Genesis 46 - 49

Had an interesting time with God this morning, and really felt him telling me to slow down in the day. As a teacher, I am always cramming work in, working through break and lunch, doing two things at once etc etc, and I felt God say that I won't hear his still small voice if I'm so hectic, so to take things at a calmer pace.

Genesis 46-48 didn't really speak to me, but boy did chapter 49. In it we see Jacob blessing his sons before he dies. Of particular interest was the blessing for Judah: 'Your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies, your father's sons will bow down to you...the sceptre will not depart from Judah...he will wash his garments in wine (gen 49:8-11).

This is by far the best blessing of the lot, and it's interesting simply because Judah was the one who convinced his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery (Gen 37). Later on he has sex with what he believes to be a prostitute. My point: he's a sinner, a low down rotten sinner! So why does he get that big blessing? Maybe it's because he turned all that around, and in Gen 44 was the one who offered himself up for the sins of his brothers. Whatever the reason, is this not proof of a God who will forgive you your sins and bless you mightily if you turn from your sins and start doing what is right? I think so!