Recognizing vs. Not Recognizing:
(Genesis, Matthew 23-24)
In summary of Genesis, there is a theme throughout of recognizing what was before mankind’s eyes.
Eve didn’t recognize the trickery of the devil, Cain didn’t recognize what kind of gift God wanted from him, mankind (except for Noah and family) didn’t recognize the warnings of the Lord, Lot didn’t recognize how sinful Sodom and Gomorrah had become, Sarai didn’t recognize the plan God had for her to make Abraham a great nation, Isaac didn’t recognize Jacob dressed up as Esau, Jacob didn’t recognize Leah dressed up as Rachel, Jacob didn’t recognize the consequences of his favoritism to Joseph, the 10 brothers didn’t recognize that the dreams of Joseph were from the Lord, Judah didn’t recognize his daughter-in-law Tamar, and the 10 brothers didn’t recognize Joseph as the governor in Egypt.
Compare to:
Adam and Eve recognize their nakedness, Abel recognizes what God required for an offering, Noah recognized and obeyed God’s warnings, Lot recognized the angels visiting an evil city, Abraham recognized that the Lord would provide the offering up of his son Isaac, Jacob recognized when God spoke to him, Jacob recognized he was wrestling with God, Joseph recognized God when interpreting dreams, and Joseph recognized his brothers when they came asking for food.
Matthew 23-24 application: The word “blind” appears many times through out chapter 23, do not live this life blinded. Be watchful like the 10 virgins (Matt 24), keep our lamps lite with the Word of God, so that we can recognize when the Lord approaches. The Jews did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, they were blind in their sin. God sends his own Son to his children, and they do not recognize him. And they, like Cain, Sarai, and the 10 brothers of Joseph, take things into their owns hands to try to control their circumstances in their favor. Jesus, unrecognized and rejected by his own, became the Savior for all. What man desires for evil, God works for our good because he loves us. Just as Joseph’s brothers didn’t recognize that the dreams came from the Lord, the Jews did not recognize the Son of God in the flesh. The brothers have years of warning from Joseph’s prophetic dreams that they would bow down before their brother, and yet they did not recognize Joseph until he revealed himself to them. Just like the prophecies in the Old Testament thousands of years in the making, left the Pharisees and scribes unable to recognize the Messiah until he completed his sacrifice for all people.
מגן השביל 