Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 46 which covers Jacob and his descendants moving to Egypt. Here is a link to that chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+46&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“So Israel (Jacob) set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 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.”

Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob and their little ones and their wives in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They took their livestock and their property, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and came to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him: his sons and his grandsons with him, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.” Genesis 46:1-7.

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God also speaks to us today through today’s Scripture and other similar Scripture. We may not be going down to Egypt, but God also is with us and counsels us. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.

“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15.

“I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.” 2 Samuel 7:9. See also very similar 1 Chronicles 17:8.

“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 23:4.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”  Psalm 32:8.

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

“Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers.” 1 Kings 8:56-58.

“You, in Your great compassion, Did not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, To guide them on their way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go.” Nehemiah 9:19.

“… He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 45 which covers Joseph’s disclosure of his identity to his brothers and his kind provisions to preserve his brothers and the rest of his family. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+45&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they came closer. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 45:4-8.

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God is sovereign. God is the actor, not the reactor. God initiates actions; God does not just react to man’s sinful actions. Joseph had every reason to focus on man’s sinful actions and be bitter at what his brothers had done to him, but Joseph recognized God’s sovereignty in today’s Scripture: “God sent me before you to preserve life. … God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”

“Remember the former things long past,

For I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is no one like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning,

And from ancient times things which have not been done,

Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,

And I will accomplish all My good pleasure‘;

Calling a bird of prey from the east,

The man of My purpose from a far country.

Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.

I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

God accomplishes all of His good pleasure. Total Perfect Triumph.

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9: 23-24.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 44 which covers Joseph’s plot of placement of his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack and which covers Judah’s plea for Benjamin. Here is a link to that chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+44&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“For your servant (Judah) became surety for the lad (Benjamin) to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever.’ Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me—for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father?” Genesis 44:32-34.

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When we read about Judah and his plea for Benjamin, we think about Christ and what He did for the beloved of the LORD.

Christ brought the beloved of the LORD who were lost, even dead in sin, back to the Father. Christ bore the sins of the beloved and the wrath of God, so that the beloved of the LORD would be saved. Christ preserves the beloved of the LORD to salvation. Christ states: “and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10:28-29.

“Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the sons of Israel before his death. …

Of Benjamin he said,

“May the beloved of the Lord dwell in security by Him,

Who shields him all the day,

And he dwells between His shoulders.” Deuteronomy Chapter 33, Verses 1 and 12.

Psalm 91 provides beautiful and comforting images of the security of the beloved of the LORD.

“1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

My God, in whom I trust!”

3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper

And from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with His pinions,

And under His wings you may seek refuge;

His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night,

Or of the arrow that flies by day;

6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

7 A thousand may fall at your side

And ten thousand at your right hand,

But it shall not approach you.

8 You will only look on with your eyes

And see the recompense of the wicked.

9 For you have made the Lord, my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

10 No evil will befall you,

Nor will any plague come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you,

To guard you in all your ways.

12 They will bear you up in their hands,

That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra,

The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

16 “With a long life I will satisfy him

And let him see My salvation.” Psalm Chapter 91.

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.

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.