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We will continue to devote each Lord’s Day in 2022 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2022. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Twenty Nine. Of The Lord’s Supper. Part Four.

7. Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this sacrament,^a do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually, receive and feed upon Christ crucified, and all benefits of his death: the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally in, with, or under the bread and wine; yet as really, but spiritually, present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are, to their outward senses.^b

a. 1 Cor 11:28. • b. 1 Cor 10:16.

8. Although ignorant and wicked men receive the outward elements in this sacrament, yet they receive not the thing signified thereby; but by their unworthy coming thereunto are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, to their own damnation. Wherefore all ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with him, so are they unworthy of the Lord’s table, and cannot, without great sin against Christ, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries,^a or be admitted thereunto.^b

a. 1 Cor 11:27-29; 2 Cor 6:14-16. • b. Mat 7:6; 1 Cor 5:6-7, 13; 2 Thes 3:6, 14-15.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

Soli deo Gloria!

³  “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. ⁴ Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!” (Genesis 49:3–4 (ESV)

Jacob’s evaluation of his firstborn son, Reuben, involved not only blessings but also judgments. Jacob mentioned Reuben’s admirable qualities first and then concluded with his liabilities.

The prophecies concerning Reuben, Simeon and Levi refer to punishment for their crimes. Their sins would impact their future generations. There are no animal comparisons given regarding the three elder brothers. .  

Jacob acknowledged Reuben to be his first born. It must be noted that a firstborn son’s inheritance could never be revoked arbitrarily by a father’s whim. However, changes in the inheritance could be made if the son in question committed sexual sins against the family.

Jacob call Reuben his might. This refered to power, strength and ability. Every indication in Scripture is that Reuben was a physically strong man. He also possessed preeminent dignity or exaltation along with preeminent power. Reuben was a great force to be reckoned.

Yet, in spite of these admirable qualities, or perhaps because of them, Jacob compared Reuben to the instability, recklessness and turbulence of foamy water. Reuben would no longer maintain his preeminence. This was directly the result of Reuben’s sinful sexual behavior years before with Jacob’s concubine (Gen. 29:32; 35:22).

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “Reuben likely expects to receive a double portion of his father’s blessing (Deut. 21:15–17). Reuben’s chest probably swells with pride as his father begins to prophesy over him to commend his preeminence in power and dignity (Gen. 49:3).  However, Reuben’s bubble soon bursts when his father revokes these privileges. Reuben may have an advantage according to the world, but no such benefit is present in God’s eyes. Until now, Jacob has said nothing about his eldest son’s sin with his surrogate wife Bilhah (Gen. 35:22). But silence does not indicate Jacob’s ignorance, for this violation costs Reuben his place of prominence (Gen. 49:4). With his sin, Reuben has shown himself to be unstable as water, slippery in his character. Unsteady in righteousness and wisdom (see also 42:37), Reuben has forfeited his rightful place as the family’s leader.”

It should be noted that no prophet, judge or king descended from Reuben. Instability, rather than strength of character, was demonstrated by Reuben’s descendants (Judges 4:1-5:16). Reuben and his family reaped the consequences of his sin.

Galatians 6:7–8 (ESV) says, “⁷ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

May we all observe the lessons God teaches in the life and legacy of Reuben. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

“Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. ² “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father.”  (Genesis 49:1–2 (ESV)

Following Jacob’s blessing upon Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, he then proceeded to bless his other sons. Jacob summoned them so he could prophecy what would happen to them, and their progeny, in the future. Rather than taking upon himself the role of a fortune teller or one conducting a psychic reading, Jacob heralded a divine oracle from God. This divine revelation would contain elements not only of blessings but also of judgments.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “The blessings of the inspired patriarch prophesy the fate of the twelve tribes descended from his sons, mostly by means of wordplays on their names or comparisons to animals. The names and actions (good or bad) of the twelve sons portend the destiny of the tribes. These prophetic blessings at the end of the patriarchal era are arranged according to their mothers –Leah’s six sons (vv.3-15), the handmaids’ four (vv.16-21) and Rachel’s two (vs. 22-27—exhibit God’s sovereignty over the nation. These blessings will be expanded in the parallel final blessing of Moses upon Israel that is given on the threshold of Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land (Deut. 33).”

Dr. John Walvoord explains, “A fundamental principle in God’s economy is that the lives and natures of the patriarchs affected their descendants. God works out the manifold destinies of His people in accordance with their moral distinctions. Genesis 49 gives a glimpse into such a program of God. This chapter includes the last of the several great sayings of destiny in Genesis—blessings, cursings, judgments, and promises. Jacob, in faith and as God’s covenantal instrument, looked forward to the conquest and settlement of Israel in the land of Canaan, and then beyond to a more glorious age. God gave His people this prophecy to bear them through the dismal barrenness of their experiences and to show them that He planned all the future.”

The future of Jacob’s family lay beyond the impending bondage of Egypt and into the land of promise. However, the enjoyment of the blessings of hope would depend on the participants’ faithfulness. So from the solemnness of his deathbed, Jacob evaluated his sons one by one. This appraisal would look forward to the future of the twelve tribes.

We will begin studying Jacob’s blessings upon each of his sons when next we meet. Until then, have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!   

¹⁷ “When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. ¹⁸ And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” ¹⁹ But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” ²⁰ So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’ ” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. ²¹ Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. ²² Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.” (Genesis 48:17–22 (ESV)

Joseph did not agree with what Jacob did in blessing Ephraim as the firstborn instead of Manasseh. This would make sense to Joseph since Manasseh was Joseph’s firstborn son (Gen.  41:50-52). However, the LORD had other plans and Jacob understood this, even if Joseph did not.  

Jacob responded to Joseph’s objection by saying, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” Jacob then declared to Ephraim and Manasseh, ““By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’ ” By this declaration, Jacob was placing Ephraim before his older brother Manasseh.

Dr. John Walvoord explains, “Joseph, like so many others, expected God to work in a certain way, but found that He is often pleased to work differently and sometimes even unconventionally. But faith recognizes that God’s ways are not man’s ways. It took Jacob a lifetime of discipline to learn that fact. But he learned it, and now he blessed the younger over the elder. For four consecutive generations this re-versed pattern was followed: Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuben, and Ephraim over Manasseh.”

It was after this that Jacob the said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. ²² Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “Jacob’s history does not record any conquest of Amorite land. He did purchase property from the children of Hamor (Gen. 33:19) but that was not by conquest. At some time this military event had actually occurred, but for some unknown reason it finds no other mention in God’s revelation.”  

Another author provides us today’s application. “Jacob learned the ways of the Lord who exalts what men might forget (Matt. 19:30) and gives a better blessing to the younger Ephraim while relying on God’s ways honestly, nobly, and carefully. If an outsider were called upon to write the history of your life, would character qualities like honesty and carefulness show themselves time and again? Would you be shown as a person who relied on God and did what He said was right, even when it cost you dearly?”

Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁵ And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, ¹⁶ the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” (Genesis 48:15–16 (ESV)

The words blessed and blessing have been frequently used in these recent blogs. The Hebrew word for blessed is pronounced waybarek. It means to speak words invoking divine favor. This is done with the intent that the object of God’s blessing will have favorable circumstances or conditions throughout their life.  

In today’s text, Jacob not only invoked divine favor upon Manasseh and Ephraim but also their father, Jacob’s favored son, Joseph. Jacob referred to his heritage when he said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day.” The Shepherd God who was with his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac, Jacob acknowledged was also with him. Jacob affirmed that God, like a shepherd, guided, fed, protected and corrected him for close to 150 years (Gen. 47:28; Psalm 23; Isiah 59:20).

In the same breath, Jacob referred to God as the angel. The Hebrew word for angel, pronounced hammalak, means messenger and guide. This would be a reference to the Angel of the LORD.

The Tyndale Bible Dictionary explains, “The angel of the Lord, sometimes ‘the angel of God’ or ‘my (or ‘his’) angel’, is represented in Scripture as a heavenly being sent by God to deal with men as his personal agent and spokesman. In many passages he is virtually identified with God and speaks not merely in the name of God but as God in the first person singular (e.g. with Hagar, Gen. 16:7ff.; 21:17f.: at the sacrifice of Isaac, Gen. 22:1ff.; to Jacob, Gen. 31:13, ‘I am the god of Beth-el’; to Moses at the burning bush, Ex. 3:2; with Gideon, Jdg. 6:11ff.). Sometimes he is distinguished from God, as in 2 Sam. 24:16; Zech. 1:12f, but Zechariah does not consistently maintain the distinction (cf. Zech. 3:1; 12:8).”  

For the angel to be virtually identified with God would be appropriate since Jacob identifies the angel as redeeming him from all evil. To redeem means to deliver, liberate and free. This angel could very well be a pre-incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ.  

Jacob also invoked a prayer to the angel. He prayed, “bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

One author explains, “Jacob’s blessing depicts the nature of the One whom he served (Gen. 48:15–16). First, Abraham and Isaac also walked before this God. True to His word for His name’s sake, He keeps His covenants from generation to generation. Second, our Creator shepherds us like He did Jacob, leading us in the way of righteousness and disciplining us when we go astray (chap. 29–32; Heb. 12:7–11). Finally, He is the “angel” who redeems us (Gen. 48:16). He is not a creaturely angel, but the angel of the Lord with whom Jacob wrestled (Gen. 32:22–32), a pre-incarnate manifestation of the Messiah, according to churchmen throughout history. Centuries after Jacob lived, God came to earth to defeat sin and reveal His faithfulness (John 1:1–18).”

The Shepherd God who led Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and David, etc. is the same Shepherd God who currently leads you and me. May we take comfort and courage in our Shepherd who eventually will lead us home.

Soli deo Gloria!   

⁸ “When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” ⁹ Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” ¹⁰ Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. ¹¹ And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” ¹² Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. ¹³ And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. ¹⁴ And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).” (Genesis 48:8–14 (ESV)

Today’s text reveals a wonderful and poignant scene between Joseph and his father Jacob. For over two decades, Jacob resigned himself to the misunderstanding that his son Joseph was dead and he would never see him alive again in this lifetime.

How wonderful it was for both Jacob and Joseph to reunite within the purpose and plan of God’s sovereign providence. You can sense Jacob’s emotion when he said to Joseph, ““I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.”

Do not glance over the words “God has let me.” In Jacob’s particular situation, he understood that the providential and sovereign God of heaven and earth permitted him to see his two Egyptian grandsons. This was the same providential and sovereign God who not only preserved Joseph while he was in prison, but also preserved humanity by releasing Joseph from prison.

Jacob was nearly blind, if not completely so. Therefore, Joseph brought his two sons close to their grandfather. Jacob then kissed and embraced them both. The aged patriarch was prepared to bless Manasseh and Ephraim. However, it is at this point that Jacob did a curious thing.

Dr. John Walvoord explains, “When Joseph presented his two sons to the aged patriarch, the blessing was pronounced. Like Isaac, Jacob gave this blessing when his eyesight was failing. But in the blessing Israel crossed his hands so that his right hand was on Ephraim’s head and his left on Manasseh’s … even though Manasseh, the firstborn, would normally have been blessed with the right hand. This was Jacob’s decision in spite of Joseph’s direction. Joseph, like so many others, expected God to work in a certain way, but found that He is often pleased to work differently and sometimes even unconventionally. But faith recognizes that God’s ways are not man’s ways. It took Jacob a lifetime of discipline to learn that fact. But he learned it, and now he blessed the younger over the elder. For four consecutive generations this re-versed pattern was followed: Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuben, and Ephraim over Manasseh.”

English poet and hymn writer William Cowper (1731-1800) expressed the doctrine of God’s providence as follows in his hymn God Moves in a Mysterious Way.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unsearchable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

And ye fearful saints, fresh courage take
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings, on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust Him for His grace
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face

His purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste
But sweet will be the flower

Soli deo Gloria!

“After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. ² And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. ³ And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, ⁴ and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ ⁵ And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. ⁶ And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. ⁷ As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).” (Genesis 48:1–7 (ESV)

Following the events recorded in Genesis 47, seventeen years pass (Gen. 47:28). This is signaled by the opening phrase found in today’s text: After this. Joseph discovered that his father Jacob was ill and dying. The word ill in the Hebrew refers to terminal sickness.

In response to this news, Joseph sought what Jacob and his brother Esau sought so many years before (Gen. 27). That was a blessing from their father. In Jacob and Esau’s case, it was a blessing from Isaac. In Joseph’s situation, he sought a blessing from his father, but not for himself. Rather, he sought Jacob’s blessing for his own two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. It was a blessing Jacob would give.

Moses records in the today’s text Jacob’s adoption of his grandsons as his own sons (Gen. 48:5). This is best seen as Jacob’s ultimate expression of his deep love and affection for his son Joseph. The Mosaic Law would later indicate that the firstborn son normally received a double portion of his father’s blessing to illustrate his privileged status (Deut. 21:15–17).

Joseph’s inheritance will be reckoned through two tribes named after his two eldest sons. Joseph’s honor belonged to the entire nation of Israel. However, the Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh will be regarded as special because they are directly linked to Joseph, the one God used to save the world from famine. 

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “Jacob’s preface to his adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh sets up the passing on of the patriarchal blessing to all his sons. Recalling his encounter with the Lord at Luz (Bethel, 28:10–22), Jacob summarizes the content of God’s word to him — life, land, and offspring (48:3–4) — with verbiage that aligns his blessing with the one given to Abraham (17:1–8) and Isaac (26:1–5). A new era in the history of the Lord’s people is about to begin, and Jacob’s words reveal his faith that even his death cannot thwart God’s intent to bless His elect. The Almighty’s promise to Abraham, mediated through Isaac and now Jacob, must come true even if it must be passed down once again.”

We may not witness the fulfillment of our prayers to God this side of glory. However, we continue to trust the Lord that He will answer our prayers, even after we die. Let each of us take comfort in the character of God.  

Soli deo Gloria!

We will continue to devote each Lord’s Day in 2022 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2022. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Twenty Nine. Of The Lord’s Supper. Part Three.

5. The outward elements in this sacrament, duly set apart to the uses ordained by Christ, have such relation to him crucified, as that truly, yet sacramentally only, they are sometimes called by the name of the things they represent, to wit, the body and blood of Christ;^a albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly, and only, bread and wine, as they were before.^b

a. Mat 26:26-28. • b. Mat 26:29; 1 Cor 11:26-28.

6. That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ’s body and blood (commonly called transubstantiation) by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant, not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason; overthroweth the nature of the sacrament; and hath been, and is the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries.^a

a. Luke 24:6, 39; Acts 3:21 with 1 Cor 11:24-26.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

Soli deo Gloria!

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. ²⁸ And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years. ²⁹ And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, ³⁰ but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” ³¹ And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.” (Genesis 47:27–31 (ESV)

Joseph’s extended family from Canaan settled in the land called Goshen, located in Egypt. Moses recorded in today’s text that they gained possessions, were fruitful and multiplied greatly. Additionally, Joseph’s father Jacob lived another seventeen years in Egypt until the age of 147.

Moses recorded that it was following those seventeen years, that Jacob’s life neared its end. The time came for him to die. When Jacob’s death loomed near, he met with his favorite son Joseph.

Jacob said to Joseph, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.”

Hebrew custom dictated that to place one’s hand under another individual’s thigh indicated a solemn vow to fulfill the desire of that individual. By putting his hand under Jacob’s thigh Joseph promised to carry out his father’s wishes. See Gen. 24:1-9.

It was then that Jacob told Joseph to swear to him that he would fulfill this request. To swear meant that Joseph would solemnly take an oath, promise and pledge that he would carry out Jacob’s command.

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “In having Joseph swear to bury him in Canaan (Gen. 47:29–31), Jacob confirmed his belief that God would bring Him out of Egypt (46:4). By faith he looked to the day when Yahweh would keep His promise in its totality, and he knew blessing would come upon his people if they would trust in God’s abundant grace and obey His commands in the Promised Land (28:10–17; Deut. 30:1–10). Burial there manifested Jacob’s trust in God for such blessing even in death. In the light of the full witness of Scripture, we know this abundant life prefigured in Canaan comes after the grave when believers are raised to live in a new Promised Land — a new earth free from the curse of evil (Rev. 21).”

The confidence Jacob had typifies the trust, commitment, dependence believers today have in the person and work of Jesus Christ. In these uncertain days on earth, we may have confidence in the Ancient of Days for eternity. Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!

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.” (Genesis 47:23–27 (ESV)

The Hebrew word for servant is abadim. It means advisor, official, minister and finally, slave. However, the Egyptian people do not perceive Joseph to be a slave master but rather a savior due to his fiscal policies during the famine. They exclaimed, “You have saved our lives.” The people understood that Joseph had not enriched himself at the people’s expense.

One author writes, “In Joseph’s day, slaves were more like modern-day employees who have signed a contract of employment, and the master was akin to a self-employed person who has certain freedoms not shared by the contractual worker. Of course, good business owners today also have more concerns than their workers, for they must labor hard to keep people employed. Likewise, the slave owner bore a greater burden than the slave. The pharaoh is enriched under Joseph, but he must also supply seed and make sure everyone has enough to eat.”

In writing this account of Israel’s life under the administration of Joseph, Moses wanted the people of the Exodus to realize that life in Egypt had not always been difficult for their ancestors. It was there that the LORD providentially allowed them to gain possessions, to be fruitful and to increase in population. This was the same LORD who would lead the people from Egypt back to the land of Canaan.

Much like when he was a teenager caring for father’s flocks (Gen. 37:1-5). Joseph was a shepherd to the people of Israel. He evidenced the same care, leadership, love and affection for the people of Egypt. While saving the people from physical death, He typified the Lord Jesus Christ who saves His people from spiritual death (John 10:11-18).

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “So God blessed His people according to the promises He made to Abraham. They were fast becoming a great nation. Moreover, God blessed Pharaoh because he had blessed the seed of Abraham with the best of Egypt. Later in the time of Moses, when another Pharaoh oppressed Israel, God dealt harshly with the Egyptians.”  

God kept His promises to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). The LORD keeps His promises today. He is trustworthy, dependable and worthy of worship. Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!