Jacob’s prophesy over Gad. From Genesis 49:19 commented by ASV and questions

July 13, 2019 By in Jacob's prophesy over Gad Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Gad

“As for Gad—a raiding troop shall raid him,
But he shall raid at their heels and assault them“

Warrior

Gad was borne courageous, a warrior, if attacked he would attack back. Gad would defend his family, friends and country. To be courageous and to desire to fight is not the same as being a warrior. If you want to be a “Gad” to fight for God in the name of Jesus you need to be teachable, you need to obtain skills; it will take effort, obedience and time.

Trained

We can learn from the tribe of Gad in 1 Chronicle 12:8, “8 Courageous men from the Gadites came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains.”

Something to Offer

Courageous and brave men from the tribe of Gad came to David to fight for him. They didn’t come to safety and glory, David was an outlaw, he fled for his life, King Saul hunted to kill him. The Gadites came to help David and to offer their service. They offered David their skills, they were trained soldiers, hard training over many years, they could sling stones with both the left and the wright hand, they could handle shield and spear and run like gazelles, they had something to offer the coming king in his distress.

The anointed one

However, the most important factor was that the Gadites supported the will of God, fighting for the anointed one. That is exactly what we should do too. We can read about the anointed one in the Acts 10:38, “38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with great power; and He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.”

King

We can come to Jesus and offer our service without being trained, just be humble and willing, He will do the teaching and training and lead us in our progress to become a soldier in the army of the coming king.

Questions

  1. What is a warrior?
  2. Why is God in our favor?
  3. With Jesus, do we have to become a soldier?

Jacob’s prophesy over Dan. From Genesis 49:16-18 commented by ASV and questions

July 12, 2019 By in Jacob's prophesy over Dan Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

vindicated

The name Dan means to judge and that was what his father prophesied over him, to be a judge in Israel. We don’t learn anything from Dan in his life, except when he was born and Rachel called him Dan, and said, “God has judged and vindicated me, and has heard my plea and has given me a son.” So she named him Dan” The meaning which Rachel gave the name Dan was that God had judged her, vindicated and made her righteous.

Salvation

This is significant when we look at the last words about Dan from Israel, “I wait for Your salvation, O Lord “. The prophesy of Dan points forward to the greatest judge of them all, the Messiah who should save Dan and us from our own sin.

Idolatry

Almost nothing is said about Dan during his lifetime; however, his descendants, the tribe of Dan proved to be judges, like Samson but also a source to the great sin of idolatry. When Jesus could forgive Dan, He can certainly forgive you too.

Questions

  1. Who was the mother of Dan?
  2. Does the salvation change your personality?
  3. Is sin a prison?

Jacob’s prophesy over Issachar one of Leah’s sons. From Genesis 49:14-15 commented by ASV and questions

July 11, 2019 By in Jacob's over Issachar Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Rawboned

Alongside Zebulun stood Issachar, he was number six to receive his prophesy, the last of the sons of Leah, however not the youngest, that was Zebulun. Israel revealed God’s plan for Issachar and his tribe, he described him as a rawboned donkey that bowed his shoulders and rested between two burdens and saw the fertility of the land.

Lazy?

What did Israel mean by this description of Issachar and his descendants? Scholars has discussed what kind of person Issachar was and would be, mainly two opinions are preeminent; one, a weak and lazy person preferring the easy way out. The other opinion is that he was hard working, seeking the freedom for himself and his people. 

Third

For the scholars there is no other option than good or bad, to me however it seems a third alternative which I sense from the Holy Spirit.  Issachar had to options, either to follow this world and always seek the easy way on the broad road as most people do, or thrust in God and enter the narrow road with hard labor and humility

Light

In everyone there is buried a talent, a treasure, a diamond, you do not have to dig for it, however if you do it takes hard labor and patience to make it shine. God want you to be a light in this dark world, and he wished the same for Issachar. Issachar had in him to be a loyal burden bearer that enjoyed hard work, and to bear burden for others. 

Times

When Issachar rested from his work, he viewed the land after crossing the river Jordan and saw what it would look like after being tilled. He had wisdom to see the future result after a period with hard labor. The tribe of Issachar understood what times they were living in.

Eyes

Do we understand what kind of times we are living in now? Are we living in good times or bad times, do we understand what is going on in this world? What do we need to understand? Jesus said that we need eyes to be able to see, do you have eyes? The eyes you need are eyes in your heart, if your heart does not have eyes, you need a heart surgery, you need a change of heart and find a doctor that has a heart for you, and know how to do the surgery.

Questions

  1. How do find your real personality?
  2. What is your talent?
  3. Are you a light?
  4. Do you have eyes?

Jacob’s prophesy over Zebulun. From Genesis 49:13 commented by ASV and questions

July 10, 2019 By in Jacob's prophesy over Zebulun Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

At the sea chore

Zebulon was next in line, however according to age he should not have been next, he was the youngest of the sons of Leah and number 10 of Israel’s sons, and here he was prophesied as number 5. Israel said about him; “Zebulun shall dwell at the seashore; and he shall be a haven for ships, and his flank shall be toward Sidon”.

Two shores

Originally, Zebulun did not border any seashores, Joshua allotted the land of the tribe of Zebulun to be between Issachar and Dan, not bordering any shores. However, by the way they behaved as tribe, Zebulun ended up bordering both the Mediterranean and the Sea of Galilee.

Haven

In the prophesy of Zebulun, the key word is “haven” Haven means a place to rest from stormy weather and from storms and hurricanes in your life. The tribe of Zebulun became a haven for Jesus when He grew up and, in his ministry, when He moved to Capernaum on the cost of the Sea of Galilee.

A conduit

Zebulun also provided safe havens on the cost of the Mediterranean Sea from today Haifa to Sidon south in Lebanon.  In the far future, I believe that the members of the Zebulun tribe will lead people to Jesus as a “haven” in their life on earth. Zebulun will be a conduit between God and man.

Questions

  1. Do we need God’s prophesies in our life?
  2. Will Israel be saved?
  3.  Do we need havens? 

Jacob’s prophesy over Judah. From Genesis 49:8-12 commented by ASV and questions

July 9, 2019 By in Jacob's prophesy over Judah Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

To leave and stay with the Canaanites

Now Israel came to the fourth son of Leah, Judah, he was special and evidently different from the previous three. Rueben, Simeon and Levi behaved in evilness and cruelty. Did Judah behave any better? The answer is no, as a grown-up man he decided to leave his family and stay with the Canaanites.

Tamar

Judah married a Canaanite woman without consulting his father, and had three sons with her, God killed two of them because they were evil, left him with only one son and a daughter in law, Tamar. Judah’s wife the daughter of Shua also died early.  The story of Judah and Tamar you find in Genesis 38. In this chapter, we see the key that changed the heart of Judah and his life and the destiny of his tribe.

Repented

Tamar made Judah see himself as a sinner and he repented and left the Canaanites and returned to his father and his God, Judah said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to my son Shelah“

Have you found yourself?

This incident with Tamar changed Judah’s life and Israel promoted him to be the leader of his brothers, Judah had become what God meant for him to be. Have you found yourself in the plan that God has for you?

Personality springs out from the heart

Who was Judah, who was he in his life without God, A liar, a killer, a cheat? In this world without God we are not our self, we depend on which environments that surrounds us; our upbringing, how people we connect with, affect us, our education and so on. Only in the hands of God can we find our real personality, it springs out from our heart.

Like a sledgehammer

The words from the lips of Tamar hit Judah like a sledgehammer, knocking the selfishness out of him, he suddenly loved all his brothers, even Benjamin and Joseph, his heart had changed, the old was gone and he could obey his father and God, and the prophesy from Israel reflected his true personality.

A lion and king

Judah was a lion, not an old lazy one, no a young, virile, strong with wisdom and authority enough to be a king, here is what his father said about him, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples”

And left the door open

From the tribe of Judah would come kings in Israel, many mighty kings in the power of God, and finally the mightiest of them all, the king messiah. The sin of man brought the curse into the world and into the hearts of men. However, this mighty king conquered the sin and left the door open for all to walk in and grab the power of transformation, the name of Jesus Christ.

Lion of Judah will be back

The lion of Judah came down to earth to save people from their sin, first to become a lamb to be slaughtered in obedience to his Father. Jesus passed the test to be King and will be back, this time with power and might and reign on earth for a thousand years.

As Messiah, not as king

The first time Jesus came down to earth, He came as the Messiah, meaning anointing to be King. He didn’t come as King to rule physically on earth to compete with the Romans, the ruling power at the time. Jesus came as God’s lamb to serve and help the common people, to tell the truth, and finally die on the cross to pay the price for all of us, He bought us free from the prison of sin.

The heavenly Dictator

However, Jesus will be back, this time as the Lion of Judah, the King with authority and power and He is going to rule the world with an iron rod, He will be a dictator, not like the dictators of today with greed and cruelty. Jesus the Lion of Judah will rule the world with justice and love, all will be treated fairly.

Questions

  1. Is God only good?
  2. Is God fair?
  3. Do God know you?
  4. Do you know God?
  5. What does John 17:3 says?

Jacob’s prophecy over Simeon and levi. From Genesis 49:5-7 commented by ASV and questions

July 8, 2019 By in Jacob's prophesy over Simeon and levi Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

A dangerous setup

The next in line were Simeon and Levi, two brothers who always stayed together and their sister was Dinah. Being always together, separated from the rest, as Simeon and Levi lived is a dangerous setup, it develops own ideas produced by their feelings and senses.

Injustice

They were sons of Leah, a wife Israel did not respect or loved, he treated her unfairly. Israel preferred Rachel and her sons. Simeon and Levi hated Rachel and her sons because they, like their mother were suffering injustice.

No place for other opinions

Simeon and Levi had no one to counsel them, always staying alone, developing their own conclusions and stirring up hate. In their dark minds, there was no room for God, no place for other opinions than their own, this was dangerous and the same is dangerous even today.

It was hating without limit

In Shechem, the prince of the city, also named Shechem raped Dinah, Simeon and Levi’s sister. None in the Israel family accepted it, they were all angry, however, the anger of the two close brothers was different, it was hating without limit. They made a deal with all the people in the city that if they circumcised their male population, the Israelites would accept that they intermarried to become one people.

Treason

Israel participated in these negotiations and he didn’t oppose it, even though he knew it wouldn’t happen. Why didn’t Israel resist this treacherous behavior?  He didn’t dare to go against those two hateful warriors, their eyes radiated revenge and death.

A deal

Shechem and his father accepted the deal and persuaded all in the city to be circumcised and it happened on the same day, as a result, they were all affected by it, not able to defend themselves.

The slaughter

Simeon and Levi knew that the men of Shechem were feeble after being circumcised, and the two vengeful brothers came with their swords and slaughtered all the men in the city, every single one of them leaving wives and children behind.

No other options

Israel and the rest of his sons decided to take all the women and children captive, Simeon and Levi didn’t leave them with other options, the women and children could not survive without the men. In addition, they also took the animals of the city with them except the oxen which Simeon and Levi hamstrung, an act of pure evil.

Dark and evil

The minds of Simeon and Levi were so dark and evil and their conversations so terrible that Israel didn’t even want to listen to them, “O my soul, do not come into their secret council; Let not my glory be united with their assembly, because in their anger they killed men, and in their self-will they lamed oxen”

Stood by Moses

This deadly behavior of the brothers also affected their future genealogy, the tribe of Simeon turned out to be small and insignificant. The tribe of Levi could have suffered the same; however, they went to prominence when they stood by Moses in the golden calf incident.

Stay open and listen more

What we do in life reflects what we are thinking about, what is influencing our mind, stay open to criticism and opinions from others, talk less and listen more.

Questions

  1. Do like to be criticized?
  2. When do we stop learning?
  3. Have you felt hate?
  4. What should we do if hate hits us?

Jacob gives his prophesy to Ruben the first-born. From Genesis 49:1-4 commented by ASV and questions

July 5, 2019 By in Jacob gives his prophsy to Ruben Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

שלום חברי   אל שדי  רוח הקודש

 

On the rock

Israel was dying, week and feeble he calls for all his sons to give them his last words, he was tired and week, however The Holy Spirit, רוח הקודש, took the charge to give God’s people the direction for their future walk with Him. Israel had humbled himself to his awesome God, YaHaWaH. As a result, God united Himself with Israel through His Spirit who now started to talk through him. The Words of God is not from the flesh with the five senses and all kinds of feelings. The Words are pure and everlasting, you cannot laugh it to change or weep it to change, and they are solid founded on the Rock.

Accepted the lie

Israel started with the first born, Rueben, born to might, leadership, the priesthood and a double portion. When his nine brothers sold Joseph to the Midianites, he was not present and planned to save Joseph. He knew he had the responsibility and intended to bring his young brother back to his father. However, when all the others decided to con their father, Rueben accepted the lie and deceived Israel his father showing him Joseph’s robe of many colors stained with blood.  

And lay with her

Ruben started out well, but then he began following his flesh considering his own well-beings, leading onto the wrong road of lust, pity and lack of integrity. One day he lusted for Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, he went into her and lay with her, most probably against her will. We can suppose that Bilhah told her sons about it and Israel heard it. We have no information of that Israel rebuked Rueben in any way, he probably should have, however now was the time to bring it up to the surface.

A failure

Israel told Ruben that because he slept with Bilhah his wife, he lost all his rights making his tribe small and week in their future existence. However not being able to discipline himself when feeling lust, was just the end result that proved his downfall as a person, his might had gone, his integrity had failed him, he was not fit for any of the things he was borne to be, Rueben was a failure, not able to control and discipline himself.

Boiling over

The tribe of Rueben turned out small and insignificant, no famous men came from that tribe. After 40 years in the wilderness before crossing the river Jordan, the Rueben tribe went for the easy way to settle east of Jordan and Moses allowed it. Later because of their location, they became an easy target from dessert tribes and paid the prize for following their feelings and senses. Rueben could not control himself; he was hot-tempered, as Israel put it, “boiling over like water” now he lost all his rights as the first borne and his tribe payed the prize for his weaknesses.

It is not possible

In this world there are many Rueben’s, they struggle with their flesh, fighting to stay within the unwritten law of high moral, however, the temptations crouches behind every corner ready to attack you. On our own, we are helpless, we need help, and we need more inner power and a strong helper, where can we find him? Your heart from the birth is weak and unpredictable and by yourself, you cannot change your heart, although many are trying, parents by the way they raise their children, and society by all kinds of education, all in vain, it is not possible.

New heart

Your heart is the problem, we are borne with a heart of stone, whatever you do, the stone heart stays the same. God knows our prime problem, and He promised to solve it. He would extract the stone heart, and by spiritual surgery operate in a new heart of flesh, which we can exercise and renew.

Questions

  1. How could Israel give this heavenly prophesy to every one of his 12 sons, just minutes away from dying?
  2. What was the problem that Rueben had?
  3. Did Rueben’s actions influence his personality and the personality of his tribe?
  4. Rueben had a hot temper. Why was that?
  5. What kind of heart do you have?

Israel blesses the two sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim. From Genesis 48:1-22 commented by ASV and questions

July 4, 2019 By in Israel blesses Manasseh and Ephraim Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Not his wife

Here in chapter 48, Israel was 147, Joseph 56 and his sons Manasseh and Ephraim about 20 and 18.  Joseph was the prime minister of the greatest nation in the world; however, he still respected his father as the authority and his leader. When Israel being reported sick, Joseph took with him his two sons and went to Goshen to meet his father; Joseph wanted his two sons to be a part of the Israel family. It is important to note that Joseph didn’t take with his wife, which in our society would have been a normal thing to do. In this symbolic way, he separated his two sons from Egypt and the Egyptians and incorporated them among the Israelites.

The only one

For about 70 years Israel had lived his life close to God, Israel sees himself as a sheep and describes his God as his shepherd. He accepts that without his God he would be lost. In verses 15 and 16, we notice that Israel is spiritual open and receives information from God. In verse 16 Israel says, “The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the boys.” This is the first-time redemption is mentioned in the Bible, and the Angel Israel is talking about is sent from God and He redeemed him. The only one being able to redeem people is Jesus.

Must do sin

The Angel, Jesus, bought Israel free from his sinful world around him, the world presented him on the open “sin slave” market and the slave trader is the devil, Israel was as we are lost in the “must do sin” prison, further back in a dirty, wet and ugly corner in darkness and humidity.  Then Jesus came down from heaven in the form of an angel and bought him free into the open, clean and bright.  

Just pretenders

Israel repented and promised God to pay Him tenth of all he received if He saved him where he was heading. What happens on the slave market is only the beginning; Jesus bought you free, free to do what? The world is to the left and heaven is to the right, the gate is strait, and is called “to repent” and the path is narrow, and on that road, you need to walk by the traffic rules there. Luckily, you can get them, God wrote them down for you in his book, which He sent to earth to redeem you, “The Word” who was in the beginning with God, who is God. Walk with Jesus every day, He is your only friend here, all others are pretenders.  

On a higher level

Israel blessed the two sons of Joseph and he saw in his spirit the personality of both and chose Ephraim before Manasseh, Israel was close to God and had the power to bless and also to prophesy, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers. Moreover, I have given you one portion more than any of your brothers.”  Israel was spiritual awake on a higher level than we are today.

Questions

  1. Do you accept that Jesus is the Bible?
  2. How can you say that you know Jesus without knowing the Bible?
  3. How often do you meet and talk to your best friend?
  4. Are you still in the “prison”?
  5. Jesus talks about two gods, Him being the one, however who is the other?

Joseph rules in Egypt, Israel is about to die. From Genesis 47:1-31 commented by ASV and questions

July 3, 2019 By in Joseph rules in Egypt Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

שלום חברי   אל שדי  רוח הקודש

Family

The times were severe, the famine lasted, and Joseph had a family to provide for and a Country to govern. To be prime minister for a Country and to be concerned for a close family is to different things. Joseph helped his father and his camp with everything they needed and supplied them with grain.

Be wise

The Holy Spirit, Ruach Hacodesh, gave Joseph wisdom to lead the Egyptians in these difficult times and it would be wise for the politicians of today to study how Joseph did this.

Step one;

do connect with God by The Holy Spirit, Ruach Hakodesh, to know what lies ahead, then prepare for the future. Joseph prepared for the seven years of famine by storing up grain throughout the land during the seven years of plenty.

Step two;

do not give to people things for free, if you do, they lose their self-respect and the value of their own ability. Joseph in verse 14, sold grain for money and brought all the money to Pharaoh, thus, he respected both the people and the leadership. The Egyptians now understood the effort of preparing for the future, storing up grain dispersed throughout the country in the big cities.

Step three;

Payment is not just money, now the Egyptians had no more of it, and offered their animals, flocks and herds, and horses and monkeys for grain. They sold their livestock and themselves, Joseph bought all the animals for grain, and he also bought the men, Joseph needed someone to look after the herds and flocks. In this manner, Egypt became a wealthy country and, the people got used to hard work, and they respected Joseph and Pharaoh who saved their life.

Step four;

be practical. Joseph now as prime minister was the leader of administrating and organizing the people. Sometimes the leadership must think practical, what is best for the country according to the present circumstances. All the grain was stored in the big cities, and the land was barren, there were no reason for the people to stay out in the farmlands, the agrarian area. Temporarily Joseph therefor moved people into the big cities as we see in verse 21. Notice that the people were moved into the cities, they didn’t move there on their own, they were ordered.

Step five;

Keep the people motivated and informed. The Egyptians now had food enough and Joseph made a smart political move, he gave the Egyptian farmers seed to sow the land with an important condition to give Pharaoh One fifth of the crop when harvested. When the farmers sowed the land, they knew that 20 % of the harvest belonged to Pharaoh and 80 % belonged to them and their children and the seed they needed to sow. This meant that the more they produced the more they got, and the more Pharaoh got as well.  

Step six;

Think of the future and make laws. Joseph made this tax of one-fifth a written law that lasted for hundreds of years into the times of Moses.

To be buried

After 17 years in Egypt Israel felt he was about to die and called for Joseph to make him swear to carry his dead body to Canaan, to the cave of Machpelah and burry him there where his Grandfather, his father, his grandmother and his wife Leah were buried. And Joseph promised to do it, he believed his awesome God would see it through.

Questions to consider

  1. During what period did Egypt become a rich country?
  2. Should your relationship with your family be different to that of other people?  
  3. What is the basic for taking the right decisions?  
  4. How should you help people?
  5. How should we relate to the leadership of our country?
  6. What is the value of labor, in your mind, in your thinking?
  7. What is the importance of knowledge, information?
  8. How do you avoid misunderstanding when making deals?

Israel and his camp move from Hebron to Egypt. From Genesis 46:1-34 commented by ASV and questions

July 2, 2019 By in Israel moves to Egypt Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

שלום חברי   אל שדי  רוח הקודש

In the arms of God

Israel knew in his heart that what happened was no accident, God had his fingers in everything going on, Israel loved his God and made his great caravan on the way to Egypt, stop at Beersheba where he worshiped YaHaWaH, his faithful and mighty God. Israel looked forward to meeting his favorite son, Joseph, however most of all, he relaxed in the arms of his God.

“God moved from Hebron to Egypt”

At Beersheba in the sleep Israel saw God, met him, and God talked to him, He told him not to be afraid of traveling to Egypt. Obviously, Israel didn’t feel good about going to Egypt and stay there. Therefore, God assured him of being in the middle of His plan going with Israel to Egypt and staying there with him. In the mind of Israel, God now moved from Hebron area in Canaan over to Egypt to protect him there making him a great people. God also assured him of the prophesy of giving him the Promised Land, “and I will also surely bring you up again”

How many?

How many went down to Egypt? Moses tells us about 66 or 70; this is from a patriarchal society point of view. Israel’s family was patriarchal, meaning that the men decided everything, and among the descendants only the male were counted, however in verse 6 and 7 we see that Israel had daughters and granddaughters too, “Jacob and all his descendants with him. His sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt”

About a 1000 or more

With the daughters and granddaughters, we can at least triple the amount from 70 to more than 200. However, the great caravan included more than that. In Shechem Simeon and Levi killed all the men and took all the women and children captive, they probably became servants (slaves). In addition, they had many servants before the Shechem incident. The number of people going to Egypt could well be about 1000 or more in number.

The official genealogy

Here in chapter 46, Moses names the sons of Israel according to his four wives, not ranked according to their age, and first is the six sons of Leah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. Then the two sons of Zilpah Leah’s maid, Gad and Asher. Then Moses names the sons of Rachel and her maid Bilhah. Rachel had two sons, Joseph and Benjamin; Rachel died when giving birth to Benjamin. Then Moses names Bilhah’s two sons, Dan and Naphtali. This was the official genealogy.

Chronologically

However, if we record what happened by the timeline, we get these events, In Paddan-aram in the city of Haran when working for Laban Israel had 11 sons, first four sons with Leah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. Then Rachel gives her maid Bilhah to Israel who gives birth to two sons, Dan and Naphtali. Then Leah gives her maid Zilpah to Israel and she bears him two sons, Gad and Asher. Then Leah has two more sons, Issachar, and Zebulun. After that, Rachel has her first son, Joseph and then when she dies, she gives birth to Benjamin the twelfth and last son of Jacob.

The twelve sons of Israel by age

The twelve sons of Jacob ranked by their age, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin.

Judah is appointed leader

During the time when the 11 sons of Israel met Joseph, Judah took the leading role and talked to Joseph, representing the other ten, and now when traveling to Egypt, Israel sent Judah ahead of the huge caravan to meet Joseph, the prime minister of Egypt, preparing for the arrival and settling down in Goshen, where they were to stay.

Another 17 years

After losing Rachel, his favorite wife, and Joseph, believing he was dead, Israel just waited to die, he was in depression and mental pain. In Egypt he met his favorite son Joseph, and what a relief it was for both, they wept and talked together for a long time. Israel now said that he could well die having his loving son “back from the dead.” However, Israel mentally revived and lived in Goshen for another 17 years.

Nice to friend and foe

When we live our lives in this physical world, we will experience up and downs and our hopes go up and down as well. When the hope is down, we lose the will and power of living, being more open for sicknesses and depression. To stay alive, we need to activate our heavenly hope, which does not fluctuate. Jesus makes our hope relate to our faith in God. To build up that kind of faith depend on our daily walk with Jesus in his word, the Bible. The faith is the fuel and the hope are our engine to go through life with a smile being nice to friend and foe.

As one nation

God in Egypt made the Israelites stay together as one nation not mingling with the Egyptians in marriage. In the last three verses in this chapter, Joseph tells his father and brothers to meet Pharaoh and say that they are keepers of livestock, that they were shepherds. In the eyes of the Egyptians, every shepherd was repulsive to them, thus being shepherds kept the Israelites separated from the Egyptians as one nation.

Questions to consider

  1. Why do we have to give thanks to God?
  2. Do we need information directly from God?
  3. Is the context vital to understanding the Bible?
  4. What is the hope in your life, and what does it mean to you?
  5. What gives you power to go on living?
  6. What does money mean to you?
  7. Do you know God’s will for your life?