Bible Study (6) - Joseph and His Brothers: Family Reconciliation - Genesis 42, 43 and 45 - November 17, 2024

 

Bible Study (6) – Joseph and His Brothers: Family Reconciliation – November 17, 2024

Forgiveness can lead to family healing and restoration.

Our focus scripture is Genesis 42, 43 and 45.

Enjoy and be blessed.

In last week’s study, Joseph’s brothers had sold him to a caravan of traders headed for Egypt.

Let’s fill in the gap. Let’s go back to where we left off last week’s study. Let’s read Genesis 37:29-37:

²⁹ When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. (Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob and Leah. He was trying to save Joseph from his brothers.) ³⁰ He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone! What am I going to do?” ^[e] 31 So they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a male goat, and dipped the robe in its blood. ³² They sent the long-sleeved robe to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it. Is it your son’s robe or not?”

They let their dad draw his own conclusion.

³³ His father recognized it. “It is my son’s robe,” he said. “A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has been torn to pieces!” ³⁴ Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. ³⁵ All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” And his father wept for him.

³⁶ Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guards.

GOD had a plan for Joseph and GOD has a plan for every person.

Joseph was a model servant for Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife set eyes upon him, and he rejected her. Oh, my trouble in Egypt or was GOD at work?

Genesis 39:6 Now Joseph was well-built and handsome. ⁷ After some time his master’s wife looked longingly at Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.”

⁸ But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he owns under my authority.^[d] 9 No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do this immense evil, and how could I sin against God?”

Joseph turned her down but what does she do?

Genesis 39: ¹⁰ Although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her.^[e] 11 Now one day he went into the house to do his work, and none of the household servants were there.^[f] 12 She grabbed him by his garment and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran outside. ¹³ When she saw that he had left his garment with her and had run outside, ¹⁴ she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “my husband brought a Hebrew man to make fools of us. He came to me so he could sleep with me, and I screamed as loud as I could. ¹⁵ When he heard me screaming for help,^[g] he left his garment beside me and ran outside.”

¹⁶ She put Joseph’s garment beside her until his master came home. ¹⁷ Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought to us came to make a fool of me, ¹⁸ but when I screamed for help,^[h] he left his garment beside me and ran outside.”

¹⁹ When his master heard the story his wife told him—“These are the things your slave did to me”—he was furious ²⁰ and had him thrown into prison, where the king’s prisoners were confined. So, Joseph was there in prison.

Oh my, Joseph was in prison for making the right decisions. Was he bitter with GOD or considered his plight directed by GOD?

Joseph in Prison – Oh my, or was it? Was he where GOD wanted him to be?

²¹ But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden. ²² The warden put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph’s authority,^[i] and he was responsible for everything that was done there. ²³ The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph’s authority,^[j] because the Lord was with him, and the Lord made everything that he did successful.

The LORD so orders our steps when HE has a plan for us and when we desire to serve HIM!

In Genesis 40, Joseph interprets dreams for the baker and wine steward (cupbearer).

In Genesis 41, the King asks Joseph to interpret his dream.

Genesis 41: ¹⁴ Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon.^[a] He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to Pharaoh.

¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.”

¹⁶ “I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”^[b]

Joseph told the truth – GOD holds the answer to our questions and HE reveals truth.

To whom or where do you seek answers to the questions life brings your way? Satan offers many sources but keep in mind, Satan is a deceiver and a liar. GOD is truth!

Let’s read Genesis 41:17-46:

¹⁷ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, ¹⁸ when seven well-fed, healthy-looking cows came up from the Nile and grazed among the reeds. ¹⁹ After them, seven other cows—weak, very sickly, and thin—came up. I’ve never seen such sickly ones as these in all the land of Egypt. ²⁰ Then the thin, sickly cows ate the first seven well-fed cows. ²¹ When they had devoured them, you could not tell that they had devoured them; their appearance was as bad as it had been before. Then I woke up. ²² In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, coming up on one stalk. ²³ After them, seven heads of grain—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind—sprouted up. ²⁴ The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven good ones. I told this to the magicians, but no one can tell me what it means.”

²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. ²⁶ The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing. ²⁷ The seven thin, sickly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind are seven years of famine.

²⁸ “It is just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. ²⁹ Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt. ³⁰ After them, seven years of famine will take place, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will devastate the land. ³¹ The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe. ³² Since the dream was given twice to Pharaoh, it means that the matter has been determined by God, and he will carry it out soon.

³³ “So now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Let Pharaoh do this: Let him appoint overseers over the land and take a fifth of the harvest of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. ³⁵ Let them gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. Under Pharaoh’s authority, store the grain in the cities, so they may preserve it as food. ³⁶ The food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine that will take place in the land of Egypt. Then the country will not be wiped out by the famine.”

Joseph Exalted

³⁷ The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants, ³⁸ and he said to them, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit^[c] in him?” ³⁹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are. ⁴⁰ You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands.^[d] Only I, as king,^[e] will be greater than you.” ⁴¹ Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “See, I am placing you over all the land of Egypt.” ⁴² Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, clothed him with fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³ He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, and servants called out before him, “Make way!” ^[f] So he placed him over all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁴ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh and no one will be able to raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt without your permission.” ⁴⁵ Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah and gave him a wife, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On.^[g] And Joseph went throughout^[h] the land of Egypt.

Joseph’s Administration

⁴⁶ Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt. (Much had taken place in Joseph’s life from 17 years old to 30 years old. But the key is, GOD directed Joseph’s life journey)

Joseph married and had a family. Life was good. But as GOD had revealed the severe famine came to that area.

GOD always preserves HIS chosen! Consider Israel today.

Let’s read Genesis 42:1 When Jacob learned there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you keep looking at each other?

Why do you think they were looking at each other?

 ² Listen,” he went on, “I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us so that we will live and not die.” ³ So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. ⁴ But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he thought, “Something might happen to him.”

⁵ The sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. ⁶ Joseph was in charge of the country; he sold grain to all its people. His brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. ⁷ When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them.

“Where do you come from?” he asked.

“From the land of Canaan to buy food,” they replied.

⁸ Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. ⁹ Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies. You have come to see the weakness^[a] of the land.”

¹⁰ “No, my lord. Your servants have come to buy food,” they said. ¹¹ “We are all sons of one man. We are honest; your servants are not spies.”

¹² “No,” he said to them. “You have come to see the weakness of the land.”

¹³ But they replied, “We, your servants, were twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now^[b] with our father, and one is no longer living.”

¹⁴ Then Joseph said to them, “I have spoken:^[c] ‘You are spies!’ ¹⁵ This is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. ¹⁶ Send one from among you to get your brother. The rest of you will be imprisoned so that your words can be tested to see if they are true. If they are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” ¹⁷ So Joseph imprisoned them together for three days.

¹⁸ On the third day Joseph said to them, “I fear God—do this and you will live. ¹⁹ If you are honest, let one of you^[d] be confined to the guardhouse, while the rest of you go and take grain to relieve the hunger of your households. ²⁰ Bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be confirmed; then you won’t die.” And they consented to this.

²¹ Then they said to each other, “Obviously, we are being punished for what we did to our brother. We saw his deep distress when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this trouble has come to us.”

²² But Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to harm the boy? But you wouldn’t listen. Now we must account for his blood!” ^[e]

²³ They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them. ²⁴ He turned away from them and wept. When he turned back and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and had him bound before their eyes. ²⁵ Joseph then gave orders to fill their containers with grain, return each man’s silver to his sack, and give them provisions for their journey. This order was carried out. ²⁶ They loaded the grain on their donkeys and left there.

The Brothers Return Home

²⁷ At the place where they lodged for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver there at the top of his bag. ²⁸ He said to his brothers, “My silver has been returned! It’s here in my bag.” Their hearts sank. Trembling, they turned to one another and said, “What has God done to us?”

²⁹ When they reached their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them: ³⁰ “The man who is the lord of the country spoke harshly to us and accused us of spying on the country. ³¹ But we told him, ‘We are honest and not spies. ³² We were twelve brothers, sons of the same^[f] father. One is no longer living, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan.’ ³³ The man who is the lord of the country said to us, ‘This is how I will know if you are honest: Leave one brother with me, take food to relieve the hunger of your households, and go. ³⁴ Bring back your youngest brother to me, and I will know that you are not spies but honest men. I will then give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the country.’”

³⁵ As they began emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his bag of silver! When they and their father saw their bags of silver, they were afraid.

³⁶ Their father Jacob said to them, “It’s me that you make childless. Joseph is gone, and Simeon is gone. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything happens to me!”

³⁷ Then Reuben said to his father, “You can kill my two sons if I don’t bring him back to you. Put him in my care,^[g] and I will return him to you.”

³⁸ But Jacob answered, “My son will not go down with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If anything happens to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow.”

Genesis 43:1: Now the famine in the land was severe. ² When they had used up the grain they had brought back from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little food.”

³ But Judah said to him, “The man specifically warned us, ‘You will not see me again unless your brother is with you.’ 

Jacob finally consents.

They return to Egypt for a great reveal.

Genesis 45:1-9:

Joseph Reveals His Identity

45 Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants,^[a] so he called out, “Send everyone away from me!” No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers. ² But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh’s household heard it. ³ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence.

⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt. ⁵ And now don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. ⁶ For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. ⁷ God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.^[b] 8 Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

GOD so ordered the events in Joseph’s life for the preservation of many. JESUS willingly left HIS home in Heaven to come to earth to live as 100% human, subject to both sin and eternal death. But JESUS was obedient and did not sin and thus became the only acceptable sacrifice to GOD, HIS FATHER, for all sin.

But every person must accept the Passion of JESUS, HIS death upon the cross to pay in full for sin. How do we know that HE paid for sin in full? GOD raised JESUS from the physically dead to be the first fruit of the redeemed. Our part is to place our faith in JESUS and what HE alone did for all who place their faith in HIM are “born-again” in their human spirit to be eternally “Spirit-born” into GOD’S eternal Family.

⁹ “Return quickly to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay.”

Oh, what joy and relief must have spread over his brothers and the urgency to tell their father, Jocab the Joseph was alive in Egypt.

Oh my, but the truth will come out!

Genesis 50: ¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people. ²¹ Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.^[b]

GOD unites and preserves HIS chosen. Reconciliation with GOD through faith in JESUS is eternal.

All who place their faith in JESUS are GOD’S chosen. All are confirmed and guaranteed life eternal by the indwelling Holy Spirit. If you have not asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your heart, now is that moment. Be wise and accept JESUS as your Savior and ask HIM to be the LORD of your life. Ask HIM to lead you to the Bible teaching church or fellowship that can feed you Spiritually.

Blessings!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Study (5) - Joseph and His Brothers: Family Jealousy - Genesis 37:1-34 - November 10, 2024

 

Bible Study (5) – Joseph and His Brothers: Family Jealousy – November 10, 2024

This is part one of a two-part lesson. The second part is for next week.

Our scripture is Gensis 37:1-34:

Forgiveness can lead to family healing and restoration.

When GOD is leading and guiding a person, when that person encounters nudges along life’s path, count it all joy because GOD is positioning that person to be in the exact place HE desires for his/her life and service to HIM. Often, we have to look back over our lives to see GOD’S Hands at work in our lives.

The Apostle James, the half-brother of JESUS wrote in James 1: ² Consider it a great joy, my brothers, and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Such trials, when ordained by GOD, build trust in GOD that HE will take loving care of us as we walk in faith with HIM through faith in JESUS.

In the words of the late Dr. Vance Havner, “we must practice in the dark what we learn in the light.”

When we, as Christians, go through a difficult time (s) in our lives, that is when we grow Spiritually. Is it fun? No! But it is rewarding when we get to the other end of the difficult times in our lives.

The bottom line is, who do we trust during these times?

We have been studying Jacob as he has aged.

Our focus scripture is Genesis 37:1-34:

Side Note: Jacob’s name changed from Jacob to Israel as recorded in

Genesis 32:26-31: But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

²⁷ “What is your name?” the man asked.

“Jacob,” he replied.

²⁸ “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel^[b] because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

²⁹ Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”

But he answered, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.

³⁰ Jacob then named the place Peniel,^[c] “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.” ³¹ The sun shone on him as he passed by Penuel^[d]—limping because of his hip. 

WOW! Have you every struggled with GOD?

Jacob’s name was changed by GOD from Jacob to Israel.

Jacob left with a new heart because he had struggled with GOD. He was on his way to meet Esau to reconcile with his brother after many years of separation. Reconciliation pleases GOD.

Is there someone to whom you need to be reconciled?

Have you ever struggled with GOD? It is an awesome encounter, and I encourage you to do it if you have issues that need to be settled between you and GOD. Let GOD know what your problems or issues are with HIM. Be specific and do not let HIM go until your questions or issues are resolved. Be honest when you approach GOD because HE already knows your thoughts and heart.

Since the passion of JESUS, we have direct access to GOD through faith in JESUS.

Now to our study.

Let’s read Genesis 37:1-36 - Joseph’s Dreams

37:1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. ² These are the family records of Jacob. (Genesis 22:22-31.)

At seventeen years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought a bad report about them to their father.

Oops, siblings do not like tattle tails, especially when the one telling on them is the favored sibling in the family, whom they despise.

³ Now Israel (Jacob – note name changed from Jacob to Israel.) loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a long-sleeved robe^[a] for him. ⁴ When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him.

(You can almost hear them harassing Joseph. Just look at him wearing that special coat of many colors. He struts around like he is something special, etc. – of course this is my speculation.)

I believe most parents can relate to this. But GOD had a mighty plan for Joseph to preserve HIS chosen people and the other people in that part of the world, when a sever famine came to that area.

Trouble in the household is being fueled by jealousy. Jealousy begins slowly and beneath the surface until it festers and spreads to others.

⁵ Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. ⁶ He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, and your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”

Joseph had to share his dream because GOD used it as a catalyst to get Joseph to where GOD desired for him to be. Was Joseph aware of GOD’S plan at this time in his life? No. He was just being Joseph.

⁸ “Are you really going to reign over us?” his brothers asked him. “Are you really going to rule us?” So, they hated him even more because of his dream and what he had said.

The more Joseph made these true statements, the more his brothers despised him. Yet, GOD was positioning Joseph to be the savior of many people and countries.

⁹ Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

¹⁰ He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had?” he said. “Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you?” ¹¹ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Joseph only shared what he had been dreaming, however his family could not see this taking place in the dreamer.

Often, we witness those we knew as we were growing up, doing mighty things in life as adults and think, “Is this that awkward, snotty nose kid I grew up with, in this position?” But to GOD be the Glory, HIS ways are not our ways, and HIS thoughts are higher than our thoughts. GOD sees our hearts’ inner most being, potential and faithfulness to be obedient to HIS plans and purpose for our lives.

Just know that as long as we have breath, GOD uses us according to HIS plans and purpose.

Joseph Sold into Slavery

¹² His brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. ¹³ Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers, you know, are pasturing the flocks at Shechem. Get ready. I’m sending you to them.”

“I’m ready,” Joseph replied.

¹⁴ Then Israel said to him, “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing and bring word back to me.” So, he sent him from the Hebron Valley, and he went to Shechem.

¹⁵ A man found him there, wandering in the field, and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

¹⁶ “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph said. “Can you tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?”

Often, GOD has special people positioned to give us direction as we travel life’s path.

¹⁷ “They’ve moved on from here,” the man said. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So, Joseph set out after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

¹⁸ They saw him in the distance, and before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him. ¹⁹ They said to one another, “Oh, look, here comes that dream expert!^[b] 20 So now, come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits.^[c] We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”

²¹ When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them.^[d] He said, “Let’s not take his life.” ²² Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him”—intending to rescue him from them and return him to his father.

²³ When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe, the long-sleeved robe that he had on. ²⁴ Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty, without water.

²⁵ They sat down to eat a meal, and when they looked up, there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt.

When we journey the path GOD places us upon, HE has those in place to carry out HIS plan for HIS chosen.

²⁶ Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? ²⁷ Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and his brothers agreed. ²⁸ When Midianite traders passed by his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.

As you may recall, Judas betrayed JESUS for thirty pieces of silver. Joseph is a CHRIST-like person GOD chose to save HIS people from physical destruction and reveals to the world how GOD preserves HIS chosen.

²⁹ When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. ³⁰ He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone! What am I going to do?” ^[e] 31 So they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a male goat, and dipped the robe in its blood. ³² They sent the long-sleeved robe to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it. Is it your son’s robe or not?”

³³ His father recognized it. “It is my son’s robe,” he said. “A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has been torn to pieces!” ³⁴ Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. ³⁵ All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” And his father wept for him.

³⁶ Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guards.

This is a beautiful example of GOD’S protection, when HIS chosen journey through life as GOD’S chosen, GOD ordains their steps.

You may recall, Ephesians 1:3-14: The Apostle Paul wrote:

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he^[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship^[c] (and daughter ship) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he^[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

You were chosen! Have you accepted JESUS as your Savior and made HIM the LORD of your life? If not, why not now?

Dear JESUS, I know that I was chosen by YOU to be born physically. I had no choice in my first conception but YOU have given me a choice in my second conception, which is Spiritual. I choose YOU, JESUS as my Savior and ask YOU to forgive me for my sins and to cleanse me from all my sins and for YOU to come into my heart and make me a new person, through YOUR redeeming blood, through the miracle of being born-again in my spirit. Amen!

If you prayed this prayer, welcome into GOD’S eternal Family. Study GOD’S Word and ask HIM to lead you to a Bible teaching and believing church or fellowship where you can grow Spiritually. Blessings!!!

 

Bible Study (3&4) - Isaac and Rebekah & Jacob and Esau - November 3, 2024 (Excellent)

Bible Study (3 & 4) – Isaac and Rebekah & Jacob and Esau – November 3, 2024 (Two Lessons together but worth studying.)

Love should be without favoritism within the family.

Showing humility is critical to restoring a broken relationship.

Our focus scriptures are Genesis 25:24-28; 27:5-13 and Genesis 27:35-37, 41; 33;1-4, 8-11.

Mother of twins – Rebekah – Dad – Isaac

GOD said to Abraham - Genesis 17:19
Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him." (NIV)

Isaac is the son of Abraham.

Rebeckah - is the daughter of Bethuel, granddaughter of Milcah and Nahor, the brother of Abraham.

Twins – Esau and Jacob or Jacob and Esau. Esau was the first born followed by Jacob grasping for Esau’s heel.

GOD had told Rebeckah that Esau, the first born, would serve his younger brother Jacob as we read in Genesis 25: ¹⁹ These are the family records of Isaac’s son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac. ²⁰ Isaac was forty years old when he took as his wife Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. ²¹ Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord was receptive to his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. ²² But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” ^[k] So she went to inquire of the Lord. ²³ And the Lord said to her:

Two nations are in your womb;
two peoples will come from you and be separated.
One people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.

Key verse, the older will serve the younger! The two nations are the Edomites and the Israelites.

²⁴ When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. ²⁵ The first one came out red-looking,^[l] covered with hair^[m] like a fur coat, and they named him Esau. ²⁶ After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel with his hand. So he was named Jacob.^[n] Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

Let’s read Genesis 25:27-28:

Esau Sells His Birthright

²⁷ When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman,^[o] but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.^[p] 28 Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

²⁹ Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.” That is why he was also named Edom. (Red)

³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

³² “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”

³³ Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So, he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. ³⁴ Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So, Esau despised his birthright.

There were two cherished traditions in the Jewish family – Birthright and Blessings:

The Birthright was conveyed upon the eldest son near the death of the aging father of the Jewish family. It was a double portion of property and possessions because the recipient was to keep the family and household together and to meet the needs of the family.

Generally, the Blessing was conveyed at the same time the birthright was conveyed. The blessing(s) was or were a prophetic statement(s) spoken through the aging father as led by the Holy Spirit.

Yes, The Holy Spirit was very much working in and through the lives of those who sought the will of GOD. After the passion of JESUS, GOD made ready for the Holy Spirit to indwell the human body as a guarantee that person eternally belongs to GOD through faith in JESUS, thus the term “born-again.” Being born again is conception. It is the union of the human spirit (The Egg) and the Holy Spirit (The Sperm). The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity of GOD: GOD, The FATHER, GOD The SON and GOD, The Holy Spirit.

Back to our study:

The twin boys are now young men, and their dad was up in age, and it was time for Isaac to do what the patriarch of the family did as he approached the end of his life. In family life tradition was important. There was a birthright and a blessing to be passed from the father to the eldest son, which would be Esau, since he was the first born. However, GOD had told Rebekah that Jacob would rule the elder brother, in Genesis 25:23.

Let’s read Genesis 27:5-10:

⁵ Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau.

So, we do not have to read far to get our answer, “Isaac said to his son Esau.” Rebekah was eves dropping on a private conversation between Isaac and Esau. Definitely a house divided.

Isn’t it amazing how GOD reveals to us, by example, how we raise our children influences them. GOD’S desire is for us, who are parents to learn from the mistakes of others. This event in the family of Isaac and Rebekah reveals the results of favoring one child over another in the same household.

So, while Esau went to the field to hunt some game to bring in, ⁶ Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Listen! I heard your father talking with your brother Esau. He said, ⁷ ‘Bring me game and make a delicious meal for me to eat so that I can bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’ ⁸ Now, my son, listen to me and do what I tell you. ⁹ Go to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, and I will make them into a delicious meal for your father - the kind he loves. ¹⁰ Then take it to your father to eat so that he may bless you before he dies.”

¹¹ Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a man with smooth skin. 

Jacob heard what his mother had told him, but something just did not add up. Was he attempting to get his mother to reconsider her plans? We do not know but at least Jacob showed some concern regarding what his mother was telling him.

Let’s read Genesis 27:12-13:

¹² Suppose my father touches me. Then I will be revealed to him as a deceiver and bring a curse rather than a blessing on myself.”

This was an excellent point that Jacob brought up to his mother. “Mom, let’s think this plan of yours through.”

¹³ His mother said to him, “Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey me and go get them for me.”

“Oh Jacob, let me worry about that, I can handle your dad. After all, he will be so pleased after the meal I fix for him, he will do anything.” Or will he?

So, mama was the source of an evil plot to deceive her husband and to be a negative influence on Isaac.

Where did deception begin? In the Garden of Eden. Satan appealed to the woman, Eve, but apparently Adam was standing next to her and did not open his mouth until after the deed was done.

Isaac at least considered doing the right thing, but his mother wanted Isaac to receive the birthright in place of its rightful recipient, Jacob.

In previous studies I always thought, “Once the deception was revealed, just reverse it and give the birthright to Jacob.” But Esau had given up his birthright for a bowl of lentils. However, Esau had not given up his blessing.

Why was this a problem? The birthright was and is a Spiritual passage and not a physical passage. Once a person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for his/her sins that person is forgiven and in an instant when that person asks JESUS to come into his/her heart the miracle of Spiritual birth takes place quicker than the twinkle of the eye and cannot be revoked. That birthright is instant, irrevocable, and eternal. That person is immediately GOD’S eternal child, never to be unborn from GOD’S Family. A Spirit-born persons Heavenly rewards can be impacted but not their salvation.

The birthright before JESUS came to earth was a foreshadow of Spiritual birth and GOD’S redemptive plan. What is the birthright of a person who has been Spirit-born? It is eternal life with the indwelling Holy Spirit as the seal and guarantee that person belongs to GOD through faith in JESUS eternally.

Blessings flow through the Spirit-born person to minister to others as led and directed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. This includes family, friends, and those to whom the Spirit-born person comes into contact.

So, we move into the rest of our scripture as fast forward from what had just taken place to years later in the lives of Jacob and Esau.

Focus scripture: Genesis 27:35-37, 41; 33:1-4,8-11:

Let’s read Genesis 27:30-45:

³⁰ As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had left the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau arrived from his hunting. ³¹ He had also made some delicious food and brought it to his father. He said to his father, “Let my father get up and eat some of his son’s game, so that you may bless me.”

³² But his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?”

He answered, “I am Esau your firstborn son.”

³³ Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably. “Who was it then,” he said, “who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came in, and I blessed him. Indeed, he will be blessed!”

³⁴ When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, my father!”

³⁵ But he replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”

³⁶ So he said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob?^[b] For he has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

According to the Bible, Esau willingly gave up his birthright for a bowl of lentils.

³⁷ But Isaac answered Esau, “Look, I have made him a master over you, have given him all of his relatives as his servants, and have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then can I do for you, my son?”

³⁸ Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” And Esau wept loudly.^[c]

³⁹ His father Isaac answered him,

Look, your dwelling place will be
away from the richness of the land,
away from the dew of the sky above.
⁴⁰ You will live by your sword,
and you will serve your brother.
But when you rebel,^[d]
you will break his yoke from your neck.

Esau’s Anger

⁴¹ Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau determined in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

⁴² When the words of her older son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she summoned her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Listen, your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you. ⁴³ So now, my son, listen to me. Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran, ⁴⁴ and stay with him for a few days until your brother’s anger subsides— ⁴⁵ until your brother’s rage turns away from you and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back from there. Why should I lose you both in one day?”

So, mom sends Jacob away, which was good to allow time to hopefully mend feelings.

Let’s fast forward to the first meeting of Jacob and Esau, following a long absence from each other.

Let’s read Genesis 33:1-20:

Jacob Meets Esau – Genesis 33:1-20:

33 Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So, he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women. ² He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. ³ He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.

Jacob showed respect to Esau.

⁴ But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept. ⁵ When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?”

He answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.” ⁶ Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. ⁷ Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.

⁸ So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession^[a] I met?”

“To find favor with you, my lord,” he answered.

⁹ “I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.”

¹⁰ But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me. ¹¹ Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me, and I have everything I need.” So, Jacob urged him until he accepted.

¹² Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.”

¹³ Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and I have nursing flocks and herds. If they are driven hard for one day, the whole herd will die. ¹⁴ Let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a pace suited to the livestock and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

¹⁵ Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.”

But he replied, “Why do that? Please indulge me,^[b] my lord.”

¹⁶ That day Esau started on his way back to Seir, ¹⁷ but Jacob went to Succoth. He built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.^[c]

¹⁸ After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at Shechem in the land of Canaan and camped in front of the city. ¹⁹ He purchased a section of the field where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.^[d] 20 And he set up an altar there and called it God, the God of Israel.^[e]

JESUS is GOD’s Son and HE is also the Savior of all who place their faith in HIM. GOD is eternal and cannot die and neither could HIS only SON, JESUS, until HE willingly came to earth to be born of the virgin Mary.

JESUS became 100% human/yet 100% GOD. As 100% human HE was subject to death. As 100% GOD, HE could have exited HIS appointed mission upon earth, which was to live a 100% sinless life in order for HIM to be the perfect acceptable sacrifice to HIS FATHER (GOD) to pay for all sin. JESUS is and always will be the eldest SON in the Family of GOD. All people are the brother or sister of JESUS through the miracle of Spiritual birth. JESUS was and is the head of the true body of believers. JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life upon the cross to satisfy completely the debt for sin, in full, for all who place their faith in HIM.

JESUS is the first fruit of GOD’S redemptive plan, which is eternal life. JESUS is the head of HIS Family of those redeemed by HIS shed blood. JESUS died and HIS death and bodily resurrection opened the door for all who place their faith in HIM to live eternally with HIM. The birthright of eternal life belongs to GOD’S only SON, JESUS, which is passed to those who place their faith in JESUS. Once a person is Spirit-born into GOD’S Family that person receives blessings manifested by the indwelling Holy Spirit to minister in GOD’S vineyard, earth. These blessings are the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are numerous and the fruit of the Spirit. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.^[f] 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

There are many gifts of the Holy Spirit which GOD gives to those who are Spirit-born. 1 Corinthians 12 lists a few of these Gifts. There are many Spiritual Gifts given for the good of those who have been called to minister, to those who need to be ministered.

In last week’s lesson, I mentioned that some people become Spirit-born by simply saying LORD, “I give up.” JESUS, please come into my heart through the miracle of Spiritual birth. I want to be “born-again” into YOUR eternal Family and live for YOU as led by the Holy Spirit.

Salvation is not complicated, but it is eternal through faith in JESUS. Yes, once saved, always saved from Hell. Now that is “Good News!” Blessings!!!