I Hit A Nerve In Myself

Then Job spoke again: “You people really know everything, don’t you? And when you die, wisdom will die with you! Well, I know a few things myself—and you’re no better than I am. Who doesn’t know these things you’ve been saying? [Job 12.1-3] 

Job says a lot of things in his verbal tirades.

Interestingly enough, Job eventually repented to God (twice) for opening his mouth.

Then Job replied to the LORD, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.” [Job 40.3-5]

Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” [Job 42.1-6]

Job's repentant response above followed God's initial address of him where God specifically rebuked Job for the following indiscretion:

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? [Job 38.1-2] 

Now, this is all well and good until God finishes His verbal rebuke of Job and then turns to Job's friends:

After the LORD had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. [Job 42.7]

Wait, God is now saying Job spoke accurately after having just rebuked him for his questioning with ignorant words! How do we reconcile that?

First, we reconcile this seeming anomaly on God's terms, not ours. In other words, what makes sense to us is of no consequence to the truth. So, we are left then to interpret what is said in the book of Job by what is said in the book of Job! Ready?

Using the interpretive approach suggested above, we are tasked to accept the simple Biblical fact that Job was right in all that he said, but wrong in that he said it. Job actually admitted this very fact about himself: "I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me."

It must never be forgotten however that Job's every recorded word (both to God and to his friends) in the book bearing his name was spoken by a man in the middle of intense suffering... It might be concluded that a man in suffering is ill-advised to discuss his suffering with anyone but God (no matter how much he knows about the subject). This singleness of focus is a testimony of action that a testimony of words could ever express. The 1st Commandment comes to mind:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.2-3]

I have "hit a nerve" here in myself.

Father, in my own suffering, may I seek only Jesus (the Way to You). May I not become engaged in argumentative verbal warfare with anyone, but may my supplications be only to You, and that, with thanksgiving. I have so much to learn... I need You and I need You alone. I understand that I only accomplish this in giving up my own way, taking up my cross, and following Jesus. So be it.

Entitlement To Possessions And Life

Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked. [Job 9.20] 

Sorting out everything that was "said" in Job's story is a daunting task.

On one hand, Job and his friends said things that seemed Biblically accurate - even profound. And then, on the other hand, they said things clearly not true according to Scripture.

Job's own words, in Job 9.20 above should be considered thoughtfully.

If we remember, in the beginning of his ordeal, Job said very little. Consequently, what he did say was specifically noted for its uprightness... What changed?

Well, nothing changed about Job's character any more that anything changed about God's character. So, what do we know about Job's character? God's own words should be sufficient confirmation:

Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” [Job 1.8]

THINK! God compared Job to every man on earth. And, what do we know about every man on earth? They are ultimately the seed of Adam and, as such, are fallen in nature. Just because Job was better than everyone else on earth means nothing when absolute holiness is the standard. So, from fallen man's perspective, God accurately characterized Job as blameless - a man of complete integrity. He was indeed better than everyone else on earth.

But there is more. Because fallen Satan is not God, he can only judge men on the same basis they compare themselves to - to one another's actions and words. He cannot know man's heart the way God knows man's heart, so Satan can only compare any man by what is seen and heard in all men. Up to this point, Job's actions and words certainly earned him the earthly title "the finest man in all the earth." But being the finest man in all the earth did not exempt Job from God's standard of absolute holiness - and thus, God's confrontation with Satan ensued...

Even after the first test of "losing everything" Job maintained his integrity inadvertently proving Satan wrong in what he (Satan) said to God:

But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” [Job 1.11] 

After losing everything he had, and contrary to what Satan predicted, Job said: 

“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” [Job 1.21] 

Then, it looked like Satan was wrong again in his prediction about Job's second test ...at least initially. Satan said:

But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!” [Job 2.5] 

 Although Job's wife was no help, Job, at first, still retained his integrity:

But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. [Job 2.10]

And then, Job's friends showed up... 

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. [Job 2.13]

It would seem all was good (as far as Job's integrity) up to this point. And then...

At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth. [Job 3.1]

We must understand that Job did not experience a change of character here. He simply finally revealed what God knew all along about his heart - it was fallen - it was broken - it was idolatrous and therefore embittered against God, tracing back to the Garden of Eden where Satan first planted that seed of doubt, "has God really said...?" provoking man to sin through entitlement.

What followed Job's losing everything he had and losing precious health was not "giving up his own way" and was not "taking up his cross" but instead, a torrent of self-focused diatribe against God revealing his fallen entitlement-riddled heart. He finally spoke from the abundance of his fallen heart (Matthew 12.34). And, whether he actually realized it or not when he said it, Job spoke God's honest truth in Job 9.20:

Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked. [Job 9.20] 

Having taken from Jesus' words above...

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

...it should be pointed out in contrast that on His cross, Jesus said very little. But, a couple things He said revealed an entirely different heart. Consider the following:

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. [Luke 23.34] 

And, as God With Us, Jesus asked God a question while on the Cross, not to get an answer, but to reveal a truth:

At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” [Matthew 27.46] 

The Truth revealed in Jesus' question above is best seen in yet other words Jesus' said from the Cross:

When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. [John 19.30] 

Having given up His own way, and taken up His Cross, Jesus revealed Himself: the only way to salvation.

Job's story foretells Jesus on the Cross except in one point: Jesus never doubted. Job's story reveals the battle in every man's heart that every man must acknowledge and overcome: doubt of God evidenced by idolatrous entitlement to possessions and life. This battle is found and won only in Jesus. 

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

This victory only comes when humans answer Satan's entitlement-provoking question planted deep in their hearts, "Has God really said...?" with the Word (the Way, the Truth, and the Life - Jesus), Who is our "yes" and "amen." We answer this question every day by following Jesus and Him alone.

Indeed a LOT is said in Job's story. Our task is, by understanding all of God's Word, to understand how it all fits together in Job's story - in our story. Job's story is indeed our story... unless of course, Jesus has changed our story!

What is said here should provoke us to deep contemplation about our lives and circumstances. I know it is doing just that in me. I am not much liking the entitlement to possessions and life I see in Job - in me... I don't like that entitlement I hear coming from my mouth (ultimately from my heart). Jesus' words will never lose their potency in calling us out of our idolatrous entitlement to possessions and life:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Will we answer that call? Will we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus? Has Jesus changed our story? Do our actions and our words confirm that?

Father, I feel like there are so many ideas presented in this article. So much has been "said" (just like in Job's story). Help me to methodically and faithfully sort it all out as Your Holy Spirit reminds me of Your Word - of Jesus. So be it.

What We Complain About Reveals Where Our Affections Lie

I cannot keep from speaking. I must express my anguish. My bitter soul must complain. [Job 7.11] 

Why could Job not keep from speaking?

Why was Job compelled to express his anguish?

Why did Job feel his bitter soul must complain?

There is a reason... But first, we must understand, as Job eventually confessed, that Job's speaking, expressing and complaining are the very things that revealed his indiscretion:

Then Job replied to the LORD, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.” [Job 40.3-5]

Job's repentance was for all he had spoken, expressed and complained - what he said. But, again, why did Job run his mouth so much necessitating his repentance? Before answering this question, we should first understand that "repent" means to "turn away" - to "turn around" from what is wrong to what is right. It is in this understanding that we are given the answer to why Job couldn't keep his mouth shut.

We looked forward to find that Job eventually repented for what he said, now, let's look back to what happened to inspire Job's verbal torrent. In broad and general terms, Job's loss regarding possessions and life were at the center of his complaint. God's and Satan's background story aside, we are given a clear foretelling of Jesus in the fact that there were two separate tragedies in Job's story: 1) his loss of possessions and 2) his loss of his own health. Possessions have everything to do with man's ways and health has everything to do with physical life. It just so happens that these two things (Job's tragedies) are the very two things Jesus specifically identified that would prevent a person from following Him.

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Job's running-of-the-mouth was the natural response of one whose affections are inappropriately fixed on possessions and life instead of God. Regardless how blessed Job looked and sounded on the outside, his inappropriate affections could only be revealed when his possessions and life were jeopardized. 

The "backstory" of God's and Satan's exchange in Job's plight revealed that Satan had no idea what was in Job's heart while God obviously did (Jeremiah 17.9-10). God's "upright" description of Job to Satan was based on Satan's perception of Job, not God's (otherwise, Job would not have been found in need of repentance).

Possessions and life are the driving forces behind idolatry. Possessions and life are at the selfish core of debt, insurance, medicine and technology - all idols of man's design. Unironically, possessions and life must be forsaken and abandoned in order to follow Jesus.

Job's restoration came only after he forsook and abandoned (repented for) his affection, previously manifested in his verbal tirades, for possessions and life. Only after Job repented of his idolatrous selfishness revealed in what he said did he realize what Jesus would later describe in Matthew 6:

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6.25-34]

If our affections are not singularly upon God alone, we find ourselves, like Job, in need of repentance.

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7] 

What we complain about reveals where our affections lie. 

Father, I am indicted here more than anyone I know. Will You find me repentant for my selfish idolatry? I genuinely want that to be the case - I want my words, my disposition and my actions to all reveal my affection only for You. So be it.

The Tragedy Of Following Christ

But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. [Job 2.10] 

The reply above was made following a second wave of disaster in which Job was afflicted in his body. Job's wife had just encouraged him to curse God and die. 

Then, Job's friends showed up with an emotional seven-day show of mourning and grief... after which the Word of God indicates Job had a change of attitude:

At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth. [Job 3.1]

What followed Job 3.1 is a torrent of nasty things Job said about being born. We must see and understand that what Job said after his friends' week-long pity party (Job 3.3-26) is a significant digression from what Job said earlier about being born: 

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. [Job 1.20-22]

Even though Job is well-documented of having said nothing wrong up to the point of his friends' visit, we have no such Biblical confirmation after his friends' seven-day mourning party (to which Job responded by cursing the day of his birth). In fact, for Job to curse the day of his birth was to curse God Who gave him life! 

When God finally gets a word in, He calls Job to reckoning specifically about what he had been saying:

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? [Job 38.1-2]

To think that God did not know what lay dormant in Job's heart before the two waves of tragedy is ludicrous.

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” [Jeremiah 17.9-10]

After God's two-chapter rant against Job (Job 38-39), Job has another change of attitude:

Then Job replied to the LORD, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.” [Job 40.3-5]

Job's repentance is then followed by another two chapters (Job 40-41) of God rebuking Job (do you think Job might have touched a nerve??).

Now, anyone who is familiar with my writing knows that what is written here is simply "more of the same" from years gone by. But in this article I want to make an association never before seen or mentioned by me...

Should we wonder why there were two waves of tragedy that struck Job? Would not one good wipe out of everything have sufficed? Yes, in fact it would have... But! The distinction between the two waves of tragedy upon Job's life points us to Christ. How?

Everything Job owned and lost in the first tragedy, including his children, can be summed up as Job's belongings, Job's welfare, Job's ways... In contrast, everything Job lost in the second tragedy had to do with his personal physical life.

Jesus succinctly mentioned a man's ways and his life in the following:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

To misunderstand the tragedy of Job is to misunderstand the tragedy of following Christ.

Job, at first, righteously embraced his tragedies yielding to God's control of everything. But then, following his wife's and his friends' bad advice, Job complained, Job revolted, and in that pride, Job sinned. But in the end, Job repented and was restored.

Jesus calls us to embrace the same tragedies Job faced. We must give up our own way (everything that is "ours"), take up our cross (everything that is "life"), and follow Him. Complaining and revolting (proud sin) against this tragedy in our life prevents us from being a "follower of Christ." Only in repentance for our selfish pride of ownership and life will we ever realize Kingdom-living as Jesus described in Matthew 6:

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6.25-34]

Only in following Jesus can we, as did Job, righteously say, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” and “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” This is in fact what giving up our own way and taking up our cross sounds (and looks) like.

Any and everything designed to preserve our belongings and our life should be suspect for idolatry.

Father, here today I see the battle between idolatry and following Christ. And here I see it in the book of Job. Your Word is amazing and I am grateful for it. May I find the strength of Your Holy Spirit accompanying Your Word as I engage in this battle today myself and encourage others likewise. So be it.

Whose Slave Am I Really?

After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s burial. But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said. So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them. [Genesis 50.14-21] 

If they were going to lie about what Jacob really said, why did Joseph's brothers not say that Joseph was to release them? Why did they submit themselves as slaves to Joseph?

With only a little consideration, we can see Jesus Christ presented in this story! However, we may not see Jesus the way we would wish to see Him...

First, Joseph did not force his brothers come and repent. They had sense enough to discern their vulnerability even in the midst of all the good that Egypt had been to them, recognizing the authority of their brother, Joseph.

So it is with Jesus Christ: He does not force anyone to come and bow before Him in slave-like submission. However, He has given His Word as sufficient evidence of His intentions and it is up to us to acknowledge His authority by presenting ourselves as slaves to Him.

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

The world and its religion both present a plethora of lies about God. The stories may sound good, but in the end, only full submission to Jesus Christ is the way to forgiveness, healing, and salvation. "Full submission" is the hard part though... A slave cannot have two masters... It was ONLY after Joseph's brothers genuinely asked forgiveness submitting fully (as slaves) to Joseph that Joseph reminded them of his character and therefore his intentions and blessings.

Joseph's brothers DID NOT come to Joseph and say, "IF you will bless us and be good to us, THEN we will be your slaves." Yet, sadly, this is exactly how most people approach Jesus Christ today. This is proven every time someone "gets mad at" or "questions" God - they effectively prove they expected something first before they owed God anything. We must keep the "slavery" idea front and center! We must keep Jesus' words as our only marching orders:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

There is a strong presence in the world today that has convinced its people that blessings must precede obedience. People go to Church, sit and listen to all that is said, but their only real concern is what's in it for them. This is, in fact, the only reason we have (and continually strive for) such elaborate buildings and services... elaborate not for God's glory, but in comfort to men. If people don't feel the Spirit, get healed, get their needs met, or enjoy the music, they are dissatisfied. A true slave would never even begin to consider such entitlement. Joseph's brothers approached him with no expectation except that they might live as slaves.

The "strong presence" mentioned in the previous paragraph is Satan and his ways. His ways are the ways of the world. Satan's ways are the ways of idolatry. Satan's ways of idolatry ALWAYS put man's needs above servitude to God. Any blessing from God becomes an idol when the blessing is prioritized above God Who gave it. Does God wish to provide for, protect, heal, and pamper His children? Of course He does! But when those benefits take precedence over God Who gives them, they have effectively become idols and nothing could more please Satan. 

How do God's people know that blessings have taken precedence over God Who gives them? When they pay for those blessings in binding, recurring fashion. No slave can make such a commitment except to his rightful owner.

Joseph's brothers' approach to Joseph is the only way we can approach Jesus.

Jesus said:

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6.25-34]

And yet, "Jesus followers" everywhere make (and are in) binding commitments to idols for the very blessings Jesus said not to worry about... Whose slave are they really? 

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Whose slave am I really?

Father, the reality of unchecked idolatry all around us is a staggering revelation only You can reveal. May You, through Your Word, Jesus, open our eyes and ears to the truth of whose slave we and Whose slave we should be. So be it.

Beware Of Need And Emotion

The news soon reached Pharaoh’s palace: “Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his officials were all delighted to hear this. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan. Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt to carry your little children and your wives, and bring your father here. Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” [Genesis 45.16-20] 

As I read today's entire One Year Chronological Bible reading, a "big picture" was obvious confirming how God accomplishes His will while still working with man. Where I am coming from on this day has everything to do with my previous article from the day before, January 16, 2025, Still A Slave.

If we simply back away from the sub-stories of this event and look at it as a whole, there is a terrible trap being laid for Israel. That trap is slavery and bondage. And, as should be expected when the trap of slavery and bondage is set, idolatry is the bait.

Idolatry is trusting in man for things God promised.

How far back do we need to go to understand that God promised to make a great nation of Israel? Certainly back further than Joseph. Certainly back further than Jacob. God's promise to make a great nation was originally made to Abraham.

I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. [Genesis 12.2]

Again, we must "back away" to see what is taking place in today's OYCB reading. The subject passage above is the beginning of the trap of slavery being set even though it seems like a marvelous example of family restoration. In a movie setting, this would be the place where tears might flow. Emotions are high and, instead of sticking with Abraham's mantra, "Israel" chose to allow Egypt to be their supply.

The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.” Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ [Genesis 14.21-23] 

The rest is documented Bible history.

But wait! Didn't God give Jacob the okay to go to Egypt? Indeed He did... but we must not overlook an important fact in that matter!

So Jacob set out for Egypt with all his possessions. And when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac. During the night God spoke to him in a vision. “Jacob! Jacob!” he called. “Here I am,” Jacob replied. “I am God, the God of your father,” the voice said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation. I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. You will die in Egypt, but Joseph will be with you to close your eyes.” [Genesis 46.1-4] 

In the emotion of his sons' report that "Jacob is still alive!" Jacob set out for Egypt and, only after having set out, heard from God on the matter. Say it isn't so, but it is right there in Genesis 46.1-4!

So, now we have two major factors weighing in on Israel's decision to go to Egypt: 1) need, and 2) emotion. Need and emotion are pivotal to idolatry. (There could possibly be a third factor in this decision if we consider that God had perhaps not yet allowed the sons of Israel to experience the just reward of their sin against Joseph...) Nevertheless, God reiterated the "great nation" promise to Jacob (Israel), but with modifications (allowing the freewill of man to run its idolatrous course in Egypt...).

We actually witness the freewill of man running its course in at least one other story of the Bible: in Balaam's tragedy. God was not endorsing man's disobedience, but maintaining His Promise in spite of man's disobedience!

And here is where an important New Testament scripture should speak to us...

“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. [Acts 17.30]

In Acts 17.30, the Apostle Paul is speaking to the leaders (high council) of Athens. The subject of that sermon is nothing less than the subject of idolatry! We should understand that God might indeed have allowed Jacob to go to Egypt - God might have winked at Jacob's emotion (not to mention the need). But, today, in the Light that is Jesus, we have no excuse for following need or emotion... We are to purposefully give up and turn away from (repent for) our ways driven by need and emotion, put those things to death, and follow Jesus:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Paul confirmed the immense gravity of this subject immediately following Acts 17.30:

For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” [Acts 17.31] 

Jesus' demands for persistent and undivided faith, even in situations of need and emotion, are well-documented. There is indeed a day of judgment for the world. Jesus, in a story about persistent faith (the woman and the unjust judge), made clear what that day of reckoning will be about:

I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” [Luke 18.8]

Does God, as some suppose, just chalk it up to our ignorance allowing us to trust in debt, insurance, medicine and technology (man's popular idols today)? Do we dare risk thinking so when Jesus so clearly told us to give up our own way (the ways of man - the ways of idolatry) and to singularly follow Him?

Idolatry is the enemy of the Cross. For this reason, idolatry spans the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Idolatry represents man's misplaced trust that God exclusively and jealously demands for Himself (in the person of God With Us - Jesus).

How did we get here from the story of Joseph? We got here by informed understanding (not ignorance) of idolatry's trap that always leads to slavery ...and ultimately, to hell. Jesus is returning to take to heaven those of His definition of faith. What we call faith (regardless how religious it sounds) is of no value to Him. He, with the jealous blood of His Father flowing in His veins, will determine what is and what is not God-pleasing faith!

Truly, it is time for God's people to repent. That means to "turn away from" their sin and the idolatry that bears it (beginning with idolatry to "self" - ground zero for need and emotion). That means to trust Jesus alone, purposefully giving up the ways of man (our own way to deal with need and emotion), taking up our cross (with no fear of consequence, even to the point of death), and following Jesus ALONE.

Father, Your Word is clear on the matter of our faith. May we have the presence of mind, inspired by Your Holy Spirit, to see and hear what Your Word has always said... May we be found genuinely repentant for our idolatry evidenced by our intentional turning away from it. So be it.

Still A Slave

“I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt. [Genesis 45.3-8] 

Most of us never realize the fact that Joseph was still a slave. Even though he was the manager of all Pharoah's palace and the governor of all Egypt, Joseph was still a slave - a powerful slave, but a slave nonetheless to Egypt.

The key to understanding Joseph is found in his words: So it was God who sent me here, not you! Joseph maintained God as his one and only priority. The circumstances that made Joseph a slave in Egypt did not matter. What mattered is that Joseph did right by God's placement - and, that placement was to preserve the lives of many, albeit from the position of a slave.

I suppose the point of this story could be that Joseph accomplished more for God's will as a slave than most free people ever even dream of accomplishing. His focus was not his circumstances, but on his purpose in the circumstances.

Joseph's story, in a physical sense, revealed Jesus in the spiritual sense. What Joseph accomplished in the physical preservation of life, Jesus accomplished in the eternal preservation of life. Both Joseph and Jesus were resigned to their respective purpose: Joseph to preserve lives by his slavery in Egypt and Jesus to preserve lives by His slavery to the Cross.

Want to hear something even more compelling?

Joseph's family's lives were preserved because they came to Joseph in his slavery in Egypt. Jesus' family's lives are preserved when they come to Him in His slavery on the Cross:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)] 

Jesus was indeed a slave:

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. [Philippians 2.7-8] 

So, it took Joseph becoming a slave to accomplish God's purpose. It took Jesus becoming a slave to accomplish God's purpose. What do you suppose it will take of us to accomplish God's purpose? It has already been stated:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)] 

At the point we realize that our cross is our purpose, nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing else matters. Until then, we are just playing games, albeit idolatrous religious games.

This backdrop gives much more depth to God's 1st Commandment:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.2-3]

Joseph was free in accomplishing God's purpose of preserving physical lives, but he was not free from Egypt. Jesus was free in accomplishing God's purpose of preserving spiritual lives, but He was not free from the Cross. Egypt and the Cross respectively both represent the place of slavery from which true freedom is accomplished. Why? Because only when we realize our bondage, can we appreciate the true freedom of God.

Ok, so let's take this into hyper-deep mode...

Why did God demand "no other gods"? For the same reason He gave the 2nd Commandment:

“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. [Exodus 20.4-6]

True freedom can only be realized when first we recognize our bondage. Idols are our bondage. Idols' only purpose is to enslave God's people. They do so by keeping God's people focused on themselves (instead of God's purpose). They furthermore enslave God's people to debt's interest payments, insurance's premiums, medicine's prescriptions and technology's insatiability for "more and better." All the while, these idols, as if projecting the fact in brilliant LED light, are in violation of "You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind..." The industries of debt, insurance, medicine and technology are all made by man to alternately do for himself what God said He would do for man - mind you, God Who said, "no other gods..."!

Joseph's accomplished purpose for his family through slavery in Egypt was only temporary. Israel still needed to be delivered from Egypt. Jesus' accomplished purpose for His family through slavery to the Cross is eternal. Nothing more needs to be done - on the Cross Jesus said, "It is finished!"

If we can see it, the relief we get from the idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology is likened to Joseph's family's temporary relief found in Egypt. What starts off as relief becomes bondage. That's what idols do.

In contrast, when God's people recognize God as "God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt" only then will they understand God's demand, "You must not have any other god but me." Only then will they understand that Egypt represents idols that enslave. Only then will they understand the progression from the 1st Commandment ("no other gods") to the 2nd Commandment ("no idols"). Only then will they understand how the 3rd Commandment then addresses man's desire to religiously justify his idols by claiming they are from God - misusing the name of God.

Most "Christians" I know today are, like Joseph, still slaves to Egypt. They are slaves to the idols man has made for himself. They are beholding, in some way or another, to debt, insurance, medicine and technology. Jesus however calls us to "no other god" obedience to Himself. The jealousy of His Father flows in His veins. He is repeatedly on record in the Bible of calling His followers to miraculous mountain-moving faith and having scolded them when they relied on their own human reasoning. How can we not see this? The answer is simple: we are gluttonously drunk on the wine of our idols - blinded to the truth of God's Word. And, like the drunks we are, nothing is more repulsive to us than the cold hard bath of truth Jesus laid down as a gantlet:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Idols are mentioned in Genesis and idols are mentioned in Revelation. We are fools to believe slavery to idols is not a real and present danger in our day! We are ALL still slaves! But whose slave are we? Egypt's? Or, God's?

Father, like Jesus, and, at His demand, I wish to give up my own way (slavery to idolatry) take up my cross (slavery to You), and follow Him. I can only rely on the power and strength of Your Holy Spirit to do so... help me. I know I am a slave - but let it be known that I am enslaved only to You. So be it.