Genesis 35-37: Immaturity Worked Out

Brothers Sell Joseph into Slavery

Konstantin Flavitsky, 1855

Genesis 35: 2 & 3


"Jacob told his family and all those who lived with him, 'Throw out all the alien gods which you have, take a good bath and put on clean clothes, we’re going to Bethel. I’m going to build an altar there to the God who answered me when I was in trouble and has stuck with me everywhere I’ve gone since.'”

My thought was…all of the supernatural encounters Jacob (Israel) had already had with God and His angelic forces and there were still idols in his home?

I also notice the prophetic symbolism in Genesis 37:23 & 24.

23 “When Joseph had come to his brothers, they stripped him of his [distinctive] long garment which he was wearing;

24 Then they took him and cast him into the [well-like] pit which was empty; there was no water in it.”

Joseph’s dangerously jealous brothers conspired to kill him, but firstborn Reuben intervened. Instead, they stripped Joseph of the coat His father made for him. I believe the coat here represents the Father’s glory. But no other other person can strip God’s glory from us. We need to willingly give it up. Could it be that Joseph allowed his Father’s glory to be stripped from him by walking in immature arrogance?

The second prophetic picture is that Joseph was cast in an empty pit by his brothers. There was no water in it. When we willingly allow God’s glory to be stripped from us due to active sin, another consequence is the lack of His Holy Spirit represented by the lack of water.

A third thought would be the pit. I submit to you that Joseph had already been stuck in a spiritual pit due to his pride in experiencing heavenly dreams and placing himself above his brothers. I don’t believe this pride was malicious; it was a sign of his immaturity, which needed to be worked out of him.

In effect, Joseph’s brothers were doing him a favor by treating him in this way, although I am not condoning their actions. Joseph’s pride would have stunted his destiny. The trauma of slavery burned the pride right out of him.

God used the abusive treatment of Joseph’s brothers and eventually brought good out of it for Joseph and for Joseph’s extended family (that comes later). 

Genesis 32-34: Angels Along the Way

Genesis 32:1 & 2 

“THEN JACOB went on his way, and God’s angels met him.  When Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s army! So he named that place Mahanaim [two armies].”

Amazing how two magnificent verses seem to be an insert into the main thrust of the story of Jacob’s meeting with Esau.

If something like that would happen to me, I think I would need to devote a book to describing the incident.

Could it be that God revealed the angelic armies to Jacob in order to instill confidence in God’s protection as he prepared to meet his brother, Esau?

Lord, open my eyes to the angelic hosts encamped around me and my family. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear. Cause faith to rise up in me, trusting that You are our fortress and shield from the enemies that prowl and seek to destroy. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!

Genesis 30 & 31: God's Protection Gives Me Comfort

Genesis 31:24 “But God came to Laban the Syrian [Aramean] in a dream by night and said to him, Be careful that you do not speak from good to bad to Jacob [peaceably, then violently].”

Even though Laban served the false God of His grandfather, Terah, he received an obeyed the One True God’s warning to let Jacob alone for running away without his knowledge.

It gives me comfort to know that God protects in that way.

Genesis 27-29: Judging the Weight of Sin?

Isaac Blessing Jacob, Gioacchino Assereto 1640

In reading the last few chapters of Genesis, I caught myself judging between types of sin-Esau’s desiring fleshly things above eternal ones and Jacob’s deceptive means of obtaining a blessing. Both brothers were guilty of sin, and sin is sin in the eyes of our Holy Father.

Then I think of Rebekah who favors one son over the other, who encourages Jacob in the devious plan that she concocted. Again, my heart battles a judgmental attitude, then Holy Spirit calls my attention to previous verses read.

Genesis 25:22 “[Two] children struggled together within her; and she said, If it is so [that the Lord has heard our prayer], why am I like this? And she went to inquire of the Lord.

23The Lord said to her, [The founders of] two nations are in your womb, and the separation of two peoples has begun in your body; the one people shall be stronger than the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.”

God gave Rebekah a heads up regarding the destinies of her children. Could it be when Rebekah heard that Issac was preparing to bless Esau, she panicked? She knew that God had told her Esau would serve Jacob, so she decided to help God fulfill Jacob’s destiny; she devised the plan to fool Issac into blessing him.

I don’t agree with what Rebekah and Jacob did, but I do understand how panic can cause a person to act rashly.

Lord, empower us not to act rashly, but to act and react with the mind of Christ at all times. AMEN!!!

Genesis 25 & 26: No Earthly Stew

Esau Selling His Birthright

Hendrick Terbrugghen, 1625

Genesis 25:29-34

“Jacob was boiling pottage (lentil stew) one day, when Esau came from the field and was faint [with hunger].

And Esau said to Jacob, I beg of you, let me have some of that red lentil stew to eat, for I am faint and famished! That is why his name was called Edom [red].

Jacob answered, Then sell me today your birthright (the rights of a firstborn).

Esau said, See here, I am at the point of death; what good can this birthright do me?

Jacob said, Swear to me today [that you are selling it to me]; and he swore to [Jacob] and sold him his birthright.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils, and he ate and drank and rose up and went his way. Thus Esau scorned his birthright as beneath his notice.”

It’s hard to believe that Esau would be willing to sell his birthright for a pot of stew. Although baffled regarding the impulsive action of Esau, the Holy Spirit reminds me of the times when flesh has induced impulsivity in my own life, yielding less than favorable consequences.

Hebrews 12:15-17 

“Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it–

That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

For you understand that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected (disqualified and set aside), for he could find no opportunity to repair by repentance [what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], although he sought for it carefully with [bitter] tears.”

Reading this passage reminds me again, that I can do NO THING without Holy Spirit’s assistance.

Empower me, Holy Spirit, to keep the finish line of eternity with Jesus in the forefront of my mind. Truly, this world has nothing for me. I receive the grace You are already pouring out in me and through me. No pot of earthly stew will cause me to give up my birthright, my inheritance, which can be collected here and now in this mortal realm…to walk through life righteous, to lay hands on the sick with resulting healing, to speak God’s heart bringing life to the broken, to burn with passion for Jesus, no matter the circumstances in which I find myself, to love all people as Jesus loves all. AMEN!

Genesis 22-24: I Choose You

Sacrifice of Isaac

by
Giovanni Tiepolo c. 1726

I find it is easier to trust God when He directly reveals His plan to me, rather then to trust God where people are involved.

When God revealed the plan of using Issac as a sacrifice to Abraham, Abraham trusted and obeyed. When Abraham half-lied about Sarah being his sister (she was his half sister), he needed to trust in God to protect him from men whom he thought most probably did not hear God.

In my own life, I have been involved in situations where I needed to trust God for protection against people who claimed to hear Him.  It was the worst season of emotional upheaval in my life, yet even in that dark chapter of my life, I see the good.  

I learned that God's ultimate purpose for my life on this earth depended more on my response to those who misread my heart, than to the discomfort I felt in the battle.  

Learning to forgive, even love those who hurt me, has been my most important life lesson thus far. Learning to listen only to what God says about me and not heed satan's voice through others has done wonders for my self-esteem or more specifically, it helped me to understand and accept who God has made me to be.

Sadly, there remain scars from that season, deep scars in myself and others.  I still am trusting God for complete restoration of all that was damaged and lost, but it no longer consumes my thoughts.  All will be restored in His time!  Maybe on this earth or maybe not until we enter heaven.  He knows what's best!

God also knew what was best for Abraham and Issac.  He knew that Abraham would choose Him over his beloved Issac.  I believe God was giving Abraham the opportunity to know himself, what he would do if given a choice between something in this world or the One Eternal God.

I was given the opportunity to choose God over my reputation and that opportunity showed me both strengths and weaknesses in my character. 

My friends, don't despise a dark season.  It may very well be the time in your life when learn to know the real you, and learn to love the real you!

Holy Spirit, minister to my friends.  Cause them to hear Your voice above all other voices.  Empower them to choose You, no matter the consequences. In the wonderful name of Jesus, AMEN!!!

Genesis 19-21: Everything Shall Live

Genesis 19:29 “When God ravaged and destroyed the cities of the plain [of Siddim], He [earnestly] remembered Abraham [imprinted and fixed him indelibly on His mind], and He sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when He overthrew the cities where Lot lived.”

In reading these chapters, I remembered that the Valley of Siddim was mentioned in Genesis 14:3-8, describing the battle between the kings reigning over that area. According to Genesis 14:3, the Valley of Siddim “…is [now] the [Dead] Sea of Salt.”

I thought it was interesting that the very area destroyed by God for its wickedness, now it filled with salt. Not only was Lot’s wife turned to a pillar of salt, but I believe this whole area was changed to salt as a result of God’s judgement.

Regular marine life cannot grow or live in the dead sea because of its high saline (salt) content. The Dead Sea is a reminder of the consequences of sin, and just how far reaching those consequences can be.

But even in this stark reminder of sin’s consequences, redemption is apparent. Algae, fungi and bacteria living in the Dead Sea have been used in medical treatments. And, according to Ezekiel 47:8 & 9, one day sin’s mark will be cleansed and healed.

8 “Then he said to me, These waters pour out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah (the Jordan Valley) and on into the Dead Sea. And when they shall enter into the sea [the sea of putrid waters], the waters shall be healed and made fresh.”

9 “And wherever the double river shall go, every living creature which swarms shall live. And there shall be a very great number of fish, because these waters go there that [the waters of the sea] may be healed and made fresh; and everything shall live wherever the river goes.”

Our God is One of righteousness and redemption!!!

http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/S/SIDDIM,+VALE+OF/

http://www.ehow.com/about_5438618_can-anything-live-dead-sea.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea

Genesis 16-18: Promotion, A Spiritual Barometer

Genesis 16: 3 & 4 

“So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her Egyptian maid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his [secondary] wife.”

“And he had intercourse with Hagar, and she became pregnant; and when she saw that she was with child, she looked with contempt upon her mistress and despised her.”

Promotion can be a barometer of spiritual maturity. Hagar, Sarai’s Egyptian maid, is “promoted” to the status of the secondary wife of Abram. Hagar’s spiritual immaturity is apparent as she reacts with haughtiness towards her mistress.

Although Hagar was carrying Abram’s child, Sarai was given permission to “…do as you please with her.” Sarai dealt severely with Hagar, humbling and afflicting her.(Genesis 16:6)

As God’s favor fills our lives, promotion is inevitable. What we do with that promotion will bring to light areas of immaturity that need to be sifted out of us. God’s grace (His power) is made available to the humble. He resists the proud.

James 4:6
“But He gives us more and more grace ( power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).”

Abba, empower me with humility at all times, if Your favor brings promotion, then I will continue to praise and glorify You, as the One Who gives all good things. Praise and honor and glory be to Jesus, AMEN!!!

Genisis 12-15: Trust Him Even If

Genesis 15:12 “When the sun was setting, a deep sleep overcame Abram, and a horror (a terror, a shuddering fear) of great darkness assailed and oppressed him.”

13 “And [God] said to Abram, Know positively that your descendants will be strangers dwelling as temporary residents in a land that is not theirs [Egypt], and they will be slaves there and will be afflicted and oppressed for 400 years.” [Fulfilled in Exodus 12:40.]

God had just promised Abram that his heir would “come from your [his] own body,” (15:4) Abraham responds to God with worship. God’s response to worship is to open up Abram’s dream life to a prophetic word to be fulfilled through his progeny 400 years in the future.

Why would God give Abram a beautiful prophetic word in the form a promised heir then given another prophetic word that caused “a terror, a shuddering fear” to oppress him?

I believe it is because prophetic words are tested. 

Will we trust in the heart of God even if His word scares us silly? Will we give up on God’s promises in the midst of the battle for their fulfillment?

Holy Spirit, refresh, renew, re-empower me to stand firm in the battle, war for the promises You have given whether pleasant or scary, knowing that You have good in mind for me and for my progeny for the glory and honor of Jesus, AMEN!!!

Job 40-42: Now My Eye Sees

Job 42:5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You;…”

Why does it sometimes take great warfare to open our spiritual eyes? Is it because great warfare causes us to become desperate for God, a degree of desperation not attained with smooth sailing through favorable circumstances? Does a difficult battle teach us that only God has the power to direct our lives and control our destinies? Does the pain of warfare propel us to a position of dependence, driving us to our knees?

Whatever the reason, a season of loss and difficulty does have the power to to open our eyes to the Father, (Who never  leaves or forsakes us) if we allow our hearts to be turned toward Him and not hardened against Him.