Bibledoorajar Examines The First Shall Be Last

 Isaac had met with the Pharoah and knowing he would not live much longer he prepares to give each of his sons a blessing. We might think of these statements as prophecies also because he told them what would befall them in the last days. Each son would be patriarch of a tribe or here called a nation, but each would have a different place in the future land of Israel. Such telling of these great secrets concerning the end of time was very significant as to how the various tribes would experience Israel. Just think of God allowing Jacob in his status as Israel(spiritual leader) to know what would occur to his children who were sons of both Jacob/ Israel(knew of their physical and spiritual identity and destiny). God had given Israel a place of spiritual maturity but it was a constant battle against Jacob to maintain it.  So it was for his sons. 

For his first son, Reuben,  there was stark news that though he had claim to the inheritance rights of the firstborn he forfeited the excellent spiritual and social position through pride and immorality.  Reuben’s immorality with his father’s concubine Bilhah (the mother of his brothers Dan and Naphtali) is recorded in Genesis 35:22. Now, Israel says that the rights of blessing, priesthood and ruling authority will be divided rather than centralized in his firstborn.

 

The tribe of Reuben never did excel. No prophet, no judge, or no king came from the tribe of Reuben. Reuben is an example of how the first can be last. Listen to what God the Father's firstborn said:

 ..."When the priests heard this they were utterly amazed. "Then who, they asked, 'can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'humanly this is impossible, but with God everything is possible, Peter replied, 'look, we have left everything and followed you. So what will we have?' Jesus said to them, 'Yes, I tell you that in the REGENERATED world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times more, and he will obtain eternal life. But many who are FIRST SHALL BE LAST, AND MANY WHO ARE LAST WILL BE FIRST. Matthew 18:

 (Matthew 19:25-30).

   God looks for stable character in those who will lead His people. Reuben just didn't have it. As it is said in our culture, character counts and so do blessing. Best be counting them and remaining true.

Bibledoorajar Travels

     Bibledoorajar has traveled to Houston today to be with a nephew who needs hand surgery. We have come here for him to have the surgery done by one of the best. The best. The best is so important when you have a great need, is it not?
      Jacob had moved a family of seventy to be with the best because they all had a great need. He had met his son Joseph, known in Egypt as Zaphenath-paneah. He learned that Pharoah gave him the name when he elevated him to his high position because Pharoah had felt that Joseph was surely Divinely blessed having many god-like characteristics. This observation was not new to Jacob for he had indeed seen God-like characteristics in his son before. But now, there was great power associated with Joseph's Egyptian name and, further, Pharoah himself expressed an interest in meeting and talking with Jacob. The elevation of his favorite son was amazing to the father. To meet with the Pharoah himself because of his son was even more amazing. As they sat and talked Jacob told the Pharoah all about his earthly journey and told the Pharoah he was now able to die because he had seen his special son and experienced all of his provision. Jacob had also lived to see the ones who had been so cruel to Joseph rejoice in him and acknowledge his greatness.
      One day the Greater Son will take those who know him to meet the Father, the Possessor of Heaven and Earth. There the Father will be most interested in talking with the Faithful. Can you envision yourself having a conversation with the Most High God? If you know the Son, the conversation(s) will indeed take place. If you haven't met and acknowledged the power of the Son to bring you to the Father, perhaps now would be the time to do just that.

" Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."  Rev. 1:7

All, even those who were so cruel to Him, will see Him.  It will surely happen.


Bibledoorajar: What's Goshen like?

So, all of Joseph's family came to Egypt. But with conditions. By Joseph's decree and with the Pharoah's blessing they were to live in but one part of the land: Goshen.  Joseph placed his family in a separate part of Egypt so that all would realize that their existence was distinctive from others living in Egypt. And there Joseph would meet his family's needs and they would prosper.

Growing up, I can remember being exposed to church groups whose name started with Goshen. I did not realize then that the goals of those church leaders included their members being distinctive from the world around them.  But later I understood their desire;  the flock would understand that they were set apart, saved, and would be helped and loved to the end in a Goshen like community.

Goshen is in the world but not of it. Sometimes it is difficult to remember where home is. But if we ease away from it and choose to live somewhere else, we usually find the taste of living elsewhere bitter indeed.

The Goshen of Egypt prepares us for the Prodigal Son story. Best to get on home now.

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
                      J. Wilbur Chapman

Bibledoorajar For The Best Part

     Imagine Jacob looking into the distance and seeing his sons return to him safely. Imagine him hearing the best part--Joseph was alive! Imagine him receiving this news from men who were filled with joy to report it. Imagine being 130 years old and trying to digest such news by such changed sons. Rocked on his heels for a bit, he finally looked at all the wagons and equipment sent to get them to Egypt and to Joseph and Jacob accepted the wonderful miracle provided for his family. Imagine all the activity that it took to prepare 70 family members to make their way to a new home. But Jacob stopped first at Beersheba ,the place of God's oaths to his grandfather, to his father, and to him. He sacrificed and waited before God. There God assured him that it was right to go to the son that lived even in Egypt a godless country. God told the pilgrim it would be a place of provision for years of famine, but that his clan would be returned home at a future time. Jacob moved his clan onward to Egypt. Now, for the best part. Imagine Jacob looking up and seeing Joseph appearing in his chariot-- all the dazzling splendor and kingship. Imagine Joseph coming first to Judah (praise) and then to all the clan of Israel.
     Yesterday in worship, we sang two songs. Here is a taste:

"Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,  lift up your voice and sing (praise-rap)
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King. The hope of all who SEEK Him,
the help of all who FIND, None other is so loving, so Good and Kind.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me
along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how
I know He lives? He lives within my heart."(A.H. Ackley)

".... For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was
buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared
to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time...."
                                      1st Corinthians 15: 1ff.

      Have you made the journey to Jesus. He will appear one day, first to Judah(praise)
and then to all mankind. Get ready, get ready..... Are you in the praise group?

"For behold the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind" Isaiah 66:15

"Nearer still nearer, while life shall last, Till safe in glory My anchor is cast.."(Leila Morris)

Bibledoorajar: The Great Shift

Joseph, having revealed himself to his brothers, now asked them to return to their father and all their clan and reveal his marvelous glory to them. He further admonished his brothers to not argue along the way, but to go quickly and say this:

"Hurry, and go to my father and say: 'Thus saith thy son Joseph. God has set me lord of all Egypt, come to me and settle in the land of Goshen."

As Joseph wept and kissed his brothers, Pharoah heard and was well pleased. So powerful was Joseph in the land of Egypt that Pharoah gladly allowed him to send heavily gift laden wagons back to his family for their journey(not allowed by Egyptian law). And the brothers were to reassure all the family that what they couldn't take with them would be wonderfully provided in the land of Egypt.

Imagine if you will, these brothers who had so maligned Joseph, being asked to return to Jacob with a bounce in their step! They were cautioned to not give in to old behaviors and argue along the way, but to go all the way with a glad heart rejoicing in the provision of God through Joseph.

Years later, Paul, the apostle to we Gentiles, cautioned:

"Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to the things going on around Christ---that's where the action is. See things from His perspective." Colossians 3;1-2 from The Message translation.

This perspective---don't worry about tomorrow, be joyful, share My Glory--that's today and every day's position for the child of God. Where's your bounce?  Do you need to make the great shift today?
After all:

         "He's alive, He's alive
         He's alive and I'm forgiven,
         Heaven's gates are open wide."
                                       Don Francisco

Bibledoorajar: God Meant it for Good

As Joseph wept and revealed himself to his brothers he declared that all that had happened to bring him to Egypt had been the plan of God and that God had meant it all for good. He had placed Joseph in Egypt ahead of them to ASSURE salvation in a time of severe famine. He told his brothers that there would be yet five more years of famine and he asked that they bring his father and the rest of the family to him so that they could be safe, fed and at rest. He would be enough for them. Such news of such a good life was glorious for the brothers who had once so wronged their brother.

Years later, God allowed His only begotten Son to be brutalized and crucified with all the world's dark sins upon Him. As hard as it was, it was enough to ASSURE that all who believed and accepted His Son's provision would be safe, fed and at rest. Such news is glorious and is still being shared today giving untold persons a good life.

In 1820 a poor Puritan girl gave birth to a daughter. She named her Frances Jane Crosby but the family called her Fannie. Soon it became apparent that the child would never see and her plight did not look good as her father soon died and it was necessary that her mother take work as a maid in a nearby home. But God planned to use this little girl for His glory and had placed her in a very religious family. Fanny credited her grandmother with spending hours with her helping her understand her world and her place in it. Fannie would say of her blindness, "what can't be cured can be endured." In 1873 the blind woman penned these words:

"Blessed ASSURANCE, Jesus is mine! Visions of rapture now burst on my sight. Angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.----THIS is my story." May we all see as Fannie saw.

Bibledoorajar: Tears of Compassion

     Our story tells us that Joseph wept seven times over the course of saving his brothers. Thus, he was revealed as a compassionate man. He wept as his brothers confessed their guilt (Gen. 42:24). He wept when he saw Benjamin (Gen. 43:30). He wept when he made himself known to his brothers (Gen. 45:1-2).. He wept when his brothers were reconciled to him (Gen. 45:15). He wept over his father Jacob. (Gen. 46:29). He wept at the death of his father (Gen. 50:1). And he wept when, later, his brothers questioned his love for them (Gen. 50:15-17). Joseph revealed himself first to Judah(Praise) and his brethren, before he was made known to the rest of Jacob's household. It is very interesting that Joseph revealed himself first to Judah (Praise)  because we are told in Zechariah 12:7, "The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah (Praise)  first. However, all the sons Of Jacob would (will) come to understand who both Joseph and their Messiah really were (are).

 Jesus Christ, was also a tenderhearted man. In the New Testament one can read of how He was moved with compassion.  He wept at the graveside of Lazarus, and later over Jerusalem.  The apostle Paul also anguished over the growing rift between Israel and the young church. In the 9th chapter of Romans,  He authoritatively speaks of God's first and eternal covenant with the Jews. Eternal covenants do not go away and by faith we accept that their blindness will one day be removed and they will see the Lord for whom He really is. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the safety of Israel and believing Jews everywhere. One day you just might be sharing eternity.

"O Trinity of love and pow'r
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad praise from air and land and sea. Amen"
                                           
                                                     William Whiting (1860)