Sat.’s Devo - The Next Generation

Read: Genesis 50:1- Exodus 2:10; Matthew 16:13-17:9; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 5:1-6 Joseph wept when his father died. He had him embalmed which took 40 days, then the Egyptians mourned his death for 70 days. After that, Joseph requested that the Pharaoh allow him to bury his father in his family burial ground as was requested. Pharaoh agreed and Jacob’s body was buried in the cave of Machpelah where all his ancestors were buried. *** Fear filled the hearts of the brothers of Joseph now that their father was gone. They begged Joseph to forgive them for the way they had treated him in his youth. This brought Joseph to tears. He had already told them that he forgave them a long time ago. He promised he would continue to take care of them and their children. *** This is probably how God feels when we keep going to him for forgiveness over something in our past when we can’t seem to forgive ourselves. It is exhausting to try to get someone to accept your forgiveness when they continue to live in guilt and condemnation. I bet God feels that way sometimes with us. Jesus died to forgive all our sins. It requires our faith to walk in freedom. *** Joseph lived to see the birth of Manasseh’s son, Makir. Joseph adopted Makir as his own, just like Jacob had adopted his two sons. Joseph lived to see three generations of descendants from Ephraim. Truly Ephraim was more blessed just like his name prophesied. *** Joseph and all his brothers eventually died, ending that generation. The next generation multiplied so exponentially that the new pharaoh of Egypt became afraid of them. He had never been told the history of Joseph. He feared the Israelites would one day rebel and join their enemies in fighting against them. Then they would move out of the country. That was close to what ended up happening. *** The Pharaoh tried everything to depopulate the Israelites. He tried working them to death, then having the midwives kill the boys in childbirth, but when none of that worked, he exposed his plan and proclaimed a decree to kill all the newborn Hebrew boys by throwing them into the Nile. *** At this critical time, God caused the deliverer to be born. His name was Moses and when he was born there was something extraordinary about him that was noticeable. *** His mother knew he was special and created a little ark made of reeds and tar and floated him in the river. The Pharoah’s daughter found it when she was bathing. When she opened the basket and saw Moses, he began to cry. She comforted him and felt compassion for him. She knew he was a Hebrew baby. Miriam, Moses’ sister was waiting in the wings. She asked if she would need a nursemaid for the baby to feed him. Miriam called her mother and the princess paid her to feed and take care of her own son. She was rewarded for her faith. *** It took great faith to break the law of the Pharaoh and to set her son in a basket in the very river that was meant to be his grave. From death came life. What a picture of resurrection. *** In Matthew, Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi which was known for the cave of Pan, who the people there worshipped. Jesus took them to that spot where all these gods were represented in alcoves around the cave Pan was to come out of from the pit of hell every spring. He asked them who the people thought he was. They responded that some thought he was John the Baptist, others Elijah or Jeremiah. Then he asked them who they thought he was. Peter answered for them. He said that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. *** Jesus blessed him for discerning this from the Spirit of God. He told him that the name Peter meant “rock” and upon the words he had just spoke, he would build his church. The powers of hell would not conquer his church. What ever his church forbids on the earth, will be forbidden in the heavenlies and what ever his church allows will be allowed in the heavenlies. *** He warned his disciples not to tell people that he was the Messiah. He began to prepare them for what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem. He told them he would suffer by the teachers of religious law, be killed and rise from the dead on the third day. *** Peter tried to rebuke Jesus for saying such things, but Jesus rebuked Satan from speaking through him. He told Peter that he was only seeing through his own humanly point of view and not God’s. *** Jesus told his disciples that to live, they must give up their lives. Nothing is more important that saving your soul. *** Six days later, Jesus took Peter and James and John up on a mountain and transformed into glory right before their eyes. Moses and Elijah both came and talked with Jesus about what was about to happen. Peter wanted to make shelters as memorials for Moses and Elijah, but God spoke from heaven and told them to listen to his dear Son. They fell to the ground. *** Jesus came over and revived them and everything was back to normal. They returned but Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen till he had been raised from the dead. *** Lord, we realize that the disciples didn’t understand half of what they were being shown but later they understood. Thank you that you do warn us of what you are about to do in our lives, we just rarely understand till later. May we trust you in the times of uncertainty and understand more quickly what you are doing. Lord, may we prepare the way for the next generation to walk with you in love and faith.