Every Day with Jesus

The parable of the fine pearl seems very similar to the treasure hidden in the field in verse 44. Why is Jesus repeating Himself? But there is a contrast. With the treasure in the field the implication is that the man comes across the treasure.

Who needs lots of words to make a point? In just two sentences in our English Bible, Jesus summarises the gospel! We can over-elaborate, but the meaning is pretty clear. If we really grasp what the kingdom of heaven is, there is nothing on earth that we would want more.

Imitating your heroes is a standard game for most children. Maybe you can recall pretending to be a TV star or sporting hero in your playtime? But we soon grew out of this and learn to be ourselves – indeed, if people today think they are someone else we assume that there must be a mental health issue there somewhere.

As my good friend used to say with a glint in his eye: ‘God blesses all the wrong people!’ We might like to think that only the churches that we agree with receive the blessing of God – after all, we have come to our treasured view with so much thought and prayer that God is bound to bless us and churches like us!

Psychologists talk of the importance of reframing. This has various guises but includes the taking of a situation that may appear to be negative and ‘reframing’ it so that we see the positives.

When did you last pray that someone might be godly? Prayer requests typically concern work, health, relationships and finance. There’s nothing wrong with that, as we are encouraged to pray at all times with all kinds of requests.

The apostle Paul is thrilled that the good news of Jesus is making such an impact across the Roman world. In a new area Paul would typically visit the synagogue, but there were so few Jews in Philippi he knew this was unlikely, so sought a ‘place of prayer’ near the Gangites River.

The narrative of Acts 16:12–40 gives us the background to this epistle. The church in Philippi is planted in part because Paul is thrown into prison! The jailer and his household come to faith and join with Lydia and her household and others who would come to faith.

Today we conclude our time with Joseph. Over the course of the story, we have had the privilege of seeing the whole story, and therefore seeing how God is able to turn every situation from harm into one that will prosper us.

One of the brothers’ first thoughts after Jacob had died was that Joseph would punish them for harming him as a teenager. They still carried the guilt and shame that manifested itself when the brothers struggled to be blessed. While this guilt and shame did not surface in the good years in Egypt, it still lurked in them, ready to quickly bring low the brothers.

Jacob is able to accurately prophesy what will happen in the future of the descendants of each of His sons because the Lord gives him the insight, as He is all-knowing. God knows how many stars are in the sky and what each one is called. He knows exactly how many grains of sand there are on the shore.

As Jacob prophesies over his sons, we see judgment. Sin has consequences even when it is forgiven, and the sons of Israel bore those consequences. Reuben saw judgment because of sin. Yet at the same time we see grace and forgiveness. Judah’s behaviour was not exemplary, and yet Christ came from the tribe of Judah, the very greatest blessing.

All of Jacob’s sons give their names to tribes, except Joseph, because his sons become a tribe each. In this way Joseph is doubly blessed, and once again we see Jacob’s favour towards his son Joseph. Joseph’s inheritance was also more than the other brothers. He was deeded some land in Canaan that Joseph’s descendants would take possession of some 400 years later.

Joseph has the joy of having his family back with him in Egypt, but God called him to Egypt for a purpose and he has a job to do. In today’s reading we see him execute that job with fairness, as the people are glad he has saved their lives and seem happy with the terms he sets. He was called to a foreign land for a purpose.

Joseph went to meet his dad, and then Jacob knew he could die in peace for he had seen with his own eyes not only Joseph himself, but also Joseph’s authority and standing in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.

God knows our weaknesses and knows just when we need encouragement or ministry to the soul. Sometimes that help comes from scripture we have memorised, sometimes it comes from a friend who is sent by the Lord, sometimes God Himself will speak into our hearts.

Can you imagine that conversation? The brother they assumed was dead is alive. The guilt and shame they have carried for many years over what they did to Joseph and their part in his demise and the effect on their dad is put to one side. Joseph has held nothing against them and they struggle to believe that Joseph could see the hand of God in it all and wanted the brothers to know they were restor...

At first it might look as if Joseph is boasting here but, if we look a little deeper, he tells the brothers to let Jacob know that God has made him lord over all Egypt. Joseph knew his dad would hardly dare believe the favourite son was not dead but very much alive and doing well. Joseph was quite determined that Jacob should know what God had done.

Today we see God’s good plan and purpose come to full light. Who could have thought when Joseph was sold as a slave that God had a good plan, and yet Joseph himself tells his brothers not to berate themselves because God’s plan was good.

Today’s story is one of segregation, division and prejudice. Egyptians saw eating with Hebrews as detestable. We see examples of prejudice and segregation throughout the Bible and in more modern times.

The brothers are queuing up to guarantee Benjamin’s safety. First, it was Reuben, then Judah. Perhaps it was guilt for all the suffering that they had caused Jacob over the years because of their deceit, or perhaps they were maturing in responsibility. Whatever the reason, they seem keen to prove to both Joseph and their dad that they are honest men.

Yesterday we saw how guilt and shame can sometimes stop us from seeing God’s goodness. Once again today we see Jacob and his sons struggling to receive the blessing. For Jacob the obstacle seems to be a broken heart and bitterness rather than guilt and shame. When sorrow overwhelms us, we stop being able to see God’s goodness even though it is always there. We focus on what we do not have rather t...

The burden of guilt and shame is such for the brothers that they cannot accept blessing without adding to their guilt and shame. God is a God who loves to bless. One who is abundant in love and slow to anger. He has paved the way for us to accept blessing without guilt because the price of our sin is fully and completely paid.

Not recognising Joseph, the brothers immediately think that his accusing them of being spies it is punishment for their past sins. It seems the brothers regret what they did to their brother and feel guilty about it. The weight of guilt and shame can be a heavy burden to carry.

As we return to the story of Joseph, we see the fulfilment of Joseph dream of 13 years earlier. Today the brothers bow down to Joseph, just as they had in Joseph’s childhood dream. Thirteen years is a long time to wait for a promise to be fulfilled, especially when the interim has not been easy. Yet here is God fulfilling a promise.