Godward Thoughts

God assigned the tribes their inheritance and set their boundaries, but He used human leaders to do it.

The rock pictures Jesus Christ who was smitten for us (1 Corinthians 10:4) that we might have the living water of the Holy Spirit within (John 7:37–39). The Egyptian army had been drowned, but the Amalekites were very much alive and did not want Israel in their territory. It was Esau fighting Jacob again (Genesis 36:12). It takes intercession on the mountain as well as intervention in the valley for God’s people to win the victory. Israel watched God defeat Egypt, but now they had to enter the battle themselves and trust God for victory.

Moses experienced some exciting things after leaving Egypt, but now he returns to the everyday duties of life. God balances our lives and gives us enough burdens to keep us humble and enough blessings to keep us happy. Moses returned to his family, told them all that God had done, and then worshiped the Lord with them. Sometimes an outsider can see things more clearly than those who are doing the work, and we must always be open to counsel (Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 13:10). Moses was trying to do all the work himself, and he was not making a distinction between major matters and minor problems. He needed assistants, and he needed priorities. Note that Jethro expected Moses to seek God’s will in the matter (Exodus 18:23). What seems like good counsel from men might be bad counsel in God’s sight, so we must always ask for God’s directions (Acts 27:9–14). Exodus 18:21 describes the kind of leaders God needs, people characterized by ability, the fear of God, honesty, and a hatred for covetousness. (See Acts 6:3 for additional leadership qualities.)

Because we belong to God, we must be separated from sin (Exodus 19:10, 14, 22). God’s people are set apart from the world and unto the Lord. To impress the people with the fear of the Lord, God demonstrated His power at Sinai and warned them not to come near. It was the childhood of the nation, and the people, like children, learned from rewards and punishments. Hebrews 12:18–29 contrasts this experience with that of the New Testament believer today. We must still fear the Lord and respect the boundaries He establishes, but we are invited to “draw near” (Hebrews 10:19–25). The Israelites were not saved from Egypt by obeying the Law, but their obedience enabled them to enjoy all the blessings God had for them.

God knew Pharaoh’s plans and saw to it that Israel was cared for. This is providence, which means “to see before.” No matter what the enemy plans to do to you, God has already taken care of it and will tell you what to do. The pillar that brought light to Israel brought darkness to the enemy. The people of the world are walking in darkness, but God’s people have “the light of life” (John 8:12). The enemy cannot touch you without first encountering God. He opens the way and does the impossible. The next time you are in a seemingly impossible situation, remember what God did for Israel at the Red Sea. The people of Israel never forgot this victory (Psalm 66:6; Psalm 106:9; Psalm 136:13–14). Recalling God’s past help can encourage you as you face future challenges to your faith.

The first recorded song in Scripture (Exodus 15) is a pattern for true worship, for it emphasizes the Lord, who He is, and what He has done for His people. He saves His people (Exodus 15:1–10), guides them to their inheritance (Exodus 15:11–13), glorifies His name (Exodus 15:14–17), and reigns forever (Exodus 15:18). Singing is an important part of the Christian life, for it enables us to praise God and bear witness to others. Our praise should come from the Holy Spirit within (Ephesians 5:18–20) and be based on Scripture (Colossians 3:16). In this way, we worship Him “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

The people went from rejoicing to complaining! It is easy to sing when the circumstances are comfortable, but it takes faith to sing when you are suffering. God tests us in the everyday experiences of life to see whether we will obey Him. He is able to change our circumstances, but He would rather change us.

God did not rescue them from bondage in order to kill them with hunger! (See Romans 8:31–32) Their real problem was that they still had the old appetite and needed to learn to enjoy the new food God had for them. The manna is a picture of Jesus Christ (John 6:30). The manna came only to Israel, and all it could do was sustain physical life. But the Savior came for the whole world, and He gives spiritual life. If the Jews did not appropriate the manna, they died. Sinners must believe on Jesus Christ to receive life.

The rest of Genesis will focus on the story of Joseph. As you read the life of Joseph, you see in him a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Joseph was greatly loved by his father (Genesis 37:3; Matthew 3:17), hated and envied by his brothers (John 15:25; Mark 15:10), plotted against, sold as a slave, arrested unjustly, and made to suffer. But he went from suffering to glory and became the savior of the people who had rejected him.

Tamar’s purpose was good, but her plan was wicked. Leaving the signet and staff was like leaving fingerprints, because each man’s was distinctive. Judah was quick to condemn Tamar for sinning, but what about his own sins toward Joseph and Tamar? Why is this sordid chapter in the Bible? For one thing, we see the contrast between Judah’s sin and Joseph’s victory (Genesis 39), and we realize the importance of purity. But the main reason is to add another link in the Redeemer’s family tree (Genesis 38:29; Ruth 4:18–22; Matthew 1:3). How gracious God is to mention a prostitute like Tamar in the genealogy of the Savior!

The key to Joseph’s conduct was his godly character, and the basis for that character was his recognition that he belonged to God and served Him (Genesis 39:9). “The LORD was with Joseph” is often repeated (Genesis 39:2, 3, 21, 23). The Lord is with us as we work, and we should do our work as unto Him (Ephesians 6:5–8). He is with us when we are tempted and will show us the way to escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must keep away from temptation (Romans 13:14); and if it gets too close, we must run away (2 Timothy 2:22). It is better to flee and lose your garment than fall and lose your character.

Today’s reading begins and ends with a sacrifice. Abraham is asked by God to offer up the son of promise, Isaac, in chapter 22. In chapter 24, Rebekah leaves her home to marry Isaac.

Isaac was a young man when this final test came to Abraham’s faith. A burnt offering was always to be a male animal, was the best the offerer had, and was to be wholly consumed by fire. It was an expression of dedication to God. Abraham knew that Isaac must live since God was going to establish the covenant with him (Genesis 17:19).

On Mount Moriah, Abraham built an altar. When Isaac inquired how they could offer a sacrifice without a sacrificial animal, Abraham responded: “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” (Genesis 22:8). Abraham’s faith had grown over the years until he knew that God never makes a mistake and he believed “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” (Hebrews 11:19).

If we fail to develop our faith, we will be afraid to trust God during great testings and tribulation. Isaac’s willingness to be offered reveals a picture of Christ: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:17-18)