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January 20, Day 20 – Of Incalculable Worth

Writer's picture: Dr. Eric StrickerDr. Eric Stricker

"Portrait of Nathan at 2" © by Eric C. Stricker - Original Oil on Canvas
"Portrait of Nathan at 2" © by Eric C. Stricker - Original Oil on Canvas

All of today’s readings are profound and worthy of comment. Yesterday, we briefly mentioned Joseph’s dreams and his “richly ornamented robe,” but we need to address them a little more today. Jacob’s favor of Joseph was expressed materially and visibly by the robe he made for Joseph. From God’s perspective, however, this robe represented His favor, His blessing, and His anointing on the man who – in the future – would “accomplish … the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). In addition, Joseph’s brothers, unaware of God's purposes, “slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood” (Genesis 37:31) – symbolic of the substitutionary death that would eventually save them (and all of Israel) from the Egyptian famine, and later, from national bondage (cf., Exodus 12). In this sense, Joseph becomes a literary type of Christ. His brothers’ actions, of course, reveal their “hatred of him” (37:4), so they typify satanic opposition to Christ and to God’s program in general. Moreover, in the same way that God revealed through Pharaoh’s dreams “what He was about to do” (cf., Genesis 41:25 and 28), God had previously done that same thing for Joseph in his earlier dreams (Genesis 37:5 and 9). All this sets the stage now for the concluding chapters of Genesis. In chapter 38, we encounter the sordid affair of Judah and Tamar. Placed in the middle of the story of Joseph, this account serves to contrast self-serving, pleasure-seeking Judah with his exact opposite – Joseph. In these chapters, God demonstrates His sovereign control and His mercy as Joseph’s life points us to Christ, and the lives of Judah, Tamar, and Perez appear in the royal line of the Messiah (cf., Matthew 1:3). How beautiful is that?


In Psalm 11, David points us to our “refuge” – “the LORD” (verse 1). Essentially, he says that there is no other refuge – “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Those who are wicked will always do everything they can “to shoot … at the upright in heart” (verse 2). Sometimes, it seems that our foundations are being pulled out from under our feet, and when that happens, we need to “flee” – not to the mountains – but “to the LORD, Who is in His holy temple examining the righteous” (verse 5). He is “righteous and loves justice,” and He will rain “fiery coals and burning sulfur on the wicked” (verses 6-7). I am especially comforted when I read that the Lord is Sovereign and sits eternally on His throne. God is in full control and reigns; He is in charge. We need to allow Him to take charge of our lives.


In Matthew 13:36-58, we see the Lord continuing to teach in parables – [1] in verses 36-43, Jesus explains the meaning of the parable of the weeds; [2] the parable of the hidden treasure; [3] the parable of the pearl (one of my own, all-time favorites); and [4] the parable of the net. I am especially intrigued by the parables of the treasure and the pearl, both of which portray our own relationship with Christ. Knowing Him is worth everything, and this becomes clear in these parables. Jesus is our eternal treasure and He is a pearl of great beauty – forever valuable – of incalculable worth. When the seeker and the merchant found these riches (i.e., epitomized in Christ), they “sold all they had” to obtain them. Sometimes, in this life, God allows us to enjoy personal relationships with others who are like hidden treasures – as beautiful as expensive pearls. He gives them to us as reminders of that more precious reality of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Nothing could be worth more.

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