Charity Was the Law (Deuteronomy 24:19-22)

In ancient times there was no welfare system, and the impoverished were a perpetual presence on the earth. Tragically, widows were sometimes forsaken by their children, orphans were neglected, and foreigners often found themselves homeless. Moses reminded the congregation how Israel suffered bondage in Egypt. He urged the people to remember the poor and let them glean the leftovers from their fields, olive trees, and grapevines.

Deuteronomy 25

Time and space prevent a thorough commentary on Deuteronomy 25; however, I suggest the following outline of principles for your study.

I. Capital Punishment and Civil Justice (Deuteronomy 25:1-4)

II. Family Posterity (Deuteronomy 25:5-12)

III. Business and Commerce (Deuteronomy 25:13-16)

IV. The Offence of an Enemy (Deuteronomy 25:17-19)

Closing thoughts:

Once again, I trust you have seen the grace of God evidenced throughout His Laws and Commandments. Although some invite believers to ignore the Old Testament altogether, they do so at their peril and that of their followers. But, of course, the greatest expression of God’s Law and grace is identified in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins (1 Peter 2:21-24).

Questions to consider:

1) Could a divorced man remarry his wife after she had been married to another man? (Deuteronomy 24:4)

2) What was God’s judgment concerning human traffickers? (Deuteronomy 24:7)

3) Rather than long terms of imprisonment, how was an offense settled in Israel? (Deuteronomy 25:1-3)

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The Holy Place, and the Holy One: Our Redeemer (Exodus 26)

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Scripture reading – Exodus 26

Review – The Collection for the Sanctuary (Exodus 25)

The LORD had given Moses instructions to speak to “every man” to “bring an offering…willingly with his heart” (25:1-2). So then, leaving no detail unstated, God required specific materials for His sanctuary (25:3-7) that included “gold, and silver, and brass” (25:3). Various colors of linen were required (25:4), as well as dyed skins of rams and badgers (25:5), oil, spices, and precious stones (25:6-7).

Moses was also given the pattern and design for constructing the Tabernacle and the Ark (25:8-28). The Scriptures provide us a description of the instruments that were to be fashioned (25:29) and the furniture that would be required for the interior of the Tabernacle, including “a candlestick [lampstand] of pure gold” (25:30-40).

Exodus 26 – The Tabernacle’s Design (26:1-30)

There were four coverings for the Tabernacle. The first covering was made with ten curtains “of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with [cherubim] of cunning work” (26:1) woven into the fabric. This beautiful fabric served as the interior ceiling of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:1-6).

A second covering consisted of eleven curtains of goats’ hair (26:7-14) to be used as a covering for the boards in constructing the Tabernacle. Finally, a covering “of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins” were placed over the boards (26:14). A description was given for the boards that would form the Tabernacle and the riggings that would adhere them (26:15-30).

The Interior Design of the Tabernacle (26:31-34)

A beautiful veil served as the interior covering for the walls of the Tabernacle: an “[veil] of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with [cherubim] shall it be made” (26:31). The veil would divide the interior of the Tabernacle, and provide a space called the “the holy place and the most holy” (26:33).

The Ark, described as “the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony” (26:34), was placed within the most holy place, known as the Holy of Holies. At one end of the “holy place,” a table and a candlestick would be set, and a curtain or “hanging… of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework” (26:36). The curtain would be hung upon “five pillars of shittim wood,” overlaid with gold (26:37).

“The Holy Place and the Most Holy” (26:33-34)

Consider the innermost room of the Tabernacle, the holy place that lay beyond the veil where the Ark of the Covenant was placed (26:33). This room represented heaven and God’s presence amid His people. The Mercy Seatof the Ark represented God’s throne. The veil separating the outer chamber of the Tabernacle from the holy place was a reminder of the great divide between sinners and the LORD (26:34). No man, but the high priest, could enteror look into the holy place, and that was only once a year. As the mediator of Israel, the high priest would bear the blood of a lamb sacrificed for the people’s sins, and He would sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat.

There is no Tabernacle, no Holy Place, and no Ark today.

The Tabernacle, the Holy Place, and the Ark were temporary symbols and testimonies for their day (Hebrews 9:8-9). They were reminders of the sinner’s need for a mediator between himself and God, who is holy and cannot tolerate sin in His presence. (Psalm 89:18; Isaiah 6:3; 43:15; 57:15; Revelation 4:8; 6:10; 15:4)

Christ’s death on the Cross, His atoning blood, and resurrection from the dead removed the need for those temporary symbols. Indeed, when Christ died on the Cross, the temple’s veil was rent in two (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38). The requirement of atoning blood was fulfilled by Christ shedding His blood. His death, burial, and resurrection are a lasting testimony of the sufficiency of His sacrifice for our sins (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Closing thoughts:

Jesus Christ became the believer’s “High Priest” (Hebrews 9:11) and Mediator, for He “entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12). “He is the mediator of the new testament [covenant], that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that…[we] might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15).

Friend, is Christ your Savior, Redeemer, and High Priest? His death, burial, and resurrection provided everything you and I need for salvation. Will you turn from your sin and trust Him as Savior? We have this glorious promise in Christ: “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).

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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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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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“Dreams Do Come True” (Genesis 42)

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Scripture reading – Genesis 42

Joseph’s dreams were coming to pass (37:5-11), but the path from Jacob’s favored son to the role of a ruler in Egypt had been one of disappointments, challenges, and injustices. He was a mere seventeen years old (37:2) when his brothers sold him to Midianite merchantmen, who then sold him as a slave in Egypt (37:27-28, 36). Wrongfully accused by his master’s wife, Joseph found himself a prisoner, forgotten by man, but faithful to God. Nevertheless, “the Lord was with [Joseph], and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper” (39:23).

Review of Genesis 41

Headline News: Thirty-Year-Old Hebrew Becomes Second Ruler of Egypt! (Genesis 41:38-57)

God had providentially worked throughout the highs and lows of Joseph’s life. He had suffered the indignity of slavery and imprisonment for 13 years, but when he was thirty, he was dramatically promoted to the sovereign of Egypt and second only to Pharoah (41:47)

Entrusted by Pharaoh to oversee the preparations for seven years of famine, “Joseph went out from [the king’s]presence… and went throughout all the land of Egypt” (41:45-46). For the next seven years, he oversaw everything harvested and stored in Egypt’s granaries (41:38-44). Pharaoh also honored Joseph, giving him the name Zaphnath-paaneah (meaning “a giver of secrets”) and “Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On” as his wife (41:45).

“Before the years of famine came” (41:50), Asenath, Joseph’s wife, conceived, and God blessed him with two sons. The firstborn he named Manasseh, meaning “forgetting,” for he had forgiven the hardships and mistreatments of his past (41:51). The second son he called Ephraim, meaning “fruitful,” for his life had become abundantly blessed (41:52).

As Joseph had foretold, when the seven years of abundant harvests were passed (41:53), the seven years of famine began in Egypt (41:54). When the people cried for want of food, Pharaoh commanded them to go to Joseph. Then, he opened the granary storehouses and sold grain to the people (41:55).

Genesis 42 – Famine in Canaan

As famine spread throughout the world (41:57), word reached Canaan, “that there was corn [grain] in Egypt, [and] Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?”(42:1). “Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die” (42:2). The ten sons of Jacob, less Benjamin, the youngest, made their journey to Egypt (42:3). Perhaps suspecting his sons had a hand in Joseph’s disappearance, Jacob refused to allow Benjamin to accompany his brothers, “for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him” (42:4).

A Long-Awaited Family Reunion (Genesis 42:5-38)

Seeking food for their households, God providentially brought Joseph’s brothers to Egypt. Imagine the scene: Joseph, the brother they sold as a slave, was a ruler in Egypt. Indeed, it was incomprehensible that the one they despised and rejected held their fate in his hands (42:1-20).

Nine years have passed since Joseph was promoted (including seven years of plenty and two years of famine). Joseph was 39 years old when he spied his brothers standing amid a crowd gathering to purchase grain (42:5-6). Recognizing the dress of Hebrew shepherds, Joseph looked into the faces of his brothers and “made himself strange unto them [speaking through an interpreter], and spake roughly unto them…Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food” (42:7).

We read that Joseph “knew his brethren, but they knew not him” (42:8). Though twenty-two years had passed, the memories of his childhood dreams rushed over him (37:5-11). He “remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come” (42:9).

The brothers protested their innocence and revealed in their reply that Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, and his father were alive and well in Canaan (42:13). Searching out whether or not his brothers had repented of their sinful ways; he imprisoned them for three days (42:14-17). On the third day, he directed that nine brothers remain in prison and the tenth allowed to return to Canaan. To prove they were not spies, Joseph demanded the youngest brother be brought to Egypt to stand before him (42:18-20).

The brothers were overcome with guilt and grief (42:21), and Reuben, the oldest brother, rebuked them, saying: “Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required” (42:22). They did not know that the ruler who stood before them was Joseph. Yet, he understood their guilt-charged conversation and admission that they had sinned against him (42:23). Emotions swept over Joseph as “he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes” (42:24).

Joseph then commanded that their sacks be filled with grain and their money be concealed within them. He then sent his brothers away (42:25-26). Along the journey, one of the brothers opened his grain sack and discovered his money returned to him (42:27-28). Fate, it seemed, had cast its long shadow over their lives, and they asked one another, “What is this that God hath done unto us?” (42:28)

Later arriving in Canaan without Simeon, the brothers shared with their father, the harsh words of the ruler in Egypt. They told him the ruler demanded that Benjamin must return with them if Simeon was to be freed from prison (42:29-34). When the brothers emptied their sacks of grain, each man discovered his money had been returned (42:35). Fear and grief followed the discovery, yet, Jacob refused to allow Benjamin to return with them to Egypt (42:36-37).

Closing thoughts – Today’s devotional concludes with Jacob’s sorrows seemingly overwhelming his faith (42:38). The famine would continue in the region for five more years. Eventually, it forced Joseph’s brothers to return to Egypt, where they would learn that God was sovereign and in control.

Questions to Consider

Although a prisoner, Joseph maintained a right-heart attitude toward the LORD and his circumstances. What was God’s response to Joseph’s faith? (Genesis 39:23)
What did Pharaoh observe concerning Joseph’s character? (Genesis 41:38-39)
What was Joseph’s response when he recognized his brothers? (Genesis 42:6-7)
Why did Joseph’s brothers fail to recognize him? (Genesis 42:8)
Who did Joseph demand to see when his brothers returned to Egypt? (Genesis 42:20)

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What Do You Call A Divine Appointment? – “Providence” (Genesis 40; Genesis 41)

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Scripture reading – Genesis 40-41

We concluded our study of Genesis 39, leaving Joseph imprisoned for a false charge by Potiphar’s wife (39:11-20). Remembering that Potiphar was “an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard” (39:1), I think that he did not fully trust his wife’s word, for indeed, her charge of attempted rape would have been a capital offense (some scholars believe Potiphar was Pharaoh’s executioner).

Rather than a sentence of death, Joseph found himself in prison. Characteristic of his deep faith, he did not allow his circumstances to dictate his outlook. We read, “the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper” (39:23). Joseph understood what the psalmist observed when he wrote, “As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30). The truths he learned of the LORD from his father, and the dreams and visions he was given in his youth (Genesis 37), continued to resonate in his soul.

Genesis 40 – No Time for Prison Blues

Charged with the responsibility of “all the prisoners that were in the prison” (39:22), Joseph was serving when two prominent servants of Pharaoh’s house, “the chief of the butlers [and] the chief of the bakers” were sentenced to prison (40:1-2). The nature of the offense those men committed against Pharaoh was not revealed, but in the providence of God, Joseph was charged by the captain of the guard to serve them (40:4).

The chief butler (most likely the cupbearer and the most trusted of Pharaoh’s servants), and the chief baker, both “dreamed a dream” (40:5-11) and were greatly disturbed by what their dreams might foretell. Neither time nor space permits an exhaustive study of the dreams; however, Joseph’s interpretation (40:12-23) left the chief butler optimistic that he would be restored to his post in three days (40:12-13). Joseph requested that the butler remember him and appeal to Pharaoh on his behalf (40:14-15). Unfortunately, the interpretation of the chief baker’s dream was not so optimistic, for Joseph interpreted that in three days, the baker would be hanged “on a tree; and the birds…eat [his] flesh” (40:18-19).

Three days passed, and the chief butler was restored, while the baker was executed according to Joseph’s interpretation of his dream (40:20-22). Joseph’s desire to be remembered by Pharaoh’s butler appeared to end in disappointment, for we read, “Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him” (40:23).

Genesis 41 – Forgotten by Man, But Not by God

Two years passed before the butler gave any thought to the man who interpreted his dream in prison (41:1a). Surely, that would demoralize most men; however, there was no hint that it affected Joseph’s service. On the contrary, he was faithful to his task until God was ready to promote him. In the providence of God, “Pharaoh dreamed” (41:1), and the dreams were so disturbing that the king “was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh” (41:8).

Thus, the stage was now fully set for Joseph. When Pharaoh’s spirit was troubled, and his expert advisors could offer no help, the butler confessed to the king of Egypt, “I do remember my faults this day” (41:9). Giving credibility for his recommendation, the butler recalled how his and the baker’s dreams were interpreted and came to pass as Joseph prophesied (41:10-13).

Anxious to know the interpretation of his dreams, Pharaoh commanded Joseph to be brought from prison and to his throne (41:14). Imagine what a glorious moment in Joseph’s life! So in an instance, at a time providentially appointed by the LORD, Joseph hastened to prepare himself to stand in the presence of the most powerful figure in the world (41:14). “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it” (41:15).

From a Slave in Egypt to the Savior of Egypt (Genesis 41:16-57)

Deflecting any praise for himself, “Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (41:16). Pharaoh then shared his dreams of seven emaciated cows devouring seven healthy cows (41:17-21) and seven blighted ears of grain consuming seven healthy ears (41:22-24). Finally, the king confessed, “I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me” (41:24).

Then, God sovereignly revealed the significance of Pharaoh’s dreams to Joseph, who gave the interpretation to the king and advised him to “look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt” (41:33). Joseph went further, and suggested the administration necessary to implement storing grain. All this was to save Egypt and her neighbors from starving when the famine persisted for seven years (41:34-37).

Pharaoh recognized Joseph was not only wise, but he was also “a man in whom the Spirit of God is” (41:38). The king then appointed Joseph to serve Egypt second only to himself (41:33-44). Though only thirty years old when he was promoted (41:46), Joseph was entrusted with the granaries of Egypt as that nation prepared for seven years of famine that would follow seven years of plenty (41:45-57).

Genesis 41 closed with a revelation: “All countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands” (41:57).

Closing thought – The dreams of Joseph’s youth were on the cusps of being fulfilled.

Questions to Consider

Despite the chief butler’s promise, he forgot Joseph after he was restored to serving Pharaoh. (Genesis 40:14, 21, 23). How did Joseph respond to that disappointment?

“Two full years” (Genesis 41:9) passed before the butler told Pharaoh he knew a man who interpreted dreams (Genesis 41:10-15). How do we know Joseph’s faith in God had not wavered? (Genesis 41:16)

Eleven years passed from the time Joseph was sold into slavery to when he was promoted the serve Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. What qualities did the king see in Joseph that caused him to trust him? (Genesis 41:38-40)

What can we learn from Joseph’s rise to power and prominence? (Genesis 41:42-44)

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