Acts 14
Paul and Barnabas' travel to the city of Iconium, where they preached the gospel and performed many miracles. Despite initial success, the Jews and Gentiles there became hostile and plotted to kill them.
However, Paul and Barnabas learned of the plot and fled to the cities of Lystra and Derbe. In Lystra, they encountered a man who was born lame but was healed by the power of God through the apostles. This caused the people to proclaim them as gods, They even began to organize a parade to perform a ritual sacrifice. But Paul and Barnabas corrected their mistake and reminded them that they were merely servants of God and take advantage of the crowd's attention to proclaim the good news.
Unfortunately some of the angry Jews from Antioch find them in Lystra and stir the crowds against them. Paul gets beaten unconscious and is thrown out of the city. Once the other disciples gathered around his body he gets up and heads back into town then leaves the next day with Barnabas for Derbe.
Gods or Men?
In Lystra, a man who was crippled since birth was healed by Paul, causing the people to think that Paul and Barnabas were gods. They were about to offer sacrifices to them, but Paul and Barnabas stopped them, proclaiming that they were only human messengers of God. Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and turned the people against Paul and Barnabas. Paul was beaten and left for dead, but he survived and went to Derbe with Barnabas.
Plenty of Hard Times
Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, encouraging the disciples to stick with their faith and reminding them that it wouldn't be easy. They handpicked leaders in each church and presented them to God. They preached in Perga and finally made it to Attalia, where they caught a ship back to Antioch. On arrival, they reported to the church and told how God had used them to open the door of faith to all nations. They settled down for a long visit with the disciples.
Genesis 45
Joseph can no longer keep his identity a secret from his brothers, who sold him into slavery many years before. Overcome with emotion, Joseph sends away all of his attendants and reveals himself to his brothers, telling them that he is their brother Joseph, whom they sold into slavery. His brothers are frightened and distressed at this revelation, but Joseph reassures them and tells them that he has forgiven them for what they did and that it was God himself who put him into this situation. He instructs his brothers to go back to their father, Jacob, and bring him and their families to Egypt, where Joseph will provide for them during the ongoing famine. Joseph gives his brothers carts and goods to take with them, and he sends them on their way with his blessing.
What a beautiful response! Joseph's heart was forgiveness and love for his brothers!
““Come closer to me,” Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. “I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don’t feel badly, don’t blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn’t you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt.”
Genesis 45:4-8 MSG
The distance between Canaan (where Jacob was living) and Egypt is around 250-300 miles depending on the route taken. It's unclear exactly how long the journey took for Jacob and his family, as the Bible does not provide a specific timeline. However, it is likely that the journey took several weeks or even months, especially since Jacob's family included women, children, and livestock.
Genesis 46
Genesis 46 is about Jacob and his family's journey to Egypt to reunite with Joseph. Jacob was hesitant to leave his homeland and go to Egypt, but God spoke to him and assured him that it was the right thing to do. Jacob, his sons, their wives, and their children, as well as all their livestock and possessions, traveled to Egypt. The chapter also lists the names of Jacob's descendants who traveled to Egypt, totaling 70 people.
The 400 years of Israel's bondage in Egypt was prophesied to Abraham in Genesis 15:13-14. In the passage, God tells Abraham that his descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs and will be oppressed for 400 years. God also promises to judge the nation that enslaves them and to bring them out with great possessions.
Genesis 15:13-16
The Message
13-16 God said to Abram, “Know this: your descendants will live as outsiders in a land not theirs; they’ll be enslaved and beaten down for 400 years. Then I’ll punish their slave masters; your offspring will march out of there loaded with plunder. But not you; you’ll have a long and full life and die a good and peaceful death. Not until the fourth generation will your descendants return here; sin is still a thriving business among the Amorites.”
Psalms 42
Psalm 42 expresses the psalmist's longing for God's presence and deliverance from his enemies. The psalmist likens his longing for God to that of a deer longing for water, and expresses his despair and tears as he remembers how he used to worship God in the temple. The psalmist also remembers God's faithfulness and declares his trust in God's deliverance. The psalm ends with an expression of hope in God's salvation, and a call to praise Him.
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