His Word Today

“So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph” (Genesis 43:15 (ESV)

Much has happened since Jacob’s sons returned from Egypt. Much has happened as they prepared to return to Egypt.

Jacob instructed his sons to gather various choice fruits, spices and nuts to give to the Egyptian governor. He also directed them to give back the money they found in their sacks on their return trip to Canaan (Gen. 43:11-14). Finally, he entrusted his youngest son Benjamin into their care, especially Judah’s (Gen. 43:1-13).

Moses did not record the time interval between the brothers’ first visit to Egypt and their second. He also did not indicate how long it took them to travel to Egypt. What he did write, which is contained in today’s text, is that they took the present for the governor, and double the money with them. Presumably they took double the money in order to compensate for the first load of grain along with the new purchase. They also took their most precious item: Benjamin.

They travelled south to Egypt. Having visited that region, it is a hot and arid area. In other words, it is a desert. Perhaps even more so during this devastating famine. However, they eventually reached their destination and stood before Joseph.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “When Jacob finally allowed Benjamin to go to Egypt, his trusting in the Almighty no matter what might happen was not stoic acquiescence to fate (Gen. 43:14). He took action to help smooth the way forward for his sons, knowing that the Lord uses the decisions of His people to work out His sovereign plan. Jacob understood trusting the Lord is not only intellectual assent, it also means doing what God tells us is right (James 2:14–26). Israel prayed for Benjamin’s safe return and sent a present to the pharaoh’s steward (Gen. 43:11–13), a wise move for those who approached royalty in those days. The honey, which could be found in diverse places such as rocks (Deut. 32:13), animal carcasses (Judg. 14:8–9), and trees (1 Sam. 14:25–27), was an extra-special treat during a famine. Jacob trusted in God’s providence, and the Lord did watch over Jacob’s sons once he sent them back into the land of the Nile.”  

More to come as the journey of Joseph, and his family, continues. Have a blessed day as you trust in the LORD’s providence.

Soli deo Gloria!

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” (Genesis 43:11-14)

Jacob realized that for his family to survive the continuing and devastating famine, he must agree to the terms set by the governor of Egypt. When his sons return to Egypt for more grain, Jacob’s youngest son, Benjamin, must accompany them. There was no alternative.

Jacob then directed his sons to prepare an appropriate gift for the governor. He simply refers to him as the man. He does not know that he is his son, Joseph. The gift includes choice fruits, balm, honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Apparently, these items would be unavailable in Egypt.

Additionally, Jacob instructed the brothers to carry back the money that was returned to them. He reasoned that perhaps it was an oversight on the governor’s part.

Finally, the patriarch tells his sons to take Benjamin, the youngest. He then orders them to return to the man.

His final words before his sons depart is a prayer. He prayed that God Almighty, El-Shaddai, would grant them mercy. In other words, that Yahweh would give the brothers His compassion before the governor. He also prayed that their other brother and Benjamin would return. Perhaps Jacob did realize that Joseph was still alive and perhaps had been sold into slavery by his brothers.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “In trusting his sons, Jacob must also trust the Lord, for he cannot be certain that he will see Benjamin again. His faith in God’s providential care is revealed in the benediction he offers before his sons depart (v. 14). He calls on the name of God Almighty, the name our Creator gave to Himself when the Abrahamic covenant was sealed (17:1–14). This is significant. Just as Abraham earlier had to trust the Lord to do the impossible and give him a son in his old age (17:15–21), so too must Jacob now trust God to accomplish His promise to multiply his family (35:11) even if the unthinkable happens and he loses more sons (43:14).”

Puritan Matthew Henry concludes by saying, “Though men value very highly their gold and silver, and the luxuries which are counted the best fruits of every land, yet in a time of famine they willingly barter them for bread. And how little will earthly good things stand us in the day of wrath! How ready should we be to renounce them all, as loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ! Our way to prevail with man is by first prevailing with the Lord in fervent prayer. But, Thy will be done, should close every petition for the mercies of this life, or against the afflictions of this life.”

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 Seven. Of the Sacraments. Part Two.

3. The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments, rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it,^a but upon the work of the Spirit,^b and the word of institution, which contains, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.^c

a. Rom 2:28-29; 1 Pet 3:21. • b. Mat 3:11; 1 Cor 12:13. • c. Mat 26:27-28.

4. There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord: neither of which may be dispensed by any but by a minister of the Word lawfully ordained.^a

a. Mat 28:19-20, 19; 1 Cor 4:1; 11:20, 23; Heb 5:4.

5. The sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the New.^a

a. 1 Cor 10:1-4.

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

Soli deo Gloria!

“Now the famine was severe in the land. ² And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” ³ But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ⁴ If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. ⁵ But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ ” ⁶ Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” ⁷ They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” ⁸ And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. ⁹ I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. ¹⁰ If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.” (Genesis 43:1–10 (ESV)

Judah made a solemn pledge to his father Jacob. This was the same Judah who orchestrated the sale of Joseph to the Midianites so many years before (Gen. 37:25-27) and who had an inappropriate relationship with his daughter-in-law Tamar (Gen. 38).  

The Scriptures always depict God’s people as they truly are, bad choices included. Always remember that the believer’s righteous standing before God is always based upon the imputed righteousness of Christ and not our own (Romans 3:21-26; Philippians 3:1-9). While God’s calls each believer in Christ to obedience, our hope and confidence is solely in the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ.

Judah steps up when apparently no other brother would. The tone of what he says displayed a sincere heart.

⁸ And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. ⁹ I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. ¹⁰ If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice” (Gen. 43:8-10).

Judah’s pledge contained four promises. First, he would protect Benjamin. The youngest son would be in his charge.

Second, Judah would personally be a pledge for Benjamin’s safety. The Hebrew word for pledge means to put up a security, mortgage, make a guarantee, or to give a pledge. It is to give an object or personal security in an agreement to ensure that an agreed future event in fact happens (Gen. 44:32; Neh. 5:3; Job 17:3; Prov. 6:1; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 22:26; 27:13).

Third, Judah stated that Jacob could hold him accountable if anything happened to Benjamin. This would result in any punishment if Judah did not keep his promise of protection.

Fourth, Judah indicated that he alone would bear the blame. He would bear any punishment necessary.

Dr. R.C. Sproul states, “Judah steps forward as the leader of the clan and refuses to go back to Egypt without his youngest brother. Twice he tells his father that they have been “warned” not to return without Benjamin, and so if all of the brothers do not go into the land of the Nile, none of them can go (vv. 4–5). Judah is the oldest son still in Jacob’s favor (29:31–35; 34:30; 35:22) and the logical choice to head the expedition. Yet Judah’s age is not his most important qualification to lead the others. Seeing that his father’s concern to preserve Benjamin alive must be satisfied, he steps forward and makes himself the guarantee of his brother’s safety (43:8–10). This is a risky and chivalrous move for Judah to make, for he is putting his life on the line for his brother. It is model behavior for the righteous ruler, seen most prominently in the life of Jesus, Judah’s greatest son through King David (Matt. 1:1), who laid down His life for His brothers (John 10:11).”

Today’s text shows that Judah is a type for the Lord Jesus Christ. Take the time today to thank the Lord Jesus who took your place on the cross.  

Soli deo Gloria!

“Now the famine was severe in the land. ² And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” ³ But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ⁴ If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. ⁵ But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ ” ⁶ Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” ⁷ They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” ⁸ And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. ⁹ I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. ¹⁰ If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.” (Genesis 43:1–10 (ESV)

Following an indefinite period of time, Jacob’s family had exhausted their food supply, which had been purchased in Egypt (Gen. 42). Jacob instructed his eldest sons who were with him in Canaan to return to Egypt and buy some more food. Perhaps Jacob, given his advanced age, forgot the conditions placed by the Egyptian governor, who in reality was his son Joseph, for their return and the release of Simeon. However, his son Judah was quick to remind him.

³ But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ⁴ If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. ⁵ But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you’ ” (Gen. 43:3-5). The brother in question was Benjamin, the youngest.  

Jacob’s reply was consistently self-centered as it was when his sons returned from Egypt (Gen. 42:36-38). He said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?”(Gen. 43:6).

Moses recorded their answer. “They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’” (Gen. 43:7)?

Dr. R.C. explains, “Jacob was afraid when money was found in the sacks of grain from Egypt (Gen. 42:35), but he did not fear divine retribution like his sons did (v. 28b). Scholars suggest he was afraid his sons had planned some kind of a coup d’état. His favorite son Joseph disappeared after looking for these brothers (chap. 37), and now they wanted to take his beloved Benjamin, Rachel’s other son (35:24), into the desert. Moreover, Jacob’s sons returned from Egypt with money, but no Simeon. Jacob likely surmised that the brothers sold Simeon into slavery and suspected his sons would remove Benjamin, who like Joseph, would not champion any attempt to supplant their father. Jacob’s focus on himself supports this contention.

What follows was a solemn pledge given by Jacob’s son Judah. This was the same Judah who orchestrated the sale of Joseph to the Midianites so many years before (Gen. 37:25-27). We will examine Judah’s pledge when next we meet.

The Scriptures depict God’s people as they truly are, bad choices included. Always remember that the believer’s righteous standing before God is always based upon the imputed righteousness of Christ and not our own (Romans 3:21-26; Philippians 3:1-9). While God’s calls each believer in Christ to obedience, our hope and confidence is solely in the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ.

Soli deo Gloria!

³⁵ “As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. ³⁶ And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” ³⁷ Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” ³⁸ But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.” (Genesis 42:35–38 (ESV)

In Genesis 42:29-34, Jacob’s eldest sons, with the exception of Simeon, return from Egypt after buying grain. They related to their father the circumstances of why their brother Simeon did not return home with them. They also shared that for Simeon to be released, the elder brothers must return to Egypt with their youngest brother, Benjamin.

On the return trip to Canaan, one of the brothers discovered his money was in his sack (Gen. 42:26-28). When they all returned home, the remaining brothers discovered their own money in their respective sacks. Both they, and their father Jacob, were afraid. This was an ongoing fear and not just a momentary fright. Perhaps it was fear of the Egyptian governor, Joseph, or it may have been an even greater fear of the LORD.

Today’s text shares Jacob’s initial reaction to his sons regarding what he has just learned. “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” Jacob’s reaction was apparently self-centered. All that seemed to matter was how these circumstances affected him alone. All that was lacking was the exclamation, “Woe is me.”

Dr. John MacArthur explains, “Jacob could not handle the prospect of losing another son, and didn’t trust the brothers who had already divested him of two sons by what he may have thought were their intrigues. The whole situation overwhelmed Jacob who complained against his sons (cf. 43:6) and would not release Benjamin (42:38).”

Reuben then made a solemn, if not an exaggerated pledge to his father. “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” Perhaps Rueben should be excused for his hyperbole, but not for his sincerity. The brother who protected Joseph (Ge. 37:18-22, 29) now pledged to protect Benjamin.

However, Jacob would not have it so. “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”

Jacob’s only concern seemed to be his youngest son Benjamin. He seemingly did not care what would happen to either Simeon or his other sons if, or when, they returned to Egypt. Jacob appeared to be only concerned for himself and how these circumstances would impact him. When we begin studying Genesis 43, we will see another possible reason for Jacob’s hesitancy.

Puritan Matthew Henry writes, “Jacob gives up Joseph for gone, and Simeon and Benjamin as being in danger; and he concludes, All these things are against me. It proved otherwise, that all these were for him, were working together for his good and the good of his family: yet here he thinks them all against him. Through our ignorance and mistake, and the weakness of our faith, we often apprehend that to be against us which is really for us. We are afflicted in body, estate, name, and relations; and we think all these things are against us, whereas these are really working for us the weight of glory.”

May the experiences of Jacob and his family, in real history and real time, impact our lives being lived in real time and history. Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!

³¹ “Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. ³² The men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.’ ³³ When Pharaoh calls you, and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ ³⁴ you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our ancestors’—in order that you may settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians.” (Genesis 46:31–34 (NRSV)

The following, prophetic words of God through His servant Moses return for our consideration and remembrance. They provide us perspective concerning Joseph’s actions found in today’s text.

Genesis 37:5–11 (ESV) says, “⁵ Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. ⁶ He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: ⁷ Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” ⁸ His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. ⁹ Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” ¹⁰ But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” ¹¹ And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”

Today’s text reveals that what was prophecy when Joseph was a youth of seventeen (Gen. 37:1-2) became a reality when he was a man of thirty-nine (Gen. 41:46; 45:4-6). His brothers have already twice bowed down to him (Gen. 42:6-11; 43:26). Now Joseph directs not only his brothers but also his father as the governor of Egypt. He in effect is ruling and reigning over them. This provides an affirmative answer to his brothers’ question from so long ago (Gen. 37:8).

However, much like the LORD Jesus Christ of whom Joseph was a type, he ruled with the perspective and practice of a benevolent dictator. Joseph’s conduct was in sharp contrast to a future pharaoh who would rule Egypt at the time of Moses’ birth (Ex. 1-2). Joseph not only informed his family of what he would say to pharaoh, but also what they were to say to pharaoh. Joseph made it clear that his family were to reside in the adjacent land known as Goshen. Why?

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “To be a holy nation, Jacob’s sons must reside in a land where, as clearly defined aliens, they will be less likely to adopt a lifestyle that goes against the ways of God. This explains why Joseph moves to secure for his family a place in Egypt. No full-blooded Egyptian wants to associate himself with an “abominable” shepherd (46:31–34), and this will enable the Israelites to become a distinct sub-culture in the land of the Nile.”

John Calvin explains, “Jacob’s offspring will learn to cherish more fervently mutual union between themselves. They will begin to learn how to be God’s people in the world, but not of the world. The Lord often permits Christians to be despised or rejected by the world, that being liberated and cleansed from its pollution, we may cultivate holiness.”

As believers in Christ, the church must love those who do not love God, but conforming ourselves to their standards for their approval and acceptance is disastrous. Though we must not be offensive, we should expect people to be offended by the Gospel message. We must never change the offensive gospel message so as to be less offensive to the fallen world. In other words, we must never use the fallen world’s cultural norms in order to win the culture to Christianity. The only way God converts fallen sinners is by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let each of us thank the LORD today for being His objects of love and rejoice that He has made us slaves to righteousness, freeing us from our slavery to sin (Romans 6). He is our benevolent dictator. Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁶ “Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. ²⁷ And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. ²⁸ He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?” (Genesis 42:26–28 (ESV)

Joseph’s brother, except Simeon, began their long, arduous trip back to their homeland of Canaan and their father, Jacob. They certainly did not expect any surprises on their trip home. They could not have been more mistaken.

They stopped along the way at a lodging place. It was an inn or a shelter in which they would spend the night. It may have been a building or an open air location for overnight camping.

When one of the brothers opened his sack of provisions to give his donkey fodder, or animal feed, he discovered money in the opening of the sack. He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” It was Joseph who was responsible for placing each man’s money in their individual sacks (Gen. 42:25). It would be when the brothers returned home that they discovered that each of their sacks contained money (Gen. 42:35).

It was at this realization that the text says the brothers’ hearts failed them. In other words, their minds, emotions and will were filled with so many thoughts and concerns that they were dumbfounded. They did not know what to do. Additionally, they were scared.

However, it should be noted that they did not say to each other that they were scared of Joseph, the governor of Egypt. Rather, the text says they were thinking about God.

Certainly, they had to wonder if Joseph would now pursue them and have evidence that they were indeed spies. How else could they explain the money? Yet, for the first time, we see these men sensitive to the providential leading and direction by the One, True God: Yahweh.

Dr. John MacArthur explains, “Their guilty conscience and fear of vengeance from God surfaced again in this response to the money with which they had purchased the grain being returned and found in the one sack that had been opened. Later, upon discovering all their money had been returned, their fear increased even further (v. 35).”

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV) says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”  

Joseph’s brothers began to acquire wisdom because they began to reverentially fear God. May this be said of us.

Soli deo Gloria!  

²³ They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. ²⁴ Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. ²⁵ And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.” (Genesis 42:23–25 (ESV)

Today’s text informs us that Joseph’s brothers did not realize that Joseph understood what they were saying about the events Moses recorded and which are found in Genesis 37. The reason for this was that an interpreter was present. This was because people from all over the known world were coming to Egypt to buy grain. This meant different languages would be spoken. However, in this case Joseph did not require an interpreter. He understood the Hebrew language because he was a Hebrew.

Lest we think that Joseph was an emotionally calloused and bitter man at this time in his life, the text records that Joseph turned away from his brothers and wept. The Hebrew word for wept means to sob and to bewail. Joseph did not just shed a tear or two. Having turned around from his brothers, he sobbed.

Why did Joseph cry and sob? First, these were his brothers. They had thrown him into a pit and even considered killing him years ago (Gen. 37:18-24). Second, instead of murdering him, his brothers sold him into slavery (Gen. 37:25-28). Thirdly, Joseph must have also recalled his own screams of terror as the Midianites took him as a slave from his home and into Egypt.

Perhaps remembering Reuben’s efforts to spare his life, Joseph does not imprison the eldest brother but rather the second eldest, Simeon. It was Simeon, along with the rest, who willingly participated in the crimes against Joseph (37:21–31).

Then Joseph did something rather interesting. He not only had each grain sack of his nine remaining brothers filled, but he also returned their money which they used to buy the grain. He also gave them ample supplies for their journey home.

Joseph was not a bitter and resentful man. His actions before his brothers prove this to be the case. However, he still remembered the events from when he was a teenager and his brothers’ sin against him.

I’m sure that you have been hurt. People have sinned against you. Perhaps these individuals are even believers in Christ. Do not let any bitterness creep in and take hold in your soul. Remember and meditate upon the words of the Apostle Paul from The Epistle to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

May the truth, evidenced by Joseph and explained by the Apostle Paul, be what is seen in each of us today.

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 Seven. Of the Sacraments. Part One.

1. Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace,^a immediately instituted by God,^b to represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest in him:^c as also to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church and the rest of the world;^d and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his Word.^e

a. Gen 17:7, 10; Rom 4:11. • b. Mat 28:19; 1 Cor 11:23. • c. 1 Cor 10:16; 11:25-26; Gal 3:27. • d. Gen 34:14; Exod 12:48; Rom 15:8. • e. Rom 6:3-4; 1 Cor 10:16, 21.

2. There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified; whence it comes to pass that the names and the effects of the one are attributed to the other.^a

a. Gen 17:10; Mat 26:27-28; Titus 3:5.

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

Soli deo Gloria!