God created man in His image. His original command to His image was, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it” (Gen. 1:28). Man fell from this purpose. God’s image in man was marred. As a result, man multiplied his own image and likeness (Gen. 5:3). Man’s image filled the earth. All things…
Category: The Law
Image
“Let us make man in Our image, according to our likeness” (Gen. 1:26). We see from this verse that, from the beginning, God’s purpose was for us to be in His image. God’s image was to be fruitful, multiply, fill the creation, and subdue it (Gen. 1:28). This purpose was frustrated and delayed at…
Who Told You?
Today’s post is by an old friend from Bible school, Judith Brown. Judith emailed this to various friends in the Lord and was good enough to let me share it. *** “Who told you that you were naked?” Genesis 3:11 God asked Adam and Eve this question after they had eaten the forbidden fruit. Their…
Seeing the Son Within
When Jacob met Joseph’s sons, he said, “Ephraim and Manasseh belong to me just as Reuben and Simeon do” (Gen. 48:5). Joseph regarded Ephraim and Manasseh’s sons in the same way (Gen. 50:23). Jacob and Joseph saw their grandchildren as their children; they saw no difference between them when it came to affection, status, and…
An End in Itself
Jacob’s death revives fears among his sons that Joseph will retaliate because of their cruelty towards him (Gen. 50:15). Although Joseph already reassured them he held no grudge, they don’t yet trust this. Once again, they appeal to Joseph for mercy (Gen. 50:16-18). Joseph replies, “Am I in the place of God? You planned evil…
Embalmed
After Jacob dies, he is embalmed (Gen. 50:2-3). Embalming was an Egyptian practice and betrays something of the world’s mindset. Embalming was and is meant to preserve the dead person. There have been various methods throughout history but the basic idea is the same: the dead flesh is treated with substances that slow decay. Modern…
Beyond Needing Again
Just before dying, Jacob prophesies over each of his sons. The prophecies can’t be called blessings, exactly. They are honest appraisals. Some soar with praise: Joseph is called prince and compared to a fruitful vine by a spring. Judah is predicted to rule his brothers. Others are tongue lashed: Reuben for sleeping with one of…
The Chosen One(s)
Near the end of his life, Jacob told Joseph that Joseph’s sons would be as his own sons. Because of this, Jacob asked to bless them. Joseph brought Manasseh, his first born, and Ephraim, his second born, to Jacob. According to natural order, Jacob would’ve placed his right hand on Manasseh, thereby conferring the greater…
Freely Owned
As famine worsened in Egypt, people came to Joseph seeking food. The grain Joseph stored up for Pharaoh over seven years was the only food in the land. For awhile, people paid money for grain. “Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt.” Eventually, people ran out of money (Gen….
Insignificant and Despised
Verses 8 through 27 in Genesis 46 list Jacob’s descendants. After this, Jacob and his family come to Egypt, settle in Goshen, and meet Pharaoh. Before meeting Pharaoh, Joseph instructs his relatives to tell Pharaoh they are shepherds. “Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen,” Joseph explains, “since all shepherds…
The Voice of One 