Category: Bible (Page 252 of 361)

Joseph’s brothers feared the payback they deserved. Their father Jacob, dead and buried, no longer provided a buffer between the siblings. They threw themselves before their little brother—now one of the most powerful men in the world—to beg forgiveness.

Joseph gave a most magnanimous reply, filled with grace and forgiveness and wisdom. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good for accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Sometimes evil is just evil and it’s hard to see any good. I’m reading a book right now about the Soviet suppression of the Hungarian revolution in 1956. The Soviets intended to harm the revolutionaries, and so they did. The country suffered under Soviet repression for another quarter century. Hard to see good beneath such hatred.

Thankfully at other times, like with Joseph, good quivers behind the scenery. It takes awhile to recognize it, and it may not be as clear-cut as in this story, but remember this promise? And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

I can hold to those words, and ask the Lord to show me the good waiting to emerge from the many challenging situations I see before me.

Genesis 50 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by JOHN TOWNER

Joseph reached out to correct his elderly father. Jacob prepared to bless his grandsons, but switched the order, placing his right hand on the head of the younger boy. Joseph thought his father did so by mistake, but Jacob persisted.

May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob pronounced a blessing of prosperity still heard today.

Years before, Jacob deceived his father to steal the blessing reserved for his older brother. Now, in his old age, Jacob showed maturity and wisdom. He listened to the Lord as he crossed his arms to pronounce his blessing. Nice to see how he grew in grace and truth throughout his life.

And the blessing going to the younger son? The Lord directed Jacob’s blessing in that direction, younger before older. This underscores the reality that you and I are not born to God’s favor due to our family line, or ethnicity, or place of birth. Our status in the world fails to guarantee a blessing.

Blessings are ultimately dependent on God’s grace. We see this over and over in the lives of people in the scriptures, and I see this over and over in the lives around me as well.

Genesis 48 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Jordan Whitt

Whatever you might say about the Pharaoh who first met Joseph (all-powerful despot, cruel tyrant, etc.), the man recognized and recruited talented people. We saw this with Joseph, of course, after the dream interpretation and his subsequent placement as manager of all Egypt.

Pharaoh later invited Joseph’s relatives to move to Egypt. They gladly packed up and headed south, knowing that the devastating famine still had five years to run. Upon arrival, Pharaoh hosted a reception for the families. After hearing of their occupation (shepherds), Pharaoh quickly replied to Joseph, if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock.

Talent rarely emerges in a vacuum. After seeing the stellar work of Joseph, Pharaoh hoped that others in Joseph’s family might hold a gift he could use for his own benefit.

To work for Pharaoh carried perils along with status. Remember the cupbearer and baker imprisoned with Joseph? Upset with their service, Pharaoh threw them both into prison. After restoring the cupbearer to his post, Pharaoh impaled the baker. What could a baker possibly do worthy of death? Burn the pies? Serve stale rolls at a state dinner? Pharaoh was tough on the help.

Later Pharaohs also proved tough on the help, as the descendants of Joseph’s family discovered. But at this point in time, God turned the selfish intentions of one man into the long-term good of a people. It’s nice to remember that God still works in the same way today.

Genesis 47 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Alexander Mils

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.

What does this mean, exactly?

Well, it means that the Lord owns the earth, everything on the earth, and every person who lives and breathes. Pretty clear cut.

The environment around me, the air I breathe and the water I drink, belong to the Lord. I live as a steward of this good earth, not the ultimate landowner. As such, I’m to carefully think about how I manipulate the Lord’s creation to my benefit.

Despite my limited thinking, nothing I possess belongs to me. I often act like a toddler who grasps a wooden spoon and proclaims, mine! I cling to goods as my own, but they’re ultimately the Lord’s. Only on loan for a short time.

Every physical place belongs to the Lord.

I once walked through Kalighat Temple in Kolkata, India. Pilgrims journey here to worship Kali, the Hindu goddess of death, supreme of all powers. But even this piece of real estate, dedicated to the service of another god, belongs to the Lord. There exists only one supreme power.

Finally, everyone I meet today belongs to the Lord. Of course, they may belong to a different political party, or a different religion, or a different race, or express themselves in ways differently from myself, or flat out oppose the core of what I believe.

But still, each and every one belongs to the Lord, and I can treat them as such.

Psalm 24 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by John Cameron