Post Sunday Devotional April 27 2008

Genesis 42:5 “And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.”

Imagine how the nation of Egypt must have felt that all (at least those in the immediate surrounding countries, as far as we know) flowed into Egypt seeking food. Some of those living in Egypt I’m sure were extremely grateful that the future was revealed to them so that they could make the necessary adjustments to account for the severe famine that was to come. Others may have taken a superior attitude toward this influx of foreigners looking for food and treated them poorly. If we see this simply as food we will not only miss the point of a major theme throughout Genesis, but a major them throughout the entire bible.

To state the obvious, without food we will eventually wither and die. This was not simply a matter of food but a matter of life and death. The first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), which the Jews refer to as the Torah, the Books of Moses or the Pentateuch have an overriding theme of life and death throughout. Look and listen to the Word of God as is communicated to the people of Israel when they are finally brought out of Egypt and about to enter into the Promise Land:

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

All were coming to Egypt not simply for food but for life, to sustain life, to renew or find hope. All peoples coming to Egypt to find hope and God raised up a man out of the pits to dispense of that life and hope for Him. Does Joseph’s godly character now seem all the more vital seeing how he has been entrusted with this position? To help others live. Imagine if he did so in cruel fashion. Imagine if he did so without grace, without mercy. This famine was devastating for many but God had provided a solution and provided someone to ensure that others were not simply cared for but life would be given graciously.

Joseph's brothers were in a place in which life to them was over, there was nothing left but to simply look at one another (Genesis 42:1) At that point someone needed to come along to encourage them (kick them!) to point them toward life. Jacob (Dad), one who we know was not perfect, but one who did love these boys came to them and provided them with information that would bring them to a place in which they could find life. Go to Egypt, believe me there is life there and that is good news for all of us.

Does any of this sound familiar? God in His divine wisdom saw a people that were not being pointed toward life, but being burdened with rules and regulations that were supposedly done in order to gain life, but instead all these rules and regulations did was created a desperate famine of the soul, people were withering away, hopeless, scattered and lost. Along came Jesus, One Who was from the beginning, One Who was perfect in every way, not only did He understand the scriptures, He was the scriptures and He came to provided life (In Him was life, John 1:4). But He did it in such a way that would awaken the consciousness of a world that had given up on hope and instead sought satisfaction through a variety of other means. He brought the religious world to a place in which they could see their famine, their need and then pointed them back to the sustainer of life. As Jesus spoke in Mark repent (turn from the life you now live) and believe (what to turn and trust in) the gospel (the good news, Jesus Christ and what His death, burial and resurrection did).

Jacob essentially told his boys the same thing, repent (turn from this life of hopelessness you’ve created via your sin, i.e. read chapters 34-39 outlining their sinful behavior and lifestyle), believe (in the fact that Egypt can provide for our lives) the good news (there is a great surplus of life there in Egypt).

What does this mean to us? Well, I’m glad you asked. You and I have been called to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17, Luke 5:10). We aren’t simply going out to “make converts.” Yes, in the definition of convert that is what happens they move from one thing to another, but our role as fishers is not to make anyone a convert, we are endued with the incredible privilege to point others toward life. To point them to the end of the famine of their souls. When we see it that way we should now see the incredible importance of the rising of our characters to be more like the One we’ve trusted in for that life, Jesus Christ. God was shaping Joseph’s character not for a simple example, but because he was to become an individual that was going to be God’s agent of providing life for others.

Take this week to read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) randomly (yes randomly) and read slowly through the differing accounts of Jesus and His interactions with the people. How did He love them? How did He speak to them? Who was He upset with? Why was He upset? How did He view God? Once you answer those questions then take them and compare them with How do you love people? How do you speak to people? Who do you get upset with and why? How do you view God and how does that show in your day to day life? It is important as disciples of Christ that we answer these questions and many others for that matter because….

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 “All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.” NLT

Two More Questions to ask Yourself (beyond what was already in the above paragraphs!)

Do you see where God has shaped your character, not for your benefit, but in order to benefit those who have yet to find life?
How is your character doing in reconciling (pointing others toward life) others to God? Improving? Stagnant? Declining?