We are following the Bible Reading Plan (see sites I like on the sidebar). We are starting Step 4, Week 8 today.
SUNDAY: Genesis 32
MONDAY: Genesis 33
TUESDAY: Genesis 37
WEDNESDAY: Genesis 39
THURSDAY: Genesis 40
FRIDAY: Genesis 41
SATURDAY: Genesis 42
JOSEPH LIKE JESUS
The divinely recorded life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) contains many parallels with the life of Jesus. This is one of many ways in which the Old Testament prefigures the coming Christ and even foreshadows his rejection by his own people.
1 - Joseph was loved by his father
Jesus was God's well-beloved Son
2 - Joseph was hated by his brethren
Jesus was rejected by his own people
3 - Joseph learned patience through experience
Jesus was ‘made perfect through sufferings’
4 - Joseph was imprisoned but later released
Jesus was released from the grave by God
5 - Joseph was called Zaphnath-paaneah (The Saviour of the world)
Jesus IS the Saviour of the world!
6 - Joseph saved his brethren and forgave them
Jesus will forgive his people and save them
7 - Joseph was exalted to be next to the King
Jesus has been exalted to receive God's Name and will be King of the world
LET THE WEIGHT OF YOUR GLORY FALLS - Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32
Verse 1 opens with the angels (mal'ak מלאך) of God meeting Jacob. He called them God's host in verse 2 and renamed the place of meeting מחנים Machanayim "two camps" and as a result divided his family into two hosts. What is most interesting to me however is that in verse 3 Jacob sends "messengers" (KJV) to his brother Esau. The original word there is mal'ak ~ the same word used for the angels of God that appeared to him. It was as if Jacob sent these angels on to his brother Esau perhaps. And in verse 4 he, Jacob, is commanding the "messengers" on what to say to his twin brother. I have always read these verses thinking he sent some of his household out to meet Esau, but here it would appear atleast from the Hebrew text that he was sending and instructing angels on preparing his brother for his return. In verse 6 of our text the mal'ak go and return and tell Jacob that they have done it and that Esau now is coming to meet with him with 400 men. Another interesting verse then is verse 7 "Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed ..." Jacob seemed to have "God's host" with him and yet here Jacob is "afraid and distressed" by the news of these 401 persons coming to meet him so he begins dividing his camp into two and after he has done all he can he then begins in verse 9 to pray reminding God that this was His idea that he, Jacob, return. He pleads God's mercy and deliverance telling God of his fear of Esau reminding God again that He promised to be good to him and to multiply him according to the covenant.
In the following verses 13-15 he prepares a gift for his brother and gives them not to the mal'ak, but to his servants ('ebed) and he instructed his servants to put plenty of space between each "drove" of peoples and Jacob prepares a "parade of gifts" of sort instructing them what to say in humbleness to gain acceptance by him (v.20).
Now he sends his family on ahead of him and he stays on this side of the ford of Jabbok (יבק Yabboq "emptying") for the night. I find names of people and places in the Bible most interesting. It to me gives a deeper meaning. Jacob in this night was emptying himself of all he had and trusting God. He had sent his family on ahead of him with everything he owned and now he was left alone and "empty". He "sent over that he had" v.23. "And Jacob was left alone" v.24.
The next verses tell of the nightime wrestling match that ended in a blessing and a NEW NAME for Ya'akov (Jacob) ... the new name? ISRAEL! The wrestler, presumed to be God or a pre-incarnate visitation of Yeshua asks Jacob "What is your name?" and then he gives him a new name, ישראל Yisra'el "God prevails" for he said "as a prince hast thou power with Elohim and with men, and hast prevailed." v.28
Jacob then asked in return, "What is your name?" but the wrestler answered a question with a question and Jacob calls the place פנואל Pĕnuw'el "facing God" or "the face of God" because as Jacob, now Israel, says "for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."
"And as he passed over Penuwel with a limp the sun rose upon him ..."
O - Observations:
Machanayim: From the point of view of critical scholars, the place name was originally host, and this and the presence of angels in the story, is thought instead to derive from Mahanaim having been a sanctuary from very early times. According to the Biblical narrative it became a Levitical city (Joshua 13:26, 13:30, 21:38; cf. 1 Chronicles 6:80), though according to critical scholars it had always been a city associated with holiness. The dance of Mahanaim is mentioned in Song of Solomon 6:13. In the Biblical narrative, the city was a stronghold that had been adapted to serve as a sanctuary for important fugitives (2 Samuel 18:2).
Angels and a wrestling match with God ... these are things we just do not hear about in 2009 except from the Bible! An amazing and wild story, true, but wild!
A - Application for me today:
I think for me the application would be to be more aware of His work in my life whether it be His angels or the very presence and face of God in the here and now.
I have heard lots of messages preached on holding on until we get our blessing and that is also a good and appropriate blessing, but more than that I think I just want to be aware! Aware of His everlasting presence.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2.
P - Prayer in response:
God Most High,
Make me ever aware of your Holy presence in my life. I know my life is not always deserving of your Holy presence. I am becoming increasingly aware of my need to live a more holy life. A life more full of your unconditional love for others. Father be with and near me today in such a real way that I can say like Jacob ... "I have seen the face of God and my life has been spared". What an overwhelming and beautiful thing to see your face!
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