Genesis 43 - Tension in Life

Everyone has tension in their life - what should the Christian do about it? The problem and the application, from Scripture.

 

What's Weather Been Teaching You?

The Noahic Covenant was between God and Noah, who stood as a type of Adam (the federal head of all men) and all the creatures of the earth; it is a covenant between Creator God and earth. This covenant was the promise by God to never destroy the earth again by a flood and provide food and seasons for all the beasts of the earth until the end of the age (Gen. 8:20 - 22; 9:8 - 17).  The sign of the covenant is the rainbow (Gen. 9:13).

Genesis 8:20 – 22 & 9:8 – 17. Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.  While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” …  Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.  When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Here's what the weather's been teaching me. Since my wife and I moved to south-east Oklahoma from Houston, Texas not too long ago ()this was written in early 2015), having real seasons (rather than summer with a dash of cool weather) has reminded me of the personal providential aspect of YHWH’s covenant with Noah and all of us. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. That’s a personal, gracious, kind God; even for those who hate Him (as we all did until He rescued us). Do not lose sight of this promise – the Creator of all things (Colossians 1:15 & 16) Who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17) – He declares that until Christ returns (as long as the earth remains – 2 Peter 3:8 – 13) seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will be sustained by the will of almighty, sovereign YHWH!

That is unearned kindness from One Who owes nothing to anyone. 

The New Covenant is not like the Old Covenant

This came to me while flying to Washington to help move my son and his family to Texas.

The New Covenant is not like the Old Covenant (HEB 8).

Entry into the Old Covenant did not require faith in God; most of the people in that community were unbelievers. All they (the males) needed for entry was circumcision of their flesh. Entry into the New Covenant comes only to those who believe on the Son of God (John 10), who have been circumcised of the heart, not made with human hands (Col 2).

The mediator of the New Covenant is not another in the type of Moses - a servant in God's house (Heb 3). He is the Son and Lord of the house!

God does not change our old stone into a new heart of flesh, He removes the heart of stone and implants a heart of flesh (Jer 31).

God does not improve the stone temple in which Israel worshiped Him, His redeemed are the temple of God! (1 Cor 3, 1 Pet 2)

The New Covenant does not have a priest after the order of Aaron but after the order of Melchizedek, who had no genealogy (Heb 7). This was not merely a change in/within the priesthood, it was a change OF priesthood; the nature of the priesthood is different (Heb 8).

The sacrifices of the Old Covenant could never take away sin, but only cover them for a season. The sacrifice of the New Covenant takes away all the sins of all the people in that covenant community, showing the weakness of the law and the superiority of the oath and promise (Heb 7). The nature of the sacrifices in the two covenant are not the same.

When the passage (Heb 7) says that a change of the priesthood mandates a change OF the law, the same nature of change is at hand. The law given to the Old Covenant community is not suited for the New Covenant community. A new type of law is required - one reflecting the priesthood as well as the community, which is 100% redeemed and dwelt by the Holy Spirit.

The law written on the flesh hearts of the saints is not the legal code with warnings and penalties, issued from the fiery mount (HEB 12). The law written on the hearts of the redeemed is the perfect law, the law of liberty (James 1), the royal law (James 2), the law of Christ (Gal 6). The law of Moses commanded its people to rest from the work of providing for themselves (Ex 20). The law of Christ provides rest for the redeemed, no longer working to prove themselves to God, but serving one another, bearing burdens, loving others as Christ has loved us.

No legal code with threats and penalties for a stiff-necked and rebellious people but a new creature that loves God and others, in which the Spirit of God dwells, to equip and will His people to that which pleases Him (Phil 2). 

Genesis 41:37-57, The Favor of a King

Leonard Ravenhill: “The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world and make him holy, then put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it.” Not sure if I can agree it’s the greatest miracle God can do today, but it is truly a remarkable thing that He does. This is how Joseph was kept during his time in Egypt; this is how Daniel was kept during his time in Babylon. This is how you and I are kept during our time in this culture, which presses on us from every direction to go along, not be such a stick in the mud, pretend sin is actually what pleases God. This is the only way we can walk in love towards one another – the holiness of God is hand-in-glove with His love for us whom He has raised up from spiritual death. Biblical love is other-focused (God and His children), not self-focused. Fleshly love is self-obsessed, selfish, toddler-like.

If you have not Christ, your motive cannot be right. Jesus must own your heart for you to praise Him. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Turn to Jesus – He will give you rest.

Brothers and sisters, let us FIX our eyes of faith on the risen Christ – He is our only hope in life and in death. Those favored by the King of kings have much to rejoice over – may He tune our hearts to sing His praise.

God's Law

I was listening to an old sermon while driving to town today. The brother read this:

1Cor 9:19-21 (HCSB)

"Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law — though I myself am not under the law — to win those under the law. To those who are without that law, like one without the law — not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law — to win those without the law."

And then he observed: Paul described himself as not under the Jewish law (Mosaic) but would ACT like he was, in order not to offend them. Then he said he would ACT like those who do not have that law (Gentiles) so it would not be a stumbling block.

And Paul said that he was not without God's law but within Christ's law. This shows that the law given to Moses is not longer God's law, but the the law of Christ is now God's law.

This lines up with this:

Heb 7:11-12 (HCSB)

"If then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well."

The New Covenant has a new priesthood, which requires a new law. The New Covenant has different entry requirements than did the Old Covenant. Faith in God was not required to enter the Mosaic Covenant - obedience to a few religious rites were all that was required. New birth which brings faith in Christ is required to enter into the New Covenant - the flesh profits nothing! Shadows were fulfilled in the substance, which is Christ. 

Genesis 40 - In This World You Will Have Trouble

We are seeing how the life of Joseph, prefiguring Christ in so many ways, was not always comfortable and enjoyable. As it was with the Lord Himself, with many trials and much tribulation, so it was with Joseph and will be with every one of His children. Joseph had been lifted up at Potiphar’s house, he is now put down in prison. He had no idea if or when or how he would be rescued again. It’s part of God’s purpose in our lives, to show us trouble as a help to remind us this world is not our home. The promised One would tell us, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) There is nothing we cannot bear, knowing that Jesus has overcome the world – we are His. 

Genesis 38; The Lion, not the tribe

Genesis 38; The Lion, not the tribe.

Gen 38:1-11 Trouble in the Tribe

Gen 38:12-19 Things Get Worse.

Gen 38:20-23 The trap is set

Gen 38:24-26 The Noose Tightens

Gen 38:27-30 Providence Revealed

Conclusion