READING FOR MAY 23, 2024: GENESIS 37, MARK 6, PSALM 45:1-9 GENESIS 36 Ever feel regrets about parenting decisions? Likely we do because we are not perfect, and parenting is hard. Yet, if God was able to bring salvation to the world through some of the parents in Genesis, He can certainly achieve something good through our flawed efforts. This chapter is a good model of what not to do as a parent and as a sibling.
First, the seventeen-year-old Joseph brought back a bad report to Jacob about his brothers, who were mostly much older than he was. This is not unusual with brothers, but the best approach to confronting a problem is to go to the person(s) directly: “Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother” (Matt 18:15). Then, Jacob showed favoritism to Joseph by making him a flashing tunic—not a very godly act: “There is no partiality with God” (Rom. 2:11). As to be expected, this polluted the relationship between Joseph and his brothers. This in no way helped Joseph.
Joseph’s turn to be foolish. He told his brothers of his dream, which truly was from God, that spoke to his superior position over them. It is interesting that discernment is required even when sharing with others what God is revealing to us. Joseph certainly was not blessed with discernment because, oblivious to the effect his first dream had, he immediately told them of an even more provocative one.
Jacob’s turn. He allowed Joseph to remain behind while the brothers took the family flock far north to Shechem. This was a former family residence (Gen. 33:18) and site of the rape of Dinah. This was a bad place to be, but sending Joseph to make a report about the flock and brothers placed him in a difficult position. Avoiding placing ourselves or others in such situations requires foresight: “A prudent person sees evil and hides himself, but the naive proceed and pay the penalty” (Prov.22:3).
How shocking it is that Cain killed Abel, Esau threatened to kill Jacob, and now Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him. Fortunately, we live in a time when this is outlawed, but we still hear of murders every night on the news from Indianapolis. What might our role be in such a violent time? “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). Consider how we can play that role in our families, church, and community. To his credit, Rueben, the eldest, stopped the killing. Judah’s deceitful scheme, however, ensured that Jacob would mourn inconsolably. Everyone involved was at fault. Everyone suffered pain. Still, God’s plans for Israel leading to Jesus and eventually to our eternal salvation moved forward.
READING FOR MAY 23, 2024 CONTINUED: MARK 6, PSALM 45:1-9 MARK 6 Often we categorize people and are blind to the facts in front of us. Jesus returned to Nazareth healing and speaking wisdom, but the people could not get past their own familiarity with Him. They knew Him as the son of Mary, perhaps, remembering the timing of His birth, not as the son of Joseph. They knew Him as a carpenter, not as a teacher or healer. They knew his many brothers and sisters. Their familiarity with Jesus blinded them to the reality of Jesus. How many of us have been familiar with Jesus through decades at church? But do we know Him personally as God the Son who alone can save us from death. Do we know Him as Lord whose words we either completely obey or reject because this cultural moment finds them outdated? Does our faith save us or does our unbelief prevent Him from working among us?
As we read before in Matthew 10, Jesus sent out His disciples for ministry. As in Matthew, He told them to travel very light and not be dismayed if they were not well received. We learn here that he sent them out in pairs. This is a model that Paul later followed in his own successful missionary trips and still has merit. Mark’s account also gives a slightly different, but complementary, slant on the message they should convey: “They went out and preached that men should repent” (6:12). How does this align with the outreach ministries of our church?
King Herod heard of this outreach because it succeeded in attracting huge attention. It is no wonder that he associated this message of repentance with John the Baptist, repentance being the focus of John’s ministry. John even specified the sin of which Herod should repent: marrying his brother’s wife. An extra fact we learn in Mark is that Herod enjoyed listening to John. The Rev. Billy Graham met with every president from Harry Truman to Donald Trump (https://billygraham.org/gallery/billy-graham-pastor-to-the-presidents/). They also enjoyed listening to him, but did they repent and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior? It is not for us to say (Rom. 2:1-4), but there is a day coming when this will be judged (Rom. 2:5-10).
We learn two new facts in Mark’s telling of the feeding of the 5,000:
- Jesus compassionately viewed the 5,000 as sheep without a shepherd: directionless and even lost.
- Jesus then commanded the 5,000 to rest in green grass and organize in smaller groups of 50 and 100.
We also see two differences from Matthew in Mark’s telling of Jesus walking on the water:
- Peter’s aborted walk on the water is not mentioned, likely because Peter recounted the story to Mark.
- Mark says that the disciples didn’t apply any insights from the feeding to their storm experience.
PSALM 45:1-9 This Psalm clearly references Jesus as the second person of the Trinity. How do we know? Heb.1:8-9 quotes verses 6-7: “But regarding the Son He [God the Father] says, 'Your throne, God, is forever and ever, And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your companions.’” This last statement is comprehensible only via the concept of the Trinity.
