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Date: Tue, 26 Dec 1995 08:59:57 +-100
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: ChrExp, The Scriptures opened, 63
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Contents
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1. Genesis 47:7-10 - Jacob's life on earth
2. Isaiah 6:5 - Man sees his uncleanness in God's presence
3. Ephesians 6:24 - The love of Christ
1. Genesis 47:7-10 - Jacob's life on earth
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Weekly reading: Vayigash: Genesis 44:18-47:27.
Genesis 47:7-10
7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh:
and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art
thou? 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my
pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days
of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of
the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.
10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.
After Jacob had come in Egypt to dwell there, he was brought by Joseph
his son before the king, before Pharaoh. When he was set there before
him, we read in our text: "and Jacob blessed Pharaoh". Jacob, being a
holy patriarch, blessed and greeted Pharaoh in a special and worthy
way. He blessed Pharaoh. Undoubtedly, he has expressed his thank to
the king, that he was allowed to dwell in Egypt because of the hunger.
He must have wished also prosperity to the king, in the Name of the
God of his fathers Abraham and Isaac. When Jacob had blessed the king,
Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How many are the days of thy life? The answer
of Jacob on this question is worthy of our special attention. Here you
have his answer:
The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty
years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been,
and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of
my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.
The first think that stands out in his answer is, that he reckons the
time of his life by "days". He speaks of "the days of the years" of
his life on earth. Jacob lives by the day. Day after day, he needs
God. Day after day, his life and his all is in God's hand. Let's learn
from Jacob's answer, that we should live by the day, and that we daily
pray God for His protecting hand over us. Let's also listen to and
learn from the words of Moses. He says in Psalm 90:12, "So teach us to
number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Let's
number our days, and let's keep in mind that the number soon will be
full. The days of our time on earth being short, let's apply our
hearts unto wisdom. Let we not let pass the days in vain, or in doing
idly things, but let we use our short time on earth in true wisdom.
The true wisdom, that is the fear of the LORD.
Another think that is striking in Jacob's answer to the king
Pharaoh is, that he calls his lifetime on earth a "pilgrimage". He
says that the days of the years of his pilgrimage are an hundred and
thirty years". As we know, a pilgrim has no fixed place to dwell, but
he is on journey, until he reaches his goal. The pilgrim is going to a
holy place. That was also Jacob's goal. He did not make this temporary
life a goal in itself, but he used that life during his pilgrimage on
earth. This life was not his goal, but his aim was to reach the holy
place, namely heaven. To heaven, and to God; that was his goal. The
heart of the holy man was in heaven, with God. And this life down was
but a hold-up. It delayed his entrance in heaven. Yet it was God Who
had determined the number of his days on earth. And Jacob had to live
them, to perform his task here down. But his ultimate goal was not
this life, because he was on pilgrimage. The sanctuary, the heavenly
sanctuary, that was his desire. Let we also learn from this. Let we
not make this earth our place of rest, nor put our hearts and desires
on it. When we keep in mind that we are on pilgrimage, we will
understand Solomon's prayer: (1 Chron 29:15) "For we are strangers
before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the
earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding." We also will
understand the words of the author of the 199th Psalm, verse 19: "I am
a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me."
Another thing in Jacob's answer, that is important for us, is that he
says, "few and evil have the days of the years of my life been".
Though his years were a hundred and thirty years, yet he call them a
few. Besides, these years have also been evil. When we remember what
evil things have happened to this man, we understand why his days have
been evil. He fled from Esau, because his life was in danger. Then he
worked day and night on the field, bore the heath of the day, and the
cold of the night, and when the time was there that he got his wife,
another was substituted in her stead. Having two wives, they often had
words. There was not much peace in Jacob's family. When he returned to
Canaan, after having fled rashly from Laban, he feared Esau. Being in
Canaan, he had no fixed abode, and his sons sold Joseph to Egypt,
Joseph his most beloved son. Being thus robbed of his son, also his
daughter was defiled, and he fled from that place. And many more is
there to tell of Jacob's life. No wonder that he called his lifetime
evil. Let's learn from this that we not expect, when young, to have a
happy life on earth. That is not sure. That is a dream, but not
reality. "For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our
years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore
years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years,
yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and
we fly away. (Ps. 90:9,10)
Jacob says that the days of his fathers were also a pilgrimage.
Also his father expected another place, different from this earth
down. It is sure that "they that say such things declare plainly that
they seek a country." (Heb 11:14) Though they lived in a country; no,
though they even lived in the promised land Canaan, yet they sought
another country. Canaan was not the end of God's promised; it was a
shadow. Canaan was not the land of the rest. It shadowed forth to the
faithful another abode, namely heaven. The unbelievers didn't notice
this, but they imagined that God's promise was completely fulfilled
when He had given them this promised land. But the faithful, as
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, plainly declared that they were on
pilgrimage, and therefore sought another country. All believers
"desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."
(Heb 11:16)
Reader, this life on earth is temporal, and we should look for a
better land and city. Let's take all pains to enter into that city
above. Though we not neglect our duties here down, let our hearts be
with God. Let we lift up our heads, and, though we are oppressed by
all kinds of evils here down, yet put our trust in God, Who sits on
the throne above and rules all.
2. Isaiah 6:5 - Man sees his uncleanness in God's presence
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Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean
lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine
eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
These are the words of Isaiah, the prophet. He got a vision of the
LORD. In the year that king Uzziah died, he saw also the Lord sitting
upon a throne. He saw Him high and lifted up, and His train filling
the temple. The invisible God showed Himself to Isaiah, not in reality
because God is a Spirit, but in a vision. The throne, whereon the Lord
sat, was His symbol of His ruling power, and His power to judge the
whole earth. Isaiah also saw God's helpers standing by. He saw the
seraphims standing above the throne. They all were ready to execute
God's commands as soon as He would give them. Everyone of them had six
wings. Two of them they used to cover their face because of the
holiness, brightness and glory of God, which they were not able to
endure. Two other wings they used to cover their feet, and the other
two wings, they used to fly. This shows that they are ready to obey
God promptly. While Isaiah was beholding this glorious vision, he also
heard somewhat. He heard one angel cry unto another, saying: "Holy,
holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts". And, "the whole earth is full of
his glory". God is so holy that, when we once have declared His
holiness, we should declare that for the second time, and so on. There
is no end of God's holiness. And besides that the heaven was filled
with God's glory, also the earth is full of that. This shows that
every creature, regardless of his own chosen religion, ought to reject
all own choices, and to praise the LORD of heaven and earth. The
inhabitants of the earth, made of clay and dust of the earth, have no
liberty to choose whom to serve. It is their duty to serve God only,
and reject all other gods. Isaiah also saw that the posts of the door
moved at the voice of the angel that cried, and that the house was
filled with smoke. What this smoke was, we can but guess. It can be a
sign of God's wrath, the blowing of His nose, because of the
disobedience of the Jews of that time.
When Isaiah had seen this all, and after he had heard all these
great things - after he had seen God's glory, God's host, God's wrath;
in short, after Isaiah had seen God, he at the same moment saw
himself. A poor, black sinner. God, sitting in heaven, on His throne,
is so high, majestic, holy, undefiled and glorious, that Isaiah at the
same moment felt his own sins, uncleanness, filth and disobedience. In
short, he saw that God is God, and that he himself was a man. When he
had seen God, he said "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man
of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips:
for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." He heard that
all the angels praised the Lord, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD
of hosts". And Isaiah himself? Did he also praise God? No, he was
silent. That is why he calls his lips unclean. All the heavenly host
praised the LORD, but the entire earth was silent. Men ought to praise
the LORD, but they all shut their mouths. They praise their wives when
they have prepared a good meal, but when have they ever praised God?
They praise themselves when they imagine to have done something
praiseworthy, but when will they ever praise God? Woe is me, because
everybody in heaven praises God, and I either keep my mouth or praise
the creatures. Woe is me, because, besides that I don't perform my
duty in praising God, I also dwell in the midst of a people with the
same uncleanness. "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of
unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips".
As long as we are on earth, and engage in these worldly business down,
we are blind for God's glory and praiseworthyness. But only when we
have seen "the King, the LORD of hosts", we begin to get some
knowledge of the truth. Everybody therefore, who not falls down and
loathes himself because of his sins, has not seen God. When the people
tell you that they love God, but you don't ever hear them of the vices
of their own sins, don't believe them. Learn not from them, but learn
from Isaiah. As soon as he saw God, he saw that God should be honoured
both in heaven and on earth, and he began to say: "Wo is me, for I am
undone; I am a man of unclean lips; I dwell in the midst of unclean
people".
After this, God did not leave Isaiah in despair because of his
unclean lips. Isaiah also not began to clean himself, by trying to
praise God. But another thing happened. When Isaiah had said that he
was an unclean man, then flew one of the seraphim unto him. He had a
live coal in his hand. He had taken that coal with the tongs from off
the altar. And that live coal, he laid upon Isaiah's mouth. Doing
that, he said to the undone and perplexed prophet: "Lo, this has
touched thy lips. Therefore thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin
is purged".
3. Ephesians 6:24 - The love of Christ
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Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
The apostle here says that grace be with all them that love our Lord
Jesus Christ. Whenever there is one that loves our Lord Christ, then
grace will be with him. He should not love the Lord with the love
wherewith the world loves, what is actually no love but self-love. But
he should love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, or, with
incorruption. Then grace will be with him or her.
What is that, to love Christ in sincerity? This is an important
question, because many think they love God, while they in reality
don't. They have some good thoughts of the Jesus they have sometimes
heard of, but for the rest they go on own ways. Loving in sincerity
does not consist in thinking to love; but the sincere love is real and
effective.
Jesus once asked Peter whether he loved Him, even after his
denial of Christ. "When they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto
him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed
my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love
thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third
time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because
he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him,
Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus
saith unto him, Feed my sheep." (Joh 21:15-17) The love of Peter
became visible therein, that he denied all own desires, and entirely
devoted himself to the feeding of Christ's sheep.
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in
sincerity. What more does the love of our Lord Jesus Christ mean? What
more does that imply? The sincere love of our Lord Jesus means that
the love of Him is much more important then any other love. Though we
love our beloved, yet the love of Christ goes higher. At least, so it
should be. This we can learn from Christ's own words. He said, in His
teaching, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy
of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy
of me." Matthew 10:37. So, if one loves his father or mother more then
Christ, then he is not worthy of Him. When one is put before the
choice, and he chooses for his father, mother, son, daughter, or any
other relation, then he shows that he is not worthy of Christ. His
love of God is defective or entirely absent. Further, Christ says that
"he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy
of me." (Matthew 10:38) Again, we see here that self-denial is
necessary. Reader, if you do not take up your cross, and don't follow
after Jesus, then you are not worthy of Him. The people loving Christ
our Lord in sincerity go after Him. They daily take up their cross,
and follow after their Shepherd.
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in
sincerity. These are the words of Paul. What more does it mean to love
Jesus Christ in sincerity? Are we, through faith in Him, no longer
bound to obey the commandments? Can we, being once saved, heedlessly
sin on? No. Because if anybody should do that, he clearly shows that
he does not love Christ in truth. Because the words of our Saviour
are: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Joh 14:15. Because of the
love towards Christ, one will do His will, and keep His commandments.
He does so, because Christ requires it of him, and out of love, he
will do all Christ asks. Yes, the person that loves God and Christ in
sincerity, will keep the commandments. Also in other places, Jesus
says that. "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is
that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and
I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." Joh 14:21. The
person that has and does God's will, is the one that loves Christ, and
he will be loved of the Father. Moreover, Christ will reveal Himself
to that person, and will shine in his heart with His gracious
influences. And in yet another place, Christ says: "If ye keep my
commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my
Father's commandments, and abide in his love." Joh 15:10.
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in
sincerity. But "if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be
Anathema. Maranatha." 1 Corinthians 16:22. Important is whether one
loves our Saviour and Lord, our Shepherd that laid down His life for
us, our Redeemer Who redeemed us with the price of His blood. Grace
will be with him that loves Christ, but the curse will be upon the
person that does not so. Decisive is whether one loves Christ in
sincerity.
How is it with you, reader? Keep in mind that this love is
important. And that love is not some feeble feeling or any vague
emotion, but the sincere love is strong and active. It denies own
desires, and daily takes up the cross to follow after Christ. It keeps
His commandments and does His will. And then, He will be with you, and
reveal Himself to you. How is it with you, reader? "Examine
yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." (2
Corinthians 13:5) Examine your faith and your love, whether they be
true or not.
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chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
Institute Practical Bible-education
Web: https://christian.net/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
Written by Teus Benschop -- t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-063.txt
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