Well, if you are keeping track or looking ahead you will notice we are about done with our second full book. Honestly, I can not wait. Genesis has been a very long book for me, it has way to much genealogy for my liking but it does contain several amazing stories. As soon as we are done with Genesis we will begin reading Exodus, which hopefully has no genealogy at all.
In Genesis 41 the cupbearer finally remembers Joseph and the power of his interpretations. Pharaoh has had two dreams and calls for all his magicians and wise men in Egypt to interpret the dreams. None of these men are capable of doing this. The pharaoh then hears of what Joseph has done and calls for him out of prison. Joseph is cleaned up and brought before the pharaoh. The pharaoh then tells Joseph his dreams. Joseph then interprets the dreams for pharaoh. One thing I have noticed about Joseph through these stories is how amazingly devoted he has stayed to God. Even this gift of interpreting dreams he takes no credit for. After interpreting the pharaoh's dreams Joseph gives him advice on how to prepare for the coming famine. The pharaoh is pleased with what has come about and decides to put Joseph in charge of his palace. The last portion of Genesis 41 shows Joseph in charge of all of Egypt. The land experienced a seven year period of abundance just as Joseph had predicted. During this time the pharaoh gave Joseph a wife who gave him two sons. After the seven year abundance a famine began just as was predicted in pharaoh's dream.
Genesis 42 tells a story of a meeting between Joseph and his brothers. Jacob learns that Egypt has grain and sends ten of his sons to Egypt to buy grain for them to eat. The brothers travel to Egypt and meet Joseph to buy grain. They do not recognize Joseph as they bow down to him just as he had dreamed. Joseph makes them believe that he thinks they are spies and puts them in prison. He then gives them specific instructions to prove that they are not spies. He holds one of them in prison and loads the rest of them with grain and sends them on their way back to Canaan. The final part of their instructions is to bring their youngest brother back to him to prove that they are not spies. They depart from him and travel back to Jacob where they open their grain sacks and find them full and that they still have their money. They tell Jacob what has happened and he refuses to send his youngest son to Joseph. This is where we end. I can not wait for the next chapter to finish reading this story, for some reason this particular story is holding my interest.
The first portion of Matthew 22 tells us a parable which shows a very grim existence in my opinion. In my mind it prepares Christians for the troubles they will have in trying to bring people to Christ. It also shows us another instance of Jesus working with those who have sinned rather then those who have already found faith. The next portion we see the pharisees once again trying to trap Jesus. Jesus uses simple wording yet again to prove to them what they need to hear. We learn another lesson here as well. Jesus says "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." (Matt. 22:21) This little quote tells us that we are to give to our government what is due them as we are to give to God.
Tomorrow's reading is:
Genesis 43, 44, 45 and Matthew 22:23 - 46
41. What a day in the life of Joseph. You interpret one dream and go from prison to being in charge of Egypt. I think it's amazing how grateful to God Joseph as been through out is whole ordeal. He never seems down about his situation, just convinced that this is what God as called him to do.
ReplyDelete42. I was surprised that Jacob refused to send Benjamin back. I'm really liking this story also.
22. Thanks for the clarity on the first parable. I totally didn't get what he was saying, but now I think I understand. I loved the part about Caesar, makes perfect sense to me.