Highlights In Today's Reading:
Jacob's sons, including Benjamin, return to Egypt for food. Can you imagine the emotions flowing through the minds of Joseph's brothers as he reveals himself to them? Jacob informed that Joseph is still alive and is the governor of Egypt.
Verses for Today:
I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. . . . So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God (Gen. 45:4-5,8).Imagine the astonishment of Joseph's brothers when the Egyptian ruler suddenly said: I am Joseph! Needless to say, they were troubled at his presence (45:3), because they feared that he would have them put to death.
Their fears crowded out the natural inclination to rejoice that their brother was alive. He further assured them: Thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near to me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty (45:10-11). But it was not until he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them, that his brethren talked with him (45:15).
They lived for 17 years in Egypt near Joseph after surviving the years of famine.
But after Jacob had died, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him (50:15). His brothers expected Joseph's revenge.
But Joseph convinced them of his forgiving love when he said he would continue to care for them. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and apake kindly unto them. . . . And Joseph said unto his brethren . . . God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (50:19-24).
God is merciful to every sinner. As we go through years of experience, we realize His forgiveness and mercy — even though we are as unworthy as Joseph's brothers.
Thought for Today:
Oh, how we need to develop a forgiving love toward others!
Christ Revealed:
Through Joseph's dealings with his brothers. Christ deals with us in such a way as to bring about our confession of sin and a recognition of His forgiving love. In a similar way, He reveals His sovereignty over the affairs of life (Gen. 45:5-8,15; compare Rom. 5:8; Eph. 1:17,20-22).
Word Studies:
43:1 sore =severe; 43:6 ill =badly; 43:7 straitly =specifically; tenor =he merely answered his questions; 43:17 bade =ordered; 43:25 the present against Joseph =present-gifts; against =before; 43:28 made obeisance =bowed low in respect; 43:30 bowels =heart; upon =toward; 43:32 set on for him =set a place for him; abomination =detestable thing; 43:34 messes =servings; 44:10 servant =slave; 44:15 can . . . divine =could be able to know; 44:34 evil =suffering; 45:3 troubled =terrified; 45:6 earing =lowing; 45:17 lade =load; 45:18 fat =best; 45:24 fall not out =o not quarrel.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by Elizabeth James and Peter Bell Jr. • Staff: Karen Hawkins • Country: Sudan (28.9 million) at the eastern end of the Sahara Desert • Major languages: Arabic and Nubian • Limited religious freedom • 70% Sunni Muslim; 19% Christian; 10% Traditional; 1% Other/None • Prayer Suggestion: Seek the Lord's forgiveness with a repentant heart, knowing that God will graciously receive you (Hos. 14:1-2).
Optional Reading: Matthew 15
Memory Verse for the Week: Psalms 23:4