Scripture Nugget 1.19-20.2016

Scripture Nugget 1.19.2016 “Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.”’ But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should heed him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.’ Then they said, ‘The God of the Hebrews has revealed himself to us; let us go a three day’s journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or he will fall upon us with pestilence or sword.’ But the king of Egypt said to them, ‘Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get to your labors!’”

How many times have I been Pharaoh of my own life? Working, working, working so as to prevent myself from worshiping God, from celebrating the Sabbath which he ordained? As a pastor have I ever pushed church work on others instead of promoting and encouraging the work of the church, which is primarily worship – loving God first with all our heart soul, mind, and strength? O Lord forgive me when I have hurried into an opportunity to work, when I should have been introducing You to others through worship and prayer.

Scripture Nugget 1.20.2016 “But the magicians of Egypt did the same (turned water into blood) by their secret arts.” Genesis 7:22 (thus doubling the problem of no drinking water, no water for life). … “But the magicians did the same by their secret arts, and brought frogs up on the land of Egypt.” (thus doubling the number of frogs on the land) “Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, (why not call on his own magicians?) and said, ‘Pray to the LORD to take away the frogs from me and my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.’” Genesis 8:7-8. … “The magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, but they could not. … And the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God!’” Genesis: 18a, 19a) “Thus says the LORD: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. For if you will not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, and your people, and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies; so also the land where they live. But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people live, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I the LORD am in this land. Thus I will make a distinction between my people and your people.” (Genesis 8: 20c-23) “So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was dense darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. People could not see one another, and for three days they could not move from where they were; but all the Israelites had light where they lived. Then Pharaoh summoned Moses, and said, ‘Go, worship the LORD. Only your flocks and herds shall remain behind. Even your children may go with you.’ But Moses said, ‘You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings to sacrifice to the LORD our God. Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must choose some of them for worship of the LORD our God, and we will not know what to use to worship the LORD until we arrive there.’” Genesis 22-27

Pharaoh’s hardened heart prevents him from recognizing the fullness of the presence of God. He attempts in his own kingship to compete with God, at first indirectly through his magicians, but when there “power” is found to be limited, Pharaoh attempts to compete directly with his own bravado. Increasingly God’s Prevenient Grace wins out and Pharaoh slowly, oh so slowly, but not completely begins to recognize God. But he is still a long way from declaring God – LORD of his life. Moses in the meantime, empowered by God, continues obediently and without wavering to insist the Israelites go worship the LORD – properly the way God expects. My prayer and hope is that I be so insistent, individually and as one called to lead others to worship God. That I not cut corners and not allow outside pressure to cause me to cut corners. Lead me Lord, that I always be fully obedient even in the face of “Pharaohs.”

Scripture Nugget 1.18.2016

“Then the LORD said, ‘I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.’” Exodus 3:7-10

“I declare that I will bring you up out of the misery of Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey. They will listen to your voice; and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; let us now go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ I know, however, that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will perform in it; after that he will let you go. I will bring this people in to such favor with the Egyptians that, when you go, you will not go empty-handed; each woman shall ask her neighbor and any woman living in the neighbor’s house for jewelry of silver and of gold, and clothing, and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters; and so you shall plunder the Egyptians.’” Exodus 3:17-22

The Lord sees and responds to our needs in His time. Am I faithful enough to believe, to be patient while waiting for Him to fulfill His promises? The above took generations to develop; does the faith I demonstrate lead my family, friends and community into the future believing in God? Oh that I have, do and will!

Scripture Nugget 1.17.2016

“But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.’ In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them”. Genesis 50:19-21

“Then Joseph died, and all his brothers, and the whole generation. But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. … But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.” Exodus 1:6-7, 12

                                            Life Application Topic - “You

Meant It for Evil; God Meant It for Good” How often can we see in retrospect that good outcomes were birthed from treachery or tragedy? The story of Joseph’s astonishing reversal of fortunes teaches that all things can indeed work together for good for those who love God, that any given moment is not the last moment, that life in God’s hands has forward movement and holds the possibility for restoration (resurrection?) on the other side of desperate circumstance. Notice that this good outcome is accompanied by forgiveness and restitution of family community, products of Joseph’s own choices. (Wesley Study Bible, pg 58)

Can I possess an outward focus allowing me to realize God at work in the moment without getting stuck in the present? Does my faith have forward movement? Oh Lord that I would trust you to accomplish long term good out of short term human sinfulness.

Scripture Nugget 1.16.2016

“When Israel set out on his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph’s own hand shall close your eyes.’” Genesis 46:1-4

              Do you think Jacob (Israel) remembered this? – “He had another

dream, and told it to his brothers, saying, ‘Look, I have had another dream; the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’ But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, ‘What kind of dream is this that you have had? Shall we indeed come, I and your mother and your brothers, and bow to the ground before you? So his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.” Genesis 37:9-11

               “Joseph settled his father and his brothers, and granted them

a holding in the land of Egypt, in the best part of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had instructed. And Joseph provided his farther, his brothers, and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their dependents. Genesis 47:11-12

These events took many years to come to fruition. Am I willing to proceed, minute by minute, day by day, year by year on the journey God call’s me to? With faith, do I listen to God, do I hear when God speaks through others? O God that I be faithful for the long haul!

Scripture Nugget 1.15.2016

“Now the famine was severe in the land. And when they had eaten up the grain that they had brought Egypt, their father said to them, ‘Go again, buy as a little more food.’ … Then their father said to them , ‘If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry them down as a present to the man – a little balm and a little honey, gum, resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the top of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. Take your brother also, and be on your way again to the man; may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, so that he may send back your brother and Benjamin.” Genesis 43: 1-2, 11-14a

There is always a feast in a famine; I must look for it, or be observant enough to realize the entirety of the feast. “The famine was severe” yet choice fruits were in enough abundance to not only take some for the journey but to give as a present along with balm, honey, gum, resin and two types of nuts. How much of each would be needed to be considered a gift to the second in command of a nation during a famine? Do I realize the grace of God poured out all around me, my family, friends and community and am I willing to give abundantly even in the midst of “severe famine”. Do I possess faith enough? Do I trust God? Or do I hold onto everything…..?

Scripture Nugget 1.14.2016

“Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land, and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plenteous years. Let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to befall the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.” Genesis 41:34-36 … “And since the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. Moreover, all the world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine became severe throughout the world.” Genesis 41:56-57 … “Thus the sons of Israel were among the other people who came to buy grain, for the famine had reached the land of Canaan. Genesis 42:5

God provides a “feast” during times of famine. Do I prepare for times of famine by saving, keeping back a part of the present feast? Or am I a glutton who abuses the abundance of the present? Am I willing to look to the future, prepare for what is unforeseen or am I blinded by the “success” in the present. Am I willing to share with others the “fortunes” of the present in times of future “famines”? Do I recognize the provision of God in times of “fortune”, do I recognize the provision of God during times of famine? Do I believe that it is possible to feast during the famine? Do I trust God today to help me prepare for tomorrow?

Scripture Nugget 1.13.2016

“Then Judah acknowledged them and said, ‘She is more in the right than I, since I did not give her away to my son Shelah.’ And he did not lie with her again. When the time of her delivery came, there were twins in her womb. While she was in labor, one put out a hand; and the midwife took and bound on his hand a crimson thread, saying, ‘This one came out first.’ But just then he drew back his hand, and out came his brother; and she said, ‘What a breach you have made for yourself?’ Therefore he was named Perez.” Genesis 38:26-29

“Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became father of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, Amminadab of Nashon, Nashon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David.” Ruth 4:18-21

Over the horizon faith, that faith I/we are called to have in God. Do I believe that even my lapses of judgment, my mistakes, and/or my sins can result in something good? Do I believe that God can and will make all things right? Even if the work in progress isn’t revealed even partially for many generations? Judah was less than forthcoming in carrying out the practices of the culture of his time. He left his daughter in law without means of support, he didn’t follow through on his original pledge. Tamar took things into her own hands to force the situation. God used the situation to, in ten generations, produce, David, a “man after God’s own heart,” who according to the genealogies in Matthew and Luke is in the direct line of Jesus’ ancestry in two different ways. How will what I do today affect those in the Kingdom of God in ten – twenty generations? Does it matter?

Scripture Nugget 1.12.2016

“God said to Jacob, ‘Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau. So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him. ‘Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your clothes; then come, let us go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there to the God who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.’ Genesis 35:1-3

In the midst of his family’s deceit of there neighbors in reaction to the abuse and rape of their sister, Jacob calls them to worship, to purify themselves and come intentionally to worship God. I pray I may lead my family with a pure and holy example; but when any of them decide to take matters in their own hands, when they act deceitfully or fall out of relationship with God, that I would encourage them to remember their baptism, to recognize their need for God’s grace, they would confess and repent. Oh that I do the same for myself……….

Scripture Nugget 1.11.2016

“But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.”….. Esau said, ‘What do you mean by all this company that I met?’ Jacob answered, ‘To find favor with my lord.’ But Esau said, ‘I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.’ Jacob said, ‘No, please; if I find favor with you, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God – since you have received me with such favor. Please accept my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have everything I want.’ So he urged him, and he took it.” Genesis 33:4, 8-11

Verse 4 reminds me of a similar verse, Luke 15:20, “So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.”

However, as I think deeper there are differences. Returning to God, as the Prodigal son returned to his father in the Luke passage, I/we are welcomed by and through the free Grace of God, free to us, but paid for by God through the sacrifice of the Son. Jacob sent gifts ahead to his brother Esau as a peace offering, as a way to smooth things over, to in affect purchase Esau’s grace and forgiveness. Oh that I would not try to bribe God for forgiveness and acceptance but also be willing to give up much of myself to others to achieve reconciliation and peace. That I would give deeply of myself and my stuff freely to others in a sincere desire to enter into the loving relationship of/with others that God desires. Regardless of who caused the separation, me or another; that I would always recognize that all differences between others are reconcilable, especially when I invite God into the center of the relationship.

Scripture Nugget 1.10.2016

“Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the LORD, the God of Abraham stood beside him and said, ‘I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will; bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’ Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place – and I did not know it!’ And he was afraid, and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’ So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took a stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called that place Bethel…”

I am always in God’s presence, but like Jacob, often don’t recognize that God is standing beside me, (that phrase “the God of Abraham stood beside him” can be translated stood above or stood on) how many times have I failed to grasp God standing over (on) me while I’m busy in my attempt to figure out how to climb the ladder to Him. Oh how I missed the point, God comes down, I’m not (we’re not) meant to climb the ladder. Emmanuel, God with us! Good news, Jesus came down, Jesus lifts up. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!