Bible Chapter: Genesis 45

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Finally, the beginning of the happy ending.  Joseph tested his brothers and could contain himself no longer.  In a tearful reunion he shocked his brothers by revealing his identity.  They were amazed.  I’m sure it took a while for the truth to settle in.  Joseph was especially anxious to talk with and hug Benjamin.  He reunited with all his brothers.  He gave them provisions for the journey home along with many gifts.  And, he told them to bring the whole clan back to Egypt.  He would take care of them.  They wouldn’t have to worry through the famine which would last five more years.
    Jacob struggled to accept the news when the boys got home.  It almost gave him a heart attack.  When he saw all the bounty Joseph gave them Jacob finally believed it and said he would travel to Egypt so he could see his son again before he died.
    God used the evil actions of the brothers to accomplish His purpose.  He preserved the line of Abraham and provided a posterity to God’s covenant people.  They all moved to the land of Goshen in Egypt.  It was there that the nation of Israel was formed.  When they finally left there were more than a million people that descended from Abraham.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Press on.  Keep on doing what is right and trust God for the results. It took a long time for Joseph to see the reward for his faithfulness.  Jacob didn’t believe he would ever see Joseph again.  But, God worked things out.  In the long term things did work out.  In the light of eternity, things will work out for all who are faithful to Jesus.  And, for the brothers they discovered there is forgiveness.  These are good principles for all to live by.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people see it is worth it to serve Jesus.  It is worth it to be kind.  God can work things out.  When Pharaoh found out that Joseph’s brothers had come, he was delighted and offered them great rewards simply for being family.  Joseph could have told Pharaoh not to do it, they weren’t worthy, but he didn’t.  I want to help people see that rewards do come.  The extended family was blessed because of Joseph’s faithfulness and integrity.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 44

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Joseph was getting close to the time where he revealed his identity to his brothers.  After feeding them a banquet, they were ready to head out early in the morning for home.  Joseph told his servant to put their money back in the bags of food.  He also told them to put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack.  This brought great sorrow to the brothers when it was discovered.  Benjamin was accused of stealing the cup.  Joseph’s servant said that Benjamin would have to return to Egypt and become Joseph’s slave.
    Two interesting points.  When the silver cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, they all tore their clothes in despair.  This was a sign of real grief.  They were overcome with the situation as it was unfolding.  They were afraid for Benjamin and how it would affect their father.  The fact that they had lived with guilt for more than twenty years over their despicable actions against Joseph is revealed in Judah’s statement “God is punishing us for our sins”.  They acknowledged their sin.  If a person has any semblance of a conscience, God will continue to speak to them about their sins and the need to repent.  Sin always carries a big consequence.  Joseph could see that changes had occurred in his brothers, for they were acting responsibly regarding the issues of money and their concern for the well-being of their father.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Integrity in the actions of life is so valuable.  A person who acts with moral soundness will be saved from having a life of fear of the consequences. It is like a person driving down the highway with the cruise control set at the speed limit.  When they come over a hill and see a police car running radar, they don’t have to panic and hit the brakes.  They just cruise on by because they are obeying the law.  If Joseph’s brothers had acted with integrity and righteousness in life, they would have been spared decades of grief.  Our modern culture has countless examples of people living is so-called freedom who eventually harvest the consequences of their sin.  We can learn from both positive and negative experiences.  I want to always learn from the negative situations such as in this story the importance of doing what God says.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people see the blessings of a life lived serving Jesus.  Studying the Bible reveals the high standards of righteousness God expects.  Short cuts to life and integrity are very tempting. But, like a student who cheats in a class, when the real tests of life come, they can’t handle it.  It is always worth doing things God’s way.  Really, if I need surgery, I don’t want a doctor who cheated in medical school.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 43

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    The famine continued and it was time to return to Egypt for more food.  They kept delaying the trip because of Joseph’s requirement that Benjamin come on the next trip.  Israel struggled and was in agony at the thought of sending Benjamin, lest anything should happen to him.  Judah reminded his father of the impossibility of getting any more food if Benjamin didn’t go with them.  I can imagine there was quite a powerful “discussion” between father and son.  Finally he said to take Benjamin and, “if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved”.  I’m sure there was great sorrow in sending the sons off on this trip.
    Upon their arrival in Egypt there was still fear in the hearts of the brothers.  Joseph had them taken to his house and given a meal.  They told Joseph about receiving their money back and they were returning it.  They were still afraid.  As this story unfolds I am reminded many times about the long term impact of doing evil.  These brothers lived for decades with fear over treating their brother with such contempt as to sell him as a slave.  Any short term fun or benefits a person receives in doing something evil are simply not worth the long term consequences.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Judah was willing to take the responsibility for Benjamin’s safe return.  Learning to take responsibility is one of the issues of maturity.  The decision to sell Joseph was a choice made by immature and jealous people.  Eventually these brothers were learning the importance of good decisions and responsible living.  Jealousy is not how God designed us to live.  Maturity is happy when something good happens to another person.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people be mature in their lifestyle.  We live in a prosperous culture.  It is easy to get things, live for possessions and fun.  That only lasts for a short while, and soon pay day comes.  There comes a time when we have to pay for our fun.  There comes a time when the free lunch we enjoy will no longer be available.  Self-centeredness only leads to future problems.  Maturity is better.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 42

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    I remember my grandmother telling us a biblical principle from Numbers 32, be sure your sins will find you out.  She wanted us to know that if we try to do something sinful, it will eventually be revealed and we will have to face the consequences.  We can be assured that at some time the impact of our sinful decisions will come and we will have to realize the destruction that results.  Here we find the ten brothers who conspired to get rid of Joseph and then agreed to cover their sin are facing what they did.  It had been at least twenty years, and finally they were forced to deal with the reality of their sin.  It was now their survival and the survival of their whole family that was at stake.  If Joseph refused to sell them food, they would starve.
    When the famine God revealed through Pharaoh’s dreams came, it affected Joseph’s extended family back home.  Ten of his brothers came to buy food.  They had the money needed and were willing to pay for it.  Joseph used this time to try to find out if his brothers had repented of their actions.  He hid his identity from them and demanded that they bring their brother, Benjamin, with them the next time they needed to buy food.  This was the first contact Joseph had had with his family, and the first news in over twenty years.  He was delighted to hear that his father was still alive.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    We don’t know the process and timing, but it appears that the brothers had repented of their sin of selling Joseph as a slave.  It appears that their hearts had changed.  Making sure that our hearts are right is an extremely high priority.  I must be sure my heart is always right with God.  Jesus said in Matthew 15:18 NKJV
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
    This is a very important truth to apply in life.

3.  How can I help someone?
    A common excuse to sin is that “I can do what I want because it doesn’t affect anyone else”.  That is a major lie.  What we do impacts many people.  If only Joseph’s brothers understood that, how things would have been different.  Much sorrow would have been avoided.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 41

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    God will use many different events to bring about His plan.  Joseph had spent many years waiting for something to happen.  In the process of this time, he was faithful to serve God and not be drawn into participating in sin.  Joseph did not make excuses to sin simply because many things were going wrong.  When Pharaoh had two dreams and no one could tell him the meaning, it was God’s timing to bring Joseph into the picture.  I have to wonder about the conversations between Joseph and the chief butler when Joseph was promoted to his new position.  What excuses and apologies did he make? It is an interesting thing to ponder.
    God’s timing brought Joseph to the position of the number two ruler in Egypt.  He was quick to give God all the credit.  When Pharaoh asked Joseph about interpreting his dreams he was quick to say that it wasn’t him, but God would give an answer of peace.  Because of his faithfulness over thirteen years as a slave and then a prisoner, Joseph was given a high position, he was able to marry and have a family.  He was greatly respected.  This respect didn’t come quickly, but it was well-deserved.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    I think the lesson of faithfulness to God’s ways and refusal to compromise is a major lesson of this story.  After years of hard work and languishing, wondering when something would happen, Joseph is rewarded with more than he could imagine.  While we have no promise of what the rewards will be here on earth, we do have the promise of an amazing reward in heaven for obedience and faithfulness to God.  I wonder what went through his mind the first night he was no longer sleeping in the prison, but in a very fancy residence fit for a king.  Within hours Joseph went from a very lowly state to a powerful position of leadership.  Not many people could handle this.  God’s preparation over the years made Joseph ready for this and he filled his responsibilities well.
    It is a real challenge.  Am I willing to be where God places me and faithfully work?  There is an old saying “bloom where you are planted”.  That is good.  The apostle Paul wrote that he had learned to be content wherever God had planted him.  He was used in many powerful ways to change eternity for millions of people.  I am slowly learning that we don’t really know the impact we are making.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people see beyond the end of their nose.  Often people don’t see beyond today, they don’t see the potential impact of decisions they make.  They don’t see the potential benefits of following God’s way.  I want to help people see the blessings of doing things God’s way.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 40

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    God will work through whatever circumstances come from the decisions people make.  Joseph’s brothers had acted wickedly in selling him as a slave.  Potiphar’s wife had acted wickedly in lying about Joseph so he was put in prison.  Now, God used Joseph in his confinement to interpret dreams.  This gave him the connection he needed for a future time.  It is hard for me to imagine that the king’s cup bearer could forget about Joseph after he was restored to his position, but he did.  I think that Joseph was probably excited about the potential of getting out.  Surely, it would happen quickly.  Little by little the reality sank in that he had been forgotten.
    Joseph had to continue being faithful to God in his horrible situation.  We see his desire to get out of there in his immediate plea to the cup bearer when he interpreted the dream.  Please, remember me and show me kindness.  Plead my case before the king.  But, it didn’t happen.  The good news is that Joseph didn’t give up on God.  Because of his faithfulness, he was eventually used in a way he could have never imagined. He would have been happy to be released and sent home to his father.  God had bigger plans.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    We generally don’t know the things God has in store for us.  I want things to happen now.  I want to see things get going.  Often, they take much more time that I think they should.  God calls us to be faithful to Him and let Him work out the details.  That is usually hard to do.  But, it is a lesson we must learn.  Joseph is an inspiration for many reasons, his faithfulness to God is one of them.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people see the benefits of waiting in God’s timing and doing what is right in God’s eyes.  In the end it is always worth it.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 39

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    This chapter starts one of the great stories of the Bible.  Joseph’s adventures in Egypt is a story of God’s planing and provision, God’s blessing and of Joseph’s integrity, his desire to serve God.  Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave and a military leader named Potiphar bought him.  One of the first things we see is that God was with Joseph and prospered him.  God will be with His people even in the worst situations.  Potiphar recognized this and gave Joseph a very high position.  Things went well for Potiphar because he put Joseph in a position of responsibility.  I wonder what happened to his household after Joseph was put in prison.  Did God pull His blessings?  I wonder if his wife ever admitted her lies when things fell apart.  When he was sent to prison, Joseph was again promoted and given responsibility.
    The story of Joseph is the story of a person who had so many things go bad in life, and yet he remained faithful to God.  It would have been very easy for him to accept Mrs. Potiphar’s advances, since he was a slave in a foreign country.  It would have been very easy for him to be bitter against his brothers and throw away everything he had learned about God.  He didn’t do any of these things.  He recognized the importance of serving God and didn’t make excuses.  Because of his faithfulness to God and his desire to please Him, God was with Joseph every step of the way.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Keep on keeping on.  Keep the right focus on serving God and don’t throw away His amazing gift of life and hope just because things are not going the way we think they should. I have seen people get mad at God when things don’t go they way they want.  People can act as if they are the supreme being and God is simply the power at their beck and call who will do what they want.  Joseph is an excellent example of doing what God calls us to do.  He is a good example of keeping eternity in focus and not giving up.  In the end, those who are faithful to Jesus will see the whole picture of God’s plan.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people see Jesus.  I want to help them see that God has a plan and it will be an amazing plan.  Don’t give up.  Don’t quit.  Don’t compromise and be drawn into the lies of the world.  Jesus really does know what He is doing.  Trust Him.