The One Year Bible - Day 25

Two things that struck me today about our passage in Genesis 50. Firstly, it is quite remarkable that Joseph brought much blessing to Egypt. We often see the Bible contrast places like Egypt representing sin or the world and the Promised Land as a relationship with Jesus. Throughout this whole story though, because of Joseph and his resolve and reflection of God in a foreign land, he brought much blessing to them and we can do likewise in otherwise dark situation that we find ourselves in. We cannot assume this will always happen but we likewise cannot assume that it will never happen.

Secondly, after Jacob dies, Joseph's brothers come to Joseph and beg him not to punish them now that their father is not around to protect them. Joseph weeps at the idea he would do this. I thought it was rather like when we have an attitude of fear before Jesus that he is looking to punish us for our sins rather than forgiving us. We have this idea that somehow we are sort of forgiven but in another way, God will punish us for any subsequent sins. How very un-Biblical. If Jesus' job is complete with regards to forgiveness then the forgiveness must apply to subsequent sins otherwise He would have to die again. We are told to approach the throne with confidence which means our attitude should have freedom and authority. We need to remember that we are never effective because of our sinlessness, something that will change over time, we are powerful because He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world!