Genesis 48:1-49:33
Matthew 15:29-16:12
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 4:20-27
Genesis 48:14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
Just as Jacob was the younger and was over his older brother so is Ephraim. But he did not have to steal the blessing. Last night at couples group someone had called Abraham a prophet and my initial reaction was that he was not a prophet because I was thinking of the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament. But from the time of Abraham, he and his descendants, Isaach and Jacob have had the gift of prophesy so through the power of God they are able to speak the truth of what will happen to their children. That gift is verified because we know that all the things that he said would happen to His children did come to pass.
Genesis 49:8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you;
your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;
your father’s sons will bow down to you.
9 You are a lion’s cub, Judah;
you return from the prey, my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until he to whom it belongs shall come
and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
The prophecy about Judah is also a prophecy about Jesus. He who is to come has come and will come again. Praise the Lord.
Psalm 4:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
When we put our faith in Jesus we do not have to fear. Every battle we fight needs to start in the spiritual realm. He does not say that he doesn't use chariots and horses we still will use all the resources available to us to function in life and to fight the battles we face but if we are trusting in them instead of in God Himself we will always be let down and will have reason to fear. When our hearts, minds, soul and strength are focused on who God is and all His promises we will have no reason to fear.
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
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