Tues.’s Devo- You Must Be Born Again

Read: Genesis 48:1-49:33; Matthew 15:29-16:12; Psalm 20:1-9; Proverbs 4:20-27 Joseph got word that Jacob was near death so he took Ephraim and Manasseh to see their grandfather. Jacob gathered the strength to sit up in bed and told them that God had appeared to him in Bethel and blessed him. God would make him so fruitful that his seed would become many nations. Right there, he adopted Ephraim and Manasseh as his own children. Any children born after them would be Joseph’s own. Jacob asked that the boys be brought near him and Joseph positioned them where Jacob’s right hand would be in front of Manasseh since he was the first born and his left hand in front of Ephraim. Jacob was half blind but he moved by the spirit and crossed his hands putting his right hand on Ephraim’s head and his left on Manasseh’s. When Joseph tried to correct him but Jacob refused to change saying that Manasseh would be great, but Ephraim would be greater. He blessed them with prosperity and greatness. Then Jacob called for all his sons and gave them prophecies according to what the Lord said. He took away Reuben’s right as the first born. So far every patriot’s first born lost that right: Ishmael, Esau, and now Reuben. Our first birth will never receive the promises of God. We have to be born again as a second birth to receive the promises of God. This is the picture of that concept. Jacob kissed them all and asked to be buried in the cave of his ancestors in the field of Machpelah in Canaan. In Matthew, Jesus was still north but he came down to the Sea of Galilee. He healed all manner of diseases and disabilities. The people had been with him for three years and Jesus wanted to feed them. They found seven loaves and a few small fish. That was enough for Jesus. He blessed and gave out enough to feed 4,000 men plus the women and children. Jesus sent them home filled and then got into the boat and went over to the Jewish side to the town of Magadan or Magdala. One day, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus demanding to see a sign from heaven to prove he had authority to do all these things from God. He told them that they knew how to read earthly signs but had no idea how to read heavenly signs, so the only sign he would give them was Jonah. Jonah was in the whale three days then resurrected. They would have to figure it out. His disciples weren’t that great at discerning the spiritual signs either. When Jesus told them to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees they took it literal. Jesus was telling them to beware of the false teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Lord, may we be able to read your signs and discern the difference between earthly and spiritual. May we see your signs everywhere.