Re: Destruction (Genesis 6)

Recently my Bible reading schedule put me back into Genesis.  One
morning as I read through half-a-dozen chapters, I was struck with
God's purposes with the earth. Here's man; he has sinned and has been
kicked out of the garden. Cain kills his brother and then whines, "Oh
poor me, poor me...I can't take the punishment." (ch4) (Of course, his
brother is -dead-!!)

Representative, geneological names are listed; and then it says that
each man fathers many more "sons and daughters". In other words, the
population is exploding.(6:1) Music and instruments (the "arts")
develop. (4:21)  Technology (bronze & iron) flourishes.(4:22)

In addition, a knowledge of God exists. "..men began to call upon the
name of the LORD." (4:26) Enoch is known for being one who "walks with
God" (5:24)

But the sin nature also becomes a dominant feature of the world. And
when God looked at humanity it says, "..the Lord saw that the
wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (6:5) And what was
God's reaction to this? "..He was angry to His heart." (vs6) And what
did He decide to do about it? "I will destroy man whom I have created,
from the face of the earth...for I repent that I have made them." (vs7)

Far from God 'changing His mind' (as some interpret this word
"repent"), this is more an expression, when combined with "angry to His
heart", of God being 'livid' with anger.  He's absolutely 'spitin'
mad'! In human terms that we can understand, He's stomping around, 
slamming doors, throwing things around...He's ANGRY!!  Paul uses the 
term "WRATH" (Rom1:18)

As we read the chapters about the flood, it is a picture of God taking 
a big swiping motion like an angry person swipes the chess pieces off 
the board. Or of someone cleaning a mechanic shop floor; hosing it 
down, and taking the big push-handle squeegee, and swooshing the dirt
out the door, to get rid of the evil.

Now... the psalmist proclaims, "I will sing of mercy and judgment."
(Ps101:1)  God, in mercy, sees Noah, who hasn't become genetically
corrupt. (Gen6:9) And rather than uttering the words and 'zapping' the
earth out of existence, 'patiently' waits for Noah to build the ark to
save "seed" to repopulate the earth. (6:19-20) But he is not without
sin. After the flood, sin continues. And mankind goes into idolatry, as
Nimrod begins what becomes a world-wide religious system. And God
scatters humanity with new languages. And divides the earth up into 
continents. (10:25)

Something Jesus says about the days prior to His return, "But as the
days of Noah were, so shall be the coming of the Son of man.  (Mt24:37)
The days of Noah were characterized by "evil continually" and
"violence". (Gen6:5,11) What happened to the world of Noah's day? God
'squeegeed' them off the earth.

Why does man continue to exist right now, even though humanity is full 
of evil, immorality, idolatry and violence? God's "mercy". "It is by 
the Lord's kindnesses that we are not destroyed, because His mercies 
never fail." (Lam3:22) But the world will not continue indefinitely in 
its present condition. God will again "swipe" humanity.  He does not 
gently slap the wrist...but when He "gets going" His judgement is 
complete. He left an example with Sodom and Gomorah. It says that "the 
men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord, exceedingly so." 
(Gen13:13) And their destruction was sudden, swift and complete.

Many from today's mentality might object to such talk, "Isn't God
awfully -intolerant- of anything that's not like Himself? I mean...
just who does He think He is? Does He think He's the only 'game in
town'?" Exactly! He says, "I am God, and there is no other" (Is45:22)

Another objection to God goes something like, "If God is such a
wonderful God, why did He make this big 'mess' the world is in?" Well,
God did not "make" the mess. And that's why He's going to clean it up.

It's somewhat like something I read recently. If an employer wants to
project a positive image of his company, he hires employees that
conform to the image he is projecting. If he hired worthless ones, they
would tarnish the company image. What people would observe about the
company would not be that the employees were worthless; but rather,
that the CEO was to blame. It's a "company" problem. The quote went
like this, "Employers are to a great degree responsible for their
servants,  and it is customary to blame a master if he retains in his
service persons of notorious character." Thus, God, being the holy Most
High, and Ruler of the universe, cannot retain sin and those committing
it without His own "character" being called into question.

But notice the psalmist's words again. "mercy and judgment" God -IS- 
going to clean up the mess. But His "mercy" does not wish for any to
perish. (2Pt3:9) Thus, He is "long-suffering" ...always calling, ever
pleading, "Turn, turn from your evil ways, for why will you die?"
(Eze33:11)

But He -WILL- clean up the mess. All humanity, except for eight, were
wiped off the globe. At that time God "shook the earth." But His
promise is, "Yet once more I will not only shake the earth, but also
the heavens." (Heb12:26,Hag2:6) The first time He dealt with humanity.
Next judgment He will complete the judgment of Satan and his demons. 
Satan will be cast out of heaven to the earth (Rev12:9) and then Christ 
is going to completely destroy every last vestige of Satan's influence 
as "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, 
and of His Christ" (Rev11:15) as He reigns, after Babylon with its 
religion, culture, commerce and the arts has been totally destroyed.
(Rev18)

The judgment that is coming is more than -mere- "hard times". Many
think that it will be a "wonderful" time for the "church". They both
look forward to going through it, so they can welcome Jesus to a world
-they- have cleaned up for Him to rule over; and also greatly fear,
thinking they can hord away supplies and "ride it out".

The thing they don't realize is that it is a time of "destruction".
Over half the earth's population will be killed. Even God's "elect" of
Israel will experience 67% annihilation. (Zec13:9) This time around God
is using a scoop shovel and a flame-thrower.  (Is41:16,Mt3:12) It is
such a horrific time that Jesus said, "unless those days should be
shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect's (Israel) sake,
those days shall be shortened." (Mt24:22)

[Ed:  Watching the media resources expended to cover the high school 
massacre in Littleton, Co... just another example of the "violence" 
that covers the land. In our 'refined' society this was a horrific 
event. How many people realize that these kinds of events are common 
'every-day' occurences in some parts of the world!! But when God gets 
going with His scoop shovel and flame-thrower, there won't be enough 
media people to report it all. There won't be enough personnel to 
identify the bodies. People will not know what happened to loved ones.  
There won't be hundreds of police and EMTs to take care of each 
incident. It will be everybody for themselves...as, ultimately, 
billions are decimated off the planet! Littleton's school massacre will
be as though it was "nothing" ..like a Sunday school picnic.. compared
to what is about to come upon the world!]

The psalmist says, "I will sing of mercy and judgement." God's mercy in
withholding judgment until every last soul who will be saved is saved.
(Lk14:23,Acts13:48) His mercy for Israel's sake through the judgment.

And then, praise, because the evil has been wiped out and God is ruling 
over His -righteous- creation. God will have judged evil and destroyed 
it.  "Rejoice, O heavens, and those tabernacling in them." (Rev12:12a)
And as the earth is mopped up, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and
honor and the power of the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His
judgments. For He has judged the great harlot who defiled the earth...
and He has avenged the blood of His servants out of her hand.
Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns!" (19:1-2,6)

Amen!

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Re: Impossibilities (Genesis 12)

"And the LORD appeared to Abram and said, I will give this land to your
seed.." (Gen12:7)

"For all the land which you see I will give to you, and to your seed
forever." (13:15)

Later the Lord came to Abram in a vision, "Fear not, Abram, I am your
shield and your exceeding great reward." And Abram said, Lord God, what
will You give me, since I am going childless..behold, You have given no
seed to me. And behold, one born in my house is my heir. And the word
of the LORD came to him saying, This one shall not be your heir. But he
that shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be your heir.
(15:1-4)

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, did not bear...and Sarai said to Abram, Behold
now, the LORD has kept me from bearing. I pray you, go in to my slave
woman..and Abram listened to the voice of Sarai." (16:1-2)

And when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram
and said to him, I am the Almighty God! Walk before Me and be perfect.
And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you
exceedingly...you shall be a father of many nations...I will make you
exceedingly fruitful, greatly so, and I will make nations of you, and
kings shall come out of you...and your seed after you.  (~17:1-7)

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, far gone in days, and it had ceased to
be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within
herself, "..shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? Shall I, who
am old, truly bear a child?" (18:12-13)

Sarah is waaaay past menopause. No more eggs to fertilize. For years 
and years God has promised "seed" to Abraham, along with nations.  No 
child. Well, what about the servant's son? Born in my house, he's my 
"heir". No. Years pass.  Still no child. Well, here, let's make a child 
through the maid.  Well, now, we know it's not Abraham's "problem".
It's Sarah.

Now, God comes with two messages. (Gen ch18) One is that Sodom, Lot's
home, is going to be destroyed. The other, "..according to the time of
life, and lo, Sarah your wife shall have a son." (vs10)

Well...after years and years of promises, and NO CHILD, this is utterly 
preposterous!! Sarah's thinking...YaRIGHT!! I'm gonna have a child!!  
Who do you think you're kidding!! Don't you realize 'how' things work 
regarding child-bearing? I -CAN'T- have children anymore. I stopped
having periods a loooong time ago!

God is rather "rude" at this point. Why did Sarah laugh? 

I didn't laugh! 

Oh, but you did!! "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time 
appointed I will return again, according to the time of life, and Sarah 
shall have a son." (18:14)

God says, essentially, I can do anything, and now it's time...I'm going 
to prove it to you.

In some other recent studies we have considered how God distinguishes 
Himself from all other gods by being 100% in His knowledge of past, 
present and future. (Is46:9-10) Another thing that distinguishes Him is 
His ability to purpose something, and then to carry it out. (vs11) How 
is He going to display this ability? By allowing 'normal' events to
unfold? Or by allowing impossible-seeming situations to come about, and
then working IN SPITE OF the "impossible odds"?

The -virgin- Mary was promised a child, without a man. The angel
exemplified God's working the impossible by announcing her aged cousin
Elizabeth being with child, and proclaiming, "for with God nothing
shall be impossible." (Lk1:37)

God -tests- His own, to see whether they will follow Him fully. Whether
they will believe His promises. Zacharias' unbelief was met with being
struck dumb. (Lk1:20) Israel was tested daily, with -only- a daily
portion of manna. (Ex16:4) God allows false prophets to test the
Believer, whether they will rely solely on God's Word. (Deu13:3)

God often asks the Believer to reach the absolute limit of faith.  The 
priests had to "walk" their faith by actually placing their feet into 
the waters of the Jordan river, at which point God rolled the waters 
back so they could walk across on dry ground. (Josh3:15) Saul did not 
wait for Samuel. The enemy was closing in, his troops were abandoning 
him, and he WENT AHEAD and made the offering. (1Sam13) And 'just' as he
was finished, Samuel shows up. His lack of faith wrenched the kingdom
away from him, as God sought a "man after His own heart" (vs14) and
gave it to David.

After years of doubt and failings, Abraham finally has learned. God has
given him a son out of his own seed. And now, God tests him again.
"Take now your son, your only one, Isaac, whom you love. And go...offer
him..for a burnt offering..." (Gen22:2) And 'immediately' the next
morning they head off. (vs3) Abraham has the knife raised, and
tradition says he was in the full-force downward plunge to kill Isaac
(vs10), when God catches his hand.(vs11)

Notice His faith, to where it has grown. When Isaac asks, essentially,
"where's the sacrifice lamb?" ... "My son, God will provide Himself a
lamb for a burnt offering." (vs8)  And after he passed the test, "a ram
behind him was entangled in a thicket..and Abraham offered it up for a
burnt offering instead of his son." (vs13)

Notice God's test. Take your son. Your ONLY son. This son, in whose
favor Sarah has sent away Ishmael from the house saying, "..the son of 
this slave woman shall not be heir with my son.." (21:10) This son WHOM 
YOU LOVE. Abraham...do you -REALLY- believe Me now? Do you trust Me 
with your -ONLY- son, too??

It was one thing for Abraham to "believe" in his heart unto 
"righteousness". (Gen15:6) Now, he has been proven through the
understanding of the "substance of things hoped for, the -evidence- of
things not seen." (Heb11:1) Sarah "as good as dead" bore Isaac (vs12) 
and now Abraham believed that if God could give him this son of promise 
in the first place, He could also "raise him up, even from the dead". 
(vs19) And notice the choice of words there. "CONCLUDING that God was
able.." He's been through a lifetime of learning. He's finally learned
the lesson.  As though to say, "If God could do all this other...He can
do -this-, too."

And this is what God always strove to have Israel learn. "..remember
what the Lord your God did..." (Deu7:18,24:9,etc.) The past is an
example and basis for the future. It's not, as some proclaim, a "blind"
faith...just leaping out into an unknown 'abyss'.  The Lord has worked
on our behalf in the past. We have the pioneers of faith in Abraham,
Noah, Daniel, David, Mary, Abel. Thus, when we find ourselves
face-to-face with a 'present' situation, we "remember" Who God is, and
what He has done in the past, draw assurance from that, and trust Him
for the present situation.

Not "staggering" through unbelief, but "being fully persuaded that what
God [has] promised, He is also able to perform." (Rom4:21)

Amen!

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Re: Rapture and the Days of Lot (Genesis 18)

"As it was in the days of Noah, so it also shall be in the days of the
Son of man. They [lived normal lives] until the day that Noah entered
into the ark; and the flood came and destroyed them all...

So also as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they
bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but the day Lot went out
of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from the heaven and destroyed
them all. Even so it shall be in the day when the Son of man is
revealed." (Lk17:26-30)

Naturally, in my reading in Genesis I left the 'flood' and arrived at
'Sodom'. We speak enough about the corruption and depravity of the
world, we don't need to address all that this time. If people are not
yet convinced that sodomy, promiscuity, abortion, violence, etc. is
wrong, they won't be convinced even if we look at it from Genesis
18-19. But let's consider Lot for a little bit. The state of the
righteous witness in Sodom, as well as God's provision for Lot as it
relates to the destruction of Sodom.

First of all, quite a fascinating dialogue progresses between Abraham 
and God. Abraham asks, "Will You also destroy the righteous with the
wicked?" What "If there are -fifty- righteous...will You also destroy
and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are in it?"
(Gen18:23-24)

Remember how Jesus taught, "you are the salt of the earth." (Mt5:13)
And again, "you are the light of the world." (5:14) The world lies in
wickedness, but the Believer's presence adds a measure of
righteousness. But when the righteous are so -few- that the flavor
turns sour, God destroys the wickedness. Abraham understood the concept
of God's mercy and judgment.

Now, Believer... if satan is taunting you with this notion that the 
"Church" is going -through- the "tribulation" because it's a time of 
God's "purification" of the Church, notice Abraham's question. "Will 
You also -DESTROY- the righteous with the wicked?" Do not let anyone 
deceive you! Listen carefully! The 70th week, which people collectively 
call "the tribulation", is NOT a time of "blessing". Yes, Israel is 
going to be "purified" through it. (Mal3:3) But -primarily- it is a 
time of DESTRUCTION. A time of God's WRATH poured out. (Rev6:17) 
Babylon is being destroyed (Rev18) as Christ comes and wrenches the 
"kingdoms of this world" away from satan, and comes to rule and reign.  

[Ed:  For in-depth study of this, the reader is referred to the series
in VW's Library, "Covenants & Dispensations"]

OK...so, God says that for "50" He would not destory Sodom. As the
conversation progresses, Abraham talks God down to "ten". And God says, 
"I will not destroy it for ten's sake." (18:32) How large was Sodom? 
Big enough that "ten" was a -tiny- number.

The "great revival" everybody talks about, simply does not exist. I get 
regular e-mails & prayer requests for "revival". Or ponderous document 
files of false doctrine, on how we can spark the flames of revival.  
Folks: if "revival" were truly coming, and thousands and millions of 
people were turning to the Lord, the "tribulation" would not come!  
There would be no need for God to 'destroy' the world. But the truth of 
the matter is that only a mere "few" are finding eternal life. (Mt7:14)
In Sodom's case it was less-than-ten.

God's judgment is coming, not because the church is being "purified", 
but because apostasy has been in full swing for decades. There are 
hardly any True Believing Christians left on this earth. People are 
"departing from the faith" (1Tm4:1) There is hardly any "salt" left.
All that's left is to "trample" the earth (Mt5:13) which is also 
pictured as God trampling the "winepress" of His "wrath". (Rev19:15)

So, if there are so few, and God's Wrath is going to destroy; what of
Lot?  Did he need to go -thru- the fires and become purified? God
"overthrew" Sodom and Gomorrah, and "He delivered righteous Lot..."
(2Pt2:7)

The angels come to town to removed Lot and his family -prior- to
destruction. He balks. His family balks. They are forcibly led out of
town. And even then, he's whining and complaining, and receives
permission to go to Zoar. And the angels hurry him along with this
word...

"..Hurry and escape there! For I cannot do anything till you have come
there." (Gen19:22)

You who believe the "church" is going -thru- the 'tribulation' note
this well. Jesus said His return would be like the situation with Lot. 
Notice that Sodom's destruction COULD NOT HAPPEN until Lot had escaped
to safety. Lot being labeled "righteous". "Righteous" being a term of
-accounting- this to him by Faith. (Rom4:3,8,10,16,etc.) Same
characteristic of the True "Church" of Jesus Christ.

Lot "escaped" the destruction. Jesus exhorts, "Watch therefore, praying 
in every season that you may be counted worthy to escape all these
things which shall occur, and to stand before the Son of man."(Lk21:36)
God will not bring His Wrath and destruction upon the world until He
has -first- "rescued" His Church "out of the midst" (2Th2:7b) at the
Rapture.

Abraham had asked, "Will You also destroy the righteous with the
wicked?"

Answer: "No!"

Amen!

Related Topic: "Lot was Raptured"

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Re: Destroy the Righteous with the Wicked? (Genesis 18-19)

"I will go down now and see whether they (Sodom & Gomorrah) have done
altogether according to the cry of it..And Abraham drew near and said,
Will You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? And Jehovah said,
If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare
all the place for their sakes. And He said, I will not destroy it for
ten's sake." (~Gen18:21-32)

"..as it was in the days of Lot..but the day Lot went out of Sodom, it
rained fire and brimstone from the heaven and destroyed them all.  Even
so it shall be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed."(~Lk17:28-30)

This lesson will be straight to the point. Nothing new that we haven't
addressed before. This is for those who still think the coming time of
God's wrath upon "those who dwell upon the earth" (Rev3:10b)  is the
same "tribulation" (Jn16:33) Jesus promised that Believers would
receive. It is not.

The coming "Tribulation" is most closely associated with the book of
Revelation. Let us remember that its full name is, "The Revelation of
Jesus Christ". A synopsis of how Jesus Christ is going to be -revealed-
to the world and the rest of creation.  It is the Believer's "blessed
hope, and the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus
Christ." (Tit2:13) It is the time when "He shall be revealed, we shall
be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1Jn3:2) We have obviously
been "received" (Jn14:3) to him. It is when we are caught up in the
clouds to "meet the Lord in the air". (1Th4:17)

Notice that Jesus in Luke says that Lot's leaving of Sodom is like it 
will be "in the day when the Son of Man is REVEALED". Was this a time 
of testing and tribulation for "righteous" Lot? (2Pt2:7) No. It was a
time of -DESTRUCTION- for Sodom. Jesus said of the time shortly upon
the world that "unless the days were shortened" nobody would survive.
(Mt24:22) The destruction will be so vast that it speaks of those that
are "left" alive. (Zech14:16)

Abraham asks God, Will You destroy the righteous along with the wicked?
This is the question that those of the "post-trib" error answer wrong.
They don't seem to understand that it is God's "wrath" that is being
poured upon the earth. (Rom1:18, Rev6:17) But God has "not appointed us
to wrath" (1Th5:9) It is not a time of God's discipline upon the
"righteous" (2Cor5:21) Church. When God is "purifying the sons of Levi"
(Mal3:3) -Israel- is yet in unbelief. They are not yet righteous. Their
righteousness will not be in place until the end of the seven years, 
around the time of the battle of Armaggedon. (Zech12:11)

Now, Abraham is pleading for Sodom based on percentages of righteous
inhabitants. In Sodom's case, for whatever the population might have
been, God's mercy would have extended to it if there had been a mere
"ten" righteous people there. However, there were only 3-4. God's
righteousness -MUST- destroy Sodom. But since He does not ("cannot"
19:22) destroy the righteous along with the wicked, He pulls the
righteous out... -BEFORE- He destroys Sodom. Isn't that what Jesus said
about when the "Son of Man is revealed"? The righteous will be taken
out of the world -BEFORE- God commences His destruction in wrath.

Now, even though Lot has the label "righteous", he is dragging his
feet. Remember how we spoke not long ago about "washing one another's
feet"? The person can be clean, but his feet are dirty from walking
along the dusty path. Lot has a reputation in Sodom for condemning 
their sin, "..must he judge always?" (Gen19:9) And yet, he has grown
comfortable in Sodom. Life is easy. Previously he had been nomadic,
always of a more uncertain life... but now he lives 'in' Sodom, with a
nice house with "doors" on it. And so, in order to get him out, the
angels "laid hold upon his hand...and they brought them forth and set
him outside the city" (Gen19:16)

What I have just quoted is about how we typically remember this story.
But notice the little part I left out of the middle of that last quote,
"..the LORD being merciful to him.." As Lot and his family are dragging
their feet, the angels are -forcefully- removing them to "outside" the
city limits. What would you guess that their initial reaction to this
force is "how unloving!!" So "cruel" they are, to grab them and yank
them out! And, indeed, that is how faithful Believers are often
labeled. "Unloving" and "judgmental!"

The angels were practicing "snatching them out of the fire" (Jude23)
Notice the motivation in Lot's case is the same as in Jude. The Lord
was being "merciful" to Lot, not wanting to destroy him. In Jude, the
motivation is "pity". (vs22) Furthermore, God only gives "good things"
to His children. (Mt7:9-11) When the child wants food, the father does
not give a stone or snake. This is God's way. It is most unconscionable
to suggest that God is going to subject His "righteous" children to his 
wrath! And yet, that's what many so-called "christians" are proclaiming.

Abraham asked the question, Will You destroy the righteous along with
the wicked? In his mind I'm sure he's hoping, Surely not!? Thus, as
God destroys the "cities of the plain" He "sent Lot out of the midst of
the overthrow..." (Gen19:29)  And this is how it will be when the "Son
of Man is revealed" (Lk17:30)

Two final little points. Don't assume you are on solid ground because
you "went forward" and "made a committment" at some point; and now, 
"nothing can touch you". If you decide to be rebellious, and turn your
back upon God, you can turn out like Lot's wife. She was "on her way"
out of Sodom, but at the last minute, decided she didn't -really- want
to leave. God destroyed her. (Gen19:26) The same thing can happen to
you. Beware!

Also, don't be fooled into complacency. The extreme at the other end of
the spectrum from the "Church is going through the Tribulation" notion,
is that "whole cities" will be raptured. They assume that, if a church 
is meeting, most of the congregation will be raptured, and a few 
stragglers will be left. That complete "christian communities" and 
countries will be Raptured. Notice how Abraham dialogues God from 
"fifty" down to "ten". And the actual number was even less than that.  
Out of all the world, only Enoch was taken prior to the flood; and only 
8 were saved at the time of the flood.  Jesus said that only a "few"
were finding the gate to eternal life. (Mt7:14) Out of all Israel's
population, only "seven thousand" were righteous. (1Kg19:18)  For all
those church buildings all over the place, sadly the same is true today.

Dear Reader: are you yet dragging your feet in 'Sodom'? Or are you a
child of God, crying out in your heart, "Come, Lord Jesus!"? (Rev22:20)

Dear Believer: do not let world events worry you. They will continue
getting worse, not better. Remember, that for Lot's wife to have been
turned to salt, it means Lot's family, while outside the city, was
close enough to see God's destruction. Even Abraham could see the
rising smoke from where he lived. (Gen19:28) It was "on the day" of
destruction, that Lot left Sodom. When Noah was entering the ark, the
flood waters had already begun. (Gen7:7) We are already seeing the
beginning of the "birth pangs" (Mt24:8) But do not worry, our Lord will
come at the appointed time.

Remember that, just as any nation preparing for war pulls its
ambassador/s out of the enemy country back to home; so too, when God
prepares to "fight against those nations, like the day He fought in the
day of battle" (Zech14:3), He is going to "receive" (Jn14:3) His
"ambassadors" (2Cor5:20) Home.  He "CANNOT do anything" (Gen19:22)
until we are retrieved to safety.

Amen!

Related Topic: "So 'few'!"

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Re: Kept From Sinning (Genesis 20)

This study is located at another location...
Please [click] to go there. 
A link on that page will return you to this spot in Genesis.

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Re: Your God - My God: weakness to strength (Genesis 27)

Abraham's "seed" is now growing, and his son, Isaac, has had two sons,
Esau and Jacob. Before they were born God proclaimed, "..the older
shall serve the younger." (Gen25:23) This was -contrary- to tradition.
Great importance was typically placed upon the "firstborn" -son-.

Well, years pass and Isaac has apparently -forgotten- (??) God's word,
because he instructs Esau to go hunt venison, and prepare a meal, and
then receive "The Blessing" of the firstborn. (Gen27) And Rebekah
panics...'this cannot be!' So she devises a scheme to get Jacob in
there, first, to receive the blessing. [Ed: I don't fully understand
"the blessing" passed to the first-born. But it was probably -the- most
important thing a father gave to his son. Even moreso than the physical
inheritance of the material goods.]

Jacob stands before his father, and Isaac suspects 'something' is not
right. But he's old and blind. "How is it that you have found it (the
venison) so quickly..?" (vs20) And Jacob responds, "Because the LORD
your God brought it to me."

Notice: Jacob is supplanting his brother, again. In essence, is 
"stealing" what legitimately (legally, traditionally) belonged to his
brother. When God said that he would be above Esau, he was going along
with his mother's plan to "take matters" into "his own hands" and
effect the outcome. But, he's LYING 'through his teeth'. Who, did Jesus
say, was the "father of lies"? (Jn8:44) Satan. So, you notice that he
cannot make claim to God being "his" God. He says, "..the Lord -your- 
God.."

Jacob flees from Esau's murderous wrath (27:41,28:5) and God meets him 
along the way, and introduces Himself to Jacob in a dream. Gives him 
the same promise of Abraham and Isaac regarding the covenant land, and 
the nation. (28:13-14) Promises prosperity and safety. (vs15) Remember: 
God said to Moses, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, 
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." (Ex3:6)

But Jacob has not yet "received" God as "his" god. "Surely the LORD is 
in this place, and I DID NOT KNOW." (vs16) And notice the "deal" he
strikes up with God. If God will do all these things, make me
prosperous and protect me, and bring me back 'home' safely, "then shall
Jehovah be my God." (vs21) But not -just- yet!! I'm still running on my 
own strength, wisdom and deception.

Well, he spends 20 years with Laban. Gets wives, children, and wealth.  
And now God tells him it's time to go 'home'. (31:3)  But even more, it 
is time for decision regarding God. He may have wealth, but things are 
not going well. He's being treated by Laban the same way he treated his
brother.  With deception. To say that he's finding out that it's not so
wonderful would be an understatement.  God appears to him in a dream
again, re-introducing Himself with, "I am the God of Bethel, where you
anointed the pillar (20 years ago)." So they leave by stealth.

But when Laban finds out, he gathers forces to pursue. The engineer of 
his wealth is leaving. Jacob could be in a real world of hurt. But God 
intervenes and warns Laban against any harm he might consider doing to
Jacob. So they make a non-aggression pact. They swear by the "God of
Abraham" and the "God of Nahor", their respective grandfathers, and
Jacob swears "by the Fear (Faith) of his father Isaac" (vs53) But you
notice, Jacob does not yet call God "my" god. It is not yet his -own-
"Faith".

God shows Jacob more. "..the angels of God met him." (32:1) And Jacob
sees how God has been protecting him as he calls the place "Refuge"
(vs2) Remember when the king of Syria surrounded Dothan (2Kg6) and
Elisha asks God to show his servant; and God revealed the chariots of 
fire surrounding the Syrian forces. "Do not fear, for those with us are 
more than those with them." (2Kg6:16) God has protected Jacob against 
Laban, but now he's off to meet Esau; the one who had threatened death
to him 20 years earlier.

Jacob, again, -strategizes- how to protect himself against Esau. How to
minimize the loss. How to -contrive- an 'escape route' if part of his
possessions are captured. He's still not trusting God.

So, it's time for the final lesson. Jacob finds himself wrestling with 
God, Himself.  And God allows Jacob to appear to be "winning". And then
God gives him a handicap.  Cripples him. God changes his name from
"Jacob" (supplanter,underminer) to "Israel" (God prevails).

And notice Israel's response. "I have seen God face to face, and my
life is preserved." (vs30) He calls the place "Peniel" (facing God).

Talk about "impossibilities"!! He had run from Esau...fearing for his 
life. He has just narrowly escaped the hand of Laban, and is about to 
meet Esau again...probably a more formidable foe than Laban had just 
been.  He has contrived 'methodologies' and 'escape plans' and now, God 
cripples him. He's limping. 'God, You have it all wrong! If I am to 
meet my brother, I need my full strength...to DEFEND MYSELF!!'

He was about to learn, "[God's] grace is sufficient for [me], for 
[God's] power is made perfect in weakness...for when I am weak, than I
am powerful." (2Cor12:9-10)  And again, "The LORD is my strength, and
my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock; I will trust in Him; He
is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower." (Ps18:2)

God delivers Israel and his family. The meeting with Esau is amicable.
He settles in Shechem and for the first time "erected there an altar,
and called it El, the God of Israel." (33:20) No longer the "God of
Abraham" nor the "Fear of Isaac"

But notice the journey Jacob traversed. He spent the prime of his life
supplanting, contriving, manipulating, scheming. Always with a view to
"self". Self-preservation and self-empowerment. He could not see God's
power and provisions for him until he faced "impossible odds", and was
crippled out of any way to fend for himself. And then he saw that -God-
arranged the meeting with his brother, in 'peace', as God fulfilled His
promise, "I am with you, and will keep you in every place where you go,
and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until
I have done that which I have spoken of to you." (28:15)

Once Jacob saw that all his own efforts were worthless, and impossible
(in me, in my flesh, dwells no good thing -Rom7:18), and that it was in
such a situation that God came and met with him "face-to-face" in his
own weakness, and gave him an extra measure of disability (For we yet
being without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly
-Rom5:6), and saw God's working in his life, in spite of himself; then,
and only then, could Jacob become Israel. God had been working in his
life for so many years, drawing him (Jn6:44), providing his needs and
protecting him...and FINALLY, when he reached the end of himself, Jacob
SAW it!  There was no way out.  Realized God's deliverance.  And Israel
then worshipped "my" God.

There is a question that some ask. "What if a person dies before he has
a chance to receive Christ in salvation?" Well, we have just seen how
God preserved Jacob's life up through the time he finally recognized
"his" God. The psalmist said, "The Lord is my...deliverer (from enemies
and harm); He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation..." (Ps18:2)
Predestination involves God's "foreknowledge" (1Pt1:2) God "knew (past
tense-He already knows) those who are His" (2Tm2:19) When Paul exults,
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Rom8:35) This is the
same "love" of God that sent Christ, before sin was atoned. (Jn3:16) If
God could love sinful man before the sin debt was paid, and sent His
Son to die for a rebellious humanity; and in spite of the fact that man
is continually running away from God (Is53:6); but He "draws" (Jn6:44)
those who will be saved; if He is able to assure that salvation lasts
eternally, He certainly is able to preserve the sinner until the time
He knows that person will -finally- humble himself and receive Christ.

"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things; to Him be glory
forever! Amen. (Rom11:36)

Amen!

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Re: Take my Blessing (Genesis 33:11)

"And Jacob said, No, please, if I have now found favor in your eyes, 
then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face 
as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.  
Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt 
graciously with me.." (Gen33:10-11)

"If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he 
shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep." (Ex22:1)

"If a soul sins and commits a trespass against Jehovah by lying to his 
neighbor about what was delivered into his hand for safekeeping, or 
about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his 
neighbor....or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall 
restore the principal, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever 
it belongs,  on the day of his guilt offering." (Lev6:2,5)

"And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord...whatever I 
have taken from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." 
(Lk19:8)

There is a Great Evil today. It is not the only evil; but it is one 
which characterizes western so-called "civilization". There is no 
"accountability" or "consequences" for one's actions. 

There's been a local case where a man was crippled for life after diving 
in front of a child whose snow-sled was out-of-control. The man saved 
the child from injury; but in the process, crippled himself for life. He 
has been called, locally, a "hero". But you know the disgusting thing: 
Once a couple years have now passed, this same man and his family have 
successfully sued the manufacturer of that sled. On what grounds? I'm 
not sure. Where is the accountability to that child who was playing 
out-of-control with no regard for safety? Where is the accountability 
for the parents/guardians of that child who injured the man, to train 
and/or supervise the child to play in a safe manner?

Somebody is driving along, cel-phone in one hand, the 'pinkies' of the 
other hand barely touching the steering wheel, and because they had not 
taken care to make sure tires were properly inflated, suddenly at speed 
a front tired blows out, the steering wheel spins violently to one side, 
the vehicle rolls over, the occupants are injured...and what happens? 
The manufacturers of the vehicle and tire are sued. (Like Ford and 
Firestone experienced a few years ago) Drivers take no responsibility
for themselves to make sure their vehicle is road-worthy, and do not 
drive in a manner that, if the tire did blow, they have a 'hold' of the 
steering wheel, and could come safely to a stop. I've never had a 
blow-out myself, but experienced them when I was a child, with my father 
driving...and -NEVER- did we experience life-threatening circumstances, 
even though the tires were defective and blew (the manufacturer replaced 
them under warranty) ...because my father was always an attentive 
driver.

But even worse is the scenario I see with TV interviews of convicted 
prison inmates. They are guilty, they have admitted guilt; and the TV 
reporter asks, "Have you forgiven yourself yet, for what you did?" 

WHAAAAT??? I ask!

Dr.Phil gets somebody on that 'stool' opposite himself, and they are 
blubbering about how terrible their life is. In how many cases did they 
bring on their own trouble, and the pain they caused other people. And 
what is part of Dr.Phil's advice? The person needs to "forgive" 
-themself-!! INCREDIBLE!!!

A certain family, perhaps, despises the one their child has chosen to 
marry. Even after the wedding, at every turn, they manipulate and speak 
subterfuge in the hopes of undermining and breaking up the marriage, 
causing pain and sorrow not only to the child-in-law, but their own 
child who married. So now, after time has passed, it's supposedly 
"reconciliation" time. The ones who have been viciously wronged are 
hoping for some sign/s of remorse, contrition, confession, repentance... 
but there is none. All there is, is a whiny whine: "Why do you have to 
continue being so mean to us. Can't you just FORGIVE AND FORGET??" Don't 
you know that -time- "heals" all wounds? Let by-gones be by-gones.  Of 
course, when the marriage ends in divorce, their tone is, "Nya, nya...we 
told you so!"

People who steal from others are rarely required to make restitution. 
After all, isn't that what 'insurance' is for? When I stole from you, 
you were supposed to have insurance...so, since you didn't have 
insurance, your loss is your own fault! Sure, they may spend a little 
'hand-slap' prison time...but their victim is not compensated. And 
rather than paying restitution, counselors exhort them to 'forgive' 
-themselves-!!

Well, from the passages with which this study was opened, it should be 
obvious what God says about this. And more specifically, let's look at 
Jacob. 

However before we do, one example from my own observation, similar in 
some respects to Jacob's. I think I may have shared this a few years 
ago...but for you who haven't heard it: When I was younger I had an 
uncle who was quite the playboy. He was also quite a wheeler-dealer... 
and any 'advantage' he could gain over another, he would take it. Then, 
shortly before his death, he underwent heart surgery. During that time 
he was hooked up to needles and tubes down his throat, the Lord finally 
got his attention. When he returned from the hospital/surgery, he 
happened to be at our apartment. He obviously needed to lie down and 
rest...but emphatically WOULD NOT lie down on our bed. "That's -your- 
bed." "Your" meaning my (at-the-time) wife's and mine. He lay down on 
the couch. He had an old car that was to be wrecked. My father and I 
were offering to help 'strip' it of parts that could be 'useable' for 
other things (he was a farmer) like tires, battery, etc. "No, I promised 
the wrecking dealer the car in the condition, and with the things 
attached, as he saw it when I made the deal." He did not make loud 
pronouncements, and stand before media cameras to proclaim his repentant 
heart and changed life...like Zacchaeus, he -LIVED- IT! It was obvious.

When Jacob ran from Esau, -what- was it that he had done? He had 
-stolen- Esau's "blessing". (Gen27:36) Prior to that he had also conned 
Esau out of his birthright. (Gen25:31)

I had never noticed this before, until my recent read-through of 
Genesis... But notice...

As Jacob is preparing to meet Esau after 20 years, and they meet, what 
does Jacob say? "Take my BLESSING that is brought to you." (Gen33:11)  
There was nothing he could do to change Isaac's blessing upon Jacob... 
"I have blessed him; and moreover, he shall be blessed." (27:33) That's 
a done deal. But Jacob (now "Israel") is prostrating himself to Esau, no 
longer supplanting ("jacob"); essentially saying to Esau, I've done you 
great wrong; here is a token of the "blessing" that I stole from you.

Jacob was symbolically making restitution for what he had stolen from 
Esau. This is God's way...even before it was given through the Law. This 
was the Law "written in the heart" of the "conscience". (Rom2:15)  

Why does the world not recognize it today? 

We are living in the "latter times"; and we know it is the latter times 
in that, consciences are "seared". (1Tim4:1-2)

Amen!

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Re: Poor me, poor me! (Genesis 34)

And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have troubled me, to make me
stink among those who live in the land, among the Canaanites and the
Perizzites. And I, being few in number, they shall gather themselves
together against me, and kill me. And I shall be destroyed, my house
and I. (Gen34:30)

What unmitigated selfishness!! What a self-centered little twit!  Just
like many today. Usually, those making a claim to "family values" are
the most guilty!  Parents, not showing enough love and concern, refuse
to train up their children with godly discipline and often also abandon
them from personal attention; but when they get old, refuse to 'let
them go'. Once the grand-kids come along, what they refused with their
own children, they insist is their "right" with the children's
children.  "Their" children. "Their" grandchildren. Not recognizing
that offspring are an "inheritance of the Lord" (Ps127:3) They belong 
to God, as He says, "Behold, all souls are Mine. As the soul of the
father, also the soul of the son, they are Mine." (Ez18:4a)

But notice the context. Someone has "defiled" his daughter. (34:2) And
two of his sons have taken it upon themselves to exact justice, when
the rest of the family was sitting around doing nothing. But who is
-now- "guilty"? The two sons, for meting out justice. 'Sounds about the
way things happen today, eh! A world leader is guilty of immorality,
treason, murder, lies, etc. But the ones trying to bring about justice
were the ones crucified.

Well, Jacob is -afraid-. He shows no concern for the defilement of his
daughter. He doesn't seem to fathom justice. (vs31) He's not even
-really- concerned about the rest of his family. But it's "me", "I",
"me", "my" and "I".

When it was thought that Joseph had been torn by wild animals, he
mourns the loss with "I will go down into the grave to my son
mourning." (37:35) During the famine, when Joseph kept Simeon as
"collateral" against his brothers bringing Benjamin along next trip,
and Jacob hears the news, "you have bereaved me." Joseph and Simeon are
gone. And now you want to take Benjamin, too. "All these things are
against me." (42:36) Why have you treated me so badly? (43:6) Well
then, "if I am bereaved, I am bereaved." (43:14)

Well... Boo Hoo!!

Ok! Lest anybody think we are unsympathetic to legitimate loss, there
is a proper "time" to be sorrowful and mourn. There is a "time to 
weep/mourn".  (Ec3:4)  But, as Simeon and Levi did, there is also a 
"time to kill" (Ec3:3)

While Jacob was feeling all selfish about his 'personal' safety, notice 
what God was doing for his benefit. God instructs Jacob to move.  
"Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. And make an altar there to 
God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau..." 
(Gen35:1) As if to say, 'Ok, Jacob. Enough of this murmuring and 
self-pity. Go build an altar, and worship. Get your priorities 
straightened out.'  God had appeared to him, and in 20 years had 
protected him from Esau. He seems to have forgotten that already.  But,
as he moves to Bethel, notice that "the terror of God was upon the
cities that were around about them, and they did not pursue the sons of 
Jacob." (vs5) God's protection.

He builds the altar. Worships. God renews His covenant to Abraham,
Isaac and Israel with him.  When he moves to the place of God's
direction and choosing, there is communion and fellowship. And the
place is called, "Beth-el". The "House of God."

And notice, once 'Jacob' has moved into God's presence, 'Israel' is at
peace. (35:6) When Isaac dies, it says "Esau and Jacob" buried him.
(35:29) A 'joint' effort.  And Esau did not kill Jacob as he had
threatened so many years previously.

"When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at
peace with him." (Pr16:7)

Amen!

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Re: Daddy's boy (Genesis 37)

And Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons...and when his brothers
saw that their father loved him more...they hated him, and could not
speak peaceably to him. (Gen37:3-4)

Now, a person would think that Joseph would 'understand' certain
things. If people 'hate' you, you don't want to rile them up.

Hey, guys! I had a dream. You were all bowing down to me, and I was 'in
charge'. Uh...what was that book? "How to win friends and influence..."

Well, you see what we have here. We have a young lad who is being
trained up by a father who is finally getting his own life figured out.
He is learning to follow God. And this love for God is producing a
young boy full of innocence and honesty. When something is there, he
spews it out in his simplicity. We know he's a 'good' boy, because he
willingly obeys his father to go see the welfare of his brothers...who
hate him. (37:13) But he lacks a certain "wisdom" and discretion. He
hasn't yet learned that "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in
pictures of silver." (Pr25:11) He is about to learn what a
world-of-hurt the tongue can get one's self into. (Jas3)

But he seems to have a pure heart. While he doesn't yet know what the
dreams mean, the Lord is obviously showing this young, open heart, a
little of the future. What God has in store for him. It riles his
brothers, who are like their father used to be. But his father is
starting to understand God's ways, and so he "observed the saying."
(vs11) 'Reminds me of Mary. All sorts of things were being prophesied
about 'her' baby, Jesus. And she kept them in her heart. (Lk2:19,33,35)

So...did Joseph 'sin' in telling his dreams to his brothers? Probably 
as much as the early apostles who replied to commands to stop preaching 
in Jesus' name, "we ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts5:29) When 
it came to the 'kind of' brothers Joseph had, I wonder if there would 
have been any kind of "nice way" to declare the dreams..?

Just like... when a Christian proclaims his Faith in Christ, in the 
process renouncing his past in sin...and quite often "exposing" sin and
those who are in rebellion against God... the people of the world are
"offended". When Jesus was forthright, His disciples said, "Do You know
that [they] were offended when they heard this..?" (Mt15:12)

Often, the offense comes without any spoken word. Peter speaks of
unsaved husbands being "won without a word" (1Pt3:1) Especially, when a 
person is around family or 'old' friends, and the life changes; a 
person does not do the things he used to. When they have their drunken 
parties, he does not participate. When they are sexually lude, she does 
not join in. When the joke is told, he does not laugh..and they notice; 
"Hey, look! He's not laughing!"  And quite often, a person's simple
non-participation is enough to generate feelings of animosity and 
retorts, "You're condemning, judging, criticizing me!" When nary a
single word was even spoken. You see... their "conscience" (Rom2:15) is
speaking inside their heart and soul... LOUDER than any spoken words
the Believer might have uttered. But "you think you're better than us!
Just who do you think you are, you #@$%*& !!"

What happens to "daddy's boy"? He was kidnapped and sold into slavery.
Jesus was crucified. Joseph was young, and not "wise" to the world's
ways...and spoke God's revelation in pure simplicity. Jesus, a grown
'man', God's Son... Deity... spoke God's Word directly... perfectly.
Both received sinful man's wrath.

God instructs His own to say, "So says the Lord.." It doesn't matter if
we don't know 'what' to say "properly". Jeremiah was concerned,
"Behold, I do not know to speak; for I am a boy." (Jer1:6) And God
responds to speak "whatever I command you." And further, do not be
"afraid of their faces." (vs8)

Yes, in spite of sinful man's opposition, the simplicity of
'child-like' Faith. "..whoever shall humble himself like this little
child, this one is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven." (Mt18:4)

Amen!

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Re: Grace (Genesis 38)

"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of
Abraham...and Judah fathered Pharez...of Tamar...and Pharez fathered
Hezron..." (Mt1:1-3)

What's the deal here? If you read Genesis 38, you see a story of some
brothers who refuse to do the right thing regarding the family tree.
And so God kills them.  The widow, Tamar, is not given the next son
'in-line' when he comes of age, as promised. To make a long story
short, 'dad' (Judah) conceives a child by the widow that he should have
given to his next son. A real mixed up set of circumstances.

Now, let's take a look at God's requirments for His priests. They were
not to be "defiled". (Lev21:1) One of the things that could defile a 
priest was an unholy marriage; a marriage to a whore, defiled or 
divorced woman. (vs7) Ezekiel takes it a step further for the future 
temple and servants, not even a widow. (Ez44:22) A priest could only
marry a "virgin". Someone who had not been with another man. In order
to maintain God's pure order of "two become one". (Gen2:24)

So, Jesus is born, the "spotless..Lamb of God" (1Pt1:19,Jn1:29) And yet
His lineage has this 'tarnish' to it.

What made Jesus Christ "perfect"? Was it His pure -HUMAN- "blood-line?"
Or was it the "righteousness of God...in Him?" (2Cor5:21)

This little "flaw" in Jesus' genealogy should help prove what 'grace' 
is about. There is a false doctrine today which proclaims, "God looks 
down at you, and sees all the -worth- that's inside you. He realized 
that you were -worth-a-lot- to Him. That's why He reached down and 
saved you. That's graeeeeessss."

Well, first of all, anybody see the 'flaw' in that logic? If there is 
-already- "worth", why is "salvation" even -necessary-? It isn't is it.
Grace is not salvation -because-of- our "worth".

Rather, God extends redemption to us -in-spite-of- the fact that we are
less than worthless.  There is "none righteous, no not one" (Rom3:10)
We were "without strength" (5:6) and "sinners" (5:8) when God provided
for our salvation. And God provided for His grace to be even 'more'
FULL by not even allowing man to be -capable- of 'contributing' to it
through a 'pure' bloodline. Even the bloodline was flawed. Redemption
could only be through God, through His Son, conceived by the Holy
Spirit. (Lk1:35)

Man is busy messing things up, royally!  Grace is God's acceptance of
us, IN SPITE OF ourselves.

Amen!

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Re: Nor be with (Genesis 39)

"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of
evil. Avoid it; do not pass by it; turn from it, and pass on!(Pr4:14-15)

How do we get into sin? Is it an accident when we sin? Like someone
e-mailed some time back, what about those times when we "can't help BUT
sin?" Is there such a thing? What about when the temptation is just
"too strong"?

Typically, there are no true "accidents". Events come together to
-form- the accident. When that person ends up in the ditch, upside
down, it was not an "accident". They were not driving according to the
icy conditions and/or their own abilities. When, as a 10-year old, I
skinned up my elbow real good because I missed the corner with the
bicycle, that was no "accident". In my excitement, I was going waaaay
too fast down that narrow Japanese village alley.  My crash could have
been predicted with 99% accuracy of a probability that I -would- crash.

The story is told of the king who was looking for a personal carriage
driver, and was interviewing applicants. For each applicant he had but
one question. Being situated on a high mountain, the road leading up to
the castle was narrow and windy, with no guard rails.

Question: how close can you drive my carriage to the edge of the road
without falling off into the canyon below?

Various ones would strut with pride, proclaiming their skills. 1 foot, 
2 feet, 6 inches. Finally, one applicant quietly replied, "Your 
Highness!  I'd stay as far away from the edge as I could." He got the
job!

Notice Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery, but the Lord is
blessing him. He has a wonderful position of responsibility. He has 
proven himself trustworthy and has oversight for everything Potiphar 
owns. (39:9) So his master is always 'out' doing whatever he did as 
"chief executioner". So his wife is 'lonely' at home, and here's this 
gorgeous 'hunk', Joseph. (39:6) She -really-wants- to 'get it on' with
Joseph. And she's trying to lure and seduce him on a daily basis.

But notice Joseph's reaction. I cannot "do this great wickedness, and
sin against God" (vs9) And as she continues to taunt him, it says, "he
did not listen to her to lie with her, or TO BE WITH her." (vs10) Oh,
but Joseph, you're being so impolite and "rude" to her. Yup! You bet!!

So, Joseph received 'praise' for doing what was right. Right? Not
quite! She sets him up, and then contrives false accusations. And
Joseph ends up in prison. Well, something is wrong here! I thought a
Believer is "blessed" when they do right! That will come -later-.

Joseph discovers the truth of, "It is better to dwell in the wilderness 
[corner of a housetop] than with a quarrelsome and angry woman."
(Pr21:19,9,25:24) In prison Joseph found himself in a sort of
"wilderness" again. But the Lord blessed him there, too, and he
continues making a name for himself in -trustworthiness-. Eventually,
these lessons are preparing him for the "big one" that will come
shortly. But for everything, it would "seem" that his dreams were
false, eh. It 'seems' that he is languishing...for having done right.

But for now, Joseph is being faithful, even though being wrongly
accused. He stays away from sin.

Many people think they can "flirt" with sin. How did you [I] end up 
married to an unequal yoke? It was no accident! You went on that 'first 
date' when you knew they were not saved. ["nor-to-be-with"] How did you 
end up pregnant? It started as you flirted with him. ["nor-to-be-with"] 
How did you end up being addicted to drugs? It started when you were 
'hanging' with the crowd who used.  ["nor-to-be-with"] How did you end 
up all messed up emotionally, with spiritual problems? It started when 
you were listenning regularly to those rock CDs and dabbled 
'just-for-fun' with horoscopes, seances and ouija boards.

["nor-to-be-with"]

Oh, I want to 'witness' to him. If I marry him, he has promised to
become a Christian. It won't happen to -me-.  ["nor-to-be-with"]

"Do not be deceived, evil companionships corrupt good habits."
(1Cor15:33) "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little
leaven leavens the whole lump?" (1Cor5:6)  "He who walks with the wise
shall be wise, but a companion with fools shall be destroyed. (Pr13:20)

Forget the excuses! Typically, people get into sin because that is what
they -want- to do.  But if a person truly desires to live Godly, then 
we follow the exhortation, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do
not take thought beforehand for the lusts of the flesh" (Rom13:14) Here
I like the NKJV/KJV better, "...and make NO PROVISION [no plans or
doors open just a 'crack'] for the flesh..."

Amen!

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Re: Dreams: not I - God (Genesis 40)

"I have dreamed a dream, and none can interpret it. And I have heard it
about you, saying, you can understand a dream to interpret it. And
Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, Not I. God shall answer the welfare of
Pharaoh." (41:15-16)

As usual with rumors, only part of the story is conveyed. Pharaoh's
cupbearer had told of Joseph interpreting his dream in prison; but
forgot Joseph's explanation of 'how' he could do it. "Do not
interpretations belong to God?" (40:8)

In another lesson a little later in this series, we'll tie Joseph's
experiences with dreams, back to his brothers and family. But it is
obvious that God has given Joseph a 'gift' regarding dreams. He had had
some dreams...they haven't yet been fulfilled...his family has not yet
bowed before him. But God apparently has been doing a work in his life.

Before the Scriptures were available in written form, it seems apparent
that God spoke to people in dreams. In fact, one of the methods God,
Himself, proclaimed He would use to speak to prophets, was through
dreams; "If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD will make Myself
known to him in a vision, and will speak to him in a dream." (Num12:6)

There was another occasion when a king had a troubling dream. This
time, Nebuchadnezzar did not tell the dream, but insisted, in essence,
"tell me the dream -AND- its interpretation...or else you're in big
trouble." Notice who he was dealing with; "wise men, conjurers,
horoscopists and fortune-tellers." (Dan2:27) And when he would not tell
the dream, they replied, "there is no other who can reveal it before
the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." (vs11)

And so, what does Daniel say? "But there is a God in Heaven who reveals
secrets and makes known to King Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the
latter days." (vs28) While Pharaoh's dream was about the following 14
years, Nebuchadnezzar's has been fulfilled, is being fulfilled even
today, and is yet to be completed in the near future.

Daniel's gift from God was so well-known, that Belshazzar said, "I have
even heard of you, that the spirit of the gods in in you.." (Dan5:14)

And so this brings us to the matter of -DISCERNMENT-. What is the 
source of dreams? Do -ALL- dreams come from God? No. The false prophets 
were condemned for proclaiming, "I have dreamed, I have dreamed" 
(Jer23:25) as they "prophesy lies" in God's name. So much of what we 
see today as the modern "great men of god" tighten their faces up, 
squint real hard, making moaning sounds and do a great "hokus-pokus" 
stage act, fits in the same catagory of the conjurers and fortune 
tellers.  Modern psychology also incorporates dreams into their 
'craft'.

Many casual dreamings are the workings of the mind. But some are truly
messages. Notice that God spoke to Jacob and Joseph in dreams. He also
spoke to Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar. Jacob had not yet proclaimed
Jehovah as "-my- God" when God first communicates with him.

We have already spoken in the recent past of demonic dreams. False
"Jesuses" appearing to 'have sex' with women, etc. I have personally
had a dream, that I came to analyze later, was satan's messenger, to
bring me a false message regarding a personal matter.

On the other hand, like Joseph, I have had some dreams 8 years ago,
which have not yet been fulfilled. At least, one of them, I am almost
positive was a message from the Lord, regarding what 'will be'. But I
am waiting to see its outcome.

At this point in Joseph's life, his dreams of his youth have not yet
been fulfilled. And yet, he has grown in the Lord, that God is using
him to proclaim Pharaoh's dreams, even though his own have not yet been
realized. His "faith" in God...to stand before Pharaoh...and proclaim
what 'will be'. Because it was not his own ability. Not even a "gift"
necessarily.

But... "interpretations belong to God". Because God "[declares] the end
from the beginning, and from the past things which were not done,
saying, My purpose shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure."
(Is46:10)

Amen!

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Re: Forgetting - Remembering (Genesis 41-42)

And two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine came..and
Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh, saying, For God has
made me forget all my toil and all my father's house. (41:51)

It was on account-of his -dreams- that Joseph was in Egypt. His
brothers had scorned, "Behold, this dreamer comes...we shall see what
will become of his dreams." (37:19-20) He has interpreted Pharaoh's
dreams and is now ruler in Egypt. But his own dreams have not yet been
fulfilled. After being falsely accused, he was imprisoned. But now, his
faithfulness is finally 'paying off'. He's doing 'OK'. He even has been
given a wife, and is starting a family.

Do you suppose he has really forgotten his family, and doesn't remember
them in his mind? I really doubt that. But his circumstances are such
that whatever tendency to stew over his situation, and 'how' he got
there, is no longer an issue. It is now 'in-the-past' and those wounds
in his memory are fading away.

Many of us have been wounded deeply. Some have been abused. Perhaps a
messy divorce. You grow up your whole life thinking your family
consists of certain people, and then suddenly, you discover your
parent/s had a 'former life' which you knew nothing about. Perhaps you
have spent years in prison, having been falsely accused of some crime.
Maybe the circumstances that came your way physically injured you so
that you are now permanently in a wheel chair and/or bed-ridden.

One can piously chant the little righteous -placebos- of "just take it 
to the Lord in prayer" ... "just turn it over to the Lord, and let Him 
take care of it"  And those who have not undergone what you're going 
through, expect you to 'instantly' be "cured" of all your heart-ache, 
because you "turned it over to the Lord". And if, after a year or two,
your heart still 'aches' over it, they "counsel" you to "put the past
in the past" and "get -on- with your life".

Well, you who have actually experienced it, know that it just "don't
work that way" does it! In Joseph's case, while he obviously was being
faithful in prison, he clearly did not desire to -stay- there, did he.
He asks the cupbearer, "but remember me when it is well with
you...please...make mention of me to Pharaoh." (40:14)  I really would
like to get outta here.

While we go through the tough times, a person who is In Christ, and 
seeking Him with the whole heart -will- experience "He restores my 
soul" (Ps23:3)  But the heart can still ache, even when the soul comes 
to peace in Christ. Ultimately, God promises to wipe the tears from our
eyes (Rev7:17,21:4) as the former things are no longer remembered.
(Is65:17) And, even in this life we can experience, from God, a measure
of "forgetting" the past with it's pain.

But then, eventually, righteousness will be vindicated. Truth will win
out.

Remember Joseph's dreams? That 11 stars bowed to him. That 11 sheaves
of grain bowed to his. (37:7,9) Well, the famine hits, just as he told
Pharaoh. And his brothers come to buy food, "and Joseph's brothers came
and bowed down themselves before him, their faces to the earth." (42:6)

"And Joseph REMEMBERED the DREAMS which he dreamed of them..." (vs9)
At long last, that which he knew to be from God, which everyone told
him he was "crazy" about...came to pass!

But notice, again, God's 'order' of things. God did not fulfill
Joseph's dreams, and -THEN- Joseph came to peace... BECAUSE the dreams
were fulfilled. No. Joseph's faith grew; his peace in his circumstances
came about when the dreams had not yet been fulfilled. "Until the time
that his word came [to pass], the Word of the LORD refined him"
(Ps105:19) He learned to trust the Lord "with all his heart" (Pr3:5)
first. The Gallery-of-Faith lists all the people.. "these all, having
obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise.."
(Heb11:39) Christ had not died, and yet they believed. Joseph lived by
"the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
(Heb11:1)

Joseph now knows. His righteous faith is vindicated. But his brothers
haven't the slightest inkling of a clue of their impending nightmare!

Stay tuned...

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Re: Time for proving (Genesis 42)

"You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land." (vs9)

Oh...Joseph! You are not very "forgiving". Bringing up old animosities.
Dredging up the past! Can't you just "forgive and forget"?? Can't you
just let "bygones be bygones"? Don't you know that "time heals all
wounds"? There's a famine! They're in 'hard times'. Don't kick 'em when
they're down!  C'mon, Joseph...lighten up!! What they need right now is
luuuv and compassion. You need to let them know you "caaaare"!!

"No, my lord, but your servants have come...." (vs10)

"It's as I said...you are spies!" (vs14)

Joseph, don't you hear them? They are showing you respect. They have
just called you "lord" and said they are your "servants". Why are you
being so nasty to them? Haven't they learned their lesson? Well, no.
"Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him." (vs8) Some
"learning" is now necessary for them. Joseph has learned a lot during
the 13 (or so) years he's been in Egypt. Let us observe how he guides
his brothers to truth with a bit of "tough love".

"We've come to buy food. We are all one man's sons. We are honest; your 
servants are not spies." (vs11)

You're honest, huh!? Well, let's see about that!

"We are twelve brothers...the youngest is this day with our father, and 
one is not." (vs13)

Uh! What's this? One "is not"...? Of course, they don't realize that 
-he- is the one who "is not". Not yet -quite- as "honest" as they 
claim, eh!

OK...if things are as you say they are, prove it. Bring your younger 
brother here. (vs15)

Now, notice how quickly their conscience comes to the fore. They know 
it's going to be like pulling eye-teeth, to get their father to release 
Benjamin to travel with them. And it dredges up in their memory "why"
their father is so protective of him. Because they sold Joseph. You
see, in his present good fortune, Joseph had begun to 'forget' his
captivity. When his brother arrived, he "remembered the dreams". Now,
the brothers' memories are being spurred on in preparation for their
learning time.

Notice, he puts them "into custody three days." (vs17) What does it
feel like to be locked up? Is this as bad as that pit they had dropped
Joseph into? (37:22) After three days of stewing, they are released to
go home, but Simeon is "bound before their eyes" (42:24) after they
have been frantically remembering amongst themselves how cruel they had
been to Joseph, how he had struggled and cried out, begging for them to
not treat him as they had. (vs21) And Reuben suggests that their
'present' experience is "pay-back" time. They are beginning to see what
it "felt like". Receiving in some measure, what they had dished out.
They are learning the "Golden Rule" principle, "And as you desire that
men should do to you, you do also to them likewise." (Lk6:31)

You see, they are beginning to understand their "guilt". (42:21)

OK...what about those dreams? As they had contrived evil against him, 
they had taunted, "we shall see what will become of his dreams."
(37:20) (We won't repeat the whole story; it is well-known. If you
don't know it, please read these chapters in Genesis.) But Joseph's
special cup is found in Benjamin's grain sack. They are all herded back
to Joseph, and "they fell before him to the earth." They are -bowing-
again. And Joseph 'taunts' them a bit. "Do you not know that one like
me can certainly divine?" (44:15) Now, we know Joseph's true heart;
because he has already said that interpretations belong to God (40:8)
and that God was the one communicating to Pharaoh. (41:16) And at the
end of the book, when Jacob dies, his brothers will come around again,
in fear of reprisals, and Joseph is going to calm them by pointing them
back to God, "am I in the place of God?" (50:19) But for right now,
they need to face up to their past guilt. Not only did they sell Joseph
into slavery... they had done so because he had been a messenger of
God's word, through the dreams. So they need to understand their
rejection of God.

And then... one more person needs to learn a little something. Remember 
self-centered Jacob? Poor me, poor me!  ..??

Moaning about letting Benjamin go, 'If anything should happen to him, I
would die." (42:38)  And Jacob's continual moanings were so ingrained
into the whole family that the brothers repeated the family's 
"dysfunction-mantra".  "The boy cannot leave his father" because "he 
[Jacob] would die." (44:22)

Well, you see... Joseph had once been in that spot, too. He had been
"daddy's boy." And when he was sold, he probably thought -he- was going
to die. But as he grew in the Lord, he realized that in God's strenth
he was surviving just fine. He also knew that Benjamin would be fine.
And, that his father would -NOT- die! He recognized the selfish parent
who was clinging to "his" child... and -manipulating- the ENTIRE FAMILY
to cater to his own private selfishness, having them all wrapped around
his little finger. 'had them walking around him on 'egg-shells'.

You see, children are to obey their parents (Eph6:1) and to "honor"
them. (6:2)  But fathers are also not to provoke their children to
wrath. (6:4) They are to bring them up in the nurture and admonition
"of the Lord". -NOT- some sort of sick, selfish, glomming co-dependency.

[Ed: no, I don't have much use for psychology. But most error
-contains- 'truth' and these terms seem somehow 'appropriate' at this
point. This family is -SICK-! Major Big Time!!]

So...bring Benjamin, or you don't see my face again. It's OK. Your
father will "survive" just fine.

Well, ultimately Joseph discloses his identity to his brothers. They
are fearful, but he is giving them assurance. Repentance (in their
hearts) and forgiveness is yet in the future. But Joseph invites them
all to move to Egypt to be sustained through the rest of the famine.
So, as he knows their hearts, as he sends them on their way to bring
the rest of the family down, after becoming aware that he is, indeed,
alive; knowing their tendency to bicker, he exhorts...

"Do not quarrel along the way" (45:24)

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Re: Messianic prophecy: From Judah, the Scepter (Genesis 49)

"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between
his feet, until Shiloh come. And the obedience of the peoples to him."
(49:10)

What a blessed little interjection into the progression of this family.
Another prophecy of the -future- "Messiah". Years and years of family
squabbles, moves, confrontations; and more recently, deliverance from
famine at the hand of the sibling that was sold into slavery, and is
now ruling Egypt. Jacob is old, and it's now time to bless his sons.

"And one of the elders said to me, Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the
tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book..."
(Rev5:5)

Notice the wording here. The "Root" of David. Wasn't Jesus born -after-
David? But, doesn't a root come -before- and -support- the rest of the
plant? Jesus said to the Jews, "Your father Abraham rejoiced (past
tense) to see My day, and he saw and was glad." (Jn8:56) As the Jews
would argue with Jesus about His identity, He gave them a thought to
ponder, something David had said, "Jehovah said to my Lord, Sit at My
right hand until I place Your enemies as Your footstool." (Lk20:42-43)
And He asks, If David calls the Messiah his "Lord" how is He is "son"?
Jesus identifed Himself to them, "Before Abraham came into being, I
AM!" (Jn8:58) Jesus was/is Deity, come in the flesh. They didn't
recognize Him 2000 years ago; and they still do not today, as they
insist that the "root" is "Israel".

So then, the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" and notice Jacob's blessing,
"Judah is a lion's whelp." (Gen49:9) Judah was the 'whelp' of the
Messiah who was to be -physically- born later, because He actually
"inhabits eternity". (Is57:15)

And thus, "Judah, may your brothers praise you.." (vs8) Well, not
really Judah...but his "Seed", the Messiah. The One in Whom all
families of the earth were to be blessed. (12:3)  As God "has highly
exalted Him" and to Him "every knee should bow" and "every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.." (Phil2:9-11)

"The scepter shall not depart..."  as Jesus will "break/rule them with
a rod of iron" (Ps2:9,Rev2:27,12:5)

Notice the little detail of Jesus' "triumphal entry" to Jerusalem,
riding on a colt of a donkey. "Binding his foal to the vine, and his
ass's colt to the choice vine." (vs11) His work of salvation, the
symbol of the covenant of His blood with the wine. (Lk22:20,1Cor11:25)

But also, the wine, the "blood" and "grapes" a symbol of His coming
wrath as He treads the winepress of "anger and the wrath of Almighty
God" (Is63:3-4,Rev19:13,15)

Jacob speaks of "the obedience of the peoples to him." (Gen49:10b) That
will truly be the case when He has conquered and is seen with the name
"KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." (Rev19:16b)

Amen!

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Re: Jacob learns: Contentment (Genesis 49)

"And Jacob said to Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are
a hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have been the days of the
years of my life..." (47:9)

Oh, poor Jacob! All those years, and -STILL- he has a problem with his
'self-esteem'!! By now you'd think he'd'uv learned how to rely on
him-SELF better, and be 'happy with him-SELF'.

Well, no! "Self" is what was always in-the-way most of his life.
Remember "poor me, poor me"? God, if You'll do this for ME, then I'll
follow You. But, you'd better take care of me...or else. Well, his
lifetime of self-indulgence has just been shattered. All the while he
has been sorrowing at his -own- loss, over Joseph; God has been making
Joseph into a ruler of the world's largest, most powerful nation. And
Jacob has just found out how all his years of sorrow were for naught.
His self-indulgence was just that...for SELF. Wasted! While Joseph was
out of his [Jacob's] hands and presumed 'protection', God was doing a
much better job of caring for Joseph than Jacob ever could have!

So, what kinds of things is Jacob learning? Remember the blessing he 
stole from Esau? Perhaps, if he hadn't jumped in there, God would have 
taken care of the arrangements? Well, it comes time to bless his own 
sons. First, he blesses Joseph's two, Ephraim and Manasseh, with their 
own special blessings, including them into the sphere as "one of his
own." And notice, he deliberately blesses the younger over the older.
(48:14,17) Joseph brings them to him so the eldest would 'naturally'
come under Jacob's 'right' hand. But Jacob -crosses- his hands to
bless.  One thing he has learned is that God's ways are not like man's
ways. As Isaiah would proclaim from God later, "For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My
thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa55:9) "O the depth of the riches both
of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments,
and His ways past finding out!" (Rom11:33)

And then, Jacob has finally come to a point of "contentment". He has 
'now' blessed the rest of his 12 sons, each with their individual
unique blessing (49:28) and then gives instructions regarding burying
himself when he dies.  And he says, Bury me with my fathers Abraham and
Isaac, where they are buried, where they buried their wives, and where
I buried my wife... "Leah" (vs31)

OK...but... wasn't it "Rachel" that he "loved"? (29:18-30,etc.) But
Laban had swapped sisters on his wedding night, and Leah was his
'first' wife? God had decreed that the man "shall cleave to his wife
and they shall be one flesh." (2:24) Again, 'poor me, poor me' Laban
did this 'to me' but I really wanted Rachel!! And there were continual
years of family squabbles. Well, Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin,
and Jacob was left with Leah. Aside from her being the "legal" -first-
wife, his tone at his death-bed seems to be one of 'contentment' in the
fact that Leah was -his- "wife".

He has been through a lot in his life. A lot of struggles, trying to do
things on his own. God crippling him so that he could see God at work.
And finally, after time-after-time of God working in this way, it
finally has sunk in. Finally, at his death-bed...contentment. (49:33)

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing
into the world, and it is clear that we can carry nothing out. But
having food and clothing, we will be content...and follow after
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness"
(1Tm6:6-8,11)

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Re: Brothers learn: Forgiveness (Genesis 50)

"And when Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said,
Joseph will perhaps hate us, and will certainly repay us all the evil
which we did to him..." (50:15)

Remember in the lesson from chapter 42 how we observed that, while
Joseph had revealed himself to his brothers, and brought his family to
Egypt to sustain them, there had not yet been repentance and
forgiveness...? That that was yet to be in the "future"? They had
spoken amongst themselves in his hearing of the evil they had done.
Joseph assured them that he would take care of them. But they have
never yet, actually, come to Joseph and said, "We're sorry for what we
did! Is it possible for you to forgive us?"

Let us observe a few things here. First of all, their "motivation".
Fear. Jacob is now dead. Joseph would have refrained from retribution
out of deference to his father. But now, that "buffer" is gone. We must
contrive. So, what do they do?

"Your father commanded before he died, saying, so shall you say to
Joseph..." (50:16) The lies continue! 'Dad asked that you would forgive
us.' Well, if 'dad' asked that of Joseph, why does it not record such a
conversation occuring between Jacob and Joseph? There were quite a few
years there. Or...why was that not part of Jacob's death-bed wish to
Joseph? "Don't forget your promise to forgive them..." But, if we
contrive our communication in this manner, how can Joseph refuse on the
memory of the 'dearly departed'?  They, obviously, have not yet learned 
the lessons that their father and Joseph have, about God's workings.

But notice, they do the best they know to do. Let's also make a mental 
note of the situation here. Joseph is living in palacial grandeur. He's 
the 'hero' of the famine years, highly respected. World-renouned. And 
the brothers are farmers and ranchers, 'despicable' to the Egyptians.  
(46:34) So-to-speak, living on the 'other side of the tracks'. Think of 
the effort that must have been required to get past "receptionists" and
"security" to contact Joseph.

So they come and prostrate themselves before Joseph. 'We've done you
evil. Please forgive us. We are your servants.' (50:17-18) Let's not
forget something else here. Eleven of these are -older- than Joseph.
They are "family". But they bring with them the attitude of the
prodigal son, "I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me like
one of your hired servants." (Lk15:19) This is "humility" exemplified!

It says, "Joseph wept when they spoke to him." (50:17b) Remember, back 
when he heard them speaking amongst themselves about how they had 
treated him, he had gone off to weep? (42:24) Way back then he was 
"ready to forgive" them. (Ps86:5) But they were not yet repenting. They 
were not yet ready to receive the forgiveness he would have extended, 
had they apologized and confessed.

Well... notice Joseph's forgiveness! 'It's as though it never
happened!' How do we know this?

First of all, "don't be afraid...am I in the place of God?" (vs19) 
During the "proving" phase, he had taunted them with, "Do you not know 
that one like me can certainly divine?" (44:15) But now, since they 
hold him in awe, and they are now humbled, he daresn't usurp God's 
position before them. 'Let's get one thing straight, I'm -merely- a
man, too.'

We also see Joseph's growth and trust in God. Even though his brothers
'physically' roughed him up and sold him into slavery, Joseph came to
understand that "all things work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Rom8:28) You
see, God had 'called' Joseph to the life he was living. He had
announced it through those dreams all those years ago. He had
"purposed" the matter, and had made it "come to pass" (Isa14:24) So, 
while his brothers had done the dirty deed, it was -God- Who brought 
Joseph to Egypt.

So, the forgiveness consists of Joseph, in effect saying, 'You think 
-you- did this to me. You didn't do it. God did it.' Because as Israel 
would later remember in the Psalms, "[God] sent a man before them, 
Joseph, being sold for a servant." (Ps105:17) You meant evil to me, but 
God meant it for good. (50:20) And you see again, Joseph's 
'willingness' to forgive them back during the famine, when he said the 
same thing there. "God sent me before you to preserve life." (45:5)
And 'back there' he also said, "you did not send me here." (45:8)

You see...true forgiveness makes the 'account' as though the sin never 
happened. The brothers are saying, "sorry, -we-did- it!" And 
forgiveness says, "No, you didn't. It's not ACCOUNTED to you." The same
way our salvation is "reckoned" and/or "accounted" to us. (Rom4,etc.)
And thus the proclamation, "As far as the east is from the west, so far
has He removed our transgressions from us." (Ps103:12)

However, a transgression -did- occur. When David had slept with
Bathsheba and had her husband killed, and is now confessing before God,
he says, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done evil in Your
sight.." (Ps51:4) The brothers -know- they've done wrong. They come
prostrating themselves to Joseph. And Joseph's forgiveness says, I hold
no grudges against you. You didn't -really- do it to me; because God
sent me here. When you did wrong, you did so against God. "Am I in the
place of God?" (vs19)

So, now, what is the relationship? Well, OK, I've forgiven you, but 
don't bother me anymore. So you think times are rough? Well, tough luck
to you!  No. It's forgotten. Don't be afraid. Don't continue to "beat
yourselves up" over it. I've forgotten it...you do, too. I'll take care
of you.

And it says, "he comforted them." (50:21)

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and tumult and evil speaking be
put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has
forgiven you." (Eph4:31-32)

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