Tuesday, 29 Kislev 5784 / December 12, 2023
Day 346 Readings
Torah: Mikeitz, 3rd Portion Bereshit (Genesis) 41:39-52
Genesis 41:39-52
New American Standard Bible
39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be [a]in charge of my house, and all my people shall [b]be obedient to you; only regarding the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “See, I have placed you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen, and put the gold necklace around his neck. 43 And he had him ride in [c]his second chariot; and they proclaimed ahead of him, “[d]Bow the knee!” And he placed him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Though I am Pharaoh, yet without [e]your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 Then Pharaoh named Joseph [f]Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of [g]On, to be his wife. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
46 Now Joseph was thirty years old when he [h]stood in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven years of plenty the land produced [i]abundantly. 48 So he collected all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and put the food in the cities; he put in every city the food from its own surrounding fields. 49 Joseph stored up grain [j]in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped [k]measuring it, for it was [l]beyond measure.
The Sons of Joseph
50 Now before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of [m]On, bore to him. 51 Joseph named the firstborn [n]Manasseh; “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all of my father’s household.” 52 And he named the second [o]Ephraim; “For,” he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
Bible Study Together
1 Chronicles 9:40-44
40 The son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal, and Merib-Baal begot Micah.
2 Samuel 1
New King James Version
The Report of Saul’s Death
1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 2 on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes [a]torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
(While I was reading the report on Saul's death, Stephen texted me showing his lighter side, I feel hopeless since last night because of my feelings for him and our situation that makes it very hard for us to be married as GOD has promised)
24 “O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury;Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!Jonathan was slain in your high places.26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;You have been very pleasant to me;Your love to me was wonderful,Surpassing the love of women.
John 11:38-57
New King James Version
Lazarus Raised from the Dead
38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone [a]from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for [b]us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.
365 Daily Kingdom Living
In His Arms
If you were going to paint a picture of serenity, it would be hard to beat the metaphor presented here by the psalmist – a mother rocking her young, newly weaned child. What could be safer? What could feel more warm and comfortable? Are you tense, tired, or anxious today? Close your eyes and imagine yourself if the arms of the Saviour who loves you.
Prayer: Father God, my soul needs quieting today. The stress and tensions around me sometimes seep inside. Make the psalmist’s statement mine as well. Give me the ‘shalom’ peace that comes only from you. Give me patience and flexibility with those around me; keep me from snapping at them. I want to relax and rest completely in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture
Amos 7
14 Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah:
“I was no prophet,Nor was I a son of a prophet,But I was a sheepbreederAnd a tender of sycamore fruit.15 Then the Lord took me [j]as I followed the flock,And the Lord said to me,‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’16 Now therefore, hear the word of the Lord:You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel,And do not [k]spout against the house of Isaac.’
17 “Therefore thus says the Lord:
‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city;Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword;Your land shall be divided by survey line;You shall die in a defiled land;And Israel shall surely be led away captiveFrom his own land.’ ”
Amos 8
Basket of Fruit and Israel’s Captivity
8 This is what the Lord [m]God showed me, and behold, there was a basket of summer fruit. 2 And He said, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A basket of summer fruit.” Then the Lord said to me, “The end has come for My people Israel. I will not [n]spare them any longer.
Amos 9
God’s Judgment Unavoidable
1 I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said,
“Strike the pillar capitals so that the thresholds will shake,And break them on the heads of them all! Then I will put to death the rest of them with the sword; They will not have a fugitive who will flee, Nor a survivor who will escape. 2 Though they dig into Sheol,From there My hand will take them;And though they ascend to heaven,From there I will bring them down. 3 And though they hide on the summit of Carmel,I will track them down and take them from there;And though they hide themselves from My sight on the bottom of the sea,I will command the serpent from there, and it will bite them. 4 And though they go into captivity before their enemies,From there I will command the sword and it will kill them,And I will set My eyes against them for harm and not for good.”
5 The Lord [z]God of armies,The One who touches the land so that it quakes,And all those who live in it mourn,And all of it rises up like the NileAnd subsides like the Nile of Egypt; 6 The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavensAnd has founded His vaulted dome over the earth,He who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth,The Lord is His name.
7 “Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me,You sons of Israel?” declares the Lord.“Have I not brought up Israel from the land of Egypt,And the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir?8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom,And I will eliminate it from the face of the earth;Nevertheless, I will not totally eliminate the house of Jacob,”Declares the Lord. 9 “For behold, I am commanding,And I will shake the house of Israel among all nationsAs grain is shaken in a sieve,But not a pebble will fall to the ground.10 All the sinners of My people will die by the sword,Those who say, ‘The catastrophe will not overtake or confront us.’
The Restoration of Israel
11 “On that day I will raise up the fallen [aa]shelter of David,And wall up its gaps; I will also raise up its ruinsAnd rebuild it as in the days of old; 12 So that they may [ab]possess the remnant of EdomAnd all the [ac]nations who are called by My name,”Declares the Lord who does this.
13 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord,“When the plowman will overtake the reaper,And the one who treads grapes will overtake him who sows the seed;When the mountains will drip grape juice,And all the hills will come apart. 14 I will also restore the fortunes of My people Israel,And they will rebuild the desolated cities and live in them;They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine,And make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will also plant them on their land,And they will not be uprooted again from their land Which I have given them, ”Says the Lord your God.
Revelation 3
New American Standard Bible
Message to Sardis
1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
He who has [a]the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are dead. 2 Be constantly alert, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 So remember [b]what you have received and heard; and [c]keep it, and repent. Then if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4 But you have a few [d]people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Message to Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8 ‘I know your [e]deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Behold, I [f]will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My [g]word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the [h]testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole [i]world, to [j]test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 13 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Message to Laodicea
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the [k]Origin of the creation of God, says this:
15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 The one who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. 22 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Psalm 131
New American Standard Bible
Childlike Trust in the Lord.
A Song of Ascents, of David.
1 Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes arrogant;Nor do I [a]involve myself in great matters,Or in things too [b]difficult for me.2 I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul;Like a weaned child resting [c]against his mother,My soul [d]within me is like a weaned child. 3 Israel, wait for the LordFrom this time on and forever.
Proverbs 29:21-22
New American Standard Bible
21 One who pampers his slave from childhood Will in the end find him to be rebellious. 22 An angry person stirs up strife,And a hot-tempered person abounds in wrongdoing.