Week 38, Day 1: Joseph’s kindness
Today’s Reading: Genesis 50:1-26
Some thoughts from the reading…
The book of Genesis concludes with some sad events but also a positive outlook. Jacob is buried in Canaan and there is much morning over him. Joseph’s death is also recorded for us. But we are also told again about the character of Joseph. The brothers are fearful of Joseph after their father has died and buried. They fear that Joseph will finally seek his revenge against them for what they did to him when he was young. But Joseph tells them not to fear. He says this with tears and pledges to provide for them and their little ones. He again extends his kindness to them. He states that he does this even though they intended evil towards him. It is impressive to think back on what all Joseph had to endure and go through just because his brothers were jealous of him. It is also interesting to consider what Joseph could have done to them with the snap of a finger. And yet Joseph always kept in mind that God had sent him to Egypt to preserve life and provide for his family. He accepted this task and was faithful to serve God’s will.
The chapter closes out with another positive note. Joseph stresses to his brothers that God would take care of them and bring them out from the land. Even at death, Joseph is comforting any fear that they might have and stressing a confidence that God will provide for them. May we each have the kind of conviction and confidence in God to reflect a similar faith as Joseph.
Question: Can you think of a time when you were hurt by someone and lashed out against them? What are some suggestions that you can think of for others to help them handle such hard situations?
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Week 37, Day 4: Jacob dies
Today’s Reading: Genesis 48:1-22
Some thoughts from the reading…
After being blessed with seeing his long lost son, Jacob is near death. He has had 17 years of life after coming to live in the land of Goshen. Joseph is told about his father being ill and so he goes to visit him with his two sons. Joseph has already vowed (placed his hand under Jacob’s thigh) to carry Jacob’s body back to the land of Canaan to bury him there. At this final visit Joseph has brought his sons to Jacob to be blessed by him. But something unexpected happens. Joseph brings the sons to his father, the oldest to his Jacob’s right hand and and the younger to his left hand. But intead of blessing the oldest with his right hand Jacob crosses his hands and blesses the younger with his right hand. This displeased Joseph but Jacob states that Ephraim will be mightier than his older brother Manasseh. It is interesting how this reflects Jacob’s case growing up (the older will serve the younger). Manasseh would not serve his younger brother but Ephraim would eclipse his brother and be greater, thus going contrary to the greater blessing being on the firstborn.
The other thing that is interesting to note is that our concepts of the right hand being the hand of favor is seen here as a long standing custom of man. We say someone is your “right hand man” or we read of extending the “right hand of fellowship” (Gal 2:9) and we see someone standing at the right hand of God. I find it fascinating to see times where customs or traditions can be traced or seen in other times. The concept of the right hand being the one of favor or to be preferred is not a new concept. We’ll probably never know how that concept started but it is interesting to see such practices reaching far back in man’s history.
Question: Jacob had said to Pharaoh in ch 47 that his days were few and had not attained to the years of his fathers. Jacob died at 147. How does this compare to his fathers ages?
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Week 36, Day 5: The Return Visit
Today’s Reading: Genesis 44:1-34
Some thoughts from the reading…
Joseph’s plan seems to work out very well to get what he wanted. Benjamin has now been brought down despite his fathers reservations. He has seen his long lost little brother and now he moves to try to keep Benjamin there with him. It is hard to know if Joseph had some other plans worked out in his mind other than to bring Benjamin back but certainly hearing about his fathers love and connection to Benjamin’s well-being caused a great stirring in Joseph (we’ll see more in chapter 45). Whatever Joseph’s plans were by placing the cup in Benjamin’s bag it worked a great mystery and vexation upon the brothers. It may have simply been that Joseph wanted more opportunity to investigate things. We have seen several times in the last few chapters where we are told more details about Joseph’s inquiries. Such as when the brothers are trying to convince Jacob to let Benjamin go with them in chapter 43. Jacob was not happy with them for telling the lord of the land that they had another brother. But they tell him that he asked straitly regarding their kindred and their father. This part of the conversation was not mentioned before. It does seem that Joseph has all along been gaining information regarding the state of his father and what his brothers were like now. Perhaps his plans were simply to find out more about his family until he had deemed it right on whether to reveal himself to them. Whatever the reason for Joseph’s dealing with them, it makes for a very interesting account.
Question: How should we handle things when our plans go astray? We plan out many things, even plan well at times but like the brothers, they now found themselves in a very difficult situation. As Christians how should we handle these kind of circumstances when things just seem to go the worst possible way?
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Week 36, Day 4: Bewilderment
Today’s Reading: Genesis 43:1-34
Some thoughts from the reading…
If you were not familiar with this account already, I do not see it as possible to stop reading in chapter 43. The grain has run out and the famine is severe. It is either starve to death or return to Egypt for more grain. Jacob reluctantly grants permission to take Benjamin with them back to Egypt where the lord of the land suspects them of being spies. When the brothers come back there is a very strange welcome for them. They are directed to Joseph’s personal dwelling and told to wait there. Their minds wonder about if they are in trouble or if the man is setting them up so he can take them as slaves. Then to their amazement a feast is set before them and they are eating in abundance. The chapter ends on a “cliff hanger” by making you want to know how all this turns out for the brothers.
I do enjoy reading accounts such as these because, knowing what happens later, it is amusing to see the events building and unfolding. The brothers must have been awed by what all was going on and yet very confused. Why was this man asking about their father? Why was Benjamin given so much more than everyone else? Why did the man eat by himself? All will soon be revealed to them.
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Week 36, Day 3: Joseph meets his brothers
Today’s Reading: Genesis 42:1-38
Some thoughts from the reading…
I spoke yesterday about understanding what someone is thinking or reasoning before acting (Joseph could have been upset with the cup bearer for not mentioning him to Pharaoh but the cup bearer did not want to remind Pharaoh of his former offenses). I see another example of this happen in chapter 42. Joseph has hidden himself from his brothers when they come to Egypt. He speaks harshly toward his brothers, accusing them of being spies. Before releasing them to return home he hears them speaking among one another about why these things are happening to them. They say to one another that they are guilty because they “saw the distress of his (Joseph’s) soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen.” The guilt of what they had done remained upon them after all these years. They now feel that these difficulties in Egypt are coming upon them as a “reckoning for his blood”. Joseph hears all of this because the brothers did not know this Egyptian official could speak their language (Joseph had been using an interpreter). Joseph wept after hearing this. I do not know if Joseph treated them differently because of hearing their discussion but I can imagine how moving it would be to hear that his brothers feel deep remorse over their sin against him.
The challenge for us today is to act and react in a godly manner. We know that we need to be slow to anger, slow to speak and quick to hear, James 1:19. We will be challenged to do this. Can you imagine what could have been Joseph’s response to his brothers when he first saw them. He could have struck them down right then. But he would have been going against why God had brought him to Egypt and raised him to this position. Before we decide a course of action, let us endeavor to understand what is going on and to not act out of malice and anger.
Question: Would Joseph have been justified in afflicting his brothers? In other words, would it have been alright for Joseph to pay them back?
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