Blog Archives - Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church

February 1, 2017

1/31/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Moving into the month of February brings us into the exodus of Israel out of Egypt and their wanderings in the wilderness as they head toward the Promised Land. Included you will read of the Mosaic Law delivered from Mt. Sinai. A lot of rich and rewarding events happened in Israel's travels. May you learn much as you continue to read. Don't give up!

Exodus 7 - Moses and Aaron renew their confrontation of Pharaoh. Aaron's rod is cast down to become a snake and eats the rods of the magicians. He causes the Nile River and all streams to become blood. Pharaoh's heart is hardened. This begins God's attack against the gods/idols of Egypt by showing His power over them.

Exodus 8 - The next plague is frogs covering the land. Though Pharaoh pleads for relief, he doesn't soften his heart. The gnats swarm the land and Pharaoh's magicians can't repeat that! Pharaoh remained stubborn. The next plague are the flies. With this judgment God makes clear that the Israelites will not be affected. Pharaoh tries to get Moses to agree to have their worship within Egypt.

Exodus 9 - Now God attacks Egypt's livestock and then boils break out on people. The Lord hardens Pharaoh's heart. After this the Lord sends hail upon the land. Once again Pharaoh promises release of the people if God stops the plagues. When God stops the hail Pharaoh refuses to keep his promise.

January 31, 2017

1/30/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Exodus 4 - Moses argues with God about sending him to speak to Pharaoh. God reminds Moses that He made man able to speak. God said Aaron would be the mouthpiece for Moses. When asked for His name, God said, "I AM that I AM."

Exodus 5 - Moses and Aaron appear before Pharaoh and tell him to let Israel go. Pharaoh not only rejects their demand but he also adds to Israel's affliction causing even greater pain for the people. The Israelites then complain to Moses for his interference and Moses complains to God. Moses was made to realize it wasn't his strength or authority that would change Pharaoh's heart, it would have to be God's.

Exodus 6 - God tells Moses, that He, God, would show what He can do. Moses would learn to rely upon God. Moses is told to go back to Pharaoh even though Moses said the people of Israel wouldn't even listen to him. The ancestry of Aaron and Moses is revealed in this chapter.

January 30, 2017

1/29/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

We now come to the Book of Exodus which details the delivery of Israel out of Egypt.

Exodus 1 - The Israelite nation is seen growing in this chapter but soon their growth brought groaning. God was fulfilling His promise to make Israel a nation of a multitude but in Egypt their size was a threat to the Egyptians. They were forced into servitude and suffered harsh abuse.

Exodus 2 - A Hebrew child was born and by three months his mother hid him in the bulrushes along the Nile River. He was found by Pharaoh's daughter and she promptly called him, Moses. His mother was able to nurse him but he would grow up in Pharaoh's court. Moses cared for his people and killed an Egyptian who was beating an Israelite. This forced him to flee to Midian where he married. God saw how harshly Israel was treated.

Exodus 3 - While Moses was caring for sheep he saw a "burning bush" and went to investigate. He would encounter the God of Israel who called him to deliver his people from Pharaoh. God revealed Himself to Moses as "I AM."

January 29, 2017

1/28/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Genesis 48 - Jacob gives his blessing on Joseph's children and claims them as his own. He puts the younger, Ephraim, before the older, Manasseh. God has always made sure the right person is placed in the position of leadership and authority.

Genesis 49 - Jacob then gives his blessing/assessment on his twelve sons, rebuking Reuben for his immoral behavior and raising Judah to the most important of his sons. The promised Messiah would come from Judah's line.

Genesis 50 - Jacob dies and Joseph fulfills his wishes to be buried back in Canaan. The brothers fear Joseph's reprisal but he offers them total forgiveness. Joseph dies and the last words of Genesis are: "...he was put in a coffin in Egypt."

January 28, 2017

1/26/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Genesis 46 - God assured Jacob that his family would go to Egypt; God would be with them; He would make his family into a great nation; and, bring them back again. There is a list of those who went. And the chapter ends with the joyful/tearful reunion of Joseph with his father.

Genesis 47 - Jacob's family is honored before Pharaoh. They are given the land of Goshen to live in, and Jacob blesses Pharaoh and his household. Meanwhile, Joseph purchases the land of Egypt for Pharaoh to allow the people to have food to stay alive. Jacob asks Joseph to promise to bring his body back to Canaan to be buried.

January 27, 2017

1/25/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Genesis 43 - With the continued famine Jacob agrees to send his sons, including Benjamin, back to Egypt after Judah assures Benjamin's safety. Joseph is overcome with emotion as he sees Benjamin again. All the brothers have dinner with Joseph and seek to return to Israel.

Genesis 44 - Joseph sets a trap for his brothers. After the brothers face the possibility of "losing" another younger brother to Egypt they now begin to see the anguish Joseph had when he was taken from them. Judah volunteers to be Benjamin's substitute and gives an impassioned plea on behalf of Benjamin and Jacob.

Genesis 45 - Joseph can no longer control his emotions and he reveals himself to his brothers. He makes clear that he could see "God's Good" in spite of "their evil" intentions. He offers them life in Egypt with all their needs met and sends them back to get Jacob and their families and flocks. Jacob is stunned with the news and agrees to move to Egypt.

January 26, 2017

1/25/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Genesis 41 - From prison to throne in one day! That's the picture you get in this chapter. Joseph had spent two years in prison serving the chief warden. In the meantime, Pharaoh has two disturbing dreams which cause the cupbearer to remember the gift of interpretation that Joseph had. Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams and suggests a practical way to face the coming famine. Joseph is chosen to become the second in command throughout Egypt. His "forgetting" the past meant he was "not holding the past against his brothers." Biblical forgiveness, by the way!

Genesis 42 - The famine spread throughout the lands surrounding Egypt. Jacob heard that food could be purchased and he sent his ten older sons to buy some, purposely leaving Benjamin home lest any misfortune should happen to him. When the brothers arrived in Egypt Joseph immediately knew who they were. He treated them roughly, giving them just a little taste of what he went through. But he also put them to the test when he kept Simeon behind and threatened them with no more food without their youngest brother coming with them. Joseph knew this was the time to bring about the much needed reconciliation his family had to experience.

January 25, 2017

1/24/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

As you're reading these chapters which cover the account of Joseph and his experience in Egypt, remember that Paul told us in 1 Corinthians that the Old Testament was written for our instruction.

Genesis 38 - God's hand on the genealogy of Christ is seen by not allowing any Canaanite to be a part of it. It's sad to see both Tamar and Judah lower themselves to such moral depths, but the offspring of this incest was still used of God to connect the line of Abraham to Christ.

Genesis 39 - Joseph is seen in such contrast to Judah of chapter 38. Though tempted to sin Joseph was willing to suffer imprisonment rather than offend his God.

Genesis 40 - You never know who the Lord will bring into your life nor the impact an experience in one place will play a huge roll in another place. Joseph met the cupbearer and the chief baker of Pharaoh in prison. He would interpret their dreams and his prophecy would be fulfilled. Though the cupbearer did not remember Joseph to seek his release he would eventually be used to bring Joseph before Pharaoh.

January 24, 2017

1/23/2017

Insights for Today's Reading

Genesis 35 - God had a plan for Jacob and told him where to settle. Jacob went back to Bethel where he first met God. He had his family dispose of their idols. God put a hedge of protection around Jacob and caused the people in the land to leave Jacob alone. Jacob would suffer the loss of Rebekah's nurse, Deborah, his own father, Isaac, and his beloved wife, Rachel. But he would see Benjamin, his twelfth son, born. God would remind Jacob of his name being changed to Israel.

Genesis 36 - This chapter gives Esau's descendants and declares that Esau is the founder of the nation of Edom. The Edomites would become enemies to the Israelites.

Genesis 37 - Jacob's family isn't necessarily a Godly bunch of men! Jacob favors Joseph causing his other sons to resent him, especially after he has dreams of his supremacy over them. They hatch a plot to get rid of Joseph and sell him to slave traders, who in turn take Joseph to Egypt where he is sold to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh's guard. You can't miss seeing God's hand in preparing Joseph for a very special position. Noteworthy is that Jacob had deceived his father, now his sons deceive him.

January 23, 2017

1/22/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Genesis 32 - Jacob prepares to meet Esau by preparing and sending gifts to him. Jacob prays and God answers with a physical encounter that secures Jacob's need for God in his life. Jacob had to have his hip out of joint in order to learn to lean on his God. God calls Jacob by a new name: Israel.

Genesis 33 - Esau meets Jacob with compassion and love. This may have been Esau's desire from the start and he didn't need Jacob's gifts to pacify him. Jacob insists that Esau keep the gifts and then asks Esau to let him move at his own pace.

Genesis 34 - Jacob and his family settle near Shechem. Dinah is raped and Jacob's family, especially Simeon and Levi, respond with a violent attack. Jacob is brought low and must now trust God for His protection.