Have you ever been at the bedside of a loved one who was soon to enter eternity?  If they are alert and able to talk, we listen for every word and thought. In our time,  drugs for pain control often limit the dying person’s ability to communicate.  In today’s reading, Jacob gave a special blessing to Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.  He then spoke a word over the other sons.  (Genesis 49:9-20)

The blessing of Joseph’s sons effectively made Joseph the first-born.  Israel blessed Joseph and adopted the boys. In this way, Joseph would get the double portion. ( The first-born was to get a double portion of the inheritance.)  The other brothers had tried to kill Joseph and cut him out, but God re-established his place and doubled the inheritance!  Israel also chose Ephraim over Manasseh.  The younger over the older.  All blessing and God’s reward comes not from birth order but Divine order!  God alone knows the hearts and the end from the beginning!

One other blessing is worth noting.  Judah also received a word in Genesis 49:8-12.  Judah was told that his brothers would praise him. (His name means “praise”.)  His hand would be on the neck of his enemies and his father’s sons would bow down to him.  He was called a “lion’s cub”.  Jesus was the offspring of Judah in the genealogy of Matthew 1:3.  He is known as the “Lion of Judah” (Revelation 5:5)  He triumphed over all God’s enemies!  (Colossians 3:15) He is King of Kings and rules over nations!   (Revelation 15:3-4) Through some of the “last words” of Israel, written almost 4000 years ago, we have a prophecy of Jesus Christ!

What would you say if you just had a very short time left here on earth?  What words would you leave with those closest to you?  Would your faith be evident in you life and statements?

“You are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son.  Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness–who dares to rouse him?  The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.” Genesis 49:9-10.

“When Jacob had finished  giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.” Genesis 49:33

Families and churches are sometimes prone to conflict!  I know because I live in a family, have attended or pastored churches for many years.  I have experienced conflict in family and church settings and sometimes been responsible for it myself!   Sometimes conflict comes from misunderstanding and poor communication.  Other times it comes from jealousy or envy.  Sometimes it comes from sin and wrong-doing.  Everybody wants to blame somebody else and arguments ensue about who is at fault!

In our reading today, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers after a series of  encounters with them.  The brothers still had guilt from what they did and when Joseph revealed himself to them, they were astonished, speechless, and terrified!  (Genesis 45:1-7)  Joseph had to reassure them that it was truly him.   He understood their feelings.  He had worked through these same kinds of feelings himself over the years.  God gave him understanding of the greater purpose  that was being worked out.  Joseph shared this with his brothers to encourage them.  “It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”

As Joseph sent them away to bring Israel and the rest of the family down to Egypt to preserve them during the next 5 years of famine, he warned them not to quarrel on the way!  It doesn’t appear that repentance had yet taken place.  Feelings of guilt and shame are no longer able to control us when we truly repent.  He forgives and forgets our sins.  (Psalm 103:11-12) Blaming others never helps either.  We can only take responsibility for our own sins and forgive others of theirs.  When we do that, quarreling is greatly reduced and peace in the family results.  God is working out his purposes in our families and homes even amidst the conflict and sin so prevalent in our lives.  Often it’s hard to see the big picture.

Jesus Christ was sent before us to save us!  He saw God’s big picture and died for our sins.  If we confess our sins and repent of them, he will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all guilt and shame.  He came to bring peace in our own hearts and he blessed peacemakers! (Matthew 5:9)  May we be able to heed the ancient warning of Joseph and receive the blessing the Prince of Peace.  “Don’t quarrel on the way!”  (Genesis 45:24)

The lottery is a big thing in our land.  People play the lottery because they hope to become rich overnight!  If their “lucky number” is drawn, they could become an instant millionaire!  Of course, some do win but the statistical odds are not in your favor.  Those who do win, find that “dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” (Proverbs 13:11) Those with a Christian worldview understand the lie behind the lottery.  There is a something other than luck behind Joseph in today’s reading.

Joseph had been in prison for several years for a crime he did not commit.  He had been faithful to God and avoided the seductive trap of Potiphar’s wife but it cost him time in jail.  There he had become a key helper in the jail.  He had interpreted the dreams of two other prisoners; the one who was freed had agreed to help him get out but promptly forgot!  What “luck”!  Two years later, Pharaoh had a disturbing dream that none of his advisers could interpret.   The Pharaoh’s chief cup bearer, the prisoner who had vowed to help,  remembered Joseph’s ability!   Joseph was brought before Pharaoh and he interpreted the dream, giving God credit!  (Genesis 41:16)  Pharaoh promoted Joseph to second in command in all of Egypt!   God rewards faithfulness and integrity.

The lessons from this passage help us to see that it isn’t winning a lottery that will make us rich and famous.  Faithfulness to the Lord to serve Him and live for Him brings great reward.  Sometimes it takes us on paths we didn’t sign up for, however.  Joseph’s time in jail tested his faith and centered him even closer to God.  Joseph was also a type of Jesus Christ.  Keep on being faithful and He will exalt you in due time!

“So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took the signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger.  He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.” Genesis 41:41-42

” and He sent a man before them–Joseph, sold as a slave.  They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what He foretold came to pass, till the Word of the Lord proved him true.” Psalm 105:17-19

The story of Joseph is a fascinating one!  He was a dreamer and the youngest of 11 brothers.  He was also his father’s favorite and probably a little spoiled.  He had dreams that showed his father and brothers bowing down to him and shared them with his family.  His brothers jealousy nearly cost him his life!   At least one of his brothers showed a small amount of compassion and his life was spared as they sold  Joseph into slavery and he was taken to Egypt.

Joseph was evidently quite handsome and muscular.  In his new role as servant to a wealthy Egyptian named Potiphar, Joseph was noticed by his master’s wife.  One day when Potiphar was gone, Joseph was doing his duties in the house.  He was propositioned by Potiphar’s wife:  “Come to bed with me!”   Joseph’s response was full of truth and godly wisdom.  “My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.  How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9b) This happened day after day and Joseph continued to refuse her advances.

Adultery is a sin!  It is a sin against God and another person who is already joined as one to their spouse by God.  God hates adultery and this sin causes lying, jealousy, hatred, violence and ultimately death.  Adultery sows violence in a relationship and destroys marriages and homes. (Malachi 2:16)  Children are the victims and the devil loves to devour the children.

Joseph gives us some very practical advice about how to escape temptation.  Our first line of defense is our feet!  If we would just quickly remove ourselves from the temptation, how much easier we find we can resist!  When we linger and reason we will always be defeated!  Running away may seem cowardly, but it is sure better than the mess caused by sexual sin!  “Use de feet to avoid defeat!”

One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants were inside.  She caught him by the cloak and said, “come to bed with me!”  But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.” (Genesis 39:11-12)

“Flee from sexual immorality.  All other sins a man commits are outside his body but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” (1st Corinthians 6:18)

Have you ever felt that God has told you to do something that you knew had the potential for trouble?  You know you heard the Lord but needed reassurance that it was going to work out.  Our first move away from home to pastor a church in Washington was like that.  We were used to being around family and familiar surrounding.  We had gone to a church with some strife.  We were not sure they would like us or love us after we got there.  We wrestled concerning our move of 2000 miles with our daughter just ready for her senior year in high school.  We had told God we would go anywhere, but not necessarily this far!

Jacob faced just such a challenge in his move back from Paddan Aram to his homeland.  God commanded him to go back but he was concerned about the brother he had left behind nearly 20 years ago.  (Genesis 31:3, 13) Jacob had taken this brother’s birthright and stolen his blessing.   Jacob sent his family across the Jabok, a tributary of the Jordan River.   He stayed behind to pray.

That night he was alone and Scripture says “a man wrestled with him until daybreak”.  (Genesis 32:22-31) This “man” touched Jacobs hip socket and put it out of joint.  Jacob would not let him go until this “man” blessed him.  The man asked Jacob his name–”Jacob” (cheat).  The man changed Jacob’s name to “Israel” (wrestled with God and men and have overcome.)   The man wouldn’t give Israel his name, but did bless him and left.  Israel named the place “Peniel”.  This name states that he believed he had seen God face to face and was spared!  Thus the nation of “Israel” was born out of this amazing wrestling match!

The moral of the story is that God always wins when we wrestle Him!  He works His plans in us and works out His purposes through us.  Jacob was jealous for the blessing of God and ended up with the promise of a nation and a land from God Himself!

And God said to him, “I am God Almighty, be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and community of nations will come from your body.  The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” Genesis 36:11-12

“When Esau was 40 years old, he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.  They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.” Genesis 26:34-35

Abraham sent his servant to find a bride for Isaac to insure the godly line would be continued.  Isaac and Rebekah had the twins Jacob and Esau.  But Esau had a taste for these Hittite women,  not just one, but two wives at the same time!  It seems that Esau was oblivious to the grief he caused his godly parents.  He went right ahead in spite of their personal marriage story and probably their godly training and advice.   Marrying one was bad enough, but two was too much of a bad thing!

God wants us to walk by faith and in obedience to His Word.  He has placed those in authority over us to help us learn how to live and please the Lord.  Choosing a mate is one of the most important choices we make in life.  We as parents know our children and we know God (hopefully).  We should give godly instruction to our children to marry only believers.  We should help them by setting an example of a godly marriage and home and helping them evaluate the kind of man or woman who would complement their personality.  This person, according to Scripture should always be a believer and strong person of faith!  (2nd Corinthians 6:14-18) In fact, this is one of the only restrictions God puts on marriage.  (Marriage is only between a man and woman.)

Why does God require this?  According to Scripture (Malachi 2:15) He desires godly offspring!  It’s simple enough to understand.  Believing parents have a better chance of raising godly children!  It is still not a guarantee because each person has a free will to choose faith or self.  The Christian worldview on marriage needs re-emphasis in our world today!  Unbelieving mates and unequally yoked marriages cause great grief for believers and  God when He sees children without a godly example in the home! Don’t marry “those Hittite women”!

“ Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what have righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?  What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?”  2nd Corinthians 6:14-15

On our farm in Iowa, we had a dug well that was 110 feet deep.  (Not a drilled well!) This well was about 4 feet across and my father and his dad and brothers had helped dig this well and brick it up.  Occasionally, we would set up a tower with a rope and a basket and my dad would be lowered into the well to check the bricks and eliminate roots that were growing in through the wall.  It always amazed me that Dad said he could see the stars from the bottom of that well in broad daylight.

Because of a famine, Isaac camped in the Valley of Gerar in the land of the Philistines and reopened the wells of his father Abraham.  Wells were important for several reasons.  The provided precious water in the desert that enabled crops, animals and humans to have refreshing and life.  They provided a gathering place for communities to get this water daily for their use. (Jesus met the woman at the well in John chapter 4.) Wells also provided a means to increase a family’s wealth and provide for offspring.

The wells were also a source of quarreling in Isaac’s day.  Rather than fight over the wells, Isaac went to another location and dug a new well.  As Isaac obeyed, God opened new wells for him and gave him amazing promises.  “I am the God of your father Abraham.  Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and increase the number of your descendants for the sake of your father Abraham.” Genesis 26:24-5)

The lesson for us is to dig for water wherever we are planted.  We dig by going to Jesus and asking daily for His will and provision.  When you dig a well and the hole is deep, look up and see the stars and remember God’s promise to Abraham and Isaac!   May we, like Isaac, leave a legacy of wells of refreshing and blessing everywhere we go! May we re-dig the wells of our godly fathers!

“Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.” Genesis 26:19

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

In 1992 while attending a pastor’s conference in California, a man gifted in prophetic ministry gave my wife and I  a word from the Lord.  He told us we would have children in our later years.  Several months later at our home church, a visiting evangelist picked us out of a crowd of people and gave us the same word.  At this time, we already had three children and had no plans for more.  We chuckled a bit, but mostly wondered at these words and what might come of them.   In August of 1999, we traveled  to Russia and adopted two daughters!  As we had prepared to do this, our son reminded us and I found in my file one of these prophetic words that had been typed out for us.  It confirmed what we were about to do!  We laughed at God’s knowledge and how He had planned this for us!

God promised a son to Abraham and Sarah in their later years.  They waited 25 years and the promise finally came to pass.  God waited until it was impossible for them to have a child and then did the impossible!  Sarah had laughed at the angel’s announcement a year earlier.  Abraham named the child “Isaac” which literally means “laughter”.  In their old age they experienced the sound of laughter–the laughter of faith.  Every time they spoke the child’s name they were reminded of God’s miracle!

Faith puts its trust in an object.  Biblical faith always trusts in God and his ability to bring his promises to pass.  It is not faith in our ability to believe!  When God brings to pass what He promised, laughter is a great response!  God has a great sense of humor!  He always has the last laugh!  He loves making us laugh too!

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”  Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead, since he was about a hundred years old–and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.  Yet he did not waver in unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:18-21

An ongoing debate is going on in our society concerning gay rights.  Those in favor argue  that genetically they are made with a preference that they cannot change.  They say it is discrimination and lack of tolerance when government or church will not allow them all the rights that traditional married couples have.  A large number of states have passed traditional marriage protection acts, but others have voted to legalize same-sex marriage.

In response to the reports of wickedness, God sent two angels to Sodom to rescue Lot and his family before judgment fell.  As these angels were visiting with Lot, the men of Sodom came knocking on Lot’s door, demanding to have those visitors for their own sexual pleasure.  Lot pleaded with them, “Please don’t do this wicked thing.” (Genesis 19:6) But they began to move to break down his door.  The angels intervened, pulled Lot inside, and struck the men blind.  They then warned Lot to gather his family and leave because they were under orders from God to destroy that city.

The saddest note in this story is when Lot tried to warn his son’s-in- law about the coming destruction and they thought he was joking! (Genesis 19:14)  Lot had moved to Sodom with great riches.  He apparently tolerated the wickedness and even failed to help his own daughters find believing mates.  His own wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt!  What a sad case of a man who knew God and His blessing but was deluded by the spirit of Sodom!    Are you warning those involved in the “sin of Sodom?”  Are you careful to vote for godly men and women who will listen to God’s Word on this subject?  Pray for discernment and intercede for mercy for our land!

God’s message for our day is plain!  He designed man and woman for marriage and raising godly children.  When we rebel against His plan, consequences will follow.  We have the freedom to choose our lifestyle, but the consequences surely will come with it! 

“Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah–from the Lord out of the heavens.  Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities and also the vegetation in the land.  But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:24-26

A great deal has happened in the lives of Abram and Sarai in the last three chapters.  They have been to Egypt and back. They have rescued Lot from invaders.  They gave the first tithes to Melchizedek, an unusual man who was a king of Salem (Jerusalem) and a priest of “The Most High God”.

Next, since she was still barren Sarai suggested to Abram that he have a child by her maid Hagar in order to fulfill God’s promise.  Hagar bore him a son and now felt superior.  Sarai became  jealous and mistreated her.  The child Ishmael, became a source of trouble in the house. (Genesis 16:12).  (In fact, we are today experiencing trouble in the Middle East and a war on terror from Ismael’s offspring!)

Genesis 17 recorded another visit by God to Abram and Sarai.  Abram was then 99 years old and Sarai was 90.  God confirmed His promise to them by covenant.  Part of a covenant is a change of names.  Abram means “Exalted Father” and Abraham meant “Father of a multitude”.  Sarah’s new name meant “Princess”.  God took Abraham’s name too!  He became know as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  God also gave them a physical sign of the covenant, circumcision.  This mark in the male organ carrying the “seed”, would remind Abraham of God’s promise and mark his offspring as special.  This sign also helped keep the line pure and free from venereal disease, thus protecting the offspring.

Faith simply says “yes” to God and obeys!  Abraham is known as the father of faith because he believed God and God credited him with being righteous!  (Genesis 15:6)  We are made right with God exactly the same way!  By faith in Jesus we are credited with righteousness too.  Our sign of covenant is that we get the Name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who circumcises our hearts and marks us as belonging to God.  God writes our name in the Book of Life and we have an eternal inheritance in Him!  We are truly blessed through Abraham and Sarah and their seed, Jesus Christ!

“Having believed, you were marked in Him (Christ) with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His Glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14