Genesis 44:1-45:28 + Matthew 14:13-36 + Psalm 18:37-50 + Proverbs 4:11-13
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Old Testament – In Genesis chapter 44 we read about Joseph instructing his servant to place his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. I guess what struck me about all this is that it seemed to me like Joseph was possibly playing mind games with his brothers. Not to say that they didn’t deserve it… but, I wonder if in all of this Joseph had a master game-plan – or if it was simply games he was playing? The weeping we see from him kind of makes me think that he was not 100% sure of what he was doing, game-plan wise. The weeping seemed to indicate that he wanted to reconnect with his brothers and his family. It seems in all of this he has kept at least 1 family member around – or has not let them get very far away. This makes me wonder – do we play mind games with others around us? Should we? Would it have been better if Joseph was honest with his brothers from the beginning on who he was? Would it be better for us if we are simply honest with others from the beginning? And don’t play mind games? (I wrote the previous words several years ago. I’ve since read a couple of Bible commentaries that now make me think that Joseph wasn’t playing mind games, but was bringing his brothers to a needed place of repentance for their sins before he revealed himself, which does make a lot of sense.) Below is a painting from 1831 by Russian painter Alexander Ivanov of Joseph’s household manager finding the silver cup in Benjamin’s sack:
Verses 18 through 34 in this chapter is Judah’s amazing speech to Joseph! I don’t know what it is about this speech. But I love it! It seems like Judah is finally owning up to being who he was born to be – the forefather of the line of King David and Jesus Christ. Verse 33 is the verse that really stood out to me: “Please, my lord, let me stay here as a slave instead of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers.” What struck me about this is that now Judah is willing to be the slave, in the place of his brother Benjamin – whereas 22 years prior he offered up the idea of selling his brother Joseph into slavery as we read in Genesis 37 verses 26 & 27: “Judah said to the others, “What can we gain by killing our brother? That would just give us a guilty conscience. Let’s sell Joseph to those Ishmaelite traders.” It seems like Judah in chapter 44 has finally grown up and is acting like a morally responsible adult. Judah with this speech today is finally beginning to look like he might indeed deserve to be referred to as the father of the tribe of the “Lion” of Judah!
Genesis chapter 45 begins with Joseph weeping again – and I think that it makes perfect sense that he does so, in light of Judah’s impassioned speech! And I wonder if Joseph in part weeps because Judah is offering to be the slave in the place of Benjamin? Either Joseph is weeping because his brothers did not show him this same mercy 22 years prior – or he is weeping because he is happy that Judah and his brothers seem to be very different people from 22 years prior – or he’s weeping for other reasons. 🙂 (Similar to my note above, I now think Joseph was weeping because his brother’s are now humbled and repentant – very different men than they were 22 years prior.) Below is a painting from 1816 by Peter von Cornelius of Joseph revealing his identity to his brothers in today’s readings:
Verse 5 in this chapter is a powerfully mature statement from Joseph to his brothers: “But don’t be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.” I find this very powerful that Joseph discerned this. He had been sold into slavery for 11 years! He was in a prison for 2 years! And then, yes, things got better for him thereafter – but he was still apart from his family. And yet – Joseph saw God’s hand and God’s plan in all of this. There was a greater good happening – the preservation of Abraham & Isaac’s descendants. The preservation of God’s covenant people. I then wonder about this in our lives. Are there times where we go through some hard times – maybe for many years – and in the midst of that, could God be working? Could God’s hand and God’s plan be moving in the midst of challenging times in our lives? I think it’s possible that if I was Joseph that maybe I would have become a bitter man toward my brothers – and maybe done worse than just mind games. But, Joseph was compassionate – he wept – he gave grain in abundance to his family – he forgave his brothers. And more than anything, he saw that God was in control. Do you believe that God is in control of your life? Right now? All the time? No matter how good or how bad circumstances seem? Is God in control? Below is a very unique 🙂 portrait by artist Guy Rowe of Joseph revealing his identity to his brothers and their looks of shock from 45:3: “But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them.”
Bible.org’s commentary on Genesis chapter 44 titled “The Final Test: Dothan Relived” is at this link, and commentary on chapter 45 titled “The Fundamentals of Forgiveness” is at this link.
New Testament – In Matthew chapter 14 today we read about two miracles – Jesus feeding the 5,000 (or really 10,000 to 15,000 counting men, women & children – Matthew just counted men, as his Gospel was written to a Jewish audience, which had men eat separately from women and children at that time/place) and Jesus walking on water. While these 2 miracles are amazing and again confirming that Jesus is God – a couple of other things stood out me. First was verse 23: “Afterward he went up into the hills by himself to pray.” If Jesus did this – do you think we should do the same? How often do we get away from the “crowds” or even the “disciples” or loved ones in our life to be by ourselves and pray? Do you do this at least for a few minutes each day? Do you do this for longer periods of time too?
Verses 29 & 30 also stood out to me today: “All right, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.” These verses made me wonder in our own lives – Are there times or areas our lives where Jesus has said, “Come”, and we’ve moved forward in faith. But then – the waves came… the challenges came… the doubts came… the insults came…. and we started to waver in our faith? Maybe we got scared – and started to sink? Well – I do admire that Peter did cry out to Jesus to save him in this situation – and we then get the reassuring verse 31: “Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him.” If you feel like there are some areas in your life where you are sinking – will you cry out to Jesus to save you? Do you believe he will instantly reach out his hand and grab you?
Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Matthew chapter 14 titled “The Feeding of the Five Thousand” is at this link.
Psalms – Today we finish up Psalm 18. (Psalm 19 tomorrow! So excited! 🙂 The closing verse 50 of Psalm 18 today is powerful – and I believe can apply to both David and Jesus: “You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever.” Are you a spiritual descendent of David? Do you believe that God shows you unfailing love? Do you think that God’s Word, the Bible, shows His unfailing love for you?
Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 4 verse 13 was impactful for me today: “Carry out my instructions; don’t forsake them. Guard them, for they will lead you to a fulfilled life.” I like that last thought – guard God’s instructions. Don’t forsake them. For they will lead you to a fulfilled life. I think sometimes people think that loving God and following his ways will be BORING. 🙂 This is so not true! It is absolutely the best adventure we could ever imagine. And truly, following God and his instructions is the only way I personally believe that any of us can have a fulfilled life. I do not think there is another way to lead a fulfilled life. Can you imagine a life apart from God being fulfilling? Is this remotely possible?? Today, let us leap into the adventurous life of faith that God is truly calling us to live!
Worship Video: Today’s readings in Matthew about Peter calling out to Jesus when he was sinking in the water reminded me of the Third Day song “Call My Name:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEXXUdU–Zg
Have you ever called on God’s name? Click here and make that call today!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!” Psalm 18:46 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you would praise God wholeheartedly today in all that you think, do, and say.
Comments from You and Questions of the Day: Based on our readings in Matthew today where we see that Jesus slipped away from the crowds to pray by himself, do you model this behavior of Jesus’ in your life and slip away from the crowds to pray by yourself? How often? Where and How? Also, do you take spiritual retreats? Do you take the retreats alone or with others? Is prayer a central part of the retreats? I’m just curious about spiritual retreats. I cannot say that I have done a prayer-focused spiritual retreat – or even an alone-with-God focused spiritual retreat. I think I might be due. 🙂 Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
======= Ramona:
Mike-regarding your question asking if Joseph was playing “mind games” with his brothers, no, I don’t think so and here is why.
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and asked him, “We are not blind too, are we?” Jesus replied, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now because you claim that you can see, your guilt remains.”
(John 9:40-41 NET.)
Joseph was trying to get them to admit they were blind; they had to confess to their sin(s). First of all one cannot come to God, to Christ, without first admitting one is sinful, Joseph could not bestow on his brothers the honor of being his brothers in Egypt, with all the honor that would entail, unless they faced their sin. There are two kids of sorrow, a worldly sorrow (a sorrow that says, I’m sorry because I got caught), and a godly sorrow (a sorrow that is truly repentant of one’s behavior. Without godly sorrow, the brothers would not be able to exist in Egypt without becoming a further stench in the nostrils of the Egyptians, who didn’t like Hebrews anyway.
It’s all about character. We can mentally assent and verbally confess we are something that our behavior shows we are not; but unless there is a character change our words will never match our behavior or vice versa. No mind games with Joseph, he was just trying to get his brothers to admit they were “blind.”
Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.
(2 Corinthians 7:9-10 NET.)
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Luch:
To Mike’s question about retreats and time alone with God I was impressed with how Jesus did leave the crowd to be alone with God. Just yesterday I led the life group leaders at my church through an interactive discussion on an article called “Moving from Solitude to Community to Ministry.” The article was a compilation of writings of Henri Nouwen.
IN the article Nouwen makes the point that Jesus had this spiritual rhythm in his life of being alone with the Father (solitude)and then coming down and choosing the 12 (community) and then taking them into ministry when he took them to the crowds to heal and help. You can see this pattern in Luke 6:12-19. Although it says in Mark 1:35 that he arose a great while before day we also see him going to pray all night. I guess Jesus was a morning and night person.
The point for me is that I need to make sure these times dialoguing with God through the One year bible is a time of authentic solitude. It’s out of this time that I develop the keen awareness of ‘others’–seeking for community, and that I realize that community nor bible reading in solitude are ends in themeselves, but that God intends to bless others through us by empowering us through solitude and community to serve others in our world and faith communities.
One of the tendencies I see in people is to keep consuming and consuming lots of spiritual input without ever becoming channels of blessing. Instead they end up like the Dead Sea with no flow out.
I pray that as our one year bible blog community continues to journey that God will use each one of us wherever we are in the world to bless others as we “hold out the word of life” Philippians 2:16
Luch
======= Jan:
Have you not been given a dream/vision/word/phophecy by the Lord & when it comes to fruition you cry out of humbleness to the Hand of the Almighty Lord God?!?!?! I know that I do…I cry when He confirms what He gives me in dreams/visions/words of knowdlege/prophecy. It is a humble & contrite heart that He loves & will not turn away from. I think Joseph was so humbled by what God had given him when he/Joseph was young & then confirming everything He told him/Joseph was very very humbled & of course, he loved his family. He knew that all that had happened was God’s hand & that is very very humbling indeed…to see it lived out & to be a part of it…it is beyond our comprehension & it humbles us greatly.
“Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn {us} but He will heal us; He has wounded {us} but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him. “So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.” –Hosea 6:1-3
“The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times {brighter} like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted.” –Isaiah 30:26
Joseph was not playing mind games, I beleive he was being obedient to the whishperings of the Lord. Everything played out just like it was supposed to & God was glorified once again. Nothing is coincidence with God in our lives. He is soveriegn & always in control, even though it may not seem so to our finite minds. His ways are not our ways for sure.
Jan
======= Anka:
I just found it amazing that the disciples saw Jesus turn 5 loaves and 2 fish into enough food for over 5000….but realised after he walked on water that he was the son of God and worshiped him…
Anka
======= Jim:
ok, i’ll be the lone gun on the joseph. yes, he was definitely trying to trick them. whether or not this was to cause confession or not i don’t know. headgames were definitely involved! my curiousity is with the fact that joshua was a bit of a trickster himself. since joseph was favored by his father, perhaps we now know why.
Jim
======= Shirlene:
Regarding Peter walking on the water. He could not have walked on the water if he had not first gotten into the boat. That is the first requirement, get into the boat. He couldn’t walk under the water, he couldn’t go around the water, he had to get in the boat. We cannot have miracles unless we first get on board. Jesus is the only way.
Shirlene
======= Phil:
Interestingly the current phrase is ‘If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat!
I guess it depends where you count the start of the journey. Anyway…
Firstly I wanted to say Thank You for showing me a part of the picture I hadn’t seen before; about josephs actions protecting and providing for his family and therefore preserving his line. It seem obvious now, but it’s quite important I think.
Secondly, if being a diciple of christ is all about having a relationship with God, then everything else becomes a response to that relationship? Be it what we do, how we think, the way we treat people etc etc Whatever we fill our time up is meaningless unless we’ve first spent time communing with God; in whatever way we need to.
Often Christians are the worst people to be around when you want to spend time with God!
Phil
======= Roslyn:
I was just starting Sunday’s readings —-still on Joseph.
And I was soooo happy to get to the part that I was waiting for when Joseph can no longer contain his self-control and had to finally tell his brothers the truth!!! And to tell them that it was all God’s plan for him to “go ahead” to
Egypt and prepare the way for them! Yes, to everything there is a reason!!! I’m reminded by a book I read a long time ago by a German theologian, A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die.” Joseph’s revelation is much too powerful—-God’s sometimes incomprehensible plan, and the power of love and forgiveness…
When I started this oneyearbibleblog, I did tell Mike I might not be able to do it everyday. I told the same thing to my friend who enticed me into doing this. But so far I haven’t missed a day in doing the readings. Although I do not post my comments and reflections, my friend and I exchange comments/reflection/questions practically everyday.
I truly feel that there is
a “powerful call’ into reading the Scripture and making a meaningful connection of the Word in the daily events of my life. Thanks for the invitation to join this!
As Mike has said, finding the relevance of God’s Word is different in every stage of our lives.
Roslyn
======= Joyce:
I believe Judah was the more compassionate one of the brothers,he never wanted to kill Joseph in the beginning. I do believe he was annoyed with Joseph and his stories and because their Father favored Joseph and remembered their Father made Joseph the coat of many colors and not any of the other brothers. Judah did love Joseph despite the circumstances.
Joyce
======= Stacey:
I do not think that Joseph was playing mind games at all. I believe that rescue was what was on his mind. He knew that the seven year long severe famine was coming and that his family would need to be in the place of “salvation”. He also knew that his father would not give up living in the land God had promised to go to Egypt. Jacob had worked very hard to get his family into their own land. Jacob didn’t have the same love for the 10 brothers as he did for Benjamin. So at the beginning the only real way that Joseph could bring the family to safety was to try to keep Benjamin. You can see Joseph’s love for his family by the names he named his own sons. God not only blessed Joseph and gave him a great name and a great mission to the world, but God was always there working in the backround to bring salvation to his family as well. All of the years of trial and imprisonment had not made Joseph bitter about his family. His only hope and salvation at those times was his faith and relationship to God. Joseph is one who lives out the promise in 2 Peter 1. Whereas the rest of the world would have spent the time of testing by becoming more and more sour and bitter, Joseph spent the time knowing God better and better. When the opportunity came to see his family again, he had compassion on them. But he certainly didn’t feel safe with the brothers. So he didn’t reveal his true identity to them. At this point in the story, his beautiful heart of love and compassion overtakes his need to try to protect himself. And God gives him the very special opportunity to express unconditional love toward his brothers and rescue his entire family from death and destruction.
2 Peter 1: 3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Stacey
======= Jen:
Genesis
Joseph was such a forgiving man we can learn from him. I think he also knew his brothers well when he tells them not to argue on the way home.
Matthew
I love the way you applied this to our own lives Mike thanks
Psalms
He indeed is the living Lord!!! I will praise Him. He is a mighty rock. I will honour Him.
Jen
======= Pat:
What really stands out to me this morning is Joseph’s final instructions he gave to his brothers in Genesis 45:24 when he is sending them back to pack up their father and their families to bring them to Egypt so he can see that they are provided with what they need during the last five years of the great famine, (“DON’T QUARREL ON THE WAY” [NIV] – “SEE THAT YOU DO NOT BECOME TROUBLED ALONG THE WAY ” [KJV)]). The brothers have been reunited after 22 years, Joseph has forgiven them for selling him into slavery, the family of Jacob has been assured that they will be taken care of during the remaining five years of the famine, the Pharaoh has even offered them the best of the land and provided them with carts to transport their father and their wives and children back to Egypt, and yet Joseph instructs them “not to quarrel on the way.” Maybe the lesson here is that we cannot quarrel with others and see God’s blessings at the same time. The time and energy we spend being angry at or quarreling with another person could be put to better use in praising the Lord and thanking Him for all the blessings He bestows daily on each of us.
God Bless!
Pat
======= Jenny:
Yay! I love Joseph’s happy ending. I believe Joseph was so overjoyed and filled with love for his brothers that he just couldnt contain himself. i get a little teary every time i read this story. I dont think it was wrong for Joseph to mess with them, clearly he had forgiven them, but all the time his brothers were in fear and feeling guilty about selling Joseph, it gave them time to think things over, what they had done. it made Joseph’s self-revalation even more amazing and joyful! Joseph was wise and knew God’s purpose in this. “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” Whenever someone does us wrong or when the enemy means it for evil, God can turn things around in amazing ways!!!
Poor Jacob meanwhile probly didnt trust his sons wen they told him Joseph was alive because they had deceived him once by saying Joseph was dead, until he saw the carts and all the blessings. What a happy story! looks like Jacob’s deception to his father n brother came back full circle.
Peter walking on water is such a great example for us. the Lord told him to do something and he did, His eyes fixed on Jesus. But then he took his eyes off Jesus (like many times we may do). He then put his eyes on his circumstances…the wind, the danger, the fear…He took his eyes off Christ and began to sink! Boy can i relate to this! i bet we all can! We may have initial faith, but if we take our eyes off Christ and look toward the circumstanes, we sink! I love his pray, the shortest prayer in the Bible…easy for us to memorize ;)…”Lord, save me!” When we are faced with something, a difficulty, a temptation, we can cry out, Lord save me! He will! Then, let’s get our eyes back on Christ and off our worries.
(love the pic too! i have it on my page! =)
Then Jesus reached for him. A pastor was going over this a while back…he pointed out it doesnt mention how Peter got back in the boat, other then he climbed in. Did he walk back? did he swim? Did Jesus carry him? I think the point is, we shouldnt worry about how we are gonna be restored…reach out to Jesus and He’ll get us back in the boat, we arent to worry, ‘how is He gonna do this?’….the point is, He will..not us, but Him. We just need to have faith and focus on Jesus!
Psalms is awesome in that we have no need to fear anything if God be our God. He is for us! He is our mighty rock…and in this, we will never sink! He keeps his promises and is so faithful to those who seek righteousness! The Lord has really been showing me this in my life lately…He is sooooo amazing, I cant even explain the grace and love He has been showering me with. I used to think if i were married, had a great career, pets, and my own home, i’d be happy. I have none of those things yet I am not happiest I could ever be…i cant express the joy in my heart, as i write this, my heart overflows!! I’m reminded of my current fave song, Shine On by needtobreath, great lyrics…my fave part is: “you think you needed it all now, but you needed Me instead!” Sometimes we dont know what we need! Well He is all we need and as time goes on i see this more and more. If you have this, “you have your victory’ as the song says. Money cant buy this kinda joy, this treasure, this peace. Nothing can fill that gap, nothing but Christ!
For many years i was a Christian, but felt a lacking in my life…i thought, must be the fact i was single, or that i didnt have the ‘career’. Nope! its b’cos I wasnt completely submerged in Christ! If any believers are lacking something, you are saved but still feel a void, dive into Christ! Read the Bible daily, pray, praise Him daily in good and bad, thank Him always, seek Him first, surround yourself with godliness; Godly ppl, attend church regularly, listening to radio ministries, and trust and obey!!!! Obedience is soooo important! One song we used to sing in church as a kid: “trust and obey. for there’s no other way…to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
there you have it, thats the key to total fulfillment, peace, and joy in life. Christ. nothing else will do!
Jenny
======= Mae:
Jenny, I love to read about your songs!!! Don’t you just LOVE to sing in church? I LOVE it! I sound like nails scratching over a blackboard … but I don’t care!!!!! My favorite song is “My life is in you, Lord”. Yes … singing in church is awesome!!!
I love reading about Jesus feeding more than five thousand people! I was brought up with this story. The culture I was brought up with (my parents are Indonesian) is to always feed the people who come to your house. When people come to your house, ask them to stay for dinner or for lunch, or whatever. My grandmother used to say to me (she was a very religious woman) “You’ll always have enough, don’t worry about that! Jesus fed thousands of people with five loaves of bread and two fishes … He had enough … So never worry, if you feed people with love, you’ll always have enough”. And you know what? I always have enough! When I made dinner for 6 and we get more visitors, I worry … but then I think about how Jesus fed thousands with five loaves of bread and two fishes … I know it will be allright.
As for my prayings, I pray everywhere, whenever I feel the need to pray I pray. But I have one special place where I pray and that’s in my bedroom. In the morning and afternoon I kneel beside the side of my bed and open my window to pray. In the evening I kneel at the side of my bed. I really appreciate my time with the Lord and I need to have it by myself. I’m still praying with my ‘prayers-list’, I always seem to forget something or somebody, so I need my ‘list’.
Can someone tell me what retreats are? I do have an idea, but I want to make sure! I couldn’t find it in the dictionary.
Mae
======= Jenny:
yes Mae, I love it. I know God loves hearing it or inhabiting the praises of His people, even if we werent all bessed with great voices, haha. My pastor pointed out that the Bible says: Make a joyful “noise” unto the Lord.
I especially love remembering songs I learned at church as a kid, theres something so special about that. Being raised in the church is such a blessing!
a retreat is like a get-away, a vacation kinda. I looked it up in the dictionary, here are some meanings:
1.The act or process of withdrawing, especially from something hazardous, formidable, or unpleasant
2. A place affording peace, quiet, privacy, or security.
3. a. A period of seclusion, retirement, or solitude.
b. A period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, or study
Jenny
======= Gina:
I like how Joseph asks everyone to leave the room before he confronts his brothers. Reminds me that we should not spread gossip or expose the bad actions of others where lots of people could hear. Joseph went right to his brothers only…no one else knew what they had done to him. We need to be the same way – if someone does us wrong, we should confront that person and not go and tell everyone what was done to us.
I also like that he tells his brothers to not be angry with themselves for selling him…he knows it was part of God’s plan…45:6 says “it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you” then in verse 8 he says “It was not you who sent me here, but God”. How awesome to know that God allowed all that bad stuff yet he does not blame God or is not angry with Him. There’s definitely a lesson to be learned there! Like you said…God is in control!
In Matthew when Jesus says “You of little faith…why did you doubt?” – It makes me feel like a little child looking up at Jesus with big puppy dog eyes and tears rolling down my face…I have this picture of Jesus being so kind and loving yet gently reminding me that I can trust him and I do not have to be afraid.
About going off to pray….I like to pray in our bedroom – since my husband travels so much right now, it’s quiet pretty much everywhere in the house, but there’s a peace about our bedroom that I enjoy. I do my bible study in the “office” though – because that is where the computer is. I wish I had a laptop! But my husband needs it for work!
I also love to pray in the car! Sometimes just turn the music off and talk…some of my best conversations with God are in the car!
I went on a retreat called the “Walk to Emmaus” – it’s a 3 day get away…no phone, no tv, no clocks or watches (that one was tough for me!) ~ just the ocean, your bible, some great teachings…you and God – it’s really great! There are about 25-30 other women with you but you get plenty of “alone” time. There is one night when you get to hang out in the chapel, you can go anywhere you want in there…you can go to the alter, you can stay in your seat, you can lay on the floor on your face…whatever you feel like doing….and you get a couple of hours just you and God….I heard God so loud and clear that night…I’ll never forget it!!
Psalms – espceially vs. 46-50 makes me want to shout!!! THE LORD LIVES! PRAISE BE TO MY ROCK! EXAULTED BE GOD MY SAVIOR! Wow! that is so awesome…what a prayer of praise that is! :0)
Proverbs…I can’t imagine my life without Jesus! It’s hard for me to remember what it was like sometimes before I was saved. Although I never want to forget where I came from – it’s a great reminder of just how much God has done for me! But I am totally fullfilled with Jesus! Living for God is so not boring!! It’s the best ride ever! I love Him so much!
Gina
======= Brad:
I went on a New Year’s retreat with Campus Crusade for Christ a few years back. Groups of Christian college students from various colleges were picked up on a bus from Nevada to Vancouver Canada. We stayed at a lovely hotel in Vancouver near the water for a few days. Each morning there was a worship service. We spent one day in groups spreading the Word throughout Vancouver. New Years Eve was very interesting because there were three separate parties happening concurrently at this hotel. There was a dark, smoky bar party–with people getting drunk. There was an upscale party for wealthy, well-dressed (maybe middle aged) people. Then, there was our Christian, non-drinking party. There was tremendous contrast between these three parties. The joy existing in the college Christian party is something I had not seen before among such a large group of young people. There were people carrying others on their shoulders, listening to Christian rock music, people tossing beach balls into the air, dancing, singing, praying. It was great! The whole retreat was memorable.
Brad
======= Bill:
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:
“ Based on our readings in Matthew today where we see that Jesus slipped away from the crowds to pray by himself, do you model this behavior of Jesus’ in your life and slip away from the crowds to pray by yourself? How often? Where and How? Also, do you take spiritual retreats? Do you take the retreats alone or with others? Is prayer a central part of the retreats? …”
I used to try and get off alone sometimes at work, usually whenever I especially felt the need. I usually went to the fenced storage area outside the building in which I worked. I could be alone there for awhile most of the time. There is a very high wooded hill nearby my house which is the highest point of elevation in the county I live in. I have gone there a few times to read my Bible and to pray. It’s very quiet and all you hear are the birds chirping. I have been to a retreat but with others in the church I attended at the time. I once went to a retreat center in Michigan for the weekend to attend a concert. The rooms there did not have a television set. It was a blessing just to get away from that for awhile…lol! I would like to go back there sometime just to spend a week or so of doing nothing but Bible study and prayer.
GENESIS 44:1-45:28
God always has a purpose for adversity in the life of the believer and that was certainly true in Joseph’s life ( 45:5-8 ). God will somehow always bring good out of it. In Joseph’s case, God’s purpose was twofold : 1 ) to save the lives of thousands in Egypt and in the surrounding nations during the seven year famine which God in His foreknowledge foretold through Joseph’s dream; and 2 ) to fulfill His prophetic Word which He spoke to Abraham saying, “ Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;” ( Genesis 15:13 ). Joseph’s adversity and rise to power was how God chose to bring the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob into Egypt.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
– Romans 8:28 ( KJV )
MATTHEW 14:13-36
The feeding of five thousand with only five loaves of bread and two fishes with plenty leftovers to go around ( vv.15-21 ) is an amazing miracle. If Jesus can do that how much more is he able to supply my daily bread and my other basic necessities even in famine and financial hard times?
When Jesus bid Peter to come to Him by walking on the water as Jesus did ( vv.28-29 ), Peter’s first steps of faith toward Jesus were sure ( v.29 ). After a few more steps his faith failed because he took his eyes off of the Lord and looked at the adverse circumstances around him. When we take our eyes off of Jesus then doubts are sure to creep into our hearts ( v.31 ). Walking by faith is about keeping our eyes on the Lord at all times.
In these acts and many other things that Jesus did He showed Himself to be the Son of God ( v.33 ).
PSALM 18:37-50
I have to say that vv.37-42, as well as v.34, are biblical support for the “Just War” doctrine. I think it is a doctrine that we should examine closely, especially in a time when our nation is waging a ’ War On Terrorism ’ regardless of how you feel about the war in Iraq right now. I’m sure that many Christians will disagree with me that there is biblical support for this doctrine but how else can you explain God commanding the children of Israel to go to war against the Canaanites and David’s many battles with the Philistines? Here is a link below for more info on the “Just War” teaching if anyone is interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_war
PROVERBS 4:11-13
Wisdom, direction and sure footing is needed to live the Christian life which is likened to running a race ( v.12; Hebrews 12:1; 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 ).
Bill
======= Kitty:
I love how Joseph has been so forgiving towards his brothers who wronged him, and how he realised that that God is sovereign and is ultimately in control of his life and circumstances. I do believe that God is in control of my life all the time, no matter how good or how bad circumstances seem.
The reminder that we should get away from our busyness and even loved ones in our life to be by ourselves and pray is awesome. Thanks to this blog, I have been able to do it almost everyday now. And it does help me to be more in tune with God, and His wisdom and His word.
Right now, I am going through a time where Jesus has said, “Come”, and I had moved forward in faith in ministry and business. I must admit I get doubtful and scared at times – and have started to sink. And praise to the Lord, Jesus always reaches out his hand to me. He will never leave me nor forsake me. I certainly believe that God shows me His unfailing, unconditional and sacrifical love (love Psalm 18).
My vision and life purpose is to live a meaningful, fulfilled, significant, purposeful and balanced life. Today’s scripture in Proverbs chapter 4 teaches us that in order to lead a fulfiled life, we need to guard and carry out God’s instructions.
I agree with you Mike, living a life following the Lord’s instructions is absolutely the best adventure we could ever imagine.
Also regarding spiritual retreat, I enjoy going to the natural settings like a park or up the mountains every now and then, to spend extensive time alone with God, and write in my journal. I highly recommend it.
Kitty
=======. Oz:
love verse 24 in Gen 45;
Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”
Wonder if this is in reference to them arguing over who was to blame when selling Joseph. Sounds like somehting a Dad would say
Oz
======= Patty:
My thoughts on Genesis 45-46:
Mike, when I read these verses from a woman’s perspective I see all of Joseph’s weeping as tears of joy. Joseph placed God first in his life even as he lived in the land of Egypt with all of their many gods and the position of power that the Pharaoh had placed him in. Because Joseph always placed God first and recognized that it was God who had actually made him manager over all Egypt and not Pharaoh himself, God filled Joseph’s heart with understanding, forgiveness and love. Each time we saw his brothers this love for them and joy of just seeing them manifested itself in the form of tears. It is much easier for me to weep when I’m joyful than when I’m sad and I see Joseph as being the same way.
The verse that stands out in my reading of these chapters is 45:24, “So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them,’ Don’t quarrel about all of this along the way’. (NLT) “ What a strange order to give his brothers. It made me stop and think about all the times we let petty quarrels drive a wedge in our relationship with our families, friends, or in our churches. Joseph wanted his family to return to him as a unit without any bitterness among them. I think there is a great message in this Scripture for us today. God wants His children, His family, to work together as a unit and not let petty quarrels drive a wedge between us. In our relationships with others today, God wants us to put aside our petty quarrels and let our relationships with each other be governed not by anger but by love!
God bless!
Patty
======= Elizabeth:
Enjoyed the comments today–funny that two folks noticed the same thing I did (the comment not to argue). Patty, you are so right about petty quarrels dividing families. Pride and desire to be “right” is insidious–the Lord has been showing me that ugly vein in myself lately.
Kitty, I enjoyed reading your reflections on how the Lord is working in your life and reshaping you. I feel like I am also in a season of reshaping…
I always think of Joseph as so gracious and forgiving of his brothers (and, of course, he is!), but this time through his story I couldn’t help but think that he did extract a type of revenge by letting them squirm–over the cup, over having them get their brother. I suspect it took him some time to work through his feelings between the meetings.
I feel like he breaks down in Genesis 44 because he’s come to the end of his ability to hold them at arms length with his secrecy. Unlike his father, Joseph was not of that ilk and seemed to prefer truthfulness in all matters (thinking of how he told the truth about the bakers dream even when the truth was brutal).
This morning I was also struck by the amazing amount of detail we get in Joseph’s story–so much complete dialogue and even these little “asides” like “don’t fight along the way.” I was loving it! It’s in contrast to so much of scripture where entire generations pass barely a nod or comment.
Elizabeth
======= Herb:
What I noticed was that the placing of the cup into the bag of his younger brother and accusing him of stealing it was very deceitful. Right is right and wrong is wrong. If he did this to get even then who’s sin was the worse, his or his brothers. Sin is sin. I don’t think Joseph wanted them to leave but I don’t think that he wanted them to know who he was. He was being pulled in two directions and it was having a emotional drain upon him. I believe that this is the reason for the tears.
Herb
======= Tracy:
Joseph might be Joseph the emotional or Joseph in control in the silver cup affair. I’d rather believe him once suffered so much, is as emotional as you and me in our lives–knowing that God wanted us to truly forgive (not only forget) but still struggling (not wrestling though) somewhat in our own tricky ways. I feel very touched by how God leading him in this scene: not blaming or punishing, but showing him the brothers are having a totally different attitude to his little brother (what a contrast!) He finally still have to give up his resentfulness. With his brothers’ answers I believe he heard God’s voice. He then chose to finally compromise to God’s truth that he already knew.
People hurt people in this world. Those who depend on themselves get bitter and having no hope. As his beloved, I’ve been learning not seeing how people “mistreat” me and believing what they do or not do is in God’s will. No judgement but pray to the good. This has been hard but I knew I’d give up my own will all the time at last. Thanks to God for still doing his will, he is always, faithful…. and most importantly, he is always…right.
Tracy
======= Alli:
I cannot help but to admire Joseph’s compassion and lack of bitterness…I believe that this was due to the fact that Joseph was able to recognise that even though his brothers did wrong, and he suffered as a result,it was all a part of God’s greater plan…oh how if in our trials we can be faithful enough to see God in the midst instead of being bitter towards our fellowman…
May God bless us all as we go through this study…may He grant us the wisdom to see and know truth [we have read much about wisdom so far] and may we walk in it daily…
Alli
======= Matt:
What got my attention was that Judah was willing to be a substitute for Benjamin and take his punishment, just as Jesus, from the line of Judah willing died on the cross for the sins of you and me.
Matt
======= Jean:
I see a difference in the brothers’ understanding of their father’s potential grief over another lost son. When they got rid of the bothersome brother there were no forethoughts of what Joseph’s disappearance would mean, only of being free of his dreaming presence. Now they are truly concerned for their father. Joseph may see this as permission to open up to them.
Jean
======= Debbie:
A couple of weekends ago I went to Pineville with my husband before he deployed. I ended up spending about 16 hours in the car waiting on him while he processed. I used this time to draw near to God. It was a spiritual retreat and God revealed things to me. It was very refreshing.
Also, we have a non-profit and I was struggling for words for our January thank you letter. Finally, I fasted two meals and spent time in prayer. I was renewed and God gave me the words for the thank you.
I am studying at a seminary and I am surprised that the young students have not developed a habit of prayer. I really encourage folks to make prayer a priority in their Christian lives.
Debbie
======= Wendy:
I don’t see that Joseph is playing mind games. I believe he had already forgiven his brothers. He was testing his brothers to see if they had repented or bringing them to a place where they truly did repent, not just thinking that they were paying for what they had done. What Joseph did, brought them to the place where they confessed their sin. He who confesses his sin will obtain mercy. I see the hand of God in all that Joseph did.
Wendy
======= Molly:
Reading through the Gospels, I have noticed that Jesus favorite word was “Come”. Such as “Come and see”, “Come follow me”,” Come all you who are weary”. Jesus loved to invite anyone and everyone. He is still to this day saying “come”. We are His mouthpiece, His representatives, are we telling anyone to come to Jesus?
Molly
======= Jennifer:
I thought it was neat when Joseph forgave his brothers and said I was supposed to be here and deliver you my family from this terrible famine. I think this is foreshadowing Jesus’s coming and preparing the way for us.
As for Mike’s question. I think he was testing his brothers to see if they were the same men who sold him into slavery. Would they take the silver and pretend that it didn’t end up in their sacks? Would they try to fool him by bring someone else beside Benjamin back with them?
Then would they sell another brother into slavery?
I think he was trying to see their character through their actions.
Jennifer
======= Jill:
Genesis 44 the part about Joseph reuniting with with his brothers is no doubt my favorite part of this story. This is the climax of the story. Joseph weeping was tears of joy and for all the wasted years he had away from them. The fact that he went into another room shows me his vulnerability and that he was an emotional man. The years estranged I would imagine every day in the quietness of his room he prayed and wept for his father’s and brothers and for restoration. This story brings hope to restored relationships!!! It did me! 20’plus years. Shows our timing was not ours!! Joseph not revealing himself shows he needed time to recompose and think wisely with his response to them. After he was treated so cruelly. Wouldn’t you??? He has to test the waters! Were they genuine!?
This also teaches me we must guard our hearts. Abuse is an awful thing. If we allow it to take over our life we lose ourselves and the person God created. Joseph showed wisdom! This was acquired after many years of his life experiences . Let us learn from that. God is in control.,
Jill
======= Dee:
I love that analogy Ramona! And if Joseph hadn’t pulled the “envelope” so to speak to confession, we never would have seen the true heart and admiration of Judah and fully see him be the man God called him to be!
comments and qotd: I love spiritual retreats-I did go to a retreat with my little sister when I was younger @ ephworth by the sea in St. Simons Ga-I don’t think I fully understood or appreciated the moments like I should but I would love to retry and revisit it one day.
I often wondered what or how Joseph’s palace manager must have felt or thought towards Joseph’s trickery or vices. He (Joseph) told his palace manager what to do(add $ back to the bags of his brothers) and then put silver cup in youngest bag.
Then the palace manager had to chase after them and accuse them of stealing when the palace manager knew for certain it was a set up..he just didn’t know why or for what?..
I love how Joseph revealed himself and gave all credit to God for being in slavery 11 years and living as the governor of Egypt. Wow.
Matt 14:13-36
Awe, the story of 2 fish/5 loaves. Jesus is our provider-El Shaddai-he gives when others don’t understand how-and other towns but his hometown, he is accepted, reached out to and needed so bad..he was Love!
Psalm 18:37-50
A promise to David and his descendents forever. He gives great victories, pays back those who harm us and You alone Lord give great victories unto us.
Proverbs 4:11-13
The instructions of wisdom-Guard them, never let them go!
Dee
======= Mitch:
Is God in control? Yes, but when bad things happen to us, do we acknowledge that fact? Intellectually we know moral evil is a result of God allowing us “free will”? But can we admit that sometime in the future (maybe decades) through God it will have worked out for the best.
Take Joseph from 17 to 30. Would he be in Egypt if his brother’s had not sold him (just killed him)? Would he have been in prison (where he met cup bearer and baker for Pharaoh) if Potipher’s wife had not tried to seduce Joseph? If he could not interpret the dreams would he have been called by Pharaoh? If pride had not been knocked out of him in prison where he acknowledged God multiple times in front of Pharaoh would God give him interpretation of dream? All this led to him being second in command in Egypt. Some good happened; a lot of bad – and in the end even Joseph knew this was God’s work! Gods plans and ways are very complex and higher than our plans and ways.
Jesus MADE the disciples get in boat – getting them away from the crowd who increasingly wanted to make him King. Why not? Jesus could provide food from nowhere and heal any injuries from battle. Do you blame the crowds?
So the disciples are dead sure Jesus is the Son of God? So where were they at the cross?
Mitch
======= Sue:
I am perplexed.
It is so clear that Joseph has found favor with Pharoah…and this occurred with Daniel later when the Israelites were taken into captivity in Babylon too.
400 years in Egypt: I would be inclined to think that with the knowledge they had of God, their experience with Joseph, all the history with Esau marrying his Uncle’s daughters and causing so much family strife…
How did they come to be slaves in the land of Egypt?
That just baffles me!
Everywhere else they went, with the Philistine King with Sarah and Abraham, with the Philistine king with Rebekah and Isaac–they came away from there respected and richer as the kings bestowed gifts on them, and because these kings and their people knew God was with them…
How much are we like the Israelites in that we blend into the culture where we live instead of being “different” because we serve the living God?
Are we set apart? Holy?
I hope so.
I read the Psalm first today; what a beautiful benediction!
Then, in reading Genesis it struck me that what we prophesy to our children (e.g. you’re a “bad boy” they believe and attempt to fulfill ); as I read the blessings of Jacob to his children I could see how many of them were fulfilled. Conversely, when we prophesy good things to our children, they try to live up to THAT!
And finally I was surprised to see that Leah, the one who consistently sought Jacob’s love and favor was buried with the patriarchs and their wives, and Rachel was buried elsewhere.
Just a few thoughts that went through my brain in today’s reading.
May we all recognize our many blessings!
God’s love and blessings to you all.
Sue
======= John:
Living by myself – it is easy to go into my “prayer closet”. The whole place is a “prayer closet”. I do not think it is difficult to go off on your own, you just need to choose to do be isolated. Examples: Roll your windows up, turn off your radio and just pray while driving. Find an empty office or shut your door for a few moments and pray. Pull over into a parking lot and pray. In the mountains, I often pulled over in a rest or scenic area and got out and walked over to a nice vista, and just prayed. etc. Not prostrate, wailing, but just respectful, hands folded, quiet time.
In the last year, I have gone on one men’s retreat at my church. I would highly reccomend the experiance. Not only for the prayer time and spiritual nature of the weekend, but for the opportunity to meet other like-minded people in your church. Do not stay with people you know in the church. There are a lot of people who have families, committments, or just do not hang around church to talk on Sundays. If they are away from those things on a retreat, it is a good time to get to know them and fellowship.
Matt 14:22
Although gospel of John is not a synoptic gospel, it too includes the story of feeding of 5,000+. Included in the recount is this verse:
“Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” – John 6:15
The Jewish people were waiting for a Messiah that would be a king, sit on David’s throne, and throw off the yoke of Roman oppression. They were expecting a MAN, to many the idea of God coming in Man’s body was not possible. The simple reason was: God would become corrupted if in a man’s body. Maybe they were influenced in this thought by Greek and Roman mythology – I don’t really know?
So the Crowd wanted to make Jesus king by force, and since the Disciples were also Jewish I maintain that they also were caught up with this idea of Jesus as king.
Jesus went up into the mountain, but he also made, constrained, forced the disciples into the boat (matt 14:22, mark 6:45) (Gk. Anagkazo). My conjecture is that he wanted to separate his disciples from the train of thought going on in the crowd.
Perhaps in Jesus’ quiet time on the mountain, he prayed for the crowd, but I think he was praying especially for the disciples. When the time was right, in God’s will and led by the Father, Jesus came to the disciples “walking on water”. Perhaps to show them AGAIN that he was not purely a MAN but Diety.
I always marvel at how the disciples saw all this evidence of the diety of Christ, but in times of stress or tumult would waver in their understanding. (Just like us???)
The important point here is Jesus did not perform this miracle off the cuff, but consulted God the Father in prayer. Just like we should do, especially during pivotal times in our lives.
John
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