39 All God Does Is Good
Dear family and friends, does anyone feel like no matter what I do, something always prevents me from getting ahead? Do we ever wonder, what does it take to be successful? Perhaps some who have a history of being successful might care to share a few thoughts as we continue our chapter by chapter discussion of Genesis. Our dialogue in Genesis 39 focuses on the stark differences between Judah and his younger brother, Joseph. Judah chose to go down to Canaan away from his brothers. It was his choice. Joseph did not have a choice.
On the other hand, Joseph was forcibly brought down to Egypt. Joseph was betrayed by his half-brothers, held captive in a serpent-infested well, and then sold into slavery. Joseph did not have a choice. He was forced to go down to Egypt.
Joseph was physically forced to go to Egypt. People who control others use a variety of methods to accomplish what they want. The tactics include physical and verbal abuse, intimidation, control, blackmail, money, drugs, and more. Joseph was controlled by a vow that he and his brothers made as a condition of selling him instead of murdering him. He was sold into slavery and exiled from all of his family. His brothers so hated him. He fell at their feet and begged for mercy. He was prohibited from any form of contact. His owners laughed at him and beat him when he claimed to be the son of a wealthy nomad. Sometimes we are forced to go to places that we would rather not go. We go because we are forced. We go because we are pressured. We don’t care for what is happening to us but have little choice in the matter. Sometimes we are pressured into doing things we do not want to do.
Genesis 39.1
1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hands of the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there.
Judah made a mistake and took some wrong turns. Sometimes we do the same thing. When we get off on the wrong path, we may feel like life is hopeless. We may become severely depressed. We may beat ourselves up. Perhaps we feel like we have ruined our lives, and there’s no reason to continue. Judah made a mess of things. Yet, God, through His gracious mercy and lovingkindness, brought Judah back onto the path of righteous living. Judah reestablished a good relationship with his brothers.
I have taken a wrong turn here and there and am so appreciative and thankful to The Lord who reached out to help me. Scripture states, ‘ A just individual falls seven times and yet rises again,’ Proverbs 24.16.
How many times have we fallen and find a way to get back up again? The Lord is Merciful, Gracious, Loving, Kind, Compassionate, Understanding, and Forgiving. Scripture Informs us that we could fall several times and get up and keep on going. Joseph and Judah kept falling and getting up. It wasn’t pretty, but they got to the place God intended for them.
Genesis 38.1
And it came to pass at that time, that JUDAH WENT DOWN from his brothers, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
God’s mercies are greater than life’s challenges.
So how do we succeed? How do we prosper? Who defines success? Who denotes prosperity? I am successful and enjoy prosperity, yet I am not wealthy. My body is racked with pain and sicknesses, but I am thankful and happy. God is good! Blessed be His name forever! The Lord is Maker of everything and master all. Everything that happens in life must pass by His watchful eye. Everything that God Does is for good.
‘Whatever the All-Merciful does is for good’
Rabbi Akiba taught: A man should always accustom himself to say, Whatever the All-Merciful Does is for good, as exemplified in the following incident. Rabbi Akiba was once traveling along the road. He came to a particular town and looked for lodgings but was refused everywhere. He said, Whatever the All-Merciful Does is for good. Then he went to spend the night in an open field. Traveling with him was a cock, an ass, and a lamp. A gust of wind came and blew out the lamp, a weasel came and ate the cock, a lion came and ate the ass. He said: Whatever the All-Merciful Does is for good. That same night some brigands came and carried off the inhabitants of the town. Rabbi Akiba said, Did I not tell you, Whatever the All-Merciful does He does for good.
Some of us are captive to physical limitations. We may see that our body is going to fail. When it does, our spirit/soul will be released from the captivity of our body. Our spirit/soul will begin living in a different realm. Our spirit soul and mind will continue on living. We will return to God, who Gave us life initially. Later we will be given a brand-new body. So all hope is not gone. Each of us is in a state of transition. Life will improve for us. We will be happy and joyful and bless The Lord God of Israel for His many gifts of life. May The Lord Bless and continue Keeping each one of us!
May The Lord Bless us in our daily walk and may we stay within Torahs guidelines. May we bring peace and healing to our world. May this coming Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day.
Good Sabbath!
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
