Monthly Archives: October 2011

Jacob’s Farewell to His Sons (Gen 49: 1-28)

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Bible Summary:

In a farewell speech, Jacob tells the future of each son:

  • Reuben, though first-born, is not to be the most important because he slept with Jacob’s concubine.
  • Simeon and Levi are cursed for their fury of killing the Shechem men after their sister Dinah was raped. Their descendants will disperse throughout Israel.
  • Judah is like a lion and his descendants will always rule.
  • Zebulun will live by the sea.
  • Issachar will remain a slave.
  • Dan will be ruler of his people, but a snake that knocks a rider off his horse.
  • Gad will be attacked by robbers, but pursue them.
  • Asher will produce food from his lands fit for a king.
  • Naphtali will bear lovely fawns.
  • Joseph is a wild colt attacked fiercely by his enemies, but is protected by the Mighty God of Jacob. He is surely blessed.
  • Benjamin is a vicious wolf that kills morning and night.

My Thoughts:

Twelve Tribes: These are the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel. I get the feeling this farewell evolved over many years of verbal retelling until it was actually quite accurate, like Zebulun living by the sea. I was surprised what Jacob said about Benjamin who he protected for so many years. Of course, some of these “blessings” could be metaphorical with different meanings than the direct translation. Like today, some people refer to attorneys as sharks. It is bad if you are against one, but good if you have one on your side.

Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons (Gen 48)

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Bible Summary:

Joseph brings his sons Manasseh and Ephraim to his ill father Jacob for a blessing. Jacob tells him the two boys will receive the family inheritance but no others born to him after. During the blessing, Joseph places his oldest son Ephraim on Jacob’s right, but his father crosses his arms and gives the birth-right blessing to the younger son Manasseh. Joseph tries to correct his father but he says Manasseh will be the greater son. Jacob also gives Joseph the fertile lands in Canaan instead of to his brothers.

My Thoughts:

Blessing: Joseph, the favorite son, receives the family blessing for his sons. Of course, it helped that he saved the extended family and all the people around Egypt.

A blessing is God’s favor and protection or prayer for one. Right now, I pray that God will bless you.

Hebrews Become Slaves (Gen 47)

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Bible Summary:

The famine becomes so severe that the Egyptians and Jacob’s family give all their money to Joseph, the governor of Egypt, for food. The next year they offer livestock for food. And, the following year they offer their land and finally themselves as slaves to the king so that they might live. Only the lands of the priests did not become owned by the king.

Joseph makes slaves of the people all across Egypt. He gives them seed and declares a law that one-fifth of the harvest goes to the king. The rest is to be food for their families and seed for the following year.

After 17 years in Egypt, Jacob makes Joseph vow that he will bury him in the land of his fathers when he dies.

My Thoughts:

Slavery: Wow! I knew of the story of Moses freeing the Hebrews from slavery but I never knew how they became slaves in the first place. They, and the rest of the people in Egypt and the surrounding areas, freely gave themselves into slavery to survive the seven year famine. This is the only case I know of where the people were willing to become enslaved.

Strike that. Many people today willingly accept what might be called psychological slavery. They drone on for years in a job they don’t like just to “pay the bills.” There are dancers, singers, artists, inventors and yes even writers trapped in what they consider a meaningless job. They try to eek out a couple hours a week to enjoy their passion, but most of the time they just work.

I say, “Break out!” Take time off or reduce your hours and find a way to live your dream. Start your own business, tryout for that local play, write your novel. You will be surprised how your passion will carry you to success and maybe, just maybe enough money that you can leave that job altogether. Carpe Diem! Seize the day! Live your life instead of someone else’s.

NOTE: this message is for people trapped in a boring job. If you like your job or are already living your dream, please disregard this message.

Love and happiness to all!

Jacob Moves to Egypt (Gen 46)

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Bible Summary:

God tells Jacob not to fear, to take his family of seventy to Egypt and He will bring them back to Canaan. After more than twenty years apart, Jacob and Joseph hug and cry upon meeting. Jacob says he can die now he has seen Joseph alive.

Joseph tells his brothers to tell the king of Egypt they care for livestock, but they say they are shepherds instead. The king offers them the best pastures of Goshen and says they can help care for his livestock. Joseph then presents his 130-year-old father Jacob to the king. Jacob gives the king a blessing.

My Thoughts:

Miracles Can Happen: I am sure Jacob believes in miracles as soon as he glimpses Joseph after grieving his death for so many years. Miracles happen across the globe every day. Feel free to share yours.

Joseph Helps His Family (Gen 44-45)

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Bible Summary:

Joseph sends his brothers away with full sacks of grain and secretly all their money plus a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. His servant follows to question the brothers about stealing the cup. They all deny it, but the cup is found and Benjamin is ordered to stay. The brothers return to Joseph and Judah tries to negotiate Benjamin’s release because their father Jacob has already lost one son and would just die without Benjamin.

Joseph can no longer control his feelings so he sends his servants from the room and confesses his true identity. The brothers are so terrified they are speechless. Joseph calms them by saying God really sent him ahead to become ruler of Egypt to save people’s lives from the famine, including their family. He embraces each of them and cries for joy with Benjamin.

The news reaches the king and he tells Joseph to move his family from Canaan to Egypt to survive the last five years of the famine. He gives them wagons to move everyone. The brothers arrive back in Canaan with the stunning news of Joseph. When he can finally speak, Jacob tells them the only thing he would like before he dies is to see Joseph.

My Thoughts:

Forgiveness: Joseph tries to trick his brothers into leaving Benjamin but is overwhelmed by the possibility of his father dying over it. He does an incredible thing and forgives his brothers for selling him into slavery over twenty years prior. His forgiveness is possible from his everlasting faith in God having a plan for him, even though it took many years to fulfill. God has a plan for you. Be purposeful in all you do.

Jacob Gives Up Benjamin (Gen 43)

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Bible Summary:

Jacob’s family finishes all the grain, so he tells his sons to return to Egypt for more. Reuben says Benjamin must go or they will receive no grain. Jacob finally gives in since they are all starving and tells his sons to bring double the money, to repay the returned money from their first trip, and gifts.

Joseph invites his brothers over to his house to eat. They bow to him and present their gifts. Joseph gets emotional over seeing Benjamin and has to leave the room to collect himself. Joseph’s brothers are surprised to realize they are seated in birth order. They are at a separate table, since Egyptians consider Hebrews beneath them. Benjamin is given five times more food than the rest.

My Thoughts:

Needs of the Many: The famine gets so bad that Jacob is willing to risk his beloved son Benjamin to feed everyone. He finally reaches the point where, as Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan said, “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” His love for Benjamin, especially after the loss of his wife Rachel and presumably Joseph, is so deep that you can feel his anguish in the full Bible text. A parent’s love holds no bounds!

Joseph’s Brothers Buy Grain (Gen 42)

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Bible Summary:

During the famine, Jacob learns of the grain in Egypt, so sends all his sons except Benjamin to buy some so the family will not starve. Joseph’s half-brothers show up in Egypt to buy the grain and unknowingly bow to Joseph, since he has changed from the teenager they sold into slavery twenty years prior. Joseph says they are spies. Reuben whispers to his brothers that they are being paid back for Joseph’s death (he never knew Joseph was sold). Joseph understands, leaves, cries, composes himself, and returns. He keeps Simeon as a prisoner and sends the others back with grain to get their youngest brother as proof they are not spies.

The brothers are scared when they find their money on top of the full grain sacks Joseph provided. Upon their return to Canaan, they tell Jacob the whole story. He says Simeon and Joseph are already lost and he does not wish to lose any more children, especially Benjamin. Reuben says he will take Benjamin and guard him with his life and offers his two sons as collateral. Jacob says Benjamin is his only son left and would die if something happens to him.

My Thoughts:

Accepting God’s Will: Jacob favors one wife’s sons, Joseph and Benjamin, over the rest because she was his true love. Reuben, the true first born, accepts his father’s will so much that he tried to save Joseph years ago and now offers to guard Benjamin. Accept God’s will and you will gain peace and happiness.  Let Him lead the way.

Mixed Families: Divorce is the norm today. More divorces (33) were requested in Columbus, Ohio yesterday than births (22). Divorce leads to remarriage and in many cases mixed families, children from different families living together. This arrangement is a challenge for parents and kids alike. The most difficult scenario is the lone child shared between two families. Dealing with two parenting styles is hard enough but this child has four. Many cases are shared parenting, so this child does not feel a part of either family, just a burden to both.

If you are this lone child, know that God loves you and wants you to be strong. He put you in this position because He has great things planned for you.

Dream Comes True: Joseph’s dreams about the family bowing to him finally come true. It took twenty years, but his perseverance pays off. Keep at your dreams and they will come true – some day.  Believe!

What is Success?

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To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by
a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived;

This is to have Succeeded.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Joseph’s Dreams (Gen 40-41)

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Bible Summary:

Joseph is in the Egyptian prison for quite some time. The king’s wine steward and chief baker are sent to prison for offending the king. Joseph interprets their dreams and in three days they are released, the wine steward gains his position back, and the chief baker is executed, all as Joseph predicted.

Two years later the king of Egypt has two dreams but no one can interpret them. The wine steward mentions Joseph’s ability. Joseph interprets the king’s dreams to mean there will be seven years of abundance followed by seven years of severe famine. Joseph tells the king to store a fifth of the country’s grain during the good years for food during the famine. The king appoints Joseph as governor over all of Egypt.

For seven years they store grain in all the cities of Egypt. Then, famine strikes all the countries around Egypt as Joseph predicted, but Egypt has plenty of food. People from all over the world come to buy food from Egypt.

My Thoughts:

Serve and Be Rewarded: Joseph continues to serve others for 13 years after his brothers sold him into slavery and is ultimately rewarded with his freedom and the governorship of Egypt.

Save for Lean Times: Given the current slump in the world economy, this advice may seem a little too late, but should be remembered when good times return. Saving 20% like Joseph did for Egypt may be too much of a burden, but you should work towards at least saving 10% of your income. Consider it tithing to yourself.

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife (Gen 39)

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Bible Summary:

Joseph is a very successful slave to Potiphar, one of the Egyptian king’s guards, and is put in charge of everything in his household. Potiphar’s wife seduces Joseph but he continually declines. She entraps Joseph by snaring his robe and telling her husband he tried to rape her. Joseph is sent to prison, but soon becomes responsible for everything there.

My Thoughts:

Confidence: No matter how bad things get, Joseph keeps his head. I believe his confidence comes from knowing that God has a plan for him.

Service: Joseph serves others and is rewarded with more responsibility each time. He must be a great manager to be put in charge wherever he lands.