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Chapter-A-Day
First Year
We start on a journey through Scripture. We shall take up the steps in a
believer's life... (1) salvation, (2) separation from the world, (3) our
life as a priest before God, (4) our life as a believer through this
world and (5) God's thoughts about and for us. These 5 steps are like
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. With each Old
Testament book we shall then alternate with a New Testament book which
gives us the Christian doctrine (teaching) of each of these 5 steps. And
then on through the Bible alternating between Old and New Testaments. We
learn Christian doctrine (teaching) only from the New Testament; but we
see that the Old Testament stories are pictures, illustrating so
beautifully the truth of the New Testament. "The New is in the Old
concealed... the Old is in the New revealed". Read 1 Cor 10-11 slowly.
Not only did the things happen to those people of the centuries before
the Lord Jesus came to earth, but the Old Testament was written as
instruction and warning for us believers today. Read Ps 102:18.
We begin with Genesis. This word means "the beginnings". It tells us of
the first creation... the natural world. Then we shall read Romans. When
a person received the Lord Jesus as Savior, he is born again, he has a
new beginning... into the new creation. Romans gives us the foundation
truth of Christianity. The first creation was ruined by sin, the new
creation can never be spoiled, for it was formed by the death and
resurrection of Christ. The first creation is described by God as "very
good" (Gen 1:31). Sin ruined it. But the new creation which Christ has
made by His death and resurrection, has made every believer in it,
perfect (Heb 10:14). Sin closed the gate to earth's paradise, but love
opened the door to heaven (Rev 4:1).
#001
Creation is the work of God's fingers (Ps.8:3)...punishment of the
wicked the work of God's Hand (Ps 39:10)... salvation the work of God's
Arm (Ps 77:1).
GENESIS 1
Notice the first four words of the Bible. God created beautiful heavens
and earth. In the story of creation God tells man (and us) all that we
need to know, and nothing more.
Gen 1:1 It is not hard to understand what God is telling us about how He
created everything. In contrast, the theory (it is only a theory - an
idea) of evolution is dreadfully complicated. By faith (by believing) we
understand - Heb 11:3. This verse describes the original creation, and
that there may have been some tremendous judgment which fell on this
earth. If so, then there could be thousands or millions of years between
the first and the second verses. And this would explain much which men
have discovered... coal, oil, minerals, etc. However, it could be that
He created and put these things there, just by speaking. But He hasn't
told us.
Gen 1:3-31 Six literal days were taken to do this work (see this
confirmed in Ex 20:11 and Heb 11:3).
Gen 1:26 Into this paradise (garden) God brings the first man... Adam.
God's thoughts were always centered in man (Prov 8:22-31). Adam and Eve
did not know the difference between good and evil... they were innocent,
and could enjoy God when He came down to speak with them.
#002
Never do we more need the sustaining of God and obedience to His Word,
than in His worship.
GENESIS 2
Gen 2:1-3 God finished His work. Now He had rest. The Sabbath is God's
rest. However, God never says that the first creation was "perfect". He
said it was "good" and "very good" (Gen 1:31). Notice that so far only
the word "God" is used. He is the Creator-God.
Gen 2:4-7 A new title... "Lord God". This brings Him a little closer to
people.
Gen 2:8-14 The beautiful garden in Eden (paradise of delights) is
planted by the "Lord God". One river (picture of blessing) ran out of
this garden and became four rivers. "Four" is a number in the scriptures,
which means "universal", like the four corners of the earth. Four rivers
to bless the earth. But it wasn't going to last long.
Gen 2:18-25 The first marriage. A beautiful picture of the last marriage
to take place... Christ and His bride... every true believer in Him (Rev
19:7). The man needs a companion, suitable to him... his like. Let us
see the deep meaning. About 4,000 years will pass by before we see what
God had in His heart. His Son, the Lord Jesus was to become Man. He is
God and Man in one. He was to have a bride. We believers in the Lord
Jesus are His bride (Eph 5:23,32). Adam is put to sleep... Christ went
into death. The woman is taken out of the man... the bride of Christ
comes into existence out of Christ. God gave the bride to His Son as a
reward for what His Son has done for Him, Christ has glorified God on
the earth (Jn 17:4). There is only one body... the body is the one and
only church there is (Eph 1:22-23). The church is not a building or a
particular group of believers. The church is composed of every true
believer
in the Lord Jesus Christ
#003
When I am believing that He alone is perfect in His ways, then I do not
act without speaking first to Him.
GENESIS 3
One of the saddest passages in all the Word of God... the fall of man,
his separation from the holy God Who created him and loved him. Then the
announcement of what God would graciously provide far off in the future,
to meet the fallen and separated sinners' need. Wonderful, wonderful
truth. Let's all learn it down deep in our heart!
Gen 3:1-7 We meet the serpent for the first time, introduced with no
word of explanation: Eve does many things wrong. (1) She shouldn't have
listened to the serpent when he spoke to her. (2) She shouldn't have
spoken to the serpent. (3) She should have kept close to her husband.
(4) She began to reason... the fruit was (A) good for food; (B) pleasant
to the eyes, (C) able to make her wise. (5) She disobeyed God, for she
ate the fruit. (6) She gave it to her husband to eat. Ever since, Satan
has succeeded in substituting his deception and lies for God's truth. He
has brought the human race into sin, misery, violence, corruption and
death; and for the lost, the lake of fire forever! Yet people blame God
for the present condition of the world.
Gen 3:7-10 Immediately after they disobeyed God (for disobedience of God
is sin) they knew they were naked... they had received a conscience... a
bad one, for they hid from God. A bad conscience always makes us afraid
of God.
Gen 3:11-24 The result of one act of disobedience. Sin always separates
from God (Is 59:2). Sin is costly! The condition of the world today is
the result of one sin.
Gen 3:15 This points directly to Christ on the cross, destroying Satan
(Heb 2:14).
Gen 3:16-17 What a marvelous contrast to this sorrow is the joy and
peace with God which the believer has through the death and resurrection
of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 15:13).
Gen 3:21 An animal must die before the skins could be provided for a
covering for Adam and Eve. Another picture of Christ as the Lamb of God,
Who died to cleanse us from our sins and give us a perfect standing
before God (Heb 10:14).
Gen 3:22 The tree of life had a purpose to be fulfilled in the future.
Turn to Rev 22:2. We believers are going to eat the fruit of that tree,
for we shall live forever!
Gen 3:23-24 The sword of judgement (punishment) kept them out of the
garden. But the sword of judgement fell on the Lord Jesus (Zech 13:7)
and through the death of the good Shepherd (Jn 10:11) the door into
heaven, into the paradise of God, is opened.
#004
We are more often taken up with telling God of the weakness in
ourselves, than in allowing Him to tell us what we are in Christ.
GENESIS 4
Sin, spreading throughout the family of Adam has affected every one born
since (except the Lord Jesus). In chapter 3 it was sin against God, here
it is murder of another human being. There are many firsts in this
chapter (1) the first children, (2) the first offering, (3) the first
murder, (4) the first civilization, and (5) the first person who is in
the spiritual line to Christ (Seth). The first time we read of worship,
we find that it was that which led to the first murder. This shows us
that no unsaved person today can worship God. Think of all the blood
which has been shed in this world as a result of the first sin.
Gen 4:1-17 Cain's offering was fruit from the ground which God had
cursed in Gn 3:17. It was bloodless. Abel's offering pleased God. It is
a picture of Christ's death for us on the cross (Heb 11:4). Cain's and
Abel's altars (in type) are still around us today. Do you see the
difference?
#005
What is closest to the heart of God is always that against which Satan
sets himself, with all his might & subtlety, because it is bound up with
Christ & His glory; so he opposes, confounds, obscures all truth
connected with it.
GENESIS 5
Gen 5:1 Compare this verse with Mt 1:1. Genesis 5 is a record of the
fallen descendants of the first Adam, whereas Matthew brings to us the
book of the generations of Jesus Christ. Adam and Christ are the two
heads. We are born into the first; but we must be born again (Jn 3:7)
into the second. Through Adam we die, through Christ we are made alive
(Rom 5:21). Which family are you in? Eight times in this chapter, we
read "and he died". But one man here never died. What does it say about
him? One of these days, the Lord Jesus is going to come in the air, and
will call every believer out of this world. Every unbeliever will be
left behind. Enoch is a picture of all those believers who will be
caught up to meet the Lord in the air without having died (1 Thes.
4:16-18).
#006
It is not knowing Satan that keeps us intelligent of, and able in
discovering his "wiles", but in keeping in God's presence. It was always
so with Christ.
GENESIS 6
Gen 6:1-6 Sin, by that time, had spread to many parts of the earth! And
had so completely corrupted everyone that God describes it as He sees it
in verse 5. Every tear of sorrow, separation, disappointment, sickness,
death, is the result of sin.
Gen 6:7 Sin can only bring punishment. There can be no other result. It
must be paid for with eat (Heb 9:22) "remission" means payment.
Gen 6:8-22 But God has one man ready. Noah is a picture of Christ. He
was a "just" man (fair and honest) and perfect (upright) and he walked
with God. Wasn't that a contrast with all the people around him! Noah
stood alone. Among the faithless, he alone was faithful. It is hard to
stand alone. Remember Noah. God sees you, and He will use you if you are
faithful to His Word.
Gen 6:13 Punishment from God. People say "Smile, God loves you", but
they forget this verse. Repentance toward God and faith in our Lord
Jesus Christ is necessary. Then the smile comes.
Gen 6:14 Grace brings deliverance. God always delights to act in grace
(Rom 5:20). But it must be paid for by the shedding of blood.
Gen 6:14-22 When sin reaches its climax, then judgement falls. But God
makes a way of escape. In the ark alone was escape from the waters of
death... Today, in Christ alone is salvation. Every example of
deliverance from the punishment of sin in the Old Testament is a picture
(a type) of the cross of Christ. Water sometimes is a picture of
judgement (Ps 69:2,l4 and 15, also Ps 42:7). Noah in the ark, passing
through the water, is such a picture. See also Mt 12:40 and Mt 24:37-39.
These show that the Old Testament happenings are pictures of salvation
through Christ. Today the world is ripe (ready) for judgement. This time
it will be forever!
#007
In sovereign grace, God gives His own nature to those who are born
again.
GENESIS 7
God had told Noah what to do, and he did it (6:22 and 7:5,9). The ark
provided a perfect shelter from the storm of God's anger. Obeying God
always brings deliverance, blessing and happiness, all the way through a
believer's life.
Gen 7:1 "Come in" (8:16, "go forth"). We have to come in (Mt 11:28)
before we can go out (Mk 16:15). We must also separate from the world
(Heb 13:13; Jas 4:4). Separation is not isolation. Mixing with the world
(to socialize) spoils our testimony. But telling others about Christ
keeps us healthy Christians
Gen 7:2-5,8 The animals were in 2 classes - clean and unclean.
Gen 7:10 After closing the door, God waits once more, just in case there
might be a turning to Him. (Jesus was seen standing, waiting in case
Israel would turn to Him, even after He had gone back to heaven - Acts
7:56). We believers are now in that period of time. The door is still
open. God is waiting for the last ones to be saved before He acts. The
coming of the Lord Jesus for us (believers) will be the end of the day
of grace. The door will then be shut.
Gen 7:11-24 Noah was in the ark altogether one year and 10 days (7:11
and 8:14).
Gen 7:23 Judgement fell on every living person, animal and bird outside
the ark. And so today, not one person who has ever heard the gospel of
the grace of God will ever have a second chance after the Lord Jesus
comes.
#008
"According to His divine power hath given unto us all things that
pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath
called us to glory and virtue." (2 Pet 1:3)
GENESIS 8
Gen 8:1-14 God does not forget His family in the ark, and carefully
tells us many interesting details. God makes a fresh start with the
human race.
Gen 8:15-22 Once more, it is a beautiful start. Noah builds an altar to
God and offers burnt offerings. Notice it is of the clean animals...
another picture of Christ Who is God's Lamb. See Rev 5:6.
Gen 8:21 Thousands of years were to pass by before Jesus would come to
earth to die, yet Noah's sacrifice was a sweet smell to God of His Son's
death.
Gen 8:22 God's promise. It has never failed. It never will. 1 Kgs 8:56
is lovely.
#009
You never come out of God's presence as you go in!
GENESIS 9
Gen 9:1-17 God makes a new agreement (called a covenant) with men. It
starts in the 20th verse of chapter 8, and runs to end of verse 17 in
this chapter.
Gen 9:4 A very important subject. For the first time God gives
permission to people to eat the flesh of animals. Note this statement...
the life of the flesh is in the blood. (See Lev 17:10-14). They were NOT
to eat the blood. The body is made up of flesh and blood... the natural
life. But we need a new life, a spiritual life. When Jesus died, His
blood was poured out - shed. When He rose from the dead, He was
different. He was without blood (Lk 24:39; 1 Cor 15:43-50 and 2 Cor
5:17). If you read carefully Rom 6:2 to 12 you will learn our
(believers') part in all this. We believers are now in a new spiritual
life. It is His life; it is eternal life.
Gen 9:11-12 Every time you see the rainbow, you can remember that God
put it there as His token (reminder), that there never again will be a
flood to destroy the earth. But you can also be reminded that the next
judgment is worse... God is going to burn up the earth. (2 Pet
3:6-7,10,12).
Gen 9:19-29 The people did not improve. Noah now falls into sin. The
human race starts down the road to worldwide corruption once again.
#010
No one can be so intimately near us as God, for He is in us.
GENESIS 10
The history of Noah's three sons. Really the whole world today is
divided from these three sons. Japheth... the European people are his
descendants. (Also some of the people of North Africa came from this
man). Ham... from him came those now living in Africa, and some of the
people known as Arabs. Shem... many of the nations living on the
continent of Asia came from him. The Israelites are in this group. You
sometimes hear people who are against the Jews being called
"anti-Semites". The word "Semite" comes from "Shemite"... descendants of
Shem.
Gen 10:8-10 Notice Nimrod. His name means "we will rebel". His kingdom
was Babel (Babylon). Nimrod was a hunter, Satan's two methods are what a
hunter uses, deception and violence. He is a picture of the antichrist
who will lead the rebellion against the Lord after the believers have
been caught away to heaven.
In Rev 17 you can read of "mystery, Babylon", representing man's last
attempt to organize a world government.
#011
God never allows Satan to act otherwise than on the flesh.
GENESIS 11
Gen 11:V.1-9 Connect these verses with the paragraph above. The word
"Babylon" in Scripture is also a picture of idolatrous corruption.
Israel was carried away captive into Babylon because they disobeyed the
Lord and became idolaters. The believer who dabbles with the world will
lose his power and will become captive to Satan. In the day of
tribulation idolatrous corruption will rise to its highest point just
before the Lord comes in power, and destroys it all. The tower of Babel
brought about the scattering of the people. A way to remember what
Babylon is a picture of, is this - "Egypt" is the world from which the
"church" was called out of, and "Babylon" is a picture of the world into
which the "professing church" has gone into.
Gen 11:10-26 Notice how the age of people dropped. Methuselah lived 969
(5:27), then Arphaxad after the flood ..(son of Shem) - verse 12-13,
lived 438 years. Eber (verses 16-17 lived 464 years, the longest after
the flood.
Gen 11:20 After the scattering from Babel, Reu lived 239 years. Life
again was shortened in Abraham's day, for he lived 175 years (25:7). In
Ps 90:10 God set it at 70 years, and it hasn't changed much since then.
But the Lord Jesus was cut off in the midst of His days (Ps 102:24) at
about 33 years of age.
Gen 11:27-32 Abram (later his name was changed to Abraham 17:5) is
introduced to us.
#012
God's love was shown in giving the nearest to Him, for that which was
farthest from Him.
GENESIS 12
Gen 12:1-5 Abraham's call by God was a very definite call to separate
himself from everything which any man could count dear - his country -
his people and his family. Abraham can be a picture of the believer
whose citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20, the word "conversation" can
also be translated "citizenship") though living down on this earth.
Abraham was called upon to walk by faith, and live as a stranger and
pilgrim on earth. The promises made to him were great - verse 2.
Gen 12:7 Two things to notice. The Lord appeared to him when he had
arrived at the land of Canaan. You too will know it when you are in the
right place to worship the Lord. Secondly, he built an altar there,
where he worshipped God. There was a response in his heart.
Gen 12:10-20 Always remember that the people in the Bible who are types
(pictures) of the Lord or other great things, were just human beings who
sometimes failed. Here we read of Abram's second failure. (The first was
that he stopped at Haran, 11:31, instead of going all the way to the
land of Canaan). This time he goes farther, and we find him now on his
way down to Egypt (verse 19), instructing his wife to tell a lie
(sometimes we believers hold back, and sometimes we go too far!). Egypt
is a picture of the world with all its attractions and culture. As
believers, we are constantly being tempted to go back into the world.
Abram wasted time there, and suffered, in some things, the rest of his
life for his failure. God was merciful to him and allowed him to become
rich. May it be a warning to us.
#013
The righteousness of God that could condemn the sinner, is the very same
thing that, in Christ, justifies the sinner.
GENESIS 13
Gen 13:1-4 In 12:10 Abram had gone "down" into Egypt. Here he went "up"
to his altar. The complete restoration of Abram (Ps 23:3). God restores
us, otherwise we would just drift along. There was no altar (no worship
of God) while he was in Egypt!
Gen 13:5-13 Increased wealth which he had received in Egypt causes more
trouble. This time with his nephew Lot. We see a nice contrast however,
between Abram, the man who walked by faith, and Lot who walked by sight.
Abram was as generous as Lot was greedy. Lot was guided by his eyes, and
what a disaster this brought on him, for he went to live in Sodom. Lot's
steps down are gradual, but steady. Verse 10 "lifted up his eyes and
beheld". Verse 11 - chose him all the plain of Jordan. Verse 12, he
dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom
(14:12), he dwelt in Sodom, (19:1) he sat in the gate (place of
authority) of Sodom. We shall read later of the result of this downward
course.
Gen 13:14-18 How different were the results for Abram! What a glorious
and lasting inheritance was his! Putting God first, he was blessed
richly by God. May we put God first, and enjoy our blessings! We had
noticed in verse 10 that Lot used his eyes to make his selection. But in
verse 14, God was going to reward Abram for waiting on Him, and He tells
Abram to use his eyes to see what God was going to give him. Read Is
64:4.
#014
Loving and giving, are God's side, believing and having, are our side.
GENESIS 14
The first recorded war in the Bible. Abram could have said to himself -
"well it serves Lot right. Let him take care of himself". But no.
Gen 14:14 Though Lot was Abram's nephew, he is called "his brother". How
humbled Lot must have been when he thought of the love of his uncle. Let
still had Sodom in his heart, for when he was rescued, he went right
back and lived there! What a putt the world has for us, if we get our
eyes off the Lord!
Gen 14:18-24 Melchizedek (pronounced Mel-diz-e-deck) is a beautiful type
of Christ as Priest and King. Read of him in Heb 6:20 and 7:23-24.
Christ in the millennium will be both Priest and King.
#015
God gives before He expects.
GENESIS 15
Gen 15:1 "After these things". After Abram had won a victory over those
kings, he might have feared a return attack. So God comforted him with
this wonderful promise, "I am thy shield". Also Abram was satisfied not
to take any reward from the king (14:23), and now God says to him "I am
thy exceeding great reward". Protector and reward. Notice Which his
reward was!
Gen 15:2-16 Abram wanted a son and heir. Was he going too far in
speaking to God in this way? Verse 6 shows us how close he was to the
Lord. God loves to hear us ask Him for things which are for His glory
and our good.
#016
Whatever produces a care in us, produces God's care for us.
GENESIS 16
Abraham fails once more. Israel today, with all its troubles, bloodshed,
and wars with the Arabs, is the result of Abraham's use of Hagar. The
Moslems today consider that the Arabs are descendants of Ishmael
(37:27). Hagar had been brought from Egypt! Friendship with the world
will bring us into much sorrow.
Gen 16:4-6 Into his family came misery, pride, jealousy, quarreling and
injustice.
Gen 16:7-16 Yet how merciful God was to this poor woman!
Gen 16:14 She comes to the well "Beerlahoiroi", which means, "the well
of the living One who sees me". When we sin, there is only One to Whom
to go and confess... God (1 Jn 1:9). But we may have to carry the
results of our foolishness to the day of our departure from this world.
#017
The proof of God's love is, He has given His Son... the perfection of
His love is, that He has brought us into His presence. (l Jn 4:9,l7).
GENESIS 17
Gen 17:1-4 This is the sixth time that God has appeared or given a
promise to Abraham. There has been a blank in the story of Abraham of
many years. Now he is 99. When we get away from the Lord, we waste our
years too. This further promise and revelation bring in the subject of
circumcision. This is a picture of death to the flesh, separation and
purity; complete giving up, surrender to God. To enjoy our Christian
blessings, we must learn the meaning of surrender to the Lord.
Gen 17:21 The covenant (agreement) of blessing was going to be through
Isaac, not Ishmael. Abraham was impatient. He could not wait for God to
give him a son by Sarah his wife. So he had taken the matter into his
own hands, and sorrow was the result. But God is now going to act in
grace.
#018
Instead of having our sins before Him, God has that precious blood.
GENESIS 18
Here we see Abraham at his best - kind, hospitable, thoughtful,
generous, understanding that it was the Lord to whom he was speaking.
Gen 18:2 He ran toward the men in confidence, but quickly bowed before
the Lord in reverence.
Gen 18:9-15 Sarah gets her first direct news of the son (Isaac) whom she
was to bear at almost 100 years of age!
Gen 18:16-33 God would not hide from Abraham what He was going to do to
Sodom. God delights to show us what He intends doing. The trouble lies
with so. So often we are careless in our life, and therefore get out of
communion with Him. And then we lose the confidence in the Lord we once
had. And finally we lose our discernment.
Gen 18:20-33 Abraham speaks to God and pleads for the city of Sodom. He
knew his unfaithful nephew Lot lived there. What love Abraham had! What
confidence in the Lord! When we walk with the Lord we can speak to Him
in complete confidence.
#019
If I can fathom God's heart, then I can fathom grace.
GENESIS 19
What a dark, disastrous chapter this is! It was degrading for Lot to be
living in such a sinful place. Yet the Lord mercifully delivered him,
although he loses his wife and some of his family. And then destruction
comes to the wicked city. Notice where the judgement comes from.
Gen 19:14 Lot can be a picture of a believer who compromises with evil
and has a poor reputation. In chapter 14 we read that when Lot had been
taken prisoner from Sodom, Abraham had rescued him, but he had returned
to live in Sodom! Now Lot is telling his sons-in-law to get out of the
city. What a warning this is to us. They thought he was mocking them
because he had come to Sodom twice himself. What is our reputation among
our relatives and friends? Do we realize that judgment is just about to
fall on this world? Is our life a warning to them? Will they listen to
us?
Gen 19:16 The angels had to take Lot's hand, the hand of his wife and
the hands of the two daughters and pull them out of the doomed city.
Gen 19:26 The heart of Lot's wife was still in the city. In spite of the
fact that they had been told not to look back (verse 17) she disobeys,
and dies.
Gen 19:27 The Lord rained brimstone and it came directly from Him. When
The Lord acts in judgement, it is going to be a dreadful day for this
world. Read Rev 19:11-15. Before we close this chapter, we need to get
the message of it. The sin of this city, homosexuality, is being treated
as a choice that people can make... a life style. But from God's Word it
is sin, which brought death to a whole city.
Gen 19:30-38 Drunkenness and degrading acts go together; yet people
laugh when they see a person under the influence of liquor. What a
shameful story. But God hides nothing. Abraham is ever remembered - Lot
passes out of the picture.
#020
"MYSTERY"... means what would be known only by God's revelation.... to
those taught by Him, it is clearly known.
GENESIS 20
Gen 20:1-5 Abraham repeats an old sin. It surely was low of Abraham to
try to protect himself at the danger of losing his wife.
Gen 20:6-16 God graciously came in and saved the situation. How often
the Lord saves us from ourselves! But let's not tempt the Lord! (See Rom
6:1).
Gen 20:14-15 How much better Abimelech acted! Often unsaved people know
better than believers how a Christian should act.
Gen 20:17 Abraham, restored in his soul to God, immediately prays, and
God hears his prayer! What grace! Do we experience it? We will only if
we put into practice in our life what we already know about the Lord and
His Word.
#021
The effect of true ministry is to put the soul in direct contact with
God.
GENESIS 21
Gen 21:14 God had promised a son to Abraham about 15 years before Isaac
was born, when Abraham and Sarah were about 100 years old! Isaac was
heir of all which Abraham had and had been promised by God. Galatians
4:1-9 tells us that we who have received the Lord Jesus as our Savior
are heirs. Notice that we are "an heir of God".
Gen 21:19-21 Abraham could not wait for God to give him and Sarah a son,
so he had married Sarah's Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. Now
this son could not share with Isaac all the privileges of being the heir
of Abraham. Sarah acts unkindly and drives away the servant Hagar and
her boy Ishmael.
Gen 21:12 God was allowing this, because He had a lesson to teach us.
Before we try to learn what all this story means, it is wonderful to see
that God took care of the woman and her son (verses 15-21). God is
merciful. Now the meaning of the story. Read Galatians 4:22-31. The
question is "is the believer under law?" The child of the bondwoman
(Hagar) is a picture of the people who are under the law. The 24th verse
of Galatians 4 has the word "allegory", this means a story, a parable, a
type. That which actually happened, and then what it is a picture of. So
Hagar and Ishmael are a picture of the law. Sarah and Isaac are a
picture of grace (or promise). We believers are not saved by keeping the
law, but by grace (Eph 2:8, Gal. 5:4 and Rom 5:14).
Gen 21:22-34 Abimelech, a Gentile, sees that God is with Abraham, and
looks up to him and wants to make an agreement with him. He looks to
Abraham for protection. You may find this part hard to understand. It is
a look into the future - a picture of the millennium - Rev 22:2, last
part.
#022
God blesses by the revelation of His love.
GENESIS 22
Gen 22:1-14 Abraham had received many promises from God and there had
been much to encourage him. Now comes the great test of his life. Is he
willing to believe God? When you have read these 14 verses, turn to Heb
11:17-19. Take a minute to read verses 8-12 also. God was pleased.
Believing God is the greatest honor we can give Him. In the Genesis
telling of the story, we read what Abraham did, in Hebrews 11 we read
why he did it.
Gen 22:2 The first mention of love in the Bible. Here it is the father's
love for his son - a beautiful picture of God's love for His Son. Almost
the same two words are repeated in verses 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 13. Notice a
phrase that is repeated in verses 6 and 8. Do you see in this story how
much it is like God the Father going with His Son to the cross? The Lord
Jesus gave Himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. Heb 9:26, 10:12. This
story is a feeble picture of the perfect sacrifice on Calvary's cross.
Our blessed Savior went the whole way. No substitute was found for Him.
The question asked in verse 7 is not really answered until John's
Gospel, chapter 1, verses 29 and 36.
Gen 22:15-19 The grand and glorious blessings promised to Abraham
because of his obedience. An amazing thing here. Isaac is not seen from
the 12th verse on. He disappears. Being a type of Christ on the cross,
we know that the world never saw the Lord Jesus after He was taken off
the cross. No unbeliever saw Him after His resurrection. The next time
we will see Him is when He comes for us, His bride. Now read verses 20
to 23. The first woman being born and named, mentioned in the Bible. Who
is she who is hidden in these verses? The bride to be of Isaac! We don't
read about her for about 20 years when she goes to meet Isaac!
#023
There is something in the blessed God we can never measure... Jesus is
the Measure.
GENESIS 23
Gen 23:2 The first time that weeping is mentioned in scripture. Jesus
wept at the death of a person. Death and weeping are companions, Rev.
21:4.
Gen 23:3-20 This long detail surely tells us of the high regard in which
Abraham was held by his neighbors. What a nice thing it is to have our
neighbors think well of us! NOT that we are to try to be popular with
them, for a faithful believer in the Lord Jesus will never be popular
with the world Jn 15:18,19 and 1 Jn 3:13). You will see how close were
Abraham and Sarah if you turn to Heb 1l:11-l3 and lst Pet 3:5,6. Turn to
Heb 11:3-14 to see that inside Abraham's heart, he had something beyond
the tears and the grave. Death for a believer is a combination of tears
and hope. See 1 Thess 4:13-18.
#024
Resurrection... the glorious interpreter of God's ways and purposes, and
the full and eternal witness of His love and power.
GENESIS 24
We don't read much of the character of Isaac. Abraham was active and
aggressive, Isaac seems quiet and retiring. There is a glimpse of his
character in verses 62 and 63. In this servant looking for a bride for
his master's son, we have a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit's work
in the world today. He is searching out the bride for Christ, the
heavenly Isaac. The family asks the girl Rebekah if she is willing to go
with the man (verse 58). Notice her clear answer. Are you willing to
follow the Holy Spirit? He can only guide you to one center on earth
while you travel to your "Isaac". That Center is Christ. The Spirit of
God cannot separate believers, this is the work of Satan. Are we willing
to be led by the Spirit of God, or do we feel we have a right to make
choices? To be gathered alone to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is
the work of the Spirit of God today. To follow Him unhesitatingly, is to
be brought into a place of peace and joy only known when we act and do
this.
Gen 24:62-67 When we were reading at the end of chapter 22, we mentioned
about Rebekah being born. Here now we see her just about to meet her
future husband. Connect the two sections. We are the bride. We're just
about to meet our beloved Lord Jesus! Here we read of "love" the second
time. Love of Christ for His bride. Do your remember the previous
mention? The man who is accompanying Rebekah is a picture of the Holy
Spirit. Take a minute to read how the Bible closes. Rev. 22:17. Do you
get the connection?
#025
Have you heard the secret of God? (Job 15:8). They are double what you
realize (Job 11:6). It is with them that fear Him (Pr 25:14). It's with
the upright (Pr 3:32).
GENESIS 25
Gen 25:1-11 Try to get these four chapters connected in their meanings.
Chapter 22... the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Chapter 23... the
death of Sarah... a picture of Israel set aside. When the Jews crucified
the Lord and rejected the gospel they were set aside. Chapter 24... the
present day when the Spirit of God is leading the bride (all believers)
to Christ. Chapter 25... Abraham marries again. After the church (the
believers) are taken up to glory (heaven), then God is going to take up
Israel once more... the millennium will have many other nations blessed
with Israel. Keturah has a son, Midian.
Gen 25:12-18 Firstly, the generations of Ishmael (Abraham's son).
Gen 25:19-28 Secondly, the family of Isaac. First that which is natural
(Ishmael), then that which is spiritual (Isaac). (1 Cor 15:46).
Gen 25:29-34 Read Heb 12:14-17. In the Old Testament days, the firstborn
always was to receive the special blessings and inheritance from the
father. Here we see Esau despising the blessing. He had no idea what he
was losing. He placed no value on God. There are many today who are
living only for the present. The blessings which could be theirs, they
care nothing for.
#026
The great secret of growth is the looking up to the Lord as gracious.
GENESIS 26
Isaac lived the longest of these four generations (Abraham to the sons
of Jacob). See his age in chapter 35:28. We don't read of any
outstanding acts in his life. He was the ordinary son of a famous
father, Abraham, and the ordinary father of a famous son, Jacob.
Gen 26:1-6 God often had to tell Abraham and Isaac to stay in the land
which God had sent them. But they had a pull toward Egypt (12:10,
26:1-2). Remember that Egypt in scripture is a picture of this world in
which we live - it attracts us if we let it.
Gen 26:7-16 Like his father, Isaac tells a lie about his wife, and
almost brings a great sin (verse 10) upon them all. Abimelech is an
upright man, and has the courage to speak sharply to Isaac about the
wrong he had done.
Gen 26:17-25 Isaac reopens the wells which had been filled in. He calls
them by their old names. In our days many things are getting new names.
It is always good for the believer to go back to the beginning to the
apostles' days, apostles' doctrine and the apostles' fellowship (Acts
2:42).
Gen 26:23-24 So soon as Isaac returns to Beersheba, notice what happened
"the same night". It is only when we get back into the proper path, do
we enjoy communion with God.
Gen 26:25 Let's not think that we can live as we choose and still be
guided by God. Read these verses carefully. Only on restoration do we
see the Lord drawing close to Isaac. Four lovely symbols here: (1) the
altar, (2) prayer, (3) the tent and (4) the well. The first is a picture
of worship or communion with God- Jn 4:23. The second is an expression
of dependence on God - Ps 62:1,2. The third is a picture of testimony or
a witness to those around that we are just passing through - Jn 17:16.
And the fourth, a source of refreshment; like the Holy Spirit in us - Jn
7:38,39. Down in Gerer, Isaac had neither joy, peace nor influence.
#027
Getting the eye off Christ... the key to everything is lost.
GENESIS 27
While we remember that Esau was rejected because he first rejected the
blessing, we must not think that Jacob was selected because there was
any worthiness in him. For he had none. Doesn't it make us realize how
much Jacob owed God! It was grace alone. What a group of failing people
in this chapter.
Isaac may have been pretending he was dying for he lived another 40
years. His appetite led him into trouble. Surely not the thoughts that
would fill the mind of a godly man (verse 4). Rebecca's actions cannot
be excused. One trouble leads to another. Jacob practices deception.
(Now read 1 Cor 10:11,12). What a chapter of self-will, fleshly desires,
deception and lying. "But where sin abounded, grace did much more
abound" (Rom 5:20).
#028
A good state of soul means the enjoyment of Christ.
GENESIS 28
Gen 28:1-5 God had a plan for Jacob's life. If you belong to the Lord
Jesus Christ, God has a plan for your life. But our responsibility is to
be willing to submit. Only through obedience to God's Word can there be
joy and peace in walking that life. God will be honored, and you will be
blessed. These always go together.
Gen 28:10-15 God began to teach Jacob some lessons. This journey is
Jacob's schooling. He has many things to learn. The sun is setting on
his old life - verse 11. Often this is painful to our natural life (old
nature) but necessary.
Gen 28:15 Precious promises to a failing man. Read of the promises to
believers in 2 Pet 1:34 and Eph. 1:3.
Gen 28:16,17 Jacob is brought face to face with God - he calls the place
the very gate of heaven.
Gen 28:19 Bethel means "the house of God". Jacob said "Surely the Lord
is in this place".
Gen 28:16 Read 31:13. When we have the assurance in our heart of the
Lord's presence collectively with us, then we will say the same thing as
Jacob.
#029
Wherever the Spirit of God reveals truth, it is the revelation of Christ
to the soul.
GENESIS 29
God is a faithful Teacher. He teaches Jacob, He lets him reap the shame
and sorrow of a self-willed way. Jacob had deceived his father years
before, and now he is deceived. Even in the smallest details told in
this chapter, we see the hand of God. There are no large and small
things with God. All are alike. He interests Himself in every part of
our life. Two bargain makers - who can outsmart the other? These are not
God's ways, but man's.
Gen 29:31-35 Without knowing it, these wives gave names which had very
great meaning. When we get to the 49th chapter, we will learn that the
whole history of Israel is out-lined in their names. What a wonderful
Lord we have - Rom 11:36. Jacob stayed here about 20 years, and learned
many lessons in the school of God. The believer today is in God's school
for his entire life. Are we willing to learn? We will be blessed if we
are - Read Jn 7:17.
#030
The Lord Jesus, having been rejected by the world, is now hidden in the
heavens.... so the ways of God are now hidden from the world.
GENESIS 30
Sad happenings. Jacob's having two wives brought much strife into the
home. The friction and jealousy of the wives was passed on to the
children. We shall see this in the days ahead, as we read on in the
book.
Gen 30:25-26 When Joseph was born, Jacob had a desire to go back to
"mine own place and my own country". It is nice to see that he calls
that land his. For though God had only promised it to him, he believed
God, and considered it already his.
Gen 30:27 His cousin Laban is not happy with the idea. Unsaved relatives
and friends don't like us to separate.
Gen 30:28-43 Schemer against schemer. We may not be surprised at the
trickery of Laban, for he was an idolater. But from Jacob we could
expect better things than these. Jacob was the man who had met God, at
Bethel, seen angels, and had made a serious agreement with God. But here
we see Jacob back to worldly tricks and deception. When a believer goes
back into worldly ways, it is very, very sad. Yet how patient and
long-suffering God is! God patiently waits until His wayward "child"
comes to the end of himself. God, in His lowly grace, often calls
Himself "The God of Jacob". This is the God we need to get to know more
and more.
#031
The revelation of Christ, has as much to do with the formation of our
character and affections, as it has to do with the saving of our soul.
GENESIS 31
Gen 31:1-24 On his way to his homeland at last! After about 20 years of
great events. Look back to 28:15 to see the wonderful promise God had
given him . Look at Heb 13:5 for the promise He has made to you (if you
are a believer).
Gen 31:3 All along the way, His promises never fail. You may remember a
point in the life of Isaac (Jacob's father) that only when he got back
in the land of promise do we read of an altar and prayer (26:23-24). In
all the 20 years of Jacob's absence from the promised land, we never
once read of Jacob building an altar to God, or even praying to Him!
There was nothing to make him stand out from all the people around him.
Are we like this? Although Jacob seems to have forsaken God, God has not
forsaken him. Have you been on a road of self-will? Away from God?
Listen, He is speaking to you "return... I will be with thee" (verse 3).
He restores our soul (Ps 23:3).
#032
Jesus on the cross was my substitute... Jesus, risen and exalted, is my
acceptance.
GENESIS 31
Gen 31:25-27 Jacob didn't need to have acted so abruptly and left
without his uncle's knowledge. He didn't rely on God, or trust his
fellow-man.
Gen 31:26-42 A poor way to act. Rachel had stolen some of her father's
gods! They have to pretend a lie to keep their father from finding them.
Lies are needed to cover evil deeds, usually.
Gen 31:43-55 Neither man trusted the other. The agreement they make, and
the pillar they build is an evidence that they were afraid of being
harmed by the other.
Gen 31:52 Their concern. Not much brotherly love (What part hath he that
believeth with an unbeliever? -2 Cor 6:14-18). When we slip back into
worldly habits, it is important to confess and forsake them (Prov
28:14).
#033
The only biographical description Jesus gave of Himself is, "I am meek
and lowly in heart" (Matt 11:29).
GENESIS 32
Gen 32:1-2 Another proof of God's care for Jacob. God sends a group of
angels to him. It might be a help if you turned to a few scriptures
about angels. Ps 34:7, Dan 6:22, Heb 1:4 and 1 Pet 1:12. From these we
see that angels are not only God's servants (Heb 1:7) but are for us
too. They are around us today (Heb 13:2). The word "Mahanaim" means two
camps or two hosts. One camp was made up of his wives, children and
self. The other a bodyguard of angels! Are we less protected? No. But
this camp is only seen by us through the eye of faith.
Gen 32:3-7 Instead of trusting God's promise, and God's angels, Jacob
makes his own plans. He sends servants to tell his brother Esau how rich
he is. But Jacob is more frightened when he hears Esau is coming with an
army of 400 men!
Gen 32:8 Jacob divides his family into two camps.
Gen 32:9-12 Almost as an after thought he prays to God!
Gen 32:13-23 Still he schemes!
Gen 32:24-32 A man meets him and wrestles with him. Jacob persists in
wrestling and clinging to the angel (the Lord really) until a blessing
is given. His thigh is touched and for the rest of his life he walked
with a limp (verse 31). When we have really come to the end of ourselves
and the Lord touches us in some way which makes us feel our weakness,
then we never "walk" the same way again either. Jacob's name is changed,
and also his character. Has the Lord changed us? Or are we still the
same self-willed, self-opinionated person that we used to be?
#034
Who could prophecy that an Infant in the manger of Bethlehem should be,
at the same time, "The Mighty God?"
GENESIS 33
Jacob, after all this, reverts to his old habits and tricks. God changes
Esau from a wild, revengeful man into a kindly one. Sometimes we greatly
fear a situation and we are not doing what Phil 4:6 tells us.
Gen 33:17-20 You will notice the four things Jacob builds when he gets
back to his land. First, a house (not an altar as in 26:25). Secondly,
booths (stables) for his cattle. As he moves on into the land, he has
other thoughts. Thirdly, he bought a field. And lastly, he builds an
altar - God last! (see 26:25 comments on the meaning of these things).
#035
We are in communion with Christ, when that which is for His glory is of
great importance to us.
GENESIS 34
Before you read this chapter, turn to Gal 6:7 & 8. What God's Word says
there is carried out in today's chapter. After the promise he received
in 28:22, Jacob should have gone directly to Bethel (he gets there
finally, but only after God has to tell him, 35:1). But what he saw of
the country around attracted his eyes and so he didn't follow his heart.
His staying on in the wrong place caused this dismal chapter to have to
be told! What a lesson for parents there is here. Are we careful about
our children? Do we choose places just because there are advantages for
us? Living near this city was a risky thing, but Jacob never seems to
have given it a thought!
Gen 34:30-31 Jacob speaks sharply to his sons when the damage is done.
Notice too how they talk back to their father. And even the reasons
Jacob gave to his sons as to why they shouldn't have done it, were all
centered around his reputation and his possessions!
#036
The glories of Christ illuminate every page of the Gospels, as they did
every path He trod down here.
GENESIS 35
Sometimes the difference between a half-hearted and a whole-hearted
believer's life is just as great as the contrast between an unbeliever's
and a believer's life. Let's not forget this. Because many believers
think that how we live doesn't matter, so long as we are saved.
Gen 35:1 God graciously speaks once more. Jacob must have been
humiliated to have to be reminded by God of the day when he ran away
from his brother Esau.
Gen 35:2 What God was doing to Jacob was beginning to get through to
him. His conscience is starting to work. "Put away" He says. We never
grow in our souls until we too "put away" the things which we may have
been going on with which are not pleasing to the Lord. When we are
careless, we don't even know that they are there!
Gen 35:3 Good words - "Let us go up to Bethel" (Remember it means the
"house of God").
Gen 35:5-15 Immediately there is a difference in the influence Jacob has
amongst the neighbors. Once again he has to be reminded of his changed
name.
Gen 35:16-29 Now Jacob is able to move on, and face a dreadful happening
- the death of his beloved wife, Rachel.
Gen 35:27-29 Another death. Jacob is learning that death to self is the
door to God's blessings.
#037
The reproach of Christ is always linked with His Name (Acts 9).
GENESIS 36
We see how nicely Esau acted, and we might think that such a character
must be all right. Compared with the unpleasantness of Jacob, Esau
really shines - to our natural eyes. But what about his heart? We see
Esau making a name for himself and for his family. He was earthbound, he
had no heart for a Bethel ("house of God") and its altar. Read what God
calls Esau in Heb 12:16. The word "profane" is used to describe an area
outside the tabernacle which was not set apart for any sacred purpose.
For Esau, there was no sacred place. Everything was connected to the
flesh and nothing to God. A person might have a fine education, live a
very respectable life, be considered a good Christian in his community,
be a great success in business, and yet not have a thought about Christ.
#038
If I have a heart for Christ, I will humble myself... Christ did!
GENESIS 37
The story of Joseph is one of the greatest and sweetest stories ever
told. We have counted 75 ways in which this story illustrates some part
of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a broad outline, we might say
that the story can be a beautiful picture of Christ as a Man on earth.
He is rejected by His own people, (the Jews) and disappears (at the
cross and goes to heaven). Through His death and resurrection He brings
life to many. Instead of giving details of what the story can mean, we
will merely give a scripture which tells a similar thing about the Lord.
If you are interested, you can look them up. (See if you can add
anymore, there are plenty).
Gen 37:1-4 The happy boy is loved of his father (Jn 3:35 and Matt.
3:17). He has a coat of many colors (Heb. 2:7).
Gen 37:5-11 His dreams, early in his life, tell of a day of coming glory
(Is 53:10-12 and Rev 4:9).
Gen 37:12-17 Joseph walked about 70 miles to find his brothers. He
didn't stop until he had fulfilled his father's orders (Jn 6:38).
Gen 37:18-22 Immediately they plan to kill him (Matt 12:14 and Jn 5:18).
Gen 37:23-36 The deed committed. Joseph is gone. So far as the brothers
are concerned, forever (Jn 15:24). His coat is dipped in the blood of a
slain animal and brought to their father. This world thinks that when
Jesus died on the cross, that was the end of Him (Matt 27:62-66 and Jn
15:25).
#039
When Christ is made my wisdom, I can do without my own.
GENESIS 38
Many people wonder why God would put such a chapter into the beautiful
story of Joseph. Well it is profitable to see that in the list of the
ancestors of our blessed Lord, in Matt 1:1-3, this very incident is
referred to! Our Lord was born into the tribe of Judah. This only
magnified the grace of God. It shows us that the whole human race is
bad. There is no good in any of us. The Lord Jesus was the only perfect
Man who ever lived - Heb 7:14. But read of the transforming power (for
us) of the death and resurrection of Christ (Heb10:14).
#040
In the life of Christ, God came near to man... in the death of Christ,
man can come near to God.
GENESIS 39
Gen 39:1-6 Joseph submissively adjusts to the life of a slave. We do not
read of one complaint (Lk 2:49-52).
Gen 39:2 What an interruption and a secret to understand! The Lord was
with him in his prosperity. (We will see another remarkable statement
later in this chapter).
Gen 39:7-20 Tempted, not just one day, but many (Heb 4:15). Good
circumstances are the cause of Satan's subtle attacks on us sometimes.
Gen 39:9 All sin is against God. He didn't say "we" but "I". He was in a
very much more responsible position than she was. She did not know the
Lord.
Gen 39:21-23 What a sweet follow-up to the beginning of verse 2. Here in
adversity, in prison now, there is this blessed assurance, "but the Lord
was with Joseph". (In prosperity, and in prison).
Gen 39:23 The Lord was behind all the events. We too can rest on the
promise in Phil 1:6.
#041
Through Christ's death we have been given a power that enables us to
resist Satan and his deceptions.
GENESIS 40
The most awful circumstances did not cause Joseph to compromise. These
dark days were just before the dawn. So let us not give up now either,
the Lord Jesus is coming soon. Joseph did not know that these events
were going to be the very means of getting him into the great king
Pharaoh's presence. The two destinies of the butler and the baker are
similar to the two thieves who hung on either side of the Savior. One
perished, and the other went to paradise with Christ. Notice how easy it
was for Joseph to tell the meaning of the dreams. Why? Because God was
so real to His suffering servant (Jn 15:15).
Gen 40:14 What a simple request. How easy to carry out. The Lord Jesus
made a request to us (Lk 22:19).
Gen 40:23 Was it possible? How often, during the course of the week, are
our thoughts taken up with Christ and all that He suffered on the cross
for us? Two years Joseph waited!
#042
My life expresses how much I am like Christ.
GENESIS 41
Gen 41:1 "At the end of two full years". God kept track exactly of the
time His poor servant was forgotten. But not forgotten by God.
Gen 41:1-7 God had put the dreams into Pharaoh's head. God always has a
plan.
Gen 41:8 The king turns to the wise men, like Matt 2:12. But they did
not have the answers, because they did not know the God of Joseph (1
Cor. 1:19-31).
Gen 41:9-13 The belated remembrance.
Gen 41:14 Hastily, he is brought out of the dungeon. This is like the
bottom of a V for Joseph; and so like the death and resurrection of
Christ. Joseph changed his clothes, Christ, in resurrection received a
glorified body (1 Cor 15:20-23).
#043
In His death, the Lord Jesus, as Son of Man, glorified GOD... all
through His life He glorified His FATHER.
GENESIS 41
Gen 41:33 The man to be chosen had to be discreet and wise (Heb 7:26).
Gen 41:38-39 Pharaoh connects Joseph's life with God. "If God be for us
who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31).
Gen 41:41 Exalted over all the land of Egypt! (Phil 2:9).
Gen 41:45 Joseph received a new name (Phil. 2:9) and a Gentile bride
(Eph 5:25-27 and Acts 15:14).
Gen 41:47 Years of plenty. The world is going through its years of
plenty - the famine is ahead. But Joseph laid up for the future.
Gen 41:53-57 Famine comes. Pharaoh said, "Go to Joseph" (Jn 14:6). The
humbled Joseph becomes the exalted Joseph! From the pit to the palace!
The humbled Jesus has become the Center of glory (Phil 2:5-11).
#044
He Who created heaven and earth, asked for a drink of water.
GENESIS 42
Over 18 years have gone by since Joseph was sold. But God has a great
purpose in mind. How little the brothers realized that the one of whom
they were so jealous, and had sold into slavery, would be the one they
would have to plead with for bread! How little this world realizes that
every knee is going to bow to Jesus (Phil 2:10).
Gen 42:6 Count the number of times that they bowed before Joseph.
Gen 42:7 He knew them (Jn 16:16).
Gen 42:8-11 Only when the brothers acknowledge their wickedness would he
be able to reveal the great secret of who he was.
Gen 42:12-20 The difficulties increase, so the work in their heart goes
deeper.
Gen 42:21 They could never forget the moment years before, when they had
seen the look on his face, when they had sold him as a slave (Matt
27:36). (For the Lord Jesus there was no pity.)
Gen 42:22 His blood will be required (Matt 27:75).
Gen 42:25-28 Notice the last nine words!
Gen 42:29-38 It looks as if the story might end here. What a tragedy
that would have been! (1 Cor 15:14,8,19).
Gen 42:36 Notice the last six words. What a contrast, we can say! (Rom
8:28).
#045
Christ's resurrection was the second morning in the history of creation.
GENESIS 43
Gen 43:1 God was allowing the famine to get worse. But He noticed how
much the people felt it. There are many very touching words spoken in
this chapter... Jacob's in verses 6,7,11-14. Joseph's in 16,27,29. The
steward's in 23. The guilt-stricken brothers had no idea that Joseph
knew of their convicted consciences (see 42:21-23). They thought of him
as a rough speaking man (as they themselves had been many years before).
But Joseph has nothing but love in his heart for them. How little we
realize the Lord's love for us, when He allows us to pass through
sorrows and difficulties.
Gen 43:8-10 Look back and see what part Judah had in the getting rid of
Joseph. And see the changed heart. He is willing to offer his life for
his brother Benjamin.
Gen 43:11,15,25-26 Jacob still thinks that gifts will help. Just think
of how little this would mean to Joseph. He was interested in their
hearts. (Notice in contrast what Joseph sent as a gift - 45:20-23).
Gen 43:30-31 Can you read this without being stirred? What a heart of
love. He carried no bitterness for them, and yet he could not let them
see into his heart. Only when they had learned how bad was their heart,
could they understand his heart of love.
#046
Wisdom builds knowledge into understanding; and Wisdom is our Lord Jesus
Christ.
GENESIS 44
Gen 44:1-13 What a group of troubled men! But a broken heart before God
is the prelude to blessing for the believer. Remember that scripture has
only one meaning, but many applications. The primary interpretation of
this whole story is a picture of Israel, not the church. (The church is
pictured by Asenath, 41:50 - Joseph's Gentile wife). The brothers'
experience is a type of Israel in the tribulation. They will then, as a
nation, pass through a time of dreadful tribulation for what they did to
their Messiah (Acts 2:36). Then, when they are completely broken, the
Lord Jesus is going to come to them, and reign as king over the earth.
Rom 11:26. We, the church, are His bride (Eph 5:25) and shall reign with
Him over the earth.
Gen 44:16 Now comes the final confession. God has found out their
iniquity! Had He? What they really meant was - now we have found out
that God knows.
Gen 44:18-34 What a tender speech! It comes from the heart of a truly
broken man.
#047
Everything in CHRIST... nothing without HIM.
GENESIS 45
Now the flood-gates of love open and Joseph makes himself known to his
brothers (Zech 14:4 and 13:6).
Gen 45:3-4 Notice the statement repeated (All the redeemed will always
remember that we put the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross - Jn 1:29).
Gen 45:5,7,8,9 Joseph mentioned God four times. God was behind the
terrible experience of Joseph of being sold as a slave, and was
preparing a way for the whole family to be preserved and blessed.
Gen 45:9-15 They are to go back quickly to the others at home and tell
them of Joseph (Jn 17:18). So Joseph told them what to say (Mk 16:15).
They were to hurry (2 Cor 6:2). Everything was to be provided for them
(Rom 8:32).
Gen 45:20 They were told not to worry about their own stuff (Phil 4:6).
Through suffering, Joseph received the crown (Heb 1:3, 2:9-10, 9:28).
Gen 45:16-20 The happiness that Pharaoh and all in his house had when
they heard the news of Joseph's family, tells us what a grand reputation
Joseph must have had.
Gen 45:25-28 Joseph had told them to tell his father of all his glory in
Egypt (verse 13) but notice in verse 26 the first thing they tell their
father! The great point of Christianity is that Jesus lives (Rev 1:18).
Jacob had believed the lies his sons had once told him (37:32). Now when
the truth is told, he will not believe. Many people gladly believe all
the lies that are told about God. But they will not believe the truth.
The day will come when God will make them believe a lie (2 Thess
2:10-12).
#048
If my heart is full of Christ, the things that are contrary to Him do
not attract me.
GENESIS 46
Gen 46:1 Jacob worshipped God before be left the land.
Gen 46:2 God answers, and assures him that his family would become a
great nation! And He assures him of his presence. But best of all, He
assures him that He will bring him up again (Jn 13:3).
Gen 46:5-26 The great family of 66 souls travels to Egypt. Not one is
missing. Were they all fine, upright, true men? Hardly, but they were a
humbled people. And that is what counts with God.
Gen 46:28 This is interesting. Judah again; (Zech 10:6), he is chosen to
go ahead, and meet Joseph. The tribe of Judah is today back in the land
of Israel. They are going to be the first to welcome the Lord Jesus when
He comes back to reign over earth.
Gen 46:29 Joseph himself goes to meet them all in a chariot (Is 66:15).
Gen 46:30 We have read of the hands of Joseph, his tears, his face, his
blood, and is words. Now if you want to have some sweet thoughts and
meditations, think of these same five things of the Lord Jesus.
#049
Holiness is not the way to Christ, but Christ is the way to holiness.
GENESIS 47
Gen 47:1-12 Joseph's family is settled in the best part of the land of
Egypt (verses 6 and 11)
Gen 47:13-26 Joseph is in complete control of Egypt. How they must have
loved Joseph. This part of the story is a picture of the coming day of
the 1,000 years reign of the Lord Jesus. The earth shall prosper and be
at peace. Ps 72:1-9 and Is 11:4-9 are well worth reading (about the
millennium).
Gen 47:27-31 Jacob's (or Israel's) last days. But in spite of the lovely
place he must have had, although it must have been a great thing to have
his son the governor of the whole country, Jacob now turns his thoughts
back to the land of promise! His resting place was not to be in Egypt,
but in Israel.
#050
The Word reveals Christ as the Doer of all the work and the Inheritor of
all the glory.
GENESIS 48
The 12 tribes of Israel were the families of Jacob's 12 sons. But there
was no tribe of Joseph! However something better happened. Joseph's two
sons were elevated to this honor. In those days, the eldest son received
twice as much as the others (Deut 21:17). But Joseph was not the eldest
son! Turn to 1 Chr 5:1 and you will see that Joseph was given the
birthright and why! So he received the double portion. Read also Ezek
47:13. Adam was like the first-born, but because he sinned, he lost the
blessing. The Lord Jesus (being like the second one - 1Cor 15:47), has
received the double portion... the church, His bride, composed of two
peoples, the believing Jews and the believing Gentiles.
Gen 48:1-4 A special blessing for Joseph.
Gen 48:5-22 Joseph's two sons. Jacob knew better than Joseph what God
wanted. Even though Jacob was blind, he could see better! Some times
when we are more blind to the things of this world, we see better God's
things (2 Co 4:18). The younger son is raised above his older brother.
(Again like Adam and Christ).
Gen 48:15-16 What a happy ending to Jacob's long life, and what a lovely
thing to say about God's care for him.
#051
Few history books even mention that the Creator God Himself came to this
world. What would be our condition had He not come!
GENESIS 49
The dying Jacob blesses all his sons, and this turns out to be a
prophecy of the future of the nation of Israel. We cannot go into each
brother's blessing individually. Let us look at the most important -
Judah (v.8-12). Into the tribe of Judah, God's beloved Son would be
born. Take a few minutes to read some references to this blessed One in
the Old Testament Scriptures. Ps 60:7, Num 24:17, Ezek 21:27, Zach
6:12-13. And at the very beginning of God's Word - Gen 3:15.
Gen 49:10 The latter part of the verse refers to us Gentiles. We are the
people(s).
Gen 49:22-26 Joseph is another picture of Christ in His majesty and
glory.
Gen 49:27 Benjamin is a picture of Christ in power, in a coming day when
He shall reign in power over this earth, but particularly over Israel.
#052
The only way the world can see Christ is in His people, as they walk in
communion with Him.
GENESIS 50
Gen 50:1 What tender love Joseph shows for his father.
Gen 50:2-13 One of the great funerals of the scriptures. Jacob is buried
beside Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah and Jacob's first wife Leah
(49:31). There, today, in Hebron, their bodies wait for the resurrection
when we, with them will hear the blessed voice of the Lord Jesus - 1
Thess 4:16-17.
Gen 50:14-26 When Jacob is dead, Joseph's brothers become afraid that he
will take revenge on them. In other words, they thought of Jacob as
being their protector more than Joseph. They had enjoyed the love,
protection and provision of food for 17 years from Joseph and now they
fear him! But all this is so much like ourselves. The heart of each
believer quickly has doubts about God's unchanging love. Nothing but
love remains for us. All God's anger about every sin we commit in our
whole life, has been spent upon the Lord Jesus. There is just no anger
left. Nothing but love! And every act of His toward us (even the
difficulties) is an act of love - Heb. 12:5-13.
Gen 50:22-26 Beautiful end. Joseph's faith takes him far beyond the
coffin in Egypt. It goes on to a better day. An eternal day. "God shall
surely visit you!" So he gives commandment concerning his bones. That
they too are to be carried back to the land (they were - see Josh 24:32,
Ex 13:19, Heb 11:22).
In the last reference we see God's value of Joseph's faith. Egypt can
only give a coffin. This world is our Egypt. But we can thank our
blessed Lord Jesus Christ, for through Him we can say, "God shall surely
visit you"!
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