Question: Why did God refuse the tabernacle of Joseph (Psa. 78:67) when in Genesis 49:24 we read, “From thence is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel?” —M. G.
Answer: God gave Joseph a double portion, because he received the birthright instead of Reuben, who sinned against his father.
Joseph is a type of Christ. The path of Jesus is shadowed out by his sorrow, rejection and separation from his brethren, and then of righteousness and testimony, and it ended with praise, and honor, and glory in the kingdom and inheritance.
Now notice Genesis 49:23, 24, that the good and great and chief Shepherd and Stone of Israel was from the mighty God of Jacob—not from Joseph.
Then God in His sovereign electing grace chose the tribe of Judah and the House of David for His Royal family. He accepts no other line of Royalty for Israel. (Gen. 49:10).
God has the right to choose whom He will.
Question: Who are those called to “come out of her?” (Rev. 18:4). Could there be saints in her at the time of her judgment? —F. S.
Answer: “Come out of her, My people,” is a voice from heaven telling that her judgment is coming. The ears that hear the Lord speaking in these scriptures are to regard it as a voice to them now.
Do you apprehend the wickedness of this system, “Great Babylon,” that will combine all of men’s religious societies into one great system? Then come out of her! It is a spiritual call to saints now to leave the religious babel of men’s religions, and come out to Christ alone. All that are left behind of the churches of men when the Lord Jesus takes His own (1 Thess. 4:15-18) will have the church union at last with popery as its head.
“Come out of her, My people,” is God’s call. (See also 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 2 Tim. 2:19;3:5; Heb. 13:13).
Not Ashamed.
“You ought to be ashamed of yourself, sir,” said a worldly church member to a young man, who stood outside the entrance gate to the racecourse holding a banner, with the words inscribed in bold letters:
“Flee from the wrath to come.”
“After death the judgment.”
The pointed words, culled from the Book of God, had pierced his conscience and, unable to find fault with them, he vented his spite on him who held them up to the gaze of thousands.
The young man looked into the angry man’s face, and softly said— “So I am ashamed of myself, sir, but I’m not ashamed of the Word of God. Are you?”
Aggressive efforts to reach the careless crowd will always meet the sneer of Christless men, and even of worldly believers. But shall it be given up because of this? Certainly not. It is a blessed service to carry the Word of God right into the enemy’s camp, but it needs courage. God blessed His Word on the banner that day to awaken a young lady to concern about her soul, and she is now saved and serving Christ.
Thus the Lord’s young servant was amply repaid for the sneers and scorn of the worldly man.
Be not ashamed, dear young Christian, of the Word of God. Speak it freely, scatter it abroad, hold it forth, always, and in all places, and God will give the blessing.
“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16.