Continuing a chronological Bible study:
(Genesis 47:1) Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, "My father and my brothers, their flocks and their herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; and indeed they are in the land of Goshen.”
In the last chapter, Jacob and Joseph's brothers and all their families had come to Egypt, to the land of Goshen. Joseph's hope was that his family could stay in Goshen, which was set apart from the Egyptians, and where they could continue to tend their flocks and herds, something that was an abomination to the Egyptians, a subject touched upon in the last blog post. Joseph had now told Pharaoh about it, and indeed Pharaoh himself had sent wagons to bring Joseph's family to him.
(2) And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. (3) And Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers.”
Joseph took five of his brothers to meet Pharaoh, and indeed he asked them their occupation, just as Joseph had told them he would. Perhaps it was a question Pharaoh routinely asked of new potential settlers, wanting to know what advantage their trade might bring to his kingdom. Joseph had previously prepared his brothers for this question and told them what to say, which was this honest answer.
(4) They said moreover to Pharaoh, “We have come to dwell in the land, for your servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan; now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.”
The brothers went on to ask Pharaoh if they might dwell in the land of Goshen since they had no pasture for their flocks in the land of Canaan because of the severe famine there.
(5) And Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. (6) The land of Egypt is before you; have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen; and if you know any competent men among them, then make them rulers over my cattle."
Not only did Pharaoh agree that Joseph's family should dwell in Goshen, but he offered jobs of taking care of his cattle to any competent men among Joseph's brothers. This would indicate that even though foreign shepherds were an abomination to the Egyptians, Pharaoh found some types of livestock useful, and desired competent men to take care of them. However, the original word for "cattle" here is "miqneh", and it can mean "cattle" or "livestock", but also "possessions" or "property". Although it most often referred to live property or possessions, if every shepherd was indeed an abomination to the Egyptians as Joseph had said, then perhaps it doesn't make a lot of sense that Pharaoh would offer his well-favored chief officer's brothers such a detestable lowly job. Perhaps in this case the word does refer more to Pharaoh's personal property, and as Joseph was overseer of his country's concerns, he requested competent men among Joseph's brothers to be overseers of his domestic concerns.
(7) And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
Joseph brought his father Jacob before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Can a man really bless another man? Upon researching the original word used for "bless" here, I found it was "barak". Oh, that is so very interesting, but in the case of Jacob blessing Pharaoh, Strong's says that it means to kneel, and by implication, that means to bless God, as an act of adoration; and God can bless man as a benefit. Some of the other meanings of the word are "congratulate", "praise", "salute", or "thank". Jacob may have knelt in prayer before Pharaoh and thanked God for Pharaoh's kindness to him and his family, and asked Him to bless Pharaoh with health and happiness, etc.
As a side note, other meanings of the word "barak" are "to bless oneself", "to be adored", or as a euphemism, it means "to curse God (or the king)" or "to blaspheme". That's all I'm going to say about that. Let's just say I am contemplating it in my heart.
(8) And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?” (9) And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are
one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the
years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of
the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.”
It is interesting to note that Jacob calls his life a pilgrimage; he is but a stranger in this world traveling to his ultimate destination, his heavenly home. "Few and evil" have been the days of his life; that is the same sentiment verbalized by Job, that man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. Jacob had certainly seen his share of hardships, but I think any earthly life would have been considered short and evil compared to the glorious eternity that was waiting. When Jacob spoke of his days not attaining to the days of his forefathers, I believe he merely meant the number of them. He was an old man, aware that he was near the end of his life at 130 years of age. His father Isaac had lived to 180 and his grandfather Abraham was 175. Certainly all of those lived only a fraction of the time their fathers Adam and Noah and others before them had lived.
(10) And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. (11) And Joseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best
of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. (12) And Joseph nourished his father, and his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread, according to the number in their families.
Once again Jacob blessed Pharaoh, in like manner as before, surely wishing him well and thanking him for honor and favor. Joseph placed his father and his brothers to dwell in the best of the land of Egypt in the land of Rameses. Rameses was obviously in the land of Goshen and may be the same "treasure city" said to have been built by the Israelites for Pharaoh in Exodus 1:11. Joseph was able to provide for his family during the great famine in the land.
(13) And there was no bread in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. (14) And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of
Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought; and
Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. (15) And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.”
The famine in the region was very severe and there came a time when Joseph had gathered up all the money in the lands of Egypt and Canaan because the people had been using all their money to buy food that Joseph had stored for this time. When they had no more money for food, the Egyptians came to Joseph looking for food anyway, because otherwise they would die before his eyes.
(16) And Joseph said, “Give your cattle, and I will give you bread for your cattle, if money fails." (17) And they brought their cattle to Joseph; and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys; and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year.
Joseph devised a barter plan in which the people traded their livestock for food. At first thought, it might seem cruel that the people had to give up all their livestock for food, but then again, if they had no food, they certainly couldn't feed their livestock. This way the people paid for their food, and all the livestock was cared for at royal expense.
Once again we see that owning livestock was common among the Egyptians, so the idea explored previously that the Egyptians detested the Hebrews because they sacrificed the animals that the Egyptians held sacred doesn't seem likely. If every shepherd was an abomination to the Egyptians, I believe it had to be that they detested foreign wandering shepherds that reminded them of the King-shepherds that had ravished their land. They seemed to be pretty comfortable at this time with herds and flocks of animals that surely had to be tended, if not shepherded across the country.
(18) When that year was ended, they came to him the next year, and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is spent; my lord also has
our herds of livestock; there is nothing left in the sight of my lord
but our bodies and our lands. (19) Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and
our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh;
give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land not be desolate.”
The people came to Joseph again when their food was gone and they had no more livestock to give in exchange for food. This was the seventh year of the famine, and the people asked to trade their land and themselves for food. Once they gave up their land, it made sense that they offered themselves in labor to till the land that now belonged to Pharaoh. As this was the last year of the famine, all the vast land of Egypt would have to be tilled and planted and Pharaoh would have to have people to do it. I think it's important to recognize that this particular plan was initiated by the people themselves. Rather than them being forced into slavery, they were offering to work on land that no longer belonged to them in exchange for food.
(20) And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine prevailed over them; so the land became Pharaoh's. (21) And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end.
Every last Egyptian sold his land to Joseph for food. Joseph was, of course, merely Pharaoh's agent, so all the land became Pharaoh's, and the people were moved off their lands and into the cities of Egypt. Since all the provisions were stored in the cities and the people had no more livestock or land, I imagine this was the most logical solution. When you think about it, Pharaoh may be seen as generous in giving the people a place to stay when they had sold their homes to him and were homeless. Then again, as servants, I suppose they required servants' quarters and those were furnished to them. Once again, although it may seem harsh to us, I believe the people were doing what they had to do to stay alive and were probably grateful to have food and a place to stay.
(22) Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had portions assigned to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their portions which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands.
Actually, not every last Egyptian sold his land, but as the scripture actually said, "every man of the Egyptians" sold his land, distinguished from the "priests of Egypt" who had no need to sell their land, because it had been formerly allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they received allotted portions of provisions and therefore had food to eat.
(23) Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh; look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. (24) And it shall come to pass in the increase that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh and four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for
those of your households and as food for your little ones.”
Joseph told the people he had indeed bought all their land and the people themselves for Pharaoh, and that they would take seed he provided to them and sow the land for Pharaoh. In the "increase", or yield or product of the seed, they were to give one-fifth back to Pharaoh, but were allowed to keep four-fifths for themselves and their families, for food and for replanting the fields. It would seem that the people still lived on their farms to be able to do this. It doesn't appear to be a uniform amount of seed that each person was given, but rather what was needed to sow the field, and one-fifth of whatever was harvested was given as a sort of tax to Pharaoh and the people kept the rest to feed their families and sow their land. Perhaps the people were brought to the cities temporarily to reinforce the fact that their land was no longer theirs, but then returned to live on it to work it for Pharaoh. We aren't really told the details of how it all worked, but it seems a fair plan since the people really no longer owned anything of their own.
(25) And they said, “You have saved our lives; let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.” (26) And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s.
Verse 25 proves that the people did not feel forcibly enslaved by Pharaoh, but rather felt that their lives had been saved and they willingly worked for Pharaoh. The fact that Joseph made it a law seems to indicate that it was a sort of enforceable tax that had been laid upon the people, but the people were also protected by that law and were ensured four-fifths of the fruits of their labor. Joseph, as an agent of Pharaoh's, worked out a just plan that gave Pharaoh his payment for the stored food, but allowed the people to live and not be completely ruined. Matthew Henry in his Commentary on the Whole Bible called this matter "Joseph's justice between prince and people".
(28) And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the whole age of Jacob was one hundred and forty-seven years.
Jacob lived in Egypt 17 years; he came there when he was 130 and lived there till he died at 147. Biblical scholars point out that Jacob cared for Joseph 17 years before he was taken from him, and now Joseph cared for his father 17 years, surely many more than Jacob ever expected as he saw himself as very old and ready to die right after he saw Joseph again.
I am following a chronological Bible study arranged by Skip Andrews, and he purposely skipped verse 27 and covered it at a slightly later time. I'm not sure why, as both verse 27 and verse 28 speak of the totality of time Jacob spent in Egypt, but I will go with it. I have given up questioning the order and continue to follow it as I don't want to miss any verses.
(29) And the time drew near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; please do not bury me in Egypt, (30) But let me lie with my fathers, and you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.” (31) And he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. And Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.
When the time drew near when Jacob knew he was going to die, he called Joseph and asked him to swear that he would not bury him in Egypt, but rather carry him out and bury him with his fathers. Putting one's hand under the thigh of the person to whom he was swearing was a token of his subjection to the person to whom the first was swearing, of his willingness to serve the person in this request. Jacob wanted to be buried in the land of Canaan with Isaac and Abraham, in their promised land. Joseph swore to do what his father asked, and Jacob bowed himself on the head of his bed, surely in worship and thanksgiving to God.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Does God Permit the World to Hate His People to Save Them From Falling into the Death Traps of the World?
I have been following a chronological Bible study set forth by Skip Andrews. In the last post, in Genesis chapter 45, Joseph had just revealed himself to his brothers, and the brothers had returned to their father Jacob and had given him the news that Joseph was still alive. Before continuing with the story of Joseph and his family in Genesis 46, Mr. Andrews inserted a few verses from 1 Chronicles, chapter 2, that continue a previously started genealogy of the sons of Judah who were probably born during the time of the famine in the land when Joseph ruled in Egypt.
(1 Chronicles 2:5) The sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. (6) And the sons of Zerah were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara, five of them in all.
We learned in an earlier study that the firstborn sons of Judah were Er, Onan, and Shelah, and then Tamar bore him Pharez and Zerah. Here we learn about the sons of Pharez and Zerah.
(7) And the son of Carmi was Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the accursed thing.
The best I can understand is that Carmi was the son on Zimri, Zerah's son. Joshua 7:1 gives a little more detail about the ancestry of this son of Carmi who was the troubler of Israel, who "took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel." The original meaning of the word translated as "accursed" was more like "banned" or "set aside" and here referred to things set aside and dedicated to God. He apparently took things that were dedicated to God.
(8) And the son of Ethan was Azariah.
Continuing with another of Zerah's sons, we have the son of Ethan.
And now back to Genesis:
(Genesis 46:1) And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
Jacob, or Israel, Joseph's father, upon hearing the news that Joseph was alive and in Egypt, began his journey to his son, but first stopped at Beersheba to offer sacrifices to God. Beersheba was a place that had been consecrated to God by Abraham, where God had appeared to Abraham and Isaac. It apparently was at least somewhat on the way to Egypt, but I am sure Jacob wanted to make a point of stopping to honor and thank God for His blessing in bringing his son back to him, and providing a way out of their certain death from starvation.
(2) And God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” (3) And he said, I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. (4) I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”
God appeared to Jacob in his dreams at night. He told him not to fear going to Egypt, for He would be with him. Jacob had determined to see Joseph before he died, but he may have had fear because of his advanced age, but God gave him confirmation that He would indeed be with him on this journey and He would bring him back again. Jacob may or may not have realized exactly what this meant, as he would not make a journey back to his home himself, but rather his bones would be brought back to rest with those of his fathers. At any rate, Jacob surely felt assurance that God was with him on this journey. Additionally, and probably more importantly, God was confirming that even in Egypt, His covenant would be fulfilled that from Jacob (Israel) would come a great nation. I have to admit I had to defer to the more learned Biblical scholars to determine the meaning of the last part of verse 4. I remembered that Jacob's eyes were dim or blind in his old age, and thought this had something to do with praying for his blind eyes. However, there is a consensus that this referred to Joseph shutting his father's eyes when he died, meaning he would be with him until that time, and that his most dear son would be the one to perform this last tender act for him.
(5) 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. (6) 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 descendants with him. (7) His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.
Jacob and his family must have camped at Beersheba after sacrificing to God before their journey to Joseph in Egypt, as that is where he had his visions of the night, and from where he now departed. Jacob, with his sons and all his descendants who had been living there in the land of Canaan, went in the wagons Pharaoh had provided for the journey, along with all their cattle and goods, and came to Egypt.
(8) And these were the names of the children of Israel, who came to Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn. (9) And the sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Phallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
A list of the sons of Jacob is begun with the names of their sons. Reuben was his firstborn son.
(10) And the sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.
Simeon was Jacob's second born son, and he probably had the first five sons by his wife, and then either remarried or the Canaanite woman was his concubine.
(11) And the sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (12) And the sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Pharez, and Zerah, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.
The first two sons of Judah, Er and Onan, died in Canaan and therefore did not go with Jacob to Egypt, but are mentioned as the sons of Judah here.
(13) And the sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron. (14) And the sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. (15) These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, with his daughter Dinah; all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three.
The six sons of Leah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, were grouped together, and they were the ones born in Padan Aram, but not their sons. Additionally, Leah bore Dinah in Padan Aram, but at first glance, Dinah doesn't appear to be counted among the "souls" borne by Leah to Jacob. If you count the six sons and their sons and their sons, when applicable, it totals 33. That would mean that the souls of his sons and daughters would have to mean of his sons and daughters-in-law. Another school of thought, and probably the correct one, is that Er and Onan were not counted because they were not here anymore; Dinah is most certainly counted as she was expressly mentioned; and Jacob is included in the number who came to Egypt as verse 8 does specifically mention "Jacob and his sons".
(16) And the sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. (17) And the sons of Asher were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah were Heber, and Malchiel. (18) These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob, sixteen souls.
Next the sons of Leah's maid, Zilpah, are grouped together, Gad and Asher, with their sons and daughters. The fact that these souls including their sister Serah make sixteen, I believe proves that Dinah was counted above, along with Jacob, and that Er and Onan were eliminated because they did not go to Egypt.
(19) The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife, were Joseph and Benjamin. (20) And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. (21) And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. (22) These were the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob; all the souls were fourteen.
Rachel's sons, Joseph and Benjamin, and their sons are grouped together next. Rachel is called Jacob's wife, whereas Leah was not. Rachel was the wife Jacob always wanted and the desire of his heart. He was tricked into taking Leah as his wife, but as far as he was concerned, Rachel was his one true wife. Joseph's sons are said to have been born in Egypt, to distinguish them from the children coming to Egypt with Jacob. It is interesting that Benjamin would have so many children by this time. He is often described as a "lad" and thought of as attached to his father, rather than a man grown old enough to have had so many children by this time. Biblical scholar Albert Barnes gave a good account of the ages of Jacob and his children when they came to Egypt:
"Jacob himself was 130 years of age (Gen. 47:9). Joseph was in his thirtieth year when he stood before Pharaoh to interpret his dreams and receive his commission as governor-general of Egypt, (Gen. 41:46). At the end of the second year of the famine nine full years were added to his life. He was therefore, we may suppose, 39 years old when Jacob arrived in Egypt, and born when his father was 91. As we conceive that he was born in the fifteenth year of Jacob’s sojourn in Padan-aram, and Reuben in the eighth, we infer that Reuben was at the time of the descent into Egypt seven years older than Joseph, or 46, Simon 45, Levi 44, Judah 43, Dan about 43, Naphtali about 42, Gad about 42, Asher about 41, Issakar about 41, Zebulun about 40, Dinah about 39, Benjamin about 26."
It is hard to believe that Benjamin could have had ten sons by the time he was 26! Biblical scholar Dr. John Gill supposed that Benjamin was actually 32 by this time. Since Mr. Barnes did not specifically say how he calculated Benjamin to be only 26, I can't really say one way or another. Although some scholars believe some of these children of Benjamin were born after he was in Egypt, that is not in keeping with the pattern of only numbering the souls who went to Egypt. Dr. Gill felt it was not likely that Benjamin had more than one wife, but at 32, it is possible that he could have had ten sons by this time, especially if any sets of twins were included.
(23) And the son of Dan was Hushim. (24) And the sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. (25) These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob; all the souls were seven.
Finally, the sons of Rachel's maid Bilhah are mentioned in the final group, two sons and five grandsons for a total of seven souls.
(26) All the souls who came with Jacob into Egypt, who came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six souls in all.
The number of his descendants who came with Jacob to Egypt, excluding the wives who were not actually his flesh and blood, were 66. This number includes the totals from each group before mentioned--32 from Leah's children (excluding Er and Onan who had died, and this time not counting Jacob, as only the ones who came "with Jacob" are counted), 16 souls from Leah's maid Zilpah, 11 souls from Rachel (Joseph and his sons are not counted because they were already in Egypt), and 7 from Bilhah.
(27) And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were seventy.
Now Joseph and his sons are counted, and including Jacob, there were 70 souls from the house of Jacob who were in Egypt.
(28) And he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to direct him to Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.
Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to show him the way and perhaps to inform Joseph of his father's coming so that a place might be already prepared for him when he got there. Goshen is said to have been the first part of Egypt nearest to Canaan.
(29) And Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. (30) And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”
Jacob had just made it inside Egypt, and as Judah had been sent before him to Joseph, Joseph now went to Goshen to meet his father. The trip was a long hard one for an old man and with more youthful Judah and Joseph going and coming back to him, he was able to see his Joseph sooner, which was obviously his heart's desire. Now that he had seen that his Joseph was still alive, he was ready to die. It was not that he was impatient to die, but he could now be content to die, having seen his beloved son alive once again.
(31) And Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and show Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. (32) And the men are shepherds, for their trade has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’"
Joseph told his brothers and all of his father's household that he planned to let Pharaoh know that his brothers and all of his father's house had come to him from the land of Canaan. The word translated as "show", rather than physically showing his family to Pharaoh, meant more like "show forth" or "make known". He would also let him know that his brothers were shepherds, reinforcing the fact that they fed livestock, and that they had brought all their flocks and herds with them. We touched on the subject before that Egyptians did not associate with shepherds, but Joseph planned to be honest and upfront with Pharaoh, and he was obviously not ashamed of his family and what they did for a living.
(33) "And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you and shall say, ‘What is your occupation?’ (34) That you shall say, ‘Your servants’ trade has been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
Joseph instructed his brothers to be honest with Pharaoh when he asked about their occupation, and to let him know that it was all they had ever known, and that it had been what their fathers before them had done. Joseph explained that by being honest upfront, they could be allowed to dwell in Goshen, which was just inside Egypt and under the reign of Pharaoh, but set apart from the Egyptians who would find the Hebrew shepherds disgusting to live among. Joseph himself declared that "every shepherd (was) an abomination to the Egyptians". Once again, some of the reasons for this might have been because in the Egyptians' experience, shepherds were usually lawless bandits and/or associated with the King-shepherds who had ravaged their country, and also perhaps because Hebrews ate and sacrificed animals that the Egyptians found sacred. Being allowed to dwell in Goshen would give Joseph's family the freedom to live and worship as they wished apart from the paganism of the Egyptians. I really liked a quote I found from the 1599 Geneva Bible Translation Notes, "God permits the world to hate His own, so they will forsake the filth of the world, and cling to Him." We are told many times in the Bible that the world would hate God's people, and it might appear that it was just their cross to bear. However, when you see it as God's merciful act to protect them from falling into the traps of Satan and the world, it is a beautiful sentiment from a loving God!
Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, took the idea of God permitting the world to hate His own people and applied it directly to the story of Joseph and his family winding up in Egypt. He quoted Bishop Warburton (1698–1779), in his Divine Legation of Moses, who, in essence, said that God purposely brought His people to Egypt for a time. He had promised them the land of Canaan, but they kept intermarrying with the Canaanites and picking up their idolatrous practices. God, in His infinite wisdom, brought them to this little corner of Egypt, where they could live apart from the Egyptians, and because the Egyptians found them to be an abomination, they would keep separate from them. If they had gone to any other country, they may have been absorbed into "Gentilism", as Bishop Warburton put it, but God mercifully put them in Egypt. This is why I love studying the Biblical scholars of old! They often give me insights I've never had. Once again, my little human mind had never seen so grand a plot perpetuated by God. About as far as I had ever seen was that God brought good out of what Joseph's brothers had meant for evil, and God's people were saved from starvation. It is awesome to think of the grander plan to move them to this little corner of Egypt to protect them from the "filth of the world" and to keep them close to Him, which is definitely for their ultimate good, and a marvelous act of love and mercy!
I have to bring that thought into the present time and think of how Christians are beginning to be "persecuted" for their beliefs in this country. I use quotation marks because I know that we have no idea what real persecution is! But it's coming. I've honestly said before that it should be worn as a badge of honor when liberals hate conservative Christians for their beliefs, but to view hatred and persecution as a good thing that keeps us from falling into the death traps of the Godless world sort of blows the mind. It's not a good thing perpetuated by God, but God allows it to keep us separate and clinging to Him. Think of the people who call themselves Christians who have convinced themselves that God would endorse same sex marriage because he wants people to love one another. Think of the people who call themselves Christians who have convinced themselves that it is okay to kill innocent babies in the womb because it is an act of love and mercy to do away with the unwanted burden on the family and society and "save" the baby from a terrible unloved life! If God allows His true followers to be hated and separated for their beliefs because in His infinite wisdom, He knows they might otherwise fall into the "filth of the world", I say it is blessed to be hated by the world. Isn't that what Jesus Christ said?
“Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." - Matthew 5:11-12
I think of the people in this United States of America who have had freedom people in other parts of the world only dream about. They are pretty much free to say and think whatever they will, and they have become comfortable with a worldview that has pushed God out of their schools and the public square, and with an insane view that you must not use God as the rule by which you live and make laws, even though He is the very creator of moral law. As if you could actually separate God from it! What makes a thing right or wrong--some high and mighty panel's opinion? Does that really make murdering an innocent unborn baby moral? "Enlightened" Americans and even some who call themselves Christians have become wise in their own eyes and believe they know better than God, or else they have twisted His word to pretend that what they are doing is okay with Him. Paul pegged this behavior precisely in Romans, chapter 1, verses 18-32:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves,
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile affections, for even their women changed the natural use for what is against nature.
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;
Who knowing the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them who do them.
Basically, people know in their hearts what is right and wrong, because God put it there; they can plainly see His creation all around them and understand His eternal power, so that they are without excuse! But they didn't glorify God nor were they thankful to Him, but became wise in their own eyes. They thought they were so wise, but God said they became fools! They changed the truth about God and made Him into something they could corrupt. They began to worship His created things more than Him. Therefore God turned His back to them--after all, is that not what they wanted?--and that is when same sexes burned in their lust for one another. They chose not to acknowledge God, even though they knew better, so God let them do their own thing, which was filled with all sorts of evils. They knew what they did was worthy of death, but they did it anyway, and they took pleasure in others who did the same. Perhaps that explains a whole generation who stands up for the "rights" to do things against God. Perhaps that explains politicians and media who may not do all these things themselves, but promote the "rights" of others to do the things that are against God.
I can't understand how people cannot see! They choose not to see. If only they would look to God for the truth! I guess that is why my blog has become a Bible study. Rather than my ranting against the Godless insanity in our country, I wish people could just turn to God's word for the truth. That is my greatest wish for anyone: just read your Bible and God will reveal His truth to you.
I get chilled to the bone when I think of our country's ruling party voting God out of their platform. Oh, they got so much negative press that we were told they voted Him back in; I am sure that the Almighty Holy God of the universe felt privileged! If you watched that actual vote on C-Span and didn't merely listen to the liberal-leaning media, you would have seen that the Democrat party representatives did not want God back in their platform. The man taking the vote asked for the "ayes" and "nays" and realized the nays had it, so he took the vote again. You see, it was already predetermined that they would vote God back into their platform, but the voters weren't cooperating. He took the vote three times, and then threw up his hands and walked away from the platform. It was obvious that the Democrats did not want God as part of their platform. How could they, when you think about it. They want a platform that kills babies and promotes homosexuality, something God called an abomination! They want any reference to Him removed from the public square, so why would they leave His name in their platform? Anyway, they eventually passed the amended platform putting God back in it, pretending the ayes had it, and when they announced it passed, you could hear the boos and hissing! It was really chilling! And these are the people leading our country right now. And the people, some calling themselves Christians, have actually convinced themselves that it doesn't matter! "Republicans never do anything about abortion anyway", I have heard. "Both parties have their good points and bad points, and you just do the best you can", I've heard. Will you explain to me how on earth one can truly believe that immoral Godless people, by their own admission, can be trusted to have the country's best interests at heart?! And yet people have become comfortable and content with compromising their views about God, believing it does not matter, believing they can still be Christians while accepting and doing what the world does. Would it not be better to be hated and separated for eternal salvation rather than be slowly lulled into a sleep of eternal death and separation from God? It reminds me of the lyrics from Casting Crowns:
Maybe a little persecution and separation would be just the thing to wake up God's people and make them take a stand. Although I believe a bad time is coming in this country, as God often does, I believe He will use it for good to awaken His people, and that will be a blessing in disguise if they awaken to eternal salvation in Him, rather than die with the world forever apart from Him. God, in His mercy, is giving us another chance to come to Him, to cling to Him, rather than go the way of the unrighteous world as described by Paul in Romans 1. I pray that people will open their eyes and take that chance!
(1 Chronicles 2:5) The sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. (6) And the sons of Zerah were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara, five of them in all.
We learned in an earlier study that the firstborn sons of Judah were Er, Onan, and Shelah, and then Tamar bore him Pharez and Zerah. Here we learn about the sons of Pharez and Zerah.
(7) And the son of Carmi was Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the accursed thing.
The best I can understand is that Carmi was the son on Zimri, Zerah's son. Joshua 7:1 gives a little more detail about the ancestry of this son of Carmi who was the troubler of Israel, who "took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel." The original meaning of the word translated as "accursed" was more like "banned" or "set aside" and here referred to things set aside and dedicated to God. He apparently took things that were dedicated to God.
(8) And the son of Ethan was Azariah.
Continuing with another of Zerah's sons, we have the son of Ethan.
And now back to Genesis:
(Genesis 46:1) And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
Jacob, or Israel, Joseph's father, upon hearing the news that Joseph was alive and in Egypt, began his journey to his son, but first stopped at Beersheba to offer sacrifices to God. Beersheba was a place that had been consecrated to God by Abraham, where God had appeared to Abraham and Isaac. It apparently was at least somewhat on the way to Egypt, but I am sure Jacob wanted to make a point of stopping to honor and thank God for His blessing in bringing his son back to him, and providing a way out of their certain death from starvation.
(2) And God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” (3) And he said, I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. (4) I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”
God appeared to Jacob in his dreams at night. He told him not to fear going to Egypt, for He would be with him. Jacob had determined to see Joseph before he died, but he may have had fear because of his advanced age, but God gave him confirmation that He would indeed be with him on this journey and He would bring him back again. Jacob may or may not have realized exactly what this meant, as he would not make a journey back to his home himself, but rather his bones would be brought back to rest with those of his fathers. At any rate, Jacob surely felt assurance that God was with him on this journey. Additionally, and probably more importantly, God was confirming that even in Egypt, His covenant would be fulfilled that from Jacob (Israel) would come a great nation. I have to admit I had to defer to the more learned Biblical scholars to determine the meaning of the last part of verse 4. I remembered that Jacob's eyes were dim or blind in his old age, and thought this had something to do with praying for his blind eyes. However, there is a consensus that this referred to Joseph shutting his father's eyes when he died, meaning he would be with him until that time, and that his most dear son would be the one to perform this last tender act for him.
(5) 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. (6) 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 descendants with him. (7) His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.
Jacob and his family must have camped at Beersheba after sacrificing to God before their journey to Joseph in Egypt, as that is where he had his visions of the night, and from where he now departed. Jacob, with his sons and all his descendants who had been living there in the land of Canaan, went in the wagons Pharaoh had provided for the journey, along with all their cattle and goods, and came to Egypt.
(8) And these were the names of the children of Israel, who came to Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn. (9) And the sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Phallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
A list of the sons of Jacob is begun with the names of their sons. Reuben was his firstborn son.
(10) And the sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.
Simeon was Jacob's second born son, and he probably had the first five sons by his wife, and then either remarried or the Canaanite woman was his concubine.
(11) And the sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (12) And the sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Pharez, and Zerah, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.
The first two sons of Judah, Er and Onan, died in Canaan and therefore did not go with Jacob to Egypt, but are mentioned as the sons of Judah here.
(13) And the sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron. (14) And the sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. (15) These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, with his daughter Dinah; all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three.
The six sons of Leah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, were grouped together, and they were the ones born in Padan Aram, but not their sons. Additionally, Leah bore Dinah in Padan Aram, but at first glance, Dinah doesn't appear to be counted among the "souls" borne by Leah to Jacob. If you count the six sons and their sons and their sons, when applicable, it totals 33. That would mean that the souls of his sons and daughters would have to mean of his sons and daughters-in-law. Another school of thought, and probably the correct one, is that Er and Onan were not counted because they were not here anymore; Dinah is most certainly counted as she was expressly mentioned; and Jacob is included in the number who came to Egypt as verse 8 does specifically mention "Jacob and his sons".
(16) And the sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. (17) And the sons of Asher were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah were Heber, and Malchiel. (18) These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob, sixteen souls.
Next the sons of Leah's maid, Zilpah, are grouped together, Gad and Asher, with their sons and daughters. The fact that these souls including their sister Serah make sixteen, I believe proves that Dinah was counted above, along with Jacob, and that Er and Onan were eliminated because they did not go to Egypt.
(19) The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife, were Joseph and Benjamin. (20) And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. (21) And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. (22) These were the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob; all the souls were fourteen.
Rachel's sons, Joseph and Benjamin, and their sons are grouped together next. Rachel is called Jacob's wife, whereas Leah was not. Rachel was the wife Jacob always wanted and the desire of his heart. He was tricked into taking Leah as his wife, but as far as he was concerned, Rachel was his one true wife. Joseph's sons are said to have been born in Egypt, to distinguish them from the children coming to Egypt with Jacob. It is interesting that Benjamin would have so many children by this time. He is often described as a "lad" and thought of as attached to his father, rather than a man grown old enough to have had so many children by this time. Biblical scholar Albert Barnes gave a good account of the ages of Jacob and his children when they came to Egypt:
"Jacob himself was 130 years of age (Gen. 47:9). Joseph was in his thirtieth year when he stood before Pharaoh to interpret his dreams and receive his commission as governor-general of Egypt, (Gen. 41:46). At the end of the second year of the famine nine full years were added to his life. He was therefore, we may suppose, 39 years old when Jacob arrived in Egypt, and born when his father was 91. As we conceive that he was born in the fifteenth year of Jacob’s sojourn in Padan-aram, and Reuben in the eighth, we infer that Reuben was at the time of the descent into Egypt seven years older than Joseph, or 46, Simon 45, Levi 44, Judah 43, Dan about 43, Naphtali about 42, Gad about 42, Asher about 41, Issakar about 41, Zebulun about 40, Dinah about 39, Benjamin about 26."
It is hard to believe that Benjamin could have had ten sons by the time he was 26! Biblical scholar Dr. John Gill supposed that Benjamin was actually 32 by this time. Since Mr. Barnes did not specifically say how he calculated Benjamin to be only 26, I can't really say one way or another. Although some scholars believe some of these children of Benjamin were born after he was in Egypt, that is not in keeping with the pattern of only numbering the souls who went to Egypt. Dr. Gill felt it was not likely that Benjamin had more than one wife, but at 32, it is possible that he could have had ten sons by this time, especially if any sets of twins were included.
(23) And the son of Dan was Hushim. (24) And the sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. (25) These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob; all the souls were seven.
Finally, the sons of Rachel's maid Bilhah are mentioned in the final group, two sons and five grandsons for a total of seven souls.
(26) All the souls who came with Jacob into Egypt, who came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six souls in all.
The number of his descendants who came with Jacob to Egypt, excluding the wives who were not actually his flesh and blood, were 66. This number includes the totals from each group before mentioned--32 from Leah's children (excluding Er and Onan who had died, and this time not counting Jacob, as only the ones who came "with Jacob" are counted), 16 souls from Leah's maid Zilpah, 11 souls from Rachel (Joseph and his sons are not counted because they were already in Egypt), and 7 from Bilhah.
(27) And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were seventy.
Now Joseph and his sons are counted, and including Jacob, there were 70 souls from the house of Jacob who were in Egypt.
(28) And he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to direct him to Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.
Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to show him the way and perhaps to inform Joseph of his father's coming so that a place might be already prepared for him when he got there. Goshen is said to have been the first part of Egypt nearest to Canaan.
(29) And Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. (30) And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”
Jacob had just made it inside Egypt, and as Judah had been sent before him to Joseph, Joseph now went to Goshen to meet his father. The trip was a long hard one for an old man and with more youthful Judah and Joseph going and coming back to him, he was able to see his Joseph sooner, which was obviously his heart's desire. Now that he had seen that his Joseph was still alive, he was ready to die. It was not that he was impatient to die, but he could now be content to die, having seen his beloved son alive once again.
(31) And Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and show Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. (32) And the men are shepherds, for their trade has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’"
Joseph told his brothers and all of his father's household that he planned to let Pharaoh know that his brothers and all of his father's house had come to him from the land of Canaan. The word translated as "show", rather than physically showing his family to Pharaoh, meant more like "show forth" or "make known". He would also let him know that his brothers were shepherds, reinforcing the fact that they fed livestock, and that they had brought all their flocks and herds with them. We touched on the subject before that Egyptians did not associate with shepherds, but Joseph planned to be honest and upfront with Pharaoh, and he was obviously not ashamed of his family and what they did for a living.
(33) "And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you and shall say, ‘What is your occupation?’ (34) That you shall say, ‘Your servants’ trade has been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
Joseph instructed his brothers to be honest with Pharaoh when he asked about their occupation, and to let him know that it was all they had ever known, and that it had been what their fathers before them had done. Joseph explained that by being honest upfront, they could be allowed to dwell in Goshen, which was just inside Egypt and under the reign of Pharaoh, but set apart from the Egyptians who would find the Hebrew shepherds disgusting to live among. Joseph himself declared that "every shepherd (was) an abomination to the Egyptians". Once again, some of the reasons for this might have been because in the Egyptians' experience, shepherds were usually lawless bandits and/or associated with the King-shepherds who had ravaged their country, and also perhaps because Hebrews ate and sacrificed animals that the Egyptians found sacred. Being allowed to dwell in Goshen would give Joseph's family the freedom to live and worship as they wished apart from the paganism of the Egyptians. I really liked a quote I found from the 1599 Geneva Bible Translation Notes, "God permits the world to hate His own, so they will forsake the filth of the world, and cling to Him." We are told many times in the Bible that the world would hate God's people, and it might appear that it was just their cross to bear. However, when you see it as God's merciful act to protect them from falling into the traps of Satan and the world, it is a beautiful sentiment from a loving God!
Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, took the idea of God permitting the world to hate His own people and applied it directly to the story of Joseph and his family winding up in Egypt. He quoted Bishop Warburton (1698–1779), in his Divine Legation of Moses, who, in essence, said that God purposely brought His people to Egypt for a time. He had promised them the land of Canaan, but they kept intermarrying with the Canaanites and picking up their idolatrous practices. God, in His infinite wisdom, brought them to this little corner of Egypt, where they could live apart from the Egyptians, and because the Egyptians found them to be an abomination, they would keep separate from them. If they had gone to any other country, they may have been absorbed into "Gentilism", as Bishop Warburton put it, but God mercifully put them in Egypt. This is why I love studying the Biblical scholars of old! They often give me insights I've never had. Once again, my little human mind had never seen so grand a plot perpetuated by God. About as far as I had ever seen was that God brought good out of what Joseph's brothers had meant for evil, and God's people were saved from starvation. It is awesome to think of the grander plan to move them to this little corner of Egypt to protect them from the "filth of the world" and to keep them close to Him, which is definitely for their ultimate good, and a marvelous act of love and mercy!
I have to bring that thought into the present time and think of how Christians are beginning to be "persecuted" for their beliefs in this country. I use quotation marks because I know that we have no idea what real persecution is! But it's coming. I've honestly said before that it should be worn as a badge of honor when liberals hate conservative Christians for their beliefs, but to view hatred and persecution as a good thing that keeps us from falling into the death traps of the Godless world sort of blows the mind. It's not a good thing perpetuated by God, but God allows it to keep us separate and clinging to Him. Think of the people who call themselves Christians who have convinced themselves that God would endorse same sex marriage because he wants people to love one another. Think of the people who call themselves Christians who have convinced themselves that it is okay to kill innocent babies in the womb because it is an act of love and mercy to do away with the unwanted burden on the family and society and "save" the baby from a terrible unloved life! If God allows His true followers to be hated and separated for their beliefs because in His infinite wisdom, He knows they might otherwise fall into the "filth of the world", I say it is blessed to be hated by the world. Isn't that what Jesus Christ said?
“Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." - Matthew 5:11-12
I think of the people in this United States of America who have had freedom people in other parts of the world only dream about. They are pretty much free to say and think whatever they will, and they have become comfortable with a worldview that has pushed God out of their schools and the public square, and with an insane view that you must not use God as the rule by which you live and make laws, even though He is the very creator of moral law. As if you could actually separate God from it! What makes a thing right or wrong--some high and mighty panel's opinion? Does that really make murdering an innocent unborn baby moral? "Enlightened" Americans and even some who call themselves Christians have become wise in their own eyes and believe they know better than God, or else they have twisted His word to pretend that what they are doing is okay with Him. Paul pegged this behavior precisely in Romans, chapter 1, verses 18-32:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves,
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile affections, for even their women changed the natural use for what is against nature.
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;
Who knowing the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them who do them.
Basically, people know in their hearts what is right and wrong, because God put it there; they can plainly see His creation all around them and understand His eternal power, so that they are without excuse! But they didn't glorify God nor were they thankful to Him, but became wise in their own eyes. They thought they were so wise, but God said they became fools! They changed the truth about God and made Him into something they could corrupt. They began to worship His created things more than Him. Therefore God turned His back to them--after all, is that not what they wanted?--and that is when same sexes burned in their lust for one another. They chose not to acknowledge God, even though they knew better, so God let them do their own thing, which was filled with all sorts of evils. They knew what they did was worthy of death, but they did it anyway, and they took pleasure in others who did the same. Perhaps that explains a whole generation who stands up for the "rights" to do things against God. Perhaps that explains politicians and media who may not do all these things themselves, but promote the "rights" of others to do the things that are against God.
I can't understand how people cannot see! They choose not to see. If only they would look to God for the truth! I guess that is why my blog has become a Bible study. Rather than my ranting against the Godless insanity in our country, I wish people could just turn to God's word for the truth. That is my greatest wish for anyone: just read your Bible and God will reveal His truth to you.
I get chilled to the bone when I think of our country's ruling party voting God out of their platform. Oh, they got so much negative press that we were told they voted Him back in; I am sure that the Almighty Holy God of the universe felt privileged! If you watched that actual vote on C-Span and didn't merely listen to the liberal-leaning media, you would have seen that the Democrat party representatives did not want God back in their platform. The man taking the vote asked for the "ayes" and "nays" and realized the nays had it, so he took the vote again. You see, it was already predetermined that they would vote God back into their platform, but the voters weren't cooperating. He took the vote three times, and then threw up his hands and walked away from the platform. It was obvious that the Democrats did not want God as part of their platform. How could they, when you think about it. They want a platform that kills babies and promotes homosexuality, something God called an abomination! They want any reference to Him removed from the public square, so why would they leave His name in their platform? Anyway, they eventually passed the amended platform putting God back in it, pretending the ayes had it, and when they announced it passed, you could hear the boos and hissing! It was really chilling! And these are the people leading our country right now. And the people, some calling themselves Christians, have actually convinced themselves that it doesn't matter! "Republicans never do anything about abortion anyway", I have heard. "Both parties have their good points and bad points, and you just do the best you can", I've heard. Will you explain to me how on earth one can truly believe that immoral Godless people, by their own admission, can be trusted to have the country's best interests at heart?! And yet people have become comfortable and content with compromising their views about God, believing it does not matter, believing they can still be Christians while accepting and doing what the world does. Would it not be better to be hated and separated for eternal salvation rather than be slowly lulled into a sleep of eternal death and separation from God? It reminds me of the lyrics from Casting Crowns:
United States of America,
Looks like another silent night,
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children;
Looks like another silent night,
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children;
And while we're lying in the dark,
There's a shout heard cross the eastern sky,
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night, in the night.
There's a shout heard cross the eastern sky,
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night, in the night.
America, what will we miss
While we are sleeping?
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay?
While we are sleeping?
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay?
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King?
Will we be sleeping?
Will we be sleeping?
As a nation with no room for its King?
Will we be sleeping?
Will we be sleeping?
United States of America,
Looks like another silent night.
Looks like another silent night.
Maybe a little persecution and separation would be just the thing to wake up God's people and make them take a stand. Although I believe a bad time is coming in this country, as God often does, I believe He will use it for good to awaken His people, and that will be a blessing in disguise if they awaken to eternal salvation in Him, rather than die with the world forever apart from Him. God, in His mercy, is giving us another chance to come to Him, to cling to Him, rather than go the way of the unrighteous world as described by Paul in Romans 1. I pray that people will open their eyes and take that chance!
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