30/3/2013
S: Isaiah 45:1-6, 18-24 The Lord said to Cyrus, his chosen one:
I have taken hold
of your right hand
to help you capture nations
and remove kings from power.
City gates will open for you;
not one will stay closed.
As I lead you,
I will level mountains
and break the iron bars
on bronze gates of cities.
I will give you treasures
hidden in dark
and secret places.
Then you will know that I,
the Lord God of Israel,
have called you by name.
Cyrus, you don't even know me!
But I have called you by name
and highly honored you
because of Israel,
my chosen servant.
Only I am the Lord!
There are no other gods.
I have made you strong,
though you don't know me.
Now everyone from east to west
will learn that I am the Lord.
No other gods are real.
The Lord alone is God!
He created the heavens
and made a world
where people can live,
instead of creating
an empty desert.
The Lord alone is God;
there are no others.
The Lord did not speak
in a dark secret place
or command Jacob's descendants
to search for him in vain.
The Lord speaks the truth,
and this is what he says
to every survivor
from every nation:
“Gather around me!
Learn how senseless it is
to worship wooden idols
or pray to helpless gods.
“Why don't you get together
and meet me in court?
Didn't I tell you long ago
what would happen?
I am the only God!
There are no others.
I bring about justice,
and have the power to save.
“I invite the whole world
to turn to me and be saved.
I alone am God!
No others are real.
I have made a solemn promise,
one that won't be broken:
Everyone will bow down
and worship me.
They will admit that I alone
can bring about justice.
Everyone who is angry with me
will be terribly ashamed
and will turn to me.
I, the Lord, will give
victory and great honor
to the people of Israel.”
O: I am writing this on Easter Weekend. The God of Israel is not only the God of Israel, but rather, the God of the whole world, and He invites everyone -- every tongue, every tribe, every nation -- to come to Him.
He has provided the means for all of us to come to Him -- Jesus Christ, who died on that first Good Friday, to die for us. If you don't know what this means, check out this video by Phil Vischer.
A: If you haven't received God's forgiveness available because of what Jesus did on the cross, what better time than now? Here's how [click here]. If you have, but but find yourself far from God now, what better time than now? If you are walking close to God, this is a great time to celebrate His goodness!
P: Thank you for the cross the mighty cross
That God Himself should die for such as us
And everyday we’re changed into Your image more and more
Yes by the cross we’ve truly been transformed
And we’re so amazed
And we give You praise
That You would save us at such a cost
We’re so amazed
And we give You praise
For the power of the cross!
In Jesus' name, amen!
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
When you're weary
23/3/13
S: Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
O: Have you had an exhausting day? Week? Month? Year? We sometimes go through seasons where it's one thing after another. Does it mean that we're not trusting in the Lord when we experience this?
It's clear from scripture that even those walking with Christ go through times of tiredness. So what do these verses mean?
A: I don't think these verses mean that when you trust in God, you'll never feel weary. But it does mean that we can retreat and seek rest in the Lord in the midst of wearying circumstances.
Jesus Himself felt weary many times during His ministry and had to take time out away from ministry to pray and commune with God.
The old Simon & Garfunkle song, "Bridge over troubled waters" isn't a Christian song, but think about it as if Jesus is singing it to us:
When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes I will dry them all
I'm on your side when times get rough and friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
When you're down and out, when you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you
I'll take your part when darkness comes and pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Sail on Silver Girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine if you need a friend, I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind
P: Father, teach us to come to You for renewal. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
S: Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
O: Have you had an exhausting day? Week? Month? Year? We sometimes go through seasons where it's one thing after another. Does it mean that we're not trusting in the Lord when we experience this?
It's clear from scripture that even those walking with Christ go through times of tiredness. So what do these verses mean?
A: I don't think these verses mean that when you trust in God, you'll never feel weary. But it does mean that we can retreat and seek rest in the Lord in the midst of wearying circumstances.
Jesus Himself felt weary many times during His ministry and had to take time out away from ministry to pray and commune with God.
The old Simon & Garfunkle song, "Bridge over troubled waters" isn't a Christian song, but think about it as if Jesus is singing it to us:
When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes I will dry them all
I'm on your side when times get rough and friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
When you're down and out, when you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you
I'll take your part when darkness comes and pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Sail on Silver Girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine if you need a friend, I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind
P: Father, teach us to come to You for renewal. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Saturday, March 16, 2013
For richer and for poorer
16/3/13
S: Exodus 23:3 And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.
Exodus 23:6 In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor.
O: Some people have a tendency to take pity on a poor person and favour them in a legal case, assuming that the rich "have it coming to them" and finding the richer plaintiff at fault even when he is totally innocent. I have read of several such cases, usually in USA, where the jury gives big awards to a poorer person suing a rich corporation unjustly.
Other people honour the rich and powerful too much, victimizing the poor. We see this in many countries, including our own, where the rich and powerful sometimes literally get away with murder.
A: Neither is right. God's standard is justice for all, regardless of the standing of the person.
P: Father, teach us to judge fairly according to Your standards and not be swayed by either emotion or greed. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
S: Exodus 23:3 And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.
Exodus 23:6 In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor.
O: Some people have a tendency to take pity on a poor person and favour them in a legal case, assuming that the rich "have it coming to them" and finding the richer plaintiff at fault even when he is totally innocent. I have read of several such cases, usually in USA, where the jury gives big awards to a poorer person suing a rich corporation unjustly.
Other people honour the rich and powerful too much, victimizing the poor. We see this in many countries, including our own, where the rich and powerful sometimes literally get away with murder.
A: Neither is right. God's standard is justice for all, regardless of the standing of the person.
P: Father, teach us to judge fairly according to Your standards and not be swayed by either emotion or greed. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Even the true anointed prophet of God can take advice
10/3/12
S: Exodus 18:13-27
The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.
When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”
Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.”
“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”
Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26 These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.
Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.
O: Moses was the true anointed prophet of God, confirmed by great signs and wonders. He had just succeeded in being God’s instrument in overcoming Pharaoh and freeing the Children of Israel.
Yet here, he needed the advice of Jethro to delegate his responsibilities to adjudicate disputes between people. Jethro was a new believer, as he had just been convinced by the miracle of the Exodus that YHWH is the one true God, as evidenced by what he said in Verse 11. Yet, even in his human wisdom, he had something worthwhile and correct for Moses to learn from.
A: One can be a true servant of God, truly anointed by God for His purposes, yet even a new Christian can be used of God to advise one.
We need to be always humble to consider input from others.
P: Father, help me to keep an open mind when other people give me advice. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Image credit: http://www.scienceofcorrespondences.com/jethro-s-advice-to-moses.htm
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
S: Exodus 18:13-27
The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.
When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”
Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.”
“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”
Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26 These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.
Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.
O: Moses was the true anointed prophet of God, confirmed by great signs and wonders. He had just succeeded in being God’s instrument in overcoming Pharaoh and freeing the Children of Israel.
Yet here, he needed the advice of Jethro to delegate his responsibilities to adjudicate disputes between people. Jethro was a new believer, as he had just been convinced by the miracle of the Exodus that YHWH is the one true God, as evidenced by what he said in Verse 11. Yet, even in his human wisdom, he had something worthwhile and correct for Moses to learn from.
A: One can be a true servant of God, truly anointed by God for His purposes, yet even a new Christian can be used of God to advise one.
We need to be always humble to consider input from others.
P: Father, help me to keep an open mind when other people give me advice. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Image credit: http://www.scienceofcorrespondences.com/jethro-s-advice-to-moses.htm
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Saturday, March 2, 2013
God wants to save everyone
2/3/2013
S: Exodus 11:3 Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.
Exodus 12:38 A rabble of non-Israelites went with them, along with great flocks and herds of livestock.
Ezekiel 33:11 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?
1 Timothy 2:4 ...who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth..
O: There was an American mini-series telling stories from the Bible back in the '90s. Some of the shows were very good, for example, the one on Joseph. But the one on Moses, while it supposedly followed the Biblical account, portrayed God as this vindictive evil dude who just didn't care about people and victimized innocent Egyptians (and even broke up Moses' family) for no other reason than to glorify Himself. It portrayed an uncaring, unloving God who destroyed people just because He chose to, and for His own benefit.
But God actually isn't like that. God loves us and wants everyone to be saved, as we see in Ezekiel 33:11 and 1 Timothy 2:4. While He did foresee that the Pharaoh would resist Him1, He also was calling Egyptians to follow Him. As a result, many Egyptians also joined the Exodus, as noted in Exodus 12:38. In fact, Jewish extra-biblical sources like the Targum Yonassan says that 2,400,000 Egyptians went with them.
A: Let us therefore join in God's great invitation, and extend His love to everyone we come across. Let us do what we can to help people to come closer to our loving Heavenly Father.
P: Father, when someone victimizes me, help me to see him with Your eyes. Help to remember that You take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but want them to be saved. In Jesus' name, amen.
Footnote
1 For a discussion about God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart, see this article.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
S: Exodus 11:3 Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.
Exodus 12:38 A rabble of non-Israelites went with them, along with great flocks and herds of livestock.
Ezekiel 33:11 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?
1 Timothy 2:4 ...who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth..
O: There was an American mini-series telling stories from the Bible back in the '90s. Some of the shows were very good, for example, the one on Joseph. But the one on Moses, while it supposedly followed the Biblical account, portrayed God as this vindictive evil dude who just didn't care about people and victimized innocent Egyptians (and even broke up Moses' family) for no other reason than to glorify Himself. It portrayed an uncaring, unloving God who destroyed people just because He chose to, and for His own benefit.
But God actually isn't like that. God loves us and wants everyone to be saved, as we see in Ezekiel 33:11 and 1 Timothy 2:4. While He did foresee that the Pharaoh would resist Him1, He also was calling Egyptians to follow Him. As a result, many Egyptians also joined the Exodus, as noted in Exodus 12:38. In fact, Jewish extra-biblical sources like the Targum Yonassan says that 2,400,000 Egyptians went with them.
A: Let us therefore join in God's great invitation, and extend His love to everyone we come across. Let us do what we can to help people to come closer to our loving Heavenly Father.
P: Father, when someone victimizes me, help me to see him with Your eyes. Help to remember that You take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but want them to be saved. In Jesus' name, amen.
Footnote
1 For a discussion about God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart, see this article.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Don't do it the wrong way, but when God calls, do it!
23/2/13
Exodus 2:11-15 Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” So Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!” When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.
Exodus 4:10-14 Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
O: First, Moses was filled with zeal an indignation at the mistreatment of his people, but then he took the law into his own hands and had to flee -- human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. He then spent many years a beaten man, quietly in exile in Midian.
Then suddenly, God calls him from the burning bush. Moses balks, giving excuse after excuse, even when God gave him miracles to prove that He was backing him up. Finally, God gets angry with him and tells him that his brother Aaron will be his spokesman.
A: There are many lessons to learn from this.
Incidentally, there is this curious passage in Exodus 4:24-26. Why did God try to kill Moses after He had appointed him? And why did Zipporah's circumcision of their sun stop it? A popular theory is that Moses had given in to his Midianite in-laws' pressure not to circumcise his son, in spite of knowing that God wanted it. So before he could be God's representative, he had to take care of this, but he resisted, so God had to discipline him.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Exodus 2:11-15 Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” So Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!” When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.
Exodus 4:10-14 Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
O: First, Moses was filled with zeal an indignation at the mistreatment of his people, but then he took the law into his own hands and had to flee -- human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. He then spent many years a beaten man, quietly in exile in Midian.
Then suddenly, God calls him from the burning bush. Moses balks, giving excuse after excuse, even when God gave him miracles to prove that He was backing him up. Finally, God gets angry with him and tells him that his brother Aaron will be his spokesman.
A: There are many lessons to learn from this.
- Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. (James 1:20) Sometimes when I see injustice, I am tempted to use unrighteous means to deal with it. I must not do that.
- When God calls us to action, we must obey. Stop giving excuses.
- Even a great man of God like Moses was imperfect. Therefore, we should not let our imperfections prevent us from following God.
Incidentally, there is this curious passage in Exodus 4:24-26. Why did God try to kill Moses after He had appointed him? And why did Zipporah's circumcision of their sun stop it? A popular theory is that Moses had given in to his Midianite in-laws' pressure not to circumcise his son, in spite of knowing that God wanted it. So before he could be God's representative, he had to take care of this, but he resisted, so God had to discipline him.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Joseph's blemish
16/2/13
S: Genesis 47:13-26 Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.” Then Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.” So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year. When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate.” Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands. Then Joseph said to the people, “Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.” So they said, “You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s.
O: Joseph is one of the few people in the Bible other than Jesus who seemed to have no sin. But if we examine the narrative closely, we see that he enslaved the people of Egypt as a side effect of his successful attempt to save them from starvation. Ironically, it also set the stage for the Israelites' own slavery later -- once people got used to the idea that the whole population of Egypt was enslaved, it wasn't too hard to go from that to the extra-hard slavery the Israelites would then experience leading up to Moses' time.
God did not record any reprimand on him for these things, as Joseph was a man of his times and didn't realize that what he did was wrong. But it does go to show that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Nobody's perfect -- except Jesus Christ. That's why all of us cannot earn our own salvation -- we all have sinned, we all need Jesus to save us.
A: Since we have all like sheep gone astray and turn to our own way, we need to repent and come to the foot of the cross for God's forgiveness and grace bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Nobody's perfect, even wonderful people like Mother Theresa needed Christ's saving blood.
How do we do this? There is a short booklet available in many languages called The Four Spiritual Laws that summarizes this truth from the Bible. Here's the book in English, and here's the book in many other languages.
P: Father in Heaven, thank You for providing Your perfect Son to save us from our imperfection and to bring us to eternal life with You. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
S: Genesis 47:13-26 Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.” Then Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.” So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year. When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate.” Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands. Then Joseph said to the people, “Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.” So they said, “You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s.
O: Joseph is one of the few people in the Bible other than Jesus who seemed to have no sin. But if we examine the narrative closely, we see that he enslaved the people of Egypt as a side effect of his successful attempt to save them from starvation. Ironically, it also set the stage for the Israelites' own slavery later -- once people got used to the idea that the whole population of Egypt was enslaved, it wasn't too hard to go from that to the extra-hard slavery the Israelites would then experience leading up to Moses' time.
God did not record any reprimand on him for these things, as Joseph was a man of his times and didn't realize that what he did was wrong. But it does go to show that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Nobody's perfect -- except Jesus Christ. That's why all of us cannot earn our own salvation -- we all have sinned, we all need Jesus to save us.
A: Since we have all like sheep gone astray and turn to our own way, we need to repent and come to the foot of the cross for God's forgiveness and grace bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Nobody's perfect, even wonderful people like Mother Theresa needed Christ's saving blood.
How do we do this? There is a short booklet available in many languages called The Four Spiritual Laws that summarizes this truth from the Bible. Here's the book in English, and here's the book in many other languages.
P: Father in Heaven, thank You for providing Your perfect Son to save us from our imperfection and to bring us to eternal life with You. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
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