READING FOR MAY 31, 2024: GENESIS 43, MARK 12, PSALM 48:9-14 GENESIS 43 Since Jacob and his sons in Canaan had no idea how long the famine was going to last, they may have assumed that the grain they acquired before would be enough. Now, they needed more. Jacob almost casually told his sons to go get some. Judah knew it was not that easy and refused to go back without Benjamin. It likely was rare to defy a father in those days, but Judah was being logical. Finally, his logic and willingness to take responsibility won the argument. Perhaps remembering the good result he had when he offered many gifts to Esau, Jacob told his sons to take extra money and gifts to offer Joseph.
When Joseph saw his brothers approaching with Benjamin, he told his steward to set up a meal for him and his brothers at his house. The brothers, fearing that going to Joseph’s house would lead to their capture, quickly told the steward of their prior experience and present intent. It did not seem to be within their realm of expectations that such a great man would desire to have a meal with them. Could someone far greater than Joseph desire to have such an intimate experience with us? “Behold, I [Jesus] stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20). He is inviting us today, along with those with whom we share His invitation.
It no doubt was surprising for the brothers when Joseph asked how their father was doing. When Joseph saw Benjamin, he offered him a blessing and was overcome with emotion. This is a vital reminder not to carry grudges against or be estranged with those closest to us: “But I [Jesus] say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell” (Matt. 5:22).
Some details are easy to miss. Joseph was served alone; the brothers by themselves; and the Egyptians were served by themselves. Apparently, segregation was practiced in Egypt just as it was at lunch counters in USA before the 1960’s. Joseph was not considered a pure Egyptian and his brothers were likely considered to be even a lesser ethnic group. Think about how this later impacted the Hebrews’400 years in Egypt. Instead of continually intermarrying, as we have seen them do already in Canaan, Abraham’s linage would be preserved and greatly enlarged as a distinct people by the time of the Exodus—fulfilling the covenant promise to Abraham of becoming a great nation from his seed. God used the Egyptians’ prejudice.
Another detail is Joseph arranging the brothers’ dining places in order from the first-born to the youngest. He was hinting that he knows more about the brothers than they thought.
READING FOR MAY 31, 2024 CONTINUED: MARK 12, PSALM 48:9-14 MARK 12 In the parable of the landowner, previously studied in Matt. 21:33-45, notice the graciousness and patience of the landowner. He graciously planted the vineyard and included everything needed to make it successful, just as God created a beautiful world and appointed us as His stewards. He patiently sent the vine-growers many representatives, just as God sent Israel numerous prophets over the centuries. Even though the prophets were on a mission for God, they were mistreated and sometimes killed by Israel. Finally, God sent His only Son to save the world, but Israel mostly rejected Him and sent Him to the cross. Today, we have access to these prophets through His Word and to His Son through faith. Do we reject Jesus, ignore Jesus, or receive Jesus as chief cornerstone of our lives—not just a peripheral activity one hour a week? God’s patience is not unlimited: “He [the owner] will destroy the vine-growers" (Mark 12:9).
An issue for the Pharisees and Herodians, as for us today, is the proper relationship between government and God. Jesus in essence states that we need to support the government but not look to the government as our ultimate source of meaning. Look to God. In response to the Sadducees, disbelievers of life after death, Jesus gave this very harsh criticism that we must also ponder: They did not understand the Bible nor the power of God. What about us? Jesus, however, encountered a wise scribe who truly understood that love of God and neighbor is more important than the prescribed sacrifices of the Mosaic Law. Jesus then identified Himself as the One whom David proclaimed as Lord and He lifts up those who humbly offer God what little they possess as opposed to those of us who parade our self-importance.
PSALM 48:9-14 What did the Psalmist think about when He was in the Temple? What do we think about in church? Let’s follow the Psalmist and contemplate God’s goodness, His praiseworthiness throughout the world, His righteousness (i.e., acting according to his right standard), and His judgments. In fact, we have far more reason to do this than the Psalmist who had not yet known the details of Jesus’s unimaginable work on our behalf at the cross.
The Psalmist then tells the reader to take a tour of Jerusalem, the City of God, which reflects something of God’s character: “for such is God” (vs. 14). A tour of present-day Jerusalem would surely be historically fascinating but may no longer project the majesty it did when the Psalmist was writing. What certainly will reflect all the attributes of God is the New Jerusalem: “He... showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel” (Rev. 21:10-12). LET’S START CONSIDERING THIS CITY OF GOD MORE AND MORE.
