Read: Genesis 46:1-47:31; Matthew 15:1-28; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 4:14-19
God calls his people to Egypt for seasons. He called Joseph in the New Testament to take Jesus to Egypt to spare his life until Herod had died. Now, God was calling Jacob to leave Canaan to go to Egypt to spare his life and the lives of his family. Joseph didn’t want them to have to come into the midst of Egypt but there was green pasture in Goshen where they could live in peace and worship God their way. It worked out perfectly that the Egyptians detested shepherds. The Pharaoh was glad to give them Goshen and even let them care for his animals.
Joseph and Jacob had a tearful reunion and Jacob got to meet Jacob’s wife and two children.
The people in Egypt ran out of food and money so they offered Joseph their cattle. I would guess who got to take care of those animals and receive payment. It was another way God continued blessing his people in a heathen land.
When all the Egyptian’s livestock was gone, they had nothing but themselves and their land. Joseph bought up all the land of Egypt and the people for Pharaoh. Joseph treated them fairly. He gave them back grain to plant. One fifth of their harvest would be the Pharaoh’s and the other would be theirs. They were grateful to give the fifth.
This makes me think of the graciousness of God. He gave us salvation and everything we have and all he asks of us is a tenth. We should be even more grateful!
In Matthew, Jesus exposed the Pharisee’s hypocrisy. They wondered why his disciples didn’t wash their hands before they ate which was a law they had made up. Jesus countered with one of the Ten Commandments of honoring your father and mother. They had devised a law where you could opt to give your money to the synagogue instead of taking care of your aging parents. Giving to the synagogue gave you clout and position with man. Jesus said that their worship was in vain because they were following rules they made up while their hearts were far from God.
Jesus explained further, that food eaten with unwashed hands did not make the food unclean which was what the Pharisees taught. It was what came out of your mouth that makes a person unclean because words come from the heart and reveal the cleaness or uncleanness of the heart.
A mother from Canaan followed Jesus begging him to heal her daughter from sickness caused by demons. Jesus told her that it was not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs. (What a seemingly rude thing to say!) She didn’t take it as rude. She agreed, and responded that even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table. By her response, she was proclaiming that Jesus was her master and that she was his humble servant.
Jesus was impressed with her answer and granted her request.
Lord, thank you for the blessings of our lives and all you have given us. Help us to never forget that all we have is yours.
No comments:
Post a Comment