Heavenhigh

God’s Provision!

# 50 2023 Dev. Ge. 42:1.God’s Provision! Read all of chapter forty two first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.42:1 “When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Why do you just keep looking at each other?’ 2 He continued, ‘I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.’”

Ch.42 continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where He needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. Now, Joseph had been in Egypt for ten years or more. He had spent 3 years as a slave, he spent the next seven years collecting grain and now he is selling the grain.

Vs.1-7 As we saw in the former chapter, “all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph…”, that included Joseph’s brothers. Jacob sent all his sons to buy grain in Egypt but he kept Benjamin at home. It becomes obvious that Benjamin replaced Joseph in Jacob’s estimation. The ten brothers arrive in Egypt and present themselves to Joseph whom they did not recognize. Joseph, however, did recognize his brothers.

Vs.8-17 Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies, they do everything to try and convince Joseph otherwise, telling him about their family and that one brother was still at home. That motivated Joseph to test them by demanding they bring their younger brother. Joseph locked them up for three days, one day for every year he was a slave.

Vs.18-26 “On the third day, Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you will live, for I fear God:’” Joseph sent them back to Canaan with grain but he locked up Simeon. The brothers started to discuss their situation and blamed each other for selling Joseph, which caused their problems now. They did not realize Joseph could understand what they discussed. Even so Joseph filled their bags and sent them on their way, with the promise that they would return with Benjamin. Actions have consequences, both good and bad!

Vs.27-38 When they found that their silver was returned to them they feared for their lives. “Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” They all saw what was happening to them was punishment, more than likely these events were teaching them the awareness of what they put Joseph and their father through. They told Jacob all that transpired, But “Jacob said to them, ‘You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”’

It sounds as though Jacob had suspected that Joseph was lost through their actions. “Jacob said. ‘My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left…”’ yes the only one of his mother, Jacob’s favorite wife. Jacob had not yet learned one thing about the detriment of favoritism. God uses our shortcomings to bring about His purposes. Praise the Lord!

God, Our Refuge!

# 49 2023 Dev. Prov. 30:5 God, Our Refuge! Read all of chapter thirty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Prov. 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Prov.30 This chapter and chapter31 are an appendix to Proverbs. Chapter 30 are the sayings of Agur son of Jakeh who is speaking to Ithiel and Ukal. This is the only place in scripture these four men are mentioned and we know nothing about them. They probably are not Hebrew, but more like Job and friends.

Vs.1-4 He starts out with a concern and addresses God directly “I am weary, God, but I can prevail.” He continues to address God: “Surely I am only a brute, not a man… nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.” He is starting to sound like Job and speaks much like him in verse 4, “ Who has gone up to heaven and come down?” But Agur confirms what he knows about God; “Whose hand…” holds the wind, “Who has wrapped up the waters… who has established… the earth. What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!” This sounds a little like Job 19:25 “I know that my redeemer lives and…he will stand upon the earth.”

Vs.5-9 Agur praises God, “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words…” He then continues with a prayer, the only prayer we find in Proverbs. “Two things I ask of you, Lord… Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches…Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you… Or I may become poor and steal…”

Vs.10-14. Do not slander…” do not curse your father and bless your mother. Do not be self-righteous, do not “devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind.” The poor and the needy turn to God!

Vs.15-17 “The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry. There are three things…” No, “four that never say, ‘Enough!’: the grave, the barren womb, land…” needs water, “fire…”needs wood. “The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother…” repeated from v.11 indicating its importance. They cannot and will not see the blessing of parents or the blessings of God! Parents are the voice of God in a child’s life.

Vs.18-20 “There are three…” No, “four that I do not understand: “the way…” birds fly, “the way…”a snake moves, “the way of a ship…” on water. “The way of a man with a young woman.” Four mysteries better understood today, but not completely. “This is the way of an adulterous woman…” (and man) ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’” The whole world is saying that today!

Vs.21-31 “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up”: when leadership is given to the unwise and the inexperienced at every level of society. The earth trembles today!

Vs.24-28 “four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise…” Ants plan ahead. Hyraxes find their homes in unlikely places. Locusts are able to organize. Some lizards live in palaces. Creation is the word of God, it is all around us, displaying God’s wisdom and power.

Vs.29-31 “There are three things… No, “four that move with stately bearing: a lion, mighty…” never retreats. “A strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt.” Self-confidence is an important part of life but over-confidence assures failure.

Vs.32-33 “if you play the fool and exalt yourself. Or if you plan evil…”, if conflict and crime is ignored, it is inevitable that “stirring up anger produces strife.” Lack of prosecution and the lack of security will destroy our country! We trust and thank God because He is in control of our lives and our world.

Trust And Faith!

# 48 2023 Dev. Ge. 41:15-16. Trust And Faith! Read all of chapter forty one first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.41:15-16 “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’”

Ch.41 continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where he needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. But Joseph had to wait two more years after the cup bearer was restored to Pharaoh’s staff. We may be sure Joseph was discouraged as any one of us would be. But, like what we should do, Joseph trusted that God had a purpose for him. Trust and faith comes to bear in this chapter.

Vs.1-8 Pharaoh’s dreams; seven fat cows and seven emaciated cows. seven full heads of wheat and seven withered heads of wheat. All the wise men in Egypt could not tell Pharaoh what his dreams meant.

Vs.9-14 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings…” and he told Pharaoh that Joseph had interpreted his and the chief bakers dreams and they came out as he had interpreted them. “So pharaoh sent for Joseph…”

Vs15-16 “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’” Joseph did not take credit for himself but honored God!

Vs.17- 24 Pharaoh tells Joseph his dreams.

Vs.25-32 “Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years… The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.’”

But Joseph was not done interpreting. He repeats “God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do” There will be seven years of great abundance and the seven years that follow will be severe and the good years will be forgotten.

The Spirit moved Joseph to convince Pharaoh that this will actually happen, he adds what we all have learned when reading scripture; when something is repeated it is more important. So God sent Pharaoh two dreams and as Joseph points out: ‘The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.’”

Vs.33-40 The Spirit was not done with advising Pharaoh; Joseph goes on: “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

So Pharaoh asked them, his officials, “Can we find anyone like this man, one In whom is the spirit of God?”

Vs.41-56 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” God had been preparing Joseph all this time; honing his management skills in Potiphar’s household, and teaching him humility and trust in jail. All this time Satan was tempting him and trying to kill him, first his brothers and then being accused of rape. But God was in control and protecting Joseph and preparing him. God always protect and prepares us because for all of us, serous followers of Jesus, God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. Count on it!

Pharaoh, renamed him and gave him a wife, Asenath, daughter of Potiphara priest of On (Heliopolis). Was this an attempt on Pharaoh’s part to influence Joseph? There is no indication that Joseph was influenced by the religion of Egypt. During the years of plenty Joseph collected so much grain he was no longer recording it. The famine that followed was so severe that “all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph…” It is hard to know why God allowed an extreme famine, but we know that God wanted to build up His people into a nation. God did so in isolation, until they were ready to possess the promised land. God’s Grace and Salvation today mirrors what happened in Egypt. We have a lot to be thankful for!

Trust And Faith!

Vs.17- 24 Pharaoh tells Joseph his dreams.

So Pharaoh asked them, his officials, “Can we find anyone like this man, one In whom is the spirit of God?”

Justice!

# 47 2023 Dev. Prov. 29:7. Justice! Read all of chapter twenty nine first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Prov. 29:7 “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”

Prov. 29 continues with the proverbs of Solomon. In this chapter he uses couplets comparing the just and the unjust and the righteous with the wicked.

Vs.1-9 The stubborn are “without remedy” The righteous are wise. They “thrive” and “the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.”Righteousness brings joy. “By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy…tear it down.” Yes, we see it happening today! “Those who flatter” can’t be trusted. “Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy”. “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.” Don’t go to court with a fool. We see what is happening with the lack of prosecution, “and there is no peace.”

Vs.10-18 “The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.” That was going on then and is going on today! “Fools…rage but the wise bring calm… If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.” We all have this in common, “The Lord gives sight to the eyes…” What do we see?

“If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever. A rod and reprimand impart wisdom…” lack of discipline “disgraces its mother,” and father. “When the wicked thrive, so does sin… Discipline your children, and they will give you peace… Where there is no revelation, (God’s Word) people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.”

Vs.19-27 “Servants (People) cannot be corrected by mere words…” wages are required. For slaves, in the day, good treatment is required. Do not “speak in hast… A servant ( a child or slave) pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent. An angry person stirs up conflict, and… commits many sins. Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.”

“The accomplices of thieves… dare not testify.” Do not fear man “but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe,” not from leaders, “but it is from the Lord that one gets justice. The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.” Righteousness and wickedness are in a constant battle, good and evil are opposed to each other, they have to be; one brings peace and the other brings chaos.

But Jesus says: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Amen and Amen

Dreams!

# 46 2023 Dev. Ge. 40:8b. Dreams! Read all of chapter forty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.40:8b “Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.’”

Ch.40 continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where he needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. God needed Joseph to be in this particular jail where he would meet two of Pharaoh’s officials who got in trouble with the Pharaoh. At this time and in the third world today dreams, have meaning. Some Africans I know converted to Christianity because of a dream they had.

Vs.1-4 “Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt.” He locked up both of them in the house of the captain of the guard and Joseph was assigned to them.

Vs.5-8 “After they had been in custody for some time,” This I think was longer than shorter, six months or so. It appears Joseph had been locked up for possibly a year. One night, both the baker and the cup bearer had dreams. It appears they were very depressed by their dreams. “Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.’”

Vs.9-15 The cup bearer tells his dream, three branches appeared, the blossoms immediately produced grapes, I squeezed them into the king’s cup and put the cup in the kings hand. Joseph interprets, the branches are three days and Pharaoh will restore you to your former position.

But Joseph makes an appeal, “please remember me to the Pharaoh because I have done nothing to deserve being locked up.” From my experience, doing ministry in jail, in prison everyone claims to be innocent.

Vs.16-19 “When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, ‘I too had a dream:’” He dreamed to have three baskets on his head, full of different breads “but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” The interpretation was not positive. The baker would be executed in three days.

Vs.20-23 “Now the third day was Pharaoh birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials.” During the feast Pharaoh restored the cup bearer and executed the baker, “just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation. The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.”

We imagine Joseph was disappointed and dejected. Like us he would expect something to happen, like us he was disappointed, but like us sometimes we have to wait. God’s timing is not our timing. Amen! Joseph had to wait for two more years!

Understanding Right and Wrong!

# 45 2023 Dev. Prov. 28:5. Understanding Right and Wrong! Read all of chapter twenty eight first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 28:5 “Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.”

Proverbs 28 continues with more proverbs of Solomon. This chapter continues using couplets mostly in opposites. This chapter is about the result of doing right and the effect of doing wrong.

Vs.1-5 The righteous and the wicked! “The wicked flee…but the righteous are bold… but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.” O, Lord! We desire order!

Those who oppress the poor are like a destructive storm! “Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked… Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.”

Vs.6-16 The rich and the poor! “Better poor… and blameless, than rich… and perverse. A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.” Exploiting “the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. If anyone turns a deaf ear to my (God’s) instruction, even their prayers are detestable.”

Leading good people astray, comes back on them. “But the blameless will receive a good inheritance.” The rich think they are wise, the poor know the truth. “When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.” Is it time to hide and to vote?… Whoever conceals their sin…” loses“who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Amen!

“Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” A wicked ruler, destroys “a helpless people.” A wicked ruler extorts “but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.” We need to pay more attention to whom we vote for to be our leaders.

Vs.17-28 Practical advice. Unrepentant murderers seek death. “Let no-one hold them back. The one blameless… is kept safe, but…whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.” Is that Gahanna?

“Partiality” is bad, a person does wrong when in need, is also bad. Anyone “eager to get rich are unaware that poverty awaits them. Whoever rebukes…gain favor, rather…a flattering tongue. Whoever robs their father or mother and says, ‘It’s not wrong.’” Is partner to one who destroys.”

“The greedy stir up conflict, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. Those who give to the poor will lack nothing., but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.” Amen, don’t we know it? Where is our human empathy, or has our basic human love gone cold?

God’s Providence

# 44 2023 Dev. Ge. 39:2 God’s Provision! Read all of chapter thirty nine first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.39:2 “The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.”

Ch.39 is the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where he needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. I believe Joseph understood that God was with him, but I imagine he wondered where this was all going. It did not happen overnight. Like most of us, he was a little impatient.

Vs.1-6 It must have been several years before Joseph was trusted and Potiphar put him in charge of all his goods and business. God empowered Joseph to make the right decisions in order to prosper his master’s estate. Does God still empower people like that today? Yes He does, even unbelievers because He has a purpose for them as well, often for the good of God’s followers. Of course God empowers all believers to fulfill His purposes, it is the function of the Holy Spirit in our lives insofar as we listen to the Spirit. The Spirit does not force us and we may even push Him away in some instances. Listen carefully for the Holy Spirit, He speaks softly.

Vs.7-10 “Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’” Joseph refused, citing that her husband put him in charge of all except for her, “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Joseph was walking close to God!

Vs.11-20 When no-one was around she grabbed him by his coat, to force him to bed but Joseph left his coat and ran off. She used his coat against him, turning the story around; Joseph had tried to take her and when she screamed he ran off, leaving his coat. I wonder what she was thinking when Joseph was appointed second in command? I suspect that Potiphar had his suspicions, one would think that as a slave he would have been put to death, but no, he went to jail.

Vs.21-23 ”But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.” God was with Joseph but Potiphar was the captain of the guard who would be familiar with the warden of the prison. God placed Joseph in the right place and with the right people. Being in charge of everything in the prison meant he had a cushy job as far as a prisoner is concerned and had access to all the prisoners. “The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” God still does that for all who call on the name of the Lord!

Faithful Friends

# 43 2023 Dev. Prov. 27:9. Faithful Friends! Read all of chapter twenty seven first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 27:9 “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friendsprings from their heartfelt advice.”

Proverbs 27 continues with more proverbs of Solomon. This chapter seems to continue using couplets mostly complementing each other. These verses also seem to be random covering all of life except for verses 23-27 which concentrates on agriculture, on work.

Vs.1-6 gives personal advice: “do not boast about tomorrow… Let someone else praise you…Stone is heavy and sand a burden but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both…who can stand before jealousy?” “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” Be prudent in your personal relationships. Don’t fake it! Be upfront. What you see is what you get!

Vs.7-14 gives general advice: gluttons and the hungry are compared. Cherish your home. “Perfume and incense brings joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family… Be wise, my son and bring joy to my heart…” The prudent and simple are compared. Consider strangers and outsiders. Blessings and curses are mutually exclusive. Be wise when dealing with a variety of situations, all knowledge is limited.

Vs.15-22 Solomon had many wives, he knows about quarrelsome women and that restraining them is not possible, yet he conveniently ignores the abusive husband. “As iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another.” Acknowledge the source of your wellbeing. “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” Death and destruction are compared to the lust of the eye. Silver and gold are meaningless, “people are tested by their praise.” Punishment for fools – “you will not remove folly from them.” Practical wisdom brings about a peaceful life!

Vs.23-27 Advice for the farmer and herder, advice for all who work, whatever the job. Pay attention to the results of your work, “for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.” Hard, consistent work will provide for all your needs. Prudent management of your means will sustain you and your family throughout a lifetime. This proverb is full of useful and practical advice. Praise God! Are we ready to listen?

God in Control!

# 42 2023 Dev. Ge.38:1. God In Control! Read all of chapter thirty eight first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.38:1 “At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah.”

Ch.38 is basically about Judah. Remember, Judah is the one who pushed his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery instead of killing him. One wonders why Judah left his brothers and his father’s house. Did he disapprove of his brothers actions? Perhaps he was running out of pasture for his flocks. Obviously he did not hook up with one of the captives from Shechem.

Vs. 1-11 Judah moves away from his brothers and from Jacob’s household. It appears to have been a temporary move since Judah is back with his brothers when they go to Egypt for grain. While Judah was living near his friend Hirah, Judah married a Canaanite women named Shua and she bore him three children.

Judah must have lived there for 25 or more years. His first born Er marries Tamar but before they had children he dies. Scripture tells us that God took him because of his wickedness. A common practice in those days was “Lavirate Marriages” The brother of the husband is required to marry his widow, especially if childless. This is still practiced today in the Middle East and Africa.

Onan, Judah’s second child is married to Tamar, but he refused to impregnate her, this displeases God and He takes him also. Judah, afraid of loosing his younger son sends Tamera back to stay with her father with the promise the younger son would marry her when fully grown. Judah had no intention of allowing Shelah to marry Tamara.

Vs.12-23 After a long time Judah’s wife died. Tamera sees an opportunity, she knows that Judah will not fulfill his promise to her. Widowed twice, no children, and no husband to care for her, she takes desperate action. She pretends to be a prostitute to tempt Judah to sleep with her, she is successful in her ruse. She keeps his seal and staff as proof.

Vs.24-27 Three months later Tamar is found pregnant, You can’t make up a story like this, obviously God is in control. Apparently, it is OK for Judah to prostitute himself but not for Tamar, “bring her out and burn her”, Judah says. But when he has to admits that she is pregnant by him, he declares her more righteous than him.

Tamar gave birth to twins boys, Perez and Zerah. Zerah appears to be born first but Perez comes first. Perez is in the line of David, ultimately in the line of Christ. Judah was chosen but he married the wrong women, God corrected it in a very human and a very unorthodox way. Thanks be to God!