Daily Bible Portion (Monday)
Daily Bible Portion - 2 of 7
"WHEN HE SENT"
(Weekly Reading>>Exodus 13:17-17:16, Judges 5:1-31, John 6:25-35, Revelation 15:1-4)
Joseph represented the firstborn status over his brothers. He inherited this position from his father Jacob, which was confirmed by Yahweh in two dreams before he was sold into Egypt at the age of seventeen. Just before Jacob’s passing, he called for Joseph to confirm again his firstborn status. At the same time he also appointed Ephraim, Joseph’s second born son, firstborn rights over his elder brother Manasseh. The inheritance of the firstborn was so important to Jacob that he usurped Joseph’s authority of appointing his own son and did it for him. Jacob’s blessing his grandson Ephraim over his brother Manasseh was monumental. By doing this he confirmed two generations into the future of firstborn status and made it abundantly clear to all his own sons just how preeminent Joseph was by appointing Ephraim and Manasseh ahead of THEM. To supersede his own sons when bestowing firstborn status made a statement that endorsed Joseph’s position in the family for generations to come and could not be refuted. Jacob indeed named Joseph firstborn and Ephraim firstborn after him. Besides the firstborn receiving a double portion in stature and authority above his brothers, physically Jacob gave Joseph a double portion of land to inherit above his brothers as well.
The other reason Joseph’s bones where commanded to be carried back to the land of Israel was because Joseph’s brothers had tried to kill him (Genesis 37:18). Without his DNA or identity, it could be alleged that Joseph was indeed not alive and that his ancestors no longer existed, even to this day. If this was true and Joseph was not alive as they said, then the selling of Joseph’s land, like they sold Joseph in the past (Genesis 37:28), would be a viable option for peace. The truth is, that peace can only be had by making peace with Yahweh in ones heart first and not by means of making peaceful negotiations with outside foreign nations who are not appointed by Yahweh to inherit His land. Unfortunately very few of the descendants of Joseph’s brothers believe Joseph is alive today. The oath Joseph made his brothers swear to return him to the land generations ago is still valid today (Genesis 50: 24-25). According to Scripture the West Bank in Israel is Joseph’s land. The fact is, today, Joseph’s descendants are ready to return but before they can there are a few in house family affairs to clear up first. It is interesting to note, that it is not outsiders who are hindering Joseph’s return but it is his blood brothers who live in the land today. The firstborn will return. We must believe Yahweh is faithful to His Covenant promises and that not one tribe will be left behind or left out. All twelve tribes will return to live in their Yahweh-appointed lands as it is written. Thus, through Moses, Joseph’s bones were carried out (Genesis chapter 48; Genesis 50:25; Joshua 24:32; 1 Chronicles 5:2; John 4:5; John 5:46-47; Ezekiel 47:13-48:35).
Joseph was also a type and shadow of the Messiah. Yeshua said, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.” That is why Moses carried Joseph’s bones with him when he left Egypt, as they would have enormous bearing on future generations to come.
The Journey Through the Wilderness Continues
The Israelites left Succoth and on the second day of their journey camped at Etham. Archaeologists feel Etham was a region around the top of the right fork of the Red Sea at the edge of the desert.
When we feel alone or lonely as in a wilderness experience or feel we just have no direction, we need to remember the Exodus. A pillar of cloud guided the Children of Israel by day, and a pillar of fire to give them light by night. We are never alone or without direction when Yeshua, the Light of the world, is in our hearts.
Turn Back?
(Exodus 14:2)
Fleeing Pharaoh’s mighty army and carrying off the plunder of Egypt was an intense experience, but for Yahweh to ask the Israelites to turn back and encamp by the sea must have seemed like the most perilous thing to do during this critical time in their leaving. Yet that is just what Yahweh asked the Israelites to do. The command was to turn back. Though the Israelites did not know that Yahweh was setting an ambush for Pharaoh’s army at the time, they obeyed His directive. When the Israelites saw the Egyptians approach in full armored regalia, sheer terror overcame them. Instead of looking to Yahweh for help, they brought judgment upon Moses. The fear in their hearts deceived them, envisioning Moses’ plan as suicidal.
In spite of the ever-present cloud and fire cover of Yahweh, the Israelites still could not acknowledge His physical covering over them. Since fear had overtaken their hearts they were unable to understand the value and significance of Yahweh’s plan at that time (Isaiah 35).
How many of us have left Yahweh when the pressure began to mount or made decisions for our lives without the thought that maybe the challenge we faced had materialized in our lives in order to bring about our deliverance? How many of us, after everything has been done, stand firm on Yahweh’s Covenant in extreme situations and wait upon His Faithfulness for our deliverance? In the face of the Israelites’ grumbling, Moses encouraged the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever” (Exodus 14:13. Isaiah 12:2; Psalm 118:14).
The word for salvation in Hebrew is Yeshua (Strong’s H3444). Yeshua is the Deliverer, the Deliverance and the Power of Yahweh. What Moses was saying to the people was, “Stand still and see Yeshua deliver His people…today!”
continues tomorrow...
"WHEN HE SENT"
(Weekly Reading>>Exodus 13:17-17:16, Judges 5:1-31, John 6:25-35, Revelation 15:1-4)
Joseph represented the firstborn status over his brothers. He inherited this position from his father Jacob, which was confirmed by Yahweh in two dreams before he was sold into Egypt at the age of seventeen. Just before Jacob’s passing, he called for Joseph to confirm again his firstborn status. At the same time he also appointed Ephraim, Joseph’s second born son, firstborn rights over his elder brother Manasseh. The inheritance of the firstborn was so important to Jacob that he usurped Joseph’s authority of appointing his own son and did it for him. Jacob’s blessing his grandson Ephraim over his brother Manasseh was monumental. By doing this he confirmed two generations into the future of firstborn status and made it abundantly clear to all his own sons just how preeminent Joseph was by appointing Ephraim and Manasseh ahead of THEM. To supersede his own sons when bestowing firstborn status made a statement that endorsed Joseph’s position in the family for generations to come and could not be refuted. Jacob indeed named Joseph firstborn and Ephraim firstborn after him. Besides the firstborn receiving a double portion in stature and authority above his brothers, physically Jacob gave Joseph a double portion of land to inherit above his brothers as well.
The other reason Joseph’s bones where commanded to be carried back to the land of Israel was because Joseph’s brothers had tried to kill him (Genesis 37:18). Without his DNA or identity, it could be alleged that Joseph was indeed not alive and that his ancestors no longer existed, even to this day. If this was true and Joseph was not alive as they said, then the selling of Joseph’s land, like they sold Joseph in the past (Genesis 37:28), would be a viable option for peace. The truth is, that peace can only be had by making peace with Yahweh in ones heart first and not by means of making peaceful negotiations with outside foreign nations who are not appointed by Yahweh to inherit His land. Unfortunately very few of the descendants of Joseph’s brothers believe Joseph is alive today. The oath Joseph made his brothers swear to return him to the land generations ago is still valid today (Genesis 50: 24-25). According to Scripture the West Bank in Israel is Joseph’s land. The fact is, today, Joseph’s descendants are ready to return but before they can there are a few in house family affairs to clear up first. It is interesting to note, that it is not outsiders who are hindering Joseph’s return but it is his blood brothers who live in the land today. The firstborn will return. We must believe Yahweh is faithful to His Covenant promises and that not one tribe will be left behind or left out. All twelve tribes will return to live in their Yahweh-appointed lands as it is written. Thus, through Moses, Joseph’s bones were carried out (Genesis chapter 48; Genesis 50:25; Joshua 24:32; 1 Chronicles 5:2; John 4:5; John 5:46-47; Ezekiel 47:13-48:35).
Joseph was also a type and shadow of the Messiah. Yeshua said, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.” That is why Moses carried Joseph’s bones with him when he left Egypt, as they would have enormous bearing on future generations to come.
The Journey Through the Wilderness Continues
The Israelites left Succoth and on the second day of their journey camped at Etham. Archaeologists feel Etham was a region around the top of the right fork of the Red Sea at the edge of the desert.
Exodus 13:21-22 “By day Yahweh went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”
When we feel alone or lonely as in a wilderness experience or feel we just have no direction, we need to remember the Exodus. A pillar of cloud guided the Children of Israel by day, and a pillar of fire to give them light by night. We are never alone or without direction when Yeshua, the Light of the world, is in our hearts.
John 8:12 When Yeshua spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Turn Back?
(Exodus 14:2)
Fleeing Pharaoh’s mighty army and carrying off the plunder of Egypt was an intense experience, but for Yahweh to ask the Israelites to turn back and encamp by the sea must have seemed like the most perilous thing to do during this critical time in their leaving. Yet that is just what Yahweh asked the Israelites to do. The command was to turn back. Though the Israelites did not know that Yahweh was setting an ambush for Pharaoh’s army at the time, they obeyed His directive. When the Israelites saw the Egyptians approach in full armored regalia, sheer terror overcame them. Instead of looking to Yahweh for help, they brought judgment upon Moses. The fear in their hearts deceived them, envisioning Moses’ plan as suicidal.
In spite of the ever-present cloud and fire cover of Yahweh, the Israelites still could not acknowledge His physical covering over them. Since fear had overtaken their hearts they were unable to understand the value and significance of Yahweh’s plan at that time (Isaiah 35).
How many of us have left Yahweh when the pressure began to mount or made decisions for our lives without the thought that maybe the challenge we faced had materialized in our lives in order to bring about our deliverance? How many of us, after everything has been done, stand firm on Yahweh’s Covenant in extreme situations and wait upon His Faithfulness for our deliverance? In the face of the Israelites’ grumbling, Moses encouraged the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever” (Exodus 14:13. Isaiah 12:2; Psalm 118:14).
The word for salvation in Hebrew is Yeshua (Strong’s H3444). Yeshua is the Deliverer, the Deliverance and the Power of Yahweh. What Moses was saying to the people was, “Stand still and see Yeshua deliver His people…today!”
continues tomorrow...