February 22 (Shevat 28) ~ Genesis 43

GRACE & MERCY

S - Scripture: Genesis 43:1-34




"... carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds ..." v.11


O - Observations:

Verse 11 Jacob (Israel) prepares a present to send to "the man" in Egypt to perhaps win his favor. Jacob did this also when he and his family were approaching his brother Esau.

As Matthew Henry observes, "He gave them a very plentiful entertainment, sent messes to them from his own table, v. 34. This was the more generous in him, and the more obliging to them, because of the present scarcity of provisions. In a day of famine, it is enough to be fed; but here they were feasted. Perhaps they had not had such a good dinner for many months."

Speaking of the present they sent, balm was healing and although we are not told what particular spices they sent, some of the most common spices used during the time of the Bible were aloes, balsam, cumin, cassia, cinnamon, coriander, dill, frankincense, galbanum, henna, mint, myrrh, onycha, rue, saffron, spikenard and stacte. When Joseph was originally sold by his brothers it was ironically to Spice Merchants. (Genesis 37:23-25) Perhaps the gift they brought reminded him of that time and what his brothers had done? We are however told that Jacob (Israel) sent myrrh as one of the spices. Myrrh as well as some of the above mentioned spices were used in the annointing oil and incenses of the Tabernacle (representative of Jesus Himself) and was also brought to the child Yeshua (Jesus) as a gift and also used in annointing His body after His death.

Also sent was almonds and honey, according to commentator, John Gill, " ... oil purifies or clears; and particularly of oil of almonds, he says, that it makes clean, makes bodies soft, smooths the skin, procures gracefulness; and, with honey, takes spots or specks out of the face ... another use of oil, in lighting lamps; by which the face of man is enlightened, or light is given him ... 'to enlighten the face with oil'. To this the grace of the Spirit is often compared in Scripture, with which both Christ and his members are said to be anointed. This not only cheers and refreshes them, and is therefore called the oil of joy and gladness, Psalm 45:7, but beautifies and adorns them ... and the light of their good works to shine before men to the glory of God.


A - Application for me today:

"The famine was sore in Canaan, and yet they had balm and myrrh, etc. We may live well enough upon plain food without dainties; but we cannot live upon dainties without plain food. Let us thank God for that which is most needful and useful ... Those that would find mercy with men must seek it of God, who has all hearts in his hands, and turns them as he pleases ... it must be our rule ... to be content with what we have, and not to grieve at what others have." ~ Matthew Henry

When going through troubled times perhaps we need to ask God the Father for mercy and some of the gifts that the father, Jacob, sent to unknowingly to his own son, Joseph:

Healing (Balm)
Sweetness (Honey)
Annointing (Spices & Myrrh)
Provision (Nuts)
Grace (Almonds)


P - Prayer in response:

May Jacob's prayer and plea be ours:

God Almighty give us mercy even so the will of the Lord be done. Amen & Amen.

God be gracious unto thee ...

Healing in Jesus
There are some disappointments

There are times when we weep

When those we love dearly have wounded us deep

But there’s healing in Jesus

There’s a balm for each pain

And the heart that’s been wounded can be made whole again.

Yes, there’s healing in Jesus

There’s a balm for each pain

And the heart that’s been broken can be made whole again.

There are homes that are broken

There are hearts that are sore

There are ties that are severed to unite nevermore

But there’s healing in Jesus

There’s a balm for each pain

And the heart that’s been broken can be made whole again.

There are sins that have blackened both the heart and the name

And stricken a mother with sorrow and shame

But there’s healing in Jesus

There’s a balm for each pain

And the heart that’s been blackened can be made white again.

Is it true when we’ve fallen into pitfalls of sin

We must always be crippled

Never soar high again?

No, there’s healing in Jesus

There’s a balm for each pain

And the wing that’s been broken can now soar high again.

There’s a mother that’s troubled with the cares of the home

And wond’ring if ever a bright day will come

But there’s healing in Jesus

There’s a balm for each pain

And the heart that is heavy can be made light again.

THE LOVE DARE CHALLENGE

Day 14: Love takes delight

Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life. —Ecclesiastes 9:9 HCSB

TODAY’S DARE

Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse. Do something he or she would love to do or a project they’d really like to work on. Just be together.