Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 43:1-15.

“Now the famine was severe in the land. So it came about when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” Judah spoke to him, however, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you do not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” Then Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly by telling the man whether you still had another brother?” But they said, “The man questioned particularly about us and our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ So we answered his questions. Could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the lad with me and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; you may hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame before you forever. For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.”

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double the money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake. Take your brother also, and arise, return to the man; and may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” So the men took this present, and they took double the money in their hand, and Benjamin; then they arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.” Genesis 43:1-15.

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Dear Heavenly Father:

Throughout history, You have granted the blessing of favor to Your people, so that others would trust and do good to Your people. You caused Potiphar to favor Joseph. You caused the chief jailer to favor Joseph. You caused the Egyptians to favor Your people Israel when they left Egypt. You caused the commander of the officials to favor Daniel. Later, we will read how You granted Jacob’s request for favor in today’s Scripture. There are so many other examples of how You granted favor and caused others to trust and do good to Your people. And so, with faith, we eagerly meditate on these examples and pray that You may for us too grant favor and cause others to trust us and do good to us in our jobs and other relationships with people, so that we can accomplish Your will. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

“The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian (Potiphar). Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge.” Genesis 39:1-4.

“But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.” Genesis 39:21-23.

“I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.” Exodus 3:21-22.

“Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials,” Daniel 1:9.

“The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.” Acts 7:9-10.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 42 which covers the trip of Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to get food because of the famine in Canaan. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+42&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” He said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die.” Then ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “I am afraid that harm may befall him.” So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.

Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” Genesis 42:1-7.

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When “Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground”, “Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them …” Verse 9.

Here were Joseph’s dreams. “Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.” Genesis 37:5-11.

We see partial fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams in today’s Scripture.

But, we also use today’s Scripture to meditate on our duty to humble ourselves before the LORD our Maker and worship Him.

“Come, let us worship and bow down,

Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For He is our God,

And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.” Psalm 95:6-7.

“I will give You thanks with all my heart;

I will sing praises to You before the gods.

I will bow down toward Your holy temple

And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.

On the day I called, You answered me;

You made me bold with strength in my soul.” Psalm 138:1-3.

“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 41:38-57. Because Joseph interpreted Pharoah’s dreams and proposed a plan for how to save from the upcoming years of abundance to provide bread for the later years of famine, Pharoah made Joseph ruler of Egypt. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+41&version=NASB

! quote the following verses.

“So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:39-41.

“During the seven years of plenty the land brought forth abundantly. So he (Joseph) gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields. Thus Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.”

“Now before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” He named the second Ephraim, “For,” he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

“When the seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.” Genesis 41:47-54.

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We admire Joseph’s wisdom which interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, which provided for Egypt a plan for relief from the famine, and which executed the plan so that “then there was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.” Verse 54.

But, how do we get such wisdom?

“2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom,

Incline your heart to understanding;

3 For if you cry for discernment,

Lift your voice for understanding;

4 If you seek her as silver

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord

And discover the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

8 Guarding the paths of justice,

And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice

And equity and every good course.” Proverbs 2:2-9.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 41:1-37 which covers Pharaoh’s two dreams and the interpretation and proposal by Joseph. Pharaoh had two similar dreams (7 thin cows eating 7 fat cows, and 7 thin ears of grain eating 7 fat ears of grain). Joseph interpreted these dreams as representing 7 years of abundance in Egypt followed by 7 years of famine, and he proposed saving some of the food from the abundant years as a reserve to cover some of what would be needed for the years of famine. Here is a link to that chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+41&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do.” Verse 25.

“It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do.” Verse 28.

“Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about.” Verse 32.

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God is sovereign: “it means that the matter is determined by God”. Verse 32. Today’s Scripture shows that both abundant years and famine years were determined by God and were part of His overall providence.

Reformed Doctrine consistently teaches God’s sovereignty and providence. Here is some of what the Reformed Creeds teach.

From Heidelberg Catechism:

Question 27. What dost thou mean by the providence of God?

Answer. The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.

Question 28. What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by his providence doth still uphold all things?

Answer. That we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from his love; since all creatures are so in his hand, that without his will they cannot so much as move.

From Belgic Confession:

Article 13: Of Divine Providence.

We believe that the same God, after he had created all things, did not forsake them, or give them up to fortune or chance, but that he rules and governs them according to his holy will, so that nothing happens in this world without his appointment: nevertheless, God neither is the author of, nor can be charged with, the sins which are committed. For his power and goodness are so great and incomprehensible, that he orders and executes his work in the most excellent and just manner, even then, when devils and wicked men act unjustly. And, as to what he doth surpassing human understanding, we will not curiously inquire into, farther than our capacity will admit of; but with the greatest humility and reverence adore the righteous judgments of God, which are hid from us, contenting ourselves that we are disciples of Christ, to learn only those things which he has revealed to us in his Word, without transgressing these limits. This doctrine affords us unspeakable consolation, since we are taught thereby that nothing can befall us by chance, but by the direction of our most gracious and heavenly Father; who watches over us with a paternal care, keeping all creatures so under his power, that not a hair of our head (for they are all numbered), nor a sparrow, can fall to the ground, without the will of our Father, in whom we do entirely trust; being persuaded, that he so restrains the devil and all our enemies, that without his will and permission, they cannot hurt us. And therefore we reject that damnable error of the Epicureans, who say that God regards nothing, but leaves all things to chance. Belgic Confession.

From Westminster Larger Catechism:

Question 18: What are God’s works of providence?

Answer: God’s works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures; ordering them, and all their actions, to his own glory.

And, “God will quickly bring it about.” Verse 32.

“for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.” Romans 9:28.

“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 40 which covers the interpretations of the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. Here is a link to that chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+40&version=NASB

I quote the following verse.

“Then they said to him, “We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please.” Genesis 40:8.

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Today’s devotion teaches that the ability to interpret dreams and reveal the meaning of mysteries comes from God.

Joseph gave such sole credit to God in today’s key verse: “Do not interpretations belong to God?”

Likewise, in the following chapter, before Joseph interpreted the dream of Pharaoh, Joseph gave sole credit to God.

“Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Genesis 41:15-16.

Likewise, before Daniel interpreted the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel gave sole credit to God.

“The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place. But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.” Daniel 2:26-30.

“Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven; Daniel said,

“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,

For wisdom and power belong to Him.

21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs;

He removes kings and establishes kings;

He gives wisdom to wise men

And knowledge to men of understanding.

22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

And the light dwells with Him.

23 “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,

For You have given me wisdom and power;

Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You,

For You have made known to us the king’s matter.” Daniel 2:19-23.

Job spoke about the power of God to reveal mysteries.

“13 “With Him are wisdom and might;

To Him belong counsel and understanding.

14 “Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt;

He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

15 “Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up;

And He sends them out, and they inundate the earth.

16 “With Him are strength and sound wisdom,

The misled and the misleader belong to Him.

17 “He makes counselors walk barefoot

And makes fools of judges.

18 “He loosens the bond of kings

And binds their loins with a girdle.

19 “He makes priests walk barefoot

And overthrows the secure ones.

20 “He deprives the trusted ones of speech

And takes away the discernment of the elders.

21 “He pours contempt on nobles

And loosens the belt of the strong.

22 “He reveals mysteries from the darkness

And brings the deep darkness into light.

23 “He makes the nations great, then destroys them;

He enlarges the nations, then leads them away.

24 “He deprives of intelligence the chiefs of the earth’s people

And makes them wander in a pathless waste.

25 “They grope in darkness with no light,

And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.” Job 12:13-25.

The Psalmist recognized that the ability to understand the secrets of God comes solely from God.

“The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,

And He will make them know His covenant.” Psalm 25:14.

Jesus teaches us that the ability to understand mysteries of the kingdom of God comes solely from such ability being granted by God.

“Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.” Matthew 13:11.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 39 which covers the LORD causing Joseph to prosper at being overseer at Potiphar’s home and even at jail after Potiphar’s wife wrongly accused Joseph. Here is a link to that chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+39&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. 3 Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge. 5 It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; thus the Lord’s blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field. 6 So he left everything he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate.” Genesis 39:1-6.

“19 Now when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your slave did to me,” his anger burned. 20 So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. 22 The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. 23 The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.” Genesis 39:19-23.

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The LORD sends prosperity, so let us seek the LORD and the prosperity that He sends, first of all, salvation.

“O Lord, do save, we beseech You; O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity!.” Psalm 118:25.

“1 Unless the Lord builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,

The watchman keeps awake in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

To retire late,

To eat the bread of painful labors;

For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.”  Psalm 127:1-2.

“2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:2-3.

“12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?

He will instruct him in the way he should choose.

13 His soul will abide in prosperity,

And his descendants will inherit the land.” Psalm 25:12-13.

“1 How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

Who walks in His ways.

2 When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands,

You will be happy and it will be well with you.

3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine

Within your house,

Your children like olive plants

Around your table.

4 Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed

Who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion,

And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

6 Indeed, may you see your children’s children.

Peace be upon Israel!” Psalm 128:1-6.

“12 Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants,

And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;

13 Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce,

And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;

14 Let our cattle bear

Without mishap and without loss,

Let there be no outcry in our streets!

15 How blessed are the people who are so situated;

How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!” Psalm 144:12-15.

“12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;

He has blessed your sons within you.

14 He makes peace in your borders;

He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.” Psalm 147:12-14.

“7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord

And whose trust is the Lord.

8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,

That extends its roots by a stream

And will not fear when the heat comes;

But its leaves will be green,

And it will not be anxious in a year of drought

Nor cease to yield fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8.

“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 38 which covers Judah’s strange and unrighteous relationship with Tamar. Here is a link to that chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+38&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“1 And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; and he took her and went in to her. 3 So she conceived and bore a son and he named him Er. 4 Then she conceived again and bore a son and named him Onan. 5 She bore still another son and named him Shelah; and it was at Chezib that she bore him.

6 Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord took his life.”  Genesis 38:1-7.

“27 It came about at the time she (Tamar) was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb. 28 Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named Zerah.”  Genesis 38:27-30.

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First, we can see and understand from today’s Scripture that problems could arise and did arise for Judah because he married a Canaanite. From prior Scripture, we see the care that Isaac took to insure that his son Jacob (Israel) would not marry a Canaanite. Genesis 28:1-5. From prior devotions, we gathered Scriptures about the Lord’s commands and warnings.

“… the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them (foreign wives), nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods. …” 1 Kings 11:2.

“The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. ” Judges 3:5-7.

But, second, we can also see and understand from today’s Scripture how Jacob’s fear and lust and perhaps other shortcomings contributed to Judah’s problems.

Nevertheless, the Lord was gracious to deliver Jesus through this line of descendants. “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.” Matthew 1:1-3.

We see this “Nevertheless” of God’s grace throughout Scripture.

“21 Blessed be the Lord,

For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.

22 As for me, I said in my alarm,

“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;

Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications

When I cried to You.

23 O love the Lord, all you His godly ones!

The Lord preserves the faithful

And fully recompenses the proud doer.

24 Be strong and let your heart take courage,

All you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:21-24.

“21 When my heart was embittered

And I was pierced within,

22 Then I was senseless and ignorant;

I was like a beast before You.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;

You have taken hold of my right hand.

24 With Your counsel You will guide me,

And afterward receive me to glory.” Psalm 73:21-24.

“6 We have sinned like our fathers,

We have committed iniquity, we have behaved wickedly.

7 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders;

They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses,

But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

8 Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name,

That He might make His power known.” Psalm 106:6-8.

“43 Many times He would deliver them;

They, however, were rebellious in their counsel,

And so sank down in their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless He looked upon their distress

When He heard their cry;

45 And He remembered His covenant for their sake,

And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.

46 He also made them objects of compassion

In the presence of all their captors.” Psalm 106:43-46.

Devotion comes from Genesis 37:18-36 which covers the plot of Joseph’s brothers against Joseph. Here is a link to that chapter. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+37&version=NASB

I will quote the following verses.

“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.

Then they sat down to eat a meal. And as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing aromatic gum and balm and myrrh, on their way to bring them down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.” Genesis 37:18-28.

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God delivered Joseph from the literal waterless pit.   God delivers us from the figurative waterless pit of the helplessness and misery and destruction of being dead in our sins.

“He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.” Psalm 49:2.

“1 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.

“… It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.” Isaiah 38:17.

“55 I called on Your name, O Lord,

Out of the lowest pit.

56 You have heard my voice,

“Do not hide Your ear from my prayer for relief,

From my cry for help.”

57 You drew near when I called on You;

You said, “Do not fear!”

58 O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause;

You have redeemed my life.” Lamentations 3:55-58.

“I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.” Jonah 2:6.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 37:1-11.

“1 Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob.

Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.

5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

9 Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.” Genesis 37:1-11.

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God does come to people, speak to them, and give messages that need to be interpreted in dreams. One can search the Scriptures using the word “dream” and there are 93 verses that have the word “dream” in it in the New American Standard Version. http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=dream+&version1=NASB&searchtype=all

But, we need to be careful and discerning between good and bad uses of dreams.

On the one hand, we should not get lazy about our study of Scriptures and use “dream-like” mysticism as a crutch or replacement for diligent study of Scriptures. Just because we have dreams does not mean that they are from God.

Some also wrongly use “dream-like” spirituality as a crutch or replacement for diligent study of Scriptures. Just because we have dreams does not necessarily mean that we are “filled with the Spirit” or are spiritual in a true and Godly sense.

On the other hand, we can meditate on Scriptures in our bed and fall asleep and dream about them.

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2.

We can also pray and fall asleep and dream about our prayer.

“When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,” Psalm 63:6.

And, there are other good uses of dreams.

” ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,

‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;

And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

And your young men shall see visions,

And your old men shall dream dreams;” Acts 2:17.

But again, in conclusion, be careful. “For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.” Ecclesiastes 5:7.

“1 So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, and said to him, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and from there take to yourself a wife from the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. 3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. 4 May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you, that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham.” 5 Then Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take to himself a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he charged him, saying, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,” 7 and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Paddan-aram. 8 So Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan displeased his father Isaac; 9 and Esau went to Ishmael, and married, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth.” Genesis 28:1-9.

We see the consequences.

Esau moved away from Canaan, the land of promise.  Verses 6 to 9.

Later, we see the descendants of Esau move entirely away from the worship of the true God to worship other gods.

Even many of the descendants of Israel took foreign wives and also moved away from the worship of the true God to worship other gods.

“… the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them (foreign wives), nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods. …” 1 Kings 11:2.

“The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. ” Judges 3:5-7.

This command is not just in the Old Testament applicable only to the nation of Israel.  The command has been expressed in the New Testament in the following terms with the following reason for us today. 

“Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?” 2 Corinthians 6:14-15.

Conclusion

When the Law was handed down to Moses at Mount Sinai in the form of two stone tablets, “Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;  who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”  Exodus 34:6-7.

Esau’s sins not only affected him, but Esau’s sins affected his descendants.  Likewise, our sins will not only affect us, but our sins will also affect our descendants.

May Genesis Chapter 36 not be viewed as a boring list of names.  But rather, may Genesis Chapter 36 cause us to remember prior Scripture and other Scripture to motivate us to seek Christian spouses and to stay close to the Lord (and even get closer to the Lord).  It is easy but dangerous to drift away.  Our sins not only affect us, but our sins also affect our descendants.