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BSF Genesis: Week 29, Day 3

Questions:

5.
a.
66, plus his family = 70

b.
God’s covenant was with them too, the promise to take them there and bring them back – the entire house of Israel

c.
Name written in heaven in the book , in the book of life that will be opened on judgment day

6.
a.
So they could survive the famine. So they could be one nation and one people. So they could be reconciled and restored as a family.

b.
Goshen was the best part of the land of Egypt for raising livestock. It was the area for livestock and their shepherds. The Egyptians found this a detestable occupation and so did not cross-marry with them (preserving them as a unique people)

7.
Not constrained by current societal custom. Egyptians would not eat with Hebrews, yet Pharaoh put one in charge of all food supply. Welcomed Joseph’s family and gave them his herds to tend. Despite them working in an occupation Egyptians detested, Pharaoh accepted blessing from Jacob

My Daily Journal:

The list of names in Genesis 46 in light of the passage in Revelation 20 has some interesting depth. First, is the question of is this an all inclusive list of names. Second is why, if they were so good with counting sheep, is their math so bad. Third, and most importantly, is, why is this here and who cares.

We know from verse 26 that this is not everyone because it does not count the sons’ wives.

In terms of the count – I can’t make it exact. Dinah might be the missing person in the list to get to 66, since Er and Onan were dead. I’ve included the list below – if anyone has a better idea, let me know. Some things we just might not know. Like, what was going on that Jacob had all these boys and only Dinah and Serah listed as daughters? Exodus 1:5 says he had 70 children in total, replacing Joseph with Ephraim and Manasseh and including Dinah in the list does equal 70.

But the really important question is the final one. Why is this here? There are many reasons. Genealogy creates relevance. This is a real account of real people. But I think it is deeper than that and helps clear up something from the Revelation passage. Rev 20:12 says, The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. That can be troubling to people. Is it faith or works? How does this fit?

This is where the Genesis 46 passage becomes a key. What do all these names in print have in common? Not what they did (although we have written accounts of some of that throughout Genesis). They are listed here because of the family to which they belong. In the same way, we can have confidence in the book of life not because of what we do or don’t do but because we have been adopted to be brothers with Christ. I picture a cross reference (no pun intended) index for all believers’ names in the book of life – an asterisks that says simply, “see Jesus”. In the same way that we discussed last week Joseph giving all the glory to God, Christ paid the price in full for all of the “good works” that we are incapable of doing to be perfect in judgment.

—————————–

	Jacob
1	Reuben		1	1
2	Hanok		2	2
3	Pallu		3	3
4	Hezron		4	4
5	Karmi		5	5
6	Simeon		6	6
7	Jemuel		7	7
8	Jamin		8	8
9	Ohad		9	9
10	Jakin		10	10
11	Zohar		11	11
12	Shaul		12	12
13	Levi		13	13
14	Gershon		14	14
15	Kohath		15	15
16	Merari		16	16
17	Judah		17	17
18	Er	Dead		18
19	Onan	Dead		19
20	Shelah		18	20
21	Perez		19	21
22	Zerah		20	22
23	Hezron		21	23
24	Hamul		22	24
25	Issachar		23	25
26	Tola		24	26
27	Puah		25	27
28	Jashub		26	28
29	Shimron		27	29
30	Zebulun		28	30
31	Sered		29	31
32	Elon		30	32
33	Jahleel	33 in all	31	33
1	Gad		32	34
2	Zephon		33	35
3	Haggi		34	36
4	Shuni		35	37
5	Ezbon		36	38
6	Eri		37	39
7	Arodi		38	40
8	Areli		39	41
9	Asher		40	42
10	Imnah		41	43
11	Ishvah		42	44
12	Ishvi		43	45
13	Beriah		44	46
14	Serah	sister	45	47
15	Heber		46	48
16	Malkiel	16 in all	47	49
1	Joseph	In Egypt		50
2	Manasseh	In Egypt		51
3	Ephraim	In Egypt		52
4	Benjamin		48	53
5	Bela		49	54
6	Beker		50	55
7	Ashbel		51	56
8	Gera		52	57
9	Naaman		53	58
10	Ehi		54	59
11	Rosh		55	60
12	Muppim		56	61
13	Huppim		57	62
14	Ard	14	58	63
1	Dan		59	64
2	Hushim		60	65
3	Naphtali		61	66
4	Jahziel		62	67
5	Guni		63	68
6	Jezer		64	69
7	Shillem	7	65	70

BSF Genesis: Week 29, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

3.
a.
Plan had changed. Was not supposed to go to Egypt before, now it was OK

b.
i.
It is current/timely. based on time and situation

ii.
Trust wholeheartedly, not leaning on own understanding. submit and things will be straight

iii.
Ask for wisdom, believe and not doubt – trust!

4.
a.
1. I will make you a great nation in Egypt, 2. I will go down to Egypt with you, 3. I will surely bring you back again. 4. Joseph’s hand will close your eyes.

b.
1. Ex 1:7 the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them 2. Ex 6:2-5 I have heard the groaning of the Israelites 3.Ex 12:31 Leave my people and go 4. Gen 49:33 Jacob dies, 50:1 Joseph threw himself on his father and wept and kissed him

My Daily Journal:

These first few verses of Genesis 46 are such a powerful reminder of a present God. We can easily fall into an impression of God as being distant both in time and space. So many of our depictions of God are cast in images of people walking around in robes and sandals. We can fall into a trap of thinking of God as divine and loving but with a message that is set in stone for us to follow.

What we see in these verses is a different God. He is present. He is timely. At an earlier time Jacob was not supposed to go to Egypt, but now he is. God gives him new direction. God is the author of the book (and of the universe) but it is an interactive story that includes us today.

What an encouragement to prayer and what a powerful image of a personal and present God. We are encouraged to get into a proper state to talk with God, taking on a sacrificial attitude as Jacob did and then honor God’s direction in our life for who He is. This means trust in what we hear from Him wholeheartedly, without doubt, and begin walking the path he lays out for us to go.

BSF Genesis: Week 28, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

11.
a.
They would understand the feeling of being falsely accused, his brothers had thought of Joseph as a spy for their father – a snitch

b.
They would feel being falsely imprisoned

c.
They would see the pain of separation

d.
They would see the pain they brought to his father

e.
Tested their honesty

f.
Test of jealousy and favoritism

g.
Would they stand up for a brother or sacrifice him

h.
Test of sacrificial love

12.
42:13 spoke honestly, 42:21 our sin, 28 God has done to us 43:12 2xsilver 28 bowed down prostrate, 34 feasted freely 44:16 we are all slaves 33 volunteered as tribute for Benjamin

13.
a.
God is Almighty and in control of all

b.
grant mercy before the man

c.
let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you

d.
If I am bereaved, I am bereaved.

e.
Trust in God and submit fully to his might and mercy

14.
submission, thinking first of others (his father, brother), substitutional sacrifice, honor to his promise

My Daily Journal:

I took exception to one of our questions. I don’t think it was Joseph that was testing his brothers. I think it was God who was testing and training the brothers through Joseph. Why now would we bestow the credit onto Joseph when all along he has time and again funneled it all to God?

With that perspective, God allowed the brothers to experience all of the things He had used to train up Joseph. Accused of being a spy, falsely accused, falsely imprisoned, the pain of separation, the fear of being without any power or authority, being a slave, having their clothing torn, etc., etc., etc.

By living these experiences they did not just have to imagine what their actions had wrought, they could fully empathize. They fully understand and, as a result, Judah’s willingness to be a substitutional sacrifice was all the more powerful when he pleaded at the throne of the almighty ruler. (catching the parallels to Christ?)

Speaking of parallels, the other one that I enjoyed was when Joseph made Benjamin the cupbearer, by literally having him bear the cup in his bag. He could have put any item in Benjamin’s bag, a candlestick, a ring, but he chose to have him bear the cup.

From this, first we are reminded of the cupbearer to Pharoah. Look at all the parallels, he was thrown into prison but later redeemed and restored to his position of honor to the Pharaoh. The cupbearer was the messenger to carry the message, when appropriate, to Pharaoh to set Joseph free from bondage. Benjamin is the one Joseph turns to to testify that he is his brother to restore the family to Joseph. The cupbearer’s actions set things in place to save his nation from starvation. Benjamin is thrust into the same role with his nation – doing nothing but remembering and being willing to testify.

Secondly, we are reminded of Christ and the cup He drank on the cross to pay the price of our sins. The fact that Christ comes from the line of Judah and Judah is the one giving the speech of substitutional sacrifice should not be missed.

BSF Genesis: Week 28, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

7.
16.I cannot do it but God can, 25.God has revealed 28.God has shown what He is about to do 32.firmly decided by God and God will do it soon 38.find anyone with spirit of God 39.God made known to you 51.Manasseh, God made forget 52. Ephraim.God made fruitful

8.
a.
1. Dreams are one and same, 2. Seven good years, 3. Seven years of famine 4. firmly decided and happening soon

b.
1. find discerning and wise man 2. put him in charge of the land 3. appoint commissioners to take 20% of harvest 4. Store up the grain. 5. Keep it in cities for food 6. use reserves during famine

9.
God has made all known to you, no one so discerning and wise, in charge of palace, all people submit to your orders, Only with respect to the throne will I be greater. In charge

10.
a.
Faith, discernment, wisdom, ability to speak to royalty, honor, truthfulness

b.
The fact that he knew it was nothing he had earned or deserved, in the same way that he had not earned or deserved the hard times. It was simply a new coat

c.
Seek daily to do the will of God and remind everyone that He is all glory, honor and praiseworthy

My Daily Journal:

Did you catch the provision in the math?

Joseph is 100% confident in the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams. 7 years of plenty, 7 years of famine. Later we see him talk with his brothers and say we have seen 2 years of famine and we have 5 left. It wasn’t approximately 7 years. It was 7 years.

So, how much food to you need to hold in store from the 7 years of plenty to prepare for exactly 7 years of famine? 1/7th of the harvest per year for 7 years would provide the exact right amount of food for all the people of Egypt. That is about 14.3% per year.

So how much food did God have Joseph tell Pharaoh to store up? 1/5th! 20%!

Was he hedging? Adding a bit extra just in case? Or was there provision in the amount held to expand Egypt. Maybe to bring another hungry nation into the land of Goshen in the very midst of the famine?

BSF Genesis: Week 27, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

11.
a.
To be remembered by the cupbearer and be shown kindness, to be mentioned to Pharaoh as wrongfully imprisoned

b.
v23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

12.
He had work to do for God. A ministry to an unbelieving nation who did not know the one true God of Israel

13.
Literally: Joseph was cast into the earth to be left for dead. His identity (coat) was stripped from him. His freedom was sold. He was treated as a possession and false witness befell him, he was cast into a dungeon and forgotten. Yet, he rose from this to a greater ministry, both to save the people of Egypt, but also his own kin.

My Daily Journal:

The means by which God directed Joseph and the lessons He taught him were hard taught. Joseph didn’t sit in a classroom under a kind and gentle teacher. He didn’t read leadership principles from a book. He learned to rely on God and His blessings because there was no one else he could rely on. Joseph didn’t learn grace and fairness from it being bestowed on him by other men. He learned it from longing for it and seeing it come from no where but the Lord.

Yet, even in the darkest circumstances, even in the darkest dungeon, Joseph saw that God was there with him and Joseph learned to trust in God. Joseph’s developed perseverance, patience, trust, character, forgiveness, and leadership from the one true Personal Trainer, God!

What parts of my life could use more time in God’s gym to be worked and strengthened? What hardships and disappointments in my life do I need to re-examine to see God’s presence in them (He is there, whether I see Him or not)? Where do I need to just get to work doing the work that God is giving me instead of spending time and effort fretting about my situation and unfairness I see?

BSF Genesis: Week 26, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

9.
a.
He had created the divide through his favoritism. He pledged to mourn until he died

b.
Until this had occurred the Isrealites would not have survived the famine because without Joseph in Egypt they would not have had access to food. In Egypt the flourished for many years, became enslaved, then were set free by God.

10.
thrown in well, clothes stolen, sold into slavery, sold to Potiphar, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, imprisoned, promised to be remembered by cupbearer but forgotten, 2 years pass,

11.
favored in Potiphar’s house, put in charge, fortitude to not sleep with Potiphar’s wife, God with him in prison, put in charge of prisoners, ability to interpret dreams, survived dungeon, honored by Pharoah

My Daily Journal:

I think we see the years of craftiness and cunning that characterized Jacob’s life fully on display with Reuben and Judah. Their over-arching desire was to “fit in.” To fit in with a group, especially one with a moral compass that would conclude that it is a good idea to murder their own brother, means you have to shave a bit off the edges. Think of it literally. We are a stone crafted by the Master, square and true, finely measured. But, that stone won’t fit in with a bunch of crooked other stones. There are three choices: either help the other stones get straight with God, find other stones to connect with or start shaving off bits and pieces of your own self to fit in.

Reuben and Judah both made weak attempts to save Joseph. Both helped keep him from death. But neither still had the moral character, the true shape that matches the cornerstone of the church, that enabled them to stand up to the wrong thinking and action of their brothers. That would have meant they didn’t fit in, just like Joseph didn’t, and we see how that went.

But Christ did not do that. He shaved off nothing. He did not conform to the world, and it hated Him for it. He did not try to fit in with the vision that the religious leaders had, He stayed true to the task the Father had charged Him with.

Fitting in is only a good thing when those who you are trying to fit in with are true and level.

BSF Genesis: Week 26, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

5.
He walked about 100 miles. His brothers plotted to kill him, thrown into a cistern, sold into slavery to the Ishmaelites/Midianites, taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar (here is a good map)

6.
a.
Reuben, Judah

b.
Distressed. Pleading for his life. Unjustly wronged

c.
Hatred for the message and favoritism of our Father

d.
guarded as a prisoner, stole his robe

7.
a.
20 Sheckels / 30

b.
He had been treated as something special, honored with an ornate robe. He had only obeyed. Unjustly treated

c.
When things seem unjust and unfair. When the innocent are victimized.

8.
a.
1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith…. may be proved genuine…

b.
prophecy through dreams. A walk with God (literally, for about 100 miles)

My Daily Journal:

It is easy to see the troubles surrounding Joseph. He obediently walks almost 100 miles in search of his brothers and everything goes south. But, in this story, just like in the challenges within our own life, we need to pull our eyes from “the troubles all around us” and see God’s amazing provision.

When they are ready to kill him, there just happens to be a cistern available. It just happens to be a dry cistern. No bones are broken throwing him into the cistern, no poisonous creatures are present. Within minutes or hours at most a caravan just happens to be coming by. It just happens to be heading to Egypt and the proprietors have cash, not just goods to sell. Joseph just happens to be sold to Potiphar instead of into some other service. Backing up Joseph just happens to find someone who just happened to hear his brothers in Shechem, who, by the way, doesn’t choose to kill Joseph since he does belong to the family that killed all the men in Shechem in the not too distant past. And, most amazing of all, Joseph, a guy, actually stops and asks directions!

I can see God’s hand in so many ways when I look for the blessings and the provision.

On a different thought, I get it that these are his brothers, but I saw a strong lesson for myself and my children (and the children in my class) about carefully choosing our inner-circle of friends. Let’s put it this way, if the people you are closest with are the ones who are willing to throw you in the cistern and kill you, having one phone call to call for help doesn’t do you much good. Do I spend my time with people that would come to my protection or people that would throw me under the bus when they are angry? How strong would my friends stand against the sentiment of the group?

BSF Genesis: Week 26, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

3.
a.
As prophecy of things to come. To give Joseph guidance and fortitude

b.
He wasn’t street smart or worldly wise, but, is it unwise to share visions from above?

c.
Keep your audience in mind when delivering something sacred, the sweetness will turn to bitterness when mixed with their emotions and contempt

4.
He was his father’s favorite. He was a dreamer. They were jealous of him and he came across to them as being arrogant

My Daily Journal:

I liked the discussion on Matthew 7:6, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” While my answer stemmed from the viewpoint of the giver in the sentence, it is interesting to turn the tables and look at it from the opposite perspective.

Joseph’s brothers, and even father for that matter, were only able to see Joseph’s dream through the goggles of their own sinful heart. They couldn’t rejoice for him that God might someday make him a king or ruler, they couldn’t see the blessings that might flow to them if he achieved such a stature. They could only see him as something less than themselves. What nerve for him to have such a dream. Who does he think he is? We need to knock him back down a few notches.

There is an old saying, when you lay down with dogs you get fleas. In the same way, when you wallow in sin, you get dirty like a pig. This is where Joseph’s family was. With itchy fleas and mud-caked flesh, how could they have possibly seen God’s providential blessing for their brother and son?

But how often do I do the same thing. My own sin clouds my ability to see God’s blessing. My sin distracts me and irritates me so that I miss rejoicing and come across as upset, irritated or distracted. Like Joseph’s brothers, the sin in my heart can make it so I can’t look past the mud.

But, that is also the beauty of the analogy of this scripture. Through the saving grace of Jesus, God offers to wash my sins away and cloth me in new garments. He offers to remove the scales from my eyes, as he healed the blind time and again. All I need do is the same thing Joseph’s family should have done, repent my sin and seek the cleansing power of my loving Father.

BSF Genesis: Week 25, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

9.
a.
Go up to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar to God

b.
… I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord[f] will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

c.
Settle in a place with other believers and demonstrate daily worship to God.

10.
a.
get rid of foreign gods, purify yourself, change your clothes, come, let us go (including rings in their ears)

b.
purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and soul; put off old self, put on new; walk in light not darkness, confess our sins; love God and carry out his commands

c.
Things we find of high monetary worth but that do not bring glory to God. Things that may lead others away from God. Things that take our time and attention away from God

My Daily Journal:

My family and I have made a number of trips recently to a couple of the nearby Amish communities. My wife has taken up quilting and enjoys the materials, supplies and ladies she has met in the communities. The Amish bulk stores are also amazing places for a gluten-free household.

On a recent trip we checked out a book on CD from the library called House Calls and Hitching Posts: Stories from Dr. Elton Lehman’s Career Among the Amish. In the book, the author relates a story about what makes the Amish people unique:

Some years ago a group of 52 people chartered a bus and came to Holmes County to see the Amish. They had arranged to have an Amishman meet them and answer some of their questions. The first question was, “What does it mean to be Amish?” The Amishman thought a bit and then he asked a question of his own. “How many of you have TV in your homes” Fifty-two hands went up. “How many of you feel there are things on the TV that are inappropriate or un-Godly?”, again almost all of the hands went up. “How many of you believe that time spent watching TV is normally not time spent honoring God?”, every hand. “Now, how many of you feel that perhaps you would be better stewards of the faith if you spent less time watching TV in your homes or didn’t watch it at all?” Again, fifty-two hands went up. “All right. Now, how many of you are going to go home and get rid of your TV?” Not one hand went up! Now that is what it means to be Amish. As a church, if we see or experience something that is not good for us spiritually, we will discipline ourselves to do without.

I am not advocating we all convert to become Amish, but there is a strong lesson in living a life that has the discipline to separate ourselves from the things that do not bring honor to God. We see this same example in those who take a vow of poverty for faith, who give up comfort and convenience to become missionaries in a foreign land and those who commit their lives to be the hands of God to the sick and needy. We also see it in the daily lives of people in our faith community who live as aliens in a foreign land, focusing on the eternal. These people stand out because they stand up for doing right for God. Which community do we want to fit in to? A community of Shechem or a community of the angels and saints?

BSF Genesis: Week 25, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

6.
a.
13. they were deceitful, v25, Simeon and Levi killed every male in the city. 28 they looted the city 29 they carried off the women

b.
Took matters into their own hands. No mention of prayer or reliance on God. The diminished the value of the covenant by using it as a trap for others. They twisted it from something holy into something useful.

c.
They were angered on behalf of their sister. Yes, I am protective of my family and feel hatred to those who harm them.

d.
do not repay evil with evil, do what is right, do not take revenge, trust in God to exercise His wrath

7.
a.
He did not trust their judgment, believing them quick to act in a state of anger. He chastised them for “bringing trouble on me by making me obnoxious to the Canaanites and Perizzites

b.
Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?

8.
Am I controlled by God and faith or by my emotions? Where am I unwilling to wait to receive rightfully what I want and desire.

My Daily Journal:

So, I have to admit, my first inclination is to be more like Simeon and Levi than Jacob. If someone hurts a member of my family like this, I would want to do them harm. Clearly, though, Simeon and Levi crossed the line. Any one would be very hard pressed to explain how looting the city and carrying off the women from this city in any way was done to bring honor to their sister.

But, as we work through this lesson and, in particular, the Romans 12:17-21 passage, it helped me realize how my first reaction (and that of Simeon and Levi) was allowing my emotions to rule me and not my faith.

Here is one way to look at it. I’m this big (think very small) and God is that big (think very big). Hamor and Shechem sinned against Dinah, but, even more so, they sinned against God, because any sin upon His people is a sin against Him. So, if I’m the deliverer of vengence onto the wrong-doer, it is like a tiny child disciplining them with a toothpick and standing in the way of a very big God using a club.

I simply do not need to be in the middle of it. I need to show the joy and blessing of the saving work of Jesus, offered to me while I was still a sinner and, which is also offered to anyone else who sins against God, as well, who repents and seeks to be saved. If they do not make that choice, then God says He has it covered and I need to trust that His righteous wrath and punishment is far more significant than anything I would dispense.