Genesis Chapter 43 - Forgiving Grace

When the famine continued, it became necessary for Jacob and his sons to replenish their food supply. Judah informed his father that it would do no good to return to Egypt to buy more food unless Benjamin went with them. Joseph had made it very clear that they were not welcome without their youngest brother.

Jacob was finally persuaded of the necessity of sending his beloved Benjamin with the other brothers on a return trip to Egypt. Jacob sent gifts to Joseph in hopes of assuring that all would go well, and that all his sons would be allowed to return home. He also sent double payment for the food. He wanted to repay the silver that had been sent back in each of his sons’ sacks on the first trip.

Upon their arrival in Egypt, Joseph had his brothers taken to his house to eat the noon meal with him. Though the brothers were fearful it was because he wanted to punish them, instead they were shown genuine hospitality. Their feet were washed, their donkeys were fed, and their brother Simon was returned to them. When Joseph saw his youngest brother Benjamin with them, he was moved to the point of tears. However, he still kept his identity from them.

What a forgiving heart Joseph had. He was still a man with the utmost integrity. What had happened in the past was left in the past. His brothers were here before him, and he gave them the best treatment available…a feast in his own home. They had put him in a pit, but he gave them a party. Because of his love for them he extended mercy to them far above what they deserved.

So it is with God’s love for us. His grace has known no limits with us. We can never go so far that He will not beckon us back to Him. He loves us unconditionally, and is always willing that we change our course of direction to walk in His footsteps. He wants fellowship with us as much as He wanted fellowship with Adam. It does not matter what we have done in the past, He forgives us. It does not matter how far away from Him we have traveled, He welcomes us back home.

We may have been suffering a season of draught, and living in a land of famine. He invites us to feast in His presence. He wants to bathe us in the beauty and fragrance of His holiness. He desires to put a new heart within us, and give us joy and peace to sustain us until He comes back to take us to be forever with Him. I see Him even now beckoning to us, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:18-19).

"In the presence of Jehovah,
God Almighty, Prince of Peace;
Troubles vanish; hearts are mended
In the presence of the King."

(Geron Davis, Copyright 1985 Meadowgreen Music Co./Songchannel Music Co./ASCAP)

Genesis Chapter 42 - God Hates Pride

Just as the Pharaoh had dreamed, there were seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine. The famine was world wide, so other countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph. From the land of Canaan came ten familiar faces…the brothers of Joseph. Even though Joseph recognized them, they did not know who he was because of his royal dress and his Egyptian dialect. Therefore Joseph decided to hide his identity for a while to test his brothers. His last memory of them was of their intent to kill him, or leave him for dead, before they sold him to the caravan going to Egypt.

As the brothers were bowing down to him in request to buy food from him, Joseph recalled his earlier dreams. He accused them of being spies, and he put them in custody for three days. Then, in order for them to prove they were not spies, he ordered that one of the ten brothers stay in prison while the rest went back home with some grain for their families. They were to bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, back with them in order to have Simeon released from prison and to get any more food.

The brothers started talking among themselves about their punishment being a result of what they had done to Joseph years before. They did not know that Joseph understood every word being spoken, and it brought him great sorrow as he listened to their conversation. When he sent the brothers on their way, he also had the money they had paid for the grain put back in their sacks. Upon discovering their silver coins in the grain bags, the brothers were frightened for their lives. They told their father Jacob they had to take Benjamin back to Egypt in order to retrieve the brother left behind. They would also need to take Benjamin back with them to gain purchasing power. Jacob was adamant that Benjamin would not go to Egypt with them. He had already lost his son Joseph, and now Simeon, and he was taking no chances with his youngest son.

It was good for the sons of Jacob to have this time to think about their crime of earlier years. I am sure not one day had passed since they had sold Joseph and deceived their father that they did not regret what they had done. However, pride would not allow them to admit their guilt.

Pride. What a powerful word. It is a word of bondage, for it keeps people from doing what they know they should do, and maybe really want to do, but "what will people think?"

There is nothing God hates more than pride. Worrying about what others think instead of what God thinks has kept many people out of heaven. Pride stands in the way of people having a personal relationship with the Heavenly Father because He must be approached in humility and honesty.

One man once admitted to a friend that he would probably accept Jesus as his Savior if he wasn’t so proud, to which the friend replied, "What is it you’re so proud of?" Any answer that could be given seemed foolish, and end result was the shedding of his pride that he might gain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Check it out…does pride stand in your way of doing what you really want to do? Are you afraid of what other people may think? Guess what…they are so busy thinking about themselves these days, that it does not really matter what they think about you. But what God thinks about you…THAT MATTERS! Think about it!

Genesis Chapter 41 - Perseverance Pays Well

Joseph had to wait two more years before the cup bearer finally remembered his request. After Pharaoh had two troubling dreams that the wise men of Egypt could not interpret, the light went on in the cup bearer’s head. How convenient that he should finally remember! "Oh, by the way, Pharaoh, there’s this guy I met back in prison. I think he might be able to help you. His name? Let’s see, let’s see.....oh, I think they called him Joseph. You see, I had a dream once, and this Joseph told me that it meant I would be restored to my position as your chief butler, and well, here I am! He’s pretty good, huh!"

Pharaoh sent for Joseph immediately. Now Joseph had spent his time in prison becoming very intimately acquainted with his God. Therefore, when the door of opportunity opened for him to speak on behalf of God, he was ready. He did not have to do a last minute cram on the Works of God and the Faith of the Fathers. He knew God. He trusted God. He lived for God. God was there for him, and he would be there for God. This was his moment. God opened the window of opportunity, and Joseph walked through. No hesitation on his part. No playing games, "Well, I don’t know, God, you sure took long enough to answer my prayers. How do I know this is the right opportunity for me?" Joseph stepped in front on Pharaoh, King of Egypt, and said, "I can’t, but I know a God who can, and will." God qualified the called.

Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams with the wisdom of God. He told Pharaoh that there would be seven good years of abundance in the land of Egypt, followed by seven years of severe famine. God had forewarned Pharaoh so that provisions could be made during the years of abundant harvest to cover the years of ravaged land. In response to Pharaoh’s request about what to do, Joseph told him to put a wise and discerning person in charge of storing provisions for the lean years ahead. "And, by the way, Joseph, thou art the man. There is none in all of Egypt as wise and discerning as you. You’re going to be my right hand man. I want you to take this ring, these richly ornamented robes (sound familiar?), this golden chain, and this mighty fine chariot to cart you around Egypt. And, let’s see.....for your wife, I give you Asenath. She’s the gorgeous daughter of Potiphera." Joseph was given two sons through Asenath: Manasseh and Ephraim. God caused Joseph to forget all the troubles he had endured, and He made him very successful in place of his suffering.

Oh yes, God makes all things beautiful in His time. He gets the last laugh. I love how these stories have such an ironic twist. What satan means for harm, God brings glory out of. From rags to abundant riches, Joseph rises again. All those years of faithful service, giving his best to his Master (God), have finally resulted in what God had planned for him all along. We do not see the whole picture, just like Joseph never knew what was next in store for him. But, like Joseph, if we will just take life one day at a time, making the best of it for God, we too will someday receive a robe and crown. Hang in there, faithful servant. Persevere, child of God. Be ready, for you know not when God may call upon you. Your day of elevation comes!

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)