Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance…When the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.' "You are also directed to tell them, 'Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.' " So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, "Don't quarrel on the way!" So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, "I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die." Genesis 45:5b-7, 16-28
Joseph has finally revealed his identity to his brothers and reconciled himself to their actions toward him, seeing that it was all part of God’s greater plan for him. Joseph professed that God had sent him ahead of his brothers to Egypt to save lives. In other words, God had a purpose for everything that happened to Joseph.
We should keep this in mind as we go through our day-to-day living. For every day is a chapter in God’s plan for us and we should always be asking the question, "God…for what purpose are you doing things in and around me?" Trust and know that He will reveal that purpose to you as long as you stay open to receive it.
Joseph saw his ultimate purpose as saving lives in Egypt. He told his brothers that the famine was not anywhere near over…in fact, 5 years remained and the preservation of his brothers, his father and their families was contingent on them coming to Egypt. Pharoah cemented the invitation by saying, "Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours." With Pharoah’s blessing, Joseph gave "each of them…new clothing" and to Benjamin "he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes." Joseph, through the prior testing of his brothers, knew he could favor his youngest brother without worrying whether the brothers would become jealous and envious yet again.
Additionally, Joseph sent goods to his father, giving him "ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey." Joseph’s actions were to help validate what his brothers were about to tell Jacob…for he would be hard pressed to believe them when they share with him that Joseph is still alive.
And indeed, Jacob did not believe them after they told him upon their return but scripture tells us that "when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived." This led Joseph to proclaim, ", "I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
Of note here is what helped validate the story the sons had told Jacob. Relying on his own understanding, he failed to believe what was true when told Joseph was alive. But through the Spirit, Jacob was convinced and knew that what was said was truth.
We can glean a lot of wisdom from this as we deal with matters of discernment. We too often are faced with matters that can be very confusing and complex. We find ourselves awash in trying to figure everything out. Sometimes the absolute truth seems completely unattainable. But through the help of the Spirit, we will always be guided to the truth. And just like Jacob, we can be absolutely convinced that the truth is just that…THE truth.
So two important matters of application come to us from the final verses of Genesis, Chapter 45.
First, we should always keep in mind that God has a purpose for us. For Joseph, it was to save lives and deliver his family to Egypt. We should likewise keep in mind that we know at least one purpose for all who believe and trust in the Father and His Son Jesus. For Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20). By carrying out His command, we too are serving as instruments of deliverance…helping other move from death to life…from the famine of unrighteousness to the plenty of godliness…from hell to salvation.
Secondly, we need to keep in mind that the Holy Spirit will always validate truth. As we seek to see understand things that are happening in our lives, we can always know with absolute confidence that the Lord will NEVER allow us to be deceived when we are turning to Him for guidance. For Jesus said, "…when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13) Validate everything through the Spirit and you WILL find truth.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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