anitasanecdotes

Exodus 9 seems a little like the movie “Groundhog Day” in relation to Exodus 8. We are still seeing God tell Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh; Pharaoh refuse to let the people go; God rain down some plague on the people of Egypt, but not on the Israelites and Pharaoh’s hear continuing to be hard.

There is a pestilence on all the livestock.  There were boils on all the Egyptians and their animals.  There was hail and those who had not listened and protected themselves were destroyed as were their animals and all the vegetation. But no hail fell on Goshen.

During the hail Pharaoh admitted his sin and asked Moses to have God stop the hail. Moses did and God did and as soon as the hail stopped Pharaoh continued to sin.

In Exodus 10 things have not changed.  Moses threatens to send locusts. The officials beg Pharaoh to relent and let the Israelites go but Pharaoh refuses. The locusts come. Again, Pharaoh admits his sin and God stops the locusts, but Pharaoh continues to refuse. So god sent darkness over Egypt for three days. The Israelites had light.

Pharaoh says that the Israelites and their children may go and worship God but they must leave all of their animals. Moses explains that the animals must go with them so they may sacrifice. All of the animals must come because they won’t know which animals will be used for the sacrifice until they get there.  Pharaoh refuses.

God wants Pharaoh to become humble and Pharaoh remains proud. It doesn’t matter whether all of his country is suffering he will not relent. If you recall your ancient history the pharaohs were considered to be gods by their people. If Pharaoh  relented to this Israelite God then he would lose his divine status. Status was more important than safety or the life of his people. He must keep his position as god. He continues to refuse to give in.

In Matthew 21 Jesus and his disciples arrive outside Jerusalem. Jesus plans to enter Jerusalem in a big way. He tells his disciples to get a donkey and a colt and Jesus rides them into Jerusalem. The people acclaim him as the Messiah and call him a prophet.

Jesus enters the temple and sees the vendors selling sacrificial animals and exchanging currency. Jesus turns over the tables and accuses the vendors of being robbers in the house of prayer. This angers the chief priests and scribes.

Jesus returns to the temple the next day and has an argument with the priests and elders. Jesus tells several parables that speak out against the chief priests and Pharisees. He accuses them of not accepting God’s plan. As a result they will lose God’s blessings and God will bless others who produce the fruit of the kingdom. They want to arrest Jesus then and there but are afraid of what the crowds might do.

Jesus is no longer keeping quiet about who he is. He is ready to confront all those who would move against God’s will and lead the people down the wrong path. He knows the ultimate outcome of such behavior but he is fulfilling God’s purpose for his ministry.

Like Pharaoh, the priests and Pharisees are unwilling to give up their position to acknowledge that Jesus is the chosen one. They are threatened by his authority. They would rather get rid of him than admit that he might just be right.

Moses has just complained to God about Pharaoh and doubts that he can change Pharaoh’s mind because of his inability to speak. In Exodus 7 God tells what is going to happen. Moses will speak all that God commands and Aaron will tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. But Pharaoh will refuse because his heart is hard. God will then punish Egypt and eventually Pharaoh will let the Israelites go.

God tells Moses and Aaron that Pharaoh will ask for a sign and they should do the staff/snake sign in response. Pharaoh asks, Moses and Aaron respond. Pharaoh has his magicians do the same sign but Aaron’s snake eat the magicians’ snakes. But Pharaoh doesn’t listen and refuses to let the people go.

God tells Moses and Aaron to turn the water of the Nile into blood. Moses and Aaron do so. But Pharaoh’s magicians do it also and Pharaoh still refuses.

In Exodus 8, God tells Moses and Aaron to tell Pharaoh to let His people go and if he refuses to threaten a plague of frogs. Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh, Pharaoh refuses and frogs cover all of Egypt. Pharaoh’s magicians were able to do this also. Pharaoh asks Moses and Aaron to have God remove the frogs and he will let the people go. They do; God kills the frogs; the frogs smell; and Pharaoh still refuses.

God tells Moses and Aaron to raise the staff and gnats will cover the earth. They do and the gnats come. The magicians try to do the same but can’t. The magicians say this is God’s doing, but Pharaoh still doesn’t listen.

God tells Moses to approach Pharaoh again and if he doesn’t listen swarms of flies will come, but only on Egypt, there will be no flies in Goshen. The flies come and Pharaoh says the Israelites can sacrifice to their God but in Egypt. Moses says this would be an offense to God and that they must go out into the wilderness. Pharaoh says they may go if God removes the flies. God does so, but Pharaoh goes back on his word again and does not let the people go.

I have often wondered why Pharaoh keeps refusing. Sometimes, the text says that God hardens Pharaoh’s heart sometimes it says that Pharaoh hardens his own heart. Whatever the reason, Pharaoh refuses to believe that what God promises will come to pass. At first he could claim that it is just magic and not God, but after a while even his magicians credit God with the plagues. And still God refuses. Do you know of someone who just will not believe no matter what proof you give them?  Their hearts are hard and only god can turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh. Keep praying for them.

Both Psalm 13 and Psalm 14 are psalms of lament. In 13, the writer feels as though God has forgotten him and he is under attack. He needs to see God’s answer or he fears he will be defeated. In 14, the writer sees only corrupt people around him who do not believe in God.

Both psalms end with the writer reassuring himself that God is present. God will bring salvation and he and Israel will rejoice.

Even in the midst of difficult times, when it appears that God is not there, it is important to remind ourselves that He, in fact, is there and will deliver us from all that threatens to destroy us. We must look forward to the time of rejoicing.

In Exodus 5 Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and tell him that the Lord, the God of Israel wants him to let the people of Israel go and worship Him. Unlike the pharaoh in Joseph’s day who acknowledged God, this pharaoh does not know God and will not let them go. He then has his taskmasters take away the straw and make the people get the straw on their own but still produce as many brick as when the straw was provided. When they cannot meet their quotas they are beaten.

He tells the people it is because they are asking to go and sacrifice to God, and so he believes they are lazy.

The Israelites blame Moses and Aaron for what is happening to them. Moses asks God why this is happening. He tells God that Pharaoh is mistreating the people and God hasn’t done anything to deliver them.

In Exodus 6 God responds to Moses by telling him about the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God has remembered His covenant and will deliver the people from slavery. He will bring them to the land promised to their ancestors and they will know that he is their God.

Moses tells this to the people but they did not believe him since they are struggling under oppression. Moses tells God that they did not listen and he doesn’t believe that Pharaoh will listen to him either.

God orders him to put the people in companies grouped by their ancestors. He then tells Aaron and Moses to speak to Pharaoh. Moses again doubts God’s plans citing that he is a poor speaker.

At the end of Matthew 19 Jesus says that the last will be first and the first will be last. He tells a parable explaining this in Matthew 20. A man hires some people to work in his vineyard. Some he hires early in the day and others he hires later in the day. He pays them all the same. The ones who worked since morning complain. The man says that he gave them what was due, why should they question his generosity with what belongs to him. It doesn’t matter when a person comes into the kingdom, all will receive the same eternal life.

They are traveling to Jerusalem and Jesus tells the twelve that he will be handed over to the chief priests, be condemned to death, be beaten and crucified and then be raised. At this point the Mother of James and John asks that her sons be able to sit at his side in the kingdom. He asks them if they can drink the cup he will drink. They say they can and he says that they will do so, but only God knows who will sit beside him in the kingdom.

The other disciples get angry with James and John, but Jesus against chides them about wanting to be the greatest. In his kingdom the one who wants to be the greatest must be the servant and give his life.

In Exodus 3 Moses is out with his father-in-law’s sheep. He sees a bush that is burning, but is not consumed and he decides to go see it. As Moses approaches God speaks to him out of the bush.

God tells Moses to remove his shoes because he is standing on holy ground. In some cultures, people remove their shoes for worship because they are standing in the presence of God, holy ground. It is good for us to remember that every time we come to worship we are entering a holy place. Something about us should change.

God introduces himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses is afraid and hides his face. God tells Moses that he has heard the cries of the Israelites and is going to free them from the Egyptians. They will be brought to the land of milk and honey. Moses is the one who will speak to Pharaoh about letting his people go.

Moses asks who he is that God thinks he should be the one to do this thing. In fact, Moses is probably the only one who could go see Pharaoh. It is true that he has committed a crime and so it might be dangerous, but Moses has been accepted as Pharaoh’s grandson, the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He is free to come into the pharaoh’s court as a member of the family so to speak.

Then Moses questions whether the Israelites will listen to him. How is he supposed to convince them that he has

spoken with God? God tells Moses His name, “I AM WHO I AM.” In Hebrew, the present and future tense look the same so this phrase also means “I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE,” a fitting way for us to understand who God is, not to be defined by us but determined by His own will. The word, which is translated LORD, is Yahweh, which comes from the tetragrammaton YHWH derived from the root word “to be.”

God tells Moses that the people will listen and the elders will join him in speaking to Pharaoh. But, Pharaoh will have to be persuaded to agree to let the people go.

The chapter ends with God saying that the people of Israel will go with plunder freely given by the Egyptians. The woman will be given jewelry of gold and silver. This becomes significant later on.

In Exodus 4 Moses is still questioning whether the people will believe this is God’s plan. God gives him three signs to perform: turning a staff into a snake and back again; turning his hand leprous and restoring it; and turning water into blood.

Moses then gives the excuse that he doesn’t speak well and God says that he will send his brother Aaron along to speak for him. Moses has no more excuses and asks Jethro’s permission to return to Egypt. Jethro agrees and Moses takes his family to Egypt. Aaron met up with Moses and they did as God commanded. The people believed and worshiped God.

How many times when we are asked to do something for God or the church do we make excuses? Do we ask for signs to convince us? Are we as reticent as Moses? If God truly wants us to do something for Him he will remove all of the obstacles that we put in His way. Perhaps it is best just to say “YES!”

As Matthew 19 begins the Pharisees test Jesus by asking when it is appropriate to divorce. Jesus answers that it is never appropriate because in marriage the two become one flesh. They press him harder since there is a law in the Torah that allows a certificate of dismissal. Jesus says that it is their hard-heartedness that makes divorce allowable, but only in the case of the wife committing adultery. The disciples question him by saying that if that is the only way that divorce is allowable perhaps no one should get married at all. Jesus responds that only those called to celibacy should remain single and celibate.

Some children are brought to Jesus and the disciples resist, but Jesus that children should not be stopped from coming to him because to such as these does the kingdom belong. This is a repetition of an earlier teaching about becoming humble like a child.

A man comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus answers that he should keep the commandments. He is asked which ones and gives some. The man says that he keeps those commandments. Jesus, looking into the man’s heart, says that he must sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor. The man loves his money and cannot do this, so he leaves.

The disciples ask who can be saved and Jesus says that for us it is impossible, but for God all things are possible. Peter acknowledges that they have left everything to follow Jesus. Jesus says they will sit on twelve thrones and judge the tribes of Israel. Then he ways that all who have left house of family or possessions for his sake will inherit eternal life.

Is Jesus really saying that we must physically give up everything in order to follow him? Perhaps, for some this is true. What is most important is the willingness to give everything up to do what God wants, or more appropriately to trust God for all that is in ones’ life and to entrust all that has been given back to God. We can do nothing on our own to deserve heaven but God makes it possible when we put our trust in him.

Exodus 1 begins a new chapter in the life of God’s chosen people. It is takes place about 400 years after the time of Joseph. The Israel’s descendants are living in the land of Goshen and have prospered. The current pharaoh does not know who Joseph is and is not pleased that these people are thriving on his land.

He intentionally works to bring the Israelites down. He makes them slaves and sets oppressive taskmasters over them. But they thrive. He works them even harder in the making and laying of bricks and mortar and field work, but they thrive. He speaks to their midwives and orders them to kill all the male babies who are born. Two of the midwives Shiphrah and Puah fear God much more than they fear the pharaoh so they let the boys live. The pharaoh questions them about it and they respond that the Hebrew women have babies too quickly and the midwives cannot get to them in time. God continues to bless the Israelites and they thrive.

As Exodus 1 ends and Exodus 2 begins the pharaoh commands his people to throw all the Hebrew boys into the Nile. One of the men from the house of Levi and his wife, who is also a Levite, have a baby boy. She hides him for three months until she can hide him no longer. She constructs a papyrus basket for him and covers it with pitch. She puts the child in the basket and puts it in the Nile. She has her daughter watch to see what happens to the baby.

One day Pharaoh’s daughter is bathing in the Nile and she seed the basket in the reeds. She sees the baby boy and takes pity on him. The baby’s sister comes to her and asks if she wants her to find a Hebrew wet nurse for the baby. The girl finds her mother and Pharaoh’s daughter has her nurse the boy until he is ready to be weaned.

Pharaoh’s daughter takes the baby as her son and names him Moses because she drew him out of the water.

Moses grows up knowing that he is Hebrew. When he sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave he becomes angry and kills the Egyptians. The news of what he has done spreads and when Pharaoh finds out, he seeks to kill Moses.

Moses runs away to Midian. He meets the daughters of the priest of Midian at the well. Moses saves them from some shepherds who were trying to chase them away. The priest allows Moses to stay with him. Eventually he gives Moses one of his daughters in marriage and they have a son.

The pharaoh dies, but the Israelites remain in slavery. God hears their cries and remembers His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

In Psalm 11 the writer takes refuge in the Lord. He acknowledges that God tests both the wicked and the righteous. God will punish the wicked, but loves the deeds of the righteous, because God is righteous.

The writer of Psalm 12 cries out to God because he feels as though he is the only righteous person lect. The unfaithful boast that they are their own master. The Lord sees and hears the pleas of the poor and needy. He moves them to a safe place. The promises of the Lord are pure, he will protect us even though the wicked are on every side.

These readings all speak of God’s love and faithfulness in the midst of persecution and oppression. God sees the righteous even as they are being persecuted and causes them to thrive under his protection. God takes us out of the situations in which we find ourselves and works everything out according to His purposes. Even if it seems as though the situation is hopeless and will not come to good we must have faith that God is still there fulfilling his pure promises for our lives.

As we begin Genesis 49 we finally reach the closing scenes of the beginning of the Bible.

Jacob gathers his sons around him and addresses each one of them, those who become the twelve tribes of Israel. Although Reuben should receive his father’s blessings as the firstborn son, he had an affair with one of the maids who mothered some of Jacob’s children. Therefore Jacob says he will never excel. Simeon and Levi are violent men and Jacob distances himself from them and scatters their offspring in Israel. Judah is blessed by Jacob. He becomes the lion, the ruler over the others. He is prefigured as the one through whose line come those who rule Israel. Zebulun is to settle at the seashore and his lands become a port. Issachar’s offspring will become slaves. Dan shall become a judge in Israel. Gad shall be at war. Asher will provide rich foods.  Naphtali  becomes a wordsmith. Joseph will receive bountiful blessings. Benjamin will become a warrior. After blessing his sons, Jacob again charges them to take him to the cave where his ancestors are buried and he breathes his last breath.

In Genesis 50 Joseph mourns his father’s death. He has the physicians of Egypt embalm Israel and all of Egypt mourned. Joseph and his household and his brother’s and father’s households go to bury Israel in Canaan. The children are left behind. Israel is buried in the place Abraham had chosen near Mamre. They all return to Egypt.

Joseph’s brothers still believe that Joseph is holding a grudge, so invoking the name of their father, they ask Joseph to forgive them and offer themselves as slaves. Joseph repeats what he said to them before that while they meant to harm him God intended it for good. Joseph promises to provide for them

When Joseph is about to die he blesses his brothers and says that God will bring them out of the land of Egypt as he had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He makes them promise to take his bones with them. Joseph dies and is placed in a coffin in Egypt.

As Matthew 18 opens the disciples are asking Jesus who will be the greatest in heaven. Bring a child close to him Jesus says that they must become humble like little children in order to be accepted into heaven. He warns against being a stumbling block to others. Jesus encourages them to seek out the lost even as a shepherd hunts for the one who has gone astray even though the 99 remain.

He encourages them to address another who has wronged them. The goal is reconciliation but if the offender refuses to listen then the offender must be turned out. Peter asks how many times one must forgive another. He offers seven times thinking that is enough. Jesus replies that it should be seventy seven (or seventy times seven) times. The number seven is the perfect and complete number. Jesus is expressing that forgiveness should always be given, there is no limit.

He tells a parable about a king who forgives a servant who owes a great deal. After the servant goes home he see someone who owes him a small amount and puts him in prison. When the king hears about this he calls the servant to him and sys that the servant should have mercy on others because he was granted such great mercy. The king then punishes the servant until he can pay what he owes. Jesus says that God will do the same to us if we do not forgive.

Forgiveness is one of the most difficult things we can offer to someone else. Our natural response is to carry a grudge and want revenge and retribution. But in these texts we see that Joseph always looked for God’s purpose in what had happened to him, even in those times when he was mistreated. He had no trouble forgiving them. Jesus helps us put things into perspective by showing us how much we have been forgiven. Who are we to harbor a grudge against another when our Lord has forgiven us of everything we have ever done? In gratitude we should offer forgiveness to others.

In Genesis 47 Joseph brings some of his brothers to meet Pharaoh. They offer themselves as servants to Pharaoh and explain that they are in Egypt because of the famine. Pharaoh offers them the best land in Egypt. He sees that they are shepherds and asks Joseph to put the most capable of his brothers in charge of his own livestock.

Joseph brings his father Jacob to Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Jacob and Joseph’s brothers settle in Egypt. Joseph provides his family with food.

The famine continues. Under Joseph’s oversight, the people of Egypt pay for grain with all of their money, livestock and land. The people become Pharaoh’s slaves. The only land Pharaoh did not buy was the land of the priests because Pharaoh pays them an allowance. Joseph gives the people seed and takes from them one fifth of their harvest each year.

Israel is getting old and knows he is close to death. He makes Joseph promise to take him to the burial place of his ancestors when he dies and not to bury him in Egypt. Joseph promises.

In Genesis 48 Israel is ill. Joseph brings his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim to this father. Israel tells Joseph of the covenant God made with him. He takes Joseph’s sons as his own. Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons. Israel tells Joseph of how grateful he is to God for allowing him to see Joseph again. Israel extends to Joseph’s sons the blessing of his offspring, but gives the greater blessing to Ephraim, the younger son. Joseph tries to correct Israel but Israel insists.

Matthew 17 opens about a week after the disciples pronounced that Jesus is the Messiah. He takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain. There he is transfigured, glowing like the sun and dressed in dazzling white. The disciples see Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Peter wants to make three booths for Jesus, Elijah and Moses in order to worship them. A cloud covers them and they hear a voice say, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with him I am well pleased, listen to him. The disciples fall to the ground. Jesus touches each of them and tells them not to be afraid. When they look up they only see Jesus. As they come down the mountain Jesus orders them not to tell anyone what they have seen.

Jesus meets an epileptic who the disciples cannot cure. Jesus cures him. The disciples ask why they were unable to help him and Jesus says it is because of their lack of faith.

Jesus explains what is going to happen to him: his betrayal, death and resurrection. The disciples are distressed by what he says.

Later the collectors of the temple tax ask if Jesus has paid it. Peter says he has. Jesus confronts Peter by telling him that he does not own the tax since he is God’s Son (not in those words). But to appease them he has Peter catch a fish and says there will be a coin in its mouth with which he can pay the tax.

We are still dealing with issues of faith and doubt. Joseph shows great faith in his life and because of that he is blessed. Jacob continues to stretch the boundaries even when he is close to death, but God’s blessing is still upon them. The disciples do not have enough faith to carry out their duties and still worry about the future, and yet Jesus still cares for them. God’s love for us is steadfast, whether we have faith or doubt, whether we trust or don’t. God still provides.

When we last left the story Joseph was trying his hardest to keep up the front and be hard on his brothers but as Genesis 45 opens Joseph can’t take it any longer. He sends his staff away and lets his brothers know who he is. He is so happy that everyone around can hear his weeping.

Joseph’s brothers are not so happy to see him as he is them, perhaps because they know what they did. They see how successful and powerful Joseph is and are worried he might punish them for the harm they caused him.

On the contrary Joseph reassures them. He says that they are not to blame for sending him to Egypt, rather God is responsible for putting him here so that he can save them.

Joseph sends for his father and the rest of the household so that they can settle in the land of Goshen nearby. Pharaoh hears what has happened and he rolls out the red carpet for Joseph’s brothers and promises to give them the best of Egypt because of their relationship to Joseph.

Joseph sends his brothers on their way to get their families and his father. He provides for their journey both to Canaan and back. When his brothers arrive home, they tell their father that Joseph is alive. This revives their father and he agrees to go to Egypt.

In Genesis 46 as Israel is going to Egypt he passes by Beer-sheba and offers a sacrifice to God. God speaks to Israel and tells him not to be afraid of going to Egypt. God promises to go with him and make of him a great nation.

Israel, his sons, their households, livestock and possessions arrive in Egypt. When Joseph heard from his bother Judah that Israel was on his way, Joseph goes out to meet him. They hug each other weeping. Joseph tells him that he is going to let Pharaoh know that his family has arrived. He gives them instructions on how to meet Pharaoh.

The contrast between Joseph and his family is striking. Joseph has lived in complete trust that God is providing for him. He sees that everything he has comes from God and everything that has happened to him was God’s doing for a purpose. His brothers and father still struggle to see that God will protect provide for them. Even though they were told that they didn’t need to bring anything with them, they packed up all of their possessions and carted along their baggage.

As we examine this contrast in dealing with the things life throws at us we can see which we are most like.

As Matthew 16 opens the Pharisees and Sadducees are continuing to test Jesus. They ask for a sign from heaven. Jesus becomes indignant. He basically says that they can’t seem to see the signs that are right in front of them. They can read other signs but have a blind spot when it comes to believing the signs they see about Jesus. He refers to the sign of Jonah, which most believe related to his death and resurrection (Jonah having spent three days in the fish before being released).

Jesus warns his followers about the yeast (teachings) of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The disciples misunderstand and think he is concerned because they didn’t bring bread with them. It is clear that Jesus is becoming frustrated by the disciple’s inability to see who he is also. He rebukes them for worrying about bread and reminds them of the many times he provided for them.

They come to Caesarea Philippi and Jesus asks them who others say he is. They relay that it is thought he is John the Baptist or Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. Jesus then asks who they think he is and Simon responds “you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”  Jesus changes his name to Peter (Cephas) which means rock and says that upon this rock he will build his church.

Jesus is speaking about the fact that he is the Messiah, the Son of God and this is foundational for the message that will be proclaimed by those gathered together to become his church. This is the only place where Jesus uses the word church (ekklesia – gathered in ones).

Jesus begins to explain to the disciples what it means for him to be the Messiah. Peter tells Jesus this can’t happen and Jesus rebukes him. He calls Peter “Satan” which means “adversary.” Jesus accuses him of only thinking about earthly things: self-preservation, gaining power, victory in the battle. Then Jesus explains that Jesus and his followers are called to give up those things that the world calls good and carry the cross that God gives in order to gain true life.

One wonders if the disciples who came so quickly when Jesus first said “Come, follow me” are now wondering what they got themselves into.

In Genesis 43 Joseph’s family never returns to Egypt. They finish eating the provisions they had brought and Israel wants them to go for more. Judah reminds him that they cannot go to Egypt without Benjamin. Their father berates them for telling this Egyptian man (Joseph) about their brother. Judah promises to bring Benjamin back safely. After laying on the guilt Israel allows the brothers to go to Egypt.

When Joseph sees Benjamin with his brothers he has his steward take them to his house for a meal. The brothers are afraid of what this might mean. They think he is going to accuse them of stealing the money they found in their sacks. They tell the steward what had happened and that they have returned the money and have more money for their current purchases. The steward reassures them that Joseph was paid and perhaps their God gave them the money. Simeon joins them before Joseph returns home.

Joseph asks about their father’s welfare and confirms that they have their youngest brother with them. Joseph is overcome seeing Benjamin. Everyone eats their fill at Joseph’s table.

In Genesis 44 Joseph fills his brothers sacks with food and returns their money, but he also puts a silver cup into Benjamin’s sack. After they leave Joseph’s steward catches them and says that one of them has stolen Joseph’s cup. They insist that they do not have the cup. The steward decides to look in each and every sack. If the cup is found, that person will be taken into slavery. He finds the cup in Benjamin’s sack.

This grieves the brothers greatly. They return to Joseph’s house. Judah pleads with Joseph to allow them to take Benjamin back to their father. They tell him all about the fact that he is the remaining son of the wife his father loved, that their other brother died and that their father will die if he finds that Benjamin is not with them.

This is a terrible place to leave the readings but we will continue tomorrow. We will learn Benjamin’s fate.

Psalm 10 could be sung by Joseph’s brothers at this time. They certainly must feel as though God is standing far off. The writer of the psalm is struggling against the wicked who do not believe in God. He does not understand why they prosper while their mouths are full of evil things and they attack the poor and helpless. He then asks God to look out for the oppressed and begs Him to hear the desire of the meek and do justice.

As Genesis 41 opens Pharaoh is having disturbing dreams. He calls all of the interpreters in to figure out what the dreams are telling him but no one is able. The cupbearer remembers his time in prison and how Joseph interpreted his dream correctly.

Pharaoh sends for Joseph and asks him to interpret the dreams. Joseph says that God not he will give him the answer. Joseph explains that the dreams Pharaoh is having are about the same thing. Egypt will have seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Since Pharaoh had two similar dreams it means that God has determined the events and they will begin soon.

Joseph advises that Pharaoh appoint a wise overseer over the land and set aside 1/5 of the produce aside each year as a reserve for the years of famine. Pharaoh realizes that because God is with him no one is as wise and discerning as Joseph. He sets Joseph as the second-in-command over all of his people and things. Only Pharaoh has more authority than Joseph.

Joseph sets about storing up the produce in the years of plenty. Before the years of famine Joseph has two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. He credits God with making him forget all the hardship he experienced and making him fruitful in a land of misfortune.

As the seven years of famine begin only Egypt is prepared and has plenty of provision. Everyone comes to Joseph to buy grain.

Genesis 42 begins with Jacob sending his sons, all except Benjamin, to Egypt to buy grain. As his brothers meet Joseph they bow down before him. They do not recognize who he is. Joseph accuses them of being spies. At first he tells them they may not leave Egypt until their youngest brother comes as well and puts them in prison for three days. After that he tells them that he will keep one of them in prison while the other go for their brother. They believe they are being punished for what they did to Joseph when they sold him into slavery. Joseph overhears their conversation but does not let on. Joseph binds Simeon and sends the others back home with provisions and the money they paid him. They find the money in their packs they worry that they will be in trouble.

As they return home they tell Jacob what has happened. Jacob does not want to let Benjamin go with them.

In their guilt Joseph’s brothers blame God for their predicament, whereas in his gratitude Joseph thanks God for his blessings even in bad times.

In Matthew 15 the Pharisees and scribes again criticize Jesus for the way the disciples conduct themselves. They accuse him of breaking the law. For the first time he addresses them directly with the same accusation. He quotes Isaiah in saying that these religious leaders only pay lip service to their faith and teach human precepts rather than believing in their hearts and truly worshiping. The Pharisees are concerned with keeping the rules as a way to be pure and Jesus emphasizes that it is what is in the heart that makes one pure.

A Canaanite woman comes to Jesus for healing for her daughter. At first he refuses, because he says he has only come for Israel, but she persists. He recognizes her faith and heals her daughter.

Again, Jesus draws a crowd of over 4000 people. Jesus tells his disciples to feed them. As before the disciples doubt that they can be fed because they have few provisions, seven loaves and a few small fish. Jesus gives thanks and breaks the bread and gives it to the disciples to distribute. There are seven baskets left over.

The disciples still seem to have trouble believing that Jesus is capable of doing great things, even though he does so time and time again.