March 22: Genesis 46-48; Psalm 16; Matthew 16

Genesis 46-48  God speaks to Jacob.  And as so often, in the OT, Jacob's response is "Here I am."
The message is really very tender and full of encouragement.  But also realistic.  "I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph's own hand shall close your eyes." (46:4)  Jacob will die in the presence of his beloved son. But also, don't overlook God's promise to "go down with you to Egypt" and to bring "you"--though it is in point of fact Jacob's descendants many generations later--up again.

When they finally meet, Jacob says: "I can die now, having seen for myself that you are still alive" (46:30).  This is somehow reminiscent of Simeon's words in the Gospel of Luke: "Lord you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior..."

As aliens in the land of Egypt, they settle in Goshen where they can raise animals.  Interesting to see the little bit of tension implied between farmers who raise crops and irrigate and farmers who graze animals...

Also note the delicious irony and humor of Jacob's words in his audience before Pharaoh in 47:8.  "The years of my earthly sojourn are one hundred thirty; few and hard have been the years of my life..."

And note the description of what happens when the famine hits Egypt and how Pharaoh benefits from the suffering of his people, selling them back the grain they had raised and then selling the land and becoming essentially serfs.  While this might have been considered brilliant business planning on Joseph's part, it is so obviously counter to the commandments of the Torah and the words of the prophets that will appear in later parts of the scriptures.

Finally, note how when Jacob confers his blessing upon Joseph's sons, he gives priority to younger before the elder.  This is a recurring theme in Genesis!

Psalm 16  This psalm contains one of the verses that I most loved when I was a child.  I read a book, one of those evangelical Christian fiction paperbacks for children, that first put the spotlight on 16:11.  I still love it:
        You show me the path of life.
              In your presence there is fullness of joy;
              in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Matthew 16  "Pharisees and Sadducees" feature importantly in this chapter.  Jesus reserves some of his most unflattering language for them, often labeling them "hypocrites."  

This is the chapter with what is called often "Peter's confession."  Peter is the first of the disciples, in Matthew's gospel, to see Jesus as "The Son of the living God."   16:17-19 is the passage on which the Roman Catholic church builds much of its tradition about Peter being the head of the Church, the first in the line of popes up to this very day.

Immediately after Peter recognizes Jesus, Jesus calls to those who would follow him to "take up their cross and follow" him.  And so the road to Jerusalem and Christ's crucifixion begins in earnest...