Genesis 44

Steward puts silver cup in Benjamin’s sackverses 1-2

And he commanded the steward of his house – saying

Fill the men’s sacks with food – as much as they can carry

and put every man’s MONEY in his sack’s mouth

and put my cup – the SILVER CUP

in the sack’s mouth of the youngest

and his corn MONEY

And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken

Steward sent to overtake brothersverses 3-5

As soon as the morning was light – the men were sent away

they and their asses

And when they were gone out of the city – and not yet far off

Joseph said to his steward – Up – follow after the men

and when thou do overtake them

say to them

WHEREFORE have you rewarded evil for good?

Is not this it in which my lord drinks

and whereby indeed he divines?

You have done EVIL in so doing

Steward confronted Joseph’s brothersverses 6-13

And he overtook them

and he spoke to them these same words

And they said to him

Wherefore says my lord these words?

God forbid that your servants should do according to this thing

BEHOLD – the money – which we found in our sacks’ mouths

we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan

How then should we steal out of your lord’s house silver or gold?

with whomsoever of your servants it be found

BOTH let him die

and we also will be my lord’s bondmen

And he said

Now also – let it be according unto your words

he with whom it is found shall be my servant

and you shall be BLAMELESS

THEN they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground

and opened every man his sack

And he searched – and began at the eldest – and left at the youngest

and the CUP was found in Benjamin’s sack

THEN they rent their clothes – and laded every man his ass

and returned to the city

Joseph confronts brothersverses 14-17

And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house

FOR he was yet there

and they fell before him on the ground

And Joseph said to them

What deed is this that you have done?

know you not that such a man as I can certainly divine?

And Judah said – What shall we say to my lord?

What shall we speak?

or how shall we clear ourselves?

God has found out the INIQUITY of your servants

BEHOLD – we are my lord’s servants – BOTH we

and he also with whom the CUP is found

And he said – God forbid that I should do so

BUT the man in whose hand the CUP is found

he shall be my servant and as for you

get you up in peace to your father

Judah continues to plead for Benjaminverses 18-34

THEN Judah came near to him and said

Oh my lord – let your servant – I pray you

speak a word in my lord’s ears

And let not your anger burn against your servant

FOR you are even as Pharaoh

My lord asked his servants saying

Have you a father or a brother?

And we said to my lord – We have a father – an old man

and a child of his old age – a little one

and his brother is dead

and he alone is left of his mother

and his father loves him

And you said unto your servants

Bring him down unto me

that I may set mine eyes on him

And we said to my lord – The lad cannot leave his father

FOR if he should leave his father

his father would DIE

And you said to your servants

EXCEPT your youngest brother come down with you

you shall see my face no more

And it came to pass when we came up unto your servant

my father – we told him the words of my lord

And our father said

Go again and buy us a little food

And we said – We cannot go down

IF our youngest brother be with us

THEN will we go down

for we may not see the man’s face

EXCEPT our youngest brother

be with us

And your servant my father said to us

You know that my wife bare me two sons

and one went out from me

and I said – Surely he is torn in pieces

and I saw him not since

and if you take this also from me

and mischief befall him

You shall bring down my gray hairs

with SORROW to the grave

NOW therefore when I come to your servant – my father

and the lad be not with us

seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life

It shall come to pass – when he sees that the lad is not with us

that he will DIE – and your servants shall bring down

the gray hairs of thy servant our father with

sorrow to the grave

FOR your servant became SURETY for the lad to

my father – saying –

IF I bring him not to you

THEN I shall bear the BLAME

to my father for ever

NOW therefore – I pray you

let your servant abide INSTEAD of the lad a bondman

to my lord – and let the lad go up with his brethren

FOR how shall I go up to my father – and the lad be not with me?

LEST peradventure I see the EVIL that shall come

on my father

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 5 Is not this it in which my lord drink, and whereby indeed he divines? You have done evil in so doing. (5172 “divines” [nachash] means enchantment, diligently observe, observe signs and omens, use sorcery, learn the will of the gods, or whisper a spell)

DEVOTION: The first point that we need to make is that the Bible doesn’t ever say that Joseph used his cups for enchantments. The Egyptians practiced this on a regular basis and his servant might have thought that Joseph used his cup for this purpose but it is not stated.

In verse fifteen it implies that Joseph knows how to know the will of the LORD but he doesn’t state that he used his cup to do it. It was just to get his brothers attention.

Remember that this was a trick by Joseph to let his brothers know that he was in control of what was happening in their life. It was a fulfillment of the dreams that he had when he was younger.

The Bible warns in many places that we are not to practice any kind of observing of signs and omen in a way that would be considered consulting with the spirits of the dead.

Today we find some people who claim to be believers consulting their horoscope each day to see how there day is going to go. Some even have used tarot cards to see their future. Some have gone to fortune tellers or psychics to find out what is happening in their future.

This is always called sin when people do it in the Bible. Those who are believers are to depend wholly on the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their life through their understanding of the Bible.

Knowing God’s will is difficult. Church leaders can give direction to help people who are asking but only the Holy Spirit can open the right doors and help individuals practice walking in the Holy Spirit.

Discernment is given to those who seek it from the LORD. The prayer life of an individual through prayer and fasting is said to be the means to understand God’s direction for a believer’s life.

CHALLENGE: If believers turn to the things mentioned above they are opening a door to the evil spirit world in their life. We should only consult the LORD regarding the future.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. (6006 “laded” {‘amac] means load, burden, to impose a heavy yoke, luggage, or to fill or place a load on.)

DEVOTION: Joseph is working a plan to get the attention of his brothers. He knows that there is a special relationship between his father and Benjamin. He knows that his brothers didn’t want to bring Benjamin with them. He purposely had them bring him to work his plan to deal with his brothers for their treatment of him.

The brothers didn’t recognize Joseph either time. He hid his appearance from them on purpose. They didn’t understand why he had left the room quickly when he saw his brother. They were not thinking about the fact that Joseph could still be alive.

Now Joseph’s plan was working. He has all the brothers coming back to the city to plead for the life of their youngest brother. They had torn their clothes to show how sad they were for what was happening.

It is a very different picture from when they sold Joseph into slavery. Here is one brother that they wanted to get rid of and another brother that they wanted to keep around for the sake of their father.

They knew that he loved Joseph but didn’t care. Now they cared. It was probably guilt over what they did to Joseph.

What is going on in our family? Is there equal love for each sibling or do we have a favorite as parents? Are the other children jealous of this special treatment? It is usually the youngest that gets all the special things.

CHALLENGE: We have to watch that we treat our children as equal as possible while they are growing up. We have to watch that even if we could have a special one that we try to show each one equal love.

: 16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. (6663 “clear” [tsadaq] means to be right, cleanse, justify, or be righteous)

DEVOTION: Judah seems to be the spokesman for the sons of Israel. He spends most of his time trying to get Joseph to accept him as a bondman in the place of Benjamin.

The brothers were surprised to see the money. They were even more surprised and upset that the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Benjamin had the silver cup in his sack and they were all in confusion.

They all headed back to the city to plead with “the man” for their youngest brother. Joseph would have none of it. He said that Benjamin had to stay. He was going to be Joseph’s bondservant.

It was a setup but they didn’t know it was. Judah made the comment that God was in this circumstance. He thought they were paying for their sin of selling Joseph to the caravan heading for Egypt. They were guilty of this sin. Now they were in a position to try to defend themselves against this false accusation of robbery. They didn’t have any explanation for what was happening.

Circumstances had overcome them. They were guilty on circumstantial evidence. There was no way to defend against the charge. The cup was found in the sack. They didn’t know how the cup got into Benjamin’s sack. Judah wanted to take his brothers place as a servant for live of Joseph.

His comment a few verses down showed that he thought it was God judging them for their treatment of Joseph. Did they think that God didn’t know what they had done to Joseph until this time period? Did they think that God waits to judge people at a later time period or does HE judge right away?

Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts. When bad things happen to us, do we think that God is judging us for some wrong in our past? Is HE? There are consequences to our choices. Is this God judging the brothers for their past sins? Yes or No? They were thinking they did wrong and apparently it was on their mind on a regular basis.

Sometimes bad things happen even when we are doing everything we can to live a good life in the eyes of the LORD. Job is an example of that. Elijah is an example of this. Are there some things in our life that came our way, even when we were living the way we should for the LORD?

CHALLENGE: Accept each circumstance as a lesson. Remember that when we sin, HE chastens. When we need growth, HE purges us. Both seem like bad things in our eyes.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 33 Now therefore, I pray you, let your servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. (8478 “instead of” [to post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another, underneath, in one’s place, or in exchange.)

DEVOTION: Substitutionary atonement is a concept that we need to understand in relationship to us and Jesus Christ. HE died on the cross for our sins. HE was the perfect sacrifice that the Father could accept for our sins. Jesus Christ who is the Messiah that God promised to Adam and Eve was to come and make atonement for the sins of the world. Each person has an opportunity to come to HIM in repentance and accept HIS sacrifice on the cross for their sins. Most don’t do it because they don’t think they need Jesus. They are wrong.

Here we have Judah asking his brother if he can take the younger brothers place as his slave. He wanted to act as a substitute for Benjamin. He wanted to serve as a slave and let his younger brother go home to his father.

There have been times when I would like to take the place of one of my children so that they would not suffer at all. I don’t want any of my children to suffer and if I could prevent it I would. This is probably something that any parent would do for their children. There were times when I stood in the way when someone wanted to hurt my younger brother.

God wants us to be willing to die for each other if necessary, to safe someone else that we love. The New Testament speaks about a friend dying for a brother. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us. We need to be willing to sacrifice for HIM.

CHALLENGE: What are you willing to do to stand in the gap between a family member, friend or fellow Christian? It might come to that point in the near future even in this country.

:34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father. (7200 “see” [raʾah] means 1 to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider. 1a (Qal). 1a1 to see. 1a2 to see, perceive. 1a3 to see, have vision. 1a4 to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out. 1a5 to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish. 1a6 to look at, gaze at. 1b (Niphal). 1b1 to appear, present oneself. 1b2 to be seen. 1b3 to be visible. 1c (Pual) to be seen. 1d (Hiphil). 1d1 to cause to see, show. 1d2 to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at. 1e (Hophal). 1e1 to be caused to see, be shown. 1e2 to be exhibited to. 1f (Hithpael) to look at each other, face. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship].)

DEVOTION: This soliloquy that Judah pours out before Joseph (before Joseph reveals himself to his brothers) is a gut-wrenching talk about regret through one’s life. He regrets the loss of Joseph (as well he assumes of Simeon). Now he faces the prospect that Joseph will take Benjamin from the brothers and leave them with only nine to send back to their father Jacob.

A lot of what we “see” can be described not merely as optical information, but also visualization of what we know or suspect is the truth. Judah for the first time demonstrates that he is truly concerned for someone else than himself. He actually visualizes the impact of the current impasse on his elderly father at home. He rehearses the history of their coming to Egypt and what transpired at home when they returned. And he makes an appeal to the vizier to show mercy to them by allowing Benjamin to be released.

All of this raises the question of how interested we are in the perspective of those around us versus that of ourselves. One thing that God wants believers to see is that the fields of unbelievers are “ripe for harvest,” and that we need to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). In other words, He is challenging us to see the world of men around us from His perspective rather than simply from our own. Do we really believe that they need salvation?

Ultimately Joseph acted out of clemency for his father and his eleven brothers. He sent all eleven of them back to Jacob with the news that he was indeed alive and living in Egypt. Joseph had the ability to “see” much better than any of his brothers, and forgave them for the things that they had done to him.

CHALLENGE: What do you need to see from God’s perspective? Ask Him to show you today how to look at those around you.

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

Godverses 7, 16, 17

God forbidverses 7, 17

God has found out our iniquityverse 16

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Stewardverses 1, 4

Land of Canaanverse 8

Pharaohverse 18

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Evilverses 5, 34

Diviningverses 5, 15

Stealverse 8

Iniquityverse 16

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Goodverse 4

Blamelessverse 10

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Josephverses 1-4, 15-34

Silver cup

Benjamin (youngest)verses 2, 12, 23, 26-34

Cup found in Benjamin’s sack

Younger brother

Brothers promise to be Joseph’s bondsmenverse 9

Judahverses 14, 16-34

Other brothersverse 14

Father (Jacob)verses 19, 22-34

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

Dieverses 9, 22, 31

Deadverse 20

Graveverses 29, 31

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QUOTES regarding passage

44:4–6 Lest the plan unravel prematurely, Joseph shortly dispatches his steward to overtake them, for “they had not gone far” (v. 4). The steward is to deliver an interrogation, hurling two charges that assume the brothers know the crime (vv. 4b–5a). “Repaid good for evil” does not describe merely ingratitude but describes malicious exploitation of a person’s kindness (e.g., 1 Sam 25:21; cf. Prov 17:13). The psalmist sharply reproached his enemies for such cruelty (Pss 35:12; 38:20[21]; 109:5; cf. Jer 18:20). In a reversal of the expression, Joseph later exclaimed that God had exchanged evil (“harm”) for good (50:20; cf. Prov 14:19). What appeared to be evil proved to be the good, leading to the salvation and reconciliation of the family.

The steward continues the allegation by a second question, referring to the divination cup, although the brothers are ignorant of what he has in mind (v. 5). Divination is the practice of foreseeing the future or discovering hidden knowledge. Hydromancy, the art of interpreting the liquids (water) in a cup or bowl, was widely practiced in the ancient Near East (other liquids included oil and wine). The common methods were interpreting the patterns of moving liquids or the patterns of floating objects in the liquid (cp. tasseomancy [tea leaf reading]). That Joseph is said to use the cup for “divination”³⁵¹ (cf. comments on 30:27) is unexpected since this practice is outlawed in Israel (Lev 19:26; Deut 18:10). There is no instance of this practice in the Joseph narrative (cf. comments on 43:33), and since Joseph’s wisdom relies on the interpretation of dreams, it is best understood as part of the elaborate ploy. The importance of the divination cup is its personal ownership by the Egyptian lord (“my cup,” v. 2). By stealing the cup, the steward concludes, “This is a wicked thing you have done” (v. 5). Verse 6 is typical of good Hebrew narrative style, indicating that the messenger carried out his instructions. (Mathews, K. A. (2005). Genesis 11:27–50:26 (Vol. 1B, pp. 798–799). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

44:1–13. Joseph, already brilliantly successful in creating tensions during their two visits, now produced his master stroke. He tested their concern for Benjamin in order to get them to recognize their evil. If they failed this test, if they had no compassion for this second son of Rachel, then they would have no part in the fulfillment of the promises. God could start over again and make Joseph into a great nation if the others proved unworthy (cf. Ex. 32:10).

The test involved the men’s silver in their sacks (as had been done on the first return trip) and placing Joseph’s own silver cup in Benjamin’s sack and then pursuing them to arrest Benjamin. When the steward … caught up with them and accused them of theft, he deliberately created tension among them by opening the sack of the oldest first and ending with the youngest. He knew, of course, that the silver cup was in Benjamin’s sack. The sudden threat to Benjamin was like a sword thrust through their hearts (cf. Solomon’s plan, 1 Kings 3:16–28). All the conditions were present for another betrayal when Benjamin was accused. Yet this time their response shows how well the chastening had done its work. They tore their clothes in grief (cf. Job 1:20), a response which they had earlier caused their father to make over Joseph’s loss (Gen. 37:34). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Genesis. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 93–94). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

Overjoyed. When the eleven brothers left Joseph’s house, they had every reason to be joyful (v. 34). They hadn’t been arrested for stealing the grain money, Simeon had been released, Benjamin was safely traveling with them, and they were going home at last. They had also been honored guests at a wonderful feast, and the generous ruler had sent them on their way with their sacks full of grain. It was indeed a happy day.

But their joy was only a mirage. Authentic joy and peace can never be based on lies; they must be founded on truth. To build on lies is to build on the sand and invite certain judgment. Apart from righteousness, there can be no real peace, but only a fragile truce that eventually erupts into war. “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever” (Isa. 32:17, nkjv).

Overtaken (vv. 1–6). The brothers must have been surprised when they saw Joseph’s steward and his guard following them, little realizing that their sins were about to catch up with them. The brothers were certainly stunned when the steward accused them of rewarding evil for good. But the biggest shock came when he announced that one of the brothers was a thief who had stolen his master’s special silver cup. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Be authentic (pp. 121–122). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub.)

Ver. 4. And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, &c.] Which perhaps was Tanais, the Zoan of the Scriptures; Joseph said unto his steward, up, follow after the men; who no doubt was ready provided with men and horses, to go out and pursue when Joseph should give the orders, he being privy to Joseph’s intentions, and with whom the scheme was concerted, and the secret was. Joseph appears to have been up very early this morning, and had observed the exact time of his brethren’s departure, and guessed whereabouts they might be when he sent his steward, and others after them; for it can hardly be thought he was sent alone after eleven men, and to charge them with a theft, and bring them back again: and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? in taking away the silver cup, when they had been so kindly and bountifully entertained. This he was to represent as base ingratitude, as it would have appeared, had it been fact. In much such manner was Esop used by the inhabitants of Delphos; they, being displeased with him, put a sacred cup or vial into his bags, which he, being ignorant of, went on his way towards Phocis; and they ran after him, and seized him, and charged him with sacrilege. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 276–277). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

As Joseph’s brothers were heading toward the sands of Sinai, Joseph’s steward and an escort of armed men came up behind. “Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?” the steward demanded as he reined in his horse and motioned to the escort to surround the brothers. “Where is my lord’s cup, the cup he uses in his divining arts?” In ancient Egypt a goblet was frequently used as a means of communicating with the spirits. In some cases small pieces of gold or silver, together with precious stones, were cast into the goblet over which appropriate incantations were uttered. The cup then acted as a species of Ouija board. Sometimes the goblet would be filled with water and set in the sun so that the deeps and shadows cast in the cup could be read just as some people today read tea leaves in a cup. It is hardly likely that Joseph indulged in such practices, but he certainly must have known about them.

The magicians of Egypt made uses of such methods of divination and were held in great awe by the people in consequence. The brothers, already in awe of Joseph, were now terrified at his supposed ability to see into their very sacks.

To the last man they protested their innocence. So confident were they that none of them had tampered with the cup they swore a great oath. “With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondsmen.” The steward smiled grimly and asked them to open their sacks. One by one the brothers passed inspection until the searchers came to Benjamin, then, there it was! The missing cup was in the mouth of Benjamin’s sack.

The brothers had come to life’s greatest crossroad. What would they do with Benjamin? Would they compound their wickedness and toss him to the wolves as once they had sloughed off Joseph? Or would they take their stand for Benjamin? It did not take long for the interested steward to see the result of the game being played out there on the desert sands. Without a moment’s hesitation the stricken men cast in their lot with Benjamin and prepared to share whatever fate was in store for him. Little did they know it, but by that action they had turned the tide. The incident points forward to the day when the Jews, the Lord’s kinsmen according to the flesh, will be put into the furnace of affliction, to be purified by the flame and be made ready for the revelation to them of Jesus in His glory, the one who has been active in their affairs all along.

Discernment was dawning, but not yet were Joseph’s brethren ready for the moment of the “apocalypse,” when Joseph would be unveiled before them. Greatly chastened, they rent their clothes in typical eastern fashion, for they had come to an end of all their cleverness and pride. Greatly changed, they came to Joseph and flung themselves before him.

At once Joseph made them face the fact of his greatness and his power. “What deed is this that ye have done?” he demanded. “Wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?” He was forcing them to think of him in even bigger terms than any they had conceded before. Likewise, in a coming day, in the furnace of the Great Tribulation, the Lord Jesus will force the Jews to think of Him in far greater terms than ever they have been willing to do. Whatever current Jewish thought might be about Jesus, one thing is certain: the Jews, as a people, are not prepared to admit His Deity, that He is their Messiah and the Son of God, and that, as a nation, they committed the crime of crimes in forcing Pilate’s hand by insisting on the crucifixion of Christ. “His blood be on us and upon our children,” they had cried, crowning their guilt. The Tribulation, however, will smash right through their national and religious pride and will prepare them for the full and final unveiling to them of Jesus Himself. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Genesis: An Expository Commentary (Ge 44:4–15). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)

FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

Esther 9
With the king’s permission, the Jews are allowed to protect themselves.
INSIGHT
National salvation is culminated for the Jews. When the fateful day arrives, the Jews throughout the empire stand on the defense. In the provinces, 75,000 of their assailants fall–500 of them in the capital of Susa alone. Among these are the 10 sons of Haman. A divine purpose runs through all human governments and events; and as God exalted Mordecai to honor and glory, so will He work for those who love Him. And so, ultimately, will He put all enemies under His feet. (Quiet Walk)

GOD IS JUDGE
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. Hebrews 12:26
What does the writer to the Hebrews mean when he says, “Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:26-27)? Well, he is here contrasting the old dispensation with the new. He is writing to Hebrew Christians, and he is reminding them how the law was given to them by God through Moses on that great and famous occasion on Mount Sinai. He says, “Look back at that, consider that,” and he gives them this tremendous description of it.
He says, “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest. And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, and if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake).” But you have not come to that, he says; “But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven”–and notice!–“and to God the Judge of all” (Hebrews 12:18-23).
Here is the great basic theme of the whole of the Bible. I must listen to it because I am moving every day I live nearer and nearer to a final judgment. “God the Judge of all”!
A Thought to Ponder
Every day I move nearer and nearer to a final judgment.
(From The Kingdom of God, pp. 209-210, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

His Head, His Hands, His Feet
“Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side….And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My LORD and my God.” (John 20:27-28)
Perhaps no other means of execution ever inflicted more physical pain than Roman crucifixion. Today as we ponder verse three of the precious hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” we reflect on the facts that when Christ was crucified, a cruel crown of thorns was mashed down upon His head and His body was held suspended in place by painful Roman spikes nailed through His hands and feet. He knew what awaited Him, for a description of the dying process had been written long beforehand (Psalm 22). Yet, He endured it all out of love for us.See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
We get some perspective of His love from these verses: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10).
He has done it all for us. We cannot earn salvation, but we have an obligation to conform our lives to His example, even His death. Scripture informs us that we can “know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:10). His death on the cross and His resurrection pave the way for us to follow.

(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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