God's desire-The "real"reason for Christmas
Look at the cross...
God Died there! So we wouldn't have to. So that God could be the JUST and the Justifier of us all!
The Reading of Psalm 23
There was once a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man show of readings and recitations from the classics.
He would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of Psalm 23. Each night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation - "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want" - the crowd would listen attentively. And then, at the conclusion of the psalm, they would rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor's incredible ability to bring the verse to conclusion.
But one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up.
"Sir, do you mind, if tonight, I recite Psalm 23?"
The actor was quite taken aback by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to come forward and to stand front and center on the stage to recite the psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his own talent.
With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the psalm.
When he was finished, there was no applause. There was no standing ovation as on other nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping.
The audience had been so moved by the young man's recitation that every eye was full of tears.
Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, "I don't understand. I have been performing Psalm 23 for years. I have a lifetime of experience and training, but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?!"
The young man humbly replied, "Well, sir, you know the psalm... but I know the Shepherd." It makes a difference.
Dear Gentle Reader,
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. ( Gospel of John Chapter 19: verse 30)
In the Greek the word is Tetelestai meaning the debt has been paid in Full! There is no more debt. Mark canceled across the face of the bill no more are we under the curse of death or the pain of Sin. God has been the Just and the Justifier
But what did that mean to God?
Look at the proceeding verse "After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst"
As He hung there suspended between heaven and hell His mind surveyed the Hebrew Writings all the prophecies on the Messiah's death. All the prophets are finger posts pointing to the Messiah -Redeemer. Whether it be Moses the law-giver-prophet or David the psalmist-prophet, or Isaiah the excelsior writing-prophet, or Jeremiah the brokenhearted-prophet, or Ezekiel the vision-prophet, or any of the other prophets, all pointed to HIM.
In fact if the many and varied predictions are not fulfilled in Jesus then the Hebrew writings become an inexplicable medley of non-fulfillment. Apart from the Christ of Calvary the Old Hebrew writings are a book of unexplained ceremonies, unachieved purposes, unappeased longings, and unfulfilled prophecies: it becomes a revelation without a destination.
Remember the Coming One must be like the second Adam, a prophet like Moses, a priest like Aaron and Melchizedek (Have no Beginning) , a champion like Joshua, an offering like Isaac, a king like David, a wise counselor like Solomon, a beloved, rejected, exalted son and the world's bread-supplier like Joseph, and other typical personages all in one.
He must be the ark of the covenant, the sacrifice on the brazen altar, the mercy seat in the sanctuary, the water from the rock, the manna from heaven, the brazen serpent lifted up, the Passover lamb, the scapegoat, the lion of Judah, the good shepherd, the lily of the valley, the "root out of dry ground", yet altogether "lovely"
The endless marvel is that all are perfectly fulfilled in Jesus!
As He went on His way to Gethsemane and Calvary we find him saying in prayer to the Father, "I have glorified Thee on earth. I have finished the work which Though gavest Me to do. ( Gospel of John Chapter 7: verse 4)
Once more Tetelestai "It is finished or paid" Was the shout of the Conqueror exulting in His costly but victorious conquest over the power of death and the powers of darkness. Even so, in His Gethsemane wrestle and Calvary death, the Lord Jesus as our Champion fought off the hounds of hell, death and the grave which were bent on our eternal ruin.
And now "who is he that condemneth? Christ died; yes and rose again for you Gentle Reader and me!
-Denis
So that God could be the JUST and the Justifier of all of us!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
The "real meaning of Christmas ( Part 5)
You only go around once.......So grab for all the gusto; So says the world, but GOD has a better idea...
As we continue to look at the seven sayings of Jesus Christ on the cross do you now have a better picture in your mind what a great cost it was to God, and what a great Love He has for you Gentle Reader?
Now Gentle Reader,
We come to that 5th Word of Jesus and in it we see Christ's Identification His Word of Suffering!
After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst. (Gospel of John Chapter 19 verse 2)
Here we have:
A. The cry of the Human One
B. The cry of the Holy One
"I thirst" spoken now by Christ just a little while before He died recorded only by the Disciple John, and as we see it only fitting that they should have a place in his eye witness account for they not only evidence His (Jesus) humanity but bring out His Divine glory too.
Of Old the Spirit of God moved David to say in Psalm 69 verse 21 "They gave me also gall for my food; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." How completely were the Holy Writings being fulfilled.
Every important detail had be written down Note just a few
Betrayed by a familiar friend "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Who did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me." (Psalm 41:9)
How marvelously complete the prophetic foreview! No essential item was missing from it.
The forsaking of the disciples though being offended at Him "Because of all mine adversaries I am become a reproach, Yea, unto my neighbors exceedingly, And a fear to mine acquaintance: They that did see me without fled from me." (Psalm 31 verse 11)
The false accusation "Unrighteous witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I know not." (Psalm 35:11)
The silence before His Judges " He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." (Isaiah the prophet Chapter 53 verse 7)
How fitting a prophecy, Christ the Lamb of God became the sacrificial lamb at the Passover of the Jews!
Being Crucified "For dogs have compassed me: A company of evil-doers have in closed me; They pierced my hands and my feet." ( Psalm 22:16)
The mockery of the Spectators "I am become also a reproach unto them: When they see me, they shake their head" (Psalm 109:25)
The Taunt of non-deliverance "All they that see me laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying], Commit [thyself] unto Jehovah; Let him deliver him: Let him rescue him, seeing he delighteth in him." (Psalm 22:7,)his is the language of enemies sporting with his faith in the hour of his desertion.
Gambling or His Garments "They part my garments among them, And upon my vesture do they cast lots. (Psalm 22:18 )
The praying for His enemies "Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession [Prayer for some other than yourself] for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:!2)
Being forsaken by God "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?" (Psalm 22:1)
The thirsting " They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." (Psalm 69:21)
Yielding of the Spirit "Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." (Psalm 31:5)
Bones not Broken "He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken" (Psalm 34:20)
Burial in a rich mans tomb "And they made His grave with the wicked-But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth" (The prophet Isaiah 53:9)
All plainly foretold centuries before they came to pass. What a convincing evidence of the Divine Inspiration of the Scripture. Hoe firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
Paul the great Apostle to the Gentiles declared "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory." (I Timothy Chapter 3 verse 16)
In His humanity he craved refreshment for His body but as the Holy One he had a deep spiritual thirst for your dear Gentle Reader, and for me! Oh the wonderful Love of God in Christ. Again and again the New Testament tells all who will read of the Love of God yet nowhere defines it. It is in that mysterious Cross. Even John can only say, "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [to gain or regain the favor of a person] for our sins"
"One (Christ) died for all" Then Gentle Reader He died for me!!!! and He died for you The sin -penalty of all and each was gather at the Cross from the first sin to the yet future multi-millionth sin yet to be committed . All done away with by GOD (Jesus Christ ) at the Cross.
So that God could be the JUST and the Justifier of all of us!
Jesus Christ came for one reason and one reason only ""for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost " (Luke Chapter 19:10)
The Only question Gentle Reader, that now remains is "Have you come to see that you need someone beside yourself to help you get through this life?"
Some never understood what SIN was or that something in life that isn't the way you would have it SIN quite simply is missing the Mark of God holiness.
I had a deacon one time who was concerned that his grandson was not a member of our family (the Family of God) and so he ask me to talk to little Sammy. The following was our conversation.
Me: "Little Sammy do you know you’re a Sinner?"
Little Sammy: No!
Me: "Do you ever do bad things?"
Little Sammy: No!
Me: Confused [little Sammy was 6 years old] "Did you ever get into the cookie jar when mommy told you not to?"
Little Sammy: No!
Me: "Did you ever get a spanking?"
Little Sammy: "Yes"
Me: "Why did you get a spanking?"
Little Sammy: "Cause Daddy told me to do something and I didn't do it! and I talked back and used a bad word that daddy uses on the golf course"
Me: "That is what we would call a SIN Little Sammy."
And that's Sin Gentle Reader, we all have done things we wish we hadn't and 1 (One) sin will make God turn His head away from us unless......
-Denis
As we continue to look at the seven sayings of Jesus Christ on the cross do you now have a better picture in your mind what a great cost it was to God, and what a great Love He has for you Gentle Reader?
Now Gentle Reader,
We come to that 5th Word of Jesus and in it we see Christ's Identification His Word of Suffering!
After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst. (Gospel of John Chapter 19 verse 2)
Here we have:
A. The cry of the Human One
B. The cry of the Holy One
"I thirst" spoken now by Christ just a little while before He died recorded only by the Disciple John, and as we see it only fitting that they should have a place in his eye witness account for they not only evidence His (Jesus) humanity but bring out His Divine glory too.
Of Old the Spirit of God moved David to say in Psalm 69 verse 21 "They gave me also gall for my food; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." How completely were the Holy Writings being fulfilled.
Every important detail had be written down Note just a few
Betrayed by a familiar friend "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Who did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me." (Psalm 41:9)
How marvelously complete the prophetic foreview! No essential item was missing from it.
The forsaking of the disciples though being offended at Him "Because of all mine adversaries I am become a reproach, Yea, unto my neighbors exceedingly, And a fear to mine acquaintance: They that did see me without fled from me." (Psalm 31 verse 11)
The false accusation "Unrighteous witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I know not." (Psalm 35:11)
The silence before His Judges " He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." (Isaiah the prophet Chapter 53 verse 7)
How fitting a prophecy, Christ the Lamb of God became the sacrificial lamb at the Passover of the Jews!
Being Crucified "For dogs have compassed me: A company of evil-doers have in closed me; They pierced my hands and my feet." ( Psalm 22:16)
The mockery of the Spectators "I am become also a reproach unto them: When they see me, they shake their head" (Psalm 109:25)
The Taunt of non-deliverance "All they that see me laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying], Commit [thyself] unto Jehovah; Let him deliver him: Let him rescue him, seeing he delighteth in him." (Psalm 22:7,)his is the language of enemies sporting with his faith in the hour of his desertion.
Gambling or His Garments "They part my garments among them, And upon my vesture do they cast lots. (Psalm 22:18 )
The praying for His enemies "Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession [Prayer for some other than yourself] for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:!2)
Being forsaken by God "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?" (Psalm 22:1)
The thirsting " They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." (Psalm 69:21)
Yielding of the Spirit "Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." (Psalm 31:5)
Bones not Broken "He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken" (Psalm 34:20)
Burial in a rich mans tomb "And they made His grave with the wicked-But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth" (The prophet Isaiah 53:9)
All plainly foretold centuries before they came to pass. What a convincing evidence of the Divine Inspiration of the Scripture. Hoe firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
Paul the great Apostle to the Gentiles declared "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory." (I Timothy Chapter 3 verse 16)
In His humanity he craved refreshment for His body but as the Holy One he had a deep spiritual thirst for your dear Gentle Reader, and for me! Oh the wonderful Love of God in Christ. Again and again the New Testament tells all who will read of the Love of God yet nowhere defines it. It is in that mysterious Cross. Even John can only say, "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [to gain or regain the favor of a person] for our sins"
"One (Christ) died for all" Then Gentle Reader He died for me!!!! and He died for you The sin -penalty of all and each was gather at the Cross from the first sin to the yet future multi-millionth sin yet to be committed . All done away with by GOD (Jesus Christ ) at the Cross.
So that God could be the JUST and the Justifier of all of us!
Jesus Christ came for one reason and one reason only ""for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost " (Luke Chapter 19:10)
The Only question Gentle Reader, that now remains is "Have you come to see that you need someone beside yourself to help you get through this life?"
Some never understood what SIN was or that something in life that isn't the way you would have it SIN quite simply is missing the Mark of God holiness.
I had a deacon one time who was concerned that his grandson was not a member of our family (the Family of God) and so he ask me to talk to little Sammy. The following was our conversation.
Me: "Little Sammy do you know you’re a Sinner?"
Little Sammy: No!
Me: "Do you ever do bad things?"
Little Sammy: No!
Me: Confused [little Sammy was 6 years old] "Did you ever get into the cookie jar when mommy told you not to?"
Little Sammy: No!
Me: "Did you ever get a spanking?"
Little Sammy: "Yes"
Me: "Why did you get a spanking?"
Little Sammy: "Cause Daddy told me to do something and I didn't do it! and I talked back and used a bad word that daddy uses on the golf course"
Me: "That is what we would call a SIN Little Sammy."
And that's Sin Gentle Reader, we all have done things we wish we hadn't and 1 (One) sin will make God turn His head away from us unless......
-Denis
Monday, December 27, 2010
The Real meaning behind Christmas (Part 4)
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Gospel of Mathew Chapter 27 verse 46)
Gentle Reader,
It is this fourth word from our dying Saviour that causes me to begin to cry and weep as I see our dear Lord the sinless perfect Son of God who came from the very Throne room of the Most High God
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple
Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"
And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke
So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." (the prophet Isaiah Chapter 6 verses 1-5)
It is here where I see the Christ's Isolation; the Word of Anguish!
A. It is a profound Mystery
B. A positive Manifestation
These words have been called "The cry of Desolation"
"The cry of Desertion"
"The cry of Despair"
"The cry of Desperation"
This fourth word of Christ is a prayer
The First prayer is "Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)
The second prayer "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Gospel of Mathew Chapter 27 verse 46)
The Third prayer "And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46)
Perhaps this prayer was a question?
It was a mystery of Darkness something happened!
His words were the exact quote from the Hebrew Scriptures
Psalm 22 A Psalm of David.
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
In this Psalm we see... Christ Dying Verse 1
Mockers Verses 7, 8, 12, 13
Torture by crucifixion Verse 16
Distorted body verse 14, 17
Parched tongue verse 15
Divided garments verse 18
You see Gentle Reader, the Bible is in fact the inspired word and Jesus Christ is the very Word of God wrapped in human flesh. "For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Book of Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 12)
That innocence should be condemned, that the guiltiness should be persecuted, that a benefactor should be cruelly put to death, was no new event in history. From Abel to Zecharias there was a long list of such martyrdoms. But He who hung on that central Cross was no ordinary man, He was The Son of Man, the One in whom all excellencies met- The Perfect One. Like His robe, his character was "without seam, woven from the top throughout."
In the case of others there were demerits and blemishes which might afford their murders something to blame. But the Judge of this One said "I find no fault in Him."
This Sufferer was not only the perfect man, but he was the Son of the Living God! The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." (Psalm 14:1) such is his wish. But it is strange that He who was God manifest in the flesh should allow Himself to be so treated by His enemies. It is exceeding strange that the Father who delighted in Him, whose own Voice had declared from the open heavens, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," should deliver Him up to such a shameful death!
"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These are words of appalling woe. "Forsaken" Have you ever been forsaken Gentle Reader?
He who hung on the accursed tree had been from all eternity the object of the Father's love. To see Christ in ages past one only has to look at the book of Proverbs Chapter 8 verse 27 and following
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Here Gentle Reader, Is the reason that Christ Jesus, the Son of God came to earth walked among men lived and died a most horrible death For You and for me to bring us into a real relationship with the creator of the universe. The Most High God! Why He would even allow Himself to be forsaken by the Father.... To bring you back with Him! Who is standing in the way of your fellowship with the living GOD? There is nothing on His side so it must be......
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
What must have it meant to be forsaken by God! Ah, the hiding of God's face from Him was the most bitter ingredient of the cup which the Father had given the Redeemer to drink.
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These are the words of unequalled pathos. They mark the climax of His sufferings.
The soldiers had cruelly mocked Him. Yet He suffered it all in silence.
The vulgar crowd taunted Him "He SAVED others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him." (Matthew 27:42)
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These words are deepest mystery. Of Old The Lord Jehovah had not forsaken His people. Again and again He was their refuge in the time of trouble. But here at the cross He is abandon by God!
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These are the words of profoundest solemnity. These are the words which conduct us to the very throne of God.
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" The words that show us the absolute Holiness and inflexible justice of a thrice Holy God. What could you have done to merit pleasing God? Father God had provided His own Lamb. As a Father He could look on the sin of mankind and His Beloved Son became sin [as our Substitute] for you and me. God turned as it were His back on His Son But at the cross we see the Love of God as He gave himself for all mankind you and me Gentle Reader ... if you accept what he has done for you.....
Have you?
Denis
Gentle Reader,
It is this fourth word from our dying Saviour that causes me to begin to cry and weep as I see our dear Lord the sinless perfect Son of God who came from the very Throne room of the Most High God
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple
Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"
And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke
So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." (the prophet Isaiah Chapter 6 verses 1-5)
It is here where I see the Christ's Isolation; the Word of Anguish!
A. It is a profound Mystery
B. A positive Manifestation
These words have been called "The cry of Desolation"
"The cry of Desertion"
"The cry of Despair"
"The cry of Desperation"
This fourth word of Christ is a prayer
The First prayer is "Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)
The second prayer "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Gospel of Mathew Chapter 27 verse 46)
The Third prayer "And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46)
Perhaps this prayer was a question?
It was a mystery of Darkness something happened!
His words were the exact quote from the Hebrew Scriptures
Psalm 22 A Psalm of David.
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
In this Psalm we see... Christ Dying Verse 1
Mockers Verses 7, 8, 12, 13
Torture by crucifixion Verse 16
Distorted body verse 14, 17
Parched tongue verse 15
Divided garments verse 18
You see Gentle Reader, the Bible is in fact the inspired word and Jesus Christ is the very Word of God wrapped in human flesh. "For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Book of Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 12)
That innocence should be condemned, that the guiltiness should be persecuted, that a benefactor should be cruelly put to death, was no new event in history. From Abel to Zecharias there was a long list of such martyrdoms. But He who hung on that central Cross was no ordinary man, He was The Son of Man, the One in whom all excellencies met- The Perfect One. Like His robe, his character was "without seam, woven from the top throughout."
In the case of others there were demerits and blemishes which might afford their murders something to blame. But the Judge of this One said "I find no fault in Him."
This Sufferer was not only the perfect man, but he was the Son of the Living God! The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." (Psalm 14:1) such is his wish. But it is strange that He who was God manifest in the flesh should allow Himself to be so treated by His enemies. It is exceeding strange that the Father who delighted in Him, whose own Voice had declared from the open heavens, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," should deliver Him up to such a shameful death!
"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These are words of appalling woe. "Forsaken" Have you ever been forsaken Gentle Reader?
He who hung on the accursed tree had been from all eternity the object of the Father's love. To see Christ in ages past one only has to look at the book of Proverbs Chapter 8 verse 27 and following
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Here Gentle Reader, Is the reason that Christ Jesus, the Son of God came to earth walked among men lived and died a most horrible death For You and for me to bring us into a real relationship with the creator of the universe. The Most High God! Why He would even allow Himself to be forsaken by the Father.... To bring you back with Him! Who is standing in the way of your fellowship with the living GOD? There is nothing on His side so it must be......
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
What must have it meant to be forsaken by God! Ah, the hiding of God's face from Him was the most bitter ingredient of the cup which the Father had given the Redeemer to drink.
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These are the words of unequalled pathos. They mark the climax of His sufferings.
The soldiers had cruelly mocked Him. Yet He suffered it all in silence.
The vulgar crowd taunted Him "He SAVED others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him." (Matthew 27:42)
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These words are deepest mystery. Of Old The Lord Jehovah had not forsaken His people. Again and again He was their refuge in the time of trouble. But here at the cross He is abandon by God!
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These are the words of profoundest solemnity. These are the words which conduct us to the very throne of God.
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" The words that show us the absolute Holiness and inflexible justice of a thrice Holy God. What could you have done to merit pleasing God? Father God had provided His own Lamb. As a Father He could look on the sin of mankind and His Beloved Son became sin [as our Substitute] for you and me. God turned as it were His back on His Son But at the cross we see the Love of God as He gave himself for all mankind you and me Gentle Reader ... if you accept what he has done for you.....
Have you?
Denis
Saturday, December 25, 2010
The "Real" meaning behind Christmas (Part 3)
The seven sayings of Christ on the cross are seven windows from which we are able to look into the very heart and mind of God!
Gentle Readers,
The Third word that Christ spoke from the cross was The Word of Affection
"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" (The Gospel of John verses 25 and 26)
A. The end of a human relationship
Like her son, Mary was not unacquainted with grief. At the beginning we are told "And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.( The Gospel of Luke Chapter 1 verses 28 and 29).
And when she saw him, she was troubled in her mind.
What sorrow it must have been to find there was no room for them at the inn ( Just like today there is no room for Christ in the hearts of many.) What sorrow it must have caused her, when because there was no room she had to lay her newly-born Babe in a manger (feed trough for animals).
What anguish must have been hers when she learned of Herod's purpose to destroy her infants life! What trouble was given her when she was forced on His account to flee into a foreign country. What piercing of soul must have been her when she saw her Son despised and rejected by men. What grief must have wrung her heart as she watched Him hated and persecuted by the very people He came to save! {As today Governments and men choose to try and silence the sound of the preborn with their culture of death}! And who can estimate what she passed through as she stood there at the cross.
If Christ was called a man of sorrows, "He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isaiah The Prophet Chapter 53 Verse 3)
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Here we find the fulfillment of Simeon's prophecy. In accordance with the Mosaic Law, Mary brought Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord. Then it was the Old man Simeon who was waiting for the "Consolation of Israel, took Him into to his arms and said
"Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." (The Gospel according to Luke Chapter 2 verses 29-32)
He now turned to Mary and said, "Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2 verses 34-35)
"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, We hear so little of Mary the little virgin Girl who accepted the will of God in order that God would enter into the world as we all do a helpless Babe to grow up to save the world from itself. Now stands helpless at the foot of the cross. Who can fitly portray such a picture? Bereft of faith and hope, baffled and paralyzed by the strange scene, yet bound by the golden chain of love for the Dying One, there she stands! Try and read the thoughts and emotions of that mother's heart. Oh what a sword it was that pierced he soul then! Never such bliss at a human birth; never such sorrow at an inhuman death!
Here we see displayed the Mother-heart. She is the Dying Man's mother. The One who agonizes there on the cross is her Child. No mother ever would suffer as she did. His disciples may desert Him, His friends forsake Him, His nation may despise Him, but His mother stands there at the foot of His cross.
B. The extent of human responsibility.
Here we see the marvelous blending of Christ's perfections. This is one of the greatest wonders of His Person - the blending of the most perfect human affection with His Divine Glory. The very Gospel which most shows Him to be God, is here careful to prove He was a Man - the Word made flesh. Engaged as He was, in a Divine transaction making atonement for all the sins of His people (as the Passover Lamb for the people of Israel ) [GOD provided a substitute Sacrificial Lamb to take the place of Isaac in Genesis!
That was the precursor of the Lamb of GOD (provided by GOD) in the person of Jesus Christ for the salvation of all of mankind! It all has to do with FAITH (Believing GOD)!!! That is the Message of GOD throughout the Torah and the entire Bible, from Adam onward. No more and no less]
Grappling with the powers of Darkness, Yet amid it all, He has still the same human tenderness, which shows the perfection of the Man Jesus Christ.
The care of His mother in His dying hour was characteristic of all of His conduct. Many of His mightiest works were done on the highways, in the cottage, or among a little group of sufferers. Many of His words, which today are still unfathomable and exhaustless in their wealth of meaning were uttered almost casually as He walked with a few friends. So it was at the cross.
He was performing the mightiest Work of all history. He was engaged in doing that, which in comparison, the creating of the world fades into utter insignificance, yet He forgets not to make provision for His mother-much as He might have done had they been together in the home at Nazareth. Rightly it was said of old
"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ( The Prophet Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 6). Wonderful He was in His person, and wonderful He was in His work. Wonderful was He in life, and wonderful was He in His death. Let us wonder and adore.
God's thoughts are love, and Jesus is
The loving voice they find;
His life lights up the vast abyss
Of the Eternal Mind.This is the Love "uncomprehended and and unbought, beyond all knowledge and all thought"- a mystery to the intellect, but heaven to the heart.
-Denis
Gentle Readers,
The Third word that Christ spoke from the cross was The Word of Affection
"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" (The Gospel of John verses 25 and 26)
A. The end of a human relationship
Like her son, Mary was not unacquainted with grief. At the beginning we are told "And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.( The Gospel of Luke Chapter 1 verses 28 and 29).
And when she saw him, she was troubled in her mind.
What sorrow it must have been to find there was no room for them at the inn ( Just like today there is no room for Christ in the hearts of many.) What sorrow it must have caused her, when because there was no room she had to lay her newly-born Babe in a manger (feed trough for animals).
What anguish must have been hers when she learned of Herod's purpose to destroy her infants life! What trouble was given her when she was forced on His account to flee into a foreign country. What piercing of soul must have been her when she saw her Son despised and rejected by men. What grief must have wrung her heart as she watched Him hated and persecuted by the very people He came to save! {As today Governments and men choose to try and silence the sound of the preborn with their culture of death}! And who can estimate what she passed through as she stood there at the cross.
If Christ was called a man of sorrows, "He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isaiah The Prophet Chapter 53 Verse 3)
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Here we find the fulfillment of Simeon's prophecy. In accordance with the Mosaic Law, Mary brought Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord. Then it was the Old man Simeon who was waiting for the "Consolation of Israel, took Him into to his arms and said
"Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." (The Gospel according to Luke Chapter 2 verses 29-32)
He now turned to Mary and said, "Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2 verses 34-35)
"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, We hear so little of Mary the little virgin Girl who accepted the will of God in order that God would enter into the world as we all do a helpless Babe to grow up to save the world from itself. Now stands helpless at the foot of the cross. Who can fitly portray such a picture? Bereft of faith and hope, baffled and paralyzed by the strange scene, yet bound by the golden chain of love for the Dying One, there she stands! Try and read the thoughts and emotions of that mother's heart. Oh what a sword it was that pierced he soul then! Never such bliss at a human birth; never such sorrow at an inhuman death!
Here we see displayed the Mother-heart. She is the Dying Man's mother. The One who agonizes there on the cross is her Child. No mother ever would suffer as she did. His disciples may desert Him, His friends forsake Him, His nation may despise Him, but His mother stands there at the foot of His cross.
B. The extent of human responsibility.
Here we see the marvelous blending of Christ's perfections. This is one of the greatest wonders of His Person - the blending of the most perfect human affection with His Divine Glory. The very Gospel which most shows Him to be God, is here careful to prove He was a Man - the Word made flesh. Engaged as He was, in a Divine transaction making atonement for all the sins of His people (as the Passover Lamb for the people of Israel ) [GOD provided a substitute Sacrificial Lamb to take the place of Isaac in Genesis!
That was the precursor of the Lamb of GOD (provided by GOD) in the person of Jesus Christ for the salvation of all of mankind! It all has to do with FAITH (Believing GOD)!!! That is the Message of GOD throughout the Torah and the entire Bible, from Adam onward. No more and no less]
Grappling with the powers of Darkness, Yet amid it all, He has still the same human tenderness, which shows the perfection of the Man Jesus Christ.
The care of His mother in His dying hour was characteristic of all of His conduct. Many of His mightiest works were done on the highways, in the cottage, or among a little group of sufferers. Many of His words, which today are still unfathomable and exhaustless in their wealth of meaning were uttered almost casually as He walked with a few friends. So it was at the cross.
He was performing the mightiest Work of all history. He was engaged in doing that, which in comparison, the creating of the world fades into utter insignificance, yet He forgets not to make provision for His mother-much as He might have done had they been together in the home at Nazareth. Rightly it was said of old
"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ( The Prophet Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 6). Wonderful He was in His person, and wonderful He was in His work. Wonderful was He in life, and wonderful was He in His death. Let us wonder and adore.
God's thoughts are love, and Jesus is
The loving voice they find;
His life lights up the vast abyss
Of the Eternal Mind.This is the Love "uncomprehended and and unbought, beyond all knowledge and all thought"- a mystery to the intellect, but heaven to the heart.
-Denis
Friday, December 24, 2010
The real meaning of Christmas:the day God died (Part 2)
We are in a real war "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]." Eph. 6
For this month I will present what the cross means to all who are within the reading of my blog I plan to call it "the day God died"
Jesus paid the price of your sins and mine
Dear family.
I will never get over seeing that sight as Christ hung suspended between heaven and earth. His arms outstretched having said to God the Father, "Forgive them they know not what they do" Were you there when we crucified my Lord?
The second Word of Christ was a Word of Salvation was that of intervention to be found in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 23 verse 43
And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Luke 23:38-43)
"Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
See: The request of the dying sinner!
Note: The response of the Divine Savior!
Tradition holds that the thief (called the "good thief) was being put to death for insurrection and that his name was Dysmas.
It was no accident that the Lord of Glory was crucified between thieves. There are no accidents in a world that is governed by God. No, Gentle Reader, nothing left to chance or the caprice of man. Whatever man did that day was simply that which God's hand and counsel "determined to be done"
When Pilate gave the order that the Lord Christ Jesus was to be crucified between to Malefactors, all unknown to him he fulfilled the Scriptures of the Hebrew Prophet Isaiah who 700 hundred years before this Roman officer gave his command, had said "... And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)
Why did God order it that His beloved Son should be crucified between criminals? Certainly God had a reason. Was not our blessed Lord crucified to fully demonstrate the unfathomable depths of shame into which He had to descend? Again was not the Savior numbered with transgressors to show the position He occupied as our substitute? He had taken the place of the Passover Lamb that was our place a place of shame, a place of transgressors, the place of criminals commended to death. Again; was He not deliberately humiliated thus by Pilate to exhibit man's estimate of the worth of God Himself- "despised" as well as rejected "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." Isa. 53
"He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
When I was younger, fresh out of Seminary, and working to support my ever growing family I met at work a young Hebrew man by the name of Avron "Ron" Albertson and we struck up a friendship. We would go out for lunch together and since Ron was a member of Mensa (A group of people who comprise the top 2% of intelligence) I was quite pleased that he would even want to talk with me. He told or rather asked "You’re not like other Christians that I have met" You don't tell me that I'm a sinner or that it was the Jews that killed Christ and that sort of thing" Why is that"?
At that was our first of many conversations of kosher lunches.
Ron:" You think that I'm going to believe a book written by men"?
Me: "Your folks wrote it"
Ron: Why don't you tell me I'm a sinner like other Preachers do?"
Me with a smile) Do I have to state the obvious?"
Ron: "I suppose you’re going to tell me that the Jews killed Christ"?
Me with tears in my eyes) No, Ron, I did!
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still [ enemies] sinners, Christ died for us. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
That's the good part Ron, Christ died for you, and me, and all of mankind yes, even you dear reader. To restore friendship with God.
Ron: Denis maybe some day I’ll accept Jesus as my Savior And you'll be the first to know!"
Me: "Thanks Ron, I am looking forward to it!"
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Denis
For this month I will present what the cross means to all who are within the reading of my blog I plan to call it "the day God died"
Jesus paid the price of your sins and mine
Dear family.
I will never get over seeing that sight as Christ hung suspended between heaven and earth. His arms outstretched having said to God the Father, "Forgive them they know not what they do" Were you there when we crucified my Lord?
The second Word of Christ was a Word of Salvation was that of intervention to be found in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 23 verse 43
And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Luke 23:38-43)
"Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
See: The request of the dying sinner!
Note: The response of the Divine Savior!
Tradition holds that the thief (called the "good thief) was being put to death for insurrection and that his name was Dysmas.
It was no accident that the Lord of Glory was crucified between thieves. There are no accidents in a world that is governed by God. No, Gentle Reader, nothing left to chance or the caprice of man. Whatever man did that day was simply that which God's hand and counsel "determined to be done"
When Pilate gave the order that the Lord Christ Jesus was to be crucified between to Malefactors, all unknown to him he fulfilled the Scriptures of the Hebrew Prophet Isaiah who 700 hundred years before this Roman officer gave his command, had said "... And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)
Why did God order it that His beloved Son should be crucified between criminals? Certainly God had a reason. Was not our blessed Lord crucified to fully demonstrate the unfathomable depths of shame into which He had to descend? Again was not the Savior numbered with transgressors to show the position He occupied as our substitute? He had taken the place of the Passover Lamb that was our place a place of shame, a place of transgressors, the place of criminals commended to death. Again; was He not deliberately humiliated thus by Pilate to exhibit man's estimate of the worth of God Himself- "despised" as well as rejected "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." Isa. 53
"He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
When I was younger, fresh out of Seminary, and working to support my ever growing family I met at work a young Hebrew man by the name of Avron "Ron" Albertson and we struck up a friendship. We would go out for lunch together and since Ron was a member of Mensa (A group of people who comprise the top 2% of intelligence) I was quite pleased that he would even want to talk with me. He told or rather asked "You’re not like other Christians that I have met" You don't tell me that I'm a sinner or that it was the Jews that killed Christ and that sort of thing" Why is that"?
At that was our first of many conversations of kosher lunches.
Ron:" You think that I'm going to believe a book written by men"?
Me: "Your folks wrote it"
Ron: Why don't you tell me I'm a sinner like other Preachers do?"
Me with a smile) Do I have to state the obvious?"
Ron: "I suppose you’re going to tell me that the Jews killed Christ"?
Me with tears in my eyes) No, Ron, I did!
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still [ enemies] sinners, Christ died for us. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
That's the good part Ron, Christ died for you, and me, and all of mankind yes, even you dear reader. To restore friendship with God.
Ron: Denis maybe some day I’ll accept Jesus as my Savior And you'll be the first to know!"
Me: "Thanks Ron, I am looking forward to it!"
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Denis
The Real meaning for Christmas
Gentle Reader,
In a month or so you will sit down to enjoy a movie in which a story of fiction will be hailed as the truth and many will turn to Christianity and say "I knew that you were fake, no wonder we don't want anything to do with you!"
But before that happens I would like you to consider for a moment the words of God as His Son died for you and for me. I know I joke a lot and will again but only because of 7 words spoken by Christ dying on a wooden cross some 2000 years ago,
"He touched me"
Carlyle called language the garment of thought
... "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
(Mathew 12:32) The Bible
The Bible says further
"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3
... A time to keep silence, And a time to speak
On one occasion the Chief priests sent officers to arrest Him. Instead of arresting Him they were arrested by what He said! His speech was as no other. Who are we writing about? Jesus Christ!
He said "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. {the Gospel of John Chapter 6 verse 63} "But there are some of you who do not believe."
The utterances of Christ Jesus at a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, were 7 in number...
[Seven. Denotes spiritual perfection. It is the number or hall-mark of the Holy Spirit's work. He is the Author of God's Word, and seven is stamped on it as the water-mark is seen in the manufacture of paper. He is the Author and Giver of life; and seven is the number which regulates every period of Incubation and Gestation, in insects, birds, animals, and man. ]
Seven in Scripture suggest the idea of completeness so we can read in these seven sayings from the cross the interpretation of the Love of God for His creation.
The last words of some of the world's greatest men and women have been recorded in books, engraved on marble slabs and monuments.
But the words that have been preserved for us, the seven sayings of the Son of God from the cross stand uniquely preeminent.
As He spoke from Golgotha's brow He used sublime and holy words as the 'garment of His thoughts.'
Of these 7 words 3 were addressed to God the Father and 4 were addressed to men.
Let us look and read these 7 sayings as 7 windows from which we are able to look into the very heart and mind of God!
1. First Let's consider what The Scriptures have to say about The nature of His death and Who He was.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. [ Gospel of John Chapter 1 verse 1 and 14]
Joseph Heart wrote:
The Scriptures and the Word
Bear one tremendous name,
The Living and the Written Word
In all things are the same.
"I HAVE GIVEN THEM THY WORD"
is the all-sufficient assurance of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking to the Father. He did not say I have given them Aids to devotion. He did not say I have given them a Hymn-book, or I have given them thy Word AND something else.
He did not give anything instead of, or in addition to, that Word.
And that being so, we are assured that the Word which He gave is all-sufficient, in itself, to accomplish all the purposes of God.
The Word that is preached makes known the Written Word; the Word that is written makes known Christ the Living Word; and Christ makes known God our Father.
2. Second, The Apostle Paul tells us in the book of Colossians Chapter 2 verse 9 "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily"
The Fullness of the Godhead bodily ( absolute Godhead, full Deity the pleroma {Greek for fullness} the totality - the sum total of Deity God in a man
Note: and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.[Colossians Chapter 2 verse 10]
Christ in you and you are in Christ if.... Let us go on and ask the question was Christ any less God in His Death than His life? And we can find our answer in the
Book of 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 18-19 tells us, "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses [a lapse or deviation from truth and uprightness ] to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation".'[adjustment of a difference, reconciliation, restoration to favor ]
Imagine for a moment that you are in that crowd watching men being put to death as common criminals. One who did nothing but going against the established rule of the day but went about doing good! Consider if you will His 7 last words.
Think for a moment that Jesus called the "Christ" had to die Matthew chapter 16 verse 21 says, "From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day."
And again in the book of Mark Chapter 18 verse 31 we read the same. Doctor Luke also chimes in and says:
So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."
And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, "John Chapter 3 verse 14
The death of Jesus the Christ was a divine imperative. He must die! The tine was Passover when all good Hebrews would celebrate the escape from the bonadage of their Masters!
[The name "Pesach" (PAY-sahch, with a "ch" as in the Scottich "loch") comes from the Hebrew root Peh-Samech-Chet, meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that G-d "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In English, the holiday is known as Passover. "Pesach" is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the Temple on this holiday. The holiday is also referred to as Chag he-Aviv, (the Spring Festival), Chag ha-Matzoth, (the Festival of Matzahs), and Z'man Cherutenu, (the Time of Our Freedom) (again, all with those Scottish "ch"s). And release to freedom!]
God chose that time to proclaim freedom not only from the bondage of men but from the god of this world [satan] The grip of sin was broken! No longer did man have to do evil he was free! Free at last to choose to do good!
The First word Christ spoke was a prayer "Father..." He possessed that divine conscienceness of His eternal Sonship.
When faith is tempted to doubt that God is still dealing with us as a father, but rather that He is dealing with us as a judge.
His ministry began with a prayer Luke 3:21 "When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened." And now we see Him on the cross concluding His ministry.
For Christians a perfect example of a precious ministry The first words Gentle reader, tell you where His heart was. And mine as I pray for each of you each day... "Father...."
The second word tomorrow....
-Denis
Father,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong
and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you
whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance, to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ
suffered and died for us.
In a month or so you will sit down to enjoy a movie in which a story of fiction will be hailed as the truth and many will turn to Christianity and say "I knew that you were fake, no wonder we don't want anything to do with you!"
But before that happens I would like you to consider for a moment the words of God as His Son died for you and for me. I know I joke a lot and will again but only because of 7 words spoken by Christ dying on a wooden cross some 2000 years ago,
"He touched me"
Carlyle called language the garment of thought
... "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
(Mathew 12:32) The Bible
The Bible says further
"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3
... A time to keep silence, And a time to speak
On one occasion the Chief priests sent officers to arrest Him. Instead of arresting Him they were arrested by what He said! His speech was as no other. Who are we writing about? Jesus Christ!
He said "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. {the Gospel of John Chapter 6 verse 63} "But there are some of you who do not believe."
The utterances of Christ Jesus at a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, were 7 in number...
[Seven. Denotes spiritual perfection. It is the number or hall-mark of the Holy Spirit's work. He is the Author of God's Word, and seven is stamped on it as the water-mark is seen in the manufacture of paper. He is the Author and Giver of life; and seven is the number which regulates every period of Incubation and Gestation, in insects, birds, animals, and man. ]
Seven in Scripture suggest the idea of completeness so we can read in these seven sayings from the cross the interpretation of the Love of God for His creation.
The last words of some of the world's greatest men and women have been recorded in books, engraved on marble slabs and monuments.
But the words that have been preserved for us, the seven sayings of the Son of God from the cross stand uniquely preeminent.
As He spoke from Golgotha's brow He used sublime and holy words as the 'garment of His thoughts.'
Of these 7 words 3 were addressed to God the Father and 4 were addressed to men.
Let us look and read these 7 sayings as 7 windows from which we are able to look into the very heart and mind of God!
1. First Let's consider what The Scriptures have to say about The nature of His death and Who He was.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. [ Gospel of John Chapter 1 verse 1 and 14]
Joseph Heart wrote:
The Scriptures and the Word
Bear one tremendous name,
The Living and the Written Word
In all things are the same.
"I HAVE GIVEN THEM THY WORD"
is the all-sufficient assurance of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking to the Father. He did not say I have given them Aids to devotion. He did not say I have given them a Hymn-book, or I have given them thy Word AND something else.
He did not give anything instead of, or in addition to, that Word.
And that being so, we are assured that the Word which He gave is all-sufficient, in itself, to accomplish all the purposes of God.
The Word that is preached makes known the Written Word; the Word that is written makes known Christ the Living Word; and Christ makes known God our Father.
2. Second, The Apostle Paul tells us in the book of Colossians Chapter 2 verse 9 "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily"
The Fullness of the Godhead bodily ( absolute Godhead, full Deity the pleroma {Greek for fullness} the totality - the sum total of Deity God in a man
Note: and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.[Colossians Chapter 2 verse 10]
Christ in you and you are in Christ if.... Let us go on and ask the question was Christ any less God in His Death than His life? And we can find our answer in the
Book of 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 18-19 tells us, "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses [a lapse or deviation from truth and uprightness ] to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation".'[adjustment of a difference, reconciliation, restoration to favor ]
Imagine for a moment that you are in that crowd watching men being put to death as common criminals. One who did nothing but going against the established rule of the day but went about doing good! Consider if you will His 7 last words.
Think for a moment that Jesus called the "Christ" had to die Matthew chapter 16 verse 21 says, "From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day."
And again in the book of Mark Chapter 18 verse 31 we read the same. Doctor Luke also chimes in and says:
So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."
And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, "John Chapter 3 verse 14
The death of Jesus the Christ was a divine imperative. He must die! The tine was Passover when all good Hebrews would celebrate the escape from the bonadage of their Masters!
[The name "Pesach" (PAY-sahch, with a "ch" as in the Scottich "loch") comes from the Hebrew root Peh-Samech-Chet, meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that G-d "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In English, the holiday is known as Passover. "Pesach" is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the Temple on this holiday. The holiday is also referred to as Chag he-Aviv, (the Spring Festival), Chag ha-Matzoth, (the Festival of Matzahs), and Z'man Cherutenu, (the Time of Our Freedom) (again, all with those Scottish "ch"s). And release to freedom!]
God chose that time to proclaim freedom not only from the bondage of men but from the god of this world [satan] The grip of sin was broken! No longer did man have to do evil he was free! Free at last to choose to do good!
The First word Christ spoke was a prayer "Father..." He possessed that divine conscienceness of His eternal Sonship.
When faith is tempted to doubt that God is still dealing with us as a father, but rather that He is dealing with us as a judge.
His ministry began with a prayer Luke 3:21 "When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened." And now we see Him on the cross concluding His ministry.
For Christians a perfect example of a precious ministry The first words Gentle reader, tell you where His heart was. And mine as I pray for each of you each day... "Father...."
The second word tomorrow....
-Denis
Father,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong
and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you
whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance, to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ
suffered and died for us.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
GOD'S GREAT FAITHFULNESS
Dear Saints of God,
We want to share with you what we all know to be true but need to be reminded of from time to time. We are all family and what hurts one hurts all. But we are convinced that God’s Love is not blind-it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less.
A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
“Peace, more than any other vessel, holds blessedness. “
GOD'S GREAT FAITHFULNESS
"The kindness of the LORD has not ended, His mercies are not spent. They are renewed every morning - Great and exceedingly abundant is Your grace! 'The LORD is my portion!' I say with full heart; therefore will I hope in HIM." [Lamentations (Ekhah) 3:22-24 Tanakh, Kethuvim]
Lamentations is full of mournful laments, wailing, damnation, and the scent of devastated Jerusalem after it collapsed from the plundering by the Babylonian armies. Yet, from such a time as this comes this beautiful passage.
Done in Hebrew acrostic (Alef - Taf), the entire Funeral Song is a remarkably structured hymn of grief. The first two and the last two chapters consist of 22 verses, each using all the Hebrew alphabets. The central chapter has 66 verses, with the letters of the alphabet applied every third verse.
It is in this central chapter, these three verses stand out like an " Island of Hope " in a " Sea of Despair." And throughout the ages, they have been a great comfort and blessing to all believers in times of testing.
We are most blessed for having been given these sustaining promises. Every new day brings some new token of Holy God's gracious provision to meet the need of that day. We cannot count all our blessings, they are far too numerous. King David said, "O LORD my GOD, many are the wonders YOU have devised for us. I would rehearse the tale of them, if I would declare and speak of them, but they are more than can be numbered." [Psalms (Tehillym) 40. 5 Tanakh, Kethuvim] Every new day reminds us again that "HIS faithfulness is great!"
No matter what the days ahead may hold and regardless how hopeless, prevailing, frightening or horrendously terrible they may be, "The battle is the LORD's and HIS compassion and mercy will not fail!" HalleluYAH!
Messiah Jesus eagerly awaits to renew HIS mercies each morning and make HIS faithfulness known. . . if we have all of our FAITH, HOPE and TRUST in HIM.
Love,
Denis and Marti
We want to share with you what we all know to be true but need to be reminded of from time to time. We are all family and what hurts one hurts all. But we are convinced that God’s Love is not blind-it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less.
A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
“Peace, more than any other vessel, holds blessedness. “
GOD'S GREAT FAITHFULNESS
"The kindness of the LORD has not ended, His mercies are not spent. They are renewed every morning - Great and exceedingly abundant is Your grace! 'The LORD is my portion!' I say with full heart; therefore will I hope in HIM." [Lamentations (Ekhah) 3:22-24 Tanakh, Kethuvim]
Lamentations is full of mournful laments, wailing, damnation, and the scent of devastated Jerusalem after it collapsed from the plundering by the Babylonian armies. Yet, from such a time as this comes this beautiful passage.
Done in Hebrew acrostic (Alef - Taf), the entire Funeral Song is a remarkably structured hymn of grief. The first two and the last two chapters consist of 22 verses, each using all the Hebrew alphabets. The central chapter has 66 verses, with the letters of the alphabet applied every third verse.
It is in this central chapter, these three verses stand out like an " Island of Hope " in a " Sea of Despair." And throughout the ages, they have been a great comfort and blessing to all believers in times of testing.
We are most blessed for having been given these sustaining promises. Every new day brings some new token of Holy God's gracious provision to meet the need of that day. We cannot count all our blessings, they are far too numerous. King David said, "O LORD my GOD, many are the wonders YOU have devised for us. I would rehearse the tale of them, if I would declare and speak of them, but they are more than can be numbered." [Psalms (Tehillym) 40. 5 Tanakh, Kethuvim] Every new day reminds us again that "HIS faithfulness is great!"
No matter what the days ahead may hold and regardless how hopeless, prevailing, frightening or horrendously terrible they may be, "The battle is the LORD's and HIS compassion and mercy will not fail!" HalleluYAH!
Messiah Jesus eagerly awaits to renew HIS mercies each morning and make HIS faithfulness known. . . if we have all of our FAITH, HOPE and TRUST in HIM.
Love,
Denis and Marti
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Home going "the Call"
Gentle readers,
Today we were awakened by the ringing of the telephone... we were expecting the call at 2:30 or 3:00 .m. ... It came at 9:30 a.m. It was My brother-in-law, Doug, "Mom has left us"... Ruth my mother in law and Marti’s mother battled Cancer for over a year.... we knew it was just a matter of time but... we never are in much of a hurry to meet Our Lord. Perhaps it’s because this life is all we know... rather like a baby being born who comes out of the comfort of the womb, crying... not knowing what to expect. Many are afraid of death, even my favorite Apostle Paul quoting the prophet Hosea said "O death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55) -Hos. 13:14 [ I will ransom them from the hand of Sheol; I will redeem them from death. O death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your ruin? Repentance is hidden from My eyes.].
We weep with our brothers and sister at each loss, for we are few and the enemy are many. But it is not loss to Our Father in heaven whose timing is perfect.
Because Marti is bed fast we will not go to a funeral we will as we always do grieve our loss in the privacy of our small apartment. The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God. We take comfort that Doug and "Dad’ will be surrounded by those who will weep for the loss "they know not, nor do they understand", that this is not defeat but victory! For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity
Another star is born Gentle Reader, perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.
We rejoice in the home going of our sister and mother, Ruth Brodt who leaves a hole in the hearts of Joe "dad and husband" Doug son and brother to Marti daughter and wife to Himself.
Life is eternal, and love is immortal,
and death is only a horizon;
and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.
When you lose someone you love,
Your life becomes strange,
The ground beneath you becomes fragile,
Your thoughts make your eyes unsure;
And some dead echo drags your voice down
Where words have no confidence
Your heart has grown heavy with loss;
And though this loss has wounded others too,
No one knows what has been taken from you
When the silence of absence deepens.
Flickers of guilt kindle regret
For all that was left unsaid or undone.
There are days when you wake up happy;
Again inside the fullness of life,
Until the moment breaks
And you are thrown back
Onto the black tide of loss.Days when you have your heart back,
You are able to function well
Until in the middle of work or encounter,
Suddenly with no warning,
You are ambushed by grief.
It becomes hard to trust yourself.
All you can depend on now is that
Sorrow will remain faithful to itself.
More than you, it knows its way
And will find the right time
To pull and pull the rope of grief
Until that coiled hill of tears
Has reduced to its last drop.
Gradually, you will learn acquaintance
With the invisible form of your departed;
And when the work of grief is done,
The wound of loss will heal
And you will have learned
To wean your eyes
From that gap in the air
And be able to enter the hearth
In your soul where your loved one
Has awaited your return
All the time.
Denis
Sunday, December 05, 2010
"Doc Notes" Concluding suggestions on Genesis
Concluding suggestions on Genesis
Gentle readers,
It would be difficult not to continue to search the scripture in Genesis with you until we have exhausted both our wits and our patience over the rich mine field that is our first book of our Bible. But for me to do so would deprive you of much thought and study and we are told “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Ti 2:15 KJV) Which could have been better translated this way “You, yourself be diligent to show to Christ ( Alexandrian copy reads, "to Christ") that you may be an approved worker who has nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of (the)truth with precision. [ my translation]
It is after all gentle reader, your responsibility and yours alone to undertake the path that God places you upon. We as teachers can only point out the way we have gone and hope to impart some small help for your journey.
So with that in mind let me suggest that the book of Genesis should be also studied biographically. It is rich in human characters. Study for instance, the seven great men before-mentioned, noting the dominant feature or determining crisis in the recorded history of each-Abel the worshipper, Enoch the walker, Noah the worker, Abrham the wanderer, Isaac the watcher, Jacob the wrestler, Joseph the waiter. What character studies are Esau, Lot, Cain!- illustrating, respectively, “the lust of the flesh, and the lust pf the eyes, and the pride of life”(1 John 2:16). Nimrod, Sarah, Labon, Judah, and others well repay study.
Genesis should be specially studied spiritually. No book in the Old Testament is richer in spiritul values. Here is a life time of rewarding study in itself! It’s spiritual teachings fall into two categories (1) truths to enlighten the mind (2) lessons to regulate the life. As to the former we may mention - the presence and gracious purpose of God in human history: the presence and purpose of evil a personal devil and his names in scripture and history (Abaddon, accuser, adversary Antichrist, author of all sin, Beelzebub, chief of the demons, deceiver, destroyer, devourer, dragon, enemy of righteousness, evil one, evil spirit, fallen angel, father of all lies, father of contention, founder of murder, Great Antichrist, great dragon, liar from the beginning, Lucifer, Mammon, murderer from the beginning, old serpent, Perdition, prince of darkness. prince of devils, prince of the power of the air, prince of this world, Satan, serpent, slanderer, Son of Perdition, Son of the Morning, spoiler, tempter wicked one). The origin and progress of sin in the human race; the depravity of fallen human nature;the Divine prevision and provision; the ministry of angels; the Divine sovereignty and condescension; these being but a few of many tremendous truths.
As for lessons which abound here- to cite only one of many fruitful instances- what spiritual lessons we find in Abrham. Take for example Ch.12:4-9 (faith responding) then faith receeding (12:10-20) then faith returning (13:1-4). These lessons are important beyond expression.
Then again Genesis should be studied prophetically. The whole of subsequent revelation and history is really about the unfolding of the prophecies in the first book of Scripture. Here are the Prophecies concerning Christ, the earth, race (9:25-27), concerning Israel (13:14-17, 22:15-18) concerning other nations (17:19-20, 25:23) In the light of many wonderful fulfilments these give unanswerable evidence to the superhuman origin of the Scriptures.
Genesis should also be studied dispensationally. There has been much discussion of late as to whether one shoul embrace covenant theology or dispensational Theology. My answer is both! For you one can not have the one without considering the other. To do so is to allow yourself be be incomplete intellectually.
Covenant Theology isn’t so much a ‘theology’ in the sense of a systematic set of doctrine as it is a framework for interpreting Scripture.
Where dispensationalism sees the Scriptures unfolding in a series of (typically) seven ‘dispensations’ (a ‘dispensation’ can be defined as the particular means God uses to deal with man and creation during a given period in redemptive history), Covenant Theology looks at the Scriptures through the grid of the covenant. Covenant Theology defines two overriding covenants: the covenant of works (CW) and the covenant of grace (CG). A third covenant is sometimes mentioned; namely, the covenant of redemption (CR), which logically precedes the other two covenants. We will discuss these covenants in turn. The important thing to keep in mind is that all of the various covenants described in Scripture (e.g., the covenants made with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and the New Covenant) are outworkings of either the covenant of works or the covenant of grace.
There are other ways of studying Genesis such as geographically, critcally, textually but we will allow to to find your own path as we continue to move forward to the next book of Exodus .
Second book of the Pentateuch, known in Hebrew as Shemot ("Names") from the second word of the opening sentence. In the Midrash it is referred to as Sefer ha-Ge'ulah ("the Book of Redemption"), because of its content; the Greek Septuagint, however, calls it Exodos, "the Departure from Egypt."
Following the Latin Vulgate, printed Hebrew Bibles divide Exodus into 40 chapters and 1,209 verses. The Babylonian cycle of readings (which is followed today by all Jewish communities) divides the book into 11 sections (sedarot), but according to the Palestinian Triennial Cycle of Second Temple times it contains 33 (or 29) sections. Traditionally, the book encompasses a period of 129 years, from the death of Joseph to the building of the Sanctuary. Jewish tradition also maintains that Exodus, like the rest of the Pentateuch, was written by Moses under Divine inspiration.
In terms of form and content, the volume is a direct continuation of the Book of Genesis, but constitutes a separate unit. Genesis describes the beginning of the Israelite people, first as individuals and later as a family; Exodus describes Israel's transformation into a nation. The Book of Genesis tells of God's assurance to the patriarchs that they will have descendants and a Promised Land, whereas Exodus demonstrates the gradual fulfillment of these promises in three stages: (1) The redemption of the Israelites from Egypt; (2) The Covenant made by God with His people; and (3) The building of the Sanctuary.
The only hint concerning the historicity of events described in te book is the mention of two Egyptian cities, Pithom and Raamses (Ex. 1:11). Raamses was the capital of Egypt under the 19th dynasty, and was built by Ramses II (Usermare Ramses, 1294-1224 BCE). It is generally assumed that Ramses II was "the Pharaoh of the Oppression" and that the Exodus from Egypt took place during the reign of his son and heir, Baenre Merneptah (1224-1204 BCE).
Among Bible critics, proponents of the documentary theory maintain that Exodus contains elements of three sources (J, E, and P) that were combined. The school of "form criticism" regards this volume as a narrative epic created to explain the festival of Passover. Chapters 1-15 constitute "the Passover legend," representing the Sitz im Leben of the book. According to this view, the sources which deal with the Giving of the Torah, the various laws (chapters 21-24), and the details of the Sanctuary (Tabernacle) are of later origin.
To be continued. . . Lessson 3 part 1 Exodus
.
Gentle readers,
It would be difficult not to continue to search the scripture in Genesis with you until we have exhausted both our wits and our patience over the rich mine field that is our first book of our Bible. But for me to do so would deprive you of much thought and study and we are told “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Ti 2:15 KJV) Which could have been better translated this way “You, yourself be diligent to show to Christ ( Alexandrian copy reads, "to Christ") that you may be an approved worker who has nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of (the)truth with precision. [ my translation]
It is after all gentle reader, your responsibility and yours alone to undertake the path that God places you upon. We as teachers can only point out the way we have gone and hope to impart some small help for your journey.
So with that in mind let me suggest that the book of Genesis should be also studied biographically. It is rich in human characters. Study for instance, the seven great men before-mentioned, noting the dominant feature or determining crisis in the recorded history of each-Abel the worshipper, Enoch the walker, Noah the worker, Abrham the wanderer, Isaac the watcher, Jacob the wrestler, Joseph the waiter. What character studies are Esau, Lot, Cain!- illustrating, respectively, “the lust of the flesh, and the lust pf the eyes, and the pride of life”(1 John 2:16). Nimrod, Sarah, Labon, Judah, and others well repay study.
Genesis should be specially studied spiritually. No book in the Old Testament is richer in spiritul values. Here is a life time of rewarding study in itself! It’s spiritual teachings fall into two categories (1) truths to enlighten the mind (2) lessons to regulate the life. As to the former we may mention - the presence and gracious purpose of God in human history: the presence and purpose of evil a personal devil and his names in scripture and history (Abaddon, accuser, adversary Antichrist, author of all sin, Beelzebub, chief of the demons, deceiver, destroyer, devourer, dragon, enemy of righteousness, evil one, evil spirit, fallen angel, father of all lies, father of contention, founder of murder, Great Antichrist, great dragon, liar from the beginning, Lucifer, Mammon, murderer from the beginning, old serpent, Perdition, prince of darkness. prince of devils, prince of the power of the air, prince of this world, Satan, serpent, slanderer, Son of Perdition, Son of the Morning, spoiler, tempter wicked one). The origin and progress of sin in the human race; the depravity of fallen human nature;the Divine prevision and provision; the ministry of angels; the Divine sovereignty and condescension; these being but a few of many tremendous truths.
As for lessons which abound here- to cite only one of many fruitful instances- what spiritual lessons we find in Abrham. Take for example Ch.12:4-9 (faith responding) then faith receeding (12:10-20) then faith returning (13:1-4). These lessons are important beyond expression.
Then again Genesis should be studied prophetically. The whole of subsequent revelation and history is really about the unfolding of the prophecies in the first book of Scripture. Here are the Prophecies concerning Christ, the earth, race (9:25-27), concerning Israel (13:14-17, 22:15-18) concerning other nations (17:19-20, 25:23) In the light of many wonderful fulfilments these give unanswerable evidence to the superhuman origin of the Scriptures.
Genesis should also be studied dispensationally. There has been much discussion of late as to whether one shoul embrace covenant theology or dispensational Theology. My answer is both! For you one can not have the one without considering the other. To do so is to allow yourself be be incomplete intellectually.
Covenant Theology isn’t so much a ‘theology’ in the sense of a systematic set of doctrine as it is a framework for interpreting Scripture.
Where dispensationalism sees the Scriptures unfolding in a series of (typically) seven ‘dispensations’ (a ‘dispensation’ can be defined as the particular means God uses to deal with man and creation during a given period in redemptive history), Covenant Theology looks at the Scriptures through the grid of the covenant. Covenant Theology defines two overriding covenants: the covenant of works (CW) and the covenant of grace (CG). A third covenant is sometimes mentioned; namely, the covenant of redemption (CR), which logically precedes the other two covenants. We will discuss these covenants in turn. The important thing to keep in mind is that all of the various covenants described in Scripture (e.g., the covenants made with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and the New Covenant) are outworkings of either the covenant of works or the covenant of grace.
There are other ways of studying Genesis such as geographically, critcally, textually but we will allow to to find your own path as we continue to move forward to the next book of Exodus .
Second book of the Pentateuch, known in Hebrew as Shemot ("Names") from the second word of the opening sentence. In the Midrash it is referred to as Sefer ha-Ge'ulah ("the Book of Redemption"), because of its content; the Greek Septuagint, however, calls it Exodos, "the Departure from Egypt."
Following the Latin Vulgate, printed Hebrew Bibles divide Exodus into 40 chapters and 1,209 verses. The Babylonian cycle of readings (which is followed today by all Jewish communities) divides the book into 11 sections (sedarot), but according to the Palestinian Triennial Cycle of Second Temple times it contains 33 (or 29) sections. Traditionally, the book encompasses a period of 129 years, from the death of Joseph to the building of the Sanctuary. Jewish tradition also maintains that Exodus, like the rest of the Pentateuch, was written by Moses under Divine inspiration.
In terms of form and content, the volume is a direct continuation of the Book of Genesis, but constitutes a separate unit. Genesis describes the beginning of the Israelite people, first as individuals and later as a family; Exodus describes Israel's transformation into a nation. The Book of Genesis tells of God's assurance to the patriarchs that they will have descendants and a Promised Land, whereas Exodus demonstrates the gradual fulfillment of these promises in three stages: (1) The redemption of the Israelites from Egypt; (2) The Covenant made by God with His people; and (3) The building of the Sanctuary.
The only hint concerning the historicity of events described in te book is the mention of two Egyptian cities, Pithom and Raamses (Ex. 1:11). Raamses was the capital of Egypt under the 19th dynasty, and was built by Ramses II (Usermare Ramses, 1294-1224 BCE). It is generally assumed that Ramses II was "the Pharaoh of the Oppression" and that the Exodus from Egypt took place during the reign of his son and heir, Baenre Merneptah (1224-1204 BCE).
Among Bible critics, proponents of the documentary theory maintain that Exodus contains elements of three sources (J, E, and P) that were combined. The school of "form criticism" regards this volume as a narrative epic created to explain the festival of Passover. Chapters 1-15 constitute "the Passover legend," representing the Sitz im Leben of the book. According to this view, the sources which deal with the Giving of the Torah, the various laws (chapters 21-24), and the details of the Sanctuary (Tabernacle) are of later origin.
To be continued. . . Lessson 3 part 1 Exodus
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Sunday, November 21, 2010
"Doc Notes" lesson 2 Part 21
Joseph And His Brethren Dispensationally Considered
Dear Gentle readers,
Since we left Genesis 37-38 nothing more has been heard of the family of Jacob. Joseph is the one upon whom the Holy Spirit has concentrated attention. In Genesis 37 we saw how Joseph was sent by his father on an errand of mercy to his brethren, inquiring after their welfare; that Joseph came unto them and they received him not; that, instead, they envied and hated him, and sold him into the hands of the Gentiles. Then, we have followed his career in Egypt, and have seen how that the Egyptians, too, treated him badly, casting him into the place of shame and humiliation. Also, we have seen how God vindicated His faithful servant, bringing him out of prison-house and making him governor of all Egypt. Finally, we have learned how that Joseph's exaltation was followed by a season of plenty, when the earth brought forth abundantly, and how this in turn, was followed by a grievous famine, when Joseph came before us as the dispenser of bread to a perishing humanity. But during all this time the brethren of Joseph faded from view, but now, in the time of famine they come to the front again.
All of this is deeply significant, and perfect in its typical application. Joseph foreshadowed the Beloved of the Father, sent to His brethren according to the flesh, seeking their welfare. But they despised and rejected Him. They sold Him, and delivered Him up to the Gentiles. The Gentiles unjustly condemned Him to death, and following the crucifixion, His body was placed in the prison of the tomb. In due time God delivered Him, and exalted Him to His own right hand. Following the ascension, Christ has been presented as the Savior of the world, the Bread of Life for a perishing humanity. During this dispensation the Jew is set aside: it is out from the Gentiles God is now taking a people for His name. But soon this dispensation shall have run its appointed course and then shall come the tribulation period when, following the removal of the Holy Spirit from the earth, there shall be a grievous time of spiritual famine. It is during this tribulation period that God shall resume His dealings with the JewsÑthe brethren of Christ according to the flesh. Hence, true to the and-type, Joseph's brethren figure prominently in the closing chapters of Genesis. Continuing our previous enumeration we shall now follow the experiences of the brethren from the time they rejected Joseph.
Joseph's brethren are driven out of their own land. In Genesis 37 the sons of Jacob are seen delivering up Joseph into the hands of the Gentiles, and nothing more is heard of them till we come to Genesis 42. And what do we read concerning them there! This: "Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan" (Gen. 42:1-3, 5). Canaan was smitten by the scourge of God. It was eaten up by a famine. Jacob and his family were in danger of dying, and the pangs of hunger drove the brethren of Joseph out of their land, and compelled them to journey down to EgyptÑsymbol of the world. This was a prophecy in action, a prophecy that received its tragic fulfillment two thousand years later. Just as a few years after his brethren had rejected Joseph, they were forced by a famine (sent from God) to leave their land and go down to Egypt, so a few years after the Jews had rejected Christ and delivered Him up to the Gentiles, God's judgment descended upon them, and the Romans drove them from their land, and dispersed them throughout the world.
Joseph was unknown and unrecognized by his brethren. "And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him" (Gen. 42:6, 8). Joseph had been exalted over all the house of Pharaoh, but Jacob knew it not. All these years he thought that Joseph was dead. And now his family is suffering from the famine, the scourge of God, and his sons, driven out of Canaan by the pangs of hunger, and going down to Egypt, they know not the one who was now governor of the land. So it has been with Jacob's descendants ever since the time they rejected their Messiah. They received not the love of the truth, and for this cause God has sent them strong delusion that they should believe a lie. They know not that God raised the Lord Jesus: they believe He is dead, and through all the long centuries of the Christian era a veil has been over their hearts, and the beginning of the tribulation period will find them still ignorant of the exaltation and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Joseph, however, saw and knew his brethren. "And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them" (Gen. 42:7). Yes, Joseph "saw" his brethren, his eye was upon them, even though they knew him not. So the eye of the Lord Jesus has been upon the Jews all through the long night of their rejection. Hear His words (as Jehovah) through Jeremiah the prophet, "For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from My face, neither is their iniquity hid from Mine ÔEyes'" (Gen. 16:17). So, too, through Hosea, He said, "I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from Me" (Gen. 5:3).
Joseph punished his brethren. "And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them . . . and he put them all together into ward three days" (Gen. 42:7, 17). We quote here from the impressive words of Dr. Haldeman: "Joseph was the cause of their troubles now. Joseph was punishing them for their past dealing with himself. The secret of all Judah's suffering during the past centuries is to be found in the fact that the rejected Messiah has been dealing Ôroughly' with them. He has been punishing them, making use of their willfulness and the cupidity of the nations, but, all the same, punishing them. ÔMy God will cast them away, because they do not hearken unto Him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations' (Hos. 9:17). ÔFor I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.' (Matthew 23:38, 39) ÔThat upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zecharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation (nation)' (Matthew 23:35, 36). Nothing can account for the unparalleled suffering of this people, but the judgment and discipline of the Lord."
Joseph made known to them a way of deliverance through Substitution. "And he put them all together into ward three days. And Joseph said unto them the third day, this do, and live, for I fear God. If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison; go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses . . . And he took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes" (Gen. 42:17-19, 24). Once more we quote from Dr. Haldeman's splendid article on Joseph:
"On the third day he caused Simeon to be bound in the place of his brethren, and declared that by this means they might all be delivered, in the third day era, that is to say, on the resurrection side of the grave. On the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter presented our Lord Jesus Christ as the risen one whom God had exalted to be a Prince and a Savior unto Israel, declaring that if the latter should repent of their evil and sin toward Him whom He had sent to be Messiah and King, He would accept His death as the substitution for the judgment due them; that He would save them and send His Son again to be both Messiah and Savior."
Joseph made provision for his brethren while they were in a strange land. "Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and thus did he unto them" (Gen. 42:25). Although they knew not Joseph, and although he spoke roughly unto his brethren and punished them by casting them into prison, nevertheless, his judgments were tempered with mercy. Joseph would not suffer his brethren to perish by the way. They were here in a strange land, and he ministered unto their need. So it has been throughout this dispensation. Side by side with the fact that the Jews have been severely punished by God, so that they have suffered as no other nation, has been their miraculous preservation. God has sustained them during all the long centuries that they have been absent from their own land. God has provided for them by the way, as Joseph did for his erring brethren. Thus has God fulfilled His promises of old. "For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee; but I will correct thee in measure, and I will not leave thee altogether unpunished" (Jer. 30:11). And again; "Thus saith the Lord God; although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come" (Ezek. 11:16).
Joseph was made known to his brethren at the second time. This was emphasized by Stephen in his parting message to Israel; "And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren" (Acts 7:13). At their first visit, though Joseph knew his brethren, they knew not him. It was on the occasion of their second visit to Egypt that Joseph revealed himself to them. How marvelously accurate the type! The first time the Lord Jesus was seen by His brethren after the flesh, they knew Him not, but when they see Him the second time He shall be known by them.
It is significant that the Holy Spirit has singled out this highly important point, and has repeated it, again and again, in other types. It was thus with Moses and Israel. "And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens; and he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that, there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand" (Ex. 2:11, 12). And how did his brethren appreciate his intervention on their behalf? They despised him; they said, "Who made thee a prince and a judge over us" (Ex. 2:14). They said, in effect, as Israel said of Christ, "We will not have this Man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14). But the second time (after a long interval, during which Moses was hid from them) that he appeared unto them, they accepted him as their Leader.
It was thus with Joshua and Israel. The first time that Joshua appeared before the Nation was as one of the two "spies" who brought to them a favorable report of the land, and counselled his brethren to go up and possess it. But Israel rejected his message (Num. 13). It was not until long after when Joshua came before the people, publicly, for the second time, that they accepted him as their Leader, and were conducted by him into their inheritance.
The same principle is illustrated, again, in the history of David. David was sent by his father seeking the welfare of his brethren; "And Jesse said unto David his son, take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren. And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge" (1 Sam. 17:17-18). But when he reached them, they resented his kindness, and their "anger was kindled against David" (See 1 Samuel 17:28), and it was not until years later that they, together with all Israel, owned him as their King.
Each of these was a type of the Lord Jesus. The first time He appeared to Israel they received Him not; but at His second advent they shall accept Him as their Leader and King.
Joseph's brethren confess their Guilt in the sight of God. "And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves! God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants" (Gen. 44:16). There are several striking verses in the prophets which throw light upon the antitypical significance of this point. "And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up Mine hand to give it to your fathers. And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed" (Ezek. 20:42, 43). And again, "I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek My face; in their affliction they will seek me early" (Hosea 5:15). So it was with Joseph; he did not reveal himself to his brethren until they had acknowledged their "iniquity." And so will Israel have to turn to God in real and deep penitence before He sends His Son back to them (see Acts 3:19, 20).
Joseph's brethren were also, at first, troubled in his presence. "And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him, for they were troubled at his presence" (Gen. 45:3). How perfectly does antitype correspond with type! When Israel shall first gaze upon their rejected Messiah, we are told, "And they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first born" (Zech. 12:10). As Israel shall learn then the awfulness of their sin in rejecting and crucifying their Messiah, they shall be "troubled" indeed.
Joseph acted toward his brethren in marvelous grace. "And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near, And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life . . . Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them, and after that his brethren talked with him" (Gen. 45:4, 5, 15). So shall it be when Israel is reconciled to Christ; "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness" (Zech. 13:1). Then shall Christ say to Israel, "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer" (Isa. 54:7, 8).
Joseph was revealed as a Man of Compassion. "And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren, And he wept aloud" (Gen. 45:1-2). Seven times over we read of Joseph weeping. He wept when he listened to his brethren confessing their guilt (Gen. 42:24). He wept when he beheld Benjamin (Gen. 43:30). He wept when he made himself known to his brethren (Gen. 45:1-2).. He wept when his brethren were reconciled to him (Gen. 45:15). He wept over his father Jacob Genesis (Gen. 46:29). He wept at the death of his father (Gen. 50:1). And he wept when, later, his brethren questioned his love for them (Gen. 50:15-17). How all this reminds us of the tenderheartedness of the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom we read so often, He was "moved with compassion," and twice that He "wept"Ñonce at the graveside of Lazarus, and later over Jerusalem. 1 Joseph revealed himself to Judah and his brethren, before he was made known to the rest of Jacob's household. So, too, we are told in Zechariah 12:7, "The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first."
Joseph then sends for Jacob. "In Scripture, Judah stands for Judah and Benjamin considered together. You will note that it is Judah and Benjamin who are made prominent in the revelation of Joseph. Jacob in prophetic language signifies the Ten Tribes. Sending for Jacob and his household, in typical language, is sending for the Ten Tribes of Israel. Precisely as the type brings Judah before the self-disclosed Joseph, and then Jacob is brought into the land in the presence of Joseph, so the scriptures clearly teach us that after the Lord comes to repentant Judah and is received by them at Jerusalem, He will send for the remaining household of Jacob, for the lost and wandering tribes of Israel, to come into the land to own and greet him. ÔAnd they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord, out of all nations' (Isa. 66:20)"ÑDr. Haldeman.
Joseph's brethren go forth to proclaim his glory. "Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not . . . And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt" (Gen. 45:9, 13). In like manner, after Israel has been reconciles to Christ, they shall go forth to tell of the glories of their King: "And I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory, and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles" (Isa. 66:19). And again: "And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man" (Micah 5:7).
Joseph makes ready his chariot and goes forth to meet Jacob. "And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Jacob his father" (Gen. 46:29). Says Dr. Haldeman, "This is really the epiphany of Joseph. He reveals himself in splendor and Kingliness to his people. He meets Judah in Goshen first and then meets his father, the household of Jacob. This is a representation of the truth as we have already seen it. It is the coming of Christ in His glory to meet Judah first, and then all Israel. Our attention is specially drawn to his appearing to the people in chariots of glory. So of the greater Joseph we read, ÔFor, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind' (Isa. 66:15)."
Joseph settles his brethren in a land of their own. "And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly" (Gen. 47:27). Goshen was the best part of the land of Egypt (symbol of the world). As Pharaoh had said, "The land of Egypt is before thee, in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell" (Gen. 47:6). So Palestine, when restored to its pristine beauty and fertility, shall be "the best land" in all the earth; and there, in the Millennium, shall Israel have "possessions" and "multiply exceedingly."
Joseph's brethren prostrate themselves before him as the Representative of God. "And his brethren also went and fell before his face; and they said, Behold we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not; for (am) I in the place of God?" (Gen. 50:18, 19). The prophetic dream of Joseph is realized. The brethren own Joseph's supremacy, and take the place of servants before him. So in the coming Day, all Israel shall fall down before the Lord Jesus Christ, and say, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation" (Isa. 25:9).
We close at the point from which we started. Joseph signifies "Addition," and Addition is Increase, and "increase" is the very word used by the Holy Spirit to describe the dominant characteristic of the Kingdom of Him whom Joseph so wondrously foreshadowed. "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever" (Isa. 9:7).
Dear Gentle readers,
Since we left Genesis 37-38 nothing more has been heard of the family of Jacob. Joseph is the one upon whom the Holy Spirit has concentrated attention. In Genesis 37 we saw how Joseph was sent by his father on an errand of mercy to his brethren, inquiring after their welfare; that Joseph came unto them and they received him not; that, instead, they envied and hated him, and sold him into the hands of the Gentiles. Then, we have followed his career in Egypt, and have seen how that the Egyptians, too, treated him badly, casting him into the place of shame and humiliation. Also, we have seen how God vindicated His faithful servant, bringing him out of prison-house and making him governor of all Egypt. Finally, we have learned how that Joseph's exaltation was followed by a season of plenty, when the earth brought forth abundantly, and how this in turn, was followed by a grievous famine, when Joseph came before us as the dispenser of bread to a perishing humanity. But during all this time the brethren of Joseph faded from view, but now, in the time of famine they come to the front again.
All of this is deeply significant, and perfect in its typical application. Joseph foreshadowed the Beloved of the Father, sent to His brethren according to the flesh, seeking their welfare. But they despised and rejected Him. They sold Him, and delivered Him up to the Gentiles. The Gentiles unjustly condemned Him to death, and following the crucifixion, His body was placed in the prison of the tomb. In due time God delivered Him, and exalted Him to His own right hand. Following the ascension, Christ has been presented as the Savior of the world, the Bread of Life for a perishing humanity. During this dispensation the Jew is set aside: it is out from the Gentiles God is now taking a people for His name. But soon this dispensation shall have run its appointed course and then shall come the tribulation period when, following the removal of the Holy Spirit from the earth, there shall be a grievous time of spiritual famine. It is during this tribulation period that God shall resume His dealings with the JewsÑthe brethren of Christ according to the flesh. Hence, true to the and-type, Joseph's brethren figure prominently in the closing chapters of Genesis. Continuing our previous enumeration we shall now follow the experiences of the brethren from the time they rejected Joseph.
Joseph's brethren are driven out of their own land. In Genesis 37 the sons of Jacob are seen delivering up Joseph into the hands of the Gentiles, and nothing more is heard of them till we come to Genesis 42. And what do we read concerning them there! This: "Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan" (Gen. 42:1-3, 5). Canaan was smitten by the scourge of God. It was eaten up by a famine. Jacob and his family were in danger of dying, and the pangs of hunger drove the brethren of Joseph out of their land, and compelled them to journey down to EgyptÑsymbol of the world. This was a prophecy in action, a prophecy that received its tragic fulfillment two thousand years later. Just as a few years after his brethren had rejected Joseph, they were forced by a famine (sent from God) to leave their land and go down to Egypt, so a few years after the Jews had rejected Christ and delivered Him up to the Gentiles, God's judgment descended upon them, and the Romans drove them from their land, and dispersed them throughout the world.
Joseph was unknown and unrecognized by his brethren. "And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him" (Gen. 42:6, 8). Joseph had been exalted over all the house of Pharaoh, but Jacob knew it not. All these years he thought that Joseph was dead. And now his family is suffering from the famine, the scourge of God, and his sons, driven out of Canaan by the pangs of hunger, and going down to Egypt, they know not the one who was now governor of the land. So it has been with Jacob's descendants ever since the time they rejected their Messiah. They received not the love of the truth, and for this cause God has sent them strong delusion that they should believe a lie. They know not that God raised the Lord Jesus: they believe He is dead, and through all the long centuries of the Christian era a veil has been over their hearts, and the beginning of the tribulation period will find them still ignorant of the exaltation and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Joseph, however, saw and knew his brethren. "And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them" (Gen. 42:7). Yes, Joseph "saw" his brethren, his eye was upon them, even though they knew him not. So the eye of the Lord Jesus has been upon the Jews all through the long night of their rejection. Hear His words (as Jehovah) through Jeremiah the prophet, "For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from My face, neither is their iniquity hid from Mine ÔEyes'" (Gen. 16:17). So, too, through Hosea, He said, "I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from Me" (Gen. 5:3).
Joseph punished his brethren. "And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them . . . and he put them all together into ward three days" (Gen. 42:7, 17). We quote here from the impressive words of Dr. Haldeman: "Joseph was the cause of their troubles now. Joseph was punishing them for their past dealing with himself. The secret of all Judah's suffering during the past centuries is to be found in the fact that the rejected Messiah has been dealing Ôroughly' with them. He has been punishing them, making use of their willfulness and the cupidity of the nations, but, all the same, punishing them. ÔMy God will cast them away, because they do not hearken unto Him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations' (Hos. 9:17). ÔFor I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.' (Matthew 23:38, 39) ÔThat upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zecharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation (nation)' (Matthew 23:35, 36). Nothing can account for the unparalleled suffering of this people, but the judgment and discipline of the Lord."
Joseph made known to them a way of deliverance through Substitution. "And he put them all together into ward three days. And Joseph said unto them the third day, this do, and live, for I fear God. If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison; go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses . . . And he took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes" (Gen. 42:17-19, 24). Once more we quote from Dr. Haldeman's splendid article on Joseph:
"On the third day he caused Simeon to be bound in the place of his brethren, and declared that by this means they might all be delivered, in the third day era, that is to say, on the resurrection side of the grave. On the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter presented our Lord Jesus Christ as the risen one whom God had exalted to be a Prince and a Savior unto Israel, declaring that if the latter should repent of their evil and sin toward Him whom He had sent to be Messiah and King, He would accept His death as the substitution for the judgment due them; that He would save them and send His Son again to be both Messiah and Savior."
Joseph made provision for his brethren while they were in a strange land. "Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and thus did he unto them" (Gen. 42:25). Although they knew not Joseph, and although he spoke roughly unto his brethren and punished them by casting them into prison, nevertheless, his judgments were tempered with mercy. Joseph would not suffer his brethren to perish by the way. They were here in a strange land, and he ministered unto their need. So it has been throughout this dispensation. Side by side with the fact that the Jews have been severely punished by God, so that they have suffered as no other nation, has been their miraculous preservation. God has sustained them during all the long centuries that they have been absent from their own land. God has provided for them by the way, as Joseph did for his erring brethren. Thus has God fulfilled His promises of old. "For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee; but I will correct thee in measure, and I will not leave thee altogether unpunished" (Jer. 30:11). And again; "Thus saith the Lord God; although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come" (Ezek. 11:16).
Joseph was made known to his brethren at the second time. This was emphasized by Stephen in his parting message to Israel; "And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren" (Acts 7:13). At their first visit, though Joseph knew his brethren, they knew not him. It was on the occasion of their second visit to Egypt that Joseph revealed himself to them. How marvelously accurate the type! The first time the Lord Jesus was seen by His brethren after the flesh, they knew Him not, but when they see Him the second time He shall be known by them.
It is significant that the Holy Spirit has singled out this highly important point, and has repeated it, again and again, in other types. It was thus with Moses and Israel. "And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens; and he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that, there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand" (Ex. 2:11, 12). And how did his brethren appreciate his intervention on their behalf? They despised him; they said, "Who made thee a prince and a judge over us" (Ex. 2:14). They said, in effect, as Israel said of Christ, "We will not have this Man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14). But the second time (after a long interval, during which Moses was hid from them) that he appeared unto them, they accepted him as their Leader.
It was thus with Joshua and Israel. The first time that Joshua appeared before the Nation was as one of the two "spies" who brought to them a favorable report of the land, and counselled his brethren to go up and possess it. But Israel rejected his message (Num. 13). It was not until long after when Joshua came before the people, publicly, for the second time, that they accepted him as their Leader, and were conducted by him into their inheritance.
The same principle is illustrated, again, in the history of David. David was sent by his father seeking the welfare of his brethren; "And Jesse said unto David his son, take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren. And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge" (1 Sam. 17:17-18). But when he reached them, they resented his kindness, and their "anger was kindled against David" (See 1 Samuel 17:28), and it was not until years later that they, together with all Israel, owned him as their King.
Each of these was a type of the Lord Jesus. The first time He appeared to Israel they received Him not; but at His second advent they shall accept Him as their Leader and King.
Joseph's brethren confess their Guilt in the sight of God. "And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves! God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants" (Gen. 44:16). There are several striking verses in the prophets which throw light upon the antitypical significance of this point. "And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up Mine hand to give it to your fathers. And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed" (Ezek. 20:42, 43). And again, "I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek My face; in their affliction they will seek me early" (Hosea 5:15). So it was with Joseph; he did not reveal himself to his brethren until they had acknowledged their "iniquity." And so will Israel have to turn to God in real and deep penitence before He sends His Son back to them (see Acts 3:19, 20).
Joseph's brethren were also, at first, troubled in his presence. "And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him, for they were troubled at his presence" (Gen. 45:3). How perfectly does antitype correspond with type! When Israel shall first gaze upon their rejected Messiah, we are told, "And they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first born" (Zech. 12:10). As Israel shall learn then the awfulness of their sin in rejecting and crucifying their Messiah, they shall be "troubled" indeed.
Joseph acted toward his brethren in marvelous grace. "And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near, And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life . . . Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them, and after that his brethren talked with him" (Gen. 45:4, 5, 15). So shall it be when Israel is reconciled to Christ; "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness" (Zech. 13:1). Then shall Christ say to Israel, "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer" (Isa. 54:7, 8).
Joseph was revealed as a Man of Compassion. "And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren, And he wept aloud" (Gen. 45:1-2). Seven times over we read of Joseph weeping. He wept when he listened to his brethren confessing their guilt (Gen. 42:24). He wept when he beheld Benjamin (Gen. 43:30). He wept when he made himself known to his brethren (Gen. 45:1-2).. He wept when his brethren were reconciled to him (Gen. 45:15). He wept over his father Jacob Genesis (Gen. 46:29). He wept at the death of his father (Gen. 50:1). And he wept when, later, his brethren questioned his love for them (Gen. 50:15-17). How all this reminds us of the tenderheartedness of the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom we read so often, He was "moved with compassion," and twice that He "wept"Ñonce at the graveside of Lazarus, and later over Jerusalem. 1 Joseph revealed himself to Judah and his brethren, before he was made known to the rest of Jacob's household. So, too, we are told in Zechariah 12:7, "The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first."
Joseph then sends for Jacob. "In Scripture, Judah stands for Judah and Benjamin considered together. You will note that it is Judah and Benjamin who are made prominent in the revelation of Joseph. Jacob in prophetic language signifies the Ten Tribes. Sending for Jacob and his household, in typical language, is sending for the Ten Tribes of Israel. Precisely as the type brings Judah before the self-disclosed Joseph, and then Jacob is brought into the land in the presence of Joseph, so the scriptures clearly teach us that after the Lord comes to repentant Judah and is received by them at Jerusalem, He will send for the remaining household of Jacob, for the lost and wandering tribes of Israel, to come into the land to own and greet him. ÔAnd they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord, out of all nations' (Isa. 66:20)"ÑDr. Haldeman.
Joseph's brethren go forth to proclaim his glory. "Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not . . . And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt" (Gen. 45:9, 13). In like manner, after Israel has been reconciles to Christ, they shall go forth to tell of the glories of their King: "And I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory, and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles" (Isa. 66:19). And again: "And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man" (Micah 5:7).
Joseph makes ready his chariot and goes forth to meet Jacob. "And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Jacob his father" (Gen. 46:29). Says Dr. Haldeman, "This is really the epiphany of Joseph. He reveals himself in splendor and Kingliness to his people. He meets Judah in Goshen first and then meets his father, the household of Jacob. This is a representation of the truth as we have already seen it. It is the coming of Christ in His glory to meet Judah first, and then all Israel. Our attention is specially drawn to his appearing to the people in chariots of glory. So of the greater Joseph we read, ÔFor, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind' (Isa. 66:15)."
Joseph settles his brethren in a land of their own. "And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly" (Gen. 47:27). Goshen was the best part of the land of Egypt (symbol of the world). As Pharaoh had said, "The land of Egypt is before thee, in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell" (Gen. 47:6). So Palestine, when restored to its pristine beauty and fertility, shall be "the best land" in all the earth; and there, in the Millennium, shall Israel have "possessions" and "multiply exceedingly."
Joseph's brethren prostrate themselves before him as the Representative of God. "And his brethren also went and fell before his face; and they said, Behold we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not; for (am) I in the place of God?" (Gen. 50:18, 19). The prophetic dream of Joseph is realized. The brethren own Joseph's supremacy, and take the place of servants before him. So in the coming Day, all Israel shall fall down before the Lord Jesus Christ, and say, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation" (Isa. 25:9).
We close at the point from which we started. Joseph signifies "Addition," and Addition is Increase, and "increase" is the very word used by the Holy Spirit to describe the dominant characteristic of the Kingdom of Him whom Joseph so wondrously foreshadowed. "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever" (Isa. 9:7).
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Martha Stewart . . .
..will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving.
"I can't wait to go to the 1st ever on-line thanksgiving dinner "
Léitheoirà milis (Irish for )
Gentle Readers,
I know that there some of you all ready looking forward to my on-line thanksgiving dinnner and while I've got things well in hand I don't want you to be too disappointed so I'm telling you in advance, so don't act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won't be coming, I've made a few small changes:
Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.
Once inside, our guests will note that the entry hall is not decorated with the swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make. Instead, I've gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful autumn leaves from the front yard. The mud was their idea.
The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china, or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork.
Since this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.
Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I promised. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a turkey.
We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hotline. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 a.m. upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.
As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying.
We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like.
In the spirit of harmony, we will ask the children to sit at a separate table. In a separate room. Next door.
Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not 
I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that "passing the rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to bean your sister in the head with warm tasty bread.
Oh, and one reminder for the adults: For the duration of the meal, and especially while in the presence of young diners, we will refer to the giblet gravy by its lesser-known name: Cheese Sauce. If a young diner questions you regarding the origins or type of Cheese Sauce, plead ignorance. Cheese Sauce stains.
Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice between 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints. You will still have a choice; take it or leave it.
Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. She probably won't come next year either.
I am thankful.
In case you don't remember it's 7 day to Turkey day at Denis and Marti's
http://drcallahan.bravejournal.com/ and don't forget this is not church so those who come early don't get the best back seats.
Denis
Thursday, November 11, 2010
"Doc notes" Lesson 2 Part 20
Genesis 41
55. Joseph has a wife given to him. "And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah (the Egyptian meaning of which is ÔSavior of the world'); and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Potipharah priest of On" (Gen. 40:45). It is with some hesitation and much reluctance that at this point the writer finds himself differing from other students and commentators. Many whom we respect highly have regarded Asenath as here prefiguring the Church. Their principal reason for doing this is because Joseph's wife was a Gentile. But while allowing the force of this, we feel that it is more than counterbalanced by another point which makes against it. Believing that everything in this inspired narrative has a definite meaning and typical value, and that each verse has been put into its present place by the Holy Spirit, we are confronted with what is, to us, an insuperable difficulty if Asenath prefigures the Church, namely, the fact that in the very next verse which follows the mention of Pharaoh giving a wife to Joseph, we are told, "And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Gen. 41:46). Had this statement followed immediately after Genesis 41:14, which records Joseph being brought out of prison to appear before Pharaoh, and after this we had been told Joseph received his wife, we should be obliged to regard Asenath as a type of the Church; but as it is, we believe the typical application must be sought elsewhere, as we shall now proceed to point out.
The Holy Spirit has here (we are assured, with definite design) made mention of Joseph having a wife before his "age" is referred to, and before his life's work began. That the age of Joseph at the time his real work started, pointed to the age of the Lord Jesus when His public ministry commenced, is too obvious to admit of dispute. The fact, then, that the Holy Spirit speaks of Joseph's wife before the mention of him being thirty years of age, suggests to the writer that the typical significance of Asenath must be sought at some point of time before the Lord Jesus entered upon His life's mission. And that, of course, takes us back to Old Testament times. And there, we do learn of Jehovah (the Lord Jesus) possessing a "wife," even Israel. From the various Scriptures which bring this out we select two verses from Jeremiah 3. There, God's prophet, when expostulating with His wayward people, said, "Turn, O backsliding children, said the Lord; for I am married unto you" (Jer. 3:14); "Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord" (Jer. 3:20).
But against this it will be objected, How could Asenath, the Egyptian, wife of Joseph, typify Israel, the wife of Jehovah? Formidable as this objection appears at first sight, it is, nevertheless, capable of easy solution. The difficulty disappears if we go back to the time when Israel first became Jehovah's wife. Upon this point the Scriptures are very explicit. In Ezekiel 16, where the prophet is outlining the sad history of Israel, and where he says, "How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman; in that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as a harlot, in that thou scornest hire. But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband;" here, at the outset, the prophet declares, "Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem, Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother a Hittite" (Ezek. 16:3). Here, then, we learn the origin (the moral origin, no doubt) of Israel, and how fittingly did Asenath, the Gentile, prefigure Jehovah's wife at that time! It was not until after Israel was redeemed from Egypt's bondage and corruption that they became separated from all other nations. If further confirmation be necessary it is found in Jeremiah 2:2, "Go cry in the ears of Jerusalem, thus saith the Lord; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown." Israel, then, became Jehovah's in Egypt, when redeemed by blood, and after by power.
The issue from Joseph's marriage appears to us to fit in with the interpretation suggested above much better than with the common application of the type of Asenath to the Church. "Unto Joseph were born two sons" (Gen. 41:50), and does not this correspond with the history of Israel after she became Jehovah's wife? Was not the issue of that union the two kingdoms in the days of Rehoboam, and does not the meaning of the names of Joseph's two sons well describe the two kingdoms which, ultimately, issued from Israel? "Joseph called the name of the first born Manasseh" (Gen. 41:51), which signifies "Forgetting," and was it not that which, peculiarly, characterized the ten-tribed kingdom! "The name of the second called he Ephraim" (Gen. 41:52), which means "Fruitful," and such was Judah, from whom the Lord Jesus came!
56. Joseph's marriage was arranged by Pharaoh. How perfectly this agrees with what we read of in Matthew 22:2! "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for His Son." The fact that Asenath is mentioned before we are told that Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh and began his life's work (type of Christ as He began His public ministry), and that the birth and naming of his sons occurred afterward, suggests (as is so often the case, both in types and prophecies) that there is here a double foreshadowment. This Gentile wife of Joseph points backward, first, to Israel's condition before Jehovah separated her from all other peoples and took her unto Himself; and, second, the type seems to point forward to the time when the Lord shall resume His dealings with her, see Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 16:62, 63; Hosea 2:19-23; Isaiah 54:5-8[1]). Then, too, shall the names of Joseph's two sons be found to possess a double significance, for God's will "forget" Israel's past, and Israel shall then, as never before, be found "fruitful."
57. Joseph was thirty years old when he began his life's work. "And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Gen. 41:46). Every line in this wondrous picture has its own beauty and value. There is nothing here without profound significance. The Holy Spirit has a definite design in telling us what was Joseph's age when his public service began. He was thirty years old. How perfectly does type and antitype correspond! In Luke 3:23 we read, "And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age." This was the age of the Lord Jesus when He commenced His public ministry, as it was Joseph's when he began his life's work.
58. Joseph went forth on his mission from Pharaoh's presence. "And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh" (Gen. 41:46). In this chapter PharaohÑas the one who ruled Egypt, who delighted in the excellencies of Joseph, who set Joseph over all his house, but who retained the position of supremacy as to the throneÑpre-figured God the Father. Viewed in this light, how blessed is the typical force of the last-made quotation. It was from Pharaoh's "presence" Joseph began his life's work! How marvelously this corresponds, again, with what we read in Luke 3! The words which immediately precede the mention of the Lord being thirty years old when His public service began, are the well-known utterance of the Father at the time of His baptism, "Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22). So little is told us about the Savior before His active ministry began. The years spent at Nazareth, save for that one brief statement which covered the period of His boyhood, are passed over in silence. But as He came up out of the waters of baptism, the Father bore public testimony to the perfect life which His Son had lived here on earth, for, without doubt, the words, "In Thee I am well pleased," not only affirmed the excellency of Christ's person, but witnessed to the Father's approval of the thirty years which His incarnate Son had spent in obscurity. That which we desire to call attention to here is, just as Joseph went forth to his work from Pharaoh's "presence," so the Lord Jesus started out on His public service from the Father's presence, there manifested at the Jordan!
59. Joseph's service was an active and itinerant one. "And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt" (Gen. 41:46). Joseph was no idler. He did not betray Pharaoh's confidence in him, but faithfully discharged his duty. He did not remain in the place of ease and comfort, but "went throughout all the land of Egypt." How well these words remind us of what we read in the Gospels concerning that One whom Joseph foreshadowed. Of Him we read, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness" (Matthew 4:23). And again, "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages" (Matthew 9:35).
60. Joseph's exaltation was followed by a season of plenty. "And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number" (Gen. 41:47-49). Concerning the typical meaning of these verses we quote from Mr. Knapp: "These seven years of great abundance picture, if they do not typify, the present dispensation of grace in which it is our happy lot to live. ÔNow is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation' (2 Cor. 6:2). There were seven years, not of plenty merely, but of Ôgreat plenty.' And during those years, we read Ôthe earth brought forth by handfuls.' It was a time of extraordinary abundance. And there was never a day like the one in which we live. Never before the present dispensation did God send His messengers out into all the world to proclaim to every sinner a free and a full salvation through faith in the name of His own exalted Son. There never was a time of such Ôabundance,' such Ôgreat plenty,' at any former period of God's dealings with the earth. And it is a remarkable fact, which I have not seen previously noted, that of all the distinct dispensations of time referred to in Scripture, the present is by far the longest. And oh, what a tale of grace this tells! God is indeed Ôlong suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish.'"
We doubt not that the saved of this dispensation are far in excess of any previous one. How few were saved during the centuries which passed from the days of Abel up to the Flood! How few appear to have been saved during the times of the patriarchs! How few among Israel, from the days of Joshua onwards, gave evidence of being born again! How few seem to have been saved during the public ministry of ChristÑbut a hundred and twenty were found in the upper room waiting for the Holy Spirit. How evident it is, then, that in contrast from all that has preceded, the earth is now bringing forth "in abundance"! It is the "much fruit" (John 12:24) which our Lord declared should issue from His death.
61. Joseph's exaltation was also followed by a period of famine. "And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said; and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread" (Gen. 41:53, 54). Just as the "seven years"Ña complete periodÑpointed to the present interval of Grace, during which the great spiritual harvest is being garnered, so the "seven years" of famine (another complete period) look onward to that which shall follow the present dispensation. After the going forth of the Gospel of God's grace has accomplished its Divine purpose, and "the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Rom. 11:25), the Holy Spirit will depart out of the world, and there shall come that season which Scripture denominates "the great tribulation." Many are the passages which refer to that season. It is termed "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7), for then will be the season of Israel's darkest hour. It was to this Daniel referred when he said, "There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time" (Dan. 12:1). Concerning this same period the Lord Jesus spake, when He said, "For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved" (Mark 13:19, 20). It will be the time when Satan is east down to the earth, when the Antichrist shall be here in full power, and when the storm of God's judgment shall burst upon the world. Morally and spiritually, it will be a time of "famine," and, like that which typified it in the days of Joseph, it shall be" very grievous" (Gen. 41:31). Moreover, the sphere encompassed by God's sore judgments in that day will be no local one, but just as we are told that the dearth of old was not confined to Egypt, but that "the famine was over the face of all the earth" (Gen. 41:56), so in Revelation 3:10 we are told, the "Hour of Temptation" comes upon "all the world, to try them which dwell upon the earth." It was of this same period that Amos prophesied, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall wander, from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it" (Amos 8:11, 12). At present the world is enjoying the years of plenty, and how little it believes in the coming time of "famine," now so near at hand! Be warned then, dear reader, and "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isa. 55:6); for, if you are left on earth for the coming Day of Wrath, it shall be said, "the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved" (Jer. 8:20).
62. Joseph is now seen dispensing bread to a perishing world. "And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do" (Gen. 41:55). "It was a wonderful thing that the despised and rejected Jew should be the passport to the favor of Pharaoh; a wonderful thing that the rejected Jew should be exalted into the place of a Savior for a famine-smitten world; it was a wonderful thing that this rejected Jew should be the only Savior for that starving world. Equally true and wonderful is it today that Jesus the rejected Jew is the passport to the favor of God; that He is Ôthe Way, the Truth, and the Life,' and that Ôno man cometh unto the Father but by Him'; wonderful that this rejected Christ should be exalted into a Savior for a famine-smitten world; wonderful that this rejected Christ is the alone Savior for a starving world.
"Joseph was sent by his father to his brethren that he might be a blessing unto them, and they refused; then God turned their sin so that while it should remain as a judgment to them, it might become a blessing to others. In sending His Son to fulfill the promises made to the fathers, God would have brought covenant and numberless blessings to Israel; they refused, and God has made use of their blindness and sin to turn salvation to others. He has made the very sin and blindness of the people to be the occasion of grace and mercy to the whole world. Ô Through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles' (Rom. 11:11)."ÑDr. H.
63. Joseph alone dispensed the Bread of Life. It is beautiful to observe here how Pharaoh directed all who cried to him for bread to go unto Joseph: "And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians: Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do" (Gen. 41:55). May we not say this was the Gospel for Egypt, the good news that Joseph was the appointed Savior, the glad tidings that whosoever was hungry might go to Joseph and obtain relief. How perfectly this foreshadowed the present Gospel of God's grace! When a guilty and convicted sinner, with a great hunger in his soul, cries unto God, what is His response? Why, does He not refer all such to the person of His blessed Son! Only in Christ is salvation to be found, for "neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other Name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Just as of old Pharaoh said to the Egyptians, "Go unto Joseph: what he saith to you, do," so, upon the Mount of Transfiguration the Father said to the disciples of Christ, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Matthew 17:5), and this is what He is still saying to men.
64. Joseph became a Savior to all peoples. "And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands"(Gen. 41:57). Joseph was raised up by God to meet a world-wide need. The "dearth" was in "all lands" (Gen. 41:54). But God, through Joseph, made ample provision to supply the wants of all. There was nothing provincial about the bounties which Joseph dispensed, he readily gave to each alike, no matter whether it was the Egyptians, his own brothers, or strangers from distant lands, all were fed. And how blessed to know this is equally true of the Antitype! God's Savior for sinners is no provincial one. He is for both Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, educated and illiterate, old and young, men and womenÑall, alike, may find in Him that which can satisfy their deepest need, the Gospel is for every creature, and its terms are, "Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." And just as peoples from "all countries came to Joseph," so those who will sing the new song in heaven shall proclaim, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with Thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people and nation" (Rev. 5:9).
65. Joseph had illimitable resources to meet the need of all. "And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number" (Gen. 41:49). How abundant was God's provision! He provided with no niggardly hand. There was to be amply sufficient for every one that applied for the alleviation of his need. And how this reminds us of those blessed expressions which we meet with so frequently in the Epistles! There we read of" the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7), yea, "the exceeding riches of His grace" (Eph. 2:7). There we read of God being "rich in mercy" (Eph. 2:4), and, again, of His "abundant mercy" (1 Pet. 1:3). There we read of "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8), for "in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9). And again we are told, "The same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him" (Rom. 10:12).
Thank God, the Savior He has provided for us is possessed of illimitable resources. There is no shortness or strainness in Him. There is infinite value in that precious blood which He shed upon the Cross to make an atonement for sin. There is infinite pity in His heart toward sinners. There is infinite readiness and willingness on His part to receive all who will come to Him. There is infinite power in His arm to deliver and keep that which is committed unto Him. There is no sinner so depraved that Christ's blood cannot cleanse him. There is no sinner so bound by the fetters of Satan that Christ cannot free him. There is no sinner so weary and despondent that Christ cannot satisfy him. The promise of the Savior Himself is, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). O, sin-sick soul, put Him to the test for yourself, and see. Come to Christ just as you are, in all your wretchedness and need, and He will gladly receive you, blot out all your iniquities, and put a new song into your mouth. May God, in His grace, cause some despondent ones to prove for themselves the infinite sufficiency of His Son.
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ENDNOTES:
[1] The spiritual and dispensational condition of Israel at the moment when God shall resume His dealings with His ancient people, is, again, aptly figured by a Gentile, for they are termed by Him now, and until then ÒLo-ammiÓ (Hosea 1:9), which means ÒNot My people.Ó
55. Joseph has a wife given to him. "And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah (the Egyptian meaning of which is ÔSavior of the world'); and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Potipharah priest of On" (Gen. 40:45). It is with some hesitation and much reluctance that at this point the writer finds himself differing from other students and commentators. Many whom we respect highly have regarded Asenath as here prefiguring the Church. Their principal reason for doing this is because Joseph's wife was a Gentile. But while allowing the force of this, we feel that it is more than counterbalanced by another point which makes against it. Believing that everything in this inspired narrative has a definite meaning and typical value, and that each verse has been put into its present place by the Holy Spirit, we are confronted with what is, to us, an insuperable difficulty if Asenath prefigures the Church, namely, the fact that in the very next verse which follows the mention of Pharaoh giving a wife to Joseph, we are told, "And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Gen. 41:46). Had this statement followed immediately after Genesis 41:14, which records Joseph being brought out of prison to appear before Pharaoh, and after this we had been told Joseph received his wife, we should be obliged to regard Asenath as a type of the Church; but as it is, we believe the typical application must be sought elsewhere, as we shall now proceed to point out.
The Holy Spirit has here (we are assured, with definite design) made mention of Joseph having a wife before his "age" is referred to, and before his life's work began. That the age of Joseph at the time his real work started, pointed to the age of the Lord Jesus when His public ministry commenced, is too obvious to admit of dispute. The fact, then, that the Holy Spirit speaks of Joseph's wife before the mention of him being thirty years of age, suggests to the writer that the typical significance of Asenath must be sought at some point of time before the Lord Jesus entered upon His life's mission. And that, of course, takes us back to Old Testament times. And there, we do learn of Jehovah (the Lord Jesus) possessing a "wife," even Israel. From the various Scriptures which bring this out we select two verses from Jeremiah 3. There, God's prophet, when expostulating with His wayward people, said, "Turn, O backsliding children, said the Lord; for I am married unto you" (Jer. 3:14); "Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord" (Jer. 3:20).
But against this it will be objected, How could Asenath, the Egyptian, wife of Joseph, typify Israel, the wife of Jehovah? Formidable as this objection appears at first sight, it is, nevertheless, capable of easy solution. The difficulty disappears if we go back to the time when Israel first became Jehovah's wife. Upon this point the Scriptures are very explicit. In Ezekiel 16, where the prophet is outlining the sad history of Israel, and where he says, "How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman; in that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as a harlot, in that thou scornest hire. But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband;" here, at the outset, the prophet declares, "Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem, Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother a Hittite" (Ezek. 16:3). Here, then, we learn the origin (the moral origin, no doubt) of Israel, and how fittingly did Asenath, the Gentile, prefigure Jehovah's wife at that time! It was not until after Israel was redeemed from Egypt's bondage and corruption that they became separated from all other nations. If further confirmation be necessary it is found in Jeremiah 2:2, "Go cry in the ears of Jerusalem, thus saith the Lord; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown." Israel, then, became Jehovah's in Egypt, when redeemed by blood, and after by power.
The issue from Joseph's marriage appears to us to fit in with the interpretation suggested above much better than with the common application of the type of Asenath to the Church. "Unto Joseph were born two sons" (Gen. 41:50), and does not this correspond with the history of Israel after she became Jehovah's wife? Was not the issue of that union the two kingdoms in the days of Rehoboam, and does not the meaning of the names of Joseph's two sons well describe the two kingdoms which, ultimately, issued from Israel? "Joseph called the name of the first born Manasseh" (Gen. 41:51), which signifies "Forgetting," and was it not that which, peculiarly, characterized the ten-tribed kingdom! "The name of the second called he Ephraim" (Gen. 41:52), which means "Fruitful," and such was Judah, from whom the Lord Jesus came!
56. Joseph's marriage was arranged by Pharaoh. How perfectly this agrees with what we read of in Matthew 22:2! "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for His Son." The fact that Asenath is mentioned before we are told that Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh and began his life's work (type of Christ as He began His public ministry), and that the birth and naming of his sons occurred afterward, suggests (as is so often the case, both in types and prophecies) that there is here a double foreshadowment. This Gentile wife of Joseph points backward, first, to Israel's condition before Jehovah separated her from all other peoples and took her unto Himself; and, second, the type seems to point forward to the time when the Lord shall resume His dealings with her, see Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 16:62, 63; Hosea 2:19-23; Isaiah 54:5-8[1]). Then, too, shall the names of Joseph's two sons be found to possess a double significance, for God's will "forget" Israel's past, and Israel shall then, as never before, be found "fruitful."
57. Joseph was thirty years old when he began his life's work. "And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Gen. 41:46). Every line in this wondrous picture has its own beauty and value. There is nothing here without profound significance. The Holy Spirit has a definite design in telling us what was Joseph's age when his public service began. He was thirty years old. How perfectly does type and antitype correspond! In Luke 3:23 we read, "And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age." This was the age of the Lord Jesus when He commenced His public ministry, as it was Joseph's when he began his life's work.
58. Joseph went forth on his mission from Pharaoh's presence. "And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh" (Gen. 41:46). In this chapter PharaohÑas the one who ruled Egypt, who delighted in the excellencies of Joseph, who set Joseph over all his house, but who retained the position of supremacy as to the throneÑpre-figured God the Father. Viewed in this light, how blessed is the typical force of the last-made quotation. It was from Pharaoh's "presence" Joseph began his life's work! How marvelously this corresponds, again, with what we read in Luke 3! The words which immediately precede the mention of the Lord being thirty years old when His public service began, are the well-known utterance of the Father at the time of His baptism, "Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22). So little is told us about the Savior before His active ministry began. The years spent at Nazareth, save for that one brief statement which covered the period of His boyhood, are passed over in silence. But as He came up out of the waters of baptism, the Father bore public testimony to the perfect life which His Son had lived here on earth, for, without doubt, the words, "In Thee I am well pleased," not only affirmed the excellency of Christ's person, but witnessed to the Father's approval of the thirty years which His incarnate Son had spent in obscurity. That which we desire to call attention to here is, just as Joseph went forth to his work from Pharaoh's "presence," so the Lord Jesus started out on His public service from the Father's presence, there manifested at the Jordan!
59. Joseph's service was an active and itinerant one. "And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt" (Gen. 41:46). Joseph was no idler. He did not betray Pharaoh's confidence in him, but faithfully discharged his duty. He did not remain in the place of ease and comfort, but "went throughout all the land of Egypt." How well these words remind us of what we read in the Gospels concerning that One whom Joseph foreshadowed. Of Him we read, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness" (Matthew 4:23). And again, "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages" (Matthew 9:35).
60. Joseph's exaltation was followed by a season of plenty. "And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number" (Gen. 41:47-49). Concerning the typical meaning of these verses we quote from Mr. Knapp: "These seven years of great abundance picture, if they do not typify, the present dispensation of grace in which it is our happy lot to live. ÔNow is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation' (2 Cor. 6:2). There were seven years, not of plenty merely, but of Ôgreat plenty.' And during those years, we read Ôthe earth brought forth by handfuls.' It was a time of extraordinary abundance. And there was never a day like the one in which we live. Never before the present dispensation did God send His messengers out into all the world to proclaim to every sinner a free and a full salvation through faith in the name of His own exalted Son. There never was a time of such Ôabundance,' such Ôgreat plenty,' at any former period of God's dealings with the earth. And it is a remarkable fact, which I have not seen previously noted, that of all the distinct dispensations of time referred to in Scripture, the present is by far the longest. And oh, what a tale of grace this tells! God is indeed Ôlong suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish.'"
We doubt not that the saved of this dispensation are far in excess of any previous one. How few were saved during the centuries which passed from the days of Abel up to the Flood! How few appear to have been saved during the times of the patriarchs! How few among Israel, from the days of Joshua onwards, gave evidence of being born again! How few seem to have been saved during the public ministry of ChristÑbut a hundred and twenty were found in the upper room waiting for the Holy Spirit. How evident it is, then, that in contrast from all that has preceded, the earth is now bringing forth "in abundance"! It is the "much fruit" (John 12:24) which our Lord declared should issue from His death.
61. Joseph's exaltation was also followed by a period of famine. "And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said; and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread" (Gen. 41:53, 54). Just as the "seven years"Ña complete periodÑpointed to the present interval of Grace, during which the great spiritual harvest is being garnered, so the "seven years" of famine (another complete period) look onward to that which shall follow the present dispensation. After the going forth of the Gospel of God's grace has accomplished its Divine purpose, and "the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Rom. 11:25), the Holy Spirit will depart out of the world, and there shall come that season which Scripture denominates "the great tribulation." Many are the passages which refer to that season. It is termed "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7), for then will be the season of Israel's darkest hour. It was to this Daniel referred when he said, "There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time" (Dan. 12:1). Concerning this same period the Lord Jesus spake, when He said, "For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved" (Mark 13:19, 20). It will be the time when Satan is east down to the earth, when the Antichrist shall be here in full power, and when the storm of God's judgment shall burst upon the world. Morally and spiritually, it will be a time of "famine," and, like that which typified it in the days of Joseph, it shall be" very grievous" (Gen. 41:31). Moreover, the sphere encompassed by God's sore judgments in that day will be no local one, but just as we are told that the dearth of old was not confined to Egypt, but that "the famine was over the face of all the earth" (Gen. 41:56), so in Revelation 3:10 we are told, the "Hour of Temptation" comes upon "all the world, to try them which dwell upon the earth." It was of this same period that Amos prophesied, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall wander, from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it" (Amos 8:11, 12). At present the world is enjoying the years of plenty, and how little it believes in the coming time of "famine," now so near at hand! Be warned then, dear reader, and "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isa. 55:6); for, if you are left on earth for the coming Day of Wrath, it shall be said, "the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved" (Jer. 8:20).
62. Joseph is now seen dispensing bread to a perishing world. "And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do" (Gen. 41:55). "It was a wonderful thing that the despised and rejected Jew should be the passport to the favor of Pharaoh; a wonderful thing that the rejected Jew should be exalted into the place of a Savior for a famine-smitten world; it was a wonderful thing that this rejected Jew should be the only Savior for that starving world. Equally true and wonderful is it today that Jesus the rejected Jew is the passport to the favor of God; that He is Ôthe Way, the Truth, and the Life,' and that Ôno man cometh unto the Father but by Him'; wonderful that this rejected Christ should be exalted into a Savior for a famine-smitten world; wonderful that this rejected Christ is the alone Savior for a starving world.
"Joseph was sent by his father to his brethren that he might be a blessing unto them, and they refused; then God turned their sin so that while it should remain as a judgment to them, it might become a blessing to others. In sending His Son to fulfill the promises made to the fathers, God would have brought covenant and numberless blessings to Israel; they refused, and God has made use of their blindness and sin to turn salvation to others. He has made the very sin and blindness of the people to be the occasion of grace and mercy to the whole world. Ô Through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles' (Rom. 11:11)."ÑDr. H.
63. Joseph alone dispensed the Bread of Life. It is beautiful to observe here how Pharaoh directed all who cried to him for bread to go unto Joseph: "And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians: Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do" (Gen. 41:55). May we not say this was the Gospel for Egypt, the good news that Joseph was the appointed Savior, the glad tidings that whosoever was hungry might go to Joseph and obtain relief. How perfectly this foreshadowed the present Gospel of God's grace! When a guilty and convicted sinner, with a great hunger in his soul, cries unto God, what is His response? Why, does He not refer all such to the person of His blessed Son! Only in Christ is salvation to be found, for "neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other Name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Just as of old Pharaoh said to the Egyptians, "Go unto Joseph: what he saith to you, do," so, upon the Mount of Transfiguration the Father said to the disciples of Christ, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Matthew 17:5), and this is what He is still saying to men.
64. Joseph became a Savior to all peoples. "And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands"(Gen. 41:57). Joseph was raised up by God to meet a world-wide need. The "dearth" was in "all lands" (Gen. 41:54). But God, through Joseph, made ample provision to supply the wants of all. There was nothing provincial about the bounties which Joseph dispensed, he readily gave to each alike, no matter whether it was the Egyptians, his own brothers, or strangers from distant lands, all were fed. And how blessed to know this is equally true of the Antitype! God's Savior for sinners is no provincial one. He is for both Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, educated and illiterate, old and young, men and womenÑall, alike, may find in Him that which can satisfy their deepest need, the Gospel is for every creature, and its terms are, "Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." And just as peoples from "all countries came to Joseph," so those who will sing the new song in heaven shall proclaim, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with Thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people and nation" (Rev. 5:9).
65. Joseph had illimitable resources to meet the need of all. "And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number" (Gen. 41:49). How abundant was God's provision! He provided with no niggardly hand. There was to be amply sufficient for every one that applied for the alleviation of his need. And how this reminds us of those blessed expressions which we meet with so frequently in the Epistles! There we read of" the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7), yea, "the exceeding riches of His grace" (Eph. 2:7). There we read of God being "rich in mercy" (Eph. 2:4), and, again, of His "abundant mercy" (1 Pet. 1:3). There we read of "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8), for "in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9). And again we are told, "The same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him" (Rom. 10:12).
Thank God, the Savior He has provided for us is possessed of illimitable resources. There is no shortness or strainness in Him. There is infinite value in that precious blood which He shed upon the Cross to make an atonement for sin. There is infinite pity in His heart toward sinners. There is infinite readiness and willingness on His part to receive all who will come to Him. There is infinite power in His arm to deliver and keep that which is committed unto Him. There is no sinner so depraved that Christ's blood cannot cleanse him. There is no sinner so bound by the fetters of Satan that Christ cannot free him. There is no sinner so weary and despondent that Christ cannot satisfy him. The promise of the Savior Himself is, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). O, sin-sick soul, put Him to the test for yourself, and see. Come to Christ just as you are, in all your wretchedness and need, and He will gladly receive you, blot out all your iniquities, and put a new song into your mouth. May God, in His grace, cause some despondent ones to prove for themselves the infinite sufficiency of His Son.
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ENDNOTES:
[1] The spiritual and dispensational condition of Israel at the moment when God shall resume His dealings with His ancient people, is, again, aptly figured by a Gentile, for they are termed by Him now, and until then ÒLo-ammiÓ (Hosea 1:9), which means ÒNot My people.Ó
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