Summary of Genesis

O.T.#118  "Summary of Genesis"
August 30, 2013


LET IT GLOW

We usually remember the firsts of events in our lives. Sometimes we even take pictures so we can recall the momentous occasion. Do you recall your first day of school, first date, first kiss, first airplane ride, first book report, first award or medal, first bicycle, first car, first anniversary, first solo? But do we remember the first Bible verse we memorized, the first prayer answered, when we got saved?I think you got the point.

Genesis is from the Greek word which means beginning or generation.
Of course, Genesis is the book of generations or beginnings. It records the beginning of the universe, human history, civilization, sin, salvation, sacrifice, marriage, and the family.
Moses is considered the author of the first five books of the Bible, called the Pentateuch. Since he was not alive at the time the events occurred, the Holy Spirit directed him in his writings (2 Peter 1:20-21; John 5:45-47). (Wiersbe)

For many years, only these was Israel's Bible. another common title for this section of Scripture is Torah or Law.
Genesis by content is comprised of two basic sections: Primitive history and Patriarchal history. the Primitive history records four major events:

1. creation (chapters 1-2)
2. the Fall (chapters 3-5)
3. the flood (chapters 6-9)
4. the dispersion (chapters 10-11).

Patriarchal history spotlights four great men: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
(MacArthur)

LET IT GROW

Usually, when I review a book of the Bible, I pick out at least one verse per chapter that are special to me. I realized that if I did the same with Genesis, there would be 50 verses to type. Please excuse me for not continuing to do this. So I thought I would review events, since so much happened in these chapters.

• Creation of Heaven and Earth
• Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
• The Fall and its outcome
• Murder in the first degree
• Genealogy from Adam to Noah
• Babel and Sin before the Flood
• Noah and the Ark
• The Flood and deliverance
• Abraham and Lot
• God's Covenants with Noah and Abraham 
• Sarah and Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael
• Isaac and Rebekah
• Esau and Jacob
• Bethel
• 12 Tribes of Israel
• Joseph and Egypt

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.  Gen. 2:18

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.  Gen. 6:8

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.  Gen. 9:13,15b

And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Gen. 15:6

Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.   Gen. 18:14

But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.  Gen. 19:26

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.  Gen. 22:8

How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?  Gen. 39:9c

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  Gen. 50:20

*I couldn't resist typing some scriptures :0)

LET IT GO

of bitterness, sin, unforgiveness, hurt, cutting words;
come to the Lamb of God-Jesus;
trust Him to deliver and bring good out of it.

Summary of Joseph's Life

O.T.#117  "Summary of Joseph's Life"
August 29, 2013

LET IT GLOW

Before we review the Book of Genesis, let's review the life of Joseph. How do you sum up someone's life on one page? Can a life of 110 years be done justly in only a few paragraphs? It's like condensing the personality, attitudes, loving deeds of kindness done, songs sung, encouraging words spoken
over a lifetime written into a two paragraph obituary. How?

In Guzik's Bible Commentary, David Guzik tells us how the life of Joseph is a remarkable picture of Jesus Christ:

1. was a shepherd
2. loved by his father
3. sent unto his brethren
4. hated by his brothers
5. prophesied his coming glory
6. rejected by his brothers
7. endured unjust punishment from his brothers
8. sentenced to the pit
9. delivered to the pit, though a leader knew he should go free
10. sold for pieces of silver
11. handed over to the Gentiles
12. regarded as dead, but raised out of the pit
13. went to Egypt
14. made a servant
15. tempted severely, but did not sin
16. falsely accused
17. made no defense
18. cast into prison, and numbered with sinners and criminals
19. endured unjust punishment from Gentiles
20. associated with two other criminals; one is pardoned and one is not
21. showed compassion
22. brought a message of deliverance in prison
23. wanted to be remembered
24. shown to have divine wisdom
25. recognized as having the Spirit of God
26. betrayed by friends
27. glorified after his humility
28. honored among Gentiles while still despised or forgotten by his brethren
29. given a Gentile bride (church)
30. was 30 years old when he began his life's work
31. blessed the world with bread
32. became the only source of bread for the world
33. the world was instructed to go to him and do whatever he said to do
34. was given the name "God speaks and He Lives".

LET IT GROW

Out of the 50 chapters of Genesis, 13 chapters are committed to the life of Joseph. More than 1/4 of the entire book talks about Joseph because he is a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is far more interested in getting across the message of redemption than describing the details of creation.
The reason Joseph acquired such a high rank in the kingdom of God was because he was a man of faith.  (Heb. 11:22)  (Rick Ferguson)

Here are some points that David Guzik found in the life of Joseph:

• Every Christian should be able to see the overarching and overruling hand of God in their life, to know that no matter what evil man brings against us, God can use it for good.
• Joseph didn't have the text of Romans 8:28, but he had the truth. Many of us who have the text don't have the truth.
• Ultimately, our lives are not in the hands of men, but in the hands of God, who overrules all things for His glory.
• When events in our life seem tangled and meaningless, it is because we can see only one side of the tapestry. (The back side of a tapestry has knots and random threads, looking hopeless, while the front is a beautiful picture or words of hope.)

What did God use in Joseph's life for Joseph's good and God's glory?
*His birth happened when his father was older and perhaps wiser; being the only son of Rachel for
  years must have been lonely and hard.
*A coat of many colors, signifying royalty and a father's favoritism, stirred up envy, jealousy, and
  bitterness in his brothers.
*His two dreams were divinely inspired to show what would happen in the future to encourage
  Joseph.
*He became a slave, teaching him humility.
*He had a likeable personality inspite of his circumstances, in jail.
*He resisted temptation of Potiphar's wife, suffered for doing right.
*He trusted God's wisdom to interpret dreams, giving god the credit, which sent him to the king,
   eventually.
*A prisoner became second in command in the largest nation of the world.
*Instead of chains on his wrists and ankles, he received gold chain necklace, the king's signant ring,
  fine linen for stinky prison clothes, and a chariot.
*Joseph's plan for saving grain during the 7 years of plenty provided food during the 7 years of
  drought. God blessed the crops.
*Joseph had two sons during those 7 years of plenty, who later had descendants used by God (Joshua,
  Samuel, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah).
*His brothers and father bowed down to Joseph, recognizing his superiority.
*Joseph had the power to send his brothers to jail, but didn't, and chose to forgive them of their evil
  against him; saw it as God's providence to save their family during the famine.
*He welcomed his family into Egypt and fed them.
*He kept trusting that God would bring his family back into the Promised Land and wanted his bones
  taken there.
*He kept trusting in God.


LET IT GO

Forgive.

Trust God.

What if...

O.T.#116  "What if..."
August 28, 2013
Genesis 50-Part 3
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which He sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.  Genesis 50:24

LET IT GLOW

What if...Dad had died when he stepped on the mine in France? What if...Mom had not accepted being married to a crippled man and divorced Dad? What if...2 children were enough for my parents?
Then I would not be alive today. God has a purpose for my life and He has a purpose for your life, dear one. We have been seeing God's purpose for Joseph's life. What about yours?

Look at verse 20. Have people said evil against you? Are they spreading gossip or lies? Do they criticize you? Perhaps they won't talk to you at all. Have you been in that pit like Joseph was? How did he react? He didn't let bitterness take root and take over his life. Joseph saw the whole picture. If his brothers had not sold him as a slave, then he wouldn't have ended up in Egypt, second in command, and agriculture administrator. If his family had died, including Judah, the one whom the Messiah came, then we would be dead in our sins and without hope.

What did Joseph say to his brothers?

• Don't be afraid.
• I will provide for you and your children.
• He reassured them.
• He spoke kindly to them.

That sounds like unconditional love. This love is not based upon how someone treats another, but it continues to love unselfishly, in spite of how they are treated.
Jesus gives us those same assurances-Don't be afraid, He will provide for his children.

Jesus told us in Matthew 5:44, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Do I find myself tolerating certain people and not loving them? Do I pray for their change of heart? Guilty, Lord.

What if?


LET IT GROW

Joseph lived 110 years. That means he spent the second half of his life with his family in Egypt with him, and after Jacob died. I did some calculating.
      17-Joseph's age when he was sold as a slave
    +22-years Joseph spent in Egypt before seeing family
      39-age when he saw brothers (maybe 2 yrs. into famine)
    +17-Joseph's father Jacob lived in Egypt
      56-age of Joseph when Jacob died

    110-age Joseph died
     -56-age when Jacob died
      54-number of years Joseph lived after Jacob

According to my calculation, Joseph lived approximately 54 years after his father died. Ten of his brothers were older than he (Benjamin was the youngest). So they would have been probably died within those 56 years, before Joseph died. (I could not find that information.)

What an influence of faith Joseph would have been to his great-great-grandchildren. And to hear those stories first hand. What a privilege for them.

When it was time for Joseph to die, he reminded his family, in verse 24, God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Although the patriarchs were gone, the covenant promises God had given them would never pass away. They were spoken by the Living God!

Joseph was embalmed, placed in a coffin, by never buried in Egypt. He made his children take an oath that his bones would be buried in Canaan. (along with his father Jacob). And so they did-Exodus 13:19 says that Moses took Joseph's bones with them when they left Egypt, crossing the Red Sea.

Coffin in verse 26 ('aron in Hebrew) is the same word used for the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament. (Falwell)

The number of years we live do not matter. It's what we do between the date of our birth and death on our tombstone that counts, the dash.

What Joseph was saying and instructing his people to carry his bones with them when they left Egypt was that God would keep His Word. Joseph's faith was rooted in the Word of God (Rom. 10:17) His were the bones of belief. (Stan Coffey)

In our next lesson, we will review Joseph's life and the Book of Genesis. You won't want to miss it.

Friend, are you ready if death comes today? Are you prepared to meet Jesus face to face?


LET IT GO

Do not be afraid, God has everything under control.

Be grateful for what He provides for me and my children.

Live today! Share joy in Jesus!

Hurts that Heal

O.T.#115  "Hurts that Heal"
August 27, 2013
Genesis 50-Part 2
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  Genesis 50:20

LET IT GLOW

Let bygones be bygones; the past should remain in the past; forgive and forget; sores fester if not attended to; these are only words of advise, but are they heeded very often? More times they are not, I would say. Neighbors, family members, friends remain unforgiving and unforgiven, never to be spoken to again throughout the years. Often the hurts are carried on to the next generation. How sad it is. How did Joseph's brothers deal with their meanness they had done 40 years earlier to Joseph?

How could they forget? It still weighed heavily on their minds. Perhaps every time they saw Joseph they remembered their harshness. Now that their father was dead and buried in Canaan, or now that Dad was out of the way, what would Joseph do to them? He had the power to have them killed. Would he take revenge, make them pay for their cruelty, the separation from his family, being in prison for years? They worried that Joseph would hate them. That was not the case.

The way Jerry Falwell put it, "They underestimated the genuineness of Joseph's character and affection. What they meant for evil, God had intended for good. This is one of the clearest declarations of divine providence anywhere in the Bible."

  It serves as an important reminder that while the evil of men may appear to be to the disadvantage of the saints, the purposes and plans of God will ultimately prevail. (Davis)

In case you just tuned in to our story, Joseph's brothers were jealous of his relationship with their father, so they sold Joseph as a slave to get rid of him. Joseph went through a lot of bad times during those 22 years, even being put into prison. However, the providence of God sent him to Egypt before his family needed food during the seven year famine. Joseph was put in charge of the food distribution, as he was second in command in such a mighty nation. Eventually, Joseph brought his family to live next to him and fed them.
You meant it for evil, God meant it for good. Something good will result from a tragedy, a misfortune, a bad thing, a change, if we just trust God to work it out for our good.

Romans 8:28 says, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Do I love God, trust God, leave it to God? What good can come from this painful experience? Ask God. He has a purpose for it.


LET IT GROW

His brothers were so fearful of Joseph that they sent a messenger to him instead of going themselves.
"Daddy said this before he died. He said for you to do to this. Remember what Dad said about this." I wonder if those were the real intent. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. They were desperate.
What was the message the messenger carried? "Forgive... Forgive..."
Forgive what? The trespass of thy brethren and their sin, for they did unto thee evil. Forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. Joseph was weeping when his brothers came in personally, bowed before him, and surrendered to Joseph as his servants. In verse 19, Joseph did not consider himself the one who should hold life and death of these men in his hands. That was God's prerogative.

Joseph's maturity shines through when he says in verse 20, But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive.

What experiences have taught me life lessons? Do I share them with others? With my children and grandchildren? How did God bring me through those trials, troubles, circumstances that were hard?
Do we have hurts that Jesus needs to heal? Are there people that we need to forgive today? Problems? Tell them to Jesus. He can heal our hurts.


LET IT GO

Forgive. Let it go to stay in the past.

Live in the now.

Let Jesus heal our hurts.

Letting Go

O.T. #114  "Letting Go"
August 26, 2013
Genesis 50-Part 1
My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.  Genesis 50:5

LET IT GLOW

When I was ten, I watched on television an elaborate funeral procession for our President. I guess it had been decades since a president of our country had died while in office. Perhaps you can recall funeral of other significant people-entertainers, a princess, former Presidents.
Is it hard to let go of our loved ones, whether they are moving to do God's will or going to heaven?

At the end of chapter 49, Jacob encountered death. He was 147 years old. Jacob had spent his last 17 years with Joseph in the land of Goshen. Now Joseph had to let him go.

Apparently the entire land mourned for him for 70 days, and during 40 of these days, the embalmers were preparing his body. This is the first case of an embalmed body and an elaborate funeral in the Bible. (Wiersbe)

Joseph asked permission of the Pharaoh to take his father's body back to Canaan for burial. Joseph said, "Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again."
So the Pharaoh gave his approval and the whole family, except for the little ones and the animals that were left in the land of Goshen, went. Also, the servants of Pharaoh and all the elders of the land of Egypt. It must be referring to dignitaries.

Why did Jacob want to be buried back in Canaan? It was the land that God had given to him and his ancestor and descendants. Jacob didn't belong to this world (Egypt at the time). Not only does the believer's spirit go to heaven when they die, but one day the body will be taken from this world at the resurrection. Are you ready to go?

Jesus went up to His father after He died on the cross, but He came to earth to appear as the Resurrected Savior. One day he will come again to receive His own. One day the believers in Jesus who have died will be caught up with Him in the clouds.
Are you ready, friends?

LET IT GROW

In verse 12 we read that Jacob's sons did as Jacob commanded them. That was probably the only time that all his sons obeyed their father.

Do we obey our heavenly Father? His instructions are written in His book, The Holy Bible.
The Holy Spirit gives us directions, also. Are we listening?

LET IT GO

Let go of others so they can go do the Father's work.

When it's time, let go of loved ones.

Be willing to go as the Spirit leads.

Gathered in Heaven

O.T. #113  "Gathered in Heaven"
August 23, 2013
Genesis 49-Part 9
And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.  Genesis 49:33

LET IT GLOW

What a day that will be, when I am gathered with my people, family, in heaven. I will get to meet my two grandmothers for the first time. I will get to talk with Dad after 26 years and with Mom after 16 years. What a reunion day to which I am looking forward. Most of all, it will be the day I bow before my Lord Jesus. I get tears just thinking about that joyous time.
How about you friend? Will I get to meet you there?

Benjamin is the last son mentioned by Jacob as he blessed his twelve sons. He was compared to the wolf because of its warlike character as a tribe. His tribe is compared to a wolf catching the game he pursues and then enjoys his prey at night. Not only would they be successful in war, but they would be cruel (Judges 20:21) as they stood against the other tribes in defense of their wickedness in Gibeah. They were distinguished as archers and slingers (Judges 20:16).
This battle was between the Israelites and Benjamites. The Israelites lost 40,000 men in two days and the Benjamites lost 50,000 men on the third day of the battle at Gibeah.
The judge Ehud, King Saul, and Jonathan, along with the apostle Paul were from the tribe of Benjamin.
Joseph suffered the most during his early life, but he received the greatest blessings. Some of the other tribes lost their blessings because of the sins of their founders.
[Resources: Liberty Bible Commentary, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament]

Am I like the wolf? do I fight against my brothers and sisters?

LET IT GROW

When Jacob was finished with giving all the blessings to his sons, he gave instructions to them where to bury hiss body-in the cave at Ephron. That was where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah were buried, as well as Leah, Jacob's wife. Jacob's dying instructions were carried out (50:12-14).

When Jacob breathed his last breath, he was gather to his people. Jacob believed that his people, though dead, still existed (verse 29; 47:30)

Will you be gathered with your family in heaven when you die? What a day that will be! We shall see Jesus face to face. Are you looking forward to that day?

LET IT GO

Turn my eyes upon Jesus; turn away from the world.

Keep peace with the family of God.

Look up, our redemption draweth nigh.

My Branches Run Over the Wall

O.T. #112  "My Branches Run Over the Wall"
August 22, 2013
Genesis 49-Part 8
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well: whose branches run over the wall.
Genesis 49:22

LET IT GLOW

I want to say thank you to all of you who are faithfully following my blog. May the Lord bless you.
I am truly so very blessed with family, friends, and most of all a loving God.
My branches run over the wall. I saw Poison ivy climbing up the back of our house, so I got the clippers and removed it. It was so long that it had reached the roof, mind you. Had they continued to grow, they would have reached the other side, I think. Well, you can guess what remembrance I had of this act. Yep, bumps of poison ivy on my hands. It took an itchy week for them to go down.
Jacob's branches ran over too, with 12 sons. Shall we continue looking at Jacob's blessings upon them?

Finally, Rachel had a child. She called her first son Joseph, which means to take away, or to add.
As we think of his life, we know Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob. You remember the coat of many colors given to him, jealous brothers, the pit and the slavery sale. Joseph endured a lot in his life, but kept the faith in God. He was put into prison twice. God gave him the ability to interpret dreams, which was his ticket to the palace. He explained Pharaoh's dream warning about the 7 years of fruitful crops and 7 years of famine. Joseph was made second in command of all of Egypt. He brought his father's family to live in Egypt during the famine.

Now before Jacob dies, and he is blessing his 12 sons. What did he say to Joseph?

• Joseph is a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.
• His bow remained steady when archers shot at him in hostility.
• His strong arms remained limber because of the hand of the Almighty One of Jacob;
• because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, and God All-Sufficient.

God is strong and He is the source of all strength, and He will show Himself strong in behalf of His loved ones.

Is God my strength, my rock, my everything? Are we leaning on God's Everlasting arms?


LET IT GROW

How are the blessings of Almighty God described?

• He helps you;
• He blesses you with blessings of the heavens above;
• He blesses you with blessings of the deep that lies below;
• He blesses you with blessings of the breasts and womb (off spring of children and animals).

Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. From Ephraim came Joshua, Deborah, and Samuel. From Manasseh came Gideon and Jephthah. Ephraim later became the leader of the northern tribes at the time of the division of the nation following Solomon's reign. (Falwell)

Do we recognize our blessings from God? How grateful are we for them? How often do we give thanks?

LET IT GO

Turn from things to Jesus.

Make Jesus my  Rock, my strength, my everything.

Have a grateful attitude today.