Tag: Genesis

Blessings for the twelve sons of Israel

January 30, 2020

JACOB BLESSING HIS SONS

The blessings of Israel on Joseph’s sons are given in Genesis 48.  Manasseh and Ephraim are brought to their Grandfather to be blessed and he crosses his arms to give the blessing for the elder to the younger as he tricked his Father into doing with, he and Esau.  Jacob tells his son that any more children born to him will be counted as the sons of these two boys who become his own sons instead of their Father.  This increases the Israelite tribes to thirteen.  We will see the reason for this in Exodus.

The promises of God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are passed to the next generations.  The land of Canaan is not all that is included.  Many nations will come from this line, including these two youngsters.

The blessings that Jacob gives to his sons are in chapter forty-nine of Genesis. Reuben, the oldest is strong, but will not excel. Levi and Simeon are violent and will be scattered throughout Israel. Judah will be a ruler. This is the clan that produces David and his heirs.

Zebulun will live by the sea. Issachar will submit to forced labor. Dan will provide justice. Gad will be attacked and defend himself. Asher will feed a King. Naphtali will have beautiful children.

God’s blessings will fall on Joseph. Benjamin is described as a wolf.

Just before Israel dies, he requests his sons to return him to Canaan and bury him where Abraham and Sarah are buried. He will not be the last to rest there.

We have reached the end of the first book of the Bible. The fiftieth chapter of Genesis sets the scene for Moses’ second book, Exodus.

Israel’s death brings up the problem of revenge by Joseph against his ten brothers.   After the burial of their father, the brothers believe their lives are in danger. They beg Joseph to spare their lives and make them his slaves. The second highest ruler in Egypt informs them that God planned this for good despite their evil intentions.

Joseph requested that his remains be taken to Canaan when the Israelites return home.  We leave The Beginnings to go to The Exit in two days.

Tomorrow we make a detour, to be chronological. Be ready for some riveting reading.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Joseph and Israel

January 28, 2020

Joseph Kisses JacobJoseph stops at the beginning of Genesis 46 to sacrifice to the Lord.  Once again, the covenant with Abraham’s family is confirmed.  A promise is made to bring them from Egypt after their number has increased greatly.  Here is a reason Jehovah wanted the Israelites in Egypt.  They arrive in Goshen and Joseph greets his Father once more.

The Israelites represent themselves as shepherds to be allowed to live in the area that is one of the most fertile.  Pharaoh gives them the area they want.

The introduction of Jacob and five of his sons to Pharaoh is told in chapter forty-seven.   As planned before, they represented themselves as shepherds.  The best land in Goshen was set aside for them.

Working for his employer as he always has, he proceeds to secure all the money, property and people for the King of Egypt.  Even after the famine years, a fifth of all crops is paid to the Pharaoh.

Jacob makes Joseph promise to bury him in Canaan, not Egypt when he dies.  Tomorrow the blessings from Jacob.

What cost forgiveness?

January 27, 2020

In Genesis 43 verse 7 Judah tells his father that there is no use returning without Benjamin and Jacob asks why they even told the Egyptian about the youngest boy.  He questioned us closely was the reply.  Joseph wanted to know about the rest of the family.

They had delayed longer than they should have leaving Simeon in Egypt for this extended period.  The hope was probable that the famine would end soon, and another trip would not be needed.  They would not be aware of what Joseph and Pharaoh knew that the lean years would be seven in number.

The reception in Egypt is much different.  A luncheon is planned, and Simeon is returned to the Israelites.  As the Egyptian ruler leaves to go to his private chamber both the brothers and his servants must be curious as to the reason.  Israel’s sons were also perplexed by the fact they were seated in birth order without ages being discussed and the extra portions that were given to the youngest.  The revealing next.

Genesis 44 has Joseph playing the kind of tricks that his father is known for.  A silver cup is placed in Benjamin’s sack.  He wants to see what the other brothers will do to protect Israel’s favorite living son.  They deny that any of them would steal the cup.  When it is found, they return to the Pharaoh’s right-hand man.

Judah explains why they cannot return without the youngest.  The scene demonstrates to Joseph that at least Judah is willing to sacrifice himself rather than cause pain to their Father again.  He now knows what he hoped to learn and is ready to reveal himself.

Joseph clears everyone from the room but his brothers in Genesis 45.  He reveals his identity and when they finally believe him, the older men are terrified.  They know he could have them all executed.  What they haven’t realized is that they have been forgiven.

After a tearful reunion, he has the Israelites return to Canaan to bring the patriarch and their families to Egypt to save them from the five more years of famine that God revealed to Joseph.

Returning to their Father they have difficulty convincing him that Joseph is alive.  Finally, they get him to agree to move the family to the only land that can survive this extended famine.  Tomorrow the reunion of Father and Son.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Two more dreams to interpret

January 26, 2020

A lot happens in Genesis 41. Pharaoh has two dreams. None of his advisors can interpret them. The cupbearer remembers Joseph and tells the King. He is cleaned up and brought before the dreamer. Two years after his interpretation to the late Baker and the Cupbearer he once again explains that he does not do the translating. God does.

Seven years of good crops followed by the same number of famines will devastate the country. God wants to work a miracle through a spoiled child who has become a man.

The scene is set for the fulfillment of Joseph’s own dreams when he is put second in charge of all Egypt. The next post continues the story.

The famine is bad even in Canaan in chapter forty-two. Jacob sends his ten oldest sons to Egypt to buy grain. They encounter Joseph who wants to see his younger brother. He sets a plan in action to force his father to send Benjamin to him. Israel’s stubbornness is hard to overcome. This happens in the next chapter and post.

Just an aside, why did Jehovah want the Israelites to go into Egypt?  If the seven-year drought was inevitable, why didn’t He simply let Joseph know about it and the good years before?  Wouldn’t it have been better to leave them in Canaan?  Do you have any answers?

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

The dreamer translates two dreams

January 25, 2020

We’ll get back to Joseph tomorrow, but in chapter 38 we take a break to look at his brother Judah.  He gets married and has three sons.  They grow up and the oldest marries.  We aren’t told what his sins were, but God takes his life for the sins he committed.  Tradition is that the next brother should take the brother’s wife and produce an heir.  Tradition also was that the oldest son received a double share of the inheritance.  If he has no heirs, the shares are equal.

The second son also dies at the hand of God because he refuses to try to get his new wife, sister-in-law, pregnant.  Note the method he uses.  Judah’s third son is not old enough to marry.  Tamar, the daughter-in-law is returned to her father.  This means she has no chance of producing an heir for her husband.

This is where the story takes an even stranger turn.  She ends up pregnant by her father-in-law.  He is shown that she was the woman that he thought was a prostitute.  Judah proclaims her more righteous than he.  She has twin sons.  Another strange story is told about their birth.  Why do you think the red string was tied to the hand of one before the birth?

I told you we would come back to Joseph in 39. We learn that Joseph is trusted by his owner Potiphar. Joseph took this responsibility to heart. His master’s wife decided she wanted him sexually. Joseph refused.

The trap she set for him was one he could not escape. Even after being thrown into prison Joseph continued to work hard and be a faithful servant to the warden. Why didn’t he just decide he had enough of God and become like most other people.  We need to learn from this example.  Don’t become discouraged when Jehovah wants to help you prepare for a task, he needs you to handle.

Two new characters are introduced in chapter forty.  The King’s baker & cupbearer both displease him and find themselves in prison.  Joseph ministers to them as he does to all the inmates.  When both are distressed after they have dreams, he tells them what God says the night visions mean.

Observe the detailed description of the dreams.  Can you give a prophecy for each before you read Joseph’s explanation of the meanings?  Understand that he is not the one that interprets the dreams.  He was a dreamer.  This is his first time to reveal God’s message.  This is the preparation for what is going to transpire.

Joseph asks the cupbearer to remember what he has done for him when his job is restored to him.  It would seem to us that the time is longer than it should be.  Often, we believe that things don’t happen fast enough.  Tomorrow we will see how this situation was supposed to develop.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Dysfunctional family

January 23, 2020

Genesis 32 tells the story of Jacob’s preparation to meet his brother for the first time in years. He separates his wives and children into two groups. His preference for Rachel and Joseph is obvious.

After sending everyone and everything over the river, he spends the night alone in a battle with God. Many of us struggle with our faith. Direct combat with Jehovah is unusual. Jacob’s name is changed to Israel and he is injured in the turmoil. His fear is of his brother and how he will be greeted.

The story of Jacob and Esau’s reunion is told in the thirty-third chapter of Genesis. Esau is happy to see his brother.  Jacob does everything he can to regain his older brother’s trust. It seems this is not needed.

Israel (Jacob) is concerned that Esau is as sneaky as he has been. He does not want the help of his brother or his men. He even lies and says he will follow to Seir but turns to Sukkoth. He still has not changed his devious ways.

It is very unusual when a daughter is listed in the genealogies. In chapter 34 we discover why Dinah was mentioned. She is raped and Jacob’s sons continue the heritage of their father.

They agree to give her as a wife to her rapist, but only if all the men of the city are circumcised. Circumcision is part of the Israelite covenant with Jehovah. It started with Abraham and Isaac. It seems like a reasonable request.

Three days later the true reason is revealed when all the men are killed and all their possessions, women and children are seized. This seemed to be the plan that the Hivites had in mind for Jacob’s family. Were they wrong to exact such severe punishment on the entire city because of the action of one man?

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

When a woman can’t get pregnant

January 23, 2020

A question to ask about Genesis 30 is, “Does God determine whether a couple can or cannot have a child?” If He does, what criteria does He use?  I know it can’t be whether you will be a good parent or have a healthy marriage.

Twelve children are born into Jacob’s family through the four women.  Leah stays in the lead by number, but not by love.  One daughter is mentioned, and the rest are sons.  Only Joseph is by Rachel.  This will play a factor later.

The last of our selection tells how Jacob deceived his father-in-law and increased his flocks while decreasing Laban’s.  Human nature is very active in the soon to be the Hebrew nation.

If Jacob is to be the son that carries the promise of possessing the land Abraham and Isaac were promised Genesis 31 tells us that God instructs him to return.  The animosity between Laban and his men and his son-in-law has grown to a dangerous pitch.  In justifying the move to his wives God’s chosen one does not explain the reason why spotted and striped animals outnumbered light colors.

We are not told why Rachel stole her Father’s idols.  They may have been valuable, or it might be spite or sentimental value.  We don’t know.  Jacob makes a dangerous statement about killing the thief if there is one.  Rachel has learned from her Father and Husband and moves the stolen goods while the search is on.

When nothing is found a truce is arranged and the two go their own ways.  Laban refers not only to Jehovah as the God of Abraham but also of Naho, Abraham’s father who was the first to start for Canaan.  He is the common ancestor of the two clans.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

The trickster at work

January 23, 2020

The story of Jacob lying to his Father and his mother starting the whole situation is told in Genesis 27.  She is as deceptive as her youngest son.  The deceit pits the two sons against each other and results in her favorite child having to leave home.

Isaac must have been very gullible, or he would have trusted his ears and not the word of a liar.  He certainly would never have believed his wife and son would steal the blessing of Esau.  Esau is the ancestor of the Edomites who also becomes an enemy of Jacob’s family.  How you treat someone today can affect history.

Genesis 28 begins with Isaac blessing Jacob and sending him back to their family to find a proper wife.  Esau hears of this and realizes how he has displeased his parents.  He takes an Ishmaelite woman as a third wife.

Jacob dreams his first night on the road and sees angels traveling to and from Heaven.  God renews the promise that he made to Abraham and Isaac to make them a great people group.  Jacob named it Bethel and used the stone that was his pillow as a monument to the vision he had seen. He then makes what seems to be a bad statement.  If God will do all of these things that have been promised, he will make God his god.

This is what many of us do.  God must prove Himself and then we will worship Him.  What God wants is our obedient worship.  God will bless our faithfulness.  Who do we think we are to expect Jehovah to bless us before we follow Him?  And who am I to stop following Him, when he doesn’t do what I think He should?  Which one is really the ruler of the universe?

The joke is about to be on the jokester in Genesis 29, our reading for today.  Two interesting things are the procedure for watering the sheep at the well and the reason the stone was over the well.  What do you think?

Jacob met Rachel and waters her sheep ahead of the others.  This may not have made him one of their favorite people.  Rachel shows her gratitude and takes him to meet her father Laban.  He is warmly greeted and then he meets his match.

Rachel is beautiful and Jacob agrees to work seven years for her hand in marriage.  After the wedding ceremony at the end of the seven years, Jacob wakes up to discover he is married to the older, ugly sister.  Laban agrees to give him Rachel also after the marriage week in return for another seven years of work.  The agreement made Jacob gets two wives in two weeks.  The trickery is just beginning.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Abraham’s other family

January 22, 2020

Where Was MidianWe read about the second wife and other children that Abraham had after Sarah died in Genesis 25. One of these sons is Midian. Remember this name. He is the father of the Midianites that gives the Israelites problems when they return to Palestine. Isaac was still the favored son and the others received gifts from their living father.  However, they received no inheritance.  When Abraham died, he was buried with Sarah in the family tomb.

We are also introduced to Ishmael’s twelve sons.  God’s promise is already starting.  Isaac and Rebekah have twins.  Esau is the older and is named hairy because he was from birth.  Jacob means deceiver and we will find this is also true.  He was not being deceitful when he had his brother sell him his birthright.  This was easily agreed to by both because the older brother did not understand what it meant to be a descendant of Abraham.

Genesis 26 makes me want to say, “Here we go again.”  Isaac repeats what his father did by deceiving people about who Rebekah was.  Despite it The Lord blessed them with great wealth.  Isaac shows wisdom like his father by leaving when problems came and signing a treaty with the Philistines.  This is interesting when we find the Philistines become enemies later when the Israelites return from Egypt.

The chapter ends with Esau marrying two Hittite women.  Neither Isaac nor Rebekah are pleased by this development.  What do you think?

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Does God still require sacrifice?

January 22, 2020

Why would God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac?  In Genesis 22 that is just what happens.  Read it and share your thoughts with us.  God gives laws later that instruct His people not to sacrifice their children or other humans.  This chapter seems directly contradictory.   Let’s look at the story through the eyes of the boy.

Isaac had seen sacrifices before and asks his father why they have the wood and the fire, but no animal.  He must have been terrified as he was tied and placed on the wood.  His father may have approached him from behind with the knife.  This could have prevented some of the terror of this situation.

Abraham told his son that God would provide the sacrifice and that is what He did.  Those who do not believe the Bible will argue that this never happened or that Isaac’s father came to his senses before it was too late.  The presence of the ram was a coincidence.  God never intended Abraham to harm his son, Isaac.  This was only a test.  Any comments?

In Genesis 23 we again read another story of the integrity of Abraham.  Even with the death of his wife, Sarah, he shows honor to those he lives among.  As a nomad, they did not own any property.  The Hittites were willing to provide a tomb for Abraham at no cost.  This was not what was needed.

If the land was to ultimately be the Patriarch’s inheritance to his offspring, why would he need to purchase land of a burial site?  As we continue to read, we will see that many of the leaders were taken to this cave and buried with their ancestors, before all the land belonged to them.

Genesis 24 tells about the marriage of Rebekah and Isaac.  Abraham’s servant is sent to the land that his master’s family calls home.  The prayers that are sent to God are significant.  They are like requests we may make to God.

If this happens, let it be your will.  Sometimes we think of this as a deal we make with our heavenly Father.  God doesn’t make deals.  He does answer prayers.  Even simple ones.

Today we marry the one that we love.  In Abraham’s day, Isaac was expected to love the wife that his father gave him.  He did.  This indicates to us that love is not an emotion but is indeed a choice.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger