Day 27, January 27, 2021

Day 27, January 27, 2021
Scriptures: Genesis 47, Matthew 21
 
 
Jacob’s children settle in Goshen. This is the culmination of an incredible story of God working in Joseph’s life through terrible circumstances. Joseph was sent away from his family, only to provide for them a place to live and ride out the terrible famine.
 
This incredible story comes to an end. And within all of it, we see Pharaoh increasing in incomparable power. The famine becomes one of the largest land grabs in history. Joseph provides the wisdom necessary for the kingdom of Pharaoh to expand larger than ever imagined.
 
As we enter again into our Gospel narrative, we are following the story of Jesus. It is time for him to enter into Jerusalem, and these are the final days leading up to His death on the cross. It begins with much fanfare. Jesus is celebrated as an arriving King. The hopes are high, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”  “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
 
The people of Israel are ready to crown this man king. They are set and ready to take back what was rightfully theirs. 
 
Just as Pharaoh and Egypt went about a large land grab, in the midst of human suffering, every empire after has followed suit. In the case of Jesus’ lifetime, it was the Roman empire. It too was expanding. It was even more aggressive in taxation than a fifth of the crops of Egypt.
 
Israel is primed and ready in anticipation that Jesus is the earthly king who will set their world right. And oh, He Will. Just much more than they ever imagined. And not at all like they had hoped.
 
Jesus will set the world right, and he will become king, but not through sword. Not through incomparable power of His own.
 
He will lay down His life. He will be struck and killed. He will take the very worst hit he can, by the most powerful nation of its time, and render it powerless.
 
The people expect the Son of David to take his thrown, and it doesn’t work out as expected. They wanted a physical reign of Jesus. They were looking to crown him king.
 
Of course, Jesus has something far higher and grander in mind. He is King of kings and Lord of lords after all. And that means, not just reigning over Jerusalem, but over all creation.
 
The connection to today. Well, it’s pretty easy to see empires still running the world through land grabs, and taxation, and the powerful seeking more power.
 
This won’t work out for Joseph’s people. They will become the slaves in Egypt. The tables will turn against them. So we are wise, to set our hearts and our minds, not on earthly gain, but heavenly purposes. We fix our eyes on the King of Heaven and earth, over all creation. We pray the Lord’s prayer, “May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
 
May the Lord accomplish his purposes in us today! 
 
Jordan