The Test

Genesis 44:16 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

16 "What can we say to my lord?" Judah replied. "What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup."

As we continue in the story of Joseph, the brothers are ready to return home with the food they have purchased in Egypt. And as before, Joseph has instructed that the bags be filled to the top with grain and their money placed in the mouth of the sacks. This time, he adds a new wrinkle … his personal cup is placed in Benjamin's sack. What is Joseph looking for here?

1) Will the brothers confess their sin (selling Joseph into slavery) to God?
2) Have they learned anything over all of these years?
When the brothers are confronted by Joseph's servant about the cup, they brashly state that if one of them should have it, that person's life would be forfeit. The cup is found and they return to appear before Joseph. Judah, who had been so casually ready to sell Joseph year ago, answers question number one. This is because of our guilt. But what would they do? Benjamin was the pride of his father, Jacob. If Benjamin did not return, Jacob would die of a broke heart. By the way, you should read this on your own to catch all of the rich interplay between the characters in this story.

What about question 2? Benjamin was in trouble. Would the brothers sacrifice him just as they had Joseph? Judah in verses 18-34 proves that the brothers have learned something as Judah offers himself in Benjamin's place.

Imagine the brothers as they return home to bring their families to live in Egypt. They have to confess to Jacob what they have done in selling Joseph all those years ago. Not a journey that I would look forward to, but yet a necessary one.

Confession and repentance are crucial in making peace with God and with each other, as this story so clearly points out.

Blessings,

Mark

39,917,000

Genesis 43:33 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment.

Well, back to the story of Joseph again. I can't help it as there are just so many incredible things packed into this story.

So just what does 39,917,000 have to do with Genesis 43:33. Stick around for the "Paul Harvey" finish. As you know, Joseph had been sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and he ends up as second in command of all of Egypt. Now at this time, Egypt was the most powerful nation in the world, so this was an incredible position of authority. Pharaoh concerned himself only with personal business. Joseph handled everything else. As you also know, there is a great famine throughout the entire known world at this time, a famine that Joseph had predicted, with God's help, from Pharaoh's dreams. Egypt was prepared for this severe famine through the stockpiling of grain with so much being saved that Joseph quit counting how much was in storage. The entire world came to Egypt for sustenance. And this includes Joseph's nefarious brothers.

Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to obtain food which leads to their coming face to face with Joseph without their realizing who he is. Eventually, all of the brothers are called to Joseph's home for a meal. This in and of itself would be a strange situation as Egyptians would have never eaten with Jews. So the scenario is set with the brothers sitting in one portion of the house with Joseph seated elsewhere.

Joseph arranges the seating order. Again, this would be an item of great importance culturally with the eldest seated in the position of honor and the rest seated in age order. Let's see … 11 brothers … if my math skills are in order, that makes 39,917,000 different seating possibilities. Yet this official of Pharaoh's court gets it right the very first time, resulting in verse 33.

33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment.

Of course, we know the rest of the story and there is a great reunion. More on this tomorrow!

Blessings,

Mark

The Bucket

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Recently I had a conversation with a youngster about how God is everywhere. In trying to explain this big concept, I remembered something that I had read. If you lower a bucket down into the ocean, the bucket is full of water. But it is also totally surrounded by the water. So we got out a pot and some little paper cups and tried it out. Sure enough, the cups filled with water but were totally surrounded by the water in the pot. What a cool way (especially on a 90 degree afternoon) to visually understand how God can be everywhere all at once.

Frankly, as I thought back on the day, I really needed a reminder of what David wrote about in Psalm 139. And now I can't look at those little cups without thinking about God!

Blessings,

Mark

Homecoming

Luke 15:20-21 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

20So he got up and went to his father."But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[a]'

Footnotes:
Luke 15:21 Some early manuscripts son. Make me like one of your hired men.

We are all familiar with the parable of the "Prodigal Son". A young man asks for his inheritance, leaves his family and blows the entire sum in a grand set of parties and extravagant spending. Finally, destitute and working the lowest job possible, he comes to his senses and decides to head home to confess his sin and beg to be accepted as one of his father's hired hands.

There are several interesting things in this passage. First, his father was looking for him. Note in verse 20. "But while he as still a long way off, his father saw him." The father was waiting for his son to return. God is like that with us when we sin and turn from him. He awaits the return of those whom he has called. Secondly, note that the father runs. This would require the lift of ones long robes so as to run, a very undignified thing for an adult male to do. His joy of his returning son has caused him to forget all about social practices and with great fervor, he runs to his lost son. Finally, in verse 21, note the confession of the son. This is one that we all need to make to our Father for it is only through true confession that God can fully work through and in our lives.
Now about the homecoming piece. David Redding writes about a homecoming during World War II. He had a big black Scottish shepherd named Teddy who would do anything for him. He waited for David everyday to come home from school and slept beside his bed at night. Teddy would even leave his food dish mid-meal if David called (what a dog!). No one could get within a half mile of the Redding home without Teddy's permission. It was a difficult parting when David headed off for training. Now to David's words.

So, coming home that first time from the Navy was something I can scarcely describe. The last bus stop was fourteen miles from the farm where I lived. I got off there that night at about eleven o'clock and walked the rest of the way home. It was two or three in the morning before I was within a half mile of the house. It was pitch dark, but I knew every step of the way.

Suddenly Teddy heard me and began his warning bark. Then I whistled only once. The barking stopped. There was a yelp of recognition, and I knew that a big black form was hurtling toward me in the darkness. Almost immediately he was there in my arms. To this day that is the best way I can explain what I mean about coming home.

What comes home to me now is the eloquence with which that unforgettable memory speaks to me of my God. If my dog, without any explanation, would love me and take me back after all that time, wouldn't my God?

What more needs to be said? This is great news and provides a powerful example to those who feel that God could never accept them because of their sinfulness.

Blessings,

Mark

The Waiting Game

Genesis 40:23 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

We are all familiar with this Old Testament story. Joseph, son of Jacob, has been sold into slavery by his brothers. While in slavery, Joseph remains ever faithful to God, always giving the Lord credit for everything in his life. And what a prosperous life it was! Everything that Joseph touched turned golden.

Joseph was in prison with the Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and chief baker. While there, Joseph correctly (and he give all of the credit to God) interprets the dreams of these two imprisoned officials of Pharaoh. The chief cupbearer was probably the second or third most important position within Pharaoh's court. Not only would this man be responsible for assuring that Pharaoh had only the finest of food and drink, he would also personally taste everything that Pharaoh would eat or drink, looking for poison!

Now Joseph is thinking that if the cupbearer mentions him to Pharaoh, perhaps Joseph can get out of prison. But as Genesis 40:23 states, the cupbearer forgot all about Joseph and he continued to be imprisoned for two more years. Those must have been some incredibly long years of waiting.

Joe Bayly writes about waiting and the hope for believers in his book, The Last Thing We Talk About. Please read this great story.

One Saturday morning in January, I saw the mail truck stop at our mailbox up on the road.

Without thinking, except that I wanted to get the mail, I ran out of the house and up to the road in my shirt sleeves. It was bitterly cold - the temperature was below zero - there was a brisk wind from the north, and the ground was covered with more than a foot of snow.

I opened the mailbox, pulled out the mail, and was about to make a mad dash for the house when I saw what was on the bottom, under the letters: a Burpee seed catalog. On the front were bright zinnias. I turned it over. On the back were huge tomatoes.

For a few moments I was oblivious to the cold, delivered from it. I leafed through the catalog, tasting corn and cucumbers, smelling roses. I saw the freshly plowed earth, smelled it, let it run through my fingers. For those brief few moments, I was living in the springtime and summer, winter past.

Then the cold penetrated to my bones and I ran back to the house. When the door was closed behind me, and I was getting warm again, I thought how my moments at the mailbox were like our experiences as Christians.

We feel the cold, along with those who do not share our hope. The biting wind penetrates us as them…

But in our cold times, we have a seed catalog. We open it and smell the promised spring, eternal spring. And the firstfruit that settles our hope is Jesus Christ, who was raised from death and cold earth to glory eternal.

If you have ever done some gardening, you will relate to the physical descriptions from above. This is the hope that helps the Josephs of the world survive. How great is our Lord! So open up your "seed catalog" and see what wonderful treats He has awaiting for those who believe in his salvation.

Blessings

Mark