Genesis 49, Luke 2, Job 15, 1 Corinthians 3

Date	Version	Reading Plan
@February 16, 2024	ESV (2016)	M’Cheyne Plan 2024

Genesis 49

Genesis 49:10 (ESV) 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Nearing death, Jacob blessed each of his sons by telling them what would happen in the coming days. Joseph’s blessing is the longest with Judah a close second. Jacob spoke of many positive things for Joseph, but it was Judah who would possess the scepter, a prophetic word that that Israelite monarchy would come through the line of Judah. This succession would eventually culminate in the promised Messiah, Jesus.

Luke 2

Luke 2:28–32 (ESV) 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. He came in the Spirit to the temple where he met with Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Taking Him in his arms, Simeon blessed of God on behalf of Jesus. Something in particular of Simeon’s blessing caught my eye, namely how Jesus is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32). In digging a little deeper, this echoes Isaiah when he said, “I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.” (Is. 42:6). Jesus was never to be only the Messiah of the Israelite nation, He is Lord and Savior of all. To every soul who respond with repentance and faith to God’s revelation in Christ, salvation will be granted.

Job 15

Job 15:2–4 (ESV) 2 “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? 3 Should he argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which he can do no good? 4 But you are doing away with the fear of God and hindering meditation before God.

Eliphaz accuses Job of “windy knowledge” (similar to Bildad in Job 8:2) and accused him of having no fear of God. He continues in the berating of Job, adhering to a strict sense of retributive justice. To Eliphaz and the other friends, Job’s suffering can only be as a result of his wrongdoing before God. Again, this points to the need to go beyond a simple diagnosis of guilt and consider other factors.

1 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians 3:6–9 (ESV) 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

The division of God’s work and ours is clearly presented in this passage. We are to labor as God’s fellow workers, but only He gives the growth. We cannot do His job and He won’t do ours. We are His field and His building, walking ambassadors for Christ, to sow in the proclamation of the gospel and water in the serving of others. All this to bring glory to the One who first loved and served us.

Carson on Luke 2

Jesus grew up a thoroughly Jewish boy. Not only was his lineage Jewish, it was Davidic: legally, he belonged to the suppressed royal house (Luke 2:4). Imperial politics were divinely manipulated to ensure that Jesus would be born in the ancient town of David (2:1–4, 11).

Admittedly, I chuckled at the thought of imperial politics being “divinely manipulated”. I tend to think of manipulation in the negative, but in this case it is no doubt very positive. God so intervened within His creation that His Son would fulfill all prophecy and promise. It baffles the mind how this could be done and not terribly productive to try, be it only so helpful as we would look upon our Lord in awestruck wonder.

Justin Houtz