Joseph – Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

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.

Joseph and Israel

January 28, 2020

Joseph Kisses Jacob Joseph 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.

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?

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.

The Dreamer

January 25, 2020

Jacob and his family return to Bethel after God tells him to in Genesis chapter thirty-five. Jehovah once again reminds him that his new name is Israel and that he will produce nations and kings and populate this land as promised to his father and grandfather.

Rachel dies as her second son is born. The name she gives him is the son of my trouble while his father calls him Benjamin which means son of my right hand. This gives us the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The chapter ends with the death of Isaac and his burial by both of his sons. The path of this people group is beginning.

Welcome to all our new readers. If you have questions or comments, please share it with us below.

Genesis 36 is another of those genealogies that can be boring reading. Keep in mind that these are some of the people that will become enemies of the Israelites. These are other kingdoms that came from Abraham and Isaac. Verses 31 to 39 give a list of the kings. These names will appear again as we get into Joshua, Judges, and other books.

We begin the story of Joseph in Genesis chapter 37 when we first read of his dreams. As a younger brother even, I was smart enough not to tell my brothers something that would make them hate me. It was probably this story that gave me that wisdom.

Both dreams indicate where Joseph will eventually be. He will be a leader. Currently, it seems unlikely. When they can, they plot his death but settle for selling him as a slave. The story that Israel believes about his death is better than admitting they sold him. Tomorrow we read about his time with Potiphar.

Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Walk With a Servant

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