Monthly Archives: April 2024

EXODUS 1 PHARAOH’S CRUELTY OVER THE ISRAELITES

Posted on by

April 20

EXODUS 1

These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. – EXODUS 1:1-14

EXODUS 1 PHARAOH’S CRUELTY OVER THE ISRAELITES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Joseph and his brothers’ generation, a new ruler got in power

This new Pharaoh didn’t know Joseph and what he had done to Egypt

He felt threatened by the multiplication of the Israelites so he oppressed them

He was so cruel that he made Israelites lives bitter with forced labor & slavery.

“Exodus” is a Greek word which means “going out”. It points to the narrative of how
God led the Israelites to exit out of Egypt. The book of Exodus begins where the book of Genesis ends. It starts with the enumeration of Jacob’s household. It is a transition period of probably 430 years according to one of the commentaries. Joseph and his brothers died then and so their children. This new Pharaoh didn’t know history. He didn’t know Joseph was the reason why Egypt still existed at his time. He was anxious of the increase in the number of the Israelites, so he decided to inflict cruelty on them.

REFLECTION

·       Why is verse 8 very important in this first chapter of the book of Exodus?

GENESIS 50 JOSEPH’S LIFE AFTER JACOB’S DEATH

Posted on by

April 19

GENESIS 50

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many peopleshould be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. 22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. – Genesis 50:15-26

GENESIS 50 JOSEPH’S LIFE AFTER JACOB’S DEATH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with everyone

His brothers were afraid that he would punish them for their past sins

But Joseph reassured them that he will take care of them all

After 110 years, Joseph died, was embalmed and buried in Egypt.

Not much details were spoken of Joseph’s life after his father’s death. His brothers were apprehensive after their father’s death, but Joseph was faithful to provide for them all and his father’s household. Joseph’s life was a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham and his leadership in Egypt was a clear manifestation of God’s faithfulness.

REFLECTION

  • What was the most significant role of Joseph in the lives of the people of God?

GENESIS 50 THE BURIAL OF JACOB IN CANAAN

Posted on by

April 18

GENESIS 50

7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

                                                                   – Genesis 50:7-14

GENESIS 50 THE BURIAL OF JACOB IN CANAAN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Joseph’s body was embalmed by the Egyptian physicians

And they have grieved and mourned for seventy days,

Joseph and all Pharaoh’s servants, his brothers and his household

They all went to bury Jacob as he requested in the field of Macphelah

Because the Canaanites witnessed the grievous mourning of the Egyptians

They called the burial place Abel-mizraim which was beyond the Jordan.

In Genesis 23:9-17 we can recall how Abraham purchased the field of Macphelah to bury Sarah. He was a sojourner, so this was the only place Abraham owned as he followed God’s directive when he needed to move from one place to another until Canaan became their own land as God promised. It was here that Isaac, Rebekah and Leah were also buried (Genesis 49:31). So, it was understandable that Jacob requested that he be buried there as well. The Canaanites witnessed the honorable burial that Jacob was given.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think this burial of Jacob was so honorable?

GENESIS 50 JACOB’S DEATH AND EGYPTIAN BURIAL RITES

Posted on by

April 17

GENESIS 50

Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” – Genesis 50:1-6

GENESIS 50 JACOB’S DEATH AND EGYPTIAN BURIAL RITES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Jacob blessed all his twelve children, he died

Joseph wept over his beloved father and kissed him

Then he commanded the physicians to embalm his father

It took forty days to embalm the dead in their tradition

They wept seventy days in accordance to their burial rites

Then after that, Joseph asked Pharaoh to bury him in Canaan.

According to ibible.com, in Egypt, during the time of Joseph burial was more than just an event that happened after a person’s death. Egyptians prepare for burial by building their own tombs, designing special jars and undergoing a lengthy embalming process. Egypt’s burial rites held deep cultural significance. No wonder we read from these verses that it took the physicians forty days to embalm Jacob and a total of seventy days to lament over Jacob’s death.

We can see here that Jacob, although not Egyptian, was given an Egyptian burial because of his son Joseph who was an Egyptian ruler. The interesting thing here is how Pharaoh approved that Jacob’s body be buried in Canaan. The Egyptians value the afterlife so much that they wouldn’t ignore the request of the dying.

REFLECTION

  • How can we see the fulfillment of God’s promise in this time of Jacob’s death?

GENESIS 49 JACOB BLESSES JOSEPH & BENJAMIN & DIES

Posted on by

April 16

GENESIS 49


22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall.
23 The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him severely, 24 yet his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), 25 by the God of your father who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that crouches beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents, up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.”28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

                                                                   – Genesis 49:22-32

GENESIS 49 JACOB BLESSES JOSEPH & BENJAMIN & DIES

Charles Spurgeon comments on Joseph’s blessing from Jacob as his being well-watered and provided for in his deep and real relationship with God. “The main point in Joseph’s character was that he was in clear and constant fellowship with God, and therefore God blessed him greatly. He lived to God, and was God’s servant; he lived with God, and was God’s child.” Though Joseph encountered a lot of cruelty, the Lord never left him and use them to strengthen and prepare him for ruling Egypt wisely. Benjamin was blessed with fierceness to devour the prey which we see in Judges 3 in Ehud who was a Benjamite. After blessing all his sons, Jacob requested he be buried to his father’s land and he died.

REFLECTION

  • Why did Jacob want to be buried in the cave where his father was buried?

GENESIS 49 MORE PROPHETIC WORDS FOR SIX SONS OF JACOB

Posted on by

April 15

GENESIS 49

13 “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon.14 “Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds. 15 He saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant, so he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant at forced labor. 16 “Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that his rider falls backward. 18 I wait for your salvation, O Lord.19 “Raiders shall raid Gad, but he shall raid at their heels. 20 “Asher’s food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal delicacies.21 “Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns. – Genesis 49:13-21

GENESIS 49 MORE PROPHETIC WORDS FOR SIX SONS OF JACOB

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

On his deathbed, Jacob continues to speak out prophecies for his sons

He spoke of Zebulun becoming a haven for ships and spread through Sidon

Issachar shall be crouching between sheepfolds and will be a servant

Dan shall judge his people and be the serpent but Gad shall raid at their heels

Asher’s food shall be rich and yield royal delicacies while Naphtali is a doe

These are Jacob’s prophetic words for six of his own sons before he died.

If we go to the first book of Chronicles 12:32- 37, these prophetic words of Jacob over his six sons were fulfilled. Issachar’s men had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. Zebulun had 50,000 seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David with singleness of purpose. From Naphtali’s tribe came 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear.  From Dan’s tribe, 28,600 men were equipped for battle. From Asher 40,000 seasoned troops were ready for battle.  Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war. From this account, we clearly witness how Jacob’s prophecy over his sons were all revealed to him by God’s Spirit. How else could he have foreseen all of these future events if it wasn’t from God? They were not chance they were all in God’s plan, every detail of it.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God revealed to Jacob all these future events before he died?

GENESIS 49 JACOB DECLARES PROPHECY & CURSES ON HIS DEATHBED

Posted on by

April 14

GENESIS 49

Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.2 “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father.3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. 6 Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger, they killed men, and in their willfulness, they hamstrung oxen.7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you.9 Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him;[a]and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.11 Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

                                                                      – Genesis 49:1-12

GENESIS 49 JACOB DECLARES PROPHECY & CURSES ON HIS DEATHBED

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

On his deathbed, Jacob finally declares all thoughts he had on his sons

He began to declare all things that he had kept quiet for many years

The Spirit of the Lord was upon Jacob as he wisely utters prophetic words

One among four was blessed but the rest received curses from Jacob.

It was finally on his deathbed when Jacob spoke of his son’s sins. He can now finally speak of the prophetic vision that the Lord showed him, just before he breathed his last. Even though he kept silent about all the evil deeds his sons did, he spoke of the consequences of those sins they committed. Only Judah seemed to be blessed among the first four sons of Jacob. It was from him that David will come forth and so will the Messiah as well

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think Jacob kept his mouth shut all those years his sons sinned?

GENESIS 48 MORE BLESSING FOR EPHRAIM

Posted on by

April 13

GENESIS 48

17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’ ”Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.” – Genesis 48:17-22

GENESIS 48 MORE BLESSING FOR EPHRAIM

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Joseph noticed that Jacob’s right hand was on Ephraim

He corrected his father and directed it to Manasseh’s head

But Jacob said that he wanted Ephraim to get more blessings

Manasseh will also get favor but the promise will be on Ephraim’s

Jacob also gives his mountain slope to Joseph and not to his brothers

It was to honor the Lord’s plan to hand over what he had to Joseph.

According to Wikepedia.com, the firstborn or firstborn son (Hebrew בְּכוֹר bəḵōr) is an important concept in Judaism. The role of firstborn son carries significance in the redemption of the first-born son, in the allocation of a double portion of the inheritance, and in the prophetic application of “firstborn” to the nation of Israel.

No wonder Joseph wanted his firstborn son Manasseh to get the double portion instead of the younger son. I wonder if Jacob was repeating history since he wasn’t the firstborn son either and yet he was chosen by God to be the one to receive the covenant promise of multiplication and the promised land.

REFLECTION

  • How do we know if Jacob’s blessings on Ephraim was God’s will?

GENESIS 48 JACOB BLESSES JOSEPH & HIS SONS

Posted on by

April 12

GENESIS 48

10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitudein the midst of the earth.” – Genesis 48:10-16

GENESIS 48 JACOB BLESSES JOSEPH & HIS SONS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Joseph presented his sons to his father’s deathbed

Jacob’s eyesight was already going and he can’t see them

So, Joseph brought Manasseh and Ephraim nearer his father

Jacob took them both and placed his right hand on Ephraim

His left hand he placed on Manasseh even though he was the firstborn

Then he blessed Joseph and the boys so that his name will be carried on.

On his deathbed, Joseph and his sons Manasseh and Ephraim gathered to pay homage to their beloved father and grandfather. Here, Jacob mentions how his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham, had that covenant promise from God himself to their family. At this time, he thanked the Lord for allowing him to see Joseph again and also his sons in Egypt. Prior to these verses, we hear Jacob adopting these grandchildren to be like his own two sons. He passed on to them the same blessings he gave all his sons. Jacob wanted these two grandsons to have hierarchy in receiving God’s promise to his offspring.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think Jacob placed his right hand on Ephraim and not Manasseh?

GENESIS 48 JACOB ADOPTS EPHRAIM & MANASSEH

Posted on by

April 11

GENESIS 48

After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5 And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”8 When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” – Genesis 48:1-9

GENESIS 48 JACOB ADOPTS EPHRAIM & MANASSEH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

It was seventeen years when Jacob moved to Egypt to see Joseph

This was almost the same number of years when he was sold at Egpyt

Jacob told Joseph of his meeting with the Lord Almighty at Luz in Canaan

God reiterated his plan to make them fruitful and to make them multiply

Jacob claimed Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons

Just like Reuben and Simeon were, then Joseph can have his own after these two.

At this point of Joseph’s story, we are getting ready for the death of Jacob. After hearing of his father’s illness, Joseph brought his two sons with him to see their grandfather. God has allowed Joseph and Jacob to reunite in those seventeen years that Joseph moved Jacob to Goshen in Egypt so he could see his father whenever he could.

REFLECTION

  • Why did Jacob adopt Joseph’s sons before he died?