Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: The Peaceful One
Date: Sunday January 15, 2012
Today's Chapters: Genesis 48-50
Preview of Today's Message: It is the unspeakable comfort of all those who receive Christ that no condemnation remains in them, He gives deliverance from the power of sin, quickens them for service, imparts assurance, and inspires prayer, and gives peace to all who trust Him. All Scripture quoted from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

The security of the believer as to the penalty of sin rests upon the one foundation of Christ’s finished work and His intercession in heaven for the believer. The believer’s security against the power of sin is the present lies upon their relationship with Christ in every area of their lives. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” -Romans 8:27-31.

From the second Eve bit into the piece of fruit that would cause the death of man, God has a plan to preserve life. By faith, from Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, to Isaac, and now Jacob they knew that a Savior would be sent to preserve life. Now, it was time for Jacob to pass on that knowledge to his sons, he first begins with Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

“And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed... And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn...And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.” - Genesis 48:11,14,17-20.

In blessing Joseph's sons, Jacob crossed hands. Joseph was willing to support his first-born, and would have removed his father's hands. But Jacob acted neither by mistake, nor from a partial affection to one more than the other, but by the spirit of God, stating that although Manasseh will be blessed, Ephraim will receive the greater blessing. While God will save anyone who receives Christ, which is a great blessing, those who live their lives for Him after they are saved will receive the greater blessings when they stand before Jesus. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” - Matthew 16:27.

Jacob calls for all of his sons, in a solemn tone he begins to bless them one by one, he foretold the amazing prophetic future of each tribe. “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father... Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.” -Genesis 49:1,2,8-12.

Shiloh, which means "the peaceful one", is none other than Jesus Christ Himself, He would descend from the tribe of Judah. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” - John 14:27.

After Jacob gave his blessings he was at peace and ready to be present with the Lord. Shortly after he spoke he died. After they mourned and buried their father in Canaan they headed back to Egypt. Now that their father was dead, Simeon and all his brothers were sure that Joseph was going to get revenge for what they did to him all those years ago.

“And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” -Genesis 50:14-21.

Joseph not only forgave his brothers he also provided for them and their families during the famine, reminding them that while they meant to cause evil upon him, God used it for good to preserve lives. This is an amazing illustration to Jesus Christ, who was sent here to save lives. “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” - John 3:15-17. Praise God!

While we cannot always avoid the circumstances we get into, we can endure and find peace through them with Christ. Let me tell you, if it were not for Christ intervening in my life I would be regretting the worse decision of my life right now. I know that everything that God allowed to happen in my life has not only brought me closer to Him and made me stronger through Him, it's made me more faithful to Him as well. We do not have to handle things on our own we can find peace and rest through our Savior. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30.

Today's Psalm: “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” - Psalm 119:165.

Today's Proverb: “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” -Proverbs 26:11.

Today's Prayer: God, the cares of this world often weigh our hearts down. It’s not Your desire that we carry a heavy load because You are the barer of my burdens. You use the difficult circumstances of our lives to bring glory to Yourself as You bring spiritual maturity into our relationship with You. Our faith is strengthened and our understanding deepened as You take the evil that Satan hurls at us and turn it into glorious occasion for good. You are the same God who led us into battle that will also lead us to victory in Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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