Posted on by Abe Austin

Scriptural Analysis- Exodus 32:15-16

15 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.

16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

Moses now descends to the Israelites below. This is an obvious type for Christ, condescending from heaven to live among mankind. With him, he still carries the stone tablets, written on each side by the hand of God.

Every word that was written in the stone was intended for the elevation of the Israelites, but now they stood as a condemnation of the people. They described a standard that the Israelites had sunk well below. The word of God is a blessing to the righteous, but a curse to the wicked. Once we know what is right, then we know exactly how short of it we have fallen.

Posted on by Abe Austin

Scriptural Analysis- Genesis 37:36

36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.

While family drama would continue to take place at home, Joseph was sold off and separated from all of that. From now on he would have his own problems to deal with, and a whole new story was unfolding for him in Egypt.

Egypt is of recurring importance throughout the Old Testament, and it takes on many roles, entwining itself in the fate of the Israelites, sometimes for good and sometimes for evil. At this point Egypt appears to be for evil, the land of Joseph’s unjust oppression, but in a few years that will change, and Egypt will become a place of refuge.

I can’t help but wonder if Joseph felt he was already at the lowest point of his life, a slave in a strange land, but soon he will descend even further, cast out of his lowly station to become a prisoner. Before we get to that, though, we have to take a detour with Judah for chapter 38.