Title: We Who Have Flaws... A Perfect God...
Contents
Wednesday, June 20th Genesis 49:13-28 Early Morning Prayer
Today's message is the second half of Jacob's blessing as he prophesied the future for his twelve sons just before his death. It is difficult to express simply as a blessing because it is a prophecy of the future, which is a combination of simple metaphorical descriptions and sometimes very powerful and stimulating terms.
These blessings “according to the measure of each individual” apply equally to us. Our background, the process of growing up, and the journey of faith are not all the same. Some are born into affluent families and have a strong religious family, while others are born in a poor rural area and grow up in that family where they believe in Jesus for the first time and face all kinds of persecution. However, these backgrounds and faith processes do not show how close they are with God and how they are being used in His kingdom work. Rather, in many cases, these correlations are rarely found. In other words, there are those who were born into wealthy and well-established religious families who do not want to contribute to the ministry of the kingdom at all, while those who barely gained faith in difficult circumstances do not claim their vested interests and live in obedience to the voice of God. There is also. Generally speaking, the more vested interests you have, the more difficult it seems to be in a close relationship with God, obeying His voice, and following the course of life. However, this too is not a certain rule, but God's providence to bless "according to the measure of each individual."
Therefore, the important thing here is to identify what gifts and quantities are entrusted to each of us, and to live a life of faithfulness to what has been entrusted to us, no matter how large or amazing it may be, or how small and insignificant it may seem. In 1 Corinthians 12, it is said, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are different kinds of direct sounds, but the same Lord.” That is, to one the word of wisdom by the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge by the Spirit, to another faith by the Spirit, to another the gift of healing by the one Spirit, and to another He gives the working of miracles, to another speaking in tongues, and to another interpreting in tongues, but “all these things were done by one and the same Spirit, to each one according to his purpose.” Giving “according to his will” as Paul mentioned here and blessing “according to the measure of each man” as the writer of Genesis wrote, emphasizes the same thing to us.
Similar words are found in Romans. “According to the grace given to us, each of us has different gifts. If it is prophecy, it is according to the fraction of faith; if it is service, it is service; if it is a teacher, it is in teaching; if it is in authority, it is in authority; , and the one who shows mercy will do it with joy.” (Romans 12:5-8) In this way, we are not believers with a desire to rush toward a unified goal compared to others. Loyalty and service are required to do the best in the given position.
Of course, nonetheless, one of today's various future prophecies that stands out is the prophecy about Joseph. In verse 22, it is prophesied that the tribe of Joseph will become “a lush branch by a spring,” and “the branch has crossed the wall.” That is, they will receive the blessing of the firstborn and enjoy abundant water resources and abundant fertility of people and animals. However, these blessings were not a success in itself, but a fulfillment from God's point of view. In verse 23, it says, “The archers abused him and shot him and treated him harshly.” Perhaps it refers to the unfair persecution or imprisonment in prison that Joseph experienced after the dream. But even then, Joseph's bow was rather strong, and his arm did not lose strength, for the secret was “by the hand of the Almighty of Jacob,” as mentioned in verse 24.