January 24 ▪ Day 24

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 8:11
Genesis 47–48
Matthew 24
Psalms 24

Verse Focus (Proverbs 8:11)

For wisdom is more precious than rubies,
     and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Meditation

“For wisdom is more precious than rubies,” says Proverbs 8:11, “and nothing you desire can compare with her.” To me, this perfectly sums up the book of Proverbs. Wisdom — Christ — the Word of God. This is what it’s all about. Although we don’t trade in precious jewels the way the ancient world did, we still understand treasure. And to say that nothing else compares to wisdom — what else can you say? Everything else is second best.

Father God, may we seek only what is best and most profitable. Help us to treasure your Scripture the way we should. Keep our eyes on Christ Jesus!

Joseph presents his family to Pharaoh in Genesis 47. He doesn’t bring the whole crowd in — only five of them (doesn’t it make you curious who he picked?) — and as requested, they say they are shepherds. Pharaoh grants them to stay in Goshen, and further directs Joseph to place any of his siblings that are particularly capable in charge of Pharaoh’s own livestock. Next, Joseph presents his father, Jacob, who is now 130 years old. It’s interesting that verse 7 says that Jacob blessed Pharaoh and not the other way around. We know from Hebrews 7:7 that the lesser is blessed by the greater; so Scripture makes it clear that God’s chosen one is greater even than the ruler of such an important land.

So the Israelites are granted a holding and they settle in Goshen. Joseph provides food for them all. However, the famine becomes increasingly severe. As the Egyptians come to Joseph for grain to eat, they come to the point where no one has any money left. So Joseph has them sell their livestock to Pharaoh. When the livestock all belongs to Pharaoh, Joseph asks them next to sell their land. And in this way Joseph buys up all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. Only the priests’ land is exempt. Finally, to get food, the Egyptians sell themselves as slaves to Pharaoh. By the time the famine is over, everyone and everything belongs to Pharaoh. Joseph gives them seed to plant crops and directs that everyone must give one fifth of all they produce to Pharaoh. And this becomes a permanent law of the land.

As this chapter closes, it has been a dozen years since the famine ended. Jacob is now 147 years old and near death. He makes Joseph promise that he will not bury him in Egypt, but will bury him in Canaan where Abraham and Isaac are both buried. Joseph swears that he will do this for his father.

In Genesis 48, Jacob becomes increasingly ill. So Joseph brings his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and presents them to his father. They are both young men now, somewhere in their early- to mid-20’s. Jacob recites God’s covenant promise to him, and he then claims Manasseh and Ephraim as his own children, so that they will inherit along with Joseph’s other siblings. And Jacob blesses Joseph through the blessing he proclaims on the two sons.

As has happened before, the younger gets favored over the elder. Joseph places the eldest son, Manasseh, by Jacob’s right hand, and Ephraim by the left. But Jacob crosses his hands so that his right hand is on Ephraim’s head. Joseph thinks this is a mistake because Jacob can’t see well anymore, but Jacob says, no, the younger will be greater than the elder. This pattern of favoring the younger or youngest over the elder or eldest repeats time and time again throughout Scripture. Starting with Cain and Abel, it repeats through Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, Manasseh and Ephraim, Aaron and Moses — even down to Eliab and David (youngest son of Jesse).

In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus talks about the end times. He speaks of the destruction of the temple, and warns that there will be false Messiahs, wars, rumors of wars, clashes of nations, earthquakes, and famine — but these are only the “birth pangs.” He goes on to warn the disciples that they will be persecuted and put to death, hated by all nations. There will be betrayal and loss of faith. He again warns about the false prophets who will lead many astray. Verse 27 is particularly chilling. Jesus warns, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” But those who “stand firm” to the end will be saved.

Jesus says that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the whole world and to all nations, and then the end will come. He says that this “generation” (a word that also means “race”) will not pass away until all these things have happened. But no one knows the exact day or hour that the end will come except for the Father.

At least three times in this chapter Jesus warns against false prophets and false Messiahs. These false prophets and false Messiahs will even perform “great signs and wonders” to deceive many. If someone tells you the Messiah is “over here” or “over there,” you are not to believe them. For when the Son of Man truly returns, there will be no doubt at all. It will not be known to just a select few, but everyone will see the evidence. It will be like lightning — visible to all, lighting up the whole sky. When there is a dead body, the vultures gather — and everyone can tell from miles away that there is a dead body because of the birds circling overhead. In this same way, Christ’s return will be not only be unmistakable, but it will be clear even to those at a distance.

Jesus warns his disciples that they should learn the “signs” that the Son of Man’s return is near. Because as far as the world is concerned, it will simply be life as normal — eating, drinking, marrying, having children. Exactly how it was before Noah entered the ark. Again, Jesus warns that the Son of Man is coming at an “unexpected” hour. And he asks the disciples if they will be found faithful when that unexpected hour arrives.

Psalm 24 is a majestic poem to the glory of God. Some commentators believe that David wrote this psalm for when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the city of Jerusalem in I Chronicles 15. The psalm is in two parts. The first section talks about how the earth belongs to the LORD and asks who may ascend his holy hill. Those who are righteous may ascend the holy hill: those with clean hands and pure hearts, those who do not trust in idols or false gods.

In the second part of the psalm, the focus is on the King of Glory who is about to enter. “Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be lifted up, ye ancient doors,” sing the priests and Levites in anticipation of the Ark coming in to the city. The wording is beautiful, but also a little puzzling. Some think of this as enlarging the door, making the opening wide and high as befitting to royalty. Others see it as poetical language for raising the gates of a castle. The city gates function as needed barricades, but now they are to be flung open in welcome. Or perhaps the “heads” are a reference to the watchmen at the gates.

Even if we don’t fully understand the instructions, we do understand about the King of Glory who is about to enter. He is the Lord, strong and mighty, the LORD of hosts. It is worth noting that the psalm concludes with the Hebrew word “Selah,” which scholars believe is a musical notation to indicate a pause. In other words, the psalm ends by instructing us to meditate on and fully appreciate the identity of the LORD of hosts, the King of Glory.

Father God, sometimes we’re so familiar with our “Abba” that we can forget your glory and majesty. I thank you for this psalm that reminds me of your greatness. Please help me to have clean hands and a pure heart. Help me to stand firm when the end times come and not to be deceived by any false prophets or false Messiahs. When the Son of Man returns, I want to be ready. I want to be found faithful.

Thank you for your Holy Spirit and for the work of sanctification that you are doing in my life. Thank you that I don’t have to worry about when the Son of Man returns because my ability to stand firm rests entirely on you and your grace. I’m so grateful you sent Jesus for us. I pray in his name, Amen.