Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Bible Scripture and Hymn for Thursday 3 March 2011

"Greetings Everyone in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"

Today's Bog Title: "Joseph Dreams of Greatness"
Today's Scripture Reading: Genesis 37:1-11
Today's Key Verse: Genesis 37:4 "But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him"

Chapter 36 was the genealogy of Esau.  The appearance of Esau's genealogy in this Chapter follows an established pattern.  We see here in Chapter 36 that the author of Genesis ties up loose ends by telling what happened to Esau as he did about Jephthah and Ham in Chaper 10 and to Ishmael in Chapter 25.  These genealogies are more than a literary device.  They remain us that even though not in the covenant line are remembered by God.  His love follows them through the ages, even as it follows us.

As Chapter 37 opens up, we once again see that Jacob an his family were strangers (alien)  in the land.  God had promised that this land would become a permanent possession of Abraham's family and here is the third generation and the promise was still not realized.

In verse 3, we start the story of Joseph, his story and life will run throughout the rest of our study in Genesis.   We are told that Joseph was the favorite of his father, just as Jacob was the favorite of his mother Rebekah, and because of this we see the brothers hating Joseph, just as Esau had hated Jacob.  Joseph was born to him by Rachel his most loved wife and perhaps this may explain Jacob's favoritism to Joseph because of the special Love for her.

Joseph was innocent, but totally naive.. We look at Joseph, and are amazed that he never suspected his honest report of his brothers failings, his father's open favoritism, and his narration of his dreams would make his brothers jealous.  Joseph was only 17.  This is one of the few places in the Bible, which gives the age of a person at a certain event.  Usually it was only the length of a persons whole life.

Joseph's dreams, as many others recorded in Scripture were prophetic revelations from God.  These dreams, alienated his brothers against him even more.  Joseph could have been more sensitive to his family's response to his dreams.  His second dream was even more alarming because now even the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to him.  The eleven stars were his brothers.  In verse 11 we now see that even his father was insulted by his dreams.  He felt that his son could have talked about the dreams with more tact, and even though he was insulted,  Jacob pondered Joseph's dreams, for they were clearly from God.

Tomorrow we will begin the story of Joseph when sold into slavery by his brothers and how God's will prevailed throughout the rest of this story.

Father, always near, I wait for You here,
Resting in the love that vanquishes fear.
Waiting, not a care, silence everywhere,
Yet here in my heart a still small voice
Bids me to come and I will follow

Heavenly Father, How thankful we are that You are in total control of everything around us.  Help us Lord to listen to Your voice and follow You all the days of our life's. 
                                                                                                                         Amen

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day.  Go in Peace and Serve the Lord with Gladness.  Love God More Today and always remember, when you have a spiritual defeat that yells, "I Can't" Gods whispers to you, "BUT I CAN"
                                                                                    
Yours in Christ,
Cindi
                                                                   

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