June 25, 2006
Scripture:
Scripture:
Can we look at a verse in Numbers 18; this chapter has the special responsibilities of the tribe of Levi. V. 7: “Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift …” and these are the words that came to me: “… and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.” We have been rejoicing at the words of Joseph to his brethren, “Come near unto me.” Of course, as we say those words, it makes us think of how they apply to us today. The Lord’s desire is for us to be near to Him. We should not only want to be where He is, but have Him near in our souls. As we read this verse, we remember the fact that the people of Israel were near to God, and all the other nations around them were strangers, there was no place for them near to the Lord; if they came near, it was death. Did this satisfy the love we have been reading, singing, and thinking about? We know it couldn’t; that love went out to the whole world. But there were barriers: the question of their sins and the fact that they were gentiles. Oh, how precious to know that love found a way, though at a great cost. That love we thought of this morning made it possible for us to draw near. It paid the price with the blood of atonement. Not only can we come near as the Levites, but we have more. They were blocked by a veil; but God rent that veil from the top to the bottom. Oh, think of the love that could take us from an outside place and bring us in! It is not only for our benefit, but for His as well. One day this nearness will be complete, and we will be with Him in glory. And when He comes at the appearing, we will be with Him. “O blessed Saviour is Thy love so full, so vast, so free?”
EG Hymn 292 – What will it be to dwell above, Prayer Genesis 43:1–34 • By the end of this chapter, Joseph has still not revealed himself to his brothers. He could not count what they had done lightly. They had sinned against him and his father. But the chapter begins with their running out of food. Israel told them to go to Egypt to buy more, but Judah reminds him that the governor commanded them not to return unless they bring their youngest brother with them. Finally, Israel agrees to let them take Benjamin, but he also suggests they take a present to Joseph. This reminds us of Adam or Cain, who both tried to do things of themselves that would please God; we cannot do that. The brothers also took double money, because of the money they had previously found in their sacks. As they left, Israel said, “If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” H did not have much faith in God; but he did say that God might give them mercy. When they got to Egypt, they were taken to Joseph’s house. They thought it was because they had not paid for the corn last time, so they explained what had happened to the steward. He said that God had given them a treasure, and that he had their money. Joseph’s servants gave them water and food for their horses, which shows how much Joseph cared for them. When Joseph came in, he didn’t say, “Thanks for the great present”; he asked the welfare of their father and blessed Benjamin. Seeing Benjamin affected him emotionally, so he went out, wept, washed his face and came back for the meal. He arranged his brothers to sit in order of their age; this made them wonder how this man knew so much about them. The last verse tells us they were merry, reminding us of the feast at the end of the parable of the prodigal son. Joseph wanted to celebrate that all his brothers were with him.
Hebrews 11:8–10 • There is quite a bit written about Abraham in this chapter, but that is not really surprising considering that he is sometimes called the Father of the Faithful. He is also mentioned in Romans 4. It is a marvelous story we can read about him in Genesis. What we read today gives us his response to God’s call. God calling someone was a new thing on the earth. Throughout the Old Testament, God calls a number of people, starting with Abraham, which leads to the calling of Israel out of Egypt. We are a called people, 11 Timothy 1:8 & 9. This scripture is not speaking of Timothy’s calling as an evangelist, but of his calling, and ours, as Christians, out of the world and into our inheritance. Abraham was called out of his land into God’s blessing. Naturally, this changed his whole life. After the Deluge, the state of things got worse than before. Before the flood, there were no idols; in the postdiluvian world, people began to make gods of their own. Notice that God did not ask Abraham to try to clean things up; He only asked him to get out and go to a new country. Similarly, we are told to be separated from the world around us. In Genesis 12, God told Abraham to leave His country, kindred, and family. He was to completely separate himself from it all. When he did, he would find out where God wanted him to go. So Abraham did, but he did not separate himself completely: he took his father (Acts 7:4) and Lot along. This call of God is like God choosing Abraham for Himself, bringing him into a relationship with the God of Glory (Acts 7:1) and looking for a response. That response shows Abraham’s faith in God’s promise (this is the beginning of what is sometimes called the dispensation of promise, which continues until the giving of the law). This promise involves something impossible, but Abraham still has the faith to believe it. LF Hymn 212 – Called from above, and heavenly men by birth, Prayer