Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 46:31-34 through Genesis 47:1-6.  I will only quote the verses in chapter 46.  Here is a link to the verses in chapter 47 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2047&version=NASB1995

“Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me;  and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock;  and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’  When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ that you may live in the land of Goshen;  for every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians.”  Genesis 46:31-34.

——————

Although the thought of a shepherd was (for some reason) “loathsome to the Egyptians” verse 34, Pharaoh recognized the need for keepers of livestock.  “Shepherds” and  “keepers of livestock” are different titles for doing the same necessary work.  Pharaoh said to Joseph, “…  and if you know any capable men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.”  Genesis 47:6. 

Today’s Scripture leads us to consider how our LORD is both our Shepherd and our Keeper.  We see both descriptions in the following two Scriptures.  The LORD is described as a shepherd in Psalm chapter 23, and the LORD is described as a keeper in Psalm 121.  In sharp contrast to the Egyptians for whom the thought of a shepherd was (for some reason) “loathsome”, we love and cherish the thought of our LORD being both our Shepherd and our Keeper.   

“The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:1-4.

“4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.” Psalm 121:4-8.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 46:28-30.

“Now he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out the way before him to Goshen;  and they came into the land of Goshen.  Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel;  as soon as he appeared before him, he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a long time.  Then Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.”  Genesis 46:28-30.

————-

At first, it may seem peculiar, even morbid, for Israel a/k/a Jacob to say:  “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.”  Verse 30.  But, we know that he was sincere because we then remember from the following Scripture that he said something similar earlier when he first received all the good news from his other sons. 

“Then they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob.  They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.”  But he was stunned, for he did not believe them.  When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.  Then Israel said, “It is enough;  my son Joseph is still alive.  I will go and see him before I die.”  Genesis 45:25-28.

But, God is good and does much more than we expect for us!

“Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful and became very numerous.  Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years;  so the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years.”  Genesis 47:27-28.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalm 103:1-5.

“29 He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
30 Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:29-31.

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  Romans 8:11.

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen.”  Ephesians 3:20-21.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 46:8-26.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+46&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt:  Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.  The sons of Reuben:  Hanoch and Pallu and Hezron and Carmi.  The sons of Simeon:  Jemuel and Jamin and Ohad and Jachin and Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.  The sons of Levi:  Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.  …  All the persons belonging to Jacob, who came to Egypt, his direct descendants, not including the wives of Jacob’s sons, were sixty-six persons in all, and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt were two;  all the persons of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy.”  Genesis 46:8-11 and 26-27.

—————–

Today’s Scripture counts and totals, even identifying by name:  “All the persons belonging to Jacob, who came to Egypt, his direct descendants, not including the wives of Jacob’s sons, were sixty-six persons in all, and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt were two;  all the persons of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy.”  Verses 26-27. 

But, their descendants could not be counted nor totaled nor identified by name by man.  “Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.”  Deuteronomy 10:22.

Let us consider first the difficulty facing Abraham and God’s promise to Abraham, then let us consider the difficulty facing Jacob and God’s promise to Jacob.

Abram was looking at nothing: no children to be his heir.  “Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”  Genesis 15:2.

“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,

“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great.”

Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”  And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”  Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir;  but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”  And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.”  And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”  Then he believed in the LORD;  and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”  Genesis 15:1-6.

Jacob was also looking at nothing: no food in Canaan.

“God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.”  And he said, “Here I am.”  He said, “I am God, the God of your father;  do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.  I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again;  and Joseph will close your eyes.”  Genesis 46:2-4.

We too may feel hopeless either looking at “our nothing”, whatever that may be.  Or, on the other side of the range, we may feel hopeless, small and insignificant, when either we literally look at the stars of heavens or figuratively look at the number and size of our problems.

But, there is hope!

“‘Ah Lord God!  Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too difficult for You,”  Jeremiah 32:17.

“In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”  Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;  yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.  Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”  Romans 4:18-25.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 45:21-28.

“Then the sons of Israel did so;  and Joseph gave them wagons according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey.  To each of them he gave changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments.  To his father he sent as follows:  ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and sustenance for his father on the journey.

So he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the journey.”  Then they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob.  They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.”  But he was stunned, for he did not believe them.  When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.  Then Israel said, “It is enough;  my son Joseph is still alive.  I will go and see him before I die.”  Genesis 45:21-28.

——————-

At first, it may seem puzzling and unnecessary for Joseph to tell his brothers:   “Do not quarrel on the journey.”  After all, his brothers escaped slavery, famine, and death.  And, even more, his brothers received such favor and gifts from Pharaoh. Rather than having lost two brothers, Joseph and Benjamin, they regained them.  They were like in a victory parade going back to their father to bring him such stunningly great news. In summary, Joseph’s brothers should not need to be told by Joseph to not quarrel on the journey back to their father.    

But, we do see Joseph telling them:  “Do not quarrel on the journey.”  And, we too need to be so instructed to not quarrel with each other as we journey through life even though we too have received such blessings and have no good reason to quarrel.

Consider that after counting the blessings of the church in Corinth, Paul instructs them to not quarrel.  

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.  For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.”  1 Corinthians 1:4-11.

In conclusion, we should guard against our propensity to quarrel.  We should put off the “old self” and put on the new self”.  Instead of quarreling, consider this summary as to how we should be.

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone;  just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body;  and be thankful.”  Colossians 3:12-15. 

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 45:16-20.

“Now when the news was heard in Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, it pleased Pharaoh and his servants.  Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this:  load your beasts and go to the land of Canaan, and take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land.’  Now you are ordered, ‘Do this:  take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come.  Do not concern yourselves with your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” Genesis 45:16-20. 

——————–

In sharpest contrast to the world’s retirement messages which create panic and anxiety that we have not saved/invested enough, Scripture teaches us to trust God to provide what we need and to be peaceful and patient.

In today’s Scripture, God uses Pharaoh to lead us to meditate on this point by Pharaoh’s words to Joseph and his brothers:  “come to me, and I will give you the best …  Do not concern yourselves with your goods”.

Scripture is bold.  

“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”  Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:27-29.

“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

3 What advantage does man have in all his work
Which he does under the sun?” Ecclesiastes 1:1-3.

“For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun?  Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest.  This too is vanity.”  Ecclesiastes 2:22-23.

“As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came.  He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.”  Ecclesiastes 5:15. 

“And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come;  take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘You fool!  This very night your soul is required of you;  and now who will own what you have prepared?’  So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”  Luke 12:19-20.

But, there is hope!

“3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:3-4.

“7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
…
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.” Psalm 37:7 and 11.

“And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.  For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.  Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”  Luke 12:29-32.

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;  if it were not so, I would have told you;  for I go to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”  John 14:1-3. 

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes;  and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;  the first things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:2-4.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 44:1-13.

“Then he commanded his house steward, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack.  Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain.”  And he did as Joseph had told him.  As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys.  They had just gone out of the city, and were not far off, when Joseph said to his house steward, “Up, follow the men;  and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?  Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed uses for divination?  You have done wrong in doing this.’”

So he overtook them and spoke these words to them.  They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these?  Far be it from your servants to do such a thing.  Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan.  How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?  With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”  So he said, “Now let it also be according to your words;  he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and the rest of you shall be innocent.”  Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack.  He searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.  Then they tore their clothes, and when each man loaded his donkey, they returned to the city.”  Genesis 44:1-13.

—————————–

Did not Joseph’s brothers remember what similar thing previously happened to them?

Money was put in their sack.  This time, they were accused of stealing the silver cup which was also put in their sack.  They themselves said:  “We have also brought down other money in our hand to buy food;  we do not know who put our money in our sacks.”  Genesis 43:22.  But, they were comforted.  “He 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.”  …”  Genesis 43:23.  

First lesson that we can learn is that when we encounter an unexpected accusation or any other frightening circumstance, we should not panic.  We should not be afraid.  Trust God.

“8 “But you, Israel, My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
Descendant of Abraham My friend,
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its remotest parts
And said to you, ‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and not rejected you.
10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
11 “Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;
Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.
12 “You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,
Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.
13 “For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand,
Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’
14 “Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel;
I will help you,” declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 41:8-14.

Second lesson that we can learn is that we should not be bold and arrogant in pronouncing judgment, especially against our brothers and especially before the facts are determined.  

Joseph’s brothers said:  “With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”  But, we notice that although Joseph said:  “Now let it also be according to your words”, Joseph pronounced a much less severe judgment:  “he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and the rest of you shall be innocent.”  Verses 9-10.

Moreover, we remember the judgment that Joseph’s brothers pronounced against Joseph.  “When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death.  They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer!  Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits;  and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’  Then let us see what will become of his dreams!”  But Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.”  Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood.  Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father.  So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him;  and they took him and threw him into the pit.  Now the pit was empty, without any water in it.”  Genesis 37:18-24.

“But you, why do you judge your brother?  Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt?  For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.  For it is written,

“AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”

So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.”  Romans 14:10-13.

“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”  Romans 14:19.