March 1, 2014 The Lion Jesus

The Lion Jesus

Genesis 49

Gen 49:8-12 “Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. 9 You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness — who dares to rouse him? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. 11 He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.”

JACOB is blessing each son. The blessing language is also prophetic. His words to Judah are the most powerful prophetic blessing of all, because it relates to the Jesus.

      As Jacob speaks the name, “Judah”, Jacob is saying “Praise of the Lord”, the meaning which was given to him at his birth by his mother Leah. “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. (Genesis 29:35)

      Jacob then defines the warlike, victorious character of this tribe. The lion-like tribe is the first tribe to conquer its lot in the Promised Land. David, the warrior king, is the first king of the line of Judah, and his line reigns forever through Jesus. (The scepter will not depart from it.)

      And the Lord Jesus is named “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” in Revelation 5:5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.”

LIFE Link: Rest in your warrior Savior, who has been to the battle for you. His scepter will always protect you.

February 28, 2014 A Blessed Legacy

A Blessed Legacy

Genesis 48

Gen 48:3-4 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me 4 and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’”

LET’S consider God’s words to Noah after the Great Flood. “As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” (Genesis 9:7) Noah’s descendants lived into that blessing and eventually God blessed Abraham with, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars — if indeed you can count them…So shall your offspring be.” (Gen 15:4) And then Jacob reminded Joseph of God’s promise of an increase in numbers in verse 4 above.

      Through the generations, God chose specific people to advance his blessing of grace to form his own people. The father would pass the blessing to a chosen son, and God would fulfill his promises. This blessing was the Hebrews great hope during their years of slavery in Egypt and exile in Babylon.

      Then God sent His Son, and today, we have inherited God’s blessing of grace. As people saved in Jesus’ blood, we must speak to the next generation of God’s blessing to save us to eternal life.

      Speak the blessing of Jesus to your children as Jacob spoke the blessing of God’s promise to Joseph. Lay your hands on your children and grandchildren and bless them with the love and grace of Christ. Speak the blessing forward so that God’s grace may come to his own.

LIFE Link: Speak of Jesus to your children.

February 27, 2014 "I Trsut You"

“I Trust You.”

Genesis 47

Genesis 47: 11-12 Then Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with food for their dependents.

THE result of Joseph’s obedience and upright life is abundance and honor. Joseph was only able to achieve what he did because God granted him mercy. God placed him on earth for a specific purpose. God directed the activities that lead to his slavery, his imprisonment and his rise to power.      

      The hard times must have been excruciating times for Joseph. The dishonor, disloyalty, and deprivation would be too much for most of us to bear. We probably would complain and ask, “Why are you doing this to me, God?” But Joseph kept on trusting God. He remained true.

      How do you deal with the hard things in life? Do you worry? Are you anxious? Are you depressed? Do you look for comfort in places that are not of God?

      Or do you trust God as Joseph did, remaining faithful to him? That is the only solution. We can never find peace away from God. He is our only true source of hope and newness in life.

      Live your life in a way that pleases God. Instead of asking “Why, God?”say, “I trust you, God, my Lord and my Savior.” Then act into your words. See His words for your life. Put them on your heart. Use them with your mind. Know the full reality of Jesus, and you too, will find the abundance and honor of God’s peace in your life.  

     

LIFE Link: Jesus faced the pain for your peace.

February 26, 2014 One More Reminder

One More Reminder

Genesis 46

Gen 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. 3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes.”

FOR the third time, God comes to Jacob while Jacob is on a journey. Each of Jacob’s journeys was surrounded with doubts and fears. The first time he was fleeing the wrath of his brother Esau and hoping to find a wife. The second time he was returning home, still afraid of his brother’s wrath and concerned for his family’s safety. Now this third time, he is on a journey into a powerful kingdom.

      And as Jacob wondered, “Is it safe in Egypt?” he would certainly be also wondering “Is it safe with my sons?” After all, his sons had been telling him for years that Joseph was killed by a wild beast. Now they tell him he is alive.

      It’s a terrible thing, isn’t it, to doubt those whom you love and depend on. Thankfully, Jacob can trust his God. God reminded him “I am the God of your father.” with the intent to reaffirm the covenant God had made to Abraham and Isaac. God affirms the covenant is alive and moving forward. Jacob can trust God’s plans are to still raise his family into a great nation.

      In essence, God says, “This is my plan for you. Go ahead. Reunite with Joseph. The rest of your days will be with him. Your suffering is over. You are under my protection.”

LIFE Link: God promise that you are under his protection when you trust him with your life.

February 25, 2014 Release

Release

Genesis 45

Gen 45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.

FOR too many years Joseph had lived under the heavy burden of the sins against him. But maybe the heaviest burden was to wonder, “Why, God?”

      Joseph would have heard from the generations before him the accounts of Creation, the Flood and the calling of his great-grandfather Abraham. His father would have told him of how God rescued Isaac from the knife. Joseph would also have heard the account of his father Jacob wrestling with God and receiving the new name Israel. In short, Joseph would have heard of the personal God’s power to create, to save and to make new.

      As Joseph then revealed himself to his brothers, he cried out in great and deep emotion. He was reconciled with his brothers. And even more, he is now fully reconciled to his God.

      Faithfully, joyfully Joseph could say, “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. (Gen 45:5)

      Oh, the release. “Now I get it, God. I see the big picture!”

      I hope you get it. That is, I hope you, too, know God is the creator and sustainer of life. I hope you joyfully humble yourself to know, “You have used me to save and serve others!”

      That’s what God did with Joseph’s suffering. He did it, too, with Jesus’ suffering—for you.  

      Does “life” cause you to ask, “Why, God?” Faithfully seek God, and he’ll answer you.

LIFE Link: God moves all events to his eternal reign.