So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Genesis 45

So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. v8

Joseph confronts his brothers as they come to Egypt for grain and he is at first harsh and unforgiving.  However, he ultimately relents and forgives - he recognizes that it was God's plan that brought him to Egypt.

He also seeks to comfort his brothers because they know Joseph is in a position of great power and they are subject to harsh retaliation and punishment.  Yet Joseph knows that those who sin are to be forgiven because we all sin and we should dispense grace as we have received it.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God, full of love, compassion and mercy for me - even though I am quite undeserving.  Thank You Jesus.  Please forgive me for failing to dispense mercy on others.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love (and forgive) others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Genesis 41

It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” v51-52

We must note here how Joseph was not bitter.  While he recognized that he did not deserve his imprisonment (Genesis 40:15), he made the best of his circumstances and used his gifts to bring glory to God. 

We must also recognize that Joseph gave credit to his blessings to God - while Joseph was a gifted young man, he did not claim that his gifts were of his own doing or that his blessings were of his own hand (Genesis 41:16, 51-52).  God provides.

Distribution of spiritual gifts (Daniel 1, 1 Corinthians 12)
God provides (Hebrews 1, Psalm 16:2, Psalm 23) 

We should also note how God helped Joseph overcome the arrogance of his early years - see also commentary here.

My Prayer: Lord, what an amazing God You are!  You have helped rise up great men and women throughout history and given them many second chances and grace and used them to be a blessing to many.  I know that I am a recipient of Your grace and I am hopeful that I am using this grace.  Thank You Jesus for the grace You have poured out on me.  Please forgive me for my ongoing arrogance which I know is still something that persists in my life.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa from her cancer and from the side effects of cancer.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. v20-21

Genesis 39

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. v20-21

This may not have been the escape Joseph sought when he ran from Potiphar's wife (see post yesterday) yet God has a plan for all of us and it is good (Jeremiah 29:11).  Plus, God's thoughts and ways are not our own - we may not know or understand what He is doing but we can trust in Him.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.     Isaiah 55:8

I've seen how God works (for my good and His glory) in my own life and am amazed.

We know from Genesis 41 that Joseph is put in charge of all of Egypt - God has a plan indeed for Joseph.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God who has a plan - and it is great.  I don't know Your plan but I trust in You.  Thank You for how You have blessed and protected me.  I am not worth such love because I often don't have faith or trust....and I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and turn from it towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

Genesis 39

But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. v39

God wants us to be set apart or to be holy, but there are often circumstances where we are "trapped" and God wants us (with His help of course!) to flee from sin.  We cannot just allow sin to consume us.  

In the case of Joseph, God is clear - flee from sexual immorality.

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18

Learn and memorize scripture - be able to test what is being said and done against God's word.

Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22

When we need an escape, call out to God for help.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love, patience, and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am undeserving of such grace.  I often fail to give grace to others.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did[.]

Genesis 39

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did[.] v2-3

The MacArthur Bible commentary points out a contrast between Joseph in this chapter and Judah's in Genesis 38 where wickedness and immorality prevail. Like Reuben, Judah attempts to rescue Joseph from death at the hands of his brothers (Genesis 38:26-27), yet is complicit (and even provides the idea!) in the plot to sell Joseph into slavery.  Like yesterday's post, perhaps we see once again how sin is punished with Judah just as it may been with Jacob.  

Joseph is enslaved yet he still focuses on glory for God - even in prison (v21).

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

[G]ive thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Jesus - help me glorify You in all that I do...where ever I am.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know that You are with me....always.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such a God.  I love You.  Forgive me.  Help me overcome my weakness.  Help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?

Genesis 37

When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now? v29-30

Reuben, perhaps because he was the oldest of Jacob's sons and possessed a level of maturity his other sons did not have, sought to avoid harsh treatment of Joseph.  Yet he was not able to stop what his other brothers wanted to do - to get rid of Joseph.  For sure this was sinful and even though he was not present when it happened, Reuben had a hand in Joseph being sold into slavery.

As well, the Macarthur Bible Commentary suggests that Jacob may have been punished now for sins committed earlier in his life - such as his trickery of his father and brother.

Regardless if this is indeed that case - there is no doubt that we are to live in reverent fear of God.  

He knows all - that nothing is hidden from Him.  We may believe that we can "get away" with sins but we pay a price one way or another.  Our belief that we can get away with sin is playing with fire.  Avoid sin...period!

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 1 Peter 1:17

See also posts here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who knows and sees all....including all of my sin.  You are full of grace, compassion, and patience.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I am not You intend me to be.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Genesis 37

What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. v10-11

Joseph is a "young man of seventeen" (v2) but I suspect during biblical times, this was certainly old enough for him to be expected to act like a man and not act like he did here.  He certainly had the gift of interpreting dreams, but this was not cause for him to stir up trouble with his brothers.  God wants us to use our gifts - not to throw them into others' faces.  Joseph probably should not have given Jacob a bad report about them (v2) - there is no evidence Jacob asked for this report.  

God despises arrogance and He also despises gossip.

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3

 

See also post here.

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 2 Corinthians 12:20

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - You have blessed me well beyond what I deserve.  Thank You.  You give me many second chances - despite my sin, which continues.  Please forgive me for my laziness and selfishness.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You and love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.