1. ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD AND WAS NOT (Gen. 5:24)
Noah was carried through the judgment; but Enoch, before it came, was
borne to the place out of which it came. Nothing peculiar ushered forth
that glorious hour. No big expectations or strange events gave token of
its coming. It was the natural heavenly close of an undeviating
heavenly journey. Paul speaks of our being caught up in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air, and of that great expectation as being our
comfort and relief against the day of the Lord and its terrors; Enoch
in himself, long before, illustrated that very thing. John speaks of
the raptured saints accompanying the Lord in the day of His power;
Enoch in his prophecy, long before, testified the same (Jude 14,15).
AN APPLICATION FOR TODAY: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which
we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil.
3:20).
2. NOAH WAS SHUT UP SAFELY IN THE ARK (Gen. 7:16)
It is not too bold to say, that all within the door of the ark were as
safe as the Lord Himself. The Lord returned, we may say, to His own
heavens, or to His throne, which is established forever, and Noah was
left on the earth, in the place and day of judgment. But Noah was as
safe as the Lord. “We may have boldness in the day of judgment; because
as He is, so are we in this world” (1 Jn. 4:17). Jesus has gone back to
heaven, and we are still in this world, the judgment of which is marked
before God; but we have the boldness which is proper to Jesus. God’s
own hand imparted its strength to Noah’s condition ere He returned to
the heavens. “The Lord shut him in” (Gen. 7:16)
AN APPLICATION FOR TODAY: “Therefore He is also able to save to the
uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to
make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).
3. ABRAHAM BELIEVED IN THE LORD (Gen. 15:6)
Faith is never too bold to please the Lord. In the days of His flesh,
He often rebuked the reserves and suspicions of little faith, but never
the strength and decision of a faith that aimed as at everything, and
would not go without a blessing. When a fine, bold, unquestioning faith
sought for a child, the Lord God took Abraham forth that very night,
and, showing him the starry heavens, said to him, “So shall thy seed
be.” Would that we knew our God as He is to be known, for His praise
and our comfort! Love delights to be used. Family affection puts
ceremony aside. So will the Lord have it with Himself. The intimacy of
faith is according to His grace.
AN APPLICATION FOR TODAY: “But without faith it is impossible to please
Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).
4. ISAAC WAS COMFORTED AFTER HIS MOTHER’S DEATH (Gen. 24:67)
That was a great moment in the life of Isaac, an occasion of great
meaning. In his taking a wife, not of all whom he chose, but of his
father’s providing, we may trace the same strong hand over him. There
might easily have been more of human submissiveness and filial piety in
this, than in the case of the sacrifice on Mount Moriah. This marriage
was a type or mystery, as well as that sacrifice. The wife brought home
to the son was in the full confidence of the father and he must comply
to the hand that was using it. The potter was making vessels for use of
the household, and the clay must yield.
AN APPLICATION FOR TODAY: “And we know that all things work together
for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according
to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
5. JACOB OFFERED SACRIFICES TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF HIS FATHER ISAAC (Gen. 46:1)
On his hearing that Joseph was yet alive, and governor over all the
land of Egypt, we read that Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed it
not (Gen. 45:6). At first this was too much for him; but when he saw
the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to bear him, and all that belonged to
him, down toward Egypt he went without further delay. Nature thus spoke
at once in Jacob, as soon as the report was believed, and without
further challenge he begins his journey to Egypt. But why these
sacrifices at Beersheba? Now the spiritual sensibilities have waked up.
Jacob had not dealt with the Lord about this journey, as he was
beginning it; his conscience in the Holy Spirit is now taking the lead,
and the judgment of nature is reviewed. “Fear not to go down into
Egypt” calmed the present uneasiness of his renewed mind.
AN APPLICATION FOR TODAY: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God” (Phil. 4:6).
6. JOSEPH WEPT
Joseph was a great weeper. Tears are often precious and sacred.
- When Joseph saw conviction awakening in the conscience of his brethren, he wept (Gen. 45:2).
- He wept again when he saw Benjamin (Gen. 45:14), the only one of his brethren who had not been guilty of his blood.
- He wept again as he saw the work of repentance going on in his
brethren (Gen. 45:15). These were more than the tears of nature. This
was the bowels of Christ, or the tears of the Father upon the neck of
the prodigal. - He fell on his father’s face, and wept, as his father died (Gen.
50:1). This was as the grave of Lazarus to Joseph; and there he and his
Lord can weep together.
AN APPLICATION FOR TODAY: “…Weep with those who weep…the members should
have the same care for one another; and if one member suffers, all the
members share the suffering” (Rom. 12:15; 1 Cor. 12:25,26).