Pharaoh joined in the invitation for Joseph’s family to join
him in Egypt. Joseph had faithfully
served him and he extended a welcome to his entire family, sending lavish gifts
to them to entice the father in particular to come to Egypt. Pharaoh promises to give them the best of the
land of Egypt and they shall eat the fat of the land, sounds a bit like Adam’s
situation in the garden doesn’t it? Good
will be restored to them and surely this will be good for them. Jacob cannot believe this is all true, his
faith is weak, he is numbed in his heart but when he sees all that has been
sent, his spirit is revived and his one desire is to be reunited with Joseph
before he dies. Notice that Joseph
favors Benjamin greatly even now, is that a test, and that his final words to his
brothers as they take his leave is to not quarrel along the way. He never fully trusts them it seems.
Yesterday we were told that in His hometown Jesus could not
do many miracles, only heal a few sick people.
Today’s Gospel begins with “And they (the disciples) cast out many
demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.” They took the authority Jesus gave them,
coupled it with their faith that He had this authority to give, and walked in power
to do what He commanded them to do.
Herod and others presume that Jesus is somehow the spirit of John the
Baptist raised from the dead doing these works.
Why would they come to that conclusion?
We have no record of any miracles being done by John when he was alive,
so why now that he was dead would his spirit be working miracles through
Jesus? If there was power to resurrect,
there was power to do anything. That
seems a logical conclusion and yet the church today knows that Jesus was
resurrected and often our hearts are numb to the power to do great works
today. We need to have our spirits
revived to belief,
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. To love God is to be known by God. Those words are powerful truths. Many in the church believe that knowledge is
key and seek after knowledge in endless Bible studies and there is nothing
wrong with knowing more but as I have said many times, good theology always
leads to powerful doxology. The more we
know about God (theology) should cause us to praise Him more (doxology). If knowledge doesn’t lead us to love and
worship, it is worthless. Loving God for
who He is and what He has done gives us freedom and enables us to move in the
power of His Spirit, revives our Spirit.
The first move in revival is a spirit of worship.
Riches I heed not, nor
man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance,
now and always:
Thou and Thou only,
first in my heart,
High King of Heaven,
my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven,
my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s
joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart,
whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O
Ruler of all.
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