The Story Of Joseph Part 22--Joseph Reveals His Identity

 Genesis 45: 1-15

The sons of Israel have come from Canaan to Egypt for the second time to buy food. The famine is still ongoing, and Joseph is done testing his brothers. He has learned that they have treated his little brother differently than they treated him, and are feeling guilty for what they did to him. And he is so joyful to have his family back, that he can hardly contain himself. 

Now here's the big moment.

(1) Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried, "Have everyone go out from me." So there was no man with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 

JOSEPH MADE HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BROTHERS! Now we will see how he did it.

(2) He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard of it. 

Joseph must have really been screaming-crying in finally releasing his pent-up passion for his family.

(3) Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. 

Then he just comes out with it, to the shock and surprise of his brothers, who realize that this brother they were so mean to now has the power over them to destroy them!

(4) Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come closer to me." And they came closer. And he said, "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. (5) Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. (6) For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. (7) God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the Earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. (8) Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 

Joseph gives his brothers his own viewpoint on what has happened and why; that God was the one who sent him to Egypt, not his brothers, so that he could save a lot of people from starving to death. So he doesn't want them to blame themselves. God is the one who made Joseph the ruler in Egypt by giving him grace in Pharaoh's eyes, so that he would be able to do this.

(9) "Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, "God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 

Now he tells them to go get their father Jacob, and bring him down to Egypt, too.

(10) "'You shall live in the land of Goshen, and  you shall be near me, you and your herds and all that you have. 

Goshen is the best neighborhood in all of Egypt, the high-dollar district, as far from the slums as you could get. There they will be near Joseph, and the family can be together again.

(11) "'There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished."' 

Joseph says that he will be able to take care of them, as they could otherwise starve to death in Canaan because the famine will last another five years.

(12) "Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. 

He tells them to believe their own eyes, that it really is him, their long-lost brother Joseph, telling them these things.

(13) "Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and bring my father down here." 

Then he tells them to hurry back to get their father, and explain to him that Joseph has all the wealth and authority to take care of them.

(14) Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. (15) He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him. 

And he hugged and kissed them all, and finally they were able to carry on a conversation with him.

If you remember, back when they first sold him to the caravan heading for Egypt, they were so blindly jealous of him that they couldn't even say a positive word to him. Now 22 years have elapsed, and they've had time to reconsider what they did, and realize what it did to their own father; and to treat his little brother who was in the same position he had been in as being Jacob's favorite, better, to accept the situation, and that Jacob loved them, too.

I wonder what Joseph would have done if his brothers had had the same attitude toward Benjamin that they'd had toward him. But, of course, God was working in their attitudes and relationships, and they all had their own families now, too, so they all had a little more wisdom with their increased age and experiences. 

And God had kept Jacob alive, too, to witness the reunification of his family, and to see his beloved, lost son again. 

O my Father, You are so good, and so wise, and so patient with us. You teach us Your patience when You let us wait on You to build in us the character qualities of Your dear Son. Sometimes it takes us a long time to learn, as You made Joseph wait so many years for his brothers to come to the point where they would be ready to reunite with him. 

My Father, You have had me waiting on You for many years, also. I wonder when You will break things loose for me, to be able to fulfill my dreams to serve You. Strengthen me to continue to serve You in the small ways I have been, as I grow in patience and longsuffering, developing Christ's character as a member of His body. 

O Father, send out Your children to witness to our neighbors and our cities and our nations, to demonstrate to the world Your love to counteract all the hatred being spewed out from our enemy. Wake up Your people, to see what is going on around them, and to understand the truth of what it means, so they will choose to respond in a righteous manner. Bring a great Awakening, and a huge revival, Father, so huge that the media cannot ignore it. 

And send out Your children as Your messengers and missionaries to tell the world of Your love in Your Son. Bring every child to the birth in Your family, and fill Your great house with all of Your uncounted progeny. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus! 

The Story Of Joseph Part 21--His Final Testing Of His Brothers

 Genesis 44: 1-34

The brothers have returned to Egypt, this time with their little brother Benjamin, and they have had dinner at Joseph's royal house as his guests. But they still don't know who he is. 

(1) Then he commanded his house steward, saying, "Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack. (2) Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain." And he did as Joseph had told him. (3) As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys. (4) They had just gone out of the city, and were not far off, when Joseph said to his house steward, "Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good? (5) Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed uses for divination? You have done wrong in doing this.'" (6) So he overtook them and spoke these words to them. 

Now Joseph is going to bring them back to him, by planting his silver cup in Benjamin's sack, to see the brothers' response to this. He is still testing them.

(7) They said to him, "Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing. (8) Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord's house? 

Now they have to defend themselves, and they remind him that they even returned the money from before, so why would they steal anything, they're honest men!

(9) "With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord's slaves." 

Now they're so sure of themselves, they pronounce this severe sentence on themselves.

(10) So he said, "Now let it also be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and the rest of you shall be innocent." 

Then the chief manservant of the vizier pronounced the just sentence, rather than the severe results they imagined.

(11) Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. (12) He searched, beginning with the oldest, and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 

Of course, it was in Benjamin's, as Joseph told his servant to do. 

(13) Then they tore their clothes, and when each man loaded his donkey, they returned to the city. 

So they turned around and went back.

(14) When Judah and his brothers returned to Joseph's house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him. (15) Joseph said to them, "What is this deed that you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can indeed practice divination?" 

Joseph was waiting for them. He wants to hear what they will have to say, what are their attitudes toward him and their father and Benjamin.

(16) So Judah said, What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; behold we are my lord's slaves, both we and the one in whose possession the cup has been found." 

Judah said that they would all be willing to be his slaves.

(17) But he said, "Far be it from me to do this. The man in whose possession the cup has been found, he shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father." 

Joseph presents the "reasonable" consequence. Will they go back without Benjamin?

(18) Then Judah approached him, and said, "Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord's ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are equal to Pharaoh. (19) My lord asked his servants, saying, 'Have you a father or a brother?' (20) We said to my lord, 'We have an old father and a little child of his old age. Now his brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.' (21) Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me that I may set my eyes on him.' (22) But we said to my lord, 'The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.' (23) You said to your servants, however, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.' (24) Thus it came about when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. (25) Our father said, 'Go back, buy us a little food.' (26) But we said, 'We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.' (27) Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons; (28) and the one went out from me and I said, 'Surely he is torn in pieces," and I have not seen him since. (29) If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.' (30) Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad's life, (31) when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die. Thus your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. 

And Judah recounts the whole story of what happened since they got home the last time, with the whole situation with their father.

(32) "For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever.' 

Now he finds out that Judah is defending Benjamin, his brother. This is good.

(33) "Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. (34) For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me--for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father?" 

Now Joseph can understand that his brothers are not persecuting his brother as they did him, that they treasure him and respect the bond their father has with him. 

This is what he's been wanting to see. They are not wanting to get rid of Benjamin like they did him, and they are repenting of treating Joseph the way they did. 

How will he now respond to this? 

O my Father, You are so good to Joseph to show him how his brothers have grown, and You are so good to all of Your children. Even when it seems that there are years of waiting, and betrayals by those we love the most, You use it all for our benefit and our good, and You receive the glory. 

O Father, grow up all Your children, and send us all out in our own ways to share with the world how much You love us all! Let every living person hear and know that You have already met their deepest needs, and let Your Love counteract all the hatred that is spewing out all over world. 

Father, bring all Your children to the birth into Your family, and grow us up so that we all will attain to the stature of the Son of God. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

The Story Of Joseph Part 20--Joseph Served Like Jesus

Genesis 43: 26-34

We've followed this story along to when the brothers had to return to Egypt for more food, because the famine outlasted the grain they bought before, and they had to bring Benjamin with them so they wouldn't be arrested as spies by the stern, suspicious lord over the grain and the country. 

So Jacob relented and decided to let them bring Benjamin; and if he lost this son, too, then he would just die in grief! He put them all in God's hand, and learned to trust God more with this difficult step he had to take. 

Then when the brothers all arrived in Egypt, Joseph didn't even let them come far into the market, but had his men escort them directly to his own royal house for lunch. This scared the brothers, thinking that he wanted to pick on them and accuse them of stealing the other grain, so they approached the head manservant and asked him to explain to this ruler what had happened. 

(26) When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which was in their hand and bowed to the ground before him. 

They still didn't realize who this Egyptian ruler was. They're confused about all the "coincidences" that are happening, but they're still doing their best to appease this suspicious lord, with the gift from Canaan their dad had them bring. And they all bow down before him again. 

(27) When he asked them about their welfare, and said, "Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?" 

Joseph wants to know that his father is still alive, he is very old by now, he's 130 years old (see 47: 9)! 

(28) They said, "Your servant our father is well; he is still alive." They bowed down in homage. 

And they assure him that Dad is still kicking! And they again bow down to him. 

(29) As he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, he said, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?" And he said, "May God be gracious to you, my son." 

When Joseph looked over all his brothers, and saw his little full brother among all his half-brothers, he spoke to him, welcoming him. 

(30) Joseph hurried out for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he sought a place to weep; and he entered his chamber and wept there. 

He was so overcome with emotion he had to get out of there and find a private place where he could vent some of this overwhelming joy, so he ended up all the way into his private bedroom where he could cry his eyes out! These Middle-Easterners are a very passionate people, which shows us how passionate our God is with us! 

(31) Then he washed his face and came out; and he controlled himself and said, "Serve the meal." 

Now that he's been able to take the edge off, he cleans up and steels himself to be the Egyptian ruler, and commands the feast to begin. 

(32) So they served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with them by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is loathsome to the Egyptians. 

This must be a large dining room, as each group is sitting at a separate table from the rest; so Joseph is sitting by himself at his table, his brothers are all at their own table, and the other Egyptians who normally ate the midday meal with their lord are at their own table, also. Evidently the Egyptians had a problem with having that close an association with this other, Hebrew culture. 

(33) Now they were seated before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at one another in astonishment. 

When Joseph had his brothers seated at their table, he lined them up all in birth-order. And his brothers were even more confused at this "coincidence." How would this foreigner "just happen" to put their places at the table in the precise order? Weird! 

(34) He took portions to them from his own table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they feasted and drank freely with him. 

Now this lord is serving them! He doesn't tell his servants to serve them, the servants put all their food on Joseph's table, and he got up and served them their dinners. And he gave extra honor (more food) to his little brother, because he was the only one who had the same mother as Joseph. 

Joseph is a prototype of Jesus, demonstrating that our Lord Jesus came to serve us. So we are also to serve one another as He did. 

Jacob, who the Lord renamed Israel, had 12 sons, by 4 women. Two of these women were sisters, who were his wives, and the other two were the sisters' maids, servants. It is very interesting that Joseph and Benjamin are the sons of Jacob's favorite wife, Rachel, who is the girl he fell in love with, and worked for seven years to marry her. But the girls' father Laban put his other daughter, Leah, in the tent on the wedding night, instead of Rachel, and made him work another seven years. So Rachel was the only one he wanted to be his wife, and the sisters gave him their slave-girls to be his concubines and have children when they weren't having sons. (All this is recorded in Genesis 29, 30, and 35.)

So Leah ended up giving him 6 sons and a daughter, and the two maid-servants and Rachel each had two sons, making twelve sons to become the twelve Tribes of Israel. 

And it was Leah's sons, Reuben, Simeon and Judah, who spoke up in Joseph's and Benjamin's defense. None of the concubines' sons. I find this interesting. Not only the father, but the mother is also important, because she is the one who provides their children's first education. Then when they are older, they are taught by their father. 

These twelve boys all had the same father, but their mothers provided their basic moral foundation. 

O my Father, You pay attention to every detail of our lives, and You direct our steps in the paths on which You have placed our feet. You were directing Jacob, the deceiver, to grow into Israel, the Prince with God. And You were directing Laban to provide to Jacob his wives and their maids to be the mothers and first teachers of each of his sons, to become the nation of Israel. 

Father, It was this blood-line that You used to bring Your only begotten Son into the world to be our Savior. Now You are calling to Yourself those from every nation, every tribe, every family, every place; to be Your own children. You have made us all to be one race of Mankind, and You offer Your wonderful gift of Salvation to every living person. 

O Father, please send out all of Your children as Your messengers and missionaries to tell everyone how much You love us all. And draw all of those seeking You into Your own family, to fill Your great house with all of Your uncountable children. 

Because every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, our Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus! 

The Story Of Joseph Part 19--Joseph's Consistent Witness

 Genesis 43: 16-25

Jacob is becoming Israel (from the "Deceiver" who couldn't trust, to the "Prince with God"), and he let the brothers bring Benjamin with them back to Egypt to buy more food, despite the dangers, leaving them all in God's hands. 

(16) When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his house steward, "Bring the men into the house, and slay an animal and make ready; for the men are to dine with me at noon." (17) So the man did as Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph's house.

Joseph didn't even talk to them out in the marketplace this time, he just instructed his manservant to bring them all to his house and prepare a feast. We must assume that his personal servant was fully aware of who these men were and what his master was doing, having been involved in this drama from the beginning.

(18) Now the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph's house; and they said, "It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are being brought in, that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us, and take us for slaves with our donkeys." 

The brothers still didn't know what was going on, though, and being ushered into the royal house of this stern and suspicious Egyptian ruler was very scary. They assumed that they would be accused of stealing the former grain, just so this foreigner could take advantage of them.

(19) So they came near to Joseph's house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house, (20) and said, "Oh my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food, (21) and it came about when we came to the lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and behold, each man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full. So we have brought it back in our hand. (22) We have also brought down other money in our hand to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks." 

As soon as they got there, they approached this servant who was in charge and tried to explain their predicament to him, hoping he'll put in a good word for them, before anything else happened to them.

(23) He said, "Be at ease, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them. 

Now they are probably surprised at what this head servant said to them. I am sure that Joseph, who initially witnessed to Pharaoh himself, also told all his household servants who his God is, and they all saw how he lived his life before them. I'm sure some of them even believed in God instead of all their Egyptian idols. 

Now his head manservant is telling Joseph's brothers that he is the one who facilitated the return of their money the first time, and he credits their God who is also the God of their father. And he also reunited them with Simeon, too.

I think this unnamed servant also worshiped the Lord God Almighty, through Joseph's witness.

(24) So they prepared the present for Joseph's coming at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat a meal there. 

The brothers are still going to give him the present their dad told them to bring, of all the balm and honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, and the pistachio nuts and almonds, to soften his stern attitude toward them.

(25) When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which was in their hand and bowed to the ground before him. 

Then when Joseph came home for lunch, they lost no time in presenting this gift to him, and they further fulfilled Joseph's dream by bowing down to him. 

I wonder what they thought of these Egyptians talking about their God. They knew that there was a whole pantheon of Egyptian gods that they all worshiped, how would this head steward even know about their God, and especially, why would he give Him credit for putting their money back? They must have been very confused at this point of the story. 

I am impressed with Joseph even more, seeing how he has maintained his faith in God and his witness for Him among this pagan nation he is helping to govern under Pharaoh. It looks to me that he talks of his God every time he has an appropriate opening, and his words and lifestyle are supporting what he says about this God. 

If anyone had "reason" (an excuse) to turn from God, Joseph would be the one. At every turn in his life, when he did "the right thing," it turned out bad for him, three times, and God seemed to be so distant for so many years. Yet Joseph never waned in his trust in God. We never see in any of his story that he made a wrong decision, or lost his way on the path he was following, even when it seemed darkest for a long time. 

If Joseph could maintain his dedication to God and his witness to others in his surroundings, then what could ever happen in my life to cause me to lose my faith, either. 

No matter what happens, no matter how long I must "wait on God" to fulfill my dreams to serve Him, I know that He is trustworthy, and that He wants His love to be broadcast over the whole world. And if He wants to use me in a little part of that, then I am available, and will endeavor to be faithful with the small tasks He lays before me each day. 

O my Father, please send out all of Your children, to share in all the ways You enable each of us to share, how much You love everyone You made; and that You are not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to the repentance of realizing we all deserve death; and that You sent Your own, only begotten Son to fulfill that Personal Sacrifice (Leviticus 1), as the Lamb of God, for each of us.

O Father, bring all of Your children to the birth into Your family, and fill Your great house with all of Your uncountable progeny. And no one else will have any excuse. 

For every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign, soon-coming King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

The Story Of Joseph Part 18--Israel Learns To Trust God More

 Genesis 43: 1-15

We have seen that Joseph is selling Egypt's grain to everyone in the world who can come to buy it, as well as the locals, and his brothers have come also for food. He recognized them, but they didn't realize that this Egyptian ruler was their long-lost brother. So Joseph put them to the test, and let them go home with the grain to feed their families. 

Joseph told his brothers not to come back without his little brother Benjamin, under pain of accusation as spies, a very serious charge. But Jacob is still finding it hard to trust, to let Benjamin go. 

It's most likely a year later, and Joseph is still waiting on God to reunite his family.

(1) Now the famine was severe in the land. (2) So it came about when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, "Go back, buy us a little food." 

This famine is lasting longer than one or two years, and they've eaten all the bread they were able to make from the grain they bought, and they're out of food again. So Jacob tells them to go buy some more. 

(3) Judah spoke to him, however, saying, "The man solemnly warned us, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.' (4) If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. (5) But if you do not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'" 

Judah is speaking for the brothers, and reminds his dad that if they go without Benjamin, then the Egyptian ruler will accuse them of spying and probably execute them all. So they have to bring Benjamin.

(6) Then Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly by telling the man whether you still had another brother?" 

Now Jacob is taking this personally, as though his sons are conspiring against him!

(7) But they said, "The man questioned particularly about us and our relatives, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' So we answered his questions. Could we possibly know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?" 

They are reminding him that this Egyptian was questioning them closely, asking for detailed personal information that could be verified. As though he would investigate them to see if they're spies. If they lied, they would be found out, and they had no reason to lie anyway, they're honest men. They had no idea that he would ask them to bring their little brother. 

(8) Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the lad with me and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, as well as you and our little ones. (9) I myself will be surety for him; you may hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame before you forever. (10) For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice." 

Judah is appealing to his father Israel, the "Prince with God," rather than Jacob, the "Deceiver" who can't trust anyone else. He's saying to trust him to protect Benjamin, and to make sure he's safe the whole trip; and that he will take responsibility for him, so that if anything happens to him at all, then Judah will take the blame. And they've already been debating the issue for so long now that they could have made the trip twice.

(11) Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, Pistachio nuts and almonds. (12) Take double the money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake. 

So Israel (not Jacob) rises to the occasion and advises them to bring a gift to this stern Egyptian ruler to soften his heart toward them, and to bring twice the price for the grain they want to buy, as well as the money that was returned last time. He didn't want to take any chances.

(13) "Take your brother also, and arise, return to the man; 

And he even relents and lets them take Benjamin with them. This is huge for him.

(14) "and may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." 

And he decides to trust his children to God Almighty, the only One who ultimately can protect all of them and bring a positive result. This is a big step of faith for Israel, in all his years of knowing God, he's learning to trust Him more in his own circumstances. But is he leaving to God the disposition of his children, or is still not trusting Hm enough to bring them home safe?

(15) So the men took this present, and they took double the money in their hand, and Benjamin; then they arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. 

So they journeyed again to Egypt to face this stern Egyptian lord, hoping that the present and the money and Benjamin will convince him to be lenient and not think they're spies. 

When we're between a rock and a hard place, what will we do? Jacob found himself and his family between the hard place of starvation and the rock of the Egyptian ruler who seems so suspicious of them. So he's trying to soften the rock. He's relying more on God than before, but he's still not taking any chances, which is probably wise. We are to do what we can, and leave the rest to God. 

O my Father, You are so good to us! You are teaching Jacob to be Israel, to trust You with his children, where a parent's deepest fears lie. You are teaching him that You are not only trustworthy, but will grant him blessings beyond his imagination, right here in this life. 

My Father, You will also grant me blessings, the color and flavor of which I don't know, but I'm sure I will be surprised and satisfied beyond what this world can give. So I want to trust You, too. 

O Father, teach all of Your children to love You back and trust You with their greatest fears and insecurities. We all have different cares, and You are sufficient for all of us, each with our own particular need. 

Father, send out all Your children, to share with all the world how much You love us all, and have already met all of our various and sundry necessities. We all do have some common needs, being broken humans, and these are the deepest most fundamental issues that You have taken care of first, through Your Son. 

Give Your children the words to tell and write and communicate with those who are looking for You, to bring every developing embryo to the birth into Your family. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come with haste, Lord Jesus! 

The Story Of Joseph Part 17--Simeon, Reuben, And Jacob's Despair

 Genesis 42: 29-38

Now that Joseph's dreams are coming true, and Pharaoh's dreams are coming true; Joseph is opening the grain bins to everyone in the world who can come to buy some, so his own brothers show up to also get food for their families among all those in the Canaan caravan. When they are recognized by Joseph, he is greatly encouraged, but he has to test them first. And he really wants to see his little brother, too, after 20+ years. So he keeps Simeon in the elite jail he had been in, to encourage them to bring Benjamin to Egypt.

(29) When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, (30) The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly with us, and took us for spies of the country. (31) But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies. (32) We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father today in the land of Canaan.'

They are recounting their adventures in Egypt, and they tell their father that they were truthful to this stern ruler, admitting their family relationships, only this time they mention Joseph being "dead" before telling of Benjamin. 

To the "foreign" lord of Egypt they named the living before the "dead," but to their father, they listed them in birth order.

(33) "The man, the lord of the land, said to us, 'By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go. (34) But bring your youngest brother to me that I may know that you are not spies, but honest men. I will give your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.'"

They left out that this lord of Egypt was going to keep all of them, and only let one go home to get the little brother. They seem to be unaware of this ruler's graciousness in letting them all go home and just keeping one for insurance, and allowing them to bring food for their families.

(35) Now it came about as they were emptying their sacks, that behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were dismayed. 

Not only the one who discovered his money in his sack on the way home, but all of them found that none of them actually paid for their grain! Now will they be accused of robbing the Egyptians? Things seem to be going from bad to worse!

(36) Their father Jacob said to them, "You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and you would take Benjamin; all these things are against me." 

And Jacob is going into despair! Oh, woe is me! Everything is going wrong! And you guys want to make it even worse! Not only will I never see Joseph again, now I'll never see Simeon again, either! And you want to take my little Benjamin, too!

(37) Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, "You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you."  

Then Reuben, who talked his brothers out of killing Joseph, is now sticking up for Benjamin, too, putting his own sons on the line if he can't bring their little brother back safely to their father.

(38) But Jacob said, "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should befall him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow." 

But Jacob doesn't want to lose any grandchildren, either! He just doesn't trust that they can keep him safe, he feels that he must protect this "little one," the only other son of his favorite wife Rachel, who is now also dead. He's the last one from her. 

I wonder what the brothers were thinking, with Jacob's favoritism. This is what prompted them to get rid if Joseph in the first place. 

But it's now over 20 years later, and they have all grown older and had their own families, and maybe they're coming to accept the dysfunction in their family, or have come to the conclusion that Jacob is Jacob, and will never change. 

Now Jacob is thinking that things will just continue to go as they've been going, and he has to try to make sure nothing can happen to this last child of Rachel. That his other sons will just keep on grieving him until he dies.

So as it stands, Joseph is considered dead by his father, but is waiting again, Simeon is locked away in a foreign jail, and, even though they can now feed their families, they will have to bring Benjamin with them if the famine continues longer than their grain will hold out. 

And Jacob doesn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. 

Joseph never did give in to the circumstances he found himself in, but was able to see the good in it, and turn it around into prospering. Even three times that he did right, but it resulted negatively, he turned it into a positive. 

Now Joseph is trying to see if his brothers have learned anything. It looks like each character in this play is still maintaining their personalities throughout the performance. Joseph is still joyfully faithful. Simeon is still maintaining his support of Joseph. His brothers are feeling the guilt of what they did to him. And Jacob has dropped into a morose stubbornness to try to hang on to what he feels he has left.

O my Father, Your ways are so far above our ways! You will let Your favorites go through so much sorrow and trouble and dismay. You have told us that You will scourge every son that You receive into Your family (Hebrews 12: 6), so we see You leaving these precious sons of Yours in adverse circumstances for great lengths of time before they are resolved. But when they continue to trust in You, in spite of their surroundings, and even when they just sit in their own misery, You will still bring the resolution in Your time. 

My Father, Your timing is perfect. You are never early or late. We cannot usually see how You're going to work out our troubles, but I want to continue to trust Your timing in my life, too. Help me to keep on keeping on as I wait for Your next step on the path You have placed my feet. Let my patience and perseverance that You are building in my character have a positive influence on others whose lives touch mine in any way. Let my efforts to promote Your kingdom bear the luscious fruit of new births and growth to maturity in those who encounter my works that You planned before time for me to accomplish. 

O Father, continue to lead me every day to do what needs to be done each day, so that I can be responsible and gracious and generous. Keep building the character of Christ in me, and enable me to reach all of everyone who needs to hear what You are having me say. 

And Father, send out all of Your children to share with everyone in every nation, so that every living person will be able to hear and perceive Your great love for each of us, in providing for all we need to be saved from ourselves and redeemed from this Earthly life, through Your only-begotten Son, Christ Jesus. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

The Story Of Joseph Part 16--He Finally Sees His Brothers

 Genesis 42: 1-28

The dreams that Joseph has interpreted for Pharaoh are coming to pass, and the seven years of plenty have past. Now the famine has come to the whole area, not just Egypt. Since Joseph stockpiled a fifth of all the grain produced in Egypt during the seven years of bounty, now the only food that was to be had in all the known world of the day is in Egypt. 

Joseph does not limit his sales of the grain to only Egyptians, but anyone from the rest of the world who can travel to Egypt is welcome to also buy grain, since there is enough to go around.

(1) Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, 

Back in Canaan, also under drought conditions, Jacob got the news that there was food to be had in Egypt.

and Jacob said to his sons, "Why are you staring at one another?" (2) He said, "Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die." (3) Then ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain from Egypt. 

Jacob tells his sons to stop standing around and do something before we all starve! Go on down to Egypt and buy some of that grain they have there. So the ten brothers take off for Egypt.

(4) But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, "I am afraid that harm may befall him."  

Since Jacob lost his favorite wife's son Joseph, he was afraid of also losing her other son, who she died in childbirth with, so he made him stay home. He didn't want to take any chances.

(5) So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also. 

Since the famine was everywhere, people from all over Canaan were traveling to Egypt for food, and the sons of Jacob (Israel) joined the caravan trekking through the desert, to Egypt.

(6) Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 

This refers back to the last chapter, that Joseph was vizier, second in command from the king himself. So Joseph was overseeing the sales of the grain to all of the crowds of people coming to buy. And when his brothers came in, they, like everyone else in line, gave honor to the man in charge by bowing to him. 

This is Joseph's dreams starting to come true!

(7) When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, "Where have you come from?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan, to buy food." 

Joseph immediately knew his brothers, but as an Egyptian now, he maintained his foreign persona and proceeded to question them.

(8) But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him. 

Joseph had the drop on them, because he knew who they were, but they didn't know him; they never expected to see their brother again.

(9) Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them, 

Joseph is remembering how the dreams went, and he sees now that his brothers are bowing down to him, just like he dreamed.

and said to them, "You are spies; you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land." 

Joseph is going to pick on them, to see what their reaction would be.

(10) Then they said to him, "No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. (11) "We are all sons of one man; we are honest men, your servants, not spies. 

They start to defend themselves, and reveal a little bit about who they are.

(12) Yet he said to them, "No, but you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land!" 

And Joseph continues to egg them on. 

(13) But they said, "Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer alive." 

Joseph isn't going to let them go yet.

(14) Joseph said to them, "It is as I said to you, you are spies; (15) by this you will be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here! (16) Send one of you that he may get your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. But if not, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies." 

Now Joseph is going to test his brothers, to see how honest they are. And he really wants to see his little brother!

(17) So he put them all together in prison for three days. 

Joseph is going to let them stew in their own juices for a while. This is probably the elite jail he had been in, not the common one for the criminals.

(18) Now Joseph said to them on the third day, "Do this and live, for I fear God: 

Here Joseph gives them a hint: he doesn't worship the multiple gods of Egypt, but the same Lord God that his brothers believe in. So he's decided to be more lenient on them.

(19) "if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households, (20) and bring your youngest brother to me, so your words may be verified, and you will not die." And they did so.  

Instead of sending only one back, he tells them he will send them all back, except for one; but they must bring their little brother to get him out of jail. Otherwise, if they're lying he would be executed. This put "the fear of God" into them, because they had to agree with him, and they talked about it among themselves.

(21) Then they said to one another, "Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us." (22) Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy'; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood."  (23) They did not know, however, that Joseph understood, for there was an interpreter between them. 

They felt free to converse in his presence, because he was using an interpreter, and they thought he couldn't understand their language, so Joseph heard them confess what they had done to him, and that Reuben said, "I told you so!" in defending him back then. Now Joseph heard "the rest of the story" of who did what while he was in that pit.

(24) He turned away from them and wept. 

Joseph was so moved by their sorrow that he had to leave to cry his eyes out with all the emotion he felt.

But when he returned to them and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 

Then when he came back, he chose Reuben, because he's the one who stood up for him, and tied him up so they could see how serious this Egyptian official was. 

(25) Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain and to restore every man's money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. And thus it was done for them. 

Since Joseph was still speaking in Egyptian, his brothers didn't know that he was telling the servants how to take care of them, returning their money and giving them provisions.

(26) So they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed from there. (27) As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money; and behold, it was in the mouth of his sack. (28) Then he said to his brothers, "My money has been returned, and behold, it is even in my sack." And their hearts sank, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, "What is this that God has done to us?" 

These brothers are scared now. They don't know who this stern official is who doesn't trust them, and now they find that one of them didn't even pay for his grain; what kind of trouble will they be in now! And Simeon is still in jail in Egypt, too, what about him?

Joseph has hope now, with seeing his brothers, he expects to also see his little brother. And he is seeing how his own dreams are starting to come true. So exciting! 

And he has to wait again. 

O my Father, You have grown Joseph's patience and perseverance through all the waiting he has already endured. And he will be ready whenever it is that his brothers will return. 

O Father God, You are sovereign over Your whole creation. You have already decided the whole Plan of the Ages, and each one of our stories as part of it. You know what You're doing, and You let us know day-by-day and step-by-step where You are leading us. 

You had Joseph deal with his brothers in a way that would bring them to the place You wanted them, to reunite this family and bring Your judgment on Egypt when the time was right. Father, You are never too early or late, You're always just on time! 

And Father, You are just in time for me, too. Help me to do each day the things You would have me accomplish, to be strengthened in Your thoughts and ways, and to always do for others what You know they need from me, whether it be my words, my finances, my attitude, my material belongings, whatever it is You have given me to share. 

O Father, send me out, send out all Your children in the way each of us can go, to tell the world how much You love us all, so that every living person in all the nations will be able to hear, and open their minds and hearts to understand the gracious and generous gift You are offering us all in Your Son. 

Fill Your great house will all of Your uncountable children, and let no one have any excuse for neglecting or refusing Your amazing Salvation. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come soon, Lord Jesus! 

The Story Of Joseph Part 15--He Sells Food To The Whole World

 Genesis 41: 53-57

Joseph has interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and Pharaoh appointed Joseph his vizier, second in command after the king so he could manage the economy and the people's welfare when the interpretation came true. And it has been going just as he said it would. 

They had seven years of plenty, during which Joseph taxed the people 20% of all the grain produced and stockpiled it all into storage bins all over the country, in all the cities. And they stored more than they could even count, and still kept adding to it until the seven years were over. 

(53) When the seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end, (54) and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 

When the seven years of plenty were over, then the famine was all over the world, and only Egypt had grain for bread because Joseph had stored it all. 

(55) So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do." 

Pharaoh had put Joseph in charge, so he left the people in Joseph's hands as his responsibility. 

(56) When the famine was spread over all the face of the Earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 

When the fields stopped producing and the famine came, they all lined up at Joseph's storage bins to buy enough food to feed their families. That was the only place they could find food to eat. 

(57) The people of all the Earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the Earth. 

Joseph wasn't selfish with the grain, the famine was over the whole world, so anyone who could travel to Egypt could also buy grain. He didn't hoard it for Egyptians only. There was more than enough for everyone. But he did not give it away free, they purchased it. 

O my Father, You were so good to everyone in the world, to have given Pharaoh the dreams for Joseph to interpret for him, then to have Joseph prepare for not only the Egyptians, but everyone anywhere else in the world who wanted to purchase food from them were welcome also to buy grain. There was enough for everyone. 

My Father, You are so generous to us all. Even people who do not know or acknowledge You receive of Your bounty, as well as those who worship and serve You. Father, bless them all with the knowledge of You, send Your children out to every nation to share with every living person who You are and how You have already met their most desperate needs in Your Son. 

O Father, let every embryo be drawn to the birth into Your own family, and fill Your great house with all of Your uncountable children. Let no one have any excuse for rejecting Your gracious and generous gift. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

The Story of Joseph Part 14---Joseph Prospers In Egypt

 Genesis 41: 46-52

Now when Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had dreams that baffled his wise men, Joseph was called to interpret his dreams, and he also presented a plan for how to survive what the dreams predicted. Pharaoh believed him, and appointed Joseph his vizier, the second in command after Pharaoh, to administer the plan he gave him. 

(46) Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 

Now Joseph had to assess the whole nation's assets, so he went through all the land of Egypt. He familiarized himself with the lay of the land, in order to honestly tax the people's produce from their fields. It was a flat tax of 20% of all the grain from everybody's fields (verses 33-36).

(47) During the seven years of plenty the land brought forth abundantly. 

Just as Joseph told the king from his dreams.

(48) So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields. 

Joseph's experience in managing Potiphar's holdings prepared him for this. He had good business sense to store the gathered grain all over the whole land, in the cities near the fields where the grain had grown, and near the people who lived all over the nation. He didn't gather it up into a centralized place. He scattered the storage bins all over.

(49) Thus Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure. 

The fifth of the grain that was produced during these seven years mounted up so abundantly that they didn't even have numbers to count that high, he just kept on building more bins to store more grain all over the place. 

(50) Now before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. 

While Joseph is charioting around the land gathering all the grain into the storage bins, and managing all the kings people, he also is building his family. Life has never been better for Joseph! God has honored his patience and perseverance and has prospered him greatly.

(51) Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my troubles and all my father's household." 

The name Manasseh means, "Making to Forget." Now he can focus on all the good that is happening in his life, and he's too busy to think about all the trouble his brothers brought on him.

(52) He named the second, Ephraim, "For," he said,"God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."  

The name Ephraim means, "Fruitfulness." God is prospering him not only with his work and his income, but also with two beautiful sons to carry on his line. So much bad has happened to him in this foreign land, but it has all led to this wonderful good life he is living now. 

God used all the experiences in Joseph's life to prepare him for this very thing. Joseph had no idea of what would happen to him at every step of the way. Every time he thought he was doing well, it just collapsed on him. 

When he obeyed his father and found his brothers, they betrayed him. Then when he was working for Potiphar and managing all his holdings, then Potiphar's wife goes and slanders him, and he ended up in jail. Then even when he thought the cupbearer would put in a good word for him, he forgot and let him down, so Joseph still sat and waited. 

Joseph was disappointed at least three times that we are told about, when he did what was right but it turned out negatively anyway. God was building in Joseph the trust in Him and the perseverance to slog through those disappointments without losing faith in God. Without losing his footing. He was building character. "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger!" It's all in how we choose to respond. 

O my Father, this story of this man is so encouraging. You had Joseph go through so much trouble and hardship and disappointment, yet he never lost sight of You, and the encouragement of those two dreams he had in early youth. His own dreams are now coming true, as he now has the honor and respect and homage of the whole nation of Egypt, one of the most powerful nations of that day. 

My Father, seeing how Joseph hung on to You through the storms of life, and how You rewarded him, is so encouraging to me. You have me also sitting, waiting for what You have prepared for me. Strengthen me to keep on keeping on, as Joseph did. He didn't know how it would turn out until it did, and I don't know how my life will turn out, either; but I trust You and Your love for me, that uses everything I experience to prepare me, too. I don't know if what I think I see is what You have planned for me, or if You have something even better! 

O Father, use me. Send me out, send my words out, into all the world; so that Your children will grow up in You, and that everyone will hear of Your great love for us all. Father, send out all Your children, wake us up to Your Plan of the Ages, and our parts in it, each one of us. Make each of our threads in Your grand Tapestry of Time to shine and sparkle against the black velvet backdrop of the threads of the evil, rebellious ones. And bring every embryo to the birth into Your family to fill Your great house with all of Your uncountable children. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, our Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

The Story Of Joseph Part 13--Joseph's Elevated Position

 Genesis 41: 38-46a

Pharaoh, king of Egypt, has had a couple of dreams that concern him, and none of his magicians or wise men have any idea of what they can mean. 

Then his forgiven Head Cupbearer finally faces his shameful episode, and reveals that another prisoner can interpret dreams. 

So Joseph is rushed into Pharaoh's presence and put to the test, which he passes with flying colors. Then he takes a calculated risk, and gives this king some advise he did not ask for--and his boldness is paying off.

(38) Then Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is a Divine spirit?" 

Pharaoh admits that God's Spirit is in Joseph.

(39) So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. 

Now Pharaoh is acknowledging Joseph's Lord God, and recognizes that because he listens to Him, He has given Joseph wisdom and discernment.

(40) "You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne will I be greater than you." (41) Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt."

Pharaoh is appointing Joseph into the office of Vizier to the king, the second-in-command.

(42) Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, 

This signet ring is the king's credit card, it is the seal that legalizes all purchases and declarations and edicts. This is the financial power of the kingdom.

and clothed him in garments of fine linen 

Only the king himself and his highest officials were able to wear clothing as fine as this.

and put the gold necklace around his neck. 

Egyptian Pharaohs often put gemstones and amulets in the gold of their jewelry, to ward off evil spirits, protect their wealth, and bring good luck. Certain colors, designs and materials were associated with supernatural powers and deities. 

So when the king put "the" gold necklace on Joseph, he was intending to give him protection and let him show the authority he was giving him.

(43) He had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, "Bow the knee!" And he set him over all the land of Egypt. 

So, all of the Egyptian populace were commanded to give Joseph respect, honor and obeisance.

(44) Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Though I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." 

Pharaoh gave Joseph dictatorial authority over the personal lives of every citizen in Egypt. No one would be permitted to come or go or work or do whatever without Joseph's okay.

(45) Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-Paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt. 

The name Pharaoh gave Joseph means, "God speaks--He lives," because Joseph's God must be alive to tell him what the dreams mean. And, of course, he must have a wife! So he gave him the daughter of the next most important man in his kingdom. 

And Joseph accepted all of these accouterments and the position, and started to exercise his authority over the people.

(46) Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. ...

Joseph was only seventeen when was kidnapped and carried to Egypt, so he essentially grew up here in this foreign land. Now it's thirteen years later, and God has prepared him culturally, emotionally, and spiritually for this weight of authority he now bears. 

O my Father, You never do put anything on any of us, that You haven't prepared us for. You put our feet on the path that You have determined for each of us, and You take our hand as we tread the road. And as we encounter problems, and sorrows, and disappointments in life, and stumble over the rocks and get stuck in the ruts, You continue to hold us up, so that we won't fall. 

O Father, You prepared Joseph to change history. And You have prepared others to lead nations, and discover great discoveries, and write important books and documents, and to rear and bring up the leaders in this world, all who shape history. And You are still guiding our human story into the great saga of Mankind, to flow according to how You have planned it all. 

My Father, please raise up Your children to be the leaders in the world, to lead nations, to lead cultures, to lead children to grow into Your adults. To lead the attitudes and thinking processes and world-views of the world. Father, there have been so many evil people who have led so many away from Your ways. 

Father, send out Your children as Your messengers and missionaries, to tell every living person in the whole world about who You really are, and to reach even the leaders of the world, as Joseph reached Pharaoh. Let everyone in all the nations have the knowledge and understanding to make a clear and informed decision to receive Your gracious and generous free gift. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, our Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus! 

The Story Of Joseph Part 12--Joseph's Purpose

 Genesis 41: 14-37

We have followed Joseph from the time of his youth, and we have seen how God encouraged him early in his life with the prospect of respect and homage, even before his brothers betrayed him. Everything that has happened to him since those early days has not been very positive from the Earthly point of view, being sold into slavery, and being the property of another man, a foreigner in a foreign land. And even when he maintained his integrity and it put him into prison, he still maintained his faith and trust in his God. 

Because he was faithful to the Lord God even through all this extended hardship, God gave him a tremendous purpose to fulfill, something that he never would have imagined. Our God is like that. 

The longer we faithfully wait on the Lord, without wavering, then the greater is the purpose God has planned for us, too.

(14) Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh. 

When the king summoned him, they rushed him through cleaning up, and he "ran" to Pharaoh!

(15) Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it, and I have heard it said about you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." 

Pharaoh asks Joseph if it is true that he is able to interpret dreams; remember, all his magicians and wise men had no idea what they could mean, can Joseph really do this?

(16) Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me, God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer." 

Joseph still maintains his humility, and tells the king that he is just another guy, there's nothing special about him. But his Lord God is the One who has all the answers! He just witnessed to the king!

(17) So Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile; (18) and behold, seven cows, fat and sleek came up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the marsh grass. (19) Lo, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such as I had never seen for ugliness in all the land of Egypt; (20) and the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows. (21) Yet when they had devoured them, it could not be detected that they had devoured them, for they were just as ugly as before. Then I awoke. 

(22) "I saw also in my dream, and behold, seven ears, full and good, came up on a single stalk; (23) and lo, seven ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them; (24) and the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. Then I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me." 

Pharaoh is putting Joseph to the test: will he have any kind of answer or reason for these dreams? Can he make sense of either one?

(25) Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's dreams are one and the same; God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 

Joseph is telling the king that the Lord God is talking to him! Since Joseph knows this God, he is able to tell him what He is saying. And he is telling him that it is the Lord God who is going to do these things. Even in Egypt, a land where the people don't even know Him, but He cares for them, and is telling their king what He is going to do, so they can prepare for it. 

Joseph is telling Pharaoh that the Lord God has authority over him and his land and people. And that He cares for them, even though they have not known Him.

(26) "The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one and the same. (27) The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine. (28) It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 

Joseph has recognized that both of the dreams were about the same subject, the same time period that is still to come, a prophesy. And he tells the king again that it is the Lord God who has the power over the climate and growing seasons. He is still witnessing to this king.

(29) "Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; (30) and after them seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will ravage the land. (31) So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe. 

Now Joseph repeats what the dreams mean in practical terms; that the abundance of the seven good years will not carry them through the seven years of famine that are coming, so the king needs to do something about it.

(32) "Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about. 

And he says that because God gave him the same dream twice in a row, that He is serious and that this turn of events will certainly come about. 

I wonder when Joseph realized this, because God repeated the dream of encouragement that He gave Joseph in his youth. Is this why he was able to persevere through so many years of hardship? 

(33) "Now let Pharaoh look for a man discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. (34) Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. (35) Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh's authority, and let them guard it. (36) Let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine." 

Now Joseph boldly takes another step, and advises Pharaoh as to what he thinks he should do about this new information he has received from God. 

Pharaoh only asked him to interpret the dreams, now Joseph is stepping into the role of an advisor to the king. The response to his advice will determine whether Joseph will be punished or rewarded! 

Will Pharaoh say, "How dare you tell me what to do, when I haven't asked you!"?

(37) Now the proposal seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his servants. 

This is a positive response. Joseph's courageous daring to take a risk will pay off. 

Stay tuned tomorrow to see what happens next in this thrilling adventure! Truth really is better than any fiction! 

O my Father, Help us also to have the confidence in You to be courageous and bold to take the risks that will pay off for us. Show us, Father, when the risk would be foolish, and teach us to weigh the consequences. 

My Father, You are so good to us, You love each one of us, and You want us to succeed in what we do, to bring You the glory! Show us how to do everything You have called us to, both concerning worldly and spiritual things. 

Send out Your children into all the world, Father. Let every living being hear and perceive Your love and care, and Your provision, Your generous and gracious gift. Bring all of Your children to the birth into Your family, and fill Your great house with all of Your uncountable progeny. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

The Story Of Joseph Part 11--The Cupbearer Remembers

 Genesis 41: 9-14

We have seen that God has been guiding and keeping Joseph by using the decisions and actions and inactions of the people around him, to prepare him and have him in place for the plan God decided for him. Joseph did not know what would happen before every step happened in his life, he just kept on trusting the Lord and following His ways. 

Joseph could have rebelled and fought against all the wrongdoing and slander against him, but he never lost his footing walking in God's ways, even when it resulted in negative circumstances for himself (in slavery, in jail). This is remarkable. 

It has been quite a few years since his brothers tried to get rid of him when he was only seventeen years old. He's been a slave all this time, the property of the commander of the king's bodyguards. 

And now he's sat in jail for years, waiting ... waiting ... waiting ....

(9) Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I would make mention today of my own offenses. 

The cupbearer finally remembers Joseph! He has been blocking all those memories of being in trouble and sitting in the jail not knowing what would happen to him. 

(10) "Pharaoh was furious with his servants, and he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker. 

This is what was so painful for him, that he didn't want to face. It was shameful and disgraceful.

(11) "We had a dream on the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. 

But now he's remembering the dreams they had, that weren't just regular dreams, but important messages, that needed to be decoded.

(12) "Now a Hebrew youth was with us there, a servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream. (13) And just as he interpreted for us, so it happened; he restored me in my office, but he hanged him." 

And he tells Pharaoh how this Hebrew slave of his captain was also in jail with them, and he was able to understand what their dreams were telling them, and he was right. He told them what would happen, and it did, exactly as he understood from their dreams; that he was restored as the chief cupbearer, and that the baker was hanged, just as he said.

(14) Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph ... 

All right, now finally God is letting Joseph out of jail. This is why He kept him there for so long, God knew when He was going to give these dreams to this king concerning his land, and He wanted Joseph there to make such a big difference, no wonder He spent so many years preparing him. 

God used Joseph's brothers to get him into Egypt; then he used Potiphar's wife"s slander to make him put Joseph into the elite jail where the king's prisoners were kept, and He even used the cupbearer's refusal to face his embarrassing episode in jail. 

God is so powerful and wise and caring that He used all these things to shape Joseph's thinking and attitudes, and to have him exactly where he would need to be for Pharaoh to summon him. 

O my Father, You are so great! You are so good! You are so wise! You care for us in ways that are beyond my understanding. You kept Joseph's brothers from killing him so that he would be in Egypt at this time, prepared and ready to change history.

And You gave us his story so that we can learn the lessons we also need to know and practice for our own stories, walking in the path You have placed our feet, so that we also will do what You have planned ahead of time for us to accomplish. 

O Father, Your strength and Your smarts and Your caring for each one of us, to prepare us and lead us along the path, the end of which will be glorious for each of us, and bring You all the credit for doing it all. 

My Father, please use me. Lead me and guide me along this rocky road my feet trod each day. I cannot see what lies ahead, any more than Joseph could; but, like him, I want to trust You, because I know that You only have my best in mind. 

Father, even when I encounter adverse circumstances, or face slander, or stumble over some stumbling block, I know that You are with me, and I will not fall, because You, as my good Father, will never let go of my hand! 

Send me out, Father; send out my words, my blog, my books, into all the world, that I might speak Your words, to influence many minds to think Your thoughts, and to realize how much You love each of them. Draw them all to a clear understanding of who You are, and what You have done for them already in Your Son. 

Send out all of Your children, Dad, to be Your messengers and Your missionaries, to share their witness and their testimonies to encourage everyone in the world to see You in Truth, and to leave the lies that have deceived them. Daddy, I emplore you with tears, bring all of Your embryonic children, my sisters and brothers, to the birth. Fill Your great house with all of Your uncountable family! 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!