43:14 - In appealing to 'God Almighty' Jacob is echoing a phrase rarely used in Scripture. The other occasions are Genesis 17:1 28:3 35:11 48:3. There is value in checking out the circumstances of each use.

42:6 In the bowing down of the brothers we begin to see the fulfilment of Joseph's dreams (Genesis 37:5-10)

ch 43 - Whilst it may be thought that Joseph was just getting his own back on his brother for the evil that they had done to him that is clearly not so for :30 he was anguished. He was not getting his own back - rather he was seeking their repentance.

42:22,37 Reuben wanted to deliver Joseph from the pit (Gen 37:29) and now again he shows remorse. It seems that he was the first amongst the brothers to do so.

43:8 Judah had interceded for Joseph (Gen 37:26) that he might save his life by selling him. Now he intercedes again offering his own son as surety. We are beginning to see the softening of the attitude of the brethren – we saw something similar with Reuben (Genesis 42)

42:7,8 Notice the three uses of ‘knew’ – Hebrew discerned This contrasts with the brethren who did not recognise him as ‘he made himself strange 42:7. This was a shadow of Jesus’ first appearance. He knew his brethren and their ways but they did not know him as their saviour.

43:23  Whilst Josephs’ servant spoke ‘peace’ to the brothers they had been unable to speak peaceably to Joseph 37:4

42:21 In the comment that the brothers say one to another we begin to see their repentance for the evil that they had done to Joseph.

42:28 Notice that despite their behaviour Joseph’s brother knew that God was at work in their lives. How often we are like this. We recognise God as being all powerful but then we continue to pursue our own objectives.

42:25,27,28,35; 43:12,15,18, 21-23 Silver was the most important metal for most of the Old Testament time period.  Until about 500 BC it was considered the most valuable metal.  And so, it is no wonder that silver was used as currency.  In this chapter, the KJV terms Israel's payment for grain both as money, while the NIV uses the word silver.  The original Hebrew word translated is kesef which means silver, but since it was used as currency, the term money is a legitimate translation.  In Modern Hebrew kesef is the common word for money (cash) and also descriptive of the metal silver.

42:18 In bringing the brothers out of the prison on ‘the third day’ the brothers, who were as good as dead, experienced a resurrection because of the saving work of Joseph – a pattern of Jesus saving the Jews – Rom 11:26

43:32 The Hebrews were held in low esteem because they were shepherds.  One opinion says that for 259 years, the Nile Delta and Middle Egypt were held in subjection by the Hyksos, who were shepherd kings.  They rendered terrible cruelty on the Egyptians.  It was Ahmose I who, finally, expelled the Hyksos.  The Egyptians linked sheep with cruelty, and so, one can understand their discomfort with the Hebrews. 

Another opinion suggests that the Egyptians of this time were the Hyksos - nomads who immigrated to Egypt from southern Canaan. Both they and the Hebrews were Semitic peoples.  Sesostris III (1878-1843 BC) was the Pharaoh when Jacob came down to Egypt. The Egyptians who deposed the Hyksos, however, had no ethnic kinship with the Hebrews. Thus, they were not kindly disposed to the Hebrews as the Hyksos had been.

42:28In receiving their money back the brothers had obtained corn which had not cost them anything. It was ‘without money – Isa 55:1– a pattern of the way in which Jesus will save Israel.

The anguish of Israel is understandable but in this state we see him too ready to blame his sons for things that are not their fault.  For example he attributes the problem of Benjamin having to go because his other sons were careless in the information they gve to 'the man'.  Blame was not appropriate because it was 'the man' who had asked about a brother (Gen 43v6,7),  However ultimately, once Israel had once more worked through the various difficulties he realise that the only thing he could do was put his trust in God Gen 43:14  Our challenge is to learn from this narative to put our trust in God, sooner rather than later, when we are faced with difficulties in life.  What a reward Israel received on this occasssion for trusting in God!

47:6-7 The cal to sing praises with understanding shows us that we must think carefully about the words we sing in our hymns and the words we utter in our prayers.

48:2 the joyful description of Jerusalem is contrasted by Jeremiah [Lam 2:15] with how he saw it after the Babylonians had taken Judah captive. However it's fortunes will be restored when the lord Jesus returns.

46:1 That God is the refuge of the Psalmist is a recurring theme in Scripture. However it is so hard, in times of trouble, to realise that God is our refuge. It is so easy to try to rely on our own strength. The situations where we have to rely on God are part of His training plan that we might learn that we cannot rely on ourselves but must rely on Him.

47:1-4 The Psalmist sings of the victory that God has provided, hence (v5) God has gone up with a shout – language quoted by Paul (1Thess 4:16) to speak of the victory we shall gain at the return of Christ.

48:14 ‘unto death’ is better rendered ‘through death’ – whilst we are in the sleep of death, unconscious knowing nothing, God and His son Jesus are awake and aware of us.

In our three Psalms for to day we see that they go together and they are an expression of God's deliverance.

Psalm 46 An expression of confidence in God, He is their refuge and strength.

Psalm 47 God is recogmized as the Deliverer,

Psalm 48  Zion is identified as the city of the Lord of Hosts.

These psalms show the awesome power and protection of our God.  If we put our trust in Him (Prov 3:5,6) we shall be brought through our trials to safety - through this life to the Kingdom.  The friends of His Son are secure (John 15:14), while His enemies will bite the dust (Psa 72:9). Contrast the true excellency of Jacob (47:4), which is Christ (through Judah), to the failed excellency of Jacob's firstborn Reuben (Gen 49:3,4).

46:7,11 The Lord of hosts being ‘with us’ is rather like ‘Emmanuel’ – God with us Isa 7:14 God’s deliverance was not just from human armies, it extended to ultimate deliverance from death.

In Mark 11:22-24 Jesus quotes Psa 46:2. He explains that by prayer we can move mountains. So we can also see that the refuge spoken of in verses 1,7,11 is obtainable by prayer.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE LAST DAYS

We may not notice it at first glance, but Psalm 46 is a prophecy about the time when Jesus returns to reign as king over the earth. Throughout the psalm there are constant allusions to other prophecies that speak of the same thing.

The psalmist speaks of a "river whose streams make glad the city of God." (Psa 46:4) this links us to Zechariah 4 v 8, Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 22.

He tells us that "Nations are in an uproar, kingdoms fall." (v.6) This links us with Dan 2:1, Luke 21:25-28.

He says that God "makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire." (v.9) this verse links us with the prophecies in Mic 4:3, Isa 2:4.

And when God says, "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth," (v.10) he reminds us of the prophecies such as Isa 2:1-3,11, Zech 14:9.

The important thing is not how the prophecies link up but the encouragement we are given to see us through this time. The time of change between the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God is described as intensely terrifying. But there is encouragement. "God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear through the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." (Psa 46:1-3)

46:6 The raging heathen and kingdoms moved explains verse :2-3. The Psalm, when speaking of the elements is using them as metaphors for the nations.

46:8 The ‘desolations’ do not refer to physical ruin of the earth. Rather it is the effect of the Judgements of God upon the nations who have already been likened to the waters and mountains – verse :2-3

V.19  does not admit a triune God.  Name (Gr. onoma) is synonymous with authority.  Authority is the domain of Yahweh, the creator and sustainer of all things.  Yet, He has placed it in the hands of His Son (v.18). 

Therefore, humankind is obligated to listen to and to obey the commandments of Jesus (Psa 2:12; Matt 17:5).  Obedience will bring salvation while disobedience will bring destruction (Heb 5:9; 2Thess 1:8). 

Jesus is the only means of salvation (Acts 4:10,12).  Baptism is essential for salvation (Mark 16:16).  Baptism represents a symbolic burial with Jesus of the old carnal man, so that the new spiritual man might emerge (Rom 6:3-5). 

Hence, we can see the necessity of being baptized into Jesus (Gal 3:27).  That is how the apostles baptized.  However, it should be understood that Jesus is the express image of His Father (Heb 1:3) and was given the Holy Spirit without measure (John 3:34). 

Thus the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are expressions of God manifestation and not three elements of a triune god.

28:1    We might wonder why there were so many women with the name 'Mary'. When we realise it is the same as the Hebrew name Miriam we maybe can understand why so many mothers called their daughters Mary.

Baptizing in is better understood as baptizing into (See 1Cor 10:2).  Jesus was given all authority in heaven and earth (v.18).  Jesus is now manifest with His Father, and so all things that apply to the Father apply to Him, in the Deity.   

It is clear that all brothers and sisters of Jesus are baptized into Jesus (Gal 3:27).  But, by extension, Jesus' brothers and sisters come into covenant relationship with Yahweh.  In the Kingdom, and beyond, Yahweh, Jesus, and the Redeemed will be truly manifest (1Cor 15:27,28).

28:4 The ‘fear’ of the guard matches and yet contrasts with the fear of the shepherds at the tie of the birth of Jesus – Luke 2:9.

28:5    In saying ‘fear not’ the angel is repeating what was said by the angel to Mary in Luke 2:10. So we have gone full circle. From the promise of the birth to the actual resurrection.

28:2 The appearance of the ‘angel of the Lord’ to announce the resurrection of Jesus mirrors the appearance of the angel at the announcement of the birth of Jesus – Luke 2:9

In v18 Jesus says that all authority has been given to him. The last time the disciples had heard this was at the last supper (John 17:1-3). Here the focus of Jesus' prayer had been on glorifying God by manifesting Him to his disciples (John 17:4,6). And now that he had overcome death, the first thing he wished to do with his power and authority was to widen that scope to the whole earth, and over all time:

"All authority has been given me... make disciples of ALL NATIONS.. teaching them.. I am with you ALWAYS" (Matt 28:18-20).

We can learn a great deal from this about our nature in the resurrection. Our focus, intentions, and mindset will not change, but our ability to implement what we desire will be enhanced.

v 19-20 First Principles>Baptism
The way to God's Kingdom and eternal life is by accepting God's gracious invitation, believing His word and obeying His will.
1. The steps involved - go to John 6:40
2. Occasions when people were baptised as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles - go to Acts 2:22-36
3. The New Birth - go to John 3:1-6
First Principles> For more first principle topics, go to Acts 8:12.

28:7 Whilst the angels repeat Jesus’ words about seeing the disciples in Galilee Matt 26:23 - it is evident that they saw him in Jerusalem before they ever went to Galilee.