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Gen. 48
I wrote last year about the great family shake-up Jacob created in this chapter. He essentially gave Joseph the family birthright by adopting his first two sons and putting them in the place of Reuben and Simeon. However, he split the double portion of the birthright between the two sons. Thus, none of Jacob’s sons actually received a double inheritance. You can look up my prior post – Y3 Day 29 – if you want to read my thoughts as to why Jacob did this. But I am now giving some thought as to the meaning in it for us, as God’s children.
I think maybe this story is a picture of what Paul mentioned in Ephesians 3:6. “…the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel”. Jacob adopted Ephraim and Manasseh as his own because of Joseph, and each received a blessing and a share of the inheritance in the Promised Land. Like Ephraim and Manasseh, we Gentiles are adopted into God’s family, because of Jesus, and thus share in the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is why, before God, “…there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.” (Col. 3:11). Also, as with Ephraim and Manasseh, our adoption took place because of the actions of those who held the original rights.
Luke 1:39-80
When Zacharias regained his voice after John’s birth, he broke out in Spirit-filled praise. The first thing I notice about his prophecy is his use of past tense. He spoke as if God’s promised redemption of His people was already accomplished when, in fact, it had just begun. I don’t know if that was simply the typical way of speaking back in their day, but I find it so appropriate when speaking of God’s work. It emphasizes the truth that when God gives His word, it is as good as done. This is true regardless of how much time passes before we see its fulfillment.
Job 14
I’m not at all sure of Job’s message in this chapter. I get the sense, though, of a search for hope. I can’t tell if Job’s words express it or plea for it, but either way, they offer a picture of redemption. They speak of a time when God will turn away His wrath and cease to consider iniquities. Job also asks a couple more of those questions that only have positive answers in Christ. One is, “Who can make the clean out of the unclean?” (Job 14:4). The other is, “If a man dies, will he live again?” (Job 14:14a). So whatever Job’s intended message in this particular lament, I see the gospel message in it. In fact, I’m starting to see Job’s story as a parable of the gospel. It shows us the hopelessness of our human condition and reveals God as our only source for hope.