Today’s Reading: Job 1-2, Psalm 3

ONCE UPON A TIME

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. – Job 1:1-3

Most of us know the story. Job was a righteous man who had been blessed abundantly by God. He had a large family, lots of servants and lots of animals. He was known to offer burnt offerings for each of his ten children, just in case they had sinned. This shows the heart of a man who desperately wanted God to be pleased with him, as well as with his family.

One day, after patrolling the earth to see everything that was going on, Satan entered into God’s presence. God asked him if he had seen the integrity of his servant, Job. Satan’s response sounds familiar to attitudes often found today.

Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” – Job 1:9-11

With God’s permission, everything in Job’s life changed in an instant. A messenger arrived to tell him that raiders had stolen all of his oxen and donkeys, and they had killed his farmhands. Before he had finished speaking, another messenger arrived to say fire had fallen from heaven killing all of his sheep and shepherds. A third messenger arrived to say raiders had stolen his camels, and all his servants were dead.

To lose all of your wealth in one day would be tragic, but at least he still had his family to bring him joy. Oh, but tragically he did not. A fourth messenger arrived to say that a strong wind had blown down the walls of his oldest son’s home. All of his children were feasting together when the house collapsed, and all ten of his children were now dead.

In his deep grief, Job refused to blame God for his troubles He responded, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21)

Satan, the Accuser, stepped into God’s presence once more to challenge the faith of Job. His accusation was that Job was still worshiping God because his pain had only been emotional and financial. So God allowed Satan to test Job physically, causing him excruciating pain through terrible boils from his head to foot.

Job sat in the ashes and scraped the boils with a piece of broken pottery. What a sad picture of a man who once had everything, but now had nothing. When his wife nagged him, encouraging him to curse God and die, Job’s response was powerful: “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (Job 2:10). Let’s ask ourselves that same question this morning:

SHOULD WE ACCEPT ONLY GOOD THINGS FROM THE HAND OF GOD AND NEVER ANYTHING BAD?

Job’s response shows the strength of his faith as he continued to praise God in the midst of his grief and pain. As many of us have experienced, there is a choice to make in difficult circumstances. We can push God away and decide that He is not the good God we have always believed Him to be, or we can pull closer to Him so that He can comfort us in our darkest hour.

I am so thankful to serve a God who welcomes my questions, who understands the pain I am going through, and who willingly comforts me when I am struggling to understand why He has allowed something in my life. I choose to hang onto the belief that my God is good — all the time!

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy mountain. – Psalm 3:3-4

AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

Job’s story has a happy ending. God stepped in, healing Job physically and restoring him with earthly possessions even greater than what he once had. And the great news for us today is that our story has a happy ending also! No matter what our current circumstances are, no matter how much we are suffering today, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven where there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more loss.

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.
And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!
I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!” – Job 19:25-27

Today’s Reading: Genesis 44:18 – 50:26; Psalm 4

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. — Colossians 3:12-14

It took Joseph some time of battling between hurt and healing before he decided to let go of the past and expose his heart to those who had wounded him so deeply. I believe God did an amazing thing in the soul of this young leader when he let go of his right for restitution and clung instead to the hope of restoration.

“I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. – Genesis 45:3-4a

MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR EACH OTHER’S FAULTS, AND FORGIVE ANYONE WHO OFFENDS YOU.

Joseph longed to close the distance between himself and his siblings. It was time to let go of the pain of yesterday in order to experience the brotherly intimacy his siblings clearly had with each other. Judah was even unselfishly volunteering to go to prison in exchange for the freedom of his brother, Benjamin. His brothers had changed and it was time to let go of the need for revenge.

When Joseph, overcome with emotion, chose to reveal his identity to his brothers, his focus was not on the pain of their betrayal. Instead of focusing on how his brothers had wounded him, Joseph was concerned about how they were dealing with the guilt of their sin. He went out of his way to help his brothers see the good that God had brought out of the bad they had done.

“I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives…God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an advisor to Pharoah…” – Genesis 45:4b-8

Joseph told his brothers to go and get their father, and he promised to provide land on which to raise their families. He desired to take care of them during the next five years of famine. It was time to put the past behind them; it was time to close the gap.

ABOVE ALL, CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH LOVE, WHICH BINDS US ALL TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY.

Then Joseph added, “Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph! Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly.” Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same. Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him. – Genesis 45:12-15

Can you hear the volume in the room increasing? Can you sense the strength of this brotherhood as they began to talk freely? I imagine they were asking questions while also filling Joseph in on how his father was doing. The weight of their betrayal was being lifted off of their shoulders and they were allowing themselves to feel the joy of relational restoration.

Because he was able to let go of his own need for justice, Joseph was soon reunited with his father and at peace with his brothers. He was able to enjoy 17 years with his father, and his sons were able to receive the blessing of their grandfather. After the death of Jacob, Joseph’s brothers threw themselves down before Joseph in repentance once more. He had to remind them that he had no intention of going back to how things used to be; they were forgiven.

But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them. – Genesis 50:19-21

I love how The Message parallels the NLT here: Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now – life for many people. – Genesis 50:19 (The Message)

DO I ACT FOR GOD?

When I am sinned against or suffer the consequences of someone else’s sin, is it for me to refuse to forgive them? Do I act for God? Would any good come from revenge or retaliation? Do I act for God? Is it my right to question God or to be angry that He did not intervene and prevent the hurt? Do I act for God? This I know with confidence — God never leaves us nor abandons us; He is never uninvolved. We can trust in the God of this promise:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

God takes all of our experiences in life and He executes a beautiful plan for how to use them for our good and for the good of others. God can take the deepest pain and the most tragic of stories and redeem it for the building of His kingdom. But first we need to stop acting for God and fully surrender our pain to Him. We need to stop seeing through the lens of our victimhood and allow the Lord to fully restore our hearts, bringing joy to the space we were reserving for self-pity, anger and hatred.

Lord, show me today when I am manipulating my circumstances or attempting to act for you. Get my attention when I begin to question your justice and your timing. Teach each of us to trust that you are the God who works for the good of those who love Him, and help us to see you clearly through our current circumstances and the wounds of our past. Amen.

Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent.
Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,
and trust the Lord. – Psalm 4:4-5

Today’s Reading: Genesis 42:1 – 44:17; Psalm 68; Colossians 3:1-17

When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another? I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.” – Genesis 42:1-2

The severe famine that Joseph had predicted when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream was affecting the whole world (41:57), including Jacob’s family. Staying and doing nothing was not going to save the family; a decision needed to be made. So Jacob took charge and sent his sons to Egypt to get grain, but he kept Benjamin at home.

JACOB MADE THE DECISION TO SEND HIS SONS TO EGYPT FOR FOOD.

Because Joseph was in charge of selling grain to all of the people who were traveling to Egypt for food, he was present when his brothers arrived. Perhaps Joseph saw his family approaching and had time to consider what might happen when they reached the front of the line. What he probably didn’t expect was for his brothers to not recognize him. As they bowed down in front of him, Joseph remembered the dream he had shared with them on a day that seemed a lifetime ago.

One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”
His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” — Genesis 37:5-8a

Now here they were, dependent on him for survival. Now they were the ones living in difficult circumstances, while Joseph was living in luxury. How would he respond to the brothers who had caused him such grief? I am not sure even Joseph knew how he was going to respond. Perhaps this was a moment he had spent years considering — What would he do if he ever had the opportunity to see his brothers again? What would he say to those who had ignored him when he had begged for his life?

JOSEPH HAD A DECISION TO MAKE BETWEEN FORGIVENESS AND REVENGE.

Whether this was a well thought out plan or a spontaneous moment, Joseph stood before his brothers and accused them of being spies. Despite their explanation, Joseph threw them into prison. For three short days they experienced what he had endured for 13 long years, and yet they still did not know him.

Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.” – Genesis 42:21

Joseph turned away from them so that they would not see his tears. Then he had his brother, Simeon, tied up in front of his brothers, perhaps wanting to remind them of the day when they watched him being led away in ropes and did nothing to save him. Joseph sent them home with grain, but told them they would never see Simeon again if they did not bring their youngest brother back to Joseph. He sent them away with supplies, and secretly had their money placed back inside their bags of grain.

Jacob’s sons returned to him and told him everything that had happened, but he refused to let his youngest son go to Egypt. Time passed and they were running out of food, but they could not go back for more without Benjamin. So Jacob reluctantly allowed them to take his precious son. He sent gifts and returned the money that he knew rightfully belonged to Pharaoh. Reuben, who had planned to rescue Joseph years ago, promised his own sons to Jacob if they did not return with Benjamin. Judah, whose idea it had been to sell Joseph into slavery, also spoke up and promised to be held responsible.

“May God Almighty give you mercy as you go before the man, so that he will release Simeon and let Benjamin return. But if I must lose my children, so be it.” – Genesis 43:14

When they arrived in Egypt, Joseph had his brothers brought into the palace and prepared a feast for them. Joseph was overcome with emotion when he found out his father was still alive and when he met his mother’s other son, Benjamin. He assigned each of his brothers a seat at the table, surprising them by placing them according to their birth order. He filled each of their plates with food from his own royal table; but when he came to Benjamin, he gave him five times more than anyone else.

When his brothers were ready to leave, Joseph gave these instructions to his palace manager: “Fill each of their sacks with as much grain as they can carry, and put each man’s money back into his sack. Then put my personal silver cup at the top of the youngest brother’s sack, along with the money for his grain.” So the manager did as Joseph instructed him. — Genesis 44:1-2

When the silver cup was later discovered in Benjamin’s sack, the brothers returned to Joseph, bowing before him to plead their innocence. Joseph’s response — What have you done? Don’t you know that a man like me can predict the future? (44:15) It seems as if Joseph is giving his brothers a clue. Don’t you remember me, the dreamer, the one who predicted this day when you would bow before me?

JOSEPH HAD A CHOICE TO MAKE, AND HE WAS DANCING AROUND HIS DECISION.

Joseph was sitting between the pain of his brothers’ betrayal and the freedom of forgiveness. Would he reveal his identity or would he continue to manipulate and play games with those who had so easily discarded him? Would he forgive his brothers and give them the chance to clear their conscience, or would he punish them by keeping Benjamin with him and sending them home empty handed?

Perhaps this is where you are currently positioned. Perhaps you would describe yourself as being stuck between Genesis chapter 44 and Genesis chapter 45. My prayer for you this morning is that God will give you the strength to choose forgiveness. I pray the knowledge of God’s grace in your own life will give you the peace you need to extend grace to someone else today. I pray that this is the day when God lifts the weight you have been carrying as you let go of your right to be angry and stop dancing around the decision of whether or not to forgive the one who has hurt you.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. — Colossians 3:12-14

Today’s Reading: Genesis 39-41; Psalm 28

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. – Genesis 39:1-2

JOSEPH WAS A SLAVE IN POTIPHAR’S HOUSE, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.

Joseph was far from his home and the only life he had ever known. He was only seventeen years old and had lost his family, his home and his freedom. But the Lord gave him success in everything he did, and his master noticed. He quickly found favor with Potiphar, and everything the Egyptian official owned was placed in Joseph’s care.

Now Joseph was strong and handsome, which Potiphar’s wife quickly noticed. Every day she demanded that Joseph join her in her bed, but he refused out of loyalty to his earthly master. He also did not want to sin against God, who was so faithfully providing for him in the midst of difficult circumstances. Insulted by his rejection, Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph, and he was thrown into prison — the same confinement where the king cast his prisoners.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. – Genesis 39:20b-23

JOSEPH WAS IN PRISON, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.

One morning while in prison, Joseph noticed that both the king’s cupbearer and the king’s baker were upset. When he found out they were both struggling to understand their dreams from the night before, he offered to listen; he chose to care. He interpreted both of their dreams, asking the chief cupbearer to show him kindness by mentioning him to Pharoah when he was restored to his position in three days. The man forgot about Joseph, but the Lord did not. He continued to faithfully provide for Joseph in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Two years later, Pharoah had a dream that troubled him. He sent for all the magicians and wise men throughout Egypt, but no one could interpret his dream. Then the chief cupbearer remembered the young Hebrew man who had accurately interpreted his dream. He told the king about Joseph, and the king sent for him.

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” – Genesis 41:15-16

JOSEPH STOOD BEFORE PHARAOH, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.

With the Lord’s help, Joseph interpreted both of Pharaoh’s dreams — the dream of seven skinny cows eating seven fat cows and the dream of seven thin heads of grain swallowing up seven good heads of grain. He told the king of Egypt how there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Joseph went on to give Pharoah instructions from God on how to store up a fifth of the harvest during the years of plenty in order to be prepared for the years of famine. Pharaoh recognized that Joseph had the Spirit of God in him, and he appointed him to be second-in-command over all of Egypt.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” – Genesis 41:39-40

JOSEPH WAS PLACED IN LEADERSHIP, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.

Pharaoh placed a ring on Joseph’s finger, dressed him in robes of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck (41:42). He gave Joseph a wife, and he gave him the authority to carry out his assignment. Joseph was now 30 years old, which meant he had spent 13 years as a servant, slave and prisoner. He trusted in God and God faithfully provided for him, yet he did not experience earthly freedom for 13 long years.

Some of you have been waiting for God to answer your prayers for what seems like a lifetime. My prayer for you this morning is that you can recognize God’s presence in your life, even through season after season of what seems like unanswered prayer. I would like to encourage you this morning to overcome the human expectation that God’s presence is always evidenced by earthly blessings and physical healings. Just like Joseph, sometimes God’s provision comes in the midst of difficult circumstances.

THE LORD’S PRESENCE IS EVIDENT EVEN ON OUR DARKEST DAYS.

His wife gave birth to a son, and Joseph named him Manasseh, because God had made him forget all about his troubles and about how he had been sinned against by his brothers. His second son was named Ephraim, because God had made him fruitful in the land of his suffering (41:50-52). Joseph had experienced troubles, been sinned against, and was forced to live in a land that represented his suffering, yet the Lord was with him.

Praise the Lord!
For he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. – Psalm 28:6-7

May God make His presence known to you today, even in the midst of your most difficult circumstance.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 38 & 44; Psalm 86

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). – Matthew 1:1-3a

Jacob had 12 sons and God chose the lineage of Jacob’s fourth son, Judah, for the birth of the Messiah. Genesis helps us understand a little more about this far from perfect man, from whose descendants our source of salvation would be born.

When Joseph’s brothers were frustrated with his bragging and their father’s favoritism, it was Judah who came up with a plan to sell their little brother into slavery. Reuben planned to come back later and rescue Joseph from the cistern in which they had thrown him, but Judah planned to make some money at Joseph’s expense. He showed himself to be disloyal, greedy and unkind.

Around the time of this betrayal, Judah chose to leave home and start his own family. He married a Canaanite woman and had three sons — Er, Onan and Shelah. Eventually, Judah arranged for Er to marry a young woman named Tamar. Er was wicked and the Lord took his life, so Onan took Tamar to be his wife as the law required. Tradition commanded him to have a son with his dead brother’s wife in order to produce an heir for the deceased. Onan refused and the Lord took his life. Next it was Judah’s responsibility to give Tamar to his youngest son, once he was of age, but instead Judah sent her away with a promise to bring her back some day.

Once more Judah showed himself to be disloyal, greedy and unkind. When Shelah came of age, he chose not to bring Tamar back to their family. This meant Tamar would have to spend the rest of her life in shame as the barren widow who had been rejected by her husband’s family.

Genesis 38 reveals the ugly details of how Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and had sex with her father-in-law. When Judah found out she was pregnant, he demanded she be burned for her sexual sins. But Judah recognized the evil in his own heart when he saw his own seal, cord, and walking stick.

Judah recognized them immediately and said, “She is more righteous than I am, because I didn’t arrange for her to marry my son Shelah.” And Judah never slept with Tamar again. – Genesis 38:26

WE SERVE A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES.

But you, O Lord,
are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. – Psalm 86:15

The circumstances around this conception were shameful, but we serve a God of grace. God took the mess Tamar and Judah had created, and He wove their story into His plan of redemption for all mankind. God redeemed Judah’s story and chose for the Messiah to be born in the lineage of Tamar’s son, Perez.

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
hear my urgent cry.
I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
and you will answer me. – Psalm 86:5-7

When we fast forward to Genesis 44, we see a changed man. When it became evident that Benjamin would have to stay in Egypt because he was being accused of theft, Judah stepped forward. When it became obvious that his father’s heart was about to be broken over the loss of one more son, Judah stepped up.

“My lord, I guaranteed to my father that I would take care of the boy. I told him, ‘If I don’t bring him back to you, I will bear the blame forever.’ So please, my lord, let me stay here as a slave instead of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!” – Genesis 44:32-34

WE SERVE A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES.

Lord, thank you so much for taking this selfish, greedy heart and making something worthy of your service. Thank you for seeing a heart in need of transformation and patiently making me into the person you have created me to be. Reveal in me any self-serving attitudes and unkind opinions. Teach me, guide me, mold me, break me. May your transforming power continue the work you have begun in my heart and life. Amen.

Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,
for your love for me is very great.
You have rescued me from the depths of death. – Psalm 86:11-13

Today’s Reading: Genesis 39; Isaiah 61

Meanwhile, the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain of the palace guard. – Genesis 37:36

IS THIS GOD’S WILL OR IS IT GOD’S PLAN?

Have you ever felt an overwhelming panic that what is happening around you is not the will of God? One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that God has a plan even when the choices of others are outside of God’s will. When I rest in His sovereignty, I learn how to trust Him despite everything that is going on around me.

Joseph’s life was affected time and time again by the sinful decisions of others, but God was NEVER uninvolved. Joseph’s brothers sinned against him out of jealousy when they sold him into captivity, but God did not abandon Joseph.

GOD’S PLAN WAS TO USE THIS JOSEPH’S PAIN FOR GOOD.

A lot of good came out of the rest of Joseph’s life, even though the trajectory of his life drastically changed when his brothers sold him into slavery. I believe it was not God’s perfect will for Joseph to be sinned against, separated from his family, and sold into slavery, yet God’s plan was to use it for good.

The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. – Genesis 39:2-4

It was not God’s perfect will for Potiphar’s wife to lust after Joseph and lie about his integrity, causing Joseph to spend years in prison, but God’s plan was to use it for good. Joseph was far from his family and the life he loved, but he was never alone. God remained with him.

THERE WAS NEVER A MOMENT WHEN GOD WAS UNAWARE OF JOSEPH’S SITUATION.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. – Genesis 39:20b-22

Joseph’s time in prison gave him the opportunity to interpret the dream of the chief cupbearer, who eventually (two years later) told Pharaoh of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams. As a result of Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams, the lives of many were saved from the devastating famine ahead.

GOD IS NEVER WITHOUT A PLAN

I do not believe it is God’s will that anyone should sin or be sinned against, yet God is NEVER without a plan. Because He loves us and He wants everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), GOD MAKES BEAUTIFUL THINGS come out of the sinful actions of man.

When we are wronged or sinned against or even suffer the consequences of our own sins, God has not abandoned us. Instead he works out a BEAUTIFUL PLAN OF REDEMPTION in the midst of this sinful world. God does not will for us to sin but neither is He surprised by it. He continues to plan HOPE for the hopeless and salvation for the lost.

Is it God’s will that an unmarried woman gets pregnant? No, scripture is clear that sexual relations should only occur within the marriage covenant relationship, but God has a plan for the unborn baby and for the parents. His love for them is deep, and God continues to draw them to Himself.

Is it God’s will when a drunk driver kills an innocent bystander? No, but God has a plan to provide healing for those who are left grieving and to use their healing to minister to others who have suffered loss. He comforts those who are brokenhearted and redeems their story in beautiful ways.

Is it God’s will that our culture should consider it a woman’s right to end the life of her unborn baby? No, but God has a plan to use the sin of abortion to bring many to repentance. God has a plan to use His followers to reach out to those affected by or considering abortion and show them the love of God. He redeems the stories of the post-abortive and gives them a crown of beauty for ashes.

Is it God’s will that anyone should be on the receiving end of prejudice, bullying, racism, sexism, ageism, discrimination, hatred, or injustice? Absolutely not! No, but God has a plan to use His children to speak out and to create change, so that the death of one man can mean salvation for all mankind.

Thank you, God, for taking all the details of my life and using them to accomplish something good. Lord, I trust you with the good and the bad, with the joys and the heartaches. I pray for a strong faith and daily reminders that you will never leave or abandon us. Even in the worst of situations, we can trust that you have a plan.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory. – Isaiah 61:1-3

Today’s Reading: Genesis 35:16-29; 37; Psalm 40

Jacob settled in the land of Canaan with his large family, the land that God had promised to give his grandfather, his father, and now him. He made this land his home, and his sons helped him by shepherding the herds of animals he had accumulated. God had blessed him in so many ways. He was finally neither paying off his debt to his uncle nor hiding from his brother. He was no longer looking back, but facing forward.

Jacob was surrounded by family and healing from the loss of his first love. Rachel had endured a long and hard delivery with her second son. In her last moment of life, she named her newborn son Ben-oni, which means son of my sorrow or son of my distress. God had answered her plea for another son, but she would not get to watch him grow up. She was dying and she knew it.

But rather than have his son’s name reflect the suffering of the past, Jacob named him Benjamin — son of my right hand. This new name would reflect the strength of his father rather than the weakness of his mother. In his grief, Jacob chose hope and joy for the future by giving his youngest son a name that would reflect what was ahead of him instead of what was behind. Perhaps this name also reflected a vow of Jacob’s to never let his youngest son out of his sight, but to keep him by his side.

Jacob had loved Rachel and he would love her two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. In fact, Genesis 37:3 tells us that Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his sons. He gave Joseph a special gift — a beautiful robe which is now traditionally known as the coat of many colors. This gesture of favoritism caused his older brothers to hate Joseph and to speak unkindly to him.

One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”
His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. – Genesis 37:5-8

Joseph’s next dream prophesied that the sun, moon, and stars would bow to him. His brothers reacted in jealousy but his father pondered the meaning of the dreams. A short time later, Jacob sent Joseph to find his brothers and return with a report on how they and the flocks were doing. He traveled to Shechem looking for them, but they were not there, so he traveled on to Dothan. When his brothers saw him approaching, they made plans to kill him.

“Here comes the dreamer!” they said. “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” — Genesis 37:19-20

Reuben talked his brothers into throwing Joseph into an empty cistern instead of killing him, because he intended to come back and rescue him. The brothers took off the coat that represented their father’s favoritism and threw Joseph into the cistern. Later, when they saw a group of Ishmaelite traders traveling by, they decided to sell their brother rather than to bear the guilt of his death. They sold their own flesh and blood for twenty pieces of silver, covered his beautiful coat with blood, and sent it back to their father.

Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!” Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep. — Genesis 37:33-35

Many of us grew up hearing about the coat of many colors and learning how Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. But have you ever considered what it must have been like for all involved when they woke up the next morning. Did Joseph’s brothers wake up regretting their actions? Was there a moment of panic, or the impulse to try to catch up with the traders and buy their brother back? Was there any remorse on the part of Jacob’s sons as they watched their beloved father mourn?

What was it like for Joseph to wake up in chains? Perhaps the Dreamer was hoping to wake up to find the pain of yesterday was only just that — a dream. Perhaps he regretted how boldly he had bragged about his dreams, and how insensitive he had been to the reactions of his brothers.

Have you ever woken up the morning after a tragic life event with a short reprieve from the emotions of yesterday? And then the moment of peace is gone as a heavy blanket of reality weighs you down. What do you do when your dreams of what your life would look like suddenly take a turn? I pray that the words of Psalm 40 will minister to you right where you are at emotionally today.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord…

Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
For troubles surround me — too many to count!
My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.
Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me…

As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay. – Psalm 40:1-4a, 11-13,17

Today’s Reading: Genesis 33-34,36; Psalm 25; Hosea 12

Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother;
when he became a man, he even fought with God.
Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won.
He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him.
There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him —
the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the Lord is his name!
So now, come back to your God.
Act with love and justice, and always depend on him. – Hosea 12:3-6

Jacob’s story consisted of both good times and bad. Jacob was blessed with two wives, two concubines, eleven sons and one daughter. He had acquired much wealth but his household had also acquired pagan idols. Jacob had to seek peace among his wives, peace with his uncle, and now it was time to seek peace with his brother, Esau. Life was difficult but God was present.

WHEN YOU TAKE A STEP TOWARDS RESTORATION

Then Jacob went on ahead. When he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. – Genesis 33:3-4

When Jacob cheated Esau out of his father’s blessing of the firstborn, Esau vowed to kill Jacob. His mother, whose deceptive plan had gotten him into this mess, came up with another plan — to visit her brother, Laban, until Esau cooled off, and to marry one of Laban’s daughters.

Now 20 years later, Jacob was returning home and Esau was coming out to greet him. Unsure of his brother’s intentions, Jacob fearfully approached Esau. He bowed to the ground seven times, a sign of respect given to a king. Emotions rose as Esau responded to his brother’s humility with grace and forgiveness. Introductions were made and gifts were extended, as they reclaimed their brotherhood.

“What a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God!” – Genesis 33:10b

WHEN YOU EMBRACE REVENGE

Consider this reunion between Jacob and Esau in contrast to the reaction of Jacob’s sons when their sister was wronged. Jacob set up camp with his family outside the town of Shechem. His daughter, Dinah, went to visit some of the young women who lived in the area. The local prince saw Dinah, seized her and raped her. Afterwards, he expressed his love for her and tried hard to win her affection. He begged his father to work it out so that he could marry this beautiful daughter of Jacob.

A hand of friendship was extended to Dinah’s brothers, along with a request for the families to intermarry and live in peace. Jacob’s sons deceived Hamor and his son Shechem. They promised friendship while planning vengeance. Simeon and Levi (Dinah’s full brothers) murdered all the men in the town, plundered their livestock and possessions, then led their women and children back to their camp as captives. Jacob chastised his sons and pointed out to them the danger they had put their whole family in by carrying out their revenge.

The weight of anger and bitterness is a heavy burden to carry through life. When we insist on justice and take matters into our own hands, we find ourselves choosing sin instead of grace, hatred instead of forgiveness. We hurt ourselves more than we realize as we carry the heaviness of grudges and hard feelings.

When Isaac realized that Jacob had deceived him and wrongfully taken the blessing that he intended to give to Esau, he gave his oldest son the gift of these wise words: “You will live away from the richness of the earth, and away from the dew of the heaven above. You will live by the sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck” (Genesis 27:39-40).

WHEN YOU DECIDE TO BREAK FREE

Isaac took this moment to teach his son that it was up to him to decide how long he would carry the burden of this wrong committed against him. It was his choice whether or not to be weighted down with anger or to choose the freedom of forgiveness. Choosing hatred would hurt Esau more than it would hurt the one who had wronged him. The day he forgave his brother would be the day he broke free from the bondage of unforgiveness and hatred.

Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. – Colossians 3:13 (The Message)

Father God, will you forgive us for holding on to grudges and hanging on to hurt feelings. Will you give us the strength to let go and the wisdom to make peace. Will you give us the courage to have some difficult conversations and the integrity to offer the embrace of forgiveness to those who have wronged us or someone we love. Lord, will you set us free from the burdens we have carried for much too long. May others see the face of God where they once saw bitterness and anger. Amen.

Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you. – Psalm 25:16-21

Today’s Reading: Genesis 29-31, 35:16-20; Psalm 13

After having an incredible spiritual experience at Bethel, Jacob moved his family on toward Ephrath. His beloved Rachel was pregnant for the second time and she went into labor. Her pains were intense and the delivery was very hard. Finally she gave birth to a son and with her final breath named him Benoni, “son of my sorrow”, but Jacob called him Benjamin, “son of my right hand”.

A STORY OF LOVE

Rachel was the love of Jacob’s life. He first met Rachel when he arrived in Paddan-Aram. She was bringing her father’s flocks to the well, and Jacob moved the stone from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s flocks for her. Within a month, Jacob was asking to take her as his wife. He loved her so much that he agreed to work seven years in exchange for his bride. When his uncle deceived him and instead gave him her older sister, Leah, Jacob agreed to another seven years of labor in order to marry Rachel within a week (Genesis 29).

Now loving Rachel did not mean that marriage came easy. Jacob now had two wives, and drama quickly followed. When she was still unable to have children after her sister Leah had already given birth to four sons, Rachel had a choice to make. She could draw close to God and trust Him with the desires of her heart, or she could let jealousy and pride guide her actions. Rachel chose the latter.

Instead of WAITING FOR GOD’S PLAN IN GOD’S TIME, Rachel began to manipulate her circumstances to get what she wanted. She gave her servant to Jacob as a wife. Bilhah gave Jacob two sons and Rachel declared, “I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!” (Gen.30:8)

A STORY OF STRUGGLE

Apparently two can play at this competitive game because Leah gave her servant to Jacob and added two points to her score. Then the sisters began to barter for mandrakes, which were believed to aid in procreation. Again, Rachel was using manipulation and control to get what she wanted instead of going to the Giver of all good gifts.

Oh how I wish I could not relate to Rachel here! I wish I never had the tendency to panic and take things into my own hands, instead of trusting in God for provision! But unfortunately, I do see some of my own sinful habits reflected in the life of Rachel, so I lean in to glean wisdom from her story.

Leah gave birth to two more sons and a daughter, but Rachel remained barren. God eventually remembered Rachel in spite of her bitter heart, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son.

“God has removed my disgrace,” she said. And she named him Joseph, for she said, “May the Lord add yet another son to my family.” – Genesis 30:24

A STORY OF DISSATISFACTION

Even in the first moments of holding her newborn son, a gift from God, Rachel was already asking God for more. It wasn’t enough to be loved by Jacob and to have a son of her own, surrounded by the obvious blessings of God; Rachel wanted more. Instead of clinging to the God who had answered her prayer and provided her with a son, Rachel chose to worship false gods instead of the one true God.

GOD’S WILL, GOD’S WAY, in GOD’S TIME — a lesson Rachel never seemed to learn. She gave birth to a second son, but she was not given the opportunity to raise him. In her struggle to always get more from God, Rachel lost all she had and Jacob lost his first love. Jacob had just renewed his covenant relationship with God at Bethel and now he was burying his sweetheart. Jacob built another stone pillar, this time over Rachel’s grave (35:20). He gathered his large family together and continued on. Jacob could have chosen anger and bitterness at the loss of his wife right after recommitting his life to God, but he chose to accept GOD’S WILL, GOD’S WAY, in GOD’S TIME.

A STORY OF ACCEPTANCE

At times I find myself with this expectation that God should answer my prayers because I have served Him well, almost as if I deserve His blessings. I reject that kind of thinking, but sadly I often identify expectations in my heart that need to be disposed of. I have to let go of my sinful accusations and let God do things HIS WAY in HIS TIME. When I ask God WHY, I hear Him once again reply, “Trust me.”

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. – Jeremiah 17:7-8

It’s all yours, Lord. Everything I want to manipulate and control – every situation, every unknown, every relationship, every heartache — it’s all yours. Thank you for the blessings you so generously pour out into my life each day. I praise you for all you allow in my life, both the good and the bad. TEACH ME THROUGH EVERY STRUGGLE and strengthen my faith in you. You are El Shaddai, God Almighty, and I trust you.

But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me. – Psalm 13:5-6

Today’s Reading: Genesis 28, 32, 35:1-15; Psalm 103

In order to find a wife, Jacob was sent away by his father to travel to the home of his mother’s brother. And as he set up camp and laid under the stars with a rock for his pillow, Jacob encountered God. This moment was a turning point in Jacob’s life — a moment when God let him know that He was not only the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac, but He was also the God of Jacob. How wonderful it must have felt for Jacob in that moment when He heard God’s promise:

“I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth!…What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised.” – Genesis 28:13b-15

ENCOUNTERING GOD

In this encounter with God, provision was promised — provision for Jacob and for his numerous descendants. God promised to both provide and protect. He promised to be with Jacob, and what could be better than the provision of God’s presence? So Jacob took the pillow God had provided and set it up as a pillar, pouring oil on it and named it Bethel. And in this moment, he made a vow to God just as God had made a vow to Him — If you are with me, then I am with you!

“If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.” – Genesis 28:20b-22

That day Jacob began a covenant relationship with God. He responded to God’s promise and committed to being present in the relationship. Just as God was reaching out to Jacob, Jacob was seeking after God. But life has a tendency to get busy, distracting us from our purpose and causing us to lose our focus on the directions God has given us. And that is what Jacob experienced in Paddam-aram.

WRESTLING WITH GOD

Fast forward twenty years to Genesis 32 and we find Jacob encountering God again. After two decades of being on the receiving end of his uncle’s deception, Jacob made peace with Laban, and now it was time for him to return home and make amends with his brother, Esau. Knowing all that Jacob was feeling, God sent angels to meet with him.

Fear set in when Jacob heard the news that Esau was on his way to meet him. He began dividing out his household in hopes of saving at least half of his family. Next Jacob began to pray to God, recognizing the kindness and unfailing love that God had so generously shown him over the years. He took the time to verbalize his fears, asking for the God of his fathers to rescue him once again.

Jacob positioned himself to be alone in the camp in order to spend some time with God. A man appeared and Jacob wrestled with him until dawn. When the man told Jacob to let go of him, Jacob demanded a blessing from the man.

“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” – Genesis 32:28

HEARING FROM GOD

In Genesis 35, God called Jacob to return to the place where he had first encountered God. So Jacob returned to Bethel. Life had been difficult for Jacob, but it was evident that God had been present with him through it all. Jacob recognized that God had faithfully kept His covenant but that he, himself, was in need of renewing the promise He had made to God. The influence of the world around him had made an impact on Jacob’s family, and he needed to once again cleanse himself. He needed to bury the idols his family had accumulated and recommit himself to God.

The God of Jacob’s past faithfully appeared to him again and blessed him, showing Jacob that God was not only the God of yesterday, but the God of today and the God of tomorrow. And God reminded him that his identity had been changed; he was no longer Jacob with a rough past, but he was now Israel with a beautiful future.

Perhaps God is calling us back to the place where we entered into a covenant relationship with Him. This world we live in tends to have an impact on us with its stress and constant striving. There are moments when we recognize our need to RENEW our promise to God. This morning, let’s declare that the God of our yesterday is still who we desire to be the Lord of our today and the Keeper of our tomorrows. God has been faithful and will continue to display His faithfulness in our lives, daily transforming us into who He has created us to be.

I AM YOUR GOD AND I AM WITH YOU!
IF YOU ARE WITH ME, THEN I AM WITH YOU!

Lord, I choose to renew our covenant and desire to keep it fresh and growing stronger each day. I promise to look to you as the God of my past, to make you the Lord of my day, and to trust you to be the Keeper of my tomorrow. Thank you for making your presence known to me this morning. If you are with me, then I am with you. I love you and choose to act out of that love today, depending on you to provide and protect. Amen.

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! – Psalm 103:1-5