Sonshine's Journal

January 26, 2025January 26, 2025

Genesis 41 Remember or Forget?

Joseph is an example for us of how God uses His plans to come to us and His explanations as well. This is a reminder of the words of Isaiah: God’s plans are higher and more superior than ours. [Is 55:8-9] What He has decreed He will do. Joseph evidently had been recalling the words of God in some way and now at 30 yrs of age, God is going to use him for the world which is soon to experience a famine.

Today we have the whole counsel of God in written form, but for Joseph and men of his time, God revealed His plan in dreams, whether they be servants or officials. And so it happened that the cupbearer and the baker had dreams and God revealed the wisdom to Joseph about them and gave credit to God and it happened just as he said. Two years later, (I wonder if used that time to hone Joseph’s skills even more than before??) God also used dreams for Pharaoh but blocked the interpretation from his “wise” men so that Joseph alone would be able to interpret.

As Joseph interpreted, did you notice this one verse? “But seven years of famine will occur after them, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt.” God opens our blessing box but when trouble follows we fail to remember the blessings just like the cupbearer! A word of wisdom: keep close to your heart God’s blessings so that when trouble happens, you have that to recall and give you assurance.

January 25, 2025January 25, 2025

Genesis 40 Joseph

There is much to be learned when we take time to analyze the biblical characters that we find in our daily reading. Joseph is always seen as the master of his fate and the beloved son of his aged father, but one author called him the “upstart” and one that used his position to garner his father’s love. So, with that on our minds, let’s really look at Joseph.

He was the son of his father’s love and the youngest son in this story but there is another son who will be the youngest, Benjamin. Joseph endeared himself to his father as the son of his old age, but his other brothers were jealous of him. These brothers, as we have seen, are not the best examples of purity and righteous for they schemed and plotted to destroy the Shechemites. It was after this, that Joseph is tasked to go and report on the brother’s work. Joseph innocently goes off to find them, but the brothers are once again scheming to remove Joseph. Through this we see Joseph as one who seems to lack discernment regarding these ten brothers It is into this saga we find innocent Joseph being sold into slavery where he rises in the ranks of Potiphar’s house and then is unjustly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. It is in these two places, Joseph’s skills as caretaker and interpreter of dreams are noted. God does not waste our positions but uses them for His purposes which brings us back to the words of Isaiah 55:8-9:

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

When we are in a quandary as to the “why’s” we need to turn back to Isaiah and trust God in all circumstances. Just as we read in Job, God is at work to bring about His plans for our good even though presently we are left in the dark.

January 24, 2025January 24, 2025

Genesis 35-37 Reuben

Reuben was the first born but his life did not reflect that in many ways. He brought shame upon the life of Jacob by committing adultery with Jacob’s concubine. He tried to save Joseph but that too turned badly. Reuben’s name means behold the son but he was not a picture of righteousness.

Easton’s dictionary has this to say about Jacob’s first born: ‘behold a son!, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah (Gen. 29:32). His sinful conduct, referred to in Gen. 35:22, brought down upon him his dying father’s malediction (48:4). He showed kindness to Joseph, and was the means of saving his life when his other brothers would have put him to death (37:21,22). It was he also who pledged his life and the life of his sons when Jacob was unwilling to let Benjamin go down into Egypt. After Jacob and his family went down into Egypt (46:8) no further mention is made of Reuben beyond what is recorded in ch. 49:3,4.”

Many times we come across men in the Bible that cause us to shake our heads and as we read their life stories we wonder why God chose them and used them. But, God’s ways are not our ways.[Is 55:8-9] Reuben was saved because he did like all of us: admitting their wrong and seeking to live righteously. Where are you in this story? Are you a Reuben before or after his changed life?

January 22, 2025January 22, 2025

Genesis 30 The Saga Continues

Jacob has yet to stand strong in the face of his father in law, Laban, yet who can blame him for his actions? Laban has deceived and bartered away his livelihood, and it wasn’t just once but many times. And so now Jacob deceives Laban back. The deceiver becomes the deceived. Laban rightly said that his success has come to him because of Jacob’s faithfulness to guard his flocks. We wonder why Laban has not yet learned that what he just said might be a cause for his downfall, but I digress.The fool never learns from his actions and words. Jacob devises a plan to build his flocks and when he hears that his brothers in law complaining about him decides to leave secretly after gaining his wives encouragement to do so. Jacob and his family leave while Laban is away. When Laban returns and in anger goes after Jacob he fails to realize that this was a turn from God. It must have been humiliating to Laban to be confronted by God but he obeys reluctantly.

What is the lesson we can take from this saga? God will direct our steps even when we are afraid or others seek our demise.

January 21, 2025January 21, 2025

Genesis 28 “if…”

Jacob was a man who couched his obedience in the “if’s”. He did it with men and he did it with God. “If God is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear, and I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will become my God.” Like many today, Jacob shows us that men’s belief and dependence on God depends on His presence and provision with conditions they set up. How often do we also present conditions to God? We use manipulation to get what we want without considering the cost.

Today, take a page out of Jacob’s diary and see that God wants obedience before He blesses and Jacob will learn that very soon. The deceiver will become deceived and it happens to us as well. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us that we are to trust in the Lord and he will make our paths straight. But Jacob has to learn that truth and it will be through hardship.

Learn from Jacob. Put God first unconditionally and then He will bless.

January 20, 2025January 20, 2025

Genesis 25-26 Trust…or…Fear

Two times in these chapters we read that God blessed Isaac because of the obedience of his father Abraham. This is a principle that God has revealed: children are blessed because of the obedience and faithfulness of their parents.

Yet, Isaac had a failure just as Abraham in that he did not trust God to protect his wife, but instead lied about his relationship with her. But, just as Numbers tells us , if we sin, God will reveal it loud and clear which is exactly what happened to Isaac. [Num 32:23] Both Abraham and Isaac had one glaring failure which the book of Proverbs tells us: The fear of man is a snare but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. [Prov29:25]

So why did God bless Abraham and Isaac? God clearly points out that He hates lying in Proverbs 6 and in other places we see the fruit of lies like in the account of Gehazi where God pronounced leprosy on him. These are those issues that we find frustrating but when that happens and we don’t have clear cut answers, we need to remember Isaiah 55:8-9. His ways are higher and more superior to ours.

God has His plans and even though we may not understand, we can trust that His way is the right and true way. Where is God calling you to trust Him today and tomorrow and the next day?

January 19, 2025January 19, 2025

Genesis 22 It takes Faith…

Hebrews reminds us that by faith Abraham obeyed God in leaving his home and by waiting on God for a son to be born as one born out of due time. Yet, even though Abraham obeyed God, he was tested by God to prove his faithfulness. We too are tested by God to prove our faithfulness and our steadfastness. Abraham was found faithful and God recognized it and counted him as righteous.

As we look at our lives, we can experience tests just as Abraham and like his son Isaac, we see the wood and the fire but where is the lamb? Abraham wisely answered that God Himself would provide the lamb and He did. When you face a test and wonder where the lamb is, will you stop and believe without a shadow of doubt that God will provide?

Over and over through the OT and NT we see Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. He provided the east wind to draw the Nile back so the Israelites could walk across on dry ground. He provided water for Rahab in the desert. He provided the walls to fill down in Jericho so the city could be conquered. In Acts, God provided two angelic visitors to release Peter from prison.

Where have you seen God’s provision in your life? What was the result?

January 18, 2025January 18, 2025

Genesis 19 Compromise Fails

As we read this account of Lot after the account of Abraham’s dialog with God we come away with several lessons. First sin looks beautiful but is ugly in its demands. Second, when we compromise our beliefs, others pay the price as well. Thirdly, God hears and answers prayer for He is compassionate.

So let’s take this story apart. Lot had looked at the well watered plain and he moved near to Sodom. Next he moved into Sodom. Psalm 1 reminds us that God blesses “the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers.” [Ps 1:1] Lot failed in all areas. First he walked, then he stood, then he sat. His compromising actions leaves us the visions of the destruction of Sodom, the loss of his intended sons-in-law and tragically, his wife and lastly his own daughters who thought incest would be blessed but instead, became the thorn in the lives of the Israelites for centuries and even today. Moses reminded the Israelites that sooner or later, one’s sin will be found out. Num 32:23 “you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will findyou out.”

Is there anything positive from this account? We can look at Abraham and see how he sought God’s righteous character above all else. God answered his prayer to remove Lot from this situation. We too can pray that God remove the sinners from our presence so that He can bless us and direct our paths in righteousness. Are we praying that today? Or are we like Lot who compromised and lost his family?

January 17, 2025January 17, 2025

Genesis 16-18 God is Sovereign

As we read this book we are reminded that God is God and there is no one to match Him or His work. What He says, He shall do. Over and over God reveals Himself to Abram, who is now to be called Abraham, and reveals His plans to him. This is a clear reminder of what Paul told the Ephesians:”In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him” [Eph 1:9]

Where has God revealed His plans to you? If you are struggling with that, seek Him while He may be found and He will do as you need.

January 16, 2025January 16, 2025

Genesis11-15 Calling/Blessing of Abram

The author of Genesis, Moses, gives the genealogical record of the man Abram along with his family. In it we find this phrase: ‘Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great,so that you will exemplify divine blessing.’ The word “exemplify” means to make an example of and that is what God intended to do for Abram and for us. God chooses some and chooses not others and only He knows His reasons. We are, however, given a glimpse of why God called Abram. He was a man of faith and believed God which is revealed as one who is obedient without question. Just as Enoch walked with God and was not, so too Abram walked with God but he lived obediently all the years of his life. There are some pointed lessons for us in these chapters: God chooses man and blesses man because of his obedience to Him. God chooses to bless those who obey Him without question and curses those who choose to not obey. Abram is a model for us and we are to learn from his life about blessings and curses.

Paul talks about this in one of his pastoral letters by saying, you were chosen from the foundation of the world and that principle applies to Abram as well as you and I.“ Eph 1:4 For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love.” Stop and ponder that earthshaking news! You were chosen from eternity past, not for yourself but for God to live and work and play as holy examples.