Sat.’s Devo - Tests

Read: Genesis 42:18-43:34; Matthew 13:47-14:12; Psalm 18:16-36; Proverbs 4:7-10
God used Joseph to put his brothers through a series of tests to see if they had changed and repented. They passed every test so far, but God would have one final test for them. I think it is interesting to note that Simeon was the one who ended up staying and serving the jail time for the rest of them. Simeon was the second born so it would seem that Reuben should have stepped up to the plate to stand for the family being the oldest. Once again, we see that it is the second born that lays down his life. Simeon means “hearing; harkening”. God took the ability to “hear” and to “hearken” away from the Jews because they rejected Jesus as the Messiah when he came. Now, Simeon is taken from them for a while. He will be restored to them and their ability to hear will return. Joseph, Mary’s husband was from the tribe of Simeon. He was given the ability to hear from God which was why God chose him. He heard to marry Mary even though she was already pregnant. He heard to take Jesus to Egypt and when to bring him back. He heard to live in Nazareth.
In Matthew we have the death of John the Baptist. It was really a murder, a beheading. This is such a picture of how the hard hearts of the world deal with conviction. John condemned the affair that Herod was having with his brother’s wife, Herodias.
Both of their names mean “heroic” because they were the world’s definition of heroic. God is not looking for heroes, He is the only hero. God is looking for passionate lovers of Him. Herod and Herodias were far from that. They dealt with their convictions by killing the source instead of repenting. It is them that will be condemned in the judgment.
Lord I thank you that you reached down from heaven and took hold of us and delivered us from the deep waters of death. You rescued us from our powerful enemies who were too strong for us. You are our hero and our salvation!