Julie
Today's passage lays out the blessings that Jacob leaves for his sons and highlights Joseph and Judah as receiving the most positive blessings of continued goodness. It also reiterates the fear that Joseph's brothers have in that he would have retribution against them for what they did to him. Again, he tells them that although they meant him harm, God was using that to save the lives of many. The verse actually reads, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" (Genesis 50:20). I think that this is very powerful and, again, something that we need to remember. I know that I have said this before, but I think it helps to reiterate it, in that we assume that the bad/negative things in our life are being done to us by God because we have done something wrong. However, most of the time he is putting us through trials so that we can help others or to make us stronger for something bigger. Joseph's outlook is so refreshing and very God-like in that he is forgiving regardless of what they have done to him.
Psalm 29 is another thank you to God for all that he does, provides, and watches over for us.
Michelle
I agree that we assume the challenges in life are God's punishment. Even with all we've been told, this assumption never goes away. I think we tend to punish ourselves by thinking this, which is not really the direction we should go either. I believe these trials are meant for us to grow and become something better, but in the midst of it that's not what I am thinking and when it's over I don't know what I was supposed to learn. Sometimes I wish it was made clearer to me.
In chapter 49 a few things stood out to me. In the very beginning he says "Gather so that I can tell you what is to come." He seems to be telling of how their futures will go. I see now that he goes back to Reuben's act with his father's concubine from earlier chapters. It's interesting some of these though. It does seem that some are not getting favorable blessing. In Judah's blessing vs 10 stands out for some reason. It says, "The scepter will not depart from Judah...until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his." I am curious who this is speaking of as it seems to be of prophecy foretold. Joseph's blessing does seem favorable compared to the others. That he will continue to be blessed. It almost sounds that it could be burdensome as well in the last verse for his blessing it says "Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers." That he will be and is the favored child of all twelve and while there seems to not be a jealousy anymore, the brothers are still fearful of what will happen to them. I don't feel like Joseph sees it as a burden but that last line makes me feel that way for some reason. As Julie stated, he does reassure his brothers that he does not hold any ill will toward them for what they did to him in the past. He has clearly forgiven and forgotten, which I think we as humans don't do well. I know I struggle with that. But he knows that God placed him where he is for a reason and understands it was not their doing alone but God's path for him. I wish I had that kind of understanding. Sometimes it is hard to let go.
I keep going back to ch. 40 vs 28 for some reason, "All these are the twelve tribes of Israel...". For some reason I wonder if there are still today 12 tribes in Israel. If some of the things we read about in the bible are still places of worship or highly regarded as being sacred, if some of the tribes or families are still in existence and know of their lineage. Not sure why this is important, but I think about it sometimes. I worked with someone from the middle east and he talked about the culture in the area he is from. It reminds me some of the things we read in the bible. Like one of the things was about the elder son which we kind of discussed the other day. It's just interesting and I wonder if some of the prominent families of that area today are long past descendants of some of these tribes. I'm not really sure why this is important but it stands out to me.
The psalm has yet another word I had to look up. Ascribe, which defines as attribute something to. So it goes on to say ascribe to the Lord glory and strength due his name, worship in the splendor of his holiness. This does sound like another psalm of praise to the Lord calling out some of the attributes we should be mindful of.
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