In Genesis 48 Jacob passes the Words of God and the promises of God onto Joseph and he adopts Joseph's two sons. Abraham, Isaac and now Jacob, the imperfect fathers, have passed the Words and promises of God to the succeeding generation. Dad's we cannot relegate or delegate this responsibility to the church...this is our job, joy and responsibility as the spiritual servant leader in the home!
Gen 48:3-5 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. 4 He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful and numerous; I will make many nations ⌊come from⌋ you, and I will give this land as an eternal possession to your descendants to come. ’ 5 Your two sons born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt are now mine. Ephraim and Manasseh belong to me just as Reuben and Simeon do.
Our first responsibility as a child of God is to..."love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." In other words, we must have a vibrant, passionate love relationship with our heavenly Father. Then and only then as our hearts burn within us concerning the things of God will we be able to serve and minister to our families, to our spouse, to the children God has gifted to us.
Storms in life come and go, some storms pass and you think, God stretched me and strengthened my faith other storms...the thought of the movie, "The Perfect Storm" just came to mind...other storms leave you feeling numb, feeling dead, despondent...wondering...God, if you are really there and you are really sovereign, how could you allow this to happen to me, my family, my... These storms are so severe that, if you will allow me to use the analogy of a tree and your faith, the tree is not just blown, twisted and severely leaning...THE TREE IS GONE, ON THE SURFACE THERE IS ONLY A STUMP! The cool thing is when spring comes, this is only cool for the true child of God, out of the stump a small, yet beautiful tender shoot appears...there is life.
Remember that Jacob was revived hearing the good news about Joseph and now some 17 years later he gives this testimony concerning his God.
Ge 48:15-16--15 Then he blessed Joseph and said: The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16 the Angel who has redeemed me from all harm — may He bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow to be numerous within the land.
17 years later Jacob's tree has grown back, this tree is more pure and more beautiful than the previous one. He was tested and refined through the fires of affliction and now he gives the most precious treasure...the Words and promises of God. He acknowledges that God has been his shepherd ALL of his life, he knows that he was with in through the storm and testifies that God redeemed him from ALL harm. Then he blesses the boys.
I don't know about you, but I long to be a blessing to my wife and my children, to those I serve and minister to...I long for them to see in me a faith that is real...though it may be blown away on the surface, it is real. Consider the admonition and the promises in our reading in Proverbs...it is God's Word that will not return void, it is God's Word that is food and fuel for our faith. Let's be gluttons for the Word of God. Stuff your heart with the Word of God and guard it from everything else.
Proverbs 4:20-27--The Straight Path
20 My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. 21 Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. 24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously. 25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. 26 Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. 27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.
Beholding is becoming...fix your gaze on Jesus!
Father in heaven do this in our hearts for your namesake, for your glory and for our JOY in you our Master, Savior, and friend.
I. David’s Counsel to Solomon (4:1–9)
A. Acquire wisdom (4:1–2, 5, 7): Learn to be wise, for that is the most important thing.
B. Embrace wisdom (4:4, 8): If you take wisdom to heart, you will live.
C. Love and cherish wisdom (4:3, 6, 8–9): Wisdom will protect and exalt you.
II. Solomon’s Counsel to Rehoboam (4:10–27).
A. Let wisdom guard your feet (4:10–19, 26–27).
1. To keep you from limping or stumbling (4:10–12): If you do this, you will have a long, good life.
2. To keep you from straying (4:13–19, 26–27): Avoid evildoers. “Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe.”
B. Let wisdom guard your heart (4:20–23).
1. It is the wellspring of one’s body (4:20, 22): Let wisdom’s words bring life and health.
2. It is the wellspring of one’s soul (4:21, 23): Let wisdom guard your heart.
C. Let wisdom guard your tongue (4:24) : Stay away from corrupt speech.
D. Let wisdom guard your eyes (4:25) : “Fix your eyes on what lies before you.”
Willmington, H. L. (1999). The Outline Bible (Ps 4-Pr 4:25). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.