Jacob’s Seventy

"And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; and take your father and your household, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours." (Genesis 45:17-20)

"And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the god of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And He said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt." (Genesis 46:1-7)

"All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six; and the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten." (Genesis 46:27)

Jacob has determined to go see Joseph, but he must obviously be having some serious qualms about being in or perhaps moving to Egypt. We know this because the Lord speaks to him but calls him by the name of Jacob, always indicative of the fleshly man, versus calling him by the name of Israel, indicative of the man of faith.

Nevertheless, Jacob does go down to Egypt (for God has promised He will bring him home again) and he takes with him every single member of his family, minus Joseph and his sons who are already there. But his entire lineage alive at that time amounted to seventy persons. In the King James version of the Bible, the word "seventy" is often stated as "threescore and ten." This passage tells us that Jacob had seventy souls that came out of his loins, in other words, direct descendants of Jacob.

That is an amazing number of descendants from only two generationsand it is also amazing that Jacob was blessed enough by the Lord to be able to see all of these seventy descendants for himself.

But I want to look at the biblical number 70 for a moment (both when it is stated as "70" and also as "threescore and ten") for this specific number seems to have some significance. And so let's see if we can determine what that significance is.

After the flood the world was repopulated by the descendants of Noah who numbered: 70. (Genesis 10)

There were "seventy men of the elders of Israel" chosen by God and given the Spirit with which Moses himself was endued, in order to help Moses administer justice while they were in the wilderness. (Numbers 11:16)

In Exodus 15:27, we see the Israelites coming to Elim "where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees.." This is interesting seeing as how there are twelve tribes of Israel and they have 70 elders.

In the Book of Judges, we are told of "threescore and ten kings having their thumbs and their great toes cut off" by Adonibezek; and the same is done to him. (Judges 1:7)

Also in the Book of Judges, Abimelech
used "threescore and ten pieces of silver" to hire men to kill "his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons." (Judges 9:4)

When Hezekiah reopened the doors of the temple, "the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks…" (2 Chronicles 29:32)

The Lord allowed Israel to be held captive in Babylon as a result of having neglected the Sabbath for 70 years; their captivity continued "until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years." (2 Chronicles 36:21) Did you know that this is the specific reason that Israel went into Babylonian captivity: not honoring the Sabbath?

Jesus "appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come." (Luke 10:1)

Jesus advocated that we forgive our brothers not seven times but "seventy times seven" times. (Matthew 18:22)

The number 70 then appears to be a number that indicates God's administration, not in heaven, but specifically here on earth, concerning mankind. In fact, Psalm 90:10 says that under normal circumstances "The days of our years are threescore years and ten…" Seventy becomes the number of years in a generation. Man himself is under God's administration.

Just an interesting side note.

Here's one more interesting side note:

During the listing in Genesis 46 of the descendants of Jacob we find this short line: "And the sons of Dan; Hushim." (Genesis 46:23)

Hushim was not the name of Dan's son. Hushim literally means "who makes haste" but is in this passage referring to all the sons of Dan who are not listed here at all; it is as though what is being said is "them" It is a slighting; a sign of disrespect that we are just starting to see, but that will continue throughout scripture giving Dan a very bad reputation; perhaps prophetically with good reason for they will be the ones later on who introduce idolatry into the Promised Land.

Have a happy and grateful Thanksgiving! Back on Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

Divine Orchestration

"Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard…and Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So not it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." (Genesis 45:1-8)

"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Genesis 50:20)

While I don't intend to skip all the chapters between 45 and 50, I thought it important to keep these two verses together for the purpose of better understanding just what it is God had done through Joseph….or perhaps we should say what He has done through the brothers of Joseph and their murderous envy of him.

If you will focus on the underlined portions of scripture above, and really meditate on them for a few moments, you will be amazed at what the scripture is telling us has happened.

How many years before was it when Joseph dreamed his double dreams? Therefore, how many years before was it when God began to plan for the years of famine in the land of Egypt…and for what purpose? "To preserve life," "to preserve you a posterity in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance," "to save much people alive."

All of that is what God had in mind for Jacob and his family, and for the chosen people of God, and for nations that did not yet even acknowledge God, but might someday. God was busy orchestrating, at least 20 to 25 years earlier, the events that would be unveiled during Joseph's adult life. That many years in advance!

Which leads me to ask this question: "What is God orchestrating right now, regarding ME? And how far down the line will the results of that orchestration be seen?"

We must all ask ourselves this question; and then think about it seriously and at great length.

What if you are currently undergoing some trouble or tragedy in your life? How many years past was it that God knew these events would be happening in your life? What did He do to ascertain that you would be blessed in spite of those current events, even if there is some hardship to be faced now, such as Joseph had while in prison? How long might it be before His handiwork in the events of your life will be revealed to you? And if you could see those events unfolding sometime in the future, how would it impact your thinking during these hard times? How would it change your communication with God? Would you still question and complain about the things happening right now? Or would you begin thanking Him, even while in the midst of the hardship, for what He is about to do?

You see, I think Joseph was a man of great faith in God. We aren't told that God came down and visited him and told him all that would happen to him, other than in those first original dreams; and we know that Joseph couldn't understand those dreams at first, in fact, not at all until they began to be revealed to him at the end of all those years. We never see God visiting him and saying, "Don't be afraid."

What we do see is that scripture says "The Lord was with him" in Genesis 39:2. The word for LORD used in that passage is "Jehovah" which means "the existing One." That says a lot about why the Lord WAS with Joseph. I think it can only be because Joseph acknowledged Him (that He was "the existing One") at all times during his life. At ALL times…he never forgot God and therefore God never forgot Joseph. Joseph was never alone and he knew it.

And he knew that "the existing One" was good and merciful. He knew that "Jehovah" was sovereign over anything that happened on this earth. Therefore, he trusted that the LORD knew what He was doing to allow these circumstances to happen. True, in the shock of the moment when he was first thrown into the pit by his brothers, and then almost immediately sold into slavery, he cried out for them not to do this evil. But beyond those first moments, we don't see him complaining to God, and we don't see God having to comfort him specifically; we just see that where Joseph was, so was the LORD; and to such an extent that even unbelievers like Potiphar recognized it. It was Joseph's own acknowledgement of the Lord in all of this that provided him with the comfort he needed….God's presence felt in the midst of it all.

Do unbelievers that are in your life recognize that the LORD is with you? Do YOU even recognize His presence? And does it show to others that you do? If not, I ask again:

If you knew that God was busy orchestrating all the events in your life, how would that change your thinking, your attitude, and especially your response to God? What would change in your life today, this moment, with that knowledge? What would change in your relationship and communication with the LORD?

If you give these scriptures some deep and prayerful meditation, it could change your life!

And I pray that it does just that!

The Surety of Judah

"And he [Joseph] commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest and his corn money…..and when they were gone out of the city and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the man; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?" (Genesis 44:1-4)

"And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless….and he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground." (Genesis 44:6-14)

"Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; it shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? Lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father." (Genesis 44:30-34)

Yet again we find another shadow picture of Christ in the Old Testament scriptures. One of the names of Jesus in the Bible is "Lion of Judah." And here we see Judah, son of Jacob, exhibiting on behalf of his own father, a proto-type behavior of Jesus in relation to His own Father.

Judah cannot bear to see the grief that will fall upon his father Jacob if Benjamin does not return to him. Thus, Judah pledged himself to be a "surety" (guarantee) in the place of Benjamin.

Earlier, we saw that Reuben had volunteered to exchange his own two sons for Benjamin if Benjamin did not return with them. But Jacob would not receive that offering and refused to let Benjamin go.

The second offering was made by Judah and that offering was of himself…his own life….in exchange for the safety of Benjamin. And Jacob relented and allowed Benjamin to go.

So Jesus became surety for each of us, His Father's children. And the grief of our Father in heaven would be no less than Jacob's for those who did not return to Him….in fact, His grief would be greater for His love is greater still.

We were all lost to the Father. Sin took us away from Him; from His holy presence. And the wages of sin are death; not just a physical death, but an everlasting one:

"For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:41-44)

Except that Jesus, the lion of Judah, who loved the Father and pleased the Father in all that He did, willingly laid down His own life in exchange for ours. He became surety for us. His offering, of Himself, was acceptable to the Father…and it is by His offering that we are saved, delivered from the certainty of hell, and restored to the Father in life everlasting.

"But now the righteousness of God has been revealed….namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). And it is meant for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives…He Himself is righteous and He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has true faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26 Amplified Version)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but would have life everlasting." (John 3:16)

I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for the surety that He became for ME!

 

More Faith Please

Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord (the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ) all night long saying: "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." That is FAITH will not let go until the one wrestling with God (same as wrestling in prayer) gets what he came for.

Job, covered in boils all over his body (AFTER having lost all of his children in a tornado), said: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." That is FAITH that will not stop trusting no matter how bad things look. God didn't do those things to Job, Satan did. God allowed Satan to do it because He KNEW Job would never turn his back on God no matter how tough the going got. He knew Job would glorify Him for Job was His faithful servant. And when the test was over HE restored to Job twice over what he had lost.

Then there is the woman who went to the unjust judge and bothered and annoyed him until he finally gave her what she asked for. Which caused Jesus to say to His disciples: "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off?" That is FAITH that perseveres. That asks over and over and over again. If you give up asking, why would you get upset that God doesn't quickly give you what you say you want, when you can't really want it all THAT bad if you aren't persevering in prayer to get it from Him?

Then there is this promise regarding the goodness of God towards YOU: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son asks bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks a fish, will he give him a serpent? If YE then, being EVIL, know how to give GOOD gifts unto YOUR children, HOW MUCH MORE shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" (Matthew 7:7-11) That is FAITH that believes God is GOOD! He is a much better parent than we could EVER be; so why won't we trust Him to be that to us?

Abraham had no son (no children at all); he asked God for a son...God gave him a son.

Isaac's wife Rebekah was barren; he asked God to give her children. God did.

Jacob's wife Rachel was barren also; he asked God to give her children. God did.

Hannah was barren; she asked God to give her a child. God did.

Jacob wrestled all night with the Angel of the Lord and asked for a blessing. God blessed him.

Hezekiah was going to die. He reminded God that he had been pretty faithful to God, even though he wasn't one of God's best. He asked God for more years. God gave him 15 more. Not because Hezekiah deserved it, but because God is good.

Samson had failed God in so many ways it's hard to list them all; but when he went to God for one final request, God graciously gave it to him.

Anna asked to live long enough to see the "Promise." She did.

All the new saints in Jerusalem asked for Peter's release from prison. God released him miraculously.

Whatever it is you want, as long as God considers it to be a godly and good thing; you just have to ask. And then you have to get out of His way and stop trying to make it happen. And stop trying to second guess about whether the newest thing is the answer from God or not. He will not allow YOU to miss what HE is bringing to you. He will make a way. He will make it clear. Stop trying so hard…and REST IN HIM!

And in the meantime, rejoice and be glad for no matter what you DON'T yet have, you have the most important thing EVER: SALVATION! That free gift from God. That gift that you didn't do anything to earn. And one that you can't do anything to keep either, because then it wouldn't be a free gift from the Lord, would it? Then you could say you earned it, earned the "keeping" of it, by your goodness. Rather than that He gave it because of His goodness; and was able to "keep" you in it because He is faithful, not because you are faithful. Thank God He IS faithful to us who are not or we would NONE be saved!

Be encouraged. Be faithful to ask…and keep on asking. HE WILL NOT DISAPPOINT!

Just had to say all that!

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Obeisance to Joseph

"And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, and said, O sire, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: and it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them. And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon; for they heard that they should eat bread there. And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house and bowed themselves to him to the earth. And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother; and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. And they sat on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. And they sat before him the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marveled one at another. And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him." (Genesis 43:16-34)

"Hear I pray you this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf." (Genesis 37:6-7)

"Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." (Genesis 37:9)

It was God who gave those dreams to Joseph. It was because those dreams exacerbated the envy of Joseph's brothers that Joseph came to be in Egypt. The sheaves in the first dream confirm the provision for which the brothers now find themselves bowing to make obeisance to Joseph; thankful for the provision and thankful that they have not been made bondsmen (slaves due to debt) after all.

And at the moment when the brothers knelt in obeisance to Joseph, how those dreams must have flashed through Joseph's mind! These were the double dreams that indicated God WOULD FULFILL all that the dream indicated. And now He has.

I can't help but wonder what Simeon must be thinking as he is finally released from his prison. Did he realize that Jacob, his father, would not allow Benjamin to be brought down to Egypt, and so he resigned himself to a long life in prison? Or was he hoping that his father loved him as much as Benjamin and would do whatever it took to set him free again?

Clearly, Jacob's love for Benjamin won out, keeping Simeon a prisoner for much longer than was necessary; a thought that must have crossed Judah's mind when he told Jacob that they could have already come and gone again had Jacob not forestalled them because of Benjamin. In the end, it is not love for his son Simeon, but fear for his entire family, that causes Jacob to send the brothers back with Benjamin. You can't help but feel just a bit for Simeon; even though he is suffering justly for his part in selling Joseph off.

Joseph has now seen Benjamin and weeps once more for the great joy of seeing his brother that was so long lost to him. We find Joseph weeping 7 times in all; displaying what a man of compassion he truly is.

And it is interesting that the Egyptians cannot sit at table with the Hebrew brethren; which means that they cannot sit at table with Joseph either. They know he is Hebrew; they knew that from the time he was first brought out of prison. It is apparently alright to eat in the same room and share a meal together; as long as they are not at the same table. Amazing that Joseph can be so elevated as to be second in command only to Pharaoh and yet still be considered an abomination in terms of eating at the same table with him. This is just another indication to us that Joseph had to still feel captive to Egypt in many ways, rather than feeling free. Elevated and still shunned. Amazing.

Jacob Gives up Benjamin

"And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? Have ye another brother? And we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live and not die, both we and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: If I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present: a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts and almonds: and take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sack, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: take also your brother, and arise go again unto the man: and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph." (Genesis 43:1-15)

Salvation for Jacob and his sons lies in Egypt. Had Joseph been a different man, a man of vengeance, Jacob's family would surely have died for the famine was severe and prolonged.

But Joseph had already been set apart by God for this time; his own dreams were a foretelling of this major event in his life of providing not only for Egypt and surrounding nations, but also for his own unfaithful brothers.

Yet the salvation that the brothers tried to buy from Joseph was, in the end, given to them freely. Their money could not buy it; Joseph would not allow their money to purchase it. The one man who should have not only made them buy, but could have withheld it from them altogether, has unfailing compassion and even weeps over their distress. And then freely gives them that which will save them.

Now, the brothers will once more try to purchase more provision; in fact, they are returning to Egypt with not only money to pay for more provision but to try to pay once more for the first provisions. And this time the deal they are making to the lord of Egypt is being sweetened by delicacies that must have been closely guarded and protected during such a famine; and as such might be of special interest to the man they do not yet recognize as being Joseph.

Jacob's fear for his entire family has overridden his fear for his youngest son Benjamin. Now Benjamin must go. And it is interesting that Judah steps forth willingly to protect and restore Benjamin to Jacob or "bear the blame forever." A bit of the "lion" of Judah is starting to show.

But his sincerity will be challenged as we continue.