The Pit Before the Palace Part IV – The Cover-up!!

Hey Neighbor! 

-For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me (Job 3:24)

Jacob’s 10 sons had just human trafficked their little brother, Joseph into a life of slavery!!

How could they possibly go home to their father, Jacob without returning with his beloved son, Joseph??

Well once again, Jacob’s wicked sons conspired together, and concocted their ‘cover-up.’

They decided to send forth Joseph’s tattered coat, dipped in the blood of a ‘kid’ or baby goat, to their father – asking Jacob to confirm whether or not the coat was that of Joseph’s.

Now- Of course these boys knew this coat- they knew it so well, that they could have identified it while wearing a blind fold!!

You see, they had gone back home, deceptively pretending that they had not even set eyes on Joseph- at all!! 

And as they were approaching home, it just so happened that they had found what  ‘may or may not’ be Joseph’s colorful coat along the roadside. 

They callously left it up to Jacob to make the tragic assumptions, after having confirmed the remains of his son’s coat. 

Yes!! Jacob filled with dread and fear, after seeing the blood soaked coat, did assume and confirm the worst.

As a parent myself, I believe this was confirmation of Jacob’s worst fear- that he would have to bury one of his children!! Sadly, there were no bodily remains to bury, only the torn and tattered coat. 

Jacob perceived that his son Joseph had been violently slain and torn to pieces by some ferocious animal, and now Jacob’s heart was torn to pieces as well. 

-And all his sons and daughters attempted to console him, but he refused to be comforted and said, I will go down to Sheol (the place of the dead) to my son mourning. And his father wept for him. (Genesis 37:35)

Scripture says that Jacob refused to be comforted by his sons and his daughters. I would imagine that he accepted no comfort from amongst his wives either.

As Jacob began to mourn the loss of his young son, he fell into a prolonged state of depression and despair. He would not wash his face, nor would he anoint his head with oil.

How could Jacob’s sons bear to see their father this way

DAY— AFTER—DAY!!

How could they continue on with this charade and live out this lie for 15 years, never bowing down to confess how cruel they were to Joseph, nor admitting to their father the truth about Joseph’s potential whereabouts. 

Even Shechem, who was not a ‘son’ of The Promise had repented from his cruel treatment of Dinah and confessed his sin to his own father Hamor and also to Jacob- begging for grace and favor! 

But not Jacob’s wicked sons!! 

They had bequeathed no mercy to Shechem, Joseph, nor to their father in his time of mourning. 

They had made a pact amongst themselves to take their truth to the grave. Their never ending  ‘cover up’ was liken to a window of hope, violently shut before Jacob’s eyes. 

If only they had repented and revealed the truth that Joseph was still alive, then Jacob could have held on to a scrap of hope that one day his longing eyes would once again see his son’s beautiful face.

But No!! 

Jacobs’s sons were contented to leave their father heartsick and broken hearted. 

But Our God is a mender of broken hearts and a Revealer of Truth!!

He binds up our wounds and cures our pains and sorrows!! (Psalm 147:3)

You see, God had a balm of mercy for Old Jacob, and he lathered him down with the Truth, even in the midst of a famine!! 

Yes! There was a lack of food in Jacob’s tent, due to a great famine, but the lack of love in this tent was far greater!!  

But God loved Jacob and cause the truth to revealed – by means of this same famine- that Joseph had been spared by God’s grace, in order that he might spare others, during the Famine. 

Although Joseph’s wicked brothers had spoken cruelly to him, threw him into the pit, and had sold him into slavery, God in His Love and Abundant Mercies had caused all these things to work together for Joseph’s good!!

God had rescued Joseph, sending him ahead of the famine and setting him upon a throne to dispense food to the hungry during a world wide famine. 

Only God’s Truth could remove and destroy the heavy yoke of the Lies that the boys had placed on their father’s neck!!

God was Jacob’s only viable source of Comfort!!

God had wiped the tears from Jacob’s eyes and had awakened him from his extended state of despair!! 

Yes!! Joseph was now ‘Lord of the Land’ in Egypt- living in the Palace- and when hungry men had traveled to Egypt, in search of food, they were required to bow their knee before Joseph, The son of Jacob!!

Amongst the many hungry men who had traveled to Egypt- hungry and desperate for sustenance- were Joseph’s 10 humbled, knee-bowed brothers, as well.

‘The Dreamer’s’ dream had come to pass and had been confirmed before their eyes!!

God had given Joseph a dream of foresight into the future, and unlike his brother’s, God had also given Joseph a Loving and Forgiving Heart. 

Jacob forgave his brothers trespass, as they kneeled before him, saying:

• Fear not; for am I in the place of God? [Vengeance is His, not mine.] As for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are this day (Genesis 50:19)

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Thanks For Stopping By!!

Until Next Time, Remember…

God Loves 💕You and So Do I!!

-Tam

Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also –

Loving 💕Them As You Love Yourselves!!

God’s ‘Faith-Full’ Daughter – Rebekah!!

I have loved you, says the Lord. Yet you say, How and in what way have You loved us? Was not Esau Jacob“s brother? says the Lord; yet I loved Jacob (Israel), But [in comparison with the degree of love I have for Jacob] I have hated Esau [Edom] and have laid waste his mountains, and his heritage I have given to the jackals of the wilderness (Malachi 1:2)

Hey Neighbor! 

Yesterday, We unveiled our ‘Faith-Full’ Female of the Week, Rebekah- Who learned during her ultrasound with God 😂🤣 that she was pregnant with twin boys.

But Rebekah could not understand why the babies struggled so, and fought with one another in her womb. God told her that the two boys were fighting for the rights of the firstborn son- and contrary to the ordinary expectation-God had chosen her second born son, Jacob!!

You see…God Loved Jacob, but He had rejected Esau!! 

Rebekah believed These Words and Gladly Received them in her Heart!! 

Now for those of you familiar with this story, You may have a few questions about Rebekah – such as….

Did She really believe God’s Words??

If Rebekah had really believed, why did she grow so impatient with God, taking matters into her hands??

Why did she intervene herself into God’s work, and attempt to usurp His timing?? 

Good Questions!!

I also had some of my own questions while reading this…I wondered; 

Was it Rebekah’s intention all along for Jacob to obtain the rights of the firstborn son, by outwitting an older, stronger Esau – instead of waiting on God??

Is this why Rebekah named and called her second born son (Jacob) Trickster/Supplanter??

Who Knows?? 

But Let’s Be Real About This!!

Which of Us believers, in our flesh, has not at some point decided that we were hired in by God, as His Personal Assistant- with a Job Description that read:

Candidate must be active and alert to assist God to meet His Project Deadlines!!

Abraham and Sarah had done this when they hired in the housemaid, Hagar to have a son (Ishmael) for them- instead of waiting on God!!

You see, as God’s assistant 🤣😂 Sarah was convinced that God was running late!! And in her old age, she feared that she and Abraham were running out of time!!

Well Rebekah also believed that Jacob’s time was running short for him to acquire Isaac’s blessing, because Isaac was now about 100 years old and had gone blind. 

Jacob had already successfully manipulated the birthright from Esau’s hands, but without Isaac’s blessing, Jacob still could not inherit the promised covenant, which was previously established between God and Abraham in Genesis 17.

• And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.  (Genesis 17:6-7)

You see…Abraham, upon his deathbed blessed Issac, passing on this covenant to his son of ‘the promise,’ Isaac- and not to Ishmael-Abraham’s son of the flesh!!

And now Isaac, possessing the established covenant, will now pass it forward, blessing only one of his two sons. 

Now God had promised Rebekah that the blessing was pre-established for Jacob, But her husband, Isaac would have it so that the blessing would be passed on to, and be established through Esau instead.

But Rebekah was not having it!! 

You see Rebekah overheard Isaac call for Esau, requesting deer meat for his last meal,’ presuming that he, Isaac would soon be exiting from this world- and passing on to be with his own father, Abraham.

Isaac’s Words to Esau:

• Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die (Genesis 27:3)

Can You See Rebekah Fuming 😡, in response, saying underneath her breath:

satan!! You are a Liar and the Father of All Lies!! 

But Not today – and Not in this Tent!! 

So this is where an overzealous Rebekah takes matters into her own hand!! 

What will Rebekah Do?? 

Well Neighbor, I will have to brew a whole new Pot of Tea for Us to finish this story…

So come on by again this Friday- because tomorrow is Trivia Thursday and I have some really good questions prepared for you- plus a Bonus!!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Until Next Time, Remember…

God Loves 💕You and So Do I!!

-Tam

Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also –

Loving 💕Them As You Love Yourselves!!

The Pit Before the Palace Part 3 – It’s a Trap!!

Hey Neighbor, 

In our last lesson, we learned that Joseph grew up in a very dysfunctional family, and that his father, Jacob was not very attentive to his older sons, nor did he discipline them for their wrongdoings.

This is a poor parenting style that never profits the sons, nor the father. 

Here is more evidence from a previous CareBibleStudy Lesson, where we learned about another dysfunctional family and their father, ‘Pastor’ Eli, who also refused to chastise his two wicked sons – and the tragic consequences thereafter.

https://carenrcinesl.wordpress.com/2015/05/19/check-yourself-or-be-checked/

But For Today- As We begin Part 3 of our Lesson, we find that young Joseph has had yet another dream and unfortunately, he has decided to share the details with his green-eyed brothers.

This is not a Good Idea!! 

Well…This 2nd dream was the straw that broke the camel’s back…so at this point, Jacob’s sons are fed up with Joseph, his dreams, and of course, his coat!! 

Now Joseph’s Father, Jacob would from time to time, send Joseph out into the wilderness to check on his brothers, as they fed their flock.

If you recall from our Bible Trivia- ‘Jacob’s Sons,’ this was how Jacob acquired the bad report about his 4 sons – who Jacob had by his 2 concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah.

😰 Too Many Wives!! 

So of course, we are not surprised to learn that Joseph’s brothers were never excited about him showing up on the job-site. They knew that Joseph was going to return to their father, Jacob with a full and detailed report on all of their antics!!

Genesis 37-12

But here we find that Jacob has cause to, once again send Joseph out to check on the older boys, but unbeknownst to Jacob, today he would be sending his favorite son to the slaughter!! 

Now, as Joseph approaches Jacob’s bloodthirsty sons in Dothan with the flock, they are not at all surprised to see him coming. They are watching Joseph, from the distance, and poor Joseph is walking right into their trap!! 

• And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.  Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. (Genesis37:18-20)

Having conspired together against Joseph, the majority of the brothers had cast their vote, in the affirmative, to rid themselves of ‘the dreamer,’ but they were 1 vote shy. 

Who was the hold-out?

That would be Reuben, Jacob and Leah’s first son, who voted against killing his brother, saying let’s not kill him, but instead we will just throw him into a nearby pit.

Scripture tells us that Reuben was secretly planning to return to the pit, maybe after the brothers were headed home, with the intention to rescue Joseph and return his little brother back home, securely in his dad’s arms.

You see, as the oldest son, Reuben would be held responsible if anything had befallen his little brother, and Reuben had already made a stink of himself in Jacob’s household when he secretly ‘went into his dad’s concubine’ – he ‘polluted Jacob’s couch.’ 

To say this in more plain terms- Reuben secretly had intercourse with one of his dad’s wives- Bilhah, his step-mother. 

So, as you can imagine, Reuben could not afford to be found in-league with his brothers and their plot to shed Joseph’s blood. 

So now in full agreement, the boys have decided to toss Joseph into the pit- but first they stripped Joseph of his colorful coat!!

Then, believe it or not, they sat there callously, around the pit and very casually ate their lunch- as if they were at a church picnic!!

Wow!!

Can you believe that?? 

They seemed to be quite pleased with how they had so humiliated their brother. All the while, I’m sure that Joseph was in anguish and agony, cold, thirsty, and maybe even hungry, as he pleaded with his brothers for mercy.

But there was no mercy bestowed-or was there?? 

Now another one of Leah’s profit thirsty sons, Judah arbitrarily decided that it would be more advantageous if they sold the boy to the passing caravan of merchants, who were heading to Egypt. After all, How could Joseph’s dreams of becoming their master come to pass, if he had been sold into servitude. 

We’re not told why Judah introduces this alternative suggestion. Maybe Joseph’s repeated cries of distress had begun to tug at Judah’s guilty heart- or was it that God was providing a Ram in the Bush- sparing Joseph’s life?

I believe the latter!!

But here, scripture simply tells us that like his older brother Reuben, Judah does not want to shed his brothers blood. 

Now when Reuben returns to the pit- finding an empty hole with no Joseph in it- he is livid!! He is boiling over when the brothers confess that they have sold Joseph out of his hands of surety.

But why did Reuben expect to find honor amongst thieves??

Remember, these are the same guys who ran in to pillage the land, for profit after Simeon and Levi had killed Shechem and his household!! 

For some reason, Reuben had separted himself from his brothers- maybe he was preparing things for his later return to rescue Joseph. We are not told, but while he was away, Judah, and his two murderous brothers, Simeon and Levi, as well as the other remaining brothers took secret council and voted to sell Joseph.  They profited themselves 20 pieces of silver for the sell of Jacob’s beloved boy, Joseph. 

So now Jacob’s deceitful sons must again conspire to cover-up their devious deed!!

They have done a treacherous thing in Israel!! 

They have dishonored their brother, Joseph!!

They have dishonored their father, Jacob!! 

And Most of All…

They have dishonored The God of their father, Jacob!! But God saw this Evil thing that they had done in secret. And Although they had set a trap for Joseph and stripped him of his coat, they could not strip him of his Comforter.

God had indeed provided a ram, and Joseph’s life was preserved, but unbeknownst to Joseph’s brothers, it was they who remained in the lair.

They had set themselves up to live with the consequences of the lies and deceit from this 1 day for the next 15+ years of their lives…always fearing that their father would learn the truth of their treachery.

What a ‘PIT-I-FULL’ Life!!

Joseph’s God had pulled him up and out of the pit, but now Joseph’s brothers have fallen into the depths of the pit themselves!!

-Whoever digs a pit [for another man“s feet] shall fall into it himself…(Proverbs 26:27)

Neighbor, Have You Fallen into A Trap??

If so, today You too can cry out from the pit for Mercy and Deliverance!!

Your Father, God will hear Your cries of distress and He will Provide a Ram for Your Salvation!!  

That Ram’s name is Jesus Christ!! 

And today you can receive Jesus Christ as Your Own Personal Savior.

Good News!!

There’s no hard work involved…if You will simply believe that Jesus Christ is the Resurrected Son of God. And confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord!” and Ask him to be the Lord of Your Life….then instantly, Your heart will beat and circulate the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.
And He will free your soul from the heavy burden of lies and deceit that have entrapped you for years and years!!

God Loves You and He is Listening…Cry out to Him today and receive Jesus Christ!!

Give Him Your Life Today and He will Reward You with Everlasting Life!!

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Thanks For Stopping by Today!! 

Get Ready for Tomorrow’s Trivia Thursday!! 

You excited?? 

Also, next week we will complete Part 4 of the Pit Before the Palace where we will see how Joseph’s ‘Pit-I-full’ brother’s attempt to pull off their cover-up!!

Until Next Time, Remember…

God Loves You 💕and So Do I!!

-Tam

Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also –
Loving Them As You Love Yourselves!! 

Bible Trivia Answers- Jacob’s Sons!!

Hey Neighbor, 

Today I have Bible Trivia Answers for you!!

Not only were these fun, but they were also insightful.

If you have been studying along with us, I’m pretty sure you have also come to the conclusion that most of Jacob’s sons were rather scandalous, with the exception of the 2 sons that Jacob had with Rachel – Joseph and Benjamin. 

And although Joseph was mistreated and rejected in his Father’s household- not by Jacob, but his brothers- Joseph will once again be UPGRADED to most valuable player in his next household, until Potiphar’s scandalous wife comes along!! 

Here’s more on that Story!!

How To Get  An Upgrade from  God!!

For Today – Answers!

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1. Which 2 sons murdered their sister’s Fiancé? 

Answer: Simeon and Levi

Support: Genesis 34:25-26

2. Which son slept with his daughter-in-law?

Answer: Judah

Support: Genesis 38:16-17

3. Which son slept with his father’s wife/his step-mother? 

Answer: Reuben

Support: Genesis 35:22, Genesis 49:3-4

4. Which son was held in prison as a ransom? 

Answer: Simeon

Support: Genesis, 42:19-20, Genesis 42:24

5. Which son decided to sell Joseph to a caravan of merchants. 

Answer: Judah

Support: Genesis 37:26-27

6. Which 2 boys were adopted as Jacob’s own? 

Answer: Manasseh and Ephraim

Support: Genesis 48:5

7. Which son’s name meant ‘making to forget?’

Answer: Manasseh

Support: Genesis 41:51

8. Which son’s name meant ‘to be fruitful?’

Answer: Ephraim

Support: Genesis 41:52

9. Which son was named by his father? 

Answer: Benjamin

(Benjamin’s mother, Rachel died in childbirth.)

Support: Genesis 35:18-19

10. Which 4 son’s did Joseph tattle on? 

Answer: Bilhah’s 2 sons – Dan and Naphtali + Zilpah’s 2 sons – Gad and Asher

Support: Genesis 35:25, Genesis 37:2

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For Support, I intentionally listed the Chapter and Verse(s) only; so go ahead and grab your Bibles and check these out!! 

Again- This is excellent reading!!

In my opinion, no book in the Bible tells such good stories as Genesis does – I love Genesis!! 

Thanks for stopping By!! 

Next week – ‘The Pit Before the Palace Part 3- It’s A Trap!!’

Until Next a Time, Remember…

God Loves 💕You and So Do I!!

-Tam

Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also –
Loving Them As You Love Yourselves!! 

Bible Trivia Thursday- Jacob’s Sons!!

Hey Neighbor, 

It’s Trivia Thursday!! 

Aren’t You excited?? 

For the last 2 weeks, we have been studying in The book of Genesis, Chapter 37. Our Lesson is titled, ‘The Pit Before Palace’ – Part 1 & 2 

The Pit Before the Palace – Part 1

The Pit Before the Palace- The Dysfunctional Family!!

As you can see, we’ve learned quite a bit about Joseph, his dad Jacob, and we’ve heard more than an ‘earful’ about Jacob’s scandalous sons.

Well…Today let’s see how much you recall about Jacob’s sons- Or if you haven’t learned much about his 12 sons yet, Go check it out in Genesis 37-50. 

It’s Excellent Reading on a Cold, snowy day!!

Enjoy!! 

Here’s Todays Trivia

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Jacob’s sons

1. Which 2 sons murdered their sister’s Fiancé? 
2. Which son slept with his daughter-in-law?
3. Which son slept with his father’s wife/his step-mother? 
4. Which son was held in prison as a ransom? 
5. Which son decided to sell Joseph to a caravan of merchants. 
6. Which 2 boys were adopted as Jacob’s own? 
7. Which son’s name meant ‘making to forget?’
8. Which son’s name meant ‘to be fruitful?’
9. Which son was named by his father? 
10. Which of the 4 sons/brothers did Joseph tattle on?

Grab your Bibles and Have Fun!! 

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Until Next a Time, Remember…

God Loves You and So Do I!!

-Tam

Thanks for Stopping By!! 

Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also –
Loving Them As You Love Yourselves!!