We know that Abraham's encounter with the High Priest inaugurated the Lord's Supper, pre-figuring Christ's Last Supper.

Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

But Joseph's instructions have us seeing the empty cup being placed in the sack with the corn, or grain - not yet bread.

Oh, the pictures of better things to come that we are given in the Book of Genesis!

Genesis 44:1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. Genesis 44:2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

The senses confirm the tangible world. Faith does not live there and it exists outside of the senses. It may be a sense presaging the new birth. Saul observed the light before he was blinded, he heard Jesus question him, but he believed because of reasons having nothing to do with the senses.

For non-believers; may the scales fall away and may you believe without seeing!

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Postponement. The ability to forego something we would like to have or attain while accepting that we must endure, in order to receive the thing we want. Many believe that the ability to accept postponement is a landmark on the road to maturity. The concept is the anti-thesis of instant gratification. Dying before receiving the promise and comprehending that the promised City awaits us, if we enter and finish the race.

A promised City awaits. Enter and finish the race!

Hebrews 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Hebrews 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. Hebrews 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

As Christians, do we see parallels between the young David and a surrounded Israel in the 21st Century? Do we see both of them needing more powerful protectors from the Giants who would like to crush them? Is the request made in David's Psalm heard by God, today, as Israel's prayer?

Does the God who stood behind David stand behind Israel?

Psalms 35:1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Psalms 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Psalms 35:3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Psalms 35:4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Psalms 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

Perhaps everyone, at different stages of their lives, is so oblivious to other and better ways that they do not know how to abandon their current status and deposit themselves in a much better place. Some may even suggest that it is impossible for one to extract themselves, once trapped, and render themselves free of their trappings. So it was that the Demon Possessed man found himself in the proximity of the Pure and Holy one, and the demons inside the man recognized Jesus.

Whether possessed, or self-enslaved, have we found ourselves in the proximity of the Pure and Holy Jesus? Can anyone free himself from a captivity they may never acknowledge? Jesus is the only deliverer of men.

Mark 5:2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Mark 5:3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Mark 5:4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. Mark 5:5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. Mark 5:6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, Mark 5:7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. Mark 5:8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

Being grieved by the affliction of Joseph. As descendents of the family of Joseph, Jews knew his story. Reckoned for dead by his father, sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned by the Egyption ruler. Never lashing out, always the suffering servant as a shadow of Christ - The suffering servant! Who are these Jews addressed by Amos? They live luxurious lives having no memory of the price Joseph paid for their ultimate freedom from bondage. Why don't they consider the suffering that one man, Joseph, endured for their freedom?

Amos' message should remind us of the afflictions of our suffering servant, Jesus.

Amos 6:3 Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; Amos 6:4 That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; Amos 6:5 That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; Amos 6:6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.