Genesis 45
Joseph revealed himself to brothersverses 1-8
THEN Joseph could not REFRAIN himself before all them that
stood by him – and he CRIED
Cause every man to go out from me
And there stood no man with him
while Joseph made himself KNOWN unto his brethren
and he wept aloud
and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard
And Joseph said unto his brethren – I am Joseph
Does my father yet live?
And his brethren could not ANSWER him
FOR they were TROUBLED at his presence
And Joseph said to his brethren – Come near to me
I pray you – and they came near
And he said
I am Joseph your brother
whom you SOLD into Egypt
Now therefore be not GRIEVED – nor ANGRY with yourselves
that you SOLD me hither – FOR God did SEND me before
you to PRESERVE life
FOR these two years has the FAMINE been in the land
and yet there are FIVE years
in which there shall neither be earing nor harvest
And God SENT me before you to PERSERVE you a posterity
in the earth – and to SAVE your lives by a
great DELIVERANCE
SO now it was not you that SENT me hither – BUT God
and HE made me a father to Pharaoh
and lord of all his house
and ruler throughout all the land of Egypt
Joseph sends brothers back to Jacobverses 9-15
Haste you – and go up to my father
and say to him
Thus says your son Joseph – God has made me lord of all Egypt
come down to me – tarry not – and you shall dwell in
the land of Goshen – and you shall be near to me
you – your children – your children’s children
your flocks – your herds and all that you have
and there will I NOURISH you
FOR yet FIVE years of FAMINE
lest you and your household
and all that you hast COME TO POVERTY
BEHOLD your eyes see – and the eyes of my brother Benjamin
that it is my mouth that speaks to you
and you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt
and of all that ye have seen
and you shall HASTE and bring down my father hither
And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck – and wept
and Benjamin wept upon his neck
Moreover he kissed all his brethren – and wept upon them
and after that his brethren talked with him
Pharaoh hears about Joseph’s brothersverses 16-24
And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house – saying
Joseph’s brethren are come – and it PLEASED Pharaoh well
and his servants
And Pharaoh said to Joseph
Say to your brethren – This do you – lade your beasts – and go
get you unto the land of Canaan
And take your father and your households – and come to me
and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt
and you shall eat the fat of the land
Now you are commanded – this do you
take your WAGONS out of the land of Egypt
for the little ones – and FOR your wives
and bring your father – and come
Also regard not your STUFF
for the GOOD of all the land of Egypt is yours
And the children of Israel did so – and Joseph gave them WAGONS
according to the commandment of Pharaoh
and gave them PROVISION for the way
To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment
BUT to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver
and five changes of raiment
And to his father he sent after this manner
ten asses laden with good things of Egypt
and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat
for his father by the way
So he sent his brethren away – and they departed
and he said to them
See that you fall not out by the way
Jacob surprised by report of Josephverses 25-28
And they went up out of Egypt
and came into the land of Canaan to Jacob their father
And told him saying
Joseph is yet alive
and he is governor over all the land of Egypt
And Jacob’s heart fainted
FOR he believed them NOT
And they told him all the words of Joseph – which he had said to them
and WHEN he saw the WAGONS
which Joseph had sent to carry him
the spirit of Jacob their father REVIVED
And Israel said – It is ENOUGH
Joseph my son is yet ALIVE
I will go and see him before I DIE
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; does my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. (926 “troubled” [bahal] means afraid, disquiet, be precipitate, dismay, disturbed, terrified, confounded, or out of one’s senses)
DEVOTION: The brothers were confronted by the truth of who Joseph really was scared his brothers out of their senses. They didn’t know what to think. It was something they never expected. The truth surprised them.
What do you think will happen when those who have rejected Jesus Christ are confronted by HIM at the Great White Throne judgment in the future? Imagine the shock when those who have rejected HIM are standing before HIM to be judged for eternity.
Believers are told that they are not to let their hearts be in dismay because if they believe in Jesus everything is good between them and the Father. We sometimes forget this truth. We are covered by the blood of Jesus and God is only going to let things happen to us that are for our good.
Joseph during his slavery and imprisonment probably didn’t think these thoughts but when it came to the time period when he finally saw his brothers again he understood the truth that the LORD was with him the whole time.
These thoughts were new to his brothers. They didn’t understand fully how the LORD had worked out the details. They thought he was dead and now he is alive.
These same thoughts come to mind when we think of the disciples in the upper room when Jesus appeared to them. Even Thomas was not able to believe unless he touched Jesus after his death and resurrection.
Do we believe the truth of the Word of God regarding HIS relationship to us at all times?
CHALLENGE: God want us to realize that HE is working HIS plan in our life and we have to trust HIM with every detail of our life.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. (7760 “preserve” [siym] means to set up, purpose, put on, work, or to appoint. 4241 “preserve” verse 5 [michyah] means sustenance, quick, reviving, or victuals)
DEVOTION: The two words used for “preserve” in this passage deal with two different issues. The use of it in verse five, deals with sustenance or providing food so that people could live. Here we have the use of the word to show purpose. God set up Joseph to be in Egypt.
Joseph has been dealing with his brothers for the last three chapters. He has concealed his identity from them. He has spoken to them through a interpreter. He has asked questions regarding his brother and father and they never caught on to what he was doing. He put their money back in their sacks. He put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack.
Now we have the final scene in this drama. He reveals himself to his brothers. He cries. He sends out his servants but they still hear him crying. He tells his brothers the reason he is in Egypt.
They thought it was because they had sent him. He tells them that God sent him ahead to save their lives. He knew that God had a plan and was working HIS plan. They didn’t understand. They were confused. This is the normal reaction of people who are not close to the LORD.
We have covered the beginning of the life of Joseph. He was loved by his father and hated by his brothers. His brothers sold Joseph into slavery. He was the head steward in a wealthy home in Egypt. He was falsely accused and put in prison. He stayed in prison many years for a crime he didn’t commit. Finally, he was released from prison and was made second in command in Egypt. This doesn’t happen with everyone but it happens in God’s plans. He organized famine relief. His brothers came for food. He revealed himself to his brothers.
Now what would we do? Would we be bitter or better? Joseph was better. He realized that God sent him ahead to Egypt to provide for his family. He was God’s appointed provider for his family. Joseph didn’t understand it while he was in prison but he realized it before his brothers came to him. Joseph was the means God used to give his family food during the famine. He was the one who allowed the children of Israel to live in Egypt while the sins of the Amorites reached their full. While in Egypt the nation of Israel prospered. They were so prosperous that the new Pharaoh wanted to kill them.
Many times we go through things we don’t understand while we are going through them but later on in life we sometimes understand what God is doing in us. Everything the LORD allows in our life is for our good and fulfills HIS purpose in our life and in the lives of those around us. We need to commit our lives to HIM and follow HIS lead. Waiting on God is very hard when we are going through the “valley of the shadow of death.” BUT we still need to trust HIM.
CHALLENGE: Thank God for the bad things which happen to us. What we consider bad might be good for us and for those around us. Remember that in all that happens we need to get better in our relationship with God and man and not bitter. It is easier said than done but we need to do it in the STRENGTH that the LORD gives us each day.
: 20 Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. (3627 “stuff” [kaliy] means anything owned or possessed, clothing, an implement, furniture, apparatus, or gear)
DEVOTION: There are people who care about personal appearance before those they think are important in their world. These individuals try to make sure that they buy just the right stuff that others will think that they are well off. They are concerned about external appearance more than what is important to the LORD. The LORD is more concerned with our inner life. The external life will be right if our heart is right with God.
The brothers had been concerned with external things when they saw Joseph with his coat of many colors. They were jealous and sold him off as a slave. Now things are different.
Pharaoh informs the brothers not to worry about bring their personal belongings with them to Egypt. He promises that the best of Egypt is available to them for free. He sends a wagon train back to pick up the rest of the family as well as gifts to give them when they see them.
Too often we worry about our personal belongings more than our relationship with each other and the LORD. God wants us to understand that HE is the one who is providing all that we need. Pharaoh was not able to provide all that God can provide. We are not able to provide all that we think we need.
When we compare ourselves with others because of what they own we are not honoring the LORD. HE is the one who provides for our every need. The brothers were coming to Egypt because they were hungry and needed food. They received so much more by the providence of God.
CHALLENGE: We will receive so much more if we learn to trust HIM to provide for our every need. Christians shouldn’t compare their blessings to the thing of the world. Our blessings are so much more if we have our eyes on the right things.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not. (4910 “governor” [mashal] means 1 to rule, have dominion, reign. 1a (Qal) to rule, have dominion. 1b (Hiphil). 1b1 to cause to rule. 1b2 to exercise dominion. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: We just had another presidential election in the United States. Much was said for and again both of the two major party candidates. While our form of government does not allow one person to have absolute power, there are a lot of things that the President can do by means of orders. In a similar fashion, Joseph was given authority by Pharaoh to carry out the duties of prime minister in the land of Egypt in preparation for the seven years of famine. Then he continued in power during these seven years of famine.
When Joseph’s brothers told their father of their lie about Joseph, he was amazed that they had lied to him all these years, and that he had allowed himself to believe the lie. But greater still was the amazement when he found out that not only was Joseph alive, but he was ruling in Egypt, the one place of safety from the famine in the Middle East. God had placed Joseph in a position of authority to save the lives of many people through the seven years of famine, and this included Jacob and his family.
All of this foreshadowed the day when there would be another ruler over the affairs of mankind who would choose to rule those under Him with mercy and grace. That person would be Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6-7). That means that Joseph is the first type of Christ in the Old Testament as a human ruler and a servant-king. Jesus accomplished deliverance from sins in the same way that Joseph’s actions accomplished deliverance from death from starvation for these people.
So, the announcement of Joseph’s life (a form of the resurrection as far as Jacob was concerned) and his position were good news for Jacob! It was something that he could have anticipated from Joseph’s previous dreams, but did not believe it during the many dark years after Joseph was taken from him. We can rejoice because King Jesus is alive and is on the throne of the universe!
CHALLENGE: Have you been tempted to doubt the beneficence of God? If so, start now by praising Him for all the things which happened in your life yesterday. (MW)
: 28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. (7227 “enough” [rab] means abounding in, abundant, numerous, remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree, magnitude, or plentiful)
DEVOTION: Have you ever heard a story that seemed hard to believe? Here is Jacob or Israel hearing that the son that he thought was dead is alive. He sees his sons come back from their trip to Egypt with more than they could afford to buy themselves.
They tell him that Joseph is now a ruler in Egypt. His son that was supposed to be dead is now alive and living in Egypt as one of the rulers. It was hard to believe. Yet, he saw all the wagons full of gifts that came with them.
It is said that he was really sad over the death of his son Joseph. Throughout the account of the life of Joseph we find that Jacob didn’t take his death well. He clung close to Benjamin as the only son of his favorite wife. He didn’t want to lose Benjamin but had decided if he lost him he would go to his grave in great sorrow but he also knew that they needed food again and Egypt was the only place they could get it.
Now he sees all that they have with them and their story that Joseph is alive and he finally believes that they are telling him the truth. It took a lot of convincing. This is true with us in our life too. We sometimes don’t see all the blessing we have until someone points them out to us and then we realize the LORD has really blessed us.
Are we willing to say “It is enough” when we think about all the blessings the LORD has given us or do we concentrate on what we think we need to be real happy?
CHALLENGE: Contentment is a gift the LORD can give to those who truly understand all the blessings HE has given them.
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)
Joseph submits to plan of Godverses 5, 7
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 5, 7-9
Preserve lifeverse 5
Great deliveranceverse 7
Sent Joseph to Egyptverse 8
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)
Egyptiansverse 2
House of Pharaohverses 2, 16
Egyptverses 4, 8, 13, 18, 23, 25
Pharaoh pleasedverses 16-24
Gave wagons to bring Jacob
All the land of Egypt theirs
Commandment of Pharaoh
Gave provision for trip
Gave change of raiment
Land of Canaanverses 17, 25
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Troubledverse 3
Grievedverse 5
Angryverse 5
Heart faintedverse 26
Believe notverse 26
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Compassion for othersverse 1
Preserve lifeverse 5
Save livesverse 7
Deliveranceverse 7
Providenceverse 8
Provisionverses 10, 11, 18, 20, 21
Believeverse 26
Spirit revivedverse 27
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Josephverses 1-28
Made himself known to brothers
I am Joseph
God did send me before you
to preserve life
Father to Pharaoh
lord of Pharaoh’s house
lord of all Egypt
land of Goshen
nourish his family
not come to poverty
gave wagons
sends gifts to father (Jacob)
Brothersverses 1, 3, 15
Sold Joseph
Talked with Joseph
Went out of Egypt
Father = Jacob (Israel)verses 3, 9, 13, 18-28
Told Joseph is alive
Spirit of Jacob was revived
Benjaminverses 12, 14, 22
Joseph gave three hundred
pieces of silver
Joseph gave five changes of
raiment
Children of Israelverse 21
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Dieverse 28
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QUOTES regarding passage
Joseph’s words pull back the narrative veil and allow the reader to see what has been going on behind the scenes. It was not the brothers who sent Joseph to Egypt; rather it was God. And God had a purpose for it all. We have seen numerous clues throughout the narrative that this has been the case; but now the central character, the one ultimately responsible for initiating the plots and subplots of the preceding narratives, reveals the divine plans and purpose behind it all. Joseph, who could discern the divine plan in the dreams of Pharaoh, also knew the divine plan in the affairs of his brothers. Through it all he saw God’s plan to accomplish a “great deliverance” (v.7).
In describing God’s care over him, Joseph made an allusion to the brothers’ initial question regarding his dreams as a young lad. They had said, “Do you intend to reign over us?” (37:8). Now he reminded them that he had been made “ruler of all Egypt” (45:8). (Sailhamer, J. H. (1990). Genesis. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers (Vol. 2, p. 257). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Joseph explained that God had sovereignly brought him to Egypt to prepare for their deliverance from famine. His words form a classic statement on providential control. God sent me ahead of you (45:5). It was not you who sent me here, but God (v. 8; cf. v. 9). The certainty that God’s will, not man’s, is the controlling reality in every event shined through as the basis for reconciliation. No doubt Joseph had consoled himself many times with this principle of faith. He who is spiritual can perceive the hand of God in every event, and therefore is able to forgive those who wrong him. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Genesis. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 94). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Reassurance (vv. 5–8). Since Joseph could see his brothers’ mixed responses of fear and bewilderment, he encouraged them with words that came from a loving and forgiving heart. Yes, they had done wrong and were guilty; yet he told them not to dwell on their sins but on what God had done for all of them. God overruled the brothers’ hateful attitude and cruel actions and worked it all out for good. (See Joseph’s words in 50:20, which is the Old Testament version of Romans 8:28.) His brothers were responsible for Joseph’s sufferings, but God used them to accomplish His divine purposes.
The story of Joseph and his brothers encourages us to recognize the sovereignty of God in the affairs of life and to trust His promises no matter how dark the day may be. “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand” (Prov. 19:21, nkjv). God sent Joseph to Egypt so that Jacob’s family could be preserved and the nation of Israel be born and ultimately give the Word of God and the Savior to the world. Without realizing it, Joseph’s brothers were helping the Lord fulfill His covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Be authentic (pp. 126–127). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub.)
Ver. 8. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God, &c.] Which is to be understood not absolutely, as if they had no concern at all in sending him thither; they sold him to the Ishmaelites, who brought him down to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, and so were instrumental in his coming to Egypt; but comparatively, it was not they so much as God that sent him; whose providence directed, disposed, and overruled all those events, to bring Joseph to this place, and to such an high station, to answer the purposes and designs of God in providing for and preserving Jacob’s family in a time of distress: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh; to be a teacher to him, as Aben Ezra, that is, to be his counsellor, to advise him well in all things, as a father his children; or to be his partner and patron, as Jarchi, to have a share with him in power and authority, and to be reckoned as a father to him, see ch. 41:43 and to provide for him and the welfare of his kingdom, as parents do for their children: the following phrases explain it of rule and government; and the meaning is, that he was a great man, and a prince in Pharaoh’s court: and lord of all his house; his prime minister, chief counsellor and courtier: and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt; to whom all the deputies of the several provinces were subject under Pharaoh, and especially in the affair of the corn. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 282). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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!!)
IMPOSSIBLE PEOPLE by Os Guinness
It is ironic that “intelligent design” as God’s design is anathema to the evolutionary humanists, but in a fit of hubris their own goal is nothing less than to replace what they see as four billion years of aimless natural selection with a new and improved intelligent design of their own. (p. 138)
Progressive secularism is the driving philosophy of those who are out to join Nietzsche in murdering God and attempting to return the West to the paganism of the pre-Christian world. (p. 146)
… contemporary American atheist Sam Harris who writes even now: “Some beliefs are so dangerous that it may be ethical to kill people for believing them.” (p,149)
But much of the run of the mill renewal songs, which are repeated endlessly and constructed more on rhythm than melody, confine Evangelicals within a shallow theology, threadbare worship, fleeting relevance and historical amnesia. Along with soft preaching and a general rage for innovation, such music is another reason why many Evangelical churches resemble a field of quick-growing, quick-disappearing mushrooms rather than a longstanding forest of oaks. (p. 176)
Jesus is transfigured as a validation of His identity as the Deity and Messiah.
INSIGHT
The Transfiguration gives us an exciting glimpse into our resurrection life. From it, we may learn several things. Our physical bodies may be startlingly brilliant and beautiful, as we witness the amazing appearance of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. We may know each other automatically since the disciples seemed to recognize Moses and Elijah without instruction. We apparently will not be subject to the physical limitations of nature since Moses and Elijah appeared and disappeared. What a joy awaits us in eternity!
(Quiet Walk)
Alexa, Amazon’s voice-controlled device, has an interesting feature: it can erase everything you say. Whatever you’ve asked Alexa to do, whatever information you’ve asked Alexa to retrieve, one simple sentence (“Delete everything I said today”) sweeps it all clean, as if it never happened. It’s too bad that the rest of our life doesn’t have this capability. Every misspoken word, every disgraceful act, every moment we wish we could erase—we’d just speak the command, and the entire mess would disappear.
There’s good news, though. God does offer each of us a clean start. Only, He goes far deeper than merely deleting our mistakes or bad behavior. God provides redemption, a deep healing that transforms us and makes us new. “Return to me,” He says, “I have redeemed you” (Isaiah 44:22). Even though Israel rebelled and disobeyed, God reached out to them with lavish mercy. He “swept away [their] offenses like a cloud, [their] sins like the morning mist” (v. 22). He gathered all their shame and failures and washed them away with His wide, sweeping grace.
God will do the same with our sin and blunders. There’s no mistake He can’t mend, no wound He can’t heal. God’s mercy heals and redeems the most painful places in our soul—even the ones we’ve hidden for so very long. His mercy sweeps away all our guilt, washes away every regret. By Winn Collier (Daily Bread)
HOLY HANDS
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1 Timothy 2:8
There are conditions that govern the activity called prayer. One condition is that we are to lift up “holy hands.” We are not now concerned about the question of posture in prayer, nor to indicate that the Jews generally stood and held up their hands to God when they prayed. We shall not tarry with the fact that it was a Jewish custom to wash their hands before they took part in an act of worship. That was merely the external symbol used to emphasize the principle that the apostle is anxious to stress.
The clean hands, the “holy hands,” are indicative of and represent a holy character. That must ever be the first question in any approach to God. “Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). “Thou [God] art of purer eyes than to behold evil” and cannot “look on iniquity” (Habakkuk 1:13). There is nothing that is so utterly contrary to the whole teaching of the Bible as the assumption that anyone at any time without any conditions whatsoever may approach God in prayer. Indeed, the first effect of sin, and the main result of the Fall, was to break the communion that obtained between God and man. Man, by sin, has forfeited his right approach to God, and indeed were he left to himself he never would approach God. But God in His wondrous grace has made a way for man to approach Him. That is the explanation of all the teaching concerning offerings and sacrifices in the Old Testament, as it is also the explanation of the ceremony of the Tabernacle and the Tem ple and the Aaronic priesthood. Without these things men could not approach God. We can commune with Him only in this way and according to His dictates. There is no access otherwise.
A Thought to Ponder: We can commune with God only according to His dictates.
(From Why Does God Allow War? pp. 25-26, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Unlove is deadly. It is a cancer. It may kill slowly but it always kills in the end. Let us fear it, fear to give room to it as we should fear to nurse a cobra. It is deadlier than any cobra. And just as one minute drop of the almost invisible cobra venom spreads swiftly all over body of one into whom it has been injected, so one drop of the all of unlove in my heart or yours, however unseen has a terrible power of spreading all through our Family for we are one body – we ae parts of one another.
We owe it to the younger ones to teach them the truth that united prayer is impossible, unless there be loyal love. If unlove be discovered anywhere, stop everything and put it right, if possible, at once. (Leading with LOVE by Alexander Strauch)
Love So Amazing, So Divine
“In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” (Colossians 1:22)
The past three days we have studied the verses of the hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” We have seen insights into the sufferings of Christ on the cross for our behalf, the love that led Him there, and its bountiful gift to believers. We are now prepared to consider our response.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
The author, Isaac Watts, begins verse four with a mention of creation. If we were to own it, it would not suffice as a suitable gift, for He is the Creator of all (Colossians 1:16-17), including the vastness of space, the intricacies of life and Earth systems, the mighty spiritual angels, and even the creation of His image in man. “There is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him” (1 Corinthians 8:6). He is Lord of all! He knows us better than we know ourselves, and yet He loves us so.
The most amazing line of the hymn is the final couplet. A fitting response to His love would be a complete offering of one’s soul, life, and all. He is our great Creator and the offended Judge. He gave up aspects of His eternal essence in order to take up our likeness and die for us. He is our everlasting King. It all focuses in on the cross—the wondrous cross!
“My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27). “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever” (1 Timothy 1:17).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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