Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 43:16-34 which covers the arrival of Joseph’s brothers including Benjamin. Joseph’s brothers were nervous about how Joseph would treat them. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+43&version=NASB
I quote the following verses.
“When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his house steward, “Bring the men into the house, and slay an animal and make ready; for the men are to dine with me at noon.” So the man did as Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph’s house. Now the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are being brought in, that he (Joseph) may seek occasion against us and fall upon us, and take us for slaves with our donkeys.” Genesis 43:16-18.
“He (Joseph’s house steward) said, “Be at ease, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. Then the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys fodder. So they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat a meal there.” Genesis 43:23-25.
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We notice with interest Scriptures (such as in today’s Scripture) that refer to God, not only as “Your God”, but also as “the God of your father” or words similar to those words. Here is just a few of those references.
“See, the Lord your God has placed the land before you; go up, take possession, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’” Deuteronomy 1:21.
“For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.” Deuteronomy 4:31.
“Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build,” Deuteronomy 6:10.
“It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 9:5.
“Then the Lord your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the Lord will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers;” Deuteronomy 30:9.
“Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless the Lord your God.” And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed low and did homage to the Lord and to the king.” 1 Chronicles 19:20.
“It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” Acts 3:25-26.
“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” Acts 2:39.
These and other references lead us to ponder the Unconditional Covenant. I cannot cover the Unconditional Covenant within the scope of my knowledge or the scope of the daily devotion. But, I can point out today’s Scriptures and other Scriptures which should lead us to consider that God often unconditionally elects and saves within such family relationships (or within lines of descendants), but God does not necessarily save all the children of the elect. (“Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Romans 9:13.)
The Protestant Reformed Churches have done a good job teaching and maintaining the purity of this Unconditional Covenant Doctrine. I quote the following from Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: A Guide in Catechetical Instruction by Rev. H. Hoeksema (revised by Prof. H. Hanko) of the Protestant Reformed Churches.
Lesson 18: The Covenant of Grace
1.How does God save His people?
By means of a living faith in the Mediator of the covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ.
2.What is the fruit of the work of Christ?
That God maintains, restores, and perfects His covenant through Him. Jeremiah 31:33 .
3.What is the covenant?
It is the gracious relation of living fellowship and friendship between God and His people in Christ, wherein He is their God and they are His people. Genesis 17:7 ; Psalm 16:5 ; Psalm 33:22 .
4.How many covenants are there?
There is only one covenant in both the Old and New Testaments established with God’s people throughout all time.
5.Did not Adam stand in a covenant relationship to God?
Yes, but he violated the covenant through his sin so that the covenant must be restored through Christ.
6.How does God establish His covenant?
God establishes His covenant by His own work of grace whereby He takes His people into His own covenant fellowship. Ephesians 2:8 .
7.Does God establish His covenant with all men?
No, He establishes His covenant only with His elect people in the line of continued generations. Galatians 3:16, 29 .
8.What does God do for His people in that covenant?
He forms them to be His people, makes them partakers of all the benefits of Christ, and leads them on to eternal glory. Ephesians 1:23 .
9.Through Whom does God make us partakers of all Christ’s benefits?
Through the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in Christ as the Head and in His people as members of His body. Ephesians 1:23 .
EXTRA WORK:
1.There are some who teach that the covenant is an agreement between God and man. How does an agreement differ from a bond of friendship and fellowship?
2.Some teach that, because the covenant is an agreement, it is bilateral (two-sided). Prove from Genesis 15:7-18 that the covenant is unilateral (one-sided).
3.Prove from Psalm 89:28-34 that God not only establishes His covenant, but that God also preserves it by His own work.
4.How is the protevangel in Genesis 3:15 a promise of the coming of Christ the Head of the covenant?
5.Prove from Psalm 25:14 that the covenant is a bond of friendship between God and His people.
6.Prove from Genesis 17:7 that God establishes His covenant in the line of continued generations.
7.Read the doctrinal part of the Baptism Form and explain from it what is our “part” of the covenant.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 