Have your heard the story
of the butler and the baker? They were chief servants of the Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. One day, both of butler and the baker offended the Pharaoh, and he got angry and put them in the custody of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the same place where Joseph was confined. Remember- “Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down." Genesis 39:1 “Potiphar’s wife had longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But Joseph refused because Potiphar had committed all that he had into Joseph’s hands (except for his wife).” Genesis 39:7-8 So Potiphar’s wife made up a story saying Joseph made a pass at her. She grabbed Joseph’s cloak to bring him close to her, but he ran away - leaving his cloak behind. When the wife told Potiphar the lie, he believed her, he threw Joseph into prison. Since the Lord was with Joseph, the captain of the guard continued to charge Joseph with everything he had - including looking after the butler and the baker. While in prison, “the butler and the baker had a dream, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. So he asked Pharaoh’s officers “Why do you look so sad?” Genesis 40:5-7 They said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.” I just love how Joseph knew his identity. He knew he belonged to God. Through godly wisdom Joseph was able to understand. The butler told Joseph his dream and Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler.” Then Joseph said to him, “But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.” Genesis 40:14-15 Then the chief baker shared his dream and asked Joseph to interpret it. So Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.” Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.” Genesis 40:20-22 Why Pharaoh reinstated the butler but killed the baker, I do not know. Why some are chosen and some are not, I do not know - I am not God. But I do know this - when life is good, we seem to forget. We forget where we were when God have us a dream and came to us. We often fail to give the glory back - like the chief butler did with Joseph. The scripture says, “Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.” Genesis 40:23 The chief baker failed to give glory back to the one who gave hope during his dark times.
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Joseph was blessed.
God was with him when he received a prophetic dream, he received on ornate robe, he was sold into slavery, and he was wrongfully accused of something he did not do. The scripture says, “The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” Genesis 39:23 It’s hard to believe that God can be with us during times that are both bad and good. How can a good God allow bad things to happen to a good person? If God was with Joseph, then how could he be sold into slavery or be falsely accused and thrown into prison for something he did not do? Well, let us take a closer look. The scripture says, “Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of him and said, “Come to bed with me!” But Joseph refused. He said, “With me in charge, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39:2-9 One day Joseph went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants were inside. Potiphar’s wife took advantage of the situation. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” Joseph ran - but he left his cloak in her hand. She called her household servants and said, “Look, this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” Genesis 39:12-18 Potiphar's wife kept Joseph’s cloak beside her until her husband came home. When Joseph’s master heard the story his wife told him, he burned with anger. He took Joseph and put him in prison, The scripture says, “But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” Genesis 39:20-23 Upon closer inspection it appears bad things happen to people not because of God, but because of humans. Of course God is sovereign, and he could step in at any moment. He could end all sin at any given time. And He will. God could utterly destroy us, like he did with the flood during the time of Noah; like he did with Sodom and Gomorrah; and like he will do on the final day of judgment. The Lord first used water, but fire is coming - Jesus warned us. He said, “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under UNTIL it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Luke 12:49-51 The Lord allows bad things to happen because he is slow to anger; because he is kind and merciful! Instead of destroying all humans who are driven by perpetual sin, the Lord shows mercy and patient endurance. The Lord is waiting. He is patiently enduring. We must read what Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2. “Do not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us - whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter - asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in, for that day will not come UNTIL the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.” 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 You see, God has an appointed time. “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12 (This was written by Paul) The Apostle Peter said, "Let us remember that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.” 2 Peter 3:5-15 Right after we learn that Joseph was sold into slavery, the scripture says, “Now the Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of Potiphar, his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.” Genesis 39:2-7 I got to say - what an interesting way to define a blessing! Days earlier, Joseph was minding his own business when his father asked him to go check on his brothers. He was happy as a clam - prancing around, wearing his ornate coat specially made by Jacob, enjoying his dreams of his whole family bowing down to him. And now look at his situation. He was almost killed by his envious brothers; he was thrown into a cistern where he sat hot and hungry all day long; then he was sold to slave traders for just twenty silver coins. Joseph was now in bondage. His freedom was gone. He was taken prisoner - a Hebrew slave to an Egyptian master, thousands of miles from home - and his family did not know where he was. Joseph was lost - but not from God. The scripture says, “the Lord was with him and gave him success in everything he did.” The Lord’s blessing has absolutely nothing to do with our current circumstances. The Lord’s blessing has everything to do with where we stand with God. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:3-12 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 1:3 Why did God choose
the tribe of Judah to bring in our heavenly king? As we’ve seen, Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son - why didn’t God choose Joseph to extend his royal kingdom? Why Leah’s fourth son? Why didn’t God choose Joseph, Rachel’s first born, or Benjamin - Rachel’s only other son? It was Judah who said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother (Joseph) and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” And his brothers agreed.” Genesis 37:26-27 I don’t know why God does what he does - but I do trust that He is sovereign. And why Levi - Leah’s third son? Why did God pick him to create His line of chosen priests from? Levi was one of the two brothers who defended the honor of their sister, but they did it by killing ALL the men of Shechem! That was murder in the 10th degree - one of God’s ten commands of what we are NOT to do! And when Jacob was angry because of their murderous attack, Levi and Simeon were unapologetic - they stood on their foundation of what they had to do. Repentance was not a thing they would do! I don’t know why God does what he does - but I do trust that He is sovereign. Today - your going to hear more about Judah, and the stupidity of his sin; and about Tamar, his daughter-in-law who deceived him into having sex with her. As stated on the website “Got Questions”- We would expect the twin sons of Judah’s incestuous union with his daughter-in-law to be outcasts, hidden away, or perhaps not even mentioned in the Bible. However, surprisingly, the Messianic line continues through Tamar’s son Perez. God did not provide a “cleaner” way to continue the line that would eventually include His Son. Perez was the ancestor of Jesus of Nazereth. Now here we go. Listen to this - “Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah. There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and made love to her; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er. She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan. She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death. Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with Tamar, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also. Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s household until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” (If Tamar were to leave) “So Tamar went to live in her father’s household. After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him.” When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,” she took off her widow’s clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife” (and she probably wondered if she ever would). When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.” Genesis 38:12-16 Cover your eyes - but don’t be surprised! Judah - the son of Jacob proposed to a prostitute! “And what will you give me to sleep with you?” Tamar asked. I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,” he said. “Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?” she asked. He said, “What pledge should I give you?” “Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow’s clothes again. Genesis 38:17-19 About three months later Judah was told Tamar was guilty of prostitution, and as a result she was pregnant. Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned to death!” What a typical male response - to accuse a woman of the same sin that he has committed! Who is he to judge? As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said. And she added, “See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.” Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again. When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, “This one came out first.” But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez. Genesis 38:1-30 Jacob, Judah, Levi, and Tamar were all human beings who were fallen - there was deception, prostitution and murder - and all were chosen by God! And there was Perez - the second twin who broke out first (just like Jacob - when he grabbed onto Esau’s heel), we will learn more about him when we read the book of Ruth. All I can do is thank God for loving me despite who I am. Thank you God for rescuing me from this fallen world. I don’t know why You do what you do, but I do trust that You are sovereign. One of God’s Ten Commandments is “Thou shall not covet.” The Hebrew word for "covet" is chamad (חמד) which is commonly translated into English as “lust", and "strong desire." In essence, covet means to crave, desire or want. So I ask - how many people struggle with wanting something that they do not have? Is it 1 or 2, or is it everyone, including you and me? I have to be honest. I have never met a man who has seen a nice car driving down the street and not said, “Man, I wish that was mine.” And I’ve never met a woman who has witnessed a flower birthday surprise and not said, “She is so lucky. I wish my husband did that for me.” I have witnessed coveting happening from the pulpits and the pews, the school yard and the streets; and I’ve felt coveting happen from within my own heart. Coveting is always bad; it is never good. I would say that coveting is on the same playing field as pride. Both are totally about self - they both are desires of the heart that put oneself above God. Ugh! Why does the human condition have to be so hard? I can’t even imagine what it will be like to live in the New Jerusalem - a land totally void of sin. The feelings that typically arise when we crave, desire and want are envy and jealousy - and when they are strong, they can eat us up inside; and if they get out of hand, they can tear our relationships down - which then lead to shame and guilt! According to Webster’s dictionary, envy is a feeling of discontentment or resentful aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck; and jealousy is the feeling associated with protecting “what is mine.” In essence, “jealousy" describes a negative emotion caused by an attack on something we already have (usually a person in a relationship); while "envy," is a negative emotion caused by us wanting something owned by someone else (usually a possession, a blessing or a personal trait they have). I think we often get these two feelings confused - but now that I have a better understanding - I can see why God calls himself a jealous God! Exodus 20:5 He is protecting what is His! Now I can move on with Genesis 37 and the story of Joseph, and how he was sold by his brothers. Joseph was sent by his father to check on his brothers who were supposed to be tending to Jacob’s sheep in the Valley of Hebron. When Joseph arrived at Shechem, a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?” Joseph said, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?” The man told Joseph that he saw the brothers and overheard them say they were going to Dothan. Dothan was a town on the international trade route which connected Mesopotamia to Egypt. When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming they plotted to kill him. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” Genesis 37:19-20 So I ask - we’re they jealous or were they envious? Which feeling could trigger such a violent response? Reuben, the oldest, heard this, and tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. Genesis 37:21-22 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe - the ornate robe he was wearing that Jacob had made for him - and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it. As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” Can you believe - this is Judah - the blood line of King David - from which Jesus would come?!?! The scripture says, “His brothers agreed.” When the Midianite merchants came, his brothers sold him for 20 shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. Note: the Midianites were Ishmaelites - the people Gideon took on; and Judas handed over Jesus in exchange for 30 silver coins. Reuben must have been gone, because the scripture says, “When Reuben returned and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?” Genesis 37:29-30 The passage says they slaughtered a goat and dipped Joseph’s ornate robe in it’s blood. Then they took the robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.” He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.” Genesis 37:31-33 You see, no explanation had to be given. Joseph always had that robe on. It was his prized possession. Everyone knew it - his father and his brothers. If the robe was off him, and if it was bloody, then he must have been eaten by a ferocious lion. Jacob grieved for his beloved son. “He tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him. Genesis 34-35 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.” Genesis 37:36 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30 “Thou shall not covet” there is a reason it is one of the Ten Commandments. Coveting leads to unrighteousness and unrighteousness leads to murder. But God is good. He sees us in the midst of our sin. He sent his beloved son, to be our covering blood. When he looks at us, he first looks for Him. “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” but the blood of Jesus - that is a completely different thing! That is our saving mercy. That is our saving grace. That is our reason to live! As I start to write,
I’m not sure whose perspective to take. Do I take the perspective of the self-assured teen or the really proud dad; or the frustrated brothers who could not live up to him? Let me just take all three. Joseph was the beloved son born to Rachel and Jacob (Israel). He came to Rachel after many years of her being barren and not being able to have children. Joseph was the strength needed to encourage Jacob to stop being Laban’s slave and return to Canaan - the land where he was born - where his mother and father still lived. Joseph was Jacob’s 11th son - but he was the only son born to the woman that he truly loved while living in Paddam Aram. You see - Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah, Rachel’s older sister - and then he had to serve Laban 7 years more. And then Jacob was encouraged to take both Zilpah and Bilhah as wives - they were Leah and Rachel’s slaves who had children with him. Anyway, Joseph was raised with tons of love. He knew the position and power that he had. He had the utmost adoration of his dad. The scripture says, “Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him.” This must be the multicolored coat - that the entertainment industry likes to focus on. Isn’t it typical for us to focus on what can be seen, instead of looking at the heart within - Wait...I guess I am wrong - Jacob made the coat for Joseph because he truly loved him. So what we see is not always bad. His brothers must have completely hated Joseph - the son who got all the attention. How would you have felt if you were one of them? The scripture says, “When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.” I can only imagine they probably got tired of Joseph telling on them. He must have been the little brother that was completely annoying! The scripture says, “Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.” Genesis 37:2 Now this particular scripture does not mention the six sons of Leah (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun). It only references the two handmaidens’ sons (Asher, Gad, Dan and Naphtali). Now listen to this - and tell me how you might have felt if you had been a sibling to him. The scripture says, “Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” Can you imagine having the gall to tell this dream to the siblings that you love? Joseph’s brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. The scripture does not say how Joseph responded. Did he say “yes” or did he say “no”? Then Joseph had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” Doesn’t it sound like Joseph is totally conceited? Doesn’t he sound like a narcissist? It seem like he wants the world to bow down to him? I’m sure his family did not think he was a prophet. I’m sure they did not consider he was given a vision to see as God did. In fact, even his father, Jacob, rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” “His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.” Genesis 37:1-11 Two things - First, Jacob responds “will your mother and I bow down” - which tells me that Rachel was still alive, which means that Jacob’s youngest son, Benjamin, had not been born. So the 11 stars was a foreshadowing of what was to come - because other than Joseph, only ten sons had been born. The last son was yet to come. Second, the scripture says, “his father kept the matter in mind.” That means that Jacob understood that the dream could have come from God. During the course of his lifetime, Jacob had many visions and dreams of his own. If there was anyone who could consider that Joseph’s dreams were true - it would have been Jacob the man renamed Israel. The man who wrestled with man and God - the son who once was extremely proud who became humbled before the Lord. Remember Esau -
the twin brother of Jacob? Well chapter 36 of Genesis is all about him - his family line and the land that he lived. The land was called Edom, which means “red”, and it was located between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba in what is known today as southwestern Jordan. Edom originally belonged to the Horite tribe, “but the people of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them and settled in their place, as Israel did to the land of their possession, which the Lord gave to them.” Deuteronomy 2:12 The Horites and Mt. Seir were first mentioned in Genesis 14 when “they were defeated by an alliance of kings who also defeated the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah.” Genesis 14:6 Apparently that did not last long, because the Horite clan continued to grow. The Horites are not mentioned again until chapter 36, when the scripture says, “These were the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the region: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs.” Genesis 36:20-21 So I just learned that “Seir the Horite” simply means “Seir the cave dweller.” And I just realized that Mt.Seir is the mountain that the Israelites walking around several times when in the wilderness. The scripture says, “Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days we traveled around Mount Seir. Then the Lord said to me, “You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward and command the people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful. Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.” Deuteronomy 2:2-5 Also, I don’t know why - but the genealogy of Seir seems to be very important- the writer of Chronicles includes it when giving the genealogy from Adam to Abraham and from Abraham to Jacob. For some reason, after naming the sons of Isaac, the writer focuses his attention on the sons of Ishmael, the sons of Esau and the sons of Seir instead of writing about the sons of Jacob. Now we know that after Issac blessed Jacob and sent him to find a wife in Paddem Aram, Esau realized he should not have married a Canaanite woman - and he married two! So, he went to his uncle Ishmael, and took for himself an Ishmaelite wife. The scripture says, “Esau realized how displeased Isaac was with the Canaanite women; so he went to his uncle Ishmael, Isaac’s brother, and married his cousin Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, son of Abraham, in addition to the Hittite wives he already had.” Genesis 28:6-9 Perhaps that is why Ishmael and Esau and Seir are all tied into one - because their people are glued together by location and marriage? I don't know, do you? This has been a very interesting journey - I've learned a little more about the land of Edom. Have you? Jacob had twelve sons:
“The sons of Leah: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram." (which today is the area of Turkey) For the first time, I have found an error - an inconsistency in scripture. Verses 23-26 says that all twelve sons of Jacob were born in Paddam Aram, but verses 16-19 clearly state “While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.” So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). As she breathed her last for she was dying she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.” Genesis 35:16-19 According to everything I have read, It appears that 11 of Jacob’s sons were actually born in Paddam Aram, but one was born on the way to Bethlehem from Luz (otherwise known as Bethel) and that son was Benjamin - born to Rachel when she died. Benjamin was Jacob's only son born in the land of Canaan - the rest were born in Harran (or Paddam Aram). Since I fully believe the scripture has no errors, then I am assume that the error is mine, or there is an error in translation - the verb and proposition must have room for interpretation. Benjamin was not born in Paddam Aram. He was in fact born on the way to Bethlehem. This is true. Perhaps the translation should read “by way of" or "on account of" Jacob’s decision to go to Paddan-Aram. After further investigation, I do not believe it’s about the physical location of where the sons were born, but rather a statement about where Jacob went to afford him the opportunity to have this family - “because Jacob went to Paddam Aram, he found these wives and concubines and had these 12 sons born to him.” Whenever we see an “error” in the scripture we should NOT assume that we are right and the scripture is wrong. Instead, we should do some research and dig a little deeper into the language, the context and the meaning of words. Trust me - man is more likely to cause a translation error, than the inspired word of God. Also, before I end this poem, I would like to point out one more thing that struck me from Chapter 35. The scripture says “that Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. Isaac lived 180 years. Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.” Genesis 35:23-29 I found it interesting that Esau and Jacob, two brothers who were totally opposed, were there together to bury their father. It reminded me of Isaac and Ishmael, the two opposing sons of Abraham, who were both together to bury Abraham. “His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah.” Genesis 25:9-10 And it should also be noted that God did not choose both sons, but only one! And yet - both sons were there together bowing down before their Lord. “After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.” Genesis 25:11 “After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.” Genesis 35:9-10 “The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” Genesis 35:12 “Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.” Genesis 35:15 After Simeon and Levi
took out their anger on all the men of Shechem for the rape of their sister, Jacob their father, heard from the Lord and was told to go to Bethel (the place where he saw a ladder between earth and Heaven and angels going up and down, and the Lord at the top) to seek refuge from a Canaanite attack. “When they set out, the terror of God fell on all of the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.” Genesis 35:4-5 For some reason, the writer found it fitting to add this information - “Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak outside Bethel. So it was named Allon Bakuth.” Genesis 35:8 The death of Rebekah is not recorded in the Bible, but she was buried in the cave of Machpelah together with the Patriarchs and Sarah and Leah. We know this from Chapter 49 in Genesis when Jacob on his deathbed said, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite.” “There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites” (one of the Canaanite tribes - and remember - Canaan was cursed) Genesis 49:29-32 With further research, I found out that in the Book of Jubilees (31:8-11) Rebekah was still alive when Jacob returned home. And she journeyed with him to Bethel and died at the age of 155, five years before Isaac's death. That means that Isaac and Rebekah were in tow when Jacob and his sons and all of their wives and children, and all that they owned traveled to Bethel to set up an altar to the Lord. Then, for whatever reason, they left Bethel, and were on their way to Ephrath (Bethlehem) when Jacob’s love Rachel began to give birth to a son. The scripture says that Rachel had great difficulty giving birth, and the midwife said to her, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.” Right before Rachel took her last breath she named her son Ben-Oni, meaning “son of my sorrow” - but Jacob named him Benjamin meaning “son of the right hand.” When Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is Bethlehem), the writer of Genesis (who many believe to be Moses) changed Jacob’s name and started calling him by the name that the Lord gave him. Scripture says, “Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.” Genesis 35:21-22 NIV So at this point, I can focus in on how Reuben’s actions affected Israel, or I can focus in on the place that that Israel went to pitch his tent. Because the places in the Bible have so much significance, I am going to research Migdal Eder. Migdal Eder, as it is known, was only about 1000 paces from Bethlehem (the place where Jesus was born) and was a place of elevation, where Shepherd’s would go to watch over their sheep that grazed in the valley’s meadow below. It’s so sweet that in his grief God would give Jacob such a view. Also, many generations would come and go until Jacob’s descendant, David, was born. David was born in Bethlehem - as was Jesus Christ, almost 900 years later - after David was born. Luke said, “Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time had come for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks all night long. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David (Bethlehem) a Savior has been born; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:4-15 I am so glad I researched Migdal Eder, I had no idea it was a place of elevation in Bethlehem. I also learned that in Aramaic and Hebrew Bethlehem means “house of bread” but in Arabic Bethlehem means “house of meat” - all of it reminds me of communion with God. Every part of history, past and present, has something to do with our future. Why would we ever want to erase it? Yesterday we learned
that Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, was raped and taken by a young ruler named Shechem. But what you may not have known was that Shechem was a descendant of Noah’s cursed grandson named Canaan. You may remember from Genesis 10 “Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites. Later the Canaanite clans scattered and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha. These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.” Genesis 10:15-20 You may also remember how Jacob’s sons responded when they learned that their sister had been taken and violated. “Jacob’s sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious, because Shechem had done an outrageous thing in Israel by sleeping with Jacob’s daughter - a thing that should not be done.” Genesis 34:7 Jacob’s sons had been set apart by the covenant God made with their grandfather Abraham. The circumcision was an act that God had them do to show they were willing to cut off the flesh - as an expression of their love for Him. Scripture says, “Because their sister Dinah had been defiled, Jacob’s sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor. They said to them, “We can’t give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us.” We will enter into an agreement with you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males. Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We’ll settle among you and become one people with you. But if you will not agree to be circumcised, we’ll take our sister and go.” Genesis 34:7, 13-17 Jacob’s sons knew the act of circumcision was very debilitating and very painful. And they knew if the Canaanites decided to circumcise their flesh, God would know their hearts evil intent. God would know they were doing it for themselves. God would know they were doing it to have access to more women, and more control. God would know they would continue to keep false gods and pagan customs - God would see their impure hearts. Scripture says, “All the men who went out of the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male in the city was circumcised. Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male - The sons of Jacob came upon the dead bodies and looted the city where their sister had been defiled. They seized their flocks and herds and donkeys and everything else of theirs in the city and out in the fields. They carried off all their wealth and all their women and children, taking as plunder everything in the houses.” Genesis 34:24-29 In chapter 35 we see Gods response to the sons of Jacob’s decision God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau. So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone. So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them. Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother." Genesis 35:1-8 You see, Canaan was cursed, and the sons of Jacob were blessed - even though that evil thing happened to Dinah. God took Jacob and his sons, and their families, and told them to go to Bethel - the place where Jacob first saw the Lord. Jacob told everyone in his community to get rid of all the foreign gods and gold rings. Jacob honored God and did a wonderful thing! Rape - it’s a travesty! It’s a sinful behavior based on self-centered power. But apparently, what is more important to God - is for us to love Him more than we love false images, foreign gods and that which is cursed. For some sovereign reason God decided to choose Abraham to set up His covenant with. This Eternal God decided that Isaac would be the chosen son - not Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, his Egyptian slave. God decided to choose Jacob, the second-born twin of Isaac and Rebecca, to set apart and give a new name - Israel. God took Jacob full circle. He led him to Luz and gave him a dream - a ladder that bridged between earth and Heaven. Jacob saw the angels of God ascending and descending on it, and at the top stood the Lord who identified himself. Then God led him to Harran, where he became Laban’s slave and was humbled. In that place, God gave him knowledge and wealth and sons. Then God led him to Edom, where he came face to face with his brother who wanted to kill him. In this place Jacob wrestled with God and humans - and won - and God gave him the name Israel. God gave Jacob favor! Esau was excited to see him. He showed love to him. Then God led Jacob back to Shechem, the same place Abraham was led. There Dinah was raped, and God led Jacob and his sons to Luz - the town Jacob had renamed Bethel - “The house of God.” You see God took Jacob full circle. He showed Jacob and his sons, where had come from, and he reminded them of where they are going. They returned to Jacob’s first love. “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised to you.” Then Jacob built and altar to God, and he called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.” Genesis 28:12-17, 19 And now, after Shechem violated Jacob’s daughter, and Jacob’s sons lied and caused Shechem and his men to circumcise themselves; after Jacob’s sons destroyed the whole town - killing the men and taking all their possessions - God tells Jacob to purify himself, he and his sons and all that they own. Then God blesses them. The scripture says, “Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.” Genesis 35:5 Jacob and his sons and all that they owned, were sovereignly set apart by the Eternal God. It was not due to the circumcision of flesh - it was based on the condition of their heart, and their reliance to trust in Him. Jacob's sons had zeal. They knew they had the Lord's protection. They used evil to fight evil for good. |
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