Bible In One Year – Day 20 (January 20, 2014)

Commentary: Genesis43-45. I used to think that Joseph was trying to retaliate the wrong of his brothers by plotting series of accusations against them. The truth is that, he wanted to be sure if they still have the same horrible character and if Benjamin had not been killed. Judah, Gen37:26-27, suggested Joseph to be sold into slavery, he is now the one begging to be a slave to Joseph, Gen44:33.

Genesis 44:33 “Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.”

Beloved, this is to tell us that what is genuinely revealed by God shall surely prevail against all schemes and evil conspiracies. Revelation could be bound and thrown away, it will florish in that place it is cast for as long as it remained undefiled. There was a grace in the life of Joseph that placed him in a position too high for the hands of his household enemies to reach. God will promote you in the name of Jesus, Psalm30:4-5. Gen45 is very crucial in Joseph’s life and we could learn a great deal from it. 1John4 reflects the nature of God, which is LOVE. It is very difficult for God to hate because His nature is love. Based on His nature, He has compassion for us. His compassion forgave us. His forgiveness reconciled us to Himself through His dear Son, Jesus Christ, John3:16/ Ps78:38. Whoever is born of His Spirit must, in this view, manifest this nature, 1John4:17 (“…as He is, so are we…”). No wonder, anytime Jesus wanted to perform miracle of deliverance and healing, the bible always say “and He had compassion on…”. Without compassion, there is no forgiveness, without forgiveness there is redemption and consequently no restoration or reconciliation.

Romans 5:8-11 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

Everything has its root in the nature of God, which is LOVE. Without the Spirit of God, the heavenly (God’s) nature cannot be expressed through us. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us is what expresses the nature of God through us. The disciples were boastful (Lk10:17-20) and contentious, lacked respect for one another, struggled for position and greatness among themselves, Lk22:24-30. They were just lent a bit of power and authority, but because there was not the fullness of the Holy Spirit in them, they used what they borrowed to fight one another. This is the plight of those who claim to be Christians but without the genuine indwelling of the Holy Spirit; using the garment of salvation to fight one another instead of warring against the devil. When Jesus resurrected and breathed on the disciples, John20:22-23, the nature of God was introduced into them and they could forgive in the power of that nature.

John 20:22-23 “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith to them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted to them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”

To forgive is to bear the cost/pain of the offense of the offender and restore the offender without asking them for any payment. The Holy Spirit started His work in each of them. The evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives after Christ breathed in them was that they were doing things together in harmony and in love. That was why they were with one accord at the upper chamber. So the first thing the Spirit of God brings into a life is LOVE and COMPASSION. This love carries other fruits. Love is the water the tree of power draws from the ground for the health and fruitfulness of that tree. The baptism on the day of Pentecost was just impartation of gift for ministry. If Jesus never introduced God’s nature into them, they would have used that grace at Pentecost against one another. Every gift of the Holy Spirit must be expressed on the platform of love. Believers and church leaders are in two states: before death of Jesus and after death. Those not manifesting the fruit of the Spirit are in the state before death, i.e. flesh has not been crucified with Jesus. The genuinely born again Christians are of the state after resurrection, i.e. they are crucified with Christ, Gal2:20. To love, forgive, tolerate, respect and endure won’t be difficult for them. Joseph demonstrated these attributes of a carrier of the Spirit of God. In Gen45, he showed compassion (v1-2), love and forgiveness (3-4), purpose (v5-8) and reconciliation (v9-12). Question; are you a vessel of mercy and love or a vessel of brutality, envy, jealousy and hatred? (1John4:20-21).

1 John 4:20-21 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

There is a deep mystery in the coming together of Jacob and Joseph which we are going to look into after the next mile in the trip, Gen46-50. Keep the fire burning and alive on the altar of love. Tell somebody about JESUS today!!!