Isaiah, prophet of God

Overview of a prophet.

A priest stands between God and man – speaking to God on behalf of men, and men on behalf of God. In other words, a priest is a mediator. A prophet on the other hand is a person who speaks for God. It took great courage to accept God’s call to be His prophet. Rarely did a prophet have the ‘smooth words’ the people wanted. Course correction does not come with those ‘smooth words’ but that is all too often what the people God was speaking to wanted.

Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Isaiah 30: 10

Isaiah accepted his commission from God knowing that it would not be a simple task.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying;” Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isaiah 6: 8

In the next few verses he is told what to tell the people… “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing but do not perceive…”

So he knew from the start it would not be an easy task.

Isaiah lived through the reigns of four kings… and died on the orders of the fifth.

Let’s have a quick look at those kings…

King Uzziah, although he had been a ‘good’ king for most of his years, his pride led to his downfall. He took it upon himself to enter the temple and burn incense to the Lord. This was the task of the priests, not the king, and Uzziah was struck with leprosy and driven from the temple. For the last eleven years of his life Uzziah lived in isolation. 2 Chronicles 26: 21

King Jotham, who succeeded him, was a ‘good’ king…

So Jotham became mighty because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.  2 Chronicles 27: 6  It may be that this king heeded guidance from Isaiah.

But his son Ahaz was a different person altogether…

He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire according to the abominations of the nations who the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. 2 Chron 28: 3

A great deal of the prophet Isaiah’s work was confronting this wicked king. He made an alliance with Assyria which meant that the country paid tribute every year bringing the country low, and in debt.

While he was busy setting up altars to pagan gods, you can be sure that Isaiah brought him the warnings from God, risking his life to do so. But it was Manasseh, the grandson of Ahaz, (Hezekiah’s son) who, according to tradition, murdered Isaiah by having him put a hollow tree and sawn in two.

Being a prophet of God was never easy, and paying with their lives was always a possibility.

Joseph tightens the noose, to bring his plan to fruition

We left off last week where Joseph had ordered his silver cup placed in the sack of his brother Benjamin…

“Get up, follow the men; Gen 44: 4

The trap was about to spring. The steward followed Joseph’s instructions and went after the brothers. When he caught up with them he accused them as Joseph had instructed him.

And they said to him, Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should so such a thing. Gen 44: 7

They went on to deny it,  justify themselves and pointing out that they had returned the money put in their sacks the first time… proof of their honesty.

However… in overconfidence they added… With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die…Gen 44: 9

Oops. mistake.

The cup was found where Joseph had ordered it put… in the sack of the youngest brother. His own brother. Taken back to appear before Joseph they must have been ‘shivering in their sandals’.

When Joseph pronounced his sentence… that the others could go home but the one who had the cup should remain and be his slave Judah began an impassioned plea telling him first all the events leading up to them bringing this youngest brother.

Thinking of their father….It will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. Gen 44: 31

As my husband observed whilst studying this story of Joseph in the Bible, “when they put Joseph in the pit they sat and ate a meal showing no concern, blocking out his cries. Over the years it appears that they have learned humility, at least in their care and attitude to their father, as shown in this appeal when it looked like Joseph was going to stop Benjamin from returning home.

Was this what Joseph was waiting for?

He sent out his servants from his presence…

Then Joseph said to his brothers ‘I am Joseph; does my father still live? Gen 45: 3a

Boy, was that a shock!

But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here…Gen 45:5

… for God sent me before you to preserve life.

What were the brothers expecting him to say? Remind them of his dreams that their sheaves bowed before him – and this was the fulfilment? Punish them for what they had done to him?

Any of these and probably more. But Joseph reinforced his belief… “So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Gen 45:8

And so began the migration of the Israelites – (sons of Israel/Jacob) – into the land of Goshen.

That’s another story. For now we leave Joseph, a ruler throughout Egypt, reunited with his brothers and soon to be reunited with his father.

Sometimes what we see as ‘curses’ can turn out to the good if we are patient, trust God and believe that He is working His purpose out.

Remember… tread softly, you may be treading on someone’s dreams. (Or undermining their faith.)

Susan

Joseph… the brothers return to Egypt

A dilemma…

“Go back, buy us a little food,” the father, Isaac, instructed his sons.

But Judah spoke to him saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”

The brothers’ response was that they wouldn’t go without young Benjamin.

Torn between the need for food and fear for his youngest son, Israel blamed his other sons… ‘Why did you tell him you had another brother?’

They replied that ‘the man’ asked him about themselves. Was our father still alive? Do you have another brother? Then defending themselves… asked how they could possibly have known that he would say ‘Bring your brother down.”

This conversation can be found in Gen 43: 2 – 7.

The brothers still didn’t know with whom they had dealt in Egypt.

Perhaps they would have been more anxious had they known it was their brother, Joseph. But they didn’t know. All they were aware of is that he was a high official in Pharaoh’s court… enough to strike fear in them and have them reluctant to not follow ‘the man’s’ instructions.

Backed into a corner their father had no choice. He did all he could, hoping to gain favour with the Egyptian official. He told his sons to take some of the best fruits of the land, a present for the man, balm, honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Then also “take the money back that you found in your sacks, take your brother. And may God Almighty have mercy on you before the man that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved.” Gen 42 14

So they went, back to Egypt. They took the first amount of money and extra to purchase more wheat, and their youngest brother. What a responsibility!

When they were taken to Joseph’s house they really were concerned, fearing they would be punished because of the money they had found in their sacks. Did they wonder if they should have turned back immediately and returned it? It would have been an anxious wait till Joseph joined them for the meal he had ordered prepared.

Joseph enquired about their father, was introduced to his young brother… his blood brother, which touched him deeply. But still he didn’t tell them who he was. He ate with the Egyptians keeping the custom that Egyptians didn’t eat with Hebrews. (One wonders how many of then knew that Joseph was a Hebrew.)

But then the plot thickens. The men are sent on their way, probably sighing with relief that they were taking their youngest brother with them. Unbeknown to them Joseph had ordered that not only were their sacks well filled, but that the money was returned to them again. Joseph ordered that as well as putting his money in the sack of the youngest that Joseph’s silver cup be put in the sack.

Unsuspecting the men left early in the morning.

To be continued…

In the meantime, at this busy time of year, take care and remember to tread softly because you might be treading on someone’s dreams.

Susan

One of Joseph’s dreams fulfilled…

‘So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.’ Gen 42: 3

There was another brother, Benjamin, son of his own mother. whom Joseph did not know about, but Jacob didn’t send him in case something happened to him.

As it happened, Joseph was the one who sold to all the people… and the ten brothers were coming to him to ask to buy grain. Those brothers bowed down to him. A dream fulfilled? Years before, the young Joseph had told them of the dream, ‘There we were, binding sheaves in the field; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.’ Gen 37: 7 This made them even more jealous and angry!

Joseph recognised his brothers and remembered the dream. They, of course, did not recognise their younger brother…   looking like the high-ranking Egyptian official that he was. Additionally they had sold him into slavery; the man they were dealing with here was second only to Pharaoh in the land.

So what were Joseph’s thoughts? Using an interpreter, he accused them of being spies! Was he dealing with his own feelings – or testing them to see if they had changed? He certainly wasn’t making it easy for them.

The brothers protested that they were innocent of the accusation and had only come to buy food. Then they unwittingly gave him information about his father and that he had another brother. ‘Your servants are twelve brothers, the son of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.’ Gen 42: 13

Joseph continued to accuse them of being spies and devised a ‘test’. He put them in prison for three days… time for them to worry about what would happen to them. Did they ever wonder about the young brother they threw in a pit and sold into slavery during that time?

On the third day Joseph came with his condition… ‘If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die…’ Gen 42: 19,20

They talked among themselves, seeing this as the consequences of what they had done to their brother. The others had never told Reuben that they had sold Joseph and he believed Joseph dead. He told his brothers that his blood was required of them.

Unbeknown to them, Joseph understood. He hadn’t forgotten his native tongue, and they didn’t know who he was.

He turned away and wept.

When he recovered himself, again through the interpreter, he talked with them.’ He took Simeon and bound him before their eyes.’ Gen 42: 24 He gave them their sacks of grain, ordered provisions for them and that their money be restored to their sacks. They didn’t know about the money,  it was something they discovered later. (You will find this in Gen 42: 25 – 27, 35)

This, and the terms Joseph had set caused consternation at home. Jacob refused to let Benjamin go, even though Reuben promised to keep him safe, offering that if he didn’t bring Benjamin back Jacob could kill his two sons.

Probably thinking that killing Reuben’s two sons would not bring Benjamin back to life if Benjamin,  was killed, Jacob refused.

The famine lasted longer than the sacks of grain and Jacob told them to go back and buy more grain. Judah reminded his father of the terms that Joseph had set.

Not a good place for Jacob to be!

To be continued

In the meantime, tread softly, you may be treading on someone’s dreams.

Susan

Joseph’s rise to power…

Gen 41: 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

So, what did Joseph do to earn this position, this favour, from the Pharaoh of Egypt? Correctly interpret correctly a few dreams?

No. Joseph did nothing to earn this favour. It is my opinion that this is what God worked out. Maybe it wasn’t His will that Joseph be sold into slavery… but He blessed and prospered a man who was humble enough to accept His will. What makes me say that? Because God does not bless those who mutter and complain against His will. (Yes, the Israelites coming out of Egypt did… but their leader, Moses, interceding for them, remained humble before Him.)

God works His purpose out. We have the free will to make mistakes but God will bring things to where He wants them to be, no matter how many people attempt to thwart Him.

When Joseph was imprisoned… because of lies… Joseph may not have liked it, but he accepted it in humility.

Humility.

Joseph didn’t say “I am worth better than this… being sold as a slave, I am my father’s favourite son; he didn’t say, “I am worth more than being a slave in a foreign country”; nor did he say, “I correctly interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s servants and have been forgotten.” If he thought of any of those things, they are not recorded.

Blessing

Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. Gen 41: 42

This was a change from his tunic as a slave, and his chains as a prisoner!

All this achieved by the time he was thirty. (Gen 41: 46…)

Power

Joseph didn’t let the power ‘go to his head’; he acted on the revelation God had given him in those dreams. He stockpiled food in the seven good years… this in itself demonstrates the power Pharaoh had invested in him. Most people of the land would simply ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ if things looked good and ignore it when some foreigner, a former slave at that, said the opposite…

‘Save, store, be cautious’.

But that former slave was second in the land.

Seven years later, the famine did come in all the lands… but in Egypt there was bread. When this became known, all the countries came to Egypt for grain.

And here is set up the next step…

When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.” Gen 42: 1,2

None of them knew that Joseph was still alive. God did. So here is another test set up. Joseph is now in a position of power. How will he react?

To be continued…

In the meantime,

Tread softly, you may be treading on someone’s unfulfilled dreams…

Susan