Week 2
Abraham’s child, Isaac, had two children, and the youngest of the two had 12 sons – which
would then become the 12 Tribes of Israel. Abraham was on his way to becoming the father of a
great nation. Yet there was another challenge that they had to overcome – sibling rivalry reared
its ugly head again. Joseph was clearly the favorite son of his father, and the other sons had
enough of it. Some of the brothers wanted to kill him. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, and
they sold him into slavery, hoping they would never see him again. Joseph had his ups and
downs, but God blessed him. Joseph used these blessings to work his way up to be the right-hand
man of Pharaoh himself.
A famine came over the land, and the brothers came to Egypt looking for help. As God would work it out, they ended up in front of Joseph. They did not recognize Joseph, but Joseph recognized them! Here was Joseph’s chance to get back at them. He does test their character, but in the end forgives them and helps them. This is how Joseph explains it.
A famine came over the land, and the brothers came to Egypt looking for help. As God would work it out, they ended up in front of Joseph. They did not recognize Joseph, but Joseph recognized them! Here was Joseph’s chance to get back at them. He does test their character, but in the end forgives them and helps them. This is how Joseph explains it.
Genesis 45:4-7 (NIV)
[4] Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! [5] And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. [6] For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. [7] But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
[4] Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! [5] And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. [6] For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. [7] But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Joseph used his mistreatment and blessings that followed, to bless the brothers who mistreated
him. Otherwise, the 12 Tribes of Isabel would have come to an end in Egypt. This does not mean
that we should let people who mistreat us get away with it. But we do need to let go of the anger,
bitterness and hatred through forgiveness, so that we can fully do what God calls us to do.
Otherwise, we remain a slave to sin and become a blessing to no one – not even ourselves.
Is there a mistreatment in your life that is holding you back from being a blessing to others? Consider letting go of the anger and pain, that you might be set free to experience the blessing of the Father, which then can be also passed along to others. The Father invites us to come into the house and leave our burdens behind. Then when we go back out into the world, do not pick up those burdens again.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.
Is there a mistreatment in your life that is holding you back from being a blessing to others? Consider letting go of the anger and pain, that you might be set free to experience the blessing of the Father, which then can be also passed along to others. The Father invites us to come into the house and leave our burdens behind. Then when we go back out into the world, do not pick up those burdens again.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.