Going Out - Exodus 1

 

Exodus 1 – Going Out                                                         

 

God promised that the descendants of Abraham would multiply greatly, and they did.  God keeps His word and accomplishes His purposes in His time.  Over the centuries, nations have tried to destroy Israel but have not succeeded. God gave Israel a special promise in Genesis 12:3, and He is keeping it.  God’s children today should pray for Israel.

God told Abraham that his people would experience suffering.

Now they have a new Pharaoh, and he is more interested in national security than he is about human decency.  When people become a means to an end instead of an end in themselves, we are not treating them as God wants us to.  Enslaving the men and killing the baby boys were Egypt’s solution to the “Jewish problem”. The midwives believed in obeying God rather than men. Acts5:29. Thank God for concerning people who will courageously defend the little ones!  God rewarded the women, not by making them sterile (which would have been safer), but by giving them families!  This shows how valuable children are in the sight of God.  Psalms 127:3-5.  Ponder the words of our Lord in Matthew 18:1-6.

 

Moses parents and the Jewish midwives are not the only ones in Bible History who had the courage to put God’s will ahead of man’s law.  Daniel and his friends (Dan.1). The three Hebrew men (Dan 3). And the Apostles (Acts 4:19-20; 5:29) are other examples.  Their aim was not to oppose a bad law but to uphold the glory and truth of God.

 

 

Nelson’s Quick Bible Reference Commentary by Warren Wiersbe

 

Jacob & Joseph's Funeral Genesis 50

 

 Genesis 50 – Jacob and Joseph’s funeral

 

Jacob died in faith and was a pilgrim to the end. It took them 40 days to embalm him, and the Egyptians mourned for him.  I do not think this was a professional mourning.  I think he had become a real saint in the land of Egypt and was probably respected as the father of Joseph.  Joseph was the deliverer, but his father Jacob was at that time a real saint of God.

Evidently the brothers had gone to Jacob before he died and had expressed their fears regarding what would happen to them after he was gone.  They were afraid that Joseph would turn on them and be against them once the father was gone.  After all Joseph’s words, tears, and kisses and they received his gifts they did not really believe he had forgiven them. So, Jacob had given them a message to tell Joseph, and he was sure hat Joseph would not persecute them to attempt to get even with them.  When the brothers do come to Joseph with this confession, Joseph weeps because of it.  Now they are repenting because of their sin. Joseph replied, “what you thought of evil against me, God meant it for good.” 

God has a purpose that you and I do not see.  We need to remember that He has a good purpose in view.  He is not going to let anything happen to you unless it will accomplish a good purpose in your life. Joseph told them, “I will nourish you, and your little ones.  He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.”

Joseph said to his brothers, “I die, and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land which He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“So, joseph died, being 110 years; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.”  His coffin reminded them that God would bring them out of Egypt.  Our encouragement today is not a coffin but an empty tomb.

 

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J. Vernon McGee commentary, Nelson Commentary,  NKJ version.

 

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh Genesis 48

 

Genesis 48- Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

 

Jacob has come a long way since his early days.  It is wonderful to observe in this that spiritual life is a growth and a development.

Jacob gave a blessing while he still could.  Reuben’s sin cost him the blessing of the firstborn, which went to Joseph’s sons. God changed the birth order as Jacob put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.  The one who stood at Jacob’s right hand would be the one with priority.  Joseph was disturbed by the move, but Jacob was right.  We must never try to tell God how to bless other people.  We will see that the tribe of Manasseh marched under the banner of Ephraim in the wilderness, as described in Numbers.  Joshua came out of the tribe of Ephraim.

 When Joseph pushed the older son to the right hand of Jacob and the younger toward his left hand, Jacob switched hands.  He crossed his hands and put his right hand on the younger son.  One reason may have been because Jacob was the younger and he received the blessing.  So, he passes the blessing on to the younger son here.  God does not choose any man because of his natural ability.  The talent is not dedicated to God, it must be yielded to Him to be used of Him. 

Joseph had better accept this because he is not the oldest either.  He happens to be one of the youngest, and yet the blessing is given to his sons. Joseph through his two sons, would have a greater inheritance than the other brothers would have.

 

 

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J. Vernon McGee commentary, Nelson Commentary,  NKJ version.

 

 

Jacob Blesses Pharaoh Genesis 47

 

Genesis 47 – Jacob Blesses Pharaoh

 

Jacob was a blessing in Egypt.  He blessed Pharaoh, Joseph, and his sons, and all twelve of the sons of Israel. God blesses us that we might be a blessing. Circumstance’s change, but God never changes.

Egypt was a haven for Jacob and his family, and God knew that Egypt was not his home.  Canaan was and he wanted to be buried there with the others who had the same pilgrimage of faith.  He was a testimony in life, and he wanted to be a testimony in death.  Despite his mistakes and failures in life, Jacob ended well at the age of 147. He had lived 17 years in the land of Egypt. 

When he blessed Pharaoh, He gave God glory for his life, and he made no boast about his accomplishments.  He was just a sinner, saved by the grace of God.

We have not anything to brag about except a wonderful Savior who has been gracious and patient with us down through the years.  He is all any of us must boast about.

Joseph had stored grain in the land of Egypt, but the land is not producing grain anymore.  Joseph then bought the land for Pharaoh, and he is allowing the people to live by furnishing them food.  There is no doubt that the famine was a terrible thing, not only in the land of Egypt and Canaan but all over the earth.  We keep our focus here because this is where the story happens. Joseph is aware that the famine will end the next year, so he tells the people to sow their own grain.

The success of Joseph in acquiring all the land for Pharaoh makes Jacob believe that his family might become comfortable and never want to return to Canaan. He knew that he would die soon so requested he be buried in Canaan.  Abraham believed that he would be raised from the dead in Canaan. Isaac believed the same.  Now Jacob is expressing the same faith.

For believers today it makes no difference where we are buried.  At the time of the rapture, wherever we are, we shall be raised, and our bodies will join our spirits; that is, if we have died before the rapture takes place.  If we are still living, then we shall be changed and caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

 

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J. Vernon McGee commentary, Nelson Commentary,  NKJ version.

 

 

Jacob and Family Move To Egypt Genesis 46

 

Genesis 46- Jacob and Family Move to Egypt

 

Jacob, for most of his life, had not been looking to God, but now as he comes to Beersheba, he offers sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

God speaks to Jacob. He says, “I am God, the God of your father: fear not to go down to Egypt and I will make of you a great nation.” It would not be easy for Jacob, now 130 years old, to leave the land God gave him and go to Egypt. But Jacob was able to go with confidence and peace because he was sure of God’s promise and presence.  Jacob knew that God had gone before him, and that Joseph was there making everything ready for him.

Our future is ours when Christ is our Lord, and we follow Him.

 Jacob left the land with just a staff.  When he came into Haran, he was God’s man living in the flesh.   He came out of Haran, running away from his father-in-law and was afraid to meet his own brother Esau.  Then in the land of Canaan Jacob wrestled with an angel.  He was fighting in his own strength.  And now he is going to Egypt.   He is not walking in his own strength, and he is not running away anymore.  He is now walking in faith. Jacob has become the man God wanted him to be, and only God can make this kind of man.

There was a time in our lives when we met the Gospel, the Word of God and we turned to Him.  Then there was that period of struggle when we thought we could live our own lives in our own strength.  Perhaps that lasted a while.  Then there came a time when we did grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus and began to walk in faith.

There was sixty-six people who came with Jacob to Egypt.  In Jacob’s genealogy there are names that mean nothing to me. But each of them is precious in God’s sight.  Here we are amid a great population with literally millions of people around us, yet each of us are an individual to God.  He delighted to put their names down and is delighted to list our name.  The question is.. Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

When they got to Joseph, they fell on each other’s neck and embraced and wept.  What a glorious reunion after all this time!

 

To catch up on previous lessons go to: https//sherryasouthard@blogspot.com

 

J. Vernon McGee commentary, Nelson Commentary,  NKJ version.

 

Joseph Reveals Himself Genesis 45

 

Genesis 45 – Joseph Reveals Himself

 

 

After visiting with his brothers and seeing Benjamin, Joseph becomes so emotionally charged that he cannot contain himself.  In the house of Pharaoh, they can hear the weeping.  Joseph says to his brothers, “I am Joseph.”  The brothers were terrified at his presence.  If you think they were afraid before, they were really terrified now.  It had been near to twenty-five years since they had seen him.  They are sure now that he will get his revenge.  Joseph is not angry, and he does not seek revenge. Joseph could see in all of this was that God had permitted it for a purpose. God was moving in all their lives. Our Lord knows just how to work in our lives to bring us to submission.  Joseph explained to them that God had sent him before them to preserve the nation so that Israel could be a blessing to all the earth. God’s purpose did not minimize their sins or negate their responsibility, but it did help to ease their fear and sorrow. Joseph was thirty-nine years old and has been living in the land of Egypt for twenty-two years.  The brothers stood absolutely spellbound, they had nothing to say as they listened to Joseph speaking words that seemed unbelievable. He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and both wept.

Pharaoh heard the weeping and wanted to know what was happening.  When he heard that Joseph’s brothers were in the land, he was delighted.  He trusted Joseph and was pleased to have more like him in their land.

Joseph wants to bring them down to the land of Goshen which is the best part of Egypt.  It is in that land that God is going to make them a nation, sheltered from the rest of the world. Pharaoh ordered wagons to be sent. He told them that they will not need to bring anything extra, that he will furnish all their needs. 

The brothers went out of Egypt and came into the land of Canaan to their father Jacob.  They told Jacob that Joseph is still alive and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.  Jacob could not believe it was true.  Once he saw the wagons and all that was in them, he was finally convinced, and his spirit was renewed. The prospect of seeing Joseph certainly influenced Jacob to make the decision to go down to Egypt.  He probably intended to come back to Canaan but that never happened until he died and was buried there.

 

To catch up on previous lessons go to: https//sherryasouthard@blogspot.com

 

J. Vernon McGee commentary, Nelson Commentary,  NKJ version.

 

Judah Offers Himself Genesis 44

 

Genesis 44 – Judah Offers Himself

 

When Joseph sends his brothers back to Jacob, they go away thinking all is well.  They have no idea that Joseph’s divining cup is in Benjamin’s sack.  Here comes a whole troop after them and accuses them of stealing.  They were so sure none of them had the cup.

Joseph was a prophet, he interpreted dreams as we read of the Butler, Baker and Pharaoh. We must understand that his gift of prophecy was a gift that God had given him, and this was written before any revelation.  We are not to get a cup and look at tea leaves, nor are we to watch our horoscope – that is not of God.  Joseph had a gift, and it was not in the cup but from God.

When the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack which Joseph had instructed his steward to do to test his brothers, they tore their clothes as a gesture of extreme distress.  They went back and once again fell on the ground before Joseph. Judah steps forward and makes a full confession that it is because of their sin that this has come upon them.  Joseph wants to see how much his brothers love Benjamin.  Was it more than they loved him?  He says that Benjamin is the guilty one and must stay behind as Joseph’s slave.

Once again, Judah steps forward and relates what has happened and how his father would feel if they left Benjamin behind.  No way were they going to leave him behind!  Jacob had been deceived and now Joseph can see that now.  He knows exactly what the brothers told their father about what happened to him so long ago.  They had told Jacob that he “was not” meaning Joseph was dead. In this all the brothers had passed the test as any one of them would have offered to stay in Benjamin’s place. 

 

Later on in history there came one in the line of Judah, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who bore the penalty for the guilty.  “God commanded his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.  Christ took the place of the Guilty.

 

 

To catch up on previous lessons go to: https//sherryasouthard@blogspot.com

 

J. Vernon McGee commentary, Nelson Commentary,  NKJ version.