Genesis 43:1-15 (NRSV)
Joseph's brothers need food
Now the famine was severe in the land. And when they had eaten up the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go again, buy us a little more food." But Judah said to him, "The man solemnly warned us, saying, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.' If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food; but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, 'You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.'" Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?" They replied, "The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?" Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die - you and we and also our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; you can hold me accountable for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice."
Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry them down as a present to the man - a little balm and a little honey, gum, resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the top of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. Take your brother also, and be on your way again to the man; may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, so that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." So the men took the present, and they took double the money with them, as well as Benjamin. Then they went on their way down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
DEVOTION
Today’s scripture reading reminds me of a song lyric that says, “God will make a way, out of no way, yes He will!”
The scripture also reminds me of a saying I heard growing up. The old folks used to say, “What Satan means for evil, God will turn for good.”
Oh hallelujah!
Isn’t it amazing that the very same brother that Israel’s sons had sold into slavery and was presumed lost—or dead—became the salvation of his entire family?
This story really increases my faith in difficult circumstances. It is one of the stories that I hold close to my heart as evidence of the fact that God is totally in control of everything that happens to me.
As I am going to through struggle, trial, tribulation, and hardship in my life, I often remind myself to put my hand into God’s unchanging hand. It is my experience that God is able to lead and guide me come what may and that God is always working things out for my good as I love, trust and obey God.
When Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and taken far away from home, I am sure he never could have dreamed that one day he would be second to the Pharaoh in Egypt. If someone had told him, he probably would have laughed them to scorn.
Yet, didn’t God do it?! Right now, you may be in miserable circumstances, but hold on my friends and see what the end is gonna be!
God has untold surprises for us to discover. God has innumerable blessings for us to enjoy!
Since God did not withhold Jesus from us but gave Him to die on old old rugged cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life, won’t God continue to show forth God’s love in amazing and miraculous ways today?
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see how God is going to turn my frown upside down!
I’ve got quite a few circumstances going in my life that are very disappointing to me right now, but I am excited to see how God is going to give me joy for ashes and turn my mourning into joy!
One day, I know that I'm going to look back over my life and declare, "I made it! I'm stronger, wiser, and better, and I made it because of God!" (Marvin Sapp, Never Would Have Made It)
Will you believe God for your miracle today? If so, please pray with me:
Holy God, thank you that you do give joy for ashes and turn mourning into joy! You did it when you raised Jesus from the dead on the third day and I believe—by faith—that you will do it for me. I put all of my faith in Jesus to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life. I put all of my hope in you trusting that you are working all things together for my good because I love you. Please help me to wait in trust and faith as I share good news with others! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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