January 17, 2006 - Genesis 41-42 and Matthew 12:1-23
David remained faithful to God through 13 years of slavery and prison. He was away from his family, and alone in a strange land. However, when God opened up the opportunity to interpret Pharaoh's dream, Joseph responded in faith, giving all the glory to God. He was promoted to the second in command in Egypt, and he managed the food supply for the good years and the famine. God used him to save the world from starvation. All of this is fantastic, but remember the 13 years of suffering. I pray that we are all willing to wait on the Lord like Joseph was. I pray that we allow God to exalt us, instead of exalting ourselves. I pray that we give Him all of the credit for our lives.
Then, when David saw his brothers, he had no anger or disdain for their lies and hate filled hearts. He wanted to help them. He wanted to be reconciled with his family. He did not retaliate in any way. How could this happen? Joseph's heart was right. When we have the love of God in us, we will not want revenge. We will not want to hurt people. We will only want to help them, even when they have been cruel to us. This is so different from what the world says, but it is God's way. When we live this way, those around us can see Jesus in us.
Matthew 12 highlights the gentleness of Jesus. He was trying to show the Pharisees that He was Lord of the Sabbath, so whatever He said could be done on the Sabbath was alright. However, they wanted to kill Him for breaking man's law, the Oral Traditions of the Law. Jesus was not breaking God's Word at all. He could have confronted them and even killed them, but He did not. He withdrew with the multitudes who wanted to hear Him. (v.15) Then, there is a quote from Isaiah 42:1-4 which describes Jesus, the Messiah. He would not break a bruised reed or put out a smoking flax. Both of these are ways of saying that Jesus was gentle. He did not destroy something or someone, just because it was not perfect. In fact, Jesus loved the Gentiles. How sinful they were in the eyes of the Jews! However, Jesus saw the potential in people, and He gently nurtured them to do God's will and to be blessed. I pray that we will be known for our gentleness, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 43-45 and Matthew 12:24-50.
Then, when David saw his brothers, he had no anger or disdain for their lies and hate filled hearts. He wanted to help them. He wanted to be reconciled with his family. He did not retaliate in any way. How could this happen? Joseph's heart was right. When we have the love of God in us, we will not want revenge. We will not want to hurt people. We will only want to help them, even when they have been cruel to us. This is so different from what the world says, but it is God's way. When we live this way, those around us can see Jesus in us.
Matthew 12 highlights the gentleness of Jesus. He was trying to show the Pharisees that He was Lord of the Sabbath, so whatever He said could be done on the Sabbath was alright. However, they wanted to kill Him for breaking man's law, the Oral Traditions of the Law. Jesus was not breaking God's Word at all. He could have confronted them and even killed them, but He did not. He withdrew with the multitudes who wanted to hear Him. (v.15) Then, there is a quote from Isaiah 42:1-4 which describes Jesus, the Messiah. He would not break a bruised reed or put out a smoking flax. Both of these are ways of saying that Jesus was gentle. He did not destroy something or someone, just because it was not perfect. In fact, Jesus loved the Gentiles. How sinful they were in the eyes of the Jews! However, Jesus saw the potential in people, and He gently nurtured them to do God's will and to be blessed. I pray that we will be known for our gentleness, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 43-45 and Matthew 12:24-50.