May 29

Journey-through-the-Bible-with-us

READING FOR MAY 29, 2024: GENESIS 41, MARK 10, PSALM 47                                                         GENESIS 41 As we get a bit older, some of us might be prone to forgetfulness. (Where are those keys?) Normally it is not too problematic. In this case, the cupbearer forgot to inform Pharoah about Joseph being stuck in prison. Two years elapsed before the cupbearer’s memory was triggered by Pharoah’s dream. To his credit, he owned his negligence and gave Joseph full credit for his giftedness. This honesty is a good reminder to not let our past mistakes (or accomplishments) hinder us from doing what is right going forward: “Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).  Imagine if Paul had been preoccupied with his years of harassing the church. Unlike the cupbearer’s two-year memory slip, this sort of forgetting is essential if we are to continue being fruitful for the Lord. Don’t live in the past.

This story raises an interesting issue. Pharoah was not a believer in the God of Israel, yet clearly the God of Israel revealed the future to him in a dream. We have 20 or so translations of God’s revealed word at our fingertips or in our closets. God could still speak to us in a dream, but He expects us to open our Bibles. Consider this story told by Jesus about a rich man speaking with Abraham after death: “’I request of you, father, that you send him to my father’s house- for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment as well.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them”’ (Luke 16:27-29). 

What about those places such as Pharoah’s Egypt that did not have these resources or places today where the Bible or evangelism is banned? Consider this report from the Lausanne World Pulse website: “For decades, a well-documented phenomenon has been occurring in the Muslim world—men and women who, without knowledge of the gospel, or contact among Christians in their community, have experienced dreams and visions of Jesus Christ.”  

Notice some spiritually mature qualities Joseph exhibited when brought before Pharoah:

  • He did not complain about past mistreatment but focused his attention on Pharoah’s current issue. 
  • He did not dispute the good report about him but gave 100% credit to God. Some athletics often do this today when interviewed by the media. Good for them. 
  • In verse 32, he said the matter was confirmed or established by God so there was 100% certainty it would happen. Do we trust the Bible as confirmed or established by God and is 100% true or do we believe it’s outdated or otherwise flawed?
  • He not only gave a detailed explanation of the dream (i.e., knowledge) but put forward a plan for how Pharoah could successfully deal with the situation (i.e., wisdom). 
  • Joseph thought it’s good policy to raise taxes significantly to achieve a vital long-term national goal. 
  • Pharoah noticed that Joseph was filled with the Holy Spirit, unlike his Egyptian officials. 
  • Joseph was committed to living in Egypt for the next 14 years working for the Egyptian Pharoah and married to an Egyptian wife, yet he gave his sons Hebrew names representing God’s faithfulness. 

READING FOR MAY 29, 2024 CONTINUED: MARK 10, PSALM 47                                            MARK 10 Quite a few of us at church have been professional educators. Isn’t it great that the text affirms our craft when it says Jesus was accustomed to teaching.  The Pharisees are like certain students in our classrooms who are not interested in learning, but in tripping us up.  This was the intent of their question about divorce. Jesus responded by pointing to the Mosaic Law, which, being strict law keepers, they liked a lot. His next comments are stunning and worthy of a doctoral dissertation, not a few sentences. Jesus said that God’s design for marriage was a lifelong commitment. He said Moses allowed a lesser standard because of that culture’s hardheartedness, but now, thousands of years later, Jesus reinstates the original stricter creational standards regarding divorce and remarriage. This standard can be lived today because believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit after Pentecost: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). As was mentioned when Matt. 19 was discussed, anyone who has already divorced and remarried can seek and find full forgiveness from God (1 John 1:9). That’s why Jesus went to the cross!                                  Once again, we are running out of space with much yet to be said. Here are some highlights:

  • We must come to Jesus like a child, fully trusting His love, wisdom, and power--not our efforts.
  • Money can be a false idol that blocks faith in God. Wealthy people can come to faith, but it’s hard.
  • By giving up our fixation for wealth, relationships, or any asset to follow God, we receive many more rewarding blessings from God now and the guarantee of eternal life. FAITH IN JESUS IS WISE!
  • Again, Jesus teaches His disciples about His suffering, death, and resurrection. This is the third chapter in a row, yet they were still shocked when it happened. Clearly there was nothing in their experience or knowledge that provided a framework for them to grasp this concept. God’s ways are beyond ours.
  • Didn’t Jesus also address the issue of kingdom prominence in Chapter 9? Why are we like this? SIN.
  • Isn’t Bartimaeus’s loud insistence for Jesus great? Jesus agrees (vs. 52):“Your faith has made you well.”

PSALM 47 Do we shout and clap our hands when we worship God?  There are some black and charismatic churches who do this. Visit a Christian college chapel service to observe this. Better yet, let’s obey this command at Yorktown Methodist, not just at Purdue basketball games. Why? Because our Lord is the highest being (ranked #1) in the universe and is a great king over the whole earth—not just a leader of one religion among many.  Perhaps the Psalmist was speaking of countries under Israel’s authority in verse 3.  Perhaps he was also looking to the future: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” (1 Cor. 6:2). Isn’t it wonderful that the Lord chooses our inheritance? He decides our place in this world and the next. Again, what is our appropriate response to a God like this? “Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises... Sing praises with a psalm of wisdom” (vs. 6-7). This kind of praise is not mindless group dynamic like at a political rally or rock concert.  It calls for our deepest understanding of the character of God and our relationship to Him.