January 29 – Genesis 48-50

Today’s reading comes from Genesis 48-50. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word.

Today we close out a second book … Genesis. We have seen God’s hand at work in multiple ways. We experienced creation, destruction through the flood, the scrambling of languages, learned how to cope from calamities through Job, and witnessed the building of a nation through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Genesis closes out on a high note. Jacob blesses his son Joseph and his two boys, he calls all his sons together and showers blessings on them, Jacob is buried with full Egyptian pomp, and Joseph dies understanding the harm his brothers sought was meant by God to save his family and preserve the promise. God has been good to Joseph and his family.

I think there is a good lesson to learn from the blessings Jacob shares with his sons. Reuben had done a detestable thing sleeping with Bilhah Jacob’s concubine. Both Simeon and Levi sinned in murdering the Shechemites after they raped their sister Dinah. We see that there are consequences because of sin. Reuben looses his seat at the table of nations … he will not be counted in the twelve tribes … one of Joseph’s sons occupies his place

Friends there are always consequences for sin. But let me remind you, while there are consequences for sin there is also forgiveness. We might have to spend the rest of our life dealing with the consequences of our sinful actions, but in Christ there will always be forgiveness, and those consequences only last in this life. In Christ we are considered righteous and have the privilege of spending eternity in the presence of God.