Denton, Texas

We’ll all familiar with the story of Joseph, how he was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, only to become a ruler in Egypt, and save his family from the famine of later years.

The ending of the story tells of a situation quite amusing on first reading.  Joseph carefully instructs his brothers, that when they are asked by Pharaoh, they are to claim they are cattlemen and not sheep herders, for shepherds are an abomination to the Egyptians. 

But as soon as the brothers appear before Pharaoh, they are quick to admit, contrary to their wise brother’s advice that they are sheep herders of long standing.  And not only that, but to aggravate the situation, they insist they need Egypt’s land for their flocks.

These brethren never had the benefit of Paul’s sound instruction in Galatians about reaping and sowing, but they sure learned the lesson from their experience.  They were finished with lying and deceit, regardless of the consequences. 

Someone once said you can see a type of Christ over 125 different ways in Joseph.  But no matter the level of esteem we attach to a man, he’s still just a man.  Joseph was willing to lie to Pharaoh to protect this family, but his brothers would have none of it. 

The brothers laid the truth out, come what may, and God blessed them through Pharaoh for their honesty.  He gave them the best of the land, and made them to be rulers over his cattle. 

Gen 46:33   And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What [is] your occupation?

Gen 46:34   That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, [and] also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd [is] an abomination unto the Egyptians.

Gen 47:1 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they [are] in the land of Goshen

Gen 47:2   And he took some of his brethren, [even] five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh
Gen 47:3   And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What [is] your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants [are] shepherds, both we, [and] also our fathers

Gen 47:4   They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine [is] sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen

Gen 47:5   And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:
Gen 47:6   The land of Egypt [is] before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest [any] men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

Dual (and Dueling) Nature

When we are born again (born from above, regenerated, given the circumcision without hands, etc.) our old Adamic sinful nature is not repaired. Rather, the new spirit, that which is born of God, is placed in beside the old nature. And now, a lifelong struggle begins. Our desire to do good is sometimes overcome by our old nature to sin.

Consider the rose. In it’s pre-bloom form, it is dangerous and has no beauty that we can see. There is no beauty in us when we are born naturally into this world. While the green leaves and stems may show promise of beauty and productiveness, it’s not assured. Later, the rose may bloom and show it’s beautiful fruit (blooms). Yet the beauty is only revealed in the fullness of time. The sharp, stabbing nature of the rose from before remains. It is both beautiful and fragrant, yet dangerous to handle.

Understanding the dual nature the born again child of God possesses helps us to understand what is going on in our lives, and guides us toward making better decisions. We can’t live sinless lives after conversion or our acknowledgement of God.

The Apostle Paul, whom I’m sure we would all agree was born again, knew this inward struggle and described it thusly:

Rom 7:13 ...But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Strange Fire - Does God Accept Our Excuses?

I’ve heard every good excuse for missing worship services – in fact, I’ve used most of them myself over the years.  Kids have a ball game scheduled Sunday pretty early (it happens).  Relatives came into town over the weekend.  Have to take or pick up someone from the airport.  Woke up angry, depressed, upset, tired.  Family reunion this afternoon.  Couldn’t get moving.  Weather looked like it could turn.  You get the idea. 

We always rationalize our absence with “God understands.”   And since we put so much emphasis on not judging one another, then the church should understand as well.  There are just some things more important than meeting on Sunday morning. 

Does God understand?  I read in the Old Testament about a worship service that was interrupted by Aaron’s two sons, placing strange fire on the altar and both of them being struck dead.  Moses instructs some relatives to carry the boys out so the service can continue. 

If anyone ever had an excuse to be away from church services, it was Aaron.  He had lost both his sons in an instant and was not allowed to grieve at all, but immediately was pressed into returning to his duties with God.

 How important is our reasonable service?  It sounds like God takes it pretty seriously. 

Is our excuse for missing services as good as Aaron's?

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

 Hbr 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 Read the case of strange fire and the consequences in Leviticus, chapter 10.

Lev 10:1  And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 

Naked in the World

Sometimes the obscure verses that appear out of place end up being the ones that hold much rich teaching.  The two verses below, in the Gospel of Mark fall into that category.  

Mar 14:51  And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about [his] naked [body]; and the young men laid hold on him: Mar 14:52   And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

Perhaps this “story inside a story” is to teach us about the scapegoat – one who goes free while the other bears the sins… 

Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Our righteousness is the righteousness of Christ.  It’s all we have.  And when we make the decision to depart from the church – from His righteousness and go back into the world, we truly are naked and exposed to our sin and depravity.  

Only with the linen, the righteousness of the saints – the covering of the Lord can we feel truly dressed while we continue in these mortal bodies. 

Hbr 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.