Progress in Negotiations?

 

Exodus 8:25 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26 But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the Lord our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he tells us.” 28 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me.” 29 Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. 

They say: "third times a charm," but there was not even any apparent progress with Pharaoh until after the fourth plague sent by God. At that point he finally said: I will let you go... but not very far away. Of course, once again, Pharaoh cheated again, and Moses warned him not to, and did not let Israel go out. Sometimes when we are seeking progress in moving forward, it will seem like we are "getting somewhere", only to be let down again.  Do not lose heart. Take any sign as "progress," stick to the promises of God, to His timing, and to His standards.  He is still working, even on hardened hearts.

A Mixed Bag

Exodus 6:26 These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” 27 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron. 28 On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 the Lord said to Moses, “I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

This chapter contains the genealogy of Aaron and Moses, posted with the reminder to Moses that God was the One at work on Pharaoh's heart.  Moses' question becomes part of his heritage: always asking God how he could be used to turn the heart of Pharaoh around.  It contains a mix of humility and unbelief. Also, on the one hand Moses will also have his brother as his "right hand man," but at times Aaron will be more of a hindrance than a help.  Moses is the most overshadowing character of the Old Testament, and his calling and leadership reminds us that God uses imperfect, even resistant characters to carry out His will. There is indeed hope for us all. 

Forgotten Details

 Exodus 4:21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” 24 At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

In Exodus we are introduced to the next big character of scripture after Joseph: Moses. After calling him, God tells him to head back to Egypt. He tells him ahead of time about all the signs He will give to Pharoah, including the killing of the firstborn. (If we were reading carefully we would not be surprised later.) Another forgotten detail her is that of circumcision, which had been commanded to Abraham. Since Moses had been raised in Pharoah's house, he had not been circumcised. Zipporah took care of that little detail Moses had forgotten. They were now ready to move forward. How many details do we forget (neglectfully or intentionally) that God has told us?

Always Looking Forward in Hope...

Genesis 50:22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

As we come to the conclusion of the month, this book, and the extensive account of Joseph's life, we are once again impressed with the fact that he was always looking forward. Even on his death, he looked at his heirs with hope, convinced that God would keep the promise He had given to his forefathers: to take them to the Promised Land.  The word "visit" used in verse 24 has a sense of "seeking out to attend to, with the intent to provide what is needed." What a picture of what God promises to His people. That is the same kind of care we can look forward to. Let us continue following Him.

Mighty Blessings from a Mighty God

 

Genesis 49:22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough,
    a fruitful bough by a spring;
    his branches run over the wall.
23 The archers bitterly attacked him,
    shot at him, and harassed him severely,
24 yet his bow remained unmoved;
    his arms were made agile
by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
    (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
25 by the God of your father who will help you,
    by the Almighty who will bless you
    with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,
    blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father
    are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,
    up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.
May they be on the head of Joseph,
    and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.

The blessing Jacob gave over Joseph and his two sons stands out from that of all his brothers. He was greatly blessed by God, set apart, for enduring through many trials, remaining faithful to God, being used by Him to bring his people safely through their struggles.

Thankful and Taxed; Taxed and Thankful

Genesis 47:23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.” 25 And they said, “You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh.” 26 So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's. 27 Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 

Throughout the famine in Egypt, everyone ran out of money and food, and ended up selling their land to Pharoah.  In return, they received food, and a contract to continue to give Pharoah a fifth of their harvests. The land now belonged to Pharoah. This arrangement worked out well for Israel, as God blessed them. Joseph had secured for them a safe place to thrive.  God works things out... even if we have to pay taxes.

Falling and Weeping on the Neck

Genesis 4:26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy. 28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 

There are some phrases in the scripture that stick out to me as so picturesque they are memorable, like here in verse 26.  This is one of several high points of this whole account of restoration between Joseph and his family.  When he finally sees his long-lost father he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. What a picture of hugging one you love and thought you lost.  We get a similar picture when the prodigal comes home to his father. Whatever the relationship, is it not worth the effort, prayer, hope, and trust to be able to one day "fall on their necks"?