Led by GOD

Led by GOD

Exodus 13: ¹⁷ Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸ So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

 

¹⁹ And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.”

 

²⁰ So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. ²¹ And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. ²² He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

 

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After Pharaoh finally agreed to let the people go, GOD led them out in the wilderness. HE avoided the land of the Philistines and took the people through the wilderness. Joseph’s bones were taken with them. GOD appeared as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of cloud by night.

 

My Observations:

• GOD needed to lead the people away from danger so their hearts would not yearn for Egypt.
• Joseph never accepted the Egyptian ways and wanted his bones to be moved to disassociate himself fully from them for all times.
• GOD made sure the children of Israel could see HIM day and night.

 

It was important to GOD for the people to give up the Egyptian ways. For four hundred thirty years, a slavery mindset grew solidly within the children of Israel. They had no idea what freedom looked like. GOD led the people away from the place Abraham stopped off.

 

Abraham and Isaac stayed in the land of the Philistines for a while. This was a battle-driven group of people who could care less about GOD’s ways. Strangely, GOD led the people by way of the Red Sea. HE knew this was a dead end. GOD was also dealing with the mindset of HIS people who did not believe in HIS power. HE did all of this to keep HIS promise of providing a Savior. But the people did not know this.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about how HE went in front of the people to lead the way?
• Are you in a period of your life where all you have is questions for GOD?
• Is GOD preparing you for a tremendous blessing by taking you through the wilderness?

Israel’s Prophecy for Simeon and Levi

Israel’s Prophecy for Simeon and Levi

Genesis 49: ⁵ “Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Instruments of ^[cruelty are in their dwelling place.
⁶ Let not my soul enter their council;
Let not my honor be united to their assembly;
For in their anger they slew a man,
And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
⁷ Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
And their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide them in Jacob
And scatter them in Israel.

 

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Furious at their sister’s assault, Simeon and Levi decided to take matters in their own hands. They killed the man who violated their sister. They tricked the men of the town to get circumcised and in their pain, they murdered them. Jacob did not forget that Simeon and Levi could have put the family in extreme danger.

 

My Observations:

• Rage was addressed by Jacob because all their lives, Simeon and Levi would immediately go to emotions that would cause people harm.
• Cruelty was addressed by Jacob because they used excessive force to deal with their issues.
• Anger was addressed by Jacob, otherwise known as Israel, as he spoke to them as his father and as the tribal nation GOD promised.

 

Simeon’s tribe would eventually shrink in power. The Levites would not inherit land, but be “scattered” in Israel as prophesied. These men were now older and had acted on their internal rage for decades.

 

It was no surprise to anyone that Jacob gave this prophecy about these two sons. Simeon was thrown in jail by Joseph, skipping Reuben who was the oldest. Joseph may have seen Simeone’s rage when he made his choice. Our emotions can make us do and say things that are not well thought out, just like Simeon and Levi. BUT GOD blessed them anyway.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Jacob’s dislike of his son’s rage?
• Is rage an emotion that causes you to act without thinking?
• Can you look at rage as your enemy and tame it with GOD’s love, peace and joy?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, please guide this reader away from extreme emotional decisions and place YOUR love, joy and peace inside. It does not matter how old he or she is, or what emotional decisions they have made. What matters is that we bow to YOUR grace and mercy. amen

Purposeful Custody

Purposeful Custody

Genesis 40: It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. ² And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. ³ So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. ⁴ And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

 

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After Joseph was thrown in prison, Pharoah decided that a couple of his leaders needed to be incarcerated.  He threw the chief butler and the chief baker in jail. They were place in custody under Joseph.

 

My Observations:

• The Egyptian leaders worked together to display their harsh, cruel power over servants.
• Joseph did not expect that he would be placed over the chief butler and the chief baker.
• GOD used Pharoah’s cruelty to set Joseph up for HIS success.

 

Joseph was given a dream by GOD and it seemed to get him in trouble. BUT JESUS was with him. His prison sentence was used by GOD for a better purpose. Eventually we will see that the butler and baker will have dreams given from GOD.

 

Joseph will be in the right place at the right time to interpret the dreams. All three men experienced imprisonment under the Egyptian rule. They could not change their circumstances by any effort of their own. They were trapped without a date for freedom. BUT GOD was there.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD point out to Moses that shortly after Joseph was put in prison, the butler and baker were placed there as well?
• Do you believe there are no coincidences with GOD?
• Do you believe GOD has you in the situation you are in for HIS supernatural purpose?