World’s Best Isn’t Good Enough

World’s Best Isn’t Good Enough

Genesis 47: ²⁷ So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. ²⁸ And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. ²⁹ When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, ³⁰ but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.”

 

And he said, “I will do as you have said.”

 

³¹ Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.

 

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After living in the land of Egypt for seventeen years, Israel spoke to Joseph. His one request was to be buried outside of Egypt, back in the land of his fathers.

 

My Observations:

• Goshen was the best land Egypt had to offer and the Israelites prospered more than they ever had.
• Israel and Joseph got to spend a great amount of time with each other during the seventeen years he was there.
• Israel saw the ways of the Egyptians and did not want any parts of it, so he made Joseph promise to bury him with Abraham and Isaac.

 

Israel’s request was a strong rejection of the Egyptian ways. Egyptians regarded Pharaoh as a god. They believed in multiple gods and worshiped the sun and even frogs. Israel had spoken to the one and true GOD. I believe he had encountered the preincarnate JESUS.

 

Israel’s desire to be physically buried near his fathers was highly symbolic. He made Joseph place his hand under his thing, similar to Abraham’s oath he made his servant take. This is something Joseph would never forget! Goshen represents wealth and the best. But the world’s best falls short of GOD’s glory.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about Israel making Joseph take an oath?
• Are you pursuing the world’s best, thinking it will save you from your current situation?
• Have you placed a priority of obtaining the world and watching a little piece of your soul go away in the pursuit?

Do The Right Thing

Do The Right Thing

Hebrews 13: ¹⁸ Keep on praying for us. We are sure we have a clear conscience, because we want to do the right thing at all times. ¹⁹ And I beg you even more earnestly to pray that God will send me back to you soon.

 

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Having said the lie, now I had to live with it. Whenever I saw the person, my conscience felt guilty. “Oh great! Now I’ve lied and I have guilt?” How can this be fixed? A thought popped in my head. “Lie again to fix the last lie.”

 

• I was headed down the wrong path.
• I was trying to fix my lies with more lies.
• I was starting to get good at lying versus simply having a clear conscience.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, asked for prayer because he knew they could be tempted to do the wrong thing which would lead to a guilty conscience. He must have been going through something difficult because he asked for prayer twice.

 

My Observations:

• GOD gives me rest when I have a clear conscience.
• GOD lets me sleep when I do not lie to HIM or myself.
• GOD provides peace when I desire to do the right thing.

 

Doing what is right can sometimes be hard. I mean, when I get insecure about what I did or am about to do, I may not want to experience any consequences, so I lie or stretch the truth. The problem with that approach, is I still face consequences and lost sleep in the process.

 

Peace and rest are elusive when I do not do the right thing. I’d rather follow GOD and enjoy peace than to live with hidden secrets and mounting sins. I gladly do the right thing for GOD and could use your prayers to keep going, HIS way.

 

Challenge

• What is “the right thing” the writer speaks about?
• Have you ever done the wrong thing and tried to cover it up?
• Have you gotten so good at covering things up that you now believe in your own lie?
• Will you get some relief from your guilty conscience and confess to GOD that you do not know how to go forward, so HE can step in and guide you to HIS path today?

Soul Matters

Mark 8: ³⁴ When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ³⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? ³⁷ Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

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“What kind of job will I get?” was the only thing on my mind at the time. Seven jobs later I found myself with another question, “What is my purpose?”

• There were times when I thought life meant “How much money can I make?”
• There were times when I thought life was about the insurance carrier I could obtain.
• There were times when I thought life equated to houses, cars and gadgets.

“Now that’s living” were the words in my mind as I lusted after people with lavish lifestyles. BUT GOD broke things down differently.

• JESUS says to me “Take up your cross and follow me daily.”
• JESUS says to me “Your soul is more important to me than the lusts of this world.”
• JESUS says to me “Seek ME without being ashamed of me and I will remember you upon MY return.”

Telling a group that my life matters is noble, BUT GOD tells me “Souls Matter.” HE has a place made for me where the quality of life never diminishes. There is no anger, no guilt, and no shame. HE wants all souls which includes race, gender and other forms of discrimination. HE is excited when I follow HIM and wants others to do the same.

• Are you trying to gain more of the world?
• Do you feel bitter and rage when someone else gets ahead?
• Can you stop trying to become bigger in humans eyes and give your soul back to GOD who created you?