Bibledoorajar Looks at the Far Reaches of Love

     Jacob's sons have been sitting in a jail cell accused of being spies. Now, Joseph has set them free and brought them before him in the royal rooms of Egypt's viceroy. Free, but in the presence of the most powerful person save the Pharoah. Joseph could do more than simply jail them. He could call for their death. They stood before him trying to convince him that they were all sons of one man whose only goal was to buy grain for their families. They were not thieves either. They had no idea how that silver goblet got into their things.  The viceroy called for them to bring their younger brother to him so that he might be convinced they were not spies and thieves. He would keep one of them in jail while they made the trip to get Benjamin as a surety. As they discussed the situation among themselves in Hebrew they did not realize that the viceroy was understanding everything they said. How could they ever tell their father that a son had to stay behind and the only way to free him was to risk taking Benjamin to Egypt? Soon Joseph realized that the brothers understood the enormity of their guilt and the huge grief they had caused their father as the old "I told you so" was declared among them. Joseph became emotional and had to leave the room at that point. But upon his return he held to his declaration that Benjamin ( his full brother) must be produced in Egypt. Joseph takes Simeon and places him in jail and the brothers began the journey home. They had no idea of the good things Joseph had planned for the entire family that he intended to save and reunite in a land flowing with plenty.

      Sometimes we forget what all Jesus planned for us. Check out this paraphrase of Ephesians 2:8-
9:

"For when we all were dead in all our sin, we were saved and we have been raised up together. He has made it where we can, and do, sit with him in heavenly places. All of this so that in coming ages He can show the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness toward us."

This is truly a wonder we should never forget!


  

Bibledoorajar Looks at Peaceful Relationships

"Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.…"    Romans 12:17ff.

Joseph's brothers entered Egypt through ten separate gates as their father suggested. Jacob wanted each son to be able to gain grain for the family as there were amount restrictions placed by Joseph so that a man could only get enough for his immediate family. But there was a secondary thought that the sons had. Perhaps as they streamed through the separate gates they might find their brother Joseph and redeem him and assuage their guilt of not having treated him right in the eyes of the Lord. As they came before Egypt's viceroy to buy grain they did not realize that they had indeed found their brother. But he certainly knew them and, although he did not take revenge, he did make them squirm a little. He accused them of being spies and had them thrown in jail. Robbed of their peace, they wondered what would happen to them and how torn their father would be once again.

Sometimes we run from a peaceful relationship with Jesus and with others.  Why is that I wonder? Especially, when the Word says that God declares vengeance is His and that He will repay. Ever wonder why you are squirming in a "jail" of sorts. Perhaps God is trying to get your attention. The Jewish people have been through all kinds of wrath following their rejection of Jesus. Now is the time to take the necessary steps to be at peace with God by not rejecting your Brother. What follows will be eternal peace started in the here and now. Observe:

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
                                                              From the Revelation

Bibledoorajar Underscores the Only

     When the people of Egypt became hungry and what little food they possessed had decayed, they turned to Pharoah with a plea for help. Pharoah said to his people: "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you to do." And Joseph met their need. As time passed it became clear that the famine was not just a phenomenon in Egypt but indeed the entire known world at that time. People heard that there was food to be had in Egypt. "And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because the famine was so sore in all lands." (Genesis 41:57) Through Joseph, God made supply available to all the hungry and peoples from all the dearth filled lands could eat and could enjoy the relief of their need having been supplied. Jacob sent his son out from home to be a blessing to his brethren but they would have none of it and thus a trend of rejection intensified. Only in time would Jacob's sons find out that salvation could only come through the rejected brother who would extend grace and mercy.

Truly today, we are in a wonderful period where grace abounds because God turned the Jewish rejection of Christ into a wonderful period of grace. There has never been such a long period in God's dealings with the earth when grace abounded so freely. There is no place to go when a soul is burdened with sin and need other than to the Only Son. We must go to Jesus and do what He says. But the Bible does declare that this period of wonderful abundant grace will cease and a terrible time will come on the earth because the Holy Spirit will have left the earth. No one knows the time and hour when the abundant grace will cease. Clearly, now is the time to have your needs met in Jesus. Have you traveled to Him; have you had your needs met? Are you satisfied with the soul food you have? If not, the Savior has what you need. As the hymn says, "Why not now? Why not come to Jesus now?

Only in Thee, when days are drear,
When neither sun nor stars appear,
Still I can trust and feel no fear,
Sing when I cannot see.
Only in Thee, whatever betide,
All of my need is freely supplied;
There is no help nor helper beside,
Only, dear Lord, in Thee!
                   
                           Thomas O.  Chisolm

Bibledoorajar Follows Joseph's Continued Rise

     Pharoah gave Joseph a wife.  She was the daughter of Potiphar whose wife had insisted that Joseph be imprisoned for allegedly assaulting her. To this union God gave two sons. Their names,  Ephraim and Manasseh,  reflect Joseph's God given ability to overcome his feelings of abandonment by his family and his recognition of God's power in his rise to prominence in a land that was not his home.
    The process that went on within Joseph's heart did not mean that he had forgotten his father and brothers, but that he was enabled to yield to God's greater good in the matter. A greater good that required him sacrificing the life he had known at home.
     Yielding. This concept seems to have been on Joseph's mind a lot. When the years of abundance were over and the people's stored food started to rot, they appealed to Pharoah for food. He referred them to Joseph who required them to be circumcised. As was learned in Genesis 17, circumcision was to be an external sign of an internal process which involved yielding to God. All the hungry men who were in search of food were required to take this step. The heart had to humble itself for the Egyptians were a carnal sinful people.
     We are all hungry for truth and good food for sustenance to combat our carnal natures.  Jesus said there would be an abundance of fruitfulness after His death. Have you taken the steps to enjoy the fruitfulness available in Him? Can you believe the words of Jesus? Egypt has long been used as a spiritual metaphor for a sinful world. Paul says if we believe in the Christ, allowing Him to circumcise our hearts, we can live on a higher plane. Does not everyone want that? Can you sing a song of praise to Your Maker for His Great Supply?

     "I've found the way that leads to heaven in the love of God,
      This holy way His loved and own thru ages long have trod;
      'This only by the blood of Christ that I may walk this way,
      I want to camp a little higher, nearer home each day."

                             Words to a song by  Rupert Cravens
                                                            
"Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs!
                                                                   Psalm 100:2

                                                         

Bibledoorajar Speaks of Authority in the Highest

There was no doubt about it. Pharoah decided to give preference to Joseph,  exalting the revealer of secrets to a position in his land second only to the king. He was robed and given a golden chain and rode in a chariot next to the king. Everyone was made to understand that Joseph's rule was to be obeyed as decreed by the King. The people were instructed to bow their knee to him. What a change from all that innocent suffering Joseph had endured in prison. His new Egyptian name “Zaphenath-paneah” reflected his ability to know hidden secrets and an ability to heal and save. The brightest glories of Egypt were upon him. Joseph was thirty years of age when he received his special authority and left the presence of Pharoah to accomplish gathering, keeping and disposing of the nation's food supplies.

Years later a more Magnificent Servant left the presence of His father to carry out His special authority in the earth.  All power was given to Him in both heaven and earth. His authority extends as  gatherer, keeper, and disposer of all the stores of divine grace among men. He began His ministry at age thirty and he went all through the lands demonstrating his authority. Most importantly, He was demonstrating who He was to His disciples to whom He would also extend great authority.

 "Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.  Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him."
                                                                   Quoted from the gospel of Matthew


If the then known world wanted food they would need to recognize the authority given to Joseph. Today if the world wants spiritual food they must recognize the authority given to Jesus by the Father.
As Peter said, He is the Messiah. All must bow to Him. Have you taken such a step yet?

Bibledoorajar Emphasizes The Matter at Hand

Joseph told Pharoah that his dream was repeated twice because the matter was at hand. God was going to move swiftly to accomplish it. Therefore it would behoove Pharoah to proceed. There was no time to waste. Pharoah should proceed quickly to find a wise and discerning man who would prepare for a severe time of drought by taking larger amounts of grain from every farmer and storing it for future use. So important was this step that Joseph recommended that the collection of grain be gathered as a levy against the farmers. This plan was accepted and the slave and prisoner was named viceroy of the land, an exception to the law of Egypt. But this exception was made because Pharoah saw the wisdom in moving quickly. Under Joseph, magistrates established royal granaries in every city so that grain would not have to be transported and held in only one location. This meant that large portions of the winnowed and sifted grain would be safely held for future use.

Years later, another wise and discerning man named John the Baptist came on the scene in the Holy Land. He spoke to the Pharisees and Sadducees and told them how they must proceed and advised them to move quickly. They had no time to waste.

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord. And this same John....
saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism. He said to them, O generation of vipers who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore produce fruits worthy for repentance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father for I say unto you that God is able to from these stones raise up children to Abraham. And now the axe is laid unto the root of the trees, therefore everything that produces not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize with water unto repentance, but He that comes after me is mightier than I whose shoes I am not adequate to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Whose winnowing fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge His threshing floor and gather his wheat grain into the granary, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
                                                                                                   Quoted from Matthew 3

The mightier Magnificent Servant has all knowing power to carry out the desires of His Father. Even now, He is at work storing His grain in His church. Pharoah heard his dream twice for emphasis. God has now spoken twice through both His Old and New Testament. Emphasis on separating the chaff (evil) from the wheat (those he loves) has been put in place. Have you submitted to the winnowing process? Life's assurances are greater that way.

Bibledoorajar Says: Heads Up!

Pharoah had been used to having control over his environment. He had amassed much and had come to a place of peace on the basis of his control of the physical elements of his world. But now, Joseph was telling him that for seven years he would have no control over the physical elements because of an all encompassing famine. This message  had to be alarming to Pharoah, but there stood before him a man seemingly in perfect peace assuring him that God in His grace and mercy was giving Pharoah a heads up. Joseph even was able to give Pharoah advice as to how to handle the environment to prepare for the terrible famine. Pharoah should locate the most wise man in his kingdom and depend on him to adequately manage for the terrible coming difficulties--a time when sustenance would become the most important factor in the lives of the world. If this man, whomever he chose, prepared and gave his all, the world as they knew it could be saved. Before Pharoah stood such a magnificent servant, even Joseph. Surely he could find no other better man qualified to take on the responsibility. Pharoah quickly puts Joseph in charge of all the preparations and Joseph gladly takes on the monumental task.

After the Corinthian church had accepted Jesus, they were still having trouble controlling the spiritual elements of their world. The forces of adultery, fornication, etc. were rampant and they were being robbed of their peace and seemingly the ability to manage these forces. The apostle Paul, from a place of inner peace, was sent by God to give them assurances and knowledge of how to gain control over the dark spiritual forces. He reminded them that their inner man was the object of all these forces but was not part of them. It was key for them to  remember that they had been chosen and sealed by God to carry on for Him and that He had put them in the church,  a place of perpetual sustenance. Believing that their inner man was stronger than the outside forces was like living in a fortress.
 How well are you doing at tackling the forces of the world from a place of inner peace? Heads
Up!---; believe that the preparations made by your Most Magnificent Servant are adequate for the tasks ahead.

"Now is the time for faith and determination
  Don't lose the vision here carried away by the motion
  Hold on to all you hide in your heart ...
  We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
Oh, God is in control, oh God is in control."

 Twila Paris - God Is In Control