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Sketched X Day 15 Coming Home

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 46:1-7
Genesis 46:28-47:12
Genesis 50
Romans 8:28
Revelation 21:3-4

Sketched X, Day 15

It was a day I thought I’d never see . . .

As I lay at the bottom of the well expecting to die;
as I came to grips with my new life of servitude in Egypt;
as I sat in jail, imprisoned for a crime I didn’t commit;
even as I knew success as governor of Egypt:
I never thought I would see my father again.

But, to my delight, after I finally revealed my identity to my brothers, Pharaoh told me to send them to get my father and the rest of the family. He offered them the best of the land of Egypt as their home. I could hardly wait to be reunited with my father at last.

I’ll never forget the moment I saw him. It was overwhelming. Both of us wept as we embraced one another, neither of us wanting to let go. So many years had passed, but the love between us had endured. He had believed me to be dead, and I had been unsure whether he was still alive. The pain brought by the years apart was eclipsed in an instant at the joy of being together again.

My father told me how God had spoken to him on the road to Egypt:

“I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you back. Joseph will close your eyes when you die.” (Genesis 46:3-4)

It reassured me that in the mess of our family’s complicated story, God was sovereign. He had gone before us, He was with us, and He had a good plan for us. We had seen God’s faithfulness.

There were many happy times together in Egypt in the years that followed. My brothers worked as shepherds, and I successfully led Egypt through the remaining years of famine. Our family grew and flourished.

It sounds like this should be the end of the story, the part where “they all lived happily ever after,” but of course real life doesn’t work out like that. My father was growing old, and all too soon, the time came for him to join his ancestors in death.

We had seventeen years together in Egypt; a blessing I never dared dream possible. My father saw his grandsons and blessed them; his final years were filled with joy and gratitude at having the whole family together once more.

Before he died, my father asked to be buried with his grandfather, Abraham, and his father, Isaac. He had never forgotten God’s promise all these years, “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you back.” (Genesis 46:4)

Although he had prospered during his years in Egypt, Canaan was his home, the land God had promised, and he knew God would be faithful to His word. So, after seeking permission from Pharaoh, my brothers and I set out to lay our father to rest at home.

On our return to Egypt, I was surprised to receive a message from my brothers asking my forgiveness for how they had mistreated me. Didn’t they realise I had forgiven them long ago? Although I had assured them of this even before our father came to Egypt, it seems there was some lingering doubt causing them to speculate that now our father had died, I might decide to take my revenge!

I was overcome with sorrow at how worried they were, at how they must have tormented themselves over the years. Their actions were wrong and caused me great suffering, but, looking back, I see how, even in hardship, God was working for good. He led me to Egypt and put me in a position where I could save the lives of many people.

Through all that happened, God had been with me. How could I hold a grudge? I had known God’s kindness, the kindness  intended to lead to repentance (Romans 2:4), and I was more than happy to offer that same kindness to my brothers.

I comforted them and promised to care for them and their children, and I think this time they saw my sincerity.

As I look back over my life, I marvel at how God has worked and I’m grateful for how He has brought my brothers and me to this place of peace and flourishing. I trust God will keep His promise to bring my family back to Canaan one day, but I also look beyond Canaan to the day I will be reunited with my father again, forever this time, when we will dwell together with God at the great heavenly homecoming, the true happy ending.

“Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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Sketched X Day 4 Shepherd Boy: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
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The Questions

1) Who is Jacob and what is his significance in the big picture of the Bible’s story? (verses 1-4)

2) Were dreams common in the lives of people in the Old Testament? (verses 5-11)

3) Why did Joseph’s brothers despise him enough to plot against him? (verses 12-20)

Genesis 37:1-19

Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. 2 These are the family records of Jacob.

At seventeen years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought a bad report about them to their father.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a long-sleeved robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him.

5 Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, and your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”

8 “Are you really going to reign over us?” his brothers asked him. “Are you really going to rule us?” So they hated him even more because of his dream and what he had said.

9 Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10 He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had?” he said. “Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

12 His brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. 13 Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers, you know, are pasturing the flocks at Shechem. Get ready. I’m sending you to them.”

“I’m ready,” Joseph replied.

14 Then Israel said to him, “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the Hebron Valley, and he went to Shechem.

15 A man found him there, wandering in the field, and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

16 “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph said. “Can you tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?”

17 “They’ve moved on from here,” the man said. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So Joseph set out after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

18 They saw him in the distance, and before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Oh, look, here comes that dream expert!”

Original Intent

1) Who is Jacob and what is his significance in the big picture of the Bible’s story? (verses 1-4)
Since the Bible is one big story written by God, it’s wise to place its characters within the context of the whole Bible. Verse 1, which places Jacob in Canaan, is connected to the preceding narrative as a conclusion to the early Jacob story we read in Genesis 25-36. (netbible.org) When Jacob’s mother was pregnant with him and his twin brother, Esau, God told her there were “two nations” in her womb who would eventually be at war. (Genesis 25:23) Esau’s family records are preserved in Genesis 36 and Jacob’s family story is recorded in Genesis 37 as stated in verse 2. Isaac and Rebecca seemingly did not take the prophecy seriously enough regarding their sons being at odds as Jacob and Esau grew up with their parents playing favorites. (Genesis 25:27-28) This devastating favoritism crept into the next generation (verse 3) resulting in unintended consequences for Jacob’s beloved son, Joseph. It was no secret who the favorite was, and Joseph’s bad report of his brothers’ deplorable actions didn’t help matters. The brothers were despicable characters, and through no fault of his own, Joseph was rejected by them. Receiving special treatment from his father caused such great resentment among them that they want Joseph out of the picture. Verse 4 tells us they treated Joseph with the worst possible treatment: hatred. This Hebrew word is used interchangeably with our English word “unloved’ in Genesis 29:31 and 33. We hear unloved and may dismiss it inconsequentially until we understand it is the complete antithesis of God Himself. Of the 149 times “שָׂנֵא” is used in the Old Testament, the vast majority of instances occur when God speaks of sin. The Sovereign Almighty hates sin. And Joseph’s brothers hated him. The one their father deemed most important was the one they held in contempt.

2) Were dreams common in the lives of people in the Old Testament? (verses 5-11)
The Old Testament teaches that Joseph was not the only dreamer in the history of God’s people. God often used dreams and visions (waking dreams as in Numbers 24:2-4) to communicate with His people. Check out the testimonies of dreams and visions in Genesis 15:1, Genesis 20:1-7, 1 Samuel 3:11, and Judges 7:13-14! Even Joseph’s own father, Jacob, received a message from God through a dream in Genesis 28:10-17. Dreams seem to have been frequent enough that their absence was noticed. (1 Samuel 3:1) It’s important to recognize that Joseph’s dreams were revelations from God and would eventually come to pass, but neither his brothers nor his father grasped their significance. I doubt even Joseph fully comprehended them until he witnessed their unfolding as God orchestrated the events. (Genesis 42:5-6) The passage seems to indicate, though, that Joseph realized there was something important enough in those dreams that he should share them. Scripture gives no indication that Joseph was attempting to brag about his dreams, although we could conclude it wasn’t his most discerning approach to interaction with his brothers! (verse 8) Even so, as the brothers grew more resentful of Joseph, Jacob possibly recalled his own dream as he pondered the words of his son. (verse 11) Though we aren’t told, perhaps he had finally learned to keep his strong feelings about Joseph to himself. Sadly, it was much too late for that recognition. He had driven a wedge so deep among the brothers it would change the course of their family history. Humanly speaking, of course, for God holds the final word of every story! (Genesis 50:19-20)

3) Why did Joseph’s brothers despise him enough to plot against him? (verses 12-20)
The cards appear to be stacked against Joseph from the beginning of his life. While the causes of the brothers’ hatred for Joseph are detailed plainly in Genesis 37, they do not begin to uncover the troubled background of this family. His older brothers always knew their father loved his mother Rachel more than their mothers. (Genesis 29:28-30) Though the text doesn’t say it explicitly, the brothers were likely aware that Jacob chose to protect Rachel and Joseph above all when confronted with a potentially dangerous encounter with his estranged brother. (Genesis 33:1-2) The implication in these passages from chapters 29 and 33 give us great insight into their strong feelings toward Joseph. Even if Joseph had never shared his dreams or worn his special coat, their hatred had been growing for years. It wasn’t uncommon in those days for a younger brother to check on his older brothers and give a status report to their father. The Bible tells us that a young shepherd boy named David was sent by his father to check on his brothers and report back. (1 Samuel 17:17-20) But for Joseph, this was seen as more reason for his brothers to despise him. They knew he would give a bad report again. So, without pause, they immediately plotted against him when they saw him coming toward them. They had so much bitterness toward their younger brother, they even devised a plan to lie to their father about murdering him. (Genesis 37:20) Vivid coats and vivid dreams had put them over the edge of reason. They had no mercy left in their wicked hearts. “Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”, they said mockingly. (verse 20) Little did they know that what they intended for evil in Joseph’s life, God would use to save a nation. (Genesis 50:15-21)

Everyday Application

1) Who is Jacob and what is his significance in the big picture of the Bible’s story? (verses 1-4)
Friend, have you been the casualty of favoritism in your family? It can be a painful experience causing years of hurt and lasting insecurity. One sad part of this story is the lesson unlearned. How could Jacob not have recognized the damage favoritism would cause? He’d lived it! He had feared for his own life at one point, knowing the emotional distance there was between his brother and himself all those years ago. He surely remembered how all the problems were centered around his parents playing favorites. Thankfully, the stories of Isaac and Jacob don’t end with them or the failures of their parents. Jacob had a son who chose to walk a better path. Even though Joseph’s story is filled with people who wished evil upon him, he trusted in his God. Like our Savior, Joseph chose mercy and forgiveness. (Genesis 50:15-21, Luke 23:32-43) The bigger story is that we are all somewhat like Joseph’s brothers by choosing to sin against our Creator God. But oh, Sister, know this, there is a Redeemer! Jesus, God’s own Son “proved His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 Once accepting this lavish love for ourselves, we are equipped by God’s Spirit to extend love to others. While it’s easy to fall into hatred and wield the weapon of contempt, God’s love arms us with His goodness and kindness instead. Love well, Sisters, and leave hatred for sin and its destructive ways.

2) Were dreams common in the lives of people in the Old Testament? (verses 5-11)
As long as there have been humans, God has been working while they sleep. (Genesis 2:21, Psalm 42:8) There are several accounts in the Bible of dreamers. Some dreams were surprising and exciting like the one Gideon overheard in Judges 7:13-15. Some were disturbing dreams like King Nebuchadnezzar’s in Daniel 2:1-3. The prophet Daniel in the Old Testament (Daniel 7) and the apostle John (Revelation) in the New Testament both had visions given by God about the future and the last days. The Bible mentions several other visions and dreams throughout its pages. Dreams were a way God revealed Himself to His people in special times, but there were serious cautions for those who claimed to have prophetic dreams. The Old Testament Law declared that if a prophet proclaimed a dream to people and then called them to worship another god, he was to be put to death even if the dream came true. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5) God has already told us that He alone is to be worshipped. Any dream that violates this foundational truth is not from Him which is why we study Scripture so we can confidently know what is true. God has revealed Himself to us through His promises found in His Word. He has told us we have everything we need to know in His word. (2 Peter 1:3-4) I love that God works for us even when we don’t know it, and I’m thankful to know that whatever He’s doing is good for me. Sister, He’s singing and praying over you even now! Rejoice and be glad! (Zephaniah 3:14-17, Romans 8:24-28)

3) Why did Joseph’s brothers despise him enough to plot against him? (verses 12-20)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote the famous words in a poem, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” (Sonnet 43, Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806–1861) We read in Genesis that Jacob loved Joseph more than all his brothers, and the brothers despised Joseph for the favoritism shown him. It seems they spent their days counting the ways they hated him. On the better days, they ignored him. On the worst day, they sold him.
But God! Sweet friend, I don’t know if you feel rejected or despised by someone you care about. It may be that you have experienced years of pain because of someone else’s bitterness and resentment, not caused by anything you’ve done. I encourage you not to lose hope. The psalmist reminds us to cry out to God with our pain … AND our hope! “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me? Consider me and answer, Lord my God. Restore brightness to my eyes; otherwise, I will sleep in death. My enemy will say, ‘I have triumphed over him’, and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously!” (Psalm 13) Bring your honesty to the Lord for He will carry and sustain you in the midst of your hardship just as He did for Joseph!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Sketched X Day 3 Shepherd Boy

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 37:1-19
Psalm 105:7-11
1 Samuel 16
John 10:11-18
Luke 2:25-35

Sketched X, Day 3

The sun burned and sweat dripped down my back as I trudged home. We were supposed to be shepherding our father’s flocks, but Father needed to know about my brothers’ behavior. It’s my duty to give him an honest report of what’s happening, which is usually less than honorable.

I’ve watched the effect of Yahweh’s presence on my family. I remember how Father’s gait changed following his encounter with God one night. I was a young boy, but I know he hasn’t always walked with a limp.

I’ve seen with my own eyes the place where Father entered into a covenant with Yahweh at Bethel.  (Genesis 35:1-15) I know the passion in Father’s eyes when he speaks of the covenant passed down since Great Grandfather Abraham. I know our family is flawed with three step-mothers, ten step-brothers, and a step-sister; what else can be expected?

Despite the chaos of home, I know Yahweh is real. I know He has called our family to greatness, especially me. Because of His calling I must always be honest, even if I anger my brothers. I must uphold my duty to Yahweh and to Father.

Shortly after bringing Father the ill report on my brothers, Father gave me a special robe. It displayed every color of the rainbow and featured elaborate stitching and intricate details. I’d never seen a robe quite like this one. (Genesis 37:2-4)

Part of me filled with deep dread when he gave me the coat. My brothers were already livid with jealousy; everyone knows I’m Father’s favorite. When I was younger, they used to joke about Jacob, our father, being Grandfather’s favorite, but comments of Father’s favoritism toward me aren’t jovial; they drip with bitterness.

This wonderful and exuberant coat, I really love it, and I love Father deeply. I don’t want to disappoint him, and I’m honored he knows me well enough to design a robe I’d thoroughly enjoy.

So, I wore the robe with pride, but the familiar pit settled in my stomach when I saw my brothers’ faces. It’s hard to feel confident and loved when the only words they speak are cruel. They purposefully trip me, ignore me completely, or mimic my every move.

Still, Yahweh reminds me of His hand on me. One night I had a dream of such vivid brilliance that I woke up breathless. It surely meant something! I felt a reassurance deep in my soul: Yahweh had something special planned for our family, like Great Grandfather Abraham and Grandfather Isaac promised.

Perhaps if I told my brothers this dream, they’d feel Yahweh speaking to them, too.
Maybe they’d know He had an important plan for our family and even for me!
Maybe, just maybe, they wouldn’t hate me as much if they knew Yahweh would use me for something great.

“Brothers! Listen to my dream! It was so real and the colors so magnificent, it surely came from Yahweh!” I told them I’d dreamed we were binding sheaves in the field when my sheaf arose and stood upright.

At first, their faces held a mixture of amusement and leariness, but when I told them their sheaves encircled mine and bowed down, their faces reddened, burning with anger.

“Oh, so you think you’re going to reign over us? You’re so full of yourself, you think we’re all going to bow to you? Ha!” They angrily laughed at me, then turned away. They hadn’t believed this dream came from Yahweh at all.

A few days later, I had another dream. Like the last, my dream was so vivid I had to squint from the brightness of the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing down to me. I woke up wondering if I’d even been dreaming.

Perhaps if I told my brothers about this dream, too, they’d believe my first dream and they’d realize the importance of these dreams! Yahweh would use our family in mighty ways and He had a specific purpose for me!

This time I shared my dream while Father and my brothers were together. However, my face flushed a flaming red this time, not from anger, but in shame as Father rebuked me. Even he, who knew me so well, didn’t understand the significance of this dream.

It has been a few weeks since my last dream and once again, sweat drips down my face as I head toward Shechem to check on my brothers for Father. To honor Father, I donned my colorful robe and headed out to see my brothers, even though I know they’ll be angry to see me.

David: While King David wouldn’t descend from Abraham’s lineage for a few hundred years, he and Joseph were both the younger of many older brothers, who shepherded their father’s flocks. They both would start off as unassuming teenage shepherds who would one day shepherd entire nations with which God entrusted them. (1 Samuel 16)

Simeon: God spoke to Simeon through visions over one thousand years after He spoke to Joseph through dreams. Joseph would see his dreams come to fruition and eventually understand the meaning of them; so would Simeon. God is never-changing and the God who gives visions can be trusted. He is a promise-keeper. (Luke 2:25-35)

Jesus: Some scholars count as many as 105 similarities between Joseph and Jesus. As adolescents, both Jesus and Joseph were shepherds; however, Jesus was already shepherding the hearts of those around Him when He was just twelve years old. (Luke 2:41-52) There are many references to shepherding throughout the Bible, and all of them point to Jesus as The Good Shepherd. He is loved fiercely by His Father and faithfully cares for the sheep entrusted to Him (that’s us!). (John 10:11-18)

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched X!

Sketched X Day 1 Family Tree

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 7
Romans 9:6-13
Genesis 37:3-4
Genesis 45:7-8
Genesis 50:19-21

Sketched X, Day 1

On trial before the religious leaders of my community, my life hanging in the balance, I (Stephen, a disciple of the resurrected Christ) recount God’s plan of redemption throughout history. (Acts 6:8-7:53) Through my words, I strive to make clear the purposeful story of God’s people, contained in the overarching narrative of the Old Testament, as shadows and patterns pointing to Christ.

Consider this a shallow, long-distance dive, skimming the surface of the water to get as far as we can, rather than a deep dive. Let’s look at how Joseph’s life and heritage reveal glimpses of Christ, and uncover our part in God’s grand mission as we live out our stories in God’s family tree.

Joseph was the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham. 

Let’s pause here for a second.

If your eyes start to glaze over anytime you reach a Biblical list of “son of”s, let me encourage you to see them as a way to trace God’s promises throughout history. If we remember back to God’s covenant with Abraham, God promised the nations would be blessed through Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3); then we can follow his descendants to the fulfillment of the promise in Christ.

Abraham’s long-awaited son, Isaac, had twin sons, Jacob and Esau. Of the two brothers, Jacob was chosen by God to continue Israel’s national lineage:
“As it is written: I have loved Jacob [Israel], but I have hated Esau [Edom].” (Romans 9:13; Malachi 1:1-3)

Jacob’s life and story are complicated, so for the sake of our skim-dive, let’s skip ahead in his life to his wrestling match with God. In Genesis 32:22-32, we watch Jacob wrestle with God, who changes Jacob’s name to Israel, meaning “he struggled with God.” From Israel descend the Israelites, God’s chosen people, for whom struggling with God would be a continued theme for generations to come.

Israel fathers 12 sons, who father the 12 tribes of Israel. Among these is Joseph, the first-born son of Israel’s beloved wife, Rachel. Although he would endure many trials and tribulations, God used Joseph’s life to preserve the Israelite people, and he experienced great restoration in his family relationships. Eventually, Joseph assures his brothers, “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.” (Genesis 50:20)

We typically don’t see or understand what God is doing behind the scenes of our lives. But, like Joseph, we can confidently believe He is trustworthy, and will bring good in the midst of the worst situations when we surrender ourselves to Him. He is altogether sovereign, wise, and loving; He works all things according to His plan and purpose of redemption. (Romans 8:28)

My voice wavers as my own words sink into my spirit. Casting a glance around me, I see a few listening intently despite their best intentions; everyone else is livid. Off to the side, one Pharisee is surrounded by a group of younger men, a sneer twisting his face. His gaze burns into mine, and I know how this encounter will end.

Do I believe my own testimony? I don’t understand how my violent death will bring good . . . but I know my God. He is trustworthy, sovereign, wise, and loving. I will follow Him wherever He leads, even to the stoning pit outside the city gates.
I take a deep breath, and return to my sermon.

We’ve barely skimmed the surface in our dive.
Through Joseph, the Israelites would settle in Egypt,
which led to the Israelites’ eventual enslavement,
which led to God’s miraculous rescue,
which led to their wandering in the desert,
which led to them receiving the 10 commandments,
which led to their continual failure and inability to uphold God’s law.

The Israelites’ continual failure to meet the standard of God’s law points to their need for a Savior. The overarching story of the Bible climaxes at the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus, the Son of God, who lived a perfect life to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law that we could not.

Not only did He live a perfect life, but He died on the cross to pay the penalty we deserve for our sins. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) Because of Christ’s substitution in our place, we can receive forgiveness and have a relationship with God, Our Sovereign Creator, if we respond in repentance, faith, and obedience.

Since we barely skimmed the surface of the Old Testament, I encourage you to continue to hold up Old Testament stories next to Christ’s and see how everything points to Jesus, our Coming Hope. If we are in Christ, we are part of this amazing family tree from Adam to Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, and all who will receive the Promised Land and inheritance for eternity with Christ.

My breath comes in shallow wheezes as the stones pummel my body; I can feel broken ribs sabotaging my efforts to breathe. Mine is not a dignified death, but I do not regret unashamedly proclaiming God’s sovereign goodness and truth, even knowing it has cost my life. My head falls to the ground, and I taste blood and silt. My vision darkens, blotting out the mob before me until I am blinded by a light from the heavens. Home is on the horizon.

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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Worship IX Day 10 Family Worship

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Leviticus 3:1-17
Leviticus 5:14-19
1 Chronicles 16
Hebrews 10:1-18
Hebrews 13:7-16

Worship IX, Day 10

When I first read the book of Leviticus and how Israel was to worship God I thought, “Good grief, the Israelites didn’t have time to do anything but make sacrifices.”

But then I realized . . . we were created for God’s glory (Isaiah 43:7) and are called to glorify Him through lives of worship. My heart is pricked when I think about how lightly I take worship. Has it become something we do out of habit? Or only on Sundays? Shouldn’t it be a lifestyle?

In her book, 7 Feasts – Finding Christ in the Sacred Celebrations of the Old Testament, Erin Davis speaks of spiritual amnesia. Oh! How easily we forget our sinfulness and God’s redemptive plan. But God had a plan from the instant He flung the stars into place to redeem His people and cure their spiritual amnesia. “By following God’s commands to stop, reflect, worship, and sacrifice, these memories become the very fabric of their faith. His invitation was for them to interrupt regular activities to rest and remember how He has met every desperate need they had.” (Whitney Capps, First 5)

In studying Leviticus and Hebrews together, I learned how the sacrificial system of worship laid out in Leviticus pointed to God’s wonderful plan of redemption through Jesus Christ.

Two frequent offerings made as part of the sacrificial system were the fellowship/peace offering and a burnt offering. The burnt offering, such as a lamb without blemish, would be offered up in completeness, as a fragrance to God for the forgiveness of sins. (Leviticus 1:10-13) The fellowship offering indicated communion with God, offered willingly from a heart of gratefulness and devotion. (Jay F. Guin, The Tabernacle, Worship, and the Christian)

Today, we know these sacrifices pointed to Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice for our sins! Hebrews 10:11-18 (The Message) explains, “It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, He did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process.”

King David offered these sacrifices when they brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 16) The Ark, which represented the presence of God, had been captured by the Philistines years earlier. (biblestudytools.com) The Ark’s return must have been a glorious celebration!

After the sacrifices, David used familiar psalms to praise God and encourage the people to worship the Lord. David’s song gives us a great template for worship today! Maybe it would sound like this:

Mandy’s Song
Awake, my soul, to sing the glories of God and King!
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Worship His majesty, for He is worthy!
Testify to love and how I got saved, because His grace still amazes me.
We will remember the works of His hands!
Alleluia, alleluia, for the Almighty reigns.
Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear!
How one day, He’s coming, O glorious day!

After this joyful celebration, the people went home to bless their own households. Whitney Capps explains, the people weren’t “just to reflect on God’s faithfulness; they were to rehearse it and live it again and again by telling their children and grandchildren about these stories of real-life faith.” Worship was to be carried to their homes and families.

Theologian and pastor R.C. Sproul stated, “Specifically, God requires heads of households, like good shepherds, to lead their families into green pastures. God expected Abraham to ‘command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the LORD.’ (Genesis 18:19) Consider also the example of Cornelius, who was ‘a devout man and feared God along with his whole household.’ (Acts 10:2) It is no surprise that when [the apostle] Peter came to Caesarea to preach the gospel, Cornelius rallied his household to attendance. ‘We are all in the presence of God to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.’” (Acts 10:33) (Family Worship 101) 

This still applies to us today.
According to A Simple Guide to Family Worship, worship of God begins with family.
Our homes are a training ground for future generations. (Proverbs 22:6)
Scripture implores us to teach our children about God. (Psalm 78:4-7)
The Lord rebukes those who haven’t offered worship in their homes. (Jeremiah 10:25)
Israel’s great leader, Joshua, took responsibility for his whole family, declaring, “As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

In the New Testament, fathers are instructed to nurture their children spiritually. (Ephesians 6:4)
Timothy, a leader in the early Church, was living proof that our training leads to salvation. (2 Timothy 3:14-15)

The challenge before us is to engage our families in a lifestyle of worship. Whether we are raising children within our homes or are part of the larger family of Christ-followers, we can live out King David’s example of family worship!

We can share meals together,
those with plenty freely offering to share with those who have need. (1 Chronicles 16:2-3)

In thankfulness, we can recount and praise His faithfulness,
the testimony of one building the faith of another. (1 Chronicles 16:7-36)

Together, we can “minister regularly” (1 Chronicles 16:37) to the Lord in worship,
through lives built around and upon “[giving] thanks to the Lord
for His faithful love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:41)

In doing so, we make our very own fellowship offerings.
Let’s follow Joshua’s lead, declaring, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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Nations Day 8 Religious Or Relationship

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 9:9–13
Matthew 5:13–16
1 Peter 3:13–16
1 Corinthians 9:19–23

Nations, Day 8

I grew up a pastor’s kid in a small town in Queensland, Australia. I love being an Aussie. We don’t take anything too seriously, especially ourselves. Our country has beautiful beaches, desserts and rainforests, interesting and deadly animals, and a culture rich in history and diversity. I may be biased, but I believe Australia is the best country in the world.

When I was a little girl the Australian culture resembled a Christian ethic in many respects. Almost all of the shops were closed on Sundays even though most of my friends were at the beach rather than in church. Traditional family values were accepted and esteemed, and television had very little swearing or nudity. Most kids lived in a traditional family, with married parents and siblings. We called ourselves a ‘Christian country’ and our community values respected that.

Fast forward forty years and times have changed dramatically. None of the things I just mentioned are true anymore. Sunday is one of the busiest retail days of the week, and many people have to juggle their desire to attend church around their work commitments. Most television is full of inappropriate content, and sadly, the majority of Australian children live in a home with either a single parent or in a blended family of divorced adults and stepchildren.

With the breakdown of Christian values our community is broken, and its people are hurting. The disease of accumulating wealth and success has gripped us, leading to workaholicism and the worship of productivity. The breakdown of family relationships has resulted in a community of hurt, lonely and broken people. People’s lives are full of conflict, unforgiveness and anger. Our community is ravaged by anxiety, suicide and mental illness.

I have been blessed to always be a part of a supportive and loving church family. This encouraging environment has helped me navigate the challenges of marriage and raising three children. I have been able to worship God wholeheartedly and listen to His word preached openly every week through my entire life. This is a gift I often take for granted. The local church has always been a safe place for me, a place I love and retreat to. My church was an integral part of my personal evangelism. If I wanted to introduce someone to Jesus, I would invite them along to church. Things are different now.

A few years ago we had a Royal Commission into institutionalised abuse, and a light was shone on the horror many children endured at the hands of those who claimed to represent Jesus. The moral failures of high-profile church leaders made the headlines, and the Church’s reputation was smeared. It has become more difficult to be a Christian in Australia.

I have been compelled to my knees as my heart breaks for a community who desperately needs Jesus, and yet has largely rejected the Church. It has changed the way I think and the way I live. I am learning to take Jesus outside the walls of my church.

This has had to be very intentional for me. For most of my life, all of my close friends were already Christians—already part of my church family. I had to make an effort to mix with people who don’t have a faith, people who are very different to me. First, I joined a fitness group. We met to work out in a park close to my home three mornings a week. I found myself making friends with a lady who was openly gay. It was so good for me to get to know her as a person, with hopes and fears and worries similar to my own, and for me to share my life with her.

I also joined a community book club. Each month we read a new book, most of which I wouldn’t have chosen for myself, and we discussed the themes and characters together. The group was smart and diverse, and very different to me. They had different political views, different backgrounds and different values. At the end of my two years in the group one of the ladies said to me, “I’ve never known a proper Christian before.”

Reading the gospels, I am always challenged by the way Jesus lived and who He spent time with. It wasn’t with the religious people, who were often judgemental and exploited those they were supposed to be leading. No, Jesus spent time with sinners. The people who were far from God. The ones who needed healing, saving and loving.

In Matthew 9 we read about Jesus calling Matthew to be one of His disciples. Matthew was a tax collector, someone who had betrayed his own people to work for the occupying Roman nation. Matthew was getting rich by exploiting others, and the people hated him for it. And yet, Jesus calls Matthew to be part of His inner circle.

The first thing Jesus does is have lunch at Matthew’s house with his tax collector friends, but the Pharisees, the religious leaders, didn’t like it. They questioned the disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus replied, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Matthew 9:11—12)

As an Australian Christian I have spent most of my life with the healthy, people who already have a relationship with God. But now, God has called me to go to the sick. It is challenging and uncomfortable at times. I often feel awkward and struggle to find the right words to say, but God is faithful. I am learning to be a friend to those who are far from God and show them what Jesus is like. Australians need Jesus.

My prayer for the Australian Church is we would represent Jesus well, both as individuals and as an organisation. Pray we would be a friend to the sinners and introduce them to the One where hope is found and help them find a safe place of belonging in God’s family, here on earth as it is in heaven.

Christine Wood

Bio: Christine is a writer who packed up her city life to live in an RV and travel full-time around Australia with her husband. She misses her three adult children and church family while loving the opportunity to explore the beauty of creation and strengthen her sense of adventure. Christine writes about faith, self-care and simple living on her blog, www.livingwithmargins.com.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Fervent Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) It’s difficult to feel connected with, or have compassion for, those whose stories we do not know. For Christ-followers in the western hemisphere, this is often the case as we consider our brothers and sisters who live under constant persecution. Take some time this weekend and explore the stories of these fellow believers in greater detail, allowing their everyday experiences to shape the contours of your prayer life with increased fervency. Watch the online film for the Nik Ripkin’s Insanity of God or read some accounts of saints gone before us in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Study Paul’s words about his persecution and the effect his suffering had on the believers around him in Philippians 1:12-20. Be reminded that those Christ-followers who live in religious freedom are deeply connected with those who are persecuted. Commit to live and love and preach Jesus and pray fervently as one connected Body because of Christ Jesus.

2) The temptation to section off spiritual “God things” from our “everyday-everything-else” lives is strong for most of us. Without intentional discipline training to keep the two intertwined and seeing them as one life, we forget the Almighty is God of all, including our everyday moments. Just as physical discipline and self-control push us forward in fitness, these same traits further our spiritual growth. Practicing spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, memorizing Scripture, giving generously, and studying Scripture move us away from spiritual mediocrity and towards a life that seamlessly blends our spiritual and physical lives together as one. Of the disciplines listed above, pick one or two you haven’t practiced lately and begin incorporating them into your everyday rhythms. Wrap your strength training exercises in prayer, asking the Lord to strengthen your faith as you press forward to know Him deeper!

3) Merry concluded our Journey Into Fervent by drawing us near to God’s heart through the call to Family. Of all the different ways we think about God, at the top should be Father. He loves us as His children and invites us to come freely to Him within the tender, deep relationship of Abba Father. Not only are all Christ-followers welcomed into this sweetness with Abba, but we also are connected with one another as brothers and sisters through this wonderful adoption! I often remind my children that friends will come and go in the seasons of life, but their siblings will be with them forever. This is especially true for all who trust Jesus as their Savior because we will share eternity together with each other and our Great God and Father! When we begin viewing one another through the lens of family adopted through magnificent love, our own love for each other grows, forgiveness flows, and our differences are no longer important. Who can you begin loving more fervently as family starting this weekend?!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Romans 15:5-6 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.

Prayer Journal
Let’s pray Merry’s prayer together this weekend!
Our Father. It’s only by Your mercy and grace we can come to You, together. And hopefully, confidently, if stumblingly, we come to You. Lord, we don’t possess the kind of love that knits hearts together in one mind and spirit, but You do. Your word says we can ask for anything in Your name, and it will be done. Abba, we want to want unity in the Church. We don’t know how to go about it, but You do. Would you fill us with the Spirit of unity? Would you pour out love like we’ve never seen in Your Church in this age? Make us one, as You are one. You’re the only One Who can. This day, our lives and all we have are Yours alone. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Fervent Day 15 The Call To Family

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Leviticus 19:18
Matthew 22:35-40
Romans 15:5-6
2 Corinthians 9:12-15
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

Fervent, Day 15

Unity. 

The quality or state of not being multiple. A condition of harmony. The quality or state of being made one. (Merriam Webster)

Oh Beloved. Does the mere definition make your heart ache the way it does mine? Division is evident in practically every corner and crevice of the world today, and sadly, within Christ’s Bride, the Church, as well. We squabble over semantics, and methods. How long services should be. Which translation of the Bible is best. We disagree over our prayer, our worship, and missions. We disagree over how often to serve Communion, and what to serve. Who we should vote for.

I could go on, but I don’t need to. You know exactly what I’m talking about.

Our adversary’s chief aim is threefold, with a capital D. Division, destruction, and death. And the truth is we’ve allowed him to take ground in the Church on our watch.

As the words of Paul’s prayers for unity wash over us,
may they sink into our very souls and spirits,
and may God answer his prayers in our own lives and in the universal Church today.

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to pray, He gave them the Lord’s Prayer, which begins with the familiar line, “Our Father in heaven…”.  The Holy Spirit-led, inspired Christian, Andrew Murray, unpacks this prayer in With Christ in the School of Prayer at great lengths, but our focus today is simply the first word: our.

In one single word, Jesus illustrated the heart of our Father and the way of His Kingdom.
Family.
Brothers and sisters, beseeching their Father for what they need.
Not individually, or independently, but together, as one.

Prayer is most effective when we are united in it, together. Jesus Christ was the first person in history to speak of God as Father. In this brief interaction with His disciples, He called them up and into family with Him. It’s easy to see from where Paul absorbed his method of high challenge and high invitation; Jesus did it. As He called them to unity, He also called them into family.

Because this is the Gospel work of the Kingdom, Loves.
We who were fatherless, through Christ can know our Father.
We who were imprisoned to our sin, through Christ are made free.
We who were isolated and alone, through Christ are adopted into God’s family, and made co-heirs of His Kingdom. 

Paul knew firsthand the incredible, redeeming power of God, and his fervent desire was for all God’s children to experience their full inheritance in Christ. He prayed passionately for all believers to be made one. To be of one mind and spirit. To approve all things righteously, together.

Do we desire the same? It’s easy to nod and agree, but do we really? Do our actions, words and prayers reflect a passionate desire for unity in the body of Christ? Are we desperate for the unity Christ commanded and prophesied?

I’m not sure I can say yes. Can you?

It’s one thing to comment about the division we see ravaging the Church our brothers and sisters us, but do we weep over it? Don’t mistake gravity for condemnation here, Loves. This is for all of us, including me. Here’s the thing: we are not capable of changing the desires of our heart, or our passions. But God can. We have only to ask Him, and He will do it! 

In order to come to the realization that something must be done, we must have a clear view of where we actually are.

Where are you, Beloved? Are you numb, or indifferent to our divisive plight? Do you find yourself unable to muster a desire for unity? Are you comfortable where you are, but aware that maybe you shouldn’t be? Does this talk of passion, change, and a togetherness as yet unseen spark excitement in your belly? Or does it spark fear?

I’m with you. We are all weighing our hearts in this space, and our Father is doing the same. So where do we go from here?

We go to our Father, together!

Our Father. It’s only by Your mercy and grace we can come to You, together. And hopefully, confidently, if stumblingly, we come to You. Lord, we don’t possess the kind of love that knits hearts together in one mind and spirit, but You do. Your word says we can ask for anything in Your name, and it will be done. Abba, we want to want unity in the Church. We don’t know how to go about it, but You do. Would you fill us with the Spirit of unity? Would you pour out love like we’ve never seen in Your Church in this age? Make us one, as You are one. You’re the only One Who can. This day, our lives and all we have are Yours alone. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Fervent Day 3 One Another

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Numbers 6:22-27
John 13:31-35
Romans 1:8-10
2 Corinthians 13:7-9
Ephesians 1:15-17

Fervent, Day 3

Truth?
Few things will highlight the holes in our own prayer lives like studying Paul’s prayers for the body of believers. It’s impossible to read Paul’s fervent, devoted prayers for the Church and miss the pure, undiluted love of God manifest in his heart. The staggering reality of Paul’s dramatic conversion from his former life as Saul, who persecuted the early church with vigor and violence, gives glory to the God of transformation. His Spirit-led words are saturated with God’s heart for every believer, and as I read through his prayers in preparation for this study, I was convicted that even on my best days, it is rare I have prayed with the kind of conviction and fervor Paul embodied.

Through every prayer, it is evident Paul considered each member of the body of Christ a gift to him, personally. In every passage, he thanked God for other believers. In fact, he even said he never stopped giving thanks for them. He was desperate to be with them. That kind of emotion and desire … to put it bluntly, it’s not of this world.

Think about Paul’s words in the first chapter of Romans. “God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you, always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.” (Romans 1:9-10)

Beloved, is there anyone we “constantly mention” to God in prayer? Anyone we always ask Him to reunite with us? I mean, really think about it. Can we honestly say we feel the way he described about our literal family members? It’s culturally acceptable to joke about our in-laws, but when we hold the practice up against the light of love we see portrayed here, it all feels pretty crass, doesn’t it?

Furthermore, what do Paul’s intense prayers and care for his fellow believers show us about God? Paul did many incredible things to advance the Kingdom of God, but he could take no credit for the love and leadership he exhibited after his radical conversion. The pure, fervent love God gave Paul for the body of Christ was a heavenly gift designed to give glory to God and reveal His incredible power and majesty to the world.

Because God’s plan has always been family. 

He sees us, exactly as we are: rejected, flawed, sinful people. He knows every hidden intention, every secret and not-so-secret sin. And He wants us anyway. He calls each of us by name. And when we respond to Him, confess our sin and invite Him to be Lord of our lives, He does it and makes us part of His family. Sons and daughters. Co-heirs with Christ.

But not family in the broken, earthly way.

Family in the heavenly, knit-together-by-the-Holy-Spirit, grafted-together-in-the-Vine kind of way. Woven together with a love we are utterly incapable of generating. It is completely, undeniably beyond us. Paul’s prayers for the believers in the early Church left no question every member was vitally important, and sharing equally in the mission.

Over and over, Paul prayed his brothers and sisters in Christ would do no wrong.
That they would become spiritually mature, and for God to grant them wisdom and revelation.
That they would know the hope of Christ’s calling.
That they would keep growing in knowledge and discernment.
That they would have great endurance and patience.
That they would be joyful, pure and blameless, and filled with the fruit of righteousness.
That God would deal mercifully with them.

The conviction is strong, isn’t it? It is for me, too. I can’t remember the last time I prayed that a fellow believer would do no wrong. Have I prayed for their physical health? Absolutely. Have I prayed for their finances? Yes. Their family? Favor? Blessings? Yes, yes, yes. These prayers aren’t necessarily wrong, but do they have anything to do with spiritual health and calling?

When I see the example Paul gave us in his letters, I realize I haven’t taken on the full measure of my calling to pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Maybe you haven’t, either.

So where do we go from here?

I’m going to take a page from Paul and issue a little encouragement and exhortation to us all, myself included.

Let’s ask God to fill us with His love for each other, and to give us a hunger to pray for one another. 

We are members of one body, through the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry “Abba, Father!”. (Romans 8:15) First, let’s confess we do not possess the ability to love one another the way Christ loved us. We have to be real about where we are, and we must invite the Holy Spirit to change our hearts and minds. Every one of us has a specific role to fill. We need each other, and we need to pray for one another!

Abba, You are the Maker of heaven and earth, and You have drawn me into Your family. I don’t fully understand what it is to love the way You love, but I want to know, Lord. Fill me with Your love for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to experience the kind of love Paul had for the believers in the early Church. Will You call Your Bride to life in this today? Jesus said the world would know we belong to You by our love. We can’t manufacture it; only in You will we ever fulfill His words. This day, my life, and everything I have are Yours. In Jesus’s name, amen.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Fervent Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Fervent!