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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness Gal 5:22 |
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Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for collecting daily manna), make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Monday, August 21, 2017
Today's Passage : Today's Passage: Subject:Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt [2] Bible Verse:Genesis 42:9-17 (ESV) "And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.” He said to them, “No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see.” And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.” But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you. You are spies. By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” And he put them all together in custody for three days. " Message:
Our first impression of Joseph’s attitude toward his brothers is that he wants to take revenge, that he takes delight in being able to throw them into fear and confusion. But as we will see later, during his emotional and unguarded speech after Jacob’s death, that is not his true feeling. Genesis 50:19-21 will show us what is deep in his heart: “But Joseph said to them, [his brothers] ‘Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”
It is natural that when Joseph so suddenly encountered his brothers, whom he had not seen for something like 15 years (and then, they were holding him captive and considering murder), he would test them. He had an easy vehicle to interrogate them, because Egypt was vulnerable. It was a time of constant war and Egypt was especially vulnerable, since the famine was widespread and Egypt had huge storehouses of grain. The land was “naked” — i.e. there were no crops in the fields — so the stored grain was both a great hoard of wealth to be coveted, and a vulnerability, for if it were seized, Egypt would be powerless. Spies were a legitimate concern, and gave him the excuse he needed to examine foreigners closely.
Of course, Joseph knows his brothers are not spies; but he cannot be sure they do not wish him personal harm. This is a personal, emotional matter: He realizes that they cannot actually hurt him, but he cannot know whether they continue to bear him ill will.
So, he tests them. He puts them into prison for three days (fittingly, the length of time Christ would be dead before His resurrection). He also destroys their family insurance policy, for Jacob had kept back his youngest son Benjamin; if disaster should strike and all ten brothers be lost, their would still be an heir to take over the family. So Joseph requires his family to make itself as fully vulnerable as he himself had been, when sold to the slavers.
Meditation : Prayer : Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made me one with your saints in heaven and on earth. Grant that in my earthly pilgrimage I may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know myself to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. I ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever... Amen |
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