8-27-18 Today in the Word

Today in the Word
August 2018
Joseph and God’s Plan
AN UNUSUAL BLESSING: PART 2
Monday, August 27, 2018 | Genesis 48:15–22
When the apostle Paul wanted to encourage Timothy in his faith and ministry, he wrote, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Tim. 1:5). He reminded Timothy of his legacy of faith from the blessing of his family.
When Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, he also reminded them of the legacy of faith in their family. He reminded them that his father and grandfather “walked faithfully” before God (v. 15). “Walked faithfully” is a key phrase. It not only describes the faith of Abraham and Isaac but also the faith of men like Enoch and Noah (see 5:22; 6:9). It also describes the essence of covenant faith that the people of Israel will need in the future (see Deut. 30:16; Micah 6:8). Jacob wants these boys to know that they are a part of a family of faith, people who walk closely with God.
As Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph noticed that he had crossed his hands so that the younger son was receiving the blessing of the right hand. Joseph tried to correct what must surely have been a mistake, but Jacob firmly rejected his correction. He intended the younger to be blessed over the older.
This is another example of the theme throughout Genesis, following the pattern of Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, and now Ephraim and Manasseh. God’s blessing does not take worldly standards into account. His blessing is purely an act of His grace and cannot be presumed upon because of birth or position. Jacob also assures Joseph that both sons will be blessed and will have many descendants.
APPLY THE WORD
Today, thank God for the legacy of faith He has given you. If your biological family includes people who introduced you to and nurtured you in the faith, praise God for that blessing. If you came to faith through a spiritual father or mother who told you about Jesus, thank God that someone invited you to be part of the family of God.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9-17-23 Not in a Billion Years

Not In A Million Billion Years :: By Dave Hubley Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles (There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.) Several years ago, I had a conversation with a guy in a waiting room while getting an oil change (in the car, not me). I don’t recall exactly how the conversation originated or how it progressed, but I have never forgotten it. As I recall, it had something to do with evolution and an article that was contained in a “waiting room magazine” that was available there. He made the observation that God was “something that man had made up.” I can’t recall the exact reason he used to justify his opinion, but it had something to do with the usual reasons people give: Weak-willed people needing a crutch, and blah, blah, blah. I engaged him in a “witness,
Read more

9-16-23 Santa Staleness

Santa Staleness :: By Edwin Tan Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles My one and only trip to Israel had more than a profound effect on my present-day psyche. It might have been three decades ago, but there is more than a lingering aftertaste. It happened smack in the last fortnight of the year. Surprisingly absent were the familiar sights and sounds of the Christmas most people are accustomed to. Hardly any Christmas decorations in downtown Tel Aviv, if not any of the shopping thoroughfares across the Holy Land. Hanukah was a breath of fresh air – not anything resembling a Christmas carol most people grew up with did surface. The Christmas Eve service in a small Protestant church not far away from Jerusalem’s Old City was awesome; songs that truly celebrated the virgin birth of our Lord, which though seemingly unheard of, were a welcome inspiration to many a soul. There was even one sung in Arabic! So it began, my overt disdain for the secular Christmas t
Read more

9-15-23 Miracles 2

Miracles 2 :: By Jim Towers Published on: December 21, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles This story is a continuation of the exciting things God continues doing in my life. I was supposed to have died a while back, and sometimes I feel as though I may do so soon. But since I’m ready to meet my maker, I have no fear of death. In fact, my evangelistic zeal has only increased, especially as I see the fast approaching of the “Tribulation period” mentioned in the book of Revelation. Insofar as my acting career is concerned, I just finished filming a soliloquy featuring Melchior, one of the three Magi who followed the star to Christ lying in the manger, and am preparing to portray a Jewish Priest on stage. Like I said, God is working overtime in my life, and I will be appearing on stage singing Broadway show tunes sometime in March, so I have a lot of rehearsing to do. In the meantime, I will be signing Christmas carols acapella at a park here in Naples. Since it is a spontaneous th
Read more