Day 19
Genesis 38:1-39:23; Matthew 13:36-58; Psalm 11:1-7
It is when we walk in the ways of the Lord that we see the distinction in the Gospel between the good seed and the weeds and the good fish and the bad fish. And others see that difference as well. Look at Potiphar, “when he saw that the Lord was with Joseph” (39:3) he gave Joseph status and rank within his household, he became Potiphar’s chief attendant. This is a big position in the household of Pharaoh's official. And all this because it was clear that Joseph walked with the Lord. God sees it and other people see it.
So, in whatever we do, will people see that we walk with the Lord? Will we be a Judah or a Joseph this week?
As an aside, Judah is another of those important names that keep cropping up. When Israel become divided later in the Old Testament story, one half of it is called Judah. Having joked away all the names in chapter 36 yesterday, it is interesting to keep an eye on them as they pass by. Again yesterday we had Moab, who we have already mentioned and will crop up in the story of Ruth. There is also Midian in there, and the Midianites will be one group of people we will see a lot of. As we go through the Old Testament we are getting a real sense of the bigger picture that really helps us understand what Jesus said and who he was saying it to (ie the context in which he said it). Even if you are not into history, keep your eye in these bits.
“The Lord was with him” (Gen 39:21)The story continues with Joseph and Potiphar, the story of a slave who has done good. Running alongside it though is that of Judah, a story that does not seem to turn out quite so well. As I read through the Old Testament today I noticed that there was one thing missing in Judah’s story that appears a few times in Joseph’s story. The writer at this point felt it was important to remind us that God was with Joseph and just as importantly we need to remember that Joseph was with God. Judah on the other hand didn’t seem to walk in the ways of the Lord at this point and things don’t look quit so rosy and ordered. Even when Joseph get’s thrown into prison, God works in it all to ensure that His will is done.
It is when we walk in the ways of the Lord that we see the distinction in the Gospel between the good seed and the weeds and the good fish and the bad fish. And others see that difference as well. Look at Potiphar, “when he saw that the Lord was with Joseph” (39:3) he gave Joseph status and rank within his household, he became Potiphar’s chief attendant. This is a big position in the household of Pharaoh's official. And all this because it was clear that Joseph walked with the Lord. God sees it and other people see it.
So, in whatever we do, will people see that we walk with the Lord? Will we be a Judah or a Joseph this week?
As an aside, Judah is another of those important names that keep cropping up. When Israel become divided later in the Old Testament story, one half of it is called Judah. Having joked away all the names in chapter 36 yesterday, it is interesting to keep an eye on them as they pass by. Again yesterday we had Moab, who we have already mentioned and will crop up in the story of Ruth. There is also Midian in there, and the Midianites will be one group of people we will see a lot of. As we go through the Old Testament we are getting a real sense of the bigger picture that really helps us understand what Jesus said and who he was saying it to (ie the context in which he said it). Even if you are not into history, keep your eye in these bits.
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