Monday, March 13, 2023

 

Monday, March 13, 2023


Psalm 35:1-17

Genesis 46:26-47:12

Luke 15:1-10


Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.


If the Bible is considered to be one work because of a unifying, grand narrative, then that narrative would be describing a family. That unifying, grand narrative that the Bible describes is the truth of who God is, what God is like, what God likes and doesn’t like, and how God decides to use His awesome power: and that awesome power of God is being used to grow a big family.


If the only part of the Bible we had was from Genesis 1 up to today’s reading, then that would be enough for us to know what God is like. In spite of the shameful indiscretions of Jacob’s stronger years, in spite of the fact he learnt that behaviour from his father Isaac, who in turn learned it from his father Abraham, God brought the family back together again through Joseph. It is no wonder that this is such a heart-warming passage: family reunions are so wonderful because they follow the pattern of God’s love.


This message is consistent with Jesus’ parables for today. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. In another way, the joy of heaven is found in family reunions.


The father is reunited with his son; the pharaoh gives their family prime grazing land, and plenty of it. The happy father responds with giving the best which he has to give: a blessing from the Lord of creation. We Christians have been hand-picked by God to be members of His family, and when we gather together for worship, or prayer, or Bible study, or a cup of tea, we are celebrating in the joy of heaven over our family reunion.



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