One Year Bible, January 23

GENESIS 46:1-47:31
Jacob seems to have had an encounter with God each time he travelled for long distances and this is no exception. On his way to Egypt to be reunited with Joseph and to "ride out the famine" - he meets God in Beer-sheba. Here God puts His blessing on the trip to Egypt and says that Jacob's increase will come down in Egypt, and that Jacob would, indeed, return to Canaan. Now we know that when God makes a Promise, He REALLY carries it out.  Jacob left Canaan with 70 people, and returned with over a million (over 200 years later with Moses).

It was important that Jacob and his family settle in Goshen because in the famine, Goshen still had good pasture-land, and living there would also isolate the Israelites so they were less likely to intermarry.

When Jacob had been in Egypt 17 years, and was 147 years old, he adopted Josephs' sons Ephraim and Manasseh, so that they would inherit full shares in the Land. Then, he extracted a promise from Joseph: "Do not bury me in Egypt". Canaan was the Land of Rest, and God had promised it to Jacob and his seed. When Jacob lay dying, he still had faith in the Promise.

RESPONSE:   Sometimes I think we give up too easy. We have prayed and prayed and not seen any results. Jacob was promised by God that he would inherit Canaan and it had been 147 years and he was too old now to go there, and besides he was dying. But he still believed God. And his faith had outward expression.  It showed.  Do my decisions reflect faith in God's promises?

MATTHEW 15:1-28
This portion of Scripture is part of the section where Matthew shows the opposition to the Kingdom of God. Here we see that human traditions (strongly held beliefs) are wrong if they contradict the Word of God. Religious traditions referr to ritual and external rules of behavior. Unlike God'sWord, which addresses the source of uncleanness and evil: the HEART.

First of all, the religious tradition said you could withhold money from aging parents if you set it aside for an offering. This dishonors your parents. It looked religious, but was actually evil. Honoring your parents DOES honor God. They allowed their tradition to "trump" the Scripture. Uncleanness is not external like not washing your hands. Uncleanness is from the source, your HEART.

Then Jesus demonstrated what He meant. Jesus had gone away to hide out and rest. A Gentile woman found Him and wouldn't leave Him alone because her daughter suffered from unclean spirits (Mk 7:25). Tradition said that Jesus came to "the lost sheep of Israel" - Jews. But He helped her anyway because of her faith (her faith was based on Truth, not Tradition). Scripture "trumped" tradition. Tradition is evil if it contradicts Scripture. Even religious traditions.

RESPONSE:   God, I have my rules too. They are usually based on what I want. I'll admit they have nothing to do with Scripture. Sometimes I have trouble "breaking" my rules - so I ask You to remind me of Jesus. He would never refuse to help me because of some list He had. My memory verse for today: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings". (Hosea 6:6)  I don't want to appear religious and have no compassion. 

PSALM 19:1-14
As David meditated on the goodness and greatness of God, he wrote: Nowhere is God unknown. His glorious creation extends to everyplace on the earth. And besides His creation revealing his Glory, there is His Word, which has the power to "convert the soul"; "make wise the simple (inexperienced, immature)"; "rejoice the heart"; and "enlighten the eyes". 

In addition, the Word of God is described as being "perfect", "sure", "right", "pure", "clean", "true", and "righteous".

It says that God's Word serves as a warning to keep us from three kinds of sin: "hidden or secret sin"; "willful or presumptuous sin" (from being self-reliant); and "great transgression" (unchecked indulgence).

PROVERBS 4:14-19
Just like God's days begin in the dark and end in the light ("evening and morning" were a day, Gen  1), so with the righteous. Our way gets brighter and brighter as we go along. But the wicked walk in "deep darkness" and can't figure out what's wrong! They not only fall themselves, but they cause others to fall too. "DON'T SET FOOT ON THE PATH OF THE WICKED. Don't walk there. Avoid it. Do not travel there. Turn from it. Go on your way." God is really, really serious about the danger of even walking where the wicked walk.

RESPONSE:   Another verse Mom made us all learn: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord..." Maybe I'll just say that one before I get out of bed in the morning. "God, if it doesn't please You, don't even let me THINK it."  When I meditate on anything, it will be on Your goodness and greatness. Everything in creation reminds me of Your goodness and greatness. No excuses.