Daily Bible Notes

So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Genesis 45:8 (ESV)

Joseph knew that God was really in control. God is sovereign

Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.” Genesis 46:3–4 (ESV)

God makes a powerful yet very personal promise to Jacob and tells him that he has nothing to fear. God brought all of this to pass.

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:4 (ESV)

It was impossible for animal sacrifices to take away sin, they provided only temporary atonement and served as a reminder of our great need

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. Hebrews 10:12–13 (ESV)

The atonement of Christ is a finished work, eternal in its affect and universal in its reach although limited in its application to the elect who put their trust in him.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

Our perseverance and sanctification find their root in his person and work, the sureness, confidence and assurance we are guaranteed in, through and by him.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV)

Church and fellowship is so important for each of us

Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. Genesis 44:33 (ESV)

Judah’s will to sacrifice himself on behalf of his brother and for the love of his father points forward to Jesus “The Lion of the tribe of Judah”

They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” Hebrews 8:5 (ESV)

This is true of much of the OT, especially around the tabernacle and temple

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. Hebrews 8:6 (ESV)

We thank God for the new, better covenant. Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant and it is better because it is founded on the wonderful promises of grace (salvation, security, sanctification etc)

but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. Hebrews 9:10 (ESV)

Jesus was the first great reformer, the New Testament is in a sense a reformed old covenant

he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12 (ESV)

Hallelujah, here is the great evidence of Gods love for us and the eternal security we have in the atonement of Jesus Christ through his blood.

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:14 (ESV)

An important part of the Gospel message, Jesus purifies our conscience so we are no longer under self condemnation and we can discern more clearly the Fathers will.

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:15 (ESV)

Jesus is the great mediator of the new covenant brining agreement and reconciliation between men and God with himself as the guarantee of the eternal promises

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22 (ESV)

This is why Jesus died for us and shed his precious blood

Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, Hebrews 9:25 (ESV)

This is where the Roman Catholics get it wrong

He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4 (ESV)

We must not be paralysed by the fear of “What If” or become impotent while waiting for the “Perfect Time” we must launch out in faith

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14 (ESV)

In the author’s warning against apostasy, we see a rebuke against unwarranted immaturity in understanding the truth of God’s word. We must apply ourselves to the studying, thinking about and understanding of God’s word for our own growth and so we can effectively share with others

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4–6 (ESV)

The warning against apostasy is a serious one, those around the things of God and who know the truth of the Gospel but consciously reject the truth leave themselves in a potion that means they can not be restored (or saved in the first place) because there is only one way and they have rejected that way…. there is on Gospel version 2, there is only 1.

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. Hebrews 6:9 (ESV)

This distinguishes the true believers who have salvation from the group of church goers / false converts mentioned above

so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:18 (ESV)

We have assurance and security in our salvation because of who God is

(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. Hebrews 7:19 (ESV)

We have far better and surer hope in Jesus as our eternal high priest unlike the temp priesthood of men.

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:22 (ESV)

Our eternal security is very secure because the one giving the guarantee is Jesus himself

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Hebrews 7:26 (ESV)

5 distinctives of Christ’s priesthood

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. Hebrews 3:13–14 (ESV)

Our perseverance as Disciples of Jesus Christ is not a solitary experience, we are called to encourage one another so that we are not deceived and hardened by sin. We need each other.

For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. Hebrews 4:2 (ESV)

We must always read and listen to God’s word with an attitude that says yes I really believe this and will do something about it. We must have faith.

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. Hebrews 4:11 (ESV)

We have a goal, something to strive and press toward, something to work for, to enter into God’s rest and hear him say well done.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

God’s word is alive and active, his word is not impotent but is powerful, we can have confidence and trust in Gods word to transform us as much as we can in God himself, because God is true he backs up and fulfils his word.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)

Because we have a high priest and he is one who understands and can sympathise with us, we can boldly come before the throne of grace

And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, Hebrews 5:9 (ESV)

Because of Jesus obedient life, he became the source of salvation for all who would obey the gospel. We are saved through Jesus life, death and resurrection

They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” Genesis 40:8 (ESV)

There is no book or rule regarding the interpretation of dreams (like falling means…). As Joseph knew interpretation comes from God alone.

And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Genesis 41:32–33 (ESV)

God is Sovereign over the elements and can use them to steer nations and people to his purpose

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14 (ESV)

This chapter makes clear that Jesus is not an Angel and is greater than the Angels. It also tells us what Angels really are