Month: August 2017

Genesis 48-49 – He knows us

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In Genesis chapters 48-49, Jacob is nearing the end of his life and he gives a series of blessings/predictions about each of his children. Though some of these blessings and predictions may seem a little vague to us, I’m sure they made perfect sense to his children at the time. These blessings and predictions proved themselves to be true throughout the course of history, because Jacob knew his children.
Parents know their children. After birthing them, raising them, and watching them, it’s as if a parent knows their children better than the children know themselves…much to the frustration of their children. So, apart from direct intervention by God of by the child, a parent’s forecast about their child is usually pretty accurate.
It’s the same with our Heavenly Father. He know us better than we know ourselves…much to our frustration at times. (See Ps. 139:13-18.) His evaluation of us is true, and it is to our great benefit to listen to Him, heed His warnings, and change as He would have us to change. He desires to bless us, but we must listen to Him. Why? Because He knows us.

 

Bret Legg is the Teaching and Counseling Pastor at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, GA.

What A Two-Year Old Taught Me About Listening

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I’ve been spending a lot of time with my two-year old granddaughter, and boy does this little girl loves to talk! She starts when she wakes up and doesn’t stop until she’s asleep.

This morning, as I was taking her to school (Mothers Day Out), she was talking non-stop. So to give my ears a rest, I turned on some music and turned up the volume. But she would not be deterred. She promptly told me it was too loud and to turn it off!

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Genesis 47 – Moving to Goshen

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In Genesis chapter 47, Jacob and his family move to the land of Goshen. It shows the distinction given to Jacob and his family. While all around them experienced famine, they experienced favor. While all around them had struggles, they had status. While all around them were experiencing bondage, they experienced blessing.
What was it that made Jacob and his family distinct from all that was going on around them?
Jacob and his family were related to Joseph, the sovereign one over the provisions of Egypt. They knew the owner and ruler of all they needed. And Joseph, the sovereign one, loved them deeply.
The same is true for every Christian today. We live in the midst of great famine. People are starving for love, security, hope, purpose…and even basic necessities. But we are related to the Sovereign Owner and Ruler of all things, and He loves us more deeply than we can ever imagine.
Yet, so often, we think and act as if we’re on our own with no place to turn for provision and protection.
Jacob and his family didn’t have to worry, because they lived in the land of Goshen under Joseph’s care and protection. We don’t need to worry or fear, even when all around us seems dire. (Matt. 6:25-34) (Heb. 13:6) Instead, we can thrive in the midst of trouble, because we are related to, and loved by, the One who owns all power and provision.
If you’re not living in the land of Goshen, perhaps you need to look at Matthew 7:7-8 and James 4:2-3again.

 

Bret Legg is the Teaching and Counseling Pastor at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, GA.

Genesis 46 – The Power of Three Words

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In Genesis chapter 46, the story of Joseph and his brothers starts moving toward a happy ending. Joseph, the second most powerful man in Egypt, has finally revealed himself to his brothers; the very brothers who hated him and sold him into slavery. Joseph has assured them he has forgiven them and has no intentions of extracting vengeance on them. In fact, Joseph has promised to take care of them and their father during a terrible time of famine.
In the midst of this family restoration, it’s easy to skim over the simple yet profound truth that brought about this restoration. It’s a truth conveyed by three simple words found in the beginning of verse 3…
“I am God”
Don’t miss the power of these three words. They are the starting point for all conversation about God, because they punctuate who God is.
“I” – God is personal. He is not some nebulous, impersonal, force…in the Star Wars sense of things. He is personal. And because He is personal, He is relational.
“Am” – God is real. He exists. He is the ultimate reality; unchanging and unending. Everything that exists will either pass away or change, but God is the One and only, ever-present constant reality. (Hebrews 13:8)
“God” – God is God. He is not a god. He is not like god. He is, by very nature of the title, ultimately, absolutely, independently, completely God. He’s the only one. There are no others. There is no other power. No other hope. No other salvation. He is it!
“I am God.”
As short and simple as these three words are, they explode with theology, meaning, and truth. These three words can change a person’s life. Have they changed yours?

 

Bret Legg is the Teaching and Counseling Pastor at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, GA.

Genesis 45 – The Long and Winding Road

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In Genesis chapter 45, we come to the end of a long and winding road. After all the years Joseph spent in slavery and in prison…after all those years his brothers ignored and forgot what they had done to him…after all those years his father grieved over him…Joseph finally reveals to his brothers that he is not only alive, but that he is in control of their fate. It’s in this chapter that Joseph and his brothers realize that God has had His hand in the whole process. Joseph was sold, but God was sending. Joseph was suffering, but God was saving.
It’s hard to concede that God would chose to work that way. We wonder why a “good” God would allow us to suffer in order to accomplish His purpose. Our bent toward comfort makes it easier to see God as One who should take away our suffering and bless us.
But God oversees all that takes place, and works in all things…even the bad things.
The problem is, we don’t always see God’s purpose or intent in suffering and struggles, until we’re much further down the road. In the beginning, all we can see is the inconvenience, the injustice, or the interruption of our plans. But in the end, we can look back and see that Romans 8:28 is really true.
This is often how God works. It’s how He worked with Joseph, it’s how he worked with Jesus, and it’s how he works with us. The key is to see past our circumstances to God’s providence, knowing that God will be faithful to work in our circumstance (Rom. 8:28) and complete His perfect plan for our lives. (Phil. 1:6)

 

Bret Legg is the Teaching and Counseling Pastor at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, GA.

It’s Not How I Pictured it.

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Many years ago, I was in Paris as part of a mission trip. While there, we had some free time and a group of us went to the Louvre.  The Louvre houses some of the most famous art work in the world. Pieces like the Venus de Milo and and the statue of the winged, headless angel called Winged Victory.

But of all the artwork in the Louvre, the one I wanted to see the most was Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, the Mona Lisa. I had seen pictures of the Mona Lisa all my life, and now I was finally going to see it for myself!

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