Ge 33-50/Matthew 20-22

Genesis 33-50
We pick up the story of Jacob here and the trickster finds reconciliation with his brother Esau. His children, however, find themselves in all kinds of trouble. Judah and his trouble with Tamar to start off and then the story of Joseph. Joseph, no doubt the favorite because he is both the son of Rachel (the favored wife) as well as the youngest, as Jacob was. We hear of his royal-like robe (the long sleeves or many colors refers to a special standing). His brothers want to get rid of him, but they are divided over what to do. They decide to trick their father (the trickster) with a garment.

Joseph's tale is one of those great rags to riches story. Because he is a dreamer and an interpreter of dreams, he has great success in a foreign land. His dreams save the Egyptian empire from famine, and his brothers, suffering from the famine, come for help. Joseph tricks them, and by deceit gets the entire family to Egypt where the family is happily reunited.

The end of Genesis is very important because it sets up the next major story for the people of God, the Exodus. The twelve sons of Jacob (Israel) become the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. Having settled in the land of Goshen, which is in the northern part of Egypt, their descendants will be the brick makers that Moses liberates. You will notice that Moses' request to the Pharaoh of that time is that they can go to worship their God and bury their fore-father Jacob. The promise Joseph makes to him in 47.29-31 and 49.29-30 foreshadow their eventual departure. Jacobs final words, the poem of chapter 49, foretell great things and horrible things for the tribes. Notice that Judah is given the scepter, and not the other three older brothers. Judah will be the tribe of David, Solomon and Jesus.

Next time we will start Exodus and discover that this large family has grown into a nation, Israel, and that this God who has been guiding them has a name, Yahweh, who will deliver them from their bondage.

Matthew 20-22
We open with more parables about the kingdom. There will be many parables this week, each one speaking about the kingdom of God and often connecting to its rejection by those who should be saying yes. For the first one we may ask, how fair is the land owner. Is he tricking workers, or simply being exorbitant with others?

We then read stories about who is greatest in the kingdom, and the Son of David, the rightful heir to the throne helping the blind. Jesus enters Jerusalem, a story we will hear again in church. The blind and lame come to the temple to him. Traditionally they would not be allowed inside the inner parts of the temple because of their affliction. Here Jesus is showing that in the kingdom all are made acceptable to God by grace.

Jesus has many run-ins with the religious leaders in these chapters. Where does authority come from? Should we pay taxes to our oppressors? Is the resurrection true? Again and again Jesus shows his wisdom, but in the process gains enemies from those who are wise. His parables foretell his rejection by his own, but that those who are outcasts will be welcomed into the kingdom of God, and that the stone which was rejected will become the corner-stone (that is, will be exalted).