Read: Genesis 45: 16-28

Reflect:
Joseph sends his brothers on their way with provisions and carts full of grain and bread. They are returning to Jacob to bring him and their families back to Egypt. As they were leaving Joseph doesn’t say “Have a safe trip!” or “See you soon!” but “Don’t quarrel on the way!” I find this humorous. Although Joseph hadn’t seen his brothers for many years he must have known their characters and the potential there was for disagreement. I wondered what they might argue about. The amplified version of this verse gives a possibility: “See that you do not quarrel on the journey [about how to explain this to our father].” In explaining that Joseph was alive would they have to admit what they had done years earlier and even who was to blame for it? Perhaps this is a message for us as well, since it is possible for us to quarrel along the way too. We see this in Scriptures: The people quarreled with Moses and said “Give us water that we may drink”, the disciples argued about who was considered to be the greatest, and in the book of Acts it mentions an angry quarrel that broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, dividing the assembly. 2 Timothy 2:24 says “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” Quarreling among the family of believers distracts non-believers from our message. Worse, it hurts our credibility. Our message is a message of love. It is difficult to send a message of love to those outside the Church when we can’t love each other in the Church.

Pray:
God, protect us from quarrelling in the church. Help us to be in harmony with our fellow Christians. May we turn our back on worldly attitudes that lead to disagreements.

Read: Genesis 45: 1-4, 12-15

Reflect:
There are times when I read the bible and I have to guess at the emotions that an individual might have in a certain situation. Then there are times when the emotions are so evident. Genesis 45 is one of those times. This scene comes after Joseph is sure of his brothers’ repentance. He knows this by Judah’s offer to take the place of Benjamin sacrificing himself as a slave rather than hurt the other son of Rachel (hmmm….substitutionary atonement…reminds me of someone else!). In addition Joseph can see a change of heart in Judah as he states he couldn’t bear to see his father’s pain in losing another son. It says that Joseph wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him. Oh the sobbing and wailing that Joseph must have exhibited, and I know from experience, that if you are sobbing that strongly it takes a while to calm down enough to speak. When he reveals his identity to his brothers, they are terrified. You can guess the thoughts going through their minds at this point, remembering what they did to Joseph – “this is it! We’re done for!” But Joseph offers love and forgiveness and is reconciled to his brothers. He embraces them and weeps over them. Joseph’s love for his brothers is evident. The forgiveness that has long been in his heart overflows, and pours over the repentant brothers. This gives us a beautiful picture of God’s love for us, overflowing in joyful forgiveness and reconciliation. When does it happen? It happens when we come to him in repentance. Why does it happen? Because of Jesus, who suffered as a substitute in the place of you and me, making it possible for men and women to be declared righteous, based on their faith in Him.

Pray:
Thank you Lord that I am a new creation in you. Praise God the old has passed away and the new has come. Thank you that through Christ I am reconciled to You. You have given us the ministry of reconciliation. Help me to do that. (from 2 Corinthians 5: 17-18)

Read: Genesis 44: 18 – 34

Reflect:
Today’s reading ends without resolution. Judah’s passionate plea for mercy from Joseph awaits an outcome not yet delivered. This is just like a chapter in a book that ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the reader wondering what is going to happen next. Life often leaves us in situations like the gap between the end of Genesis 44 and the beginning of Genesis 45. We pray for a conclusion; we await an outcome; we long for an answer. We often find ourselves in the middle of what God is showing us. How does one cope when the tension is high and the conclusion is in “the next episode”? All we can do is open our hands in surrender and acknowledge our absolute need for God’s help. These moments teach us to listen for God’s instruction and ask God for faith to take the next step. What cliffhanger are you facing in life? Will you trust God with what He has not resolved? What lesson does God have for you while you wait for His plan to unfold? As we wait on the Lord we can do so with an attitude of hope and expectancy. Psalm 150:3 says “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” As you wait, read Bible verses and speak them aloud daily. As the power of God’s Word weaves hope into your prayers, encouragement will fill the empty places in your heart and you will be reminded once again of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness.

Pray:
Thank you God for the answered prayers and miracles in my past. I remember how You have always come through in those tough times of great need, and I thank You in advance for Your answers yet to come.

Read: Genesis 42: 26-34

Reflect:
When Joseph saw his brother, Benjamin, the only other son of his late mother, he was so overcome with emotion that he went into his private room and broke down and wept. The ESV says “his compassion grew warm for his brother”. The same wording is used in Hosea 11:8 when describing God’s compassion for His people. Joseph deeply loved Benjamin and, as we will come to find out later, all his brothers. After Joseph composed himself, he returned and they had a feast. These were the same brothers that planned to kill Joseph, threw him in a pit and sold him to strangers. Joseph could have sought revenge for how they treated him. The mercy that Joseph is extending to his brothers in this moment is a picture of God’s mercy He extends to us. It is undeserved, as all true mercy must be. Ephesians 2:4-7 says “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” Because God is rich in mercy and has a great love for us, He acted to save us. We cannot do anything to earn this ….good works, kind acts, sponsoring a child, giving to the poor,… God’s reason for saving us was entirely His own. We did not merit His mercy, nor did we earn our salvation. We are saved by Christ’s death on the cross. He took the punishment we deserved. That anger or wrath of God was poured out on Jesus instead of us.

Pray:
Oh Lord, may I never lose the wonder of your mercy to me. I’m so glad that my freedom
was not based on what I’ve done but solely on Your goodness and mercy and the power of Jesus blood. May I, in turn, extend mercy to others.

Read: Genesis 43: 8-15

Reflect:
Jacob prays to God Almighty (Hebrew, El Shaddai). This name for God appears four times in the book of Genesis and all the references to El Shaddai paint a picture of a God who is mighty to do as He says. God first introduced Himself as El Shaddai to Abraham in Genesis 17:1. With that name, God was revealing to Abraham that He is the Almighty God, the All-Sufficient God, and the God of More Than Enough. The next mention is in Genesis 28:3 and Isaac is speaking to Jacob with absolute confidence in God’s promise of blessing and fruitfulness, because He is the Almighty one who said He would do it. Then in Genesis 35:11 God spoke to Jacob as El Shaddai and promised him that a community of nations will come from him, including kings as his descendants. Now is Genesis 43:14 Jacob gives a benediction as his sons are about to go off to Egypt, to meet Joseph. He is fearful for his youngest son Benjamin’s life, and he calls on God Almighty, El Shaddai to grant him mercy. Jacob trusts that God can do this because he has already said He would. Beyond Genesis, God has revealed Himself more and more to us throughout His word as El Shaddai. He is God Almighty and has all the power necessary to do anything and everything He wants to do. That is why Job was able to say to God, “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.” That is why Jeremiah was able to tell the nation of Judah, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” That is why the Angel of the Lord was able to tell Mary before Jesus was conceived in her body, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” And that is why Paul was able to tell us, “God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”

Pray:
Thank God that He is El Shaddai, God Almighty. If you are in a place where you are not trusting that God is able to work in your life or situation, ask God to reveal Himself to you as the all-powerful One. Ask for faith to trust Jesus when he said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)