Month: August 2018

They said, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.” Exodus 2:19 (Chapter 2)

Moses was born into the home of Hebrew slaves.  He had to be hidden in a basket, floated in the Nile and guarded by his sister, to protect him from death at the hands of Pharaoh.  However, a princess found him, paid his own mother to nurse him and then took him as her own child where he was given the finest education to be found.

Jochebed, Moses’ mother, did not waste the few years she was given with her son. She instilled the simple traditions of her faith so deeply that all the allurements of a heathen palace did not tempt him into turning his back on the people of his birth or their God. The first forty years of his life, mostly spent in luxury, did not halt Moses’ compassion for his fellow man.

Moses committed a murder that separated him from his homeland and all he knew.  As a runaway fugitive he found himself at a well where women who had come to water their flocks were being accosted by shepherds.  Moses defended them and took their manual labor upon himself. The father of these women invited Moses into his home and gave him a wife. As an alien in a foreign land, Moses made a new start, but little did he know, God was preparing him to be the perfectly skilled liberator of His covenant nation.

If you are distracted or overwhelmed by hardship and disappointment, stop and ask what wonders God is preparing you for.  Perseverance isn’t for the faint of heart. So, the difficulties we struggle with may simply be the fitness training of the soul.  Moses had to grow and learn, and so must we.

Happy Friday,

Gretchen

The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Exodus 1:17 (Exodus 1)

370 years have passed since Joseph was governor of Egypt. The Pharaohs have long forgotten their debt of gratitude and begin to feel threatened by the growing population of Israelites.  This fear led to prejudice and oppression and soon the Hebrew/Israelite children were enslaved. Egypt became the world’s wealthiest and most advanced civilization, all on the backs of this exploited labor. 

God hears the cry of those who are broken and hopeless.  Pharaoh’s answer to the growing numbers of a culture he did not approve of, was to murder all the baby boys, but allow the baby girls to live and eventually intermarry among the Egyptians. His objective was genocide. God sent rescue by way of faithful midwives who honored human life rather than the edicts of their government. Among those saved from infant death was a child, from the tribe of Levi, named Moses.

My words sound somewhat political. They are not. I am summarizing a story that displays God’s character and heart. He is good, He is love. Cries do not go unheard and man’s evil is never the end of your story. Pray, trust, hope and know, that God is doing something beyond the visible. 

Love,

Gretchen

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? Genesis 50:20 (Genesis 47-50)

Joseph saves his entire family and the nation of Israel from demise during the seven year drought.  Pharaoh instructs Joseph to settle his father, brothers and their families in the best land Egypt has to offer, Goshen. There they remained. When Jacob died, he was honored and mourned as if he’d been a king. After he was embalmed, in the Egyptian style, he was returned to Hebron and buried with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and his own wife Leah.  This burial cave was the only land owned by an Israelite, but someday Israel would be given the entire region of Canaan. Years later, when this nation returned to claim Canaan, they took Joseph’s bones with them, just as he had asked them to do.

Following the death of their father, Joseph’s brothers felt less secure in his good graces so they forged a letter from their father imploring Joseph to take care of them.  Joseph’s response is above. His righteousness shines through. Man’s deeds, or misdeeds, will not determine his actions, only God has that authority.

It is easy to see God at work through the faithfulness of man, but less clear when devious and self-interested men allow personal ambition to hurt others. But, the character of God is loving. He takes care of us no matter where we find ourselves. What man means for evil, God will make good and bless others too.

Love,

Gretchen

But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:7 (Genesis 42-46)

These chapters hold one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible. Joseph, who was sold into slavery and presumed dead, has ascended to the highest realms of Pharaoh’s government. As was foretold in Joseph’s youthful dreams, he is now in a position of authority over the same brothers that planned his demise. However, Joseph has a heart of love and forgiveness and the father and son who thought they would never meet again have a beautiful reunion. When Jacob dies in the foreign Land of Goshen, Joseph, along with his own sons, returns his father’s remains to Canaan.

When God made his covenant with Abraham He established a Messianic line that began with Abraham and ended with Jesus.  The first five links in this chain are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and Perez. No Joseph to be found! The family line descends through Joseph’s older brother Judah, who was not a very nice person!! Four of these men were guilty of egregious sin. If not for Joseph’s holiness and faith, the covenant nation would have ended in it’s fourth generation.

From the beginning of God’s covenant nation struggled to survive. Man’s sin, and now an act of nature, threatened to end all for the Hebrew people.  But God prevailed! He made a way. A pesky little brother became the victim of hatred, but he rose to become the second most powerful man in the most powerful government of that time. Joseph found he was liberated from other’s destructive and sinful behavior when He hoped and trusted in God’s providence. Do right, do good, never take your eyes off the Throne and He who is seated there. The Kingdom of God will withstand ALL forces of opposition.  It is the winning team!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Gretchen

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”  Genesis 41:16 (Genesis 40-41)

A very quick summary of these two chapters is difficult because they tell a detailed story, but the skeleton narrative is, Joseph has been a slave for thirteen years. While in prison he explains the dreams of the Pharaoh’s chef and butler.  The chef dies, the butler is restored to his position, but forgets to bring Joseph’s name before Pharaoh for a pardon. Two years later Pharaoh himself is disturbed by a vision his magicians cannot unravel. Spoiler! Joseph goes from prisoner to governor in the blink of an eye.

Pharaoh’s dream foretells of seven years of bountiful harvest in the Nile valley, then a drought extending way beyond Egypt’s borders will place many nations in peril. The job of being prepared for both feast and famine is passed to Joseph and he does a stellar job.

Although not part of the Messianic family tree, Joseph takes up quite a lot of space in the story of the Hebrew people.  Egypt was not the brutal, enslaving power we see in Moses’ time. Joseph was judged on his own merit, not pedigree. His steadfast faith and determination toward righteousness made him a vital instrument in Israel’s survival (see details in tomorrows story). Maybe God is showing all of us that the little man, with faith as their strength can quietly change the world.

Have a Marvelous Monday!

Gretchen

Four years ago today I received a message from my youngest daughter. It was congratulatory. She was hours away from birthday number twenty. Melissa probably sensed that I was struggling with her absence while she chased her dreams….with her friends….celebrating without me, a day I was pretty much responsible for. (Insert a tiny bit of sarcasm.)  In her greeting she reminded me this milestone meant I would never again be the parent of a teenager, so my worries of teen drug addiction, rebellion, and pregnancy were over! Her humor  brought a smile to my face, but as my readers know, the default color scheme of my mind tends to be a little less than ‘day glow.’ 

Motherhood, and I suspect fatherhood too, brought the greatest love I ever knew.  Yes, God loves us far more than we could ever imagine, but up until I had a child, I was unaware of this sacrificial, all consuming, no cost is too great kind of love. This love left me vulnerable to great pain, which created fear, and this consumed much of my mental energy as I awaited the arrival of my child/children. There was no option but to move forward and do all I knew to do: Give them back to the One who created them, then hit my knees and follow the model Jesus lived.

I am not a perfect parent. There has been much weeping, whaling and gnashing of teeth over the years. Once while changing sheets on a bed, I stepped on a piece of dead cheese, so dried and hard I bruised my foot. One child had a pet goat that could open locked gates and front doors! These things were a huge problem for this controlling, clean freak! We had some issues!

Sometimes attitudes need to recalibrate and new respect must be found among the interpersonal relationships of those who are connected by love and DNA. When my girls are angry with me, often rightly so, I give them total freedom to be as much unlike their mom as they possibly can, with one exception.  I know my Redeemer lives and one day I will be judged according to His Justice. In time, they will be also. They MUST know! In this there is no wiggle room.

So how is this one, single minded objective achieved? By kneeling! Prayer is the only way.  It grants patience, hope, reckless love, perspective and a vision for the person God created him/her to be. (Leah loves farm animals, and I don’t like smelly boots! I wanted her to be Betty Crocker! She became the farmer God designed her to be!)

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Jesus was preparing His disciples for a grim, frightening few days as His crucifixion was just hours away, but a future full of hope and victory was about to be born. Is this not parallel to the seasons of every relationship man shares with others, especially family?  We must love in order to be strong! It is not in being loved that we find our power, but in accessing the wisdom and authority of The Holy Spirit by loving others.

I cannot force my children into Heaven, but God’s love through me sure makes the devil’s efforts a lot less relevant.  Love Big!  It Never Fails!  I Corinthians 13:8a

Love,

Gretchen

P.S. Happy Birthday my precious child! You are loved beyond measure.

The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. Genesis 39:23 (Genesis 39)

Joseph, the favored son, was sold into slavery by his jealous and spiteful brothers. Instead of living in depair, anger, bitterness and regret, somewhere between his father’s tent and the home of the Egyptian man who purchased him, Joseph became a man of great integrity. Because of an impeccable character he is given charge over Potipher’s entire household. With strength of character and body, Potipher’s wife desires Joseph and when she is rebuffed she makes it look as if she is the offended rather than the offender. Joseph is incarcerated, but again, his exceptional leadership and high standard of behavior draw the attention of the prison warden and once again Joseph is entrusted with other’s belongings and well being.

No doubt Joseph is at fault as a bratty little brother, but that did not excuse the actions and reactions of those who responded with evil intent. Neither are the actions of others an excuse for Joseph to despair and turn against God. In the face of false accusations and disgrace Joseph stood righteous.

Shame and sin begin in secret places of hearts and minds and find their way into habits and life choices. What you do when no on is looking is a really big deal. God will not co-exist and share your heart with the devil. Live righteously and satan will have no ability to impede God’s plan and your blessings.

Have a great weekend!

Gretchen

Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her my son Shelah.” Genesis 38:26a (Genesis 38)

Oddly stuck in the middle of Joseph’s story is the story of Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah.  It is probably insinuated here as a proper record of all that transpired in the history of this man whose progeny became the Messiah. It is an ugly story with a powerful message.

Judah arranged a marriage for his son Er.  Er was wicked and died young with an heir. His widow, Tamar, was given to the next son so that the family line could continue appropriately and this woman would have safety and security. This tradition is called a Levitical marriage. Son number two took full pleasure from Tamar’s body, but denied her the child that would assure her a place in the family.  For this selfish act, he died also.  With fear that his third son might also die, Judah forfeited tradition and left this daughter by marriage, vulnerable in a world where she had no rights or freedoms.  Eventually she hid her identity and tricked Judah in to conceiving a child with her. When Judah came in judgement, Tamar provided evidence of his sin, neglect and disregard for those he was given charge over.

The following is my commentary on other’s commentary:

I wish God was not blamed for the actions of man. But He is and for this reason, those that say they believe must strive with diligence to intimately know God’s character and trust His ways, not their own. God did not, has not and will not weave together a social order that leaves anyone, male, female, child, adult, red and yellow, black and white…….marginalized or desperate. Only man’s twisted heart does this. We must take care of each other, love one another.  We are not called to take care of everyone, but all are called to care for some one.

If God is going to get credit for what you do, then it had better be good, because God is Good and we represent Him.

Have a Great Day,

Gretchen

When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. Genesis 37:21 (Genesis 36-37)

In route a final time home to Isaac, Rachel, the wife Jacob loved, died giving birth to Benjamin. She was buried in Bethlehem. Later, Isaac died and Esau and Jacob laid him to rest. Genesis 36 gives a history of the descendants of Esau and then begins the story of Joseph, oldest child  of Rachel and Jacob.

Jacob’s sons were watching the family herds in Shechem. He may have been concerned for their safety when he sent the seventeen year old Joseph to assess things and bring him a report. It was suspected that dad intended to give this young boy the birthright. Rueben, the oldest, was illegitimate and possibly disqualified as heir. Levi and Simeon had committed the awful crimes in Shechem, leaving Judah, the fourth in line, to become the family patriarch. But, Joseph was the best loved, and the dreams he shared regarding his own ascendancy in addition to sporting a beautiful, custom made robe of many colors, bred strong resentment among his older brothers. They wanted him dead, so they designed a scheme to kill and a story to deflect suspicion.

Rueben, who actually had the most to lose by Joseph remaining alive, tried to divert violence and save the boy. The other nine continue toward murder, until they saw a caravan of spice traders and decided the better option would be to sell Joseph.  They then take his one of a kind coat, cover it in animal’s blood and return to their father with the story of a devastating, brutal, wild animal attack.

Joseph was precious and loved, but he found himself enslaved as the lowest of the low and lucky to be alive. Somewhere out in the desert, in route to Egypt, Joseph decided that his father’s God was going to be His God too and his faith might be shaken on occasion, but he would stand firm!

Something happens when it’s just one man (you) and God.  When He’s your only hope, you find that His hope is everything.

Love,

Gretchen

So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” Genesis 35:2-3  (Genesis 34-35:15)

When Jacob returns to Canaan he buys a plot of ground near Shechem and makes his home there.  Jacob and Leah’s daughter, Dinah, was out walking when the Prince of Shechem raped her. He quickly asks for her hand in marriage but he was refused because the men of Shechem were uncircumcised.  So, all the men of Shechem are directed to have surgery to become like Jacob’s household. While they are in great discomfort from their circumcisions, Levi and Simeon, Dinah’s full brothers, kill every male in the city and then all her brother looted the community, rescue Dinah and take the women and children as slaves.

When Jacob discovered this horrific act of vengeance, he had no option but to pack up and leave. The shadow of his sons’ murderous act ruined any hope of abiding peace. The move brought him to Bethel, the place he first encountered God. Here, Jacob builds an alter, and God renews His covenant.

Jacob is not counted as saying much to his two sons about their behavior, but in chapter 49 he speaks to their minimized blessing as a result of their sin. Later, Levitical Law sets an-eye-for-an-eye as a standard judgement. No more no less.

Justice and revenge are not the same thing. The first is for the greater good, the later is borne of hatred.  God alone is the Perfect Judge. Retaliation leaves no room for justice and the miracles of God’s wisdom and love. God sees and knows all and He is Holy and just. Let Him handle it!

Have a Great Wednesday!

Gretchen