Genesis 43:11 So their father Israel finally said to them, “If it can’t be avoided, then at least do this. Load your donkeys with the best products of the land. Take them to the man as gifts---balm, honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio, nuts and almonds. [Living Bible translations]
Matthew 2:11: Entering the house where the baby and Mary his mother were, they threw themselves down before HIM, worshiping. Then they opened their presents and gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh. [Living Bible translation]
Summary:
Israel’s gifts
Israel fathered 12 sons and at least one daughter. But, Israel favored the sons of his favorite wife Rachel. Israel and Rachel had two sons: Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. Joseph was the oldest. Because Israel loved Joseph so much more than Joseph’s other shepherd brothers, Israel gave Joseph a “special gift” [Gen 37:3- Living Bible]----a fancy coat of many colors.
However, in addition to his physical gift, Joseph also had a more important gift—a spiritual gift from GOD---the gift of interpreting dreams. But instead of Israel shepherding Joseph and helping him to understand the importance of his spiritual gift, Israel’s physical gift caused Joseph to place more emphasis on himself (Joseph) and less on GOD. Instead of acknowledging GOD, Joseph “boasted” and talked about “my latest dream,”—not about the dream GOD had given to him. Instead of remembering that “every good gift and every perfect gift” comes from GOD (James 1:17), Joseph was boastful, which made his brothers dislike him even more.
As a result of the brother’s enmity toward Joseph, they sold him into slavery. To cover up their wrong, they splattered Joseph’s special coat with animal blood, showed the coat to Israel and convinced their father that Joseph had been killed. Israel saw believed their story and grieved greatly.
Time passes. There is a famine in the land. To keep from starving, Israel sends his other sons, but not Benjamin (who he loves dearly and whom he did not want to risk losing), to look for food in Egypt. Joseph has been through much. He has risen from the ranks of slave, prison inmate, to minister of agriculture in charge of the food supply in all of Egypt. Joseph’s ascension to power was a result of Joseph’s spiritual gift from GOD.
When the brothers come before Joseph, Joseph recognizes his brothers, but the brothers do not recognize Joseph. As a high Egyptian official Joseph questions the brothers and then orders them to go home and return with Benjamin. The brothers tell their father, Israel, about the high ranking Egyptian’s officer’s request and Israel is frantic. Believing that he has already lost one son of his heart Israel does not want to lose Benjamin. But the brothers pressure their father, explaining that unless they obey the high Egyptian official (who they do not realize is their brother Joseph), they will all die of starvation. And, moreover, the high Egyptian officer insisted that one of the brothers (Simeon) remain in Egypt until all of the brothers, including Benjamin, returned. So, Israel, agrees to let Benjamin go. But Israel insists his sons take the Egyptian a “gift.” Israel tells the brothers to load up their donkeys with the best products of the land--- balm, honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. The brothers are to give this gift to the Egyptian….
NUTS
Only two kinds of nuts are mentioned in the Bible—almonds and pistachio nuts. In Genesis 43:11, we are told that these products were among the best products of the land. Israel, Benjamin’s father, attempted to use these products as a “gift” and as leverage to save “the child of his heart.”
Today, nuts are still good for the heart. In “4 Nuts That Cut Your Heart Disease Risk,” by T. Jared Bunch, MD, Published Feb. 2, 2015, Dr. Bunch noted the following:
Almonds
Adding almonds to your diet lowers your LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, which is involved in creating plaques in your coronary arteries that can cause heart attacks…Clinical diet studies show almonds can also reduce your risk of insulin resistance and diabetes. Even if you have diabetes, adding almonds to your diet can improve your sensitivity to insulin
Almonds can also increase your likelihood of losing weight. In one study, adding 84 gm, or about 3 ounces (oz) of almonds a day to a planned diet improved weight loss and resulted in a 14 percent decrease in waist circumference. A study published in 2015 looked at cholesterol and body fat in people who ate 1.5 oz of almonds a day versus a healthy muffin… In only six weeks, people who consumed almonds had lower LDL cholesterol by an average of 5 mg/dL. They also had less belly fat and leg fat.
Pistachios
Adding pistachios to your diet also has potential heart benefits….A study of people who ate approximately 1.5 0z of pistachios a day and were then exposed to mental stress found they had lower blood pressure rises than those who did not eat pistachios. In people with diabetes, eating pistachios lowers total and LDL cholesterol and can reduce the risk of diabetes-related disease in the arteries.
Walnuts
Most nuts contain a high concentration of healthy fat. Walnuts are composed of 47 percent polyunsaturated fatty acids, thought of as “good fats.”…walnuts are the only ones with a significant amount of a certain type called alpha-linoleic acid. Alpha-linoleic acid acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and has actually been shown to help reduce plaque buildup in coronary arteries. Eating walnuts has been shown to improve cholesterol levels and the function of the small arteries and vessels within our bodies
Peanuts
[M]any studies show eating peanuts, including peanut butter, can reduce heart risk. In the Nurse’s Health Study, those women who consumed peanuts and peanut butter lowered their risk of heart disease by 34 percent. The greatest benefit was in those who ate peanuts multiple times a week. In a study of 6,309 women with diabetes, eating one serving of peanuts (28 gm [1 oz] for nuts and 16 gm [1 tablespoon] for peanut butter) five times a week or more lowered risk of heart disease by 44 percent.
See, www.everydayhealth.com.
Dr. Bunch notes that it is important not to overeat nuts! Nor should you expect the same benefits if you eat nut candy, heavily salted nuts or sugar coated nuts. The best approach is to eat raw and to eat in moderation. In addition, many people may have allergic reaction to nuts. He warns that if you have potential allergies or have a family history of nut allergies, don’t consider eating nuts without first consulting your doctor. If you have any concerns whether eating any type of nut is right for you, again consult your personal physician.
The Gifts of The Magi (The Three Wise Men):
The wise men worshipped JESUS. It was the first thing they did. When they entered into the house, they immediately fell down before HIM worshiping. The gifts they gave had spiritual meaning and significance: Gold was symbolic of HIS royalty (KING of kings). Frankincense was symbolic of HIS DEITY, SINLESSNESS and DIVINITY. It was used in temple worship and was associated with prayer to GOD, of being able to come before GOD. Myrrh, embalming oil, was symbolic of HIS sacrificial death on the cross for all humanity---including for you and me.
JESUS the CHRIST is GOD’s PERFECT GIFT to us. Let us worship only HIM.
In the days ahead, let us remember to thank GOD for HIS spiritual gift(s) to us. Let us thank HIM for the GIFT of HIS HOLY SPIRIT. Let us pray that HIS SPIRIT guide us in using any and all of our gifts for HIM and HIS GLORY. May HIS SPIRIT renew in us a greater concern for others---the lost, homeless, the hungry and the confused ---and that we have less concern for “earthly goods and gifts.”
May we remember the lessons of Joseph and his brothers and be sensitive in our gift giving and attitude about gifts. Let us remember the spiritual meaning and significance of GOD’s greatest GIFT to us.
Let us BE WISE and BE BLESSED!
