March 2, 2020
The Patriarchs ~ Week 11
Good Morning Princesses and Hello March!
GO! 2020 ~ The Metamorphosis!
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1. Our Next Study! Starting March 17th!
"What Love Is~ The Letters of 1, 2, 3 John" by Kelly Minter
The letters of 1, 2, & 3 John were written to encourage followers of Jesus to remain faithful to the truth. Believers are challenged to look at contrasting themes such as walking in the light instead of darkness, truth versus lies and deception, loving God more than loving the world, and the meaning of true fellowship and community rather than shallowness. This study reveals not only the heart of John but also the heart of Jesus.
The study guide cost is $13. To purchase the study guide click on the following links at Amazon, Lifeway, Christianbook
2. Closing Out The Patriarchs- Chapter 50
The Death of Joseph
22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.
24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”
26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.
What you've just read are the final verses in the book of Genesis. The final verse of Genesis ends with Joseph's age and his burial in Egypt. As we think back to the start of our journey, take a look at the beginning verses:
12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring, I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
From Genesis 12 to 50 we have experienced an exciting adventure of faith and obedience. Where were they headed to? The promised land, Canaan. In their journey, we've seen hardships, joys, struggles, questions, and triumphs. Over the course of these thirty-eight chapters, we have also had the privilege of witnessing a God who sees all, knows all and does all and loves immensely.
From the call to Abraham to Joseph's final words to his brothers, the Patriarchs, Abraham, Issac, Jacob and yes Joseph, all ordinary people who after encountering God had an extraordinary destiny. Wow! Our sovereign God~ Yahweh!
3. One More Talk and Turn, Shall We?
How did the Talk and Turn work last week? Did you have a chance to talk with someone about the blessing of each son? This week we will finish out the last chapter of Genesis by taking a look at Genesis 50. Not that we can have a show of hands, but on a scale of one to five (one being unfamiliar and five being extremely familiar) how familiar are you with the last chapter of Genesis?
How about one more talk and turn, but let's focus this week on Genesis 50. Don't forget to share it with someone! Also, as you listen to or read Chapter 50, pay special attention to verses 15-21.
Step 1- Read Genesis 50
Step 2 - As you read, note how many days the Egyptians mourned for Abraham and one additional fact you found interesting in Chapter 50
Step 3- Send a comment back on the blog and/or share it with a friend.
Genesis Chapter 50
50 Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. 2 Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, 3 taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
4 When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him, 5 ‘My father made me swear an oath and said, “I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’”
6 Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”
7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt— 8 besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen. 9 Chariots and horsemen also went up with him. It was a very large company.
10 When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father. 11 When the Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning.” That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim.
12 So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them: 13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 14 After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.
Joseph Reassures His Brothers
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
The Death of Joseph
22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.
24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”
26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.
Oh, princesses of faith...remember
Prayer “empowers and ‘charges up’ every other piece so they can be used effectively against the enemy. Without prayer… your armor, cannot, will not, be infused with the power that only God’s-Spirit can give."
Closing Thoughts
DON'T FORGET...Click on the icon below to access...
Know that through the Holy Spirit you can:
do things you couldn't;
feel things you didn't; and
know things you wouldn't.
GO! 3/2/20- New feature, contains a playlist of songs for your praise and worship time.
Housekeeping:
It's HERE...Our Next Study!
"What Love Is~ The Letters of 1, 2, 3 John" by Kelly Minter
To purchase the study guide via Amazon, Lifeway, Christianbook $13.99
SAVE THE DATE! 2020 WEN Symposium-Check out the GO! website ~ 2020 WEN Symposium on Saturday, April 25th from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm at Malone University. Mark your calendar, save the date and thank you for spreading the word!
SPREAD THE WORD...
FINAL Conversation on The Patriarchs...see you on Tuesday, March 4, 2020 @6:00 pm, the Stark Main Library (Innovation Center).
Remember, each day is an opportunity for us to... Lead, Serve, and GO!
