One Year Bible, January 20

GENESIS 41:17-42:17
Now, there is a clever "turn-of-phrase" that probably escaped your notice, but I draw your attention to it:  In vs 1-25 we learn that Pharaoh had the same dream twice.  In vs 32 the original language says that "the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice."  with the explanation "it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass."  This explains things like (double "amen") "amen and amen".  (Psa 41:13; 72:19;89:52)

I think the naming of Joseph's sons is very telling about how Joseph handled 13 years of testing in a foreign land. Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil and my father's house." Not that Joseph actually FORGOT it, but that when compared to the joy and peace of knowing that God is with him, they can be dismissed from his mind. And Ephraim: "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." That his affliction was actually the path to fruit and to rulership. Pharaoh gave as Joseph's qualification to rule, God was with him, and he was "discerning and wise" or he had understanding and wisdom. He not only knew what to do, but he had insight about HOW to do it and WHEN.

RESPONSE:  Joseph seems to be a man of few words.  He certainly was able to keep a secret.  He ruled Egypt for at least 7 years without sending word to his father that he was still alive.  Then, when his family came to Egypt to buy food, he plotted to get them all to Egypt without telling them who he was.  His prophetic dream had come to pass (42:6) and he didn't say, "I told you so."  He was considered a wise and understanding man by the Egyptians.  Somehow, during the 13 years in captivity, he didn't get bitter or vengeful.  We know this by the names he gave his sons.  What does this say about my own situation?  Could I "forget" the tough things I've been through?  Some of them I wouldn't "give up", but I sure don't want to repeat them either.  Maybe this is how Paul was able to say, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"  (2 Cor 4:17)  When we've been through some stuff, and know for a certainty that God is really enough, then we've got something!

MATTHEW 13:24-46
The parables of the Kingdom.  Matthew records seven of them.  Remember, the parables both REVEAL God's secrets and CONCEAL God's secrets.  By teaching in parables (Mt 13:35), Jesus also fulfilled OT Scripture (Psa 78:2).  So, without giving away God's secrets, I can tell you this much:

Mat 13:3-23 - The "word of the Kingdom" (which has to do with self-sacrifice) is a test of character.
Mat 13:24-30; 36-43 - Time will tell who REALLY belongs to the Kingdom.
Mat 13:31-32 - The survival of the least - God gets the unlikely from the least likely.
Mat 13:33 - The Kingdom is about INFLUENCE - subtle, invisible, but powerful.
Mat 13:44 - The Kingdom of God is in hidden places and once we "find" it (get the revelation) we must "burn our bridges" to the past. 
Mat 13:45 - It will cost you everything. 
Mat 13:46-50 ah- ah- ah- Next week!

RESPONSE:  I think I'm a mustard seed - insignificant, tucked away in the ground.  My significance comes from being part of the Kingdom of God, and in fulfilling God's purpose for my life as part of the Big Picture.  If I disconnect from God through disobedience, I lose my significance and I guarantee that my life will be wasted.  Anything it "costs" me to be part of God's Kingdom, is worth the price, the pain and the persecution.  Comparatively speaking, it is a "light affliction". 

PSALM 18:1-15
This Psalm is contained in 2 Samuel 22, also.  It tells of going from the threat of death, all the way to the throne.  "I love You, O Lord, my Strength."  Here's some revelation for you: the word used for  "strength" is a word "resolute, to be hardened to difficulty, to make impenetrable, moral strength", and is used in 1 Samuel 30:6 where "David encouraged himself in the Lord his God." 
 
Psalm 18 and 2 Samuel 22 express David's total gratitude for all God did for him.  When David "called upon the Lord and cried unto God", God's response was to shake the foundations of the earth because He was angry!  Smoke came out of His nose and He split the heavens and came down!  He thundered and there were hailstones and fire.  And "He made darkness His covering".   God is my strength, my fortress, my deliverer, my refuge, my shield, my horn of salvation, my stronghold.  Yowza!!!
 
PROVERBS 4:1-6
"Keep my commandments and you will live".  You will be a partaker of Life.  The reverse is also true:  Reject what wisdom tells you, and you will be destroyed. 
 
RESPONSE:  I believe that David encouraged himself in the Lord like this:  "God is my strength, my fortress, my deliverer, my refuge, my shield, my horn of salvation, my stronghold.  God is faithful, He is righteous, He is good and He loves me just because He loves me.  God is worthy of praise, He sings and dances over me.  He surrounds me with songs of deliverance.  There is none like Him.  He is Lord of the universe.  He is mighty.  God is the Shining One, the Awesome One, my Fabulous God!"  Most of this, you will find in Psalms.