relationships (Genesis 46:1-34) Seek to be Led

(Genesis 46:1-34)  So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes.”

5 Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob and their little ones and their wives in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They took their livestock and their property, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and came to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him: 7 his sons and his grandsons with him, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.

8 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. 9 The sons of Reuben: Hanoch and Pallu and Hezron and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel and Jamin and Ohad and Jachin and Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er and Onan and Shelah and Perez and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). And the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola and Puvvah and Iob and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered and Elon and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, with his daughter Dinah; all his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three. 16 The sons of Gad: Ziphion and Haggi, Shuni and Ezbon, Eri and Arodi and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher: Imnah and Ishvah and Ishvi and Beriah and their sister Serah. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah; and she bore to Jacob these sixteen persons. 19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 Now to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him. 21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela and Becher and Ashbel, Gera and Naaman, Ehi and Rosh, Muppim and Huppim and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob; there were fourteen persons in all. 23 The sons of Dan: Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel and Guni and Jezer and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel, and she bore these to Jacob; there were seven persons in all. 26 All the persons belonging to Jacob, who came to Egypt, his direct descendants, not including the wives of Jacob’s sons, were sixty-six persons in all, 27 and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt were two; all the persons of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy.

28 Now he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out the way before him to Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; as soon as he appeared before him, he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a long time. 30 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.” 31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me; 32 and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ that you may live in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

As Christians, we can be "loathsome", since the cross of Christ can be offensive to some people.  But it is enough, no reason to behave badly towards others and give them other reasons to hate us.  Jesus never bashed people over their heads with His word, neither should we.  As far was we are able, we are to try to live in peace with people, treating others as we want to be treated.  By our love, they will see Jesus.  And as opportunities arise, we can share the good news, putting it in ways that they will understand and yearn to hear more.

Throughout history, shepherds were looked down on, and yet the Lord Jesus Christ is called the Good Shepherd!  Many people find Jesus, His salvation and His way - loathsome.  But we are sheep who are prone to wander, so we desperately NEED a Shepherd!  And the fact that Jesus is good, and cares about us should compel us to seek Him out, draw near, and stay close to Him!

Notice that Israel first worshipped and gave to God.  It was then that God spoke to Israel regarding how He was going to lead him and his household, and how He was going to protect and provide for them.  They were not to fear.  And now, we have God's word that we can read and study every day, which tells us that we do not have to fear anyone or anything... for those who fear and put their trust in the Lord, He will lead us, protect and provide for us!  

relationships (Genesis 45:1-28) Forgiving

(Genesis 45:1-28)  Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried, “Have everyone go out from me.” So there was no man with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard of it. 3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they came closer. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 You shall live in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 11 There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished.”’ 12 Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. 13 Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.

16 Now when the news was heard in Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land.’ 19 Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. 20 Do not concern yourselves with your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each of them he gave changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23 To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and sustenance for his father on the journey.

24 So he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the journey.” 25 Then they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But he was stunned, for he did not believe them. 27 When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 Then Israel said, “It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

No matter how badly we have been treated by someone, we are to forgive them.  This doesn't say that what they did was okay, it just means that you are not going to allow it to weight you down in any way.  In fact, God is able to comfort and heal you and use those experiences to build you up in His love, wisdom and strength.  And who knows how the Lord will be able to use you because of this!

Forgive!  The sooner the better.  Even if we are not able to go to that person for whatever reason, in our hearts, we can forgive... so we do not live in fear or bitterness.  This is to our benefit.  As with Joseph, right after his brothers threw him into a pit and then sold him into slavery... he didn't stew in anger (even though it would have been righteous anger).  Rather, he focused on God and continued to grow in his trust and faith in the Lord, being obedient to His will.

If we are able to meet with the person, this is an awesome way to demonstrate God's love, mercy and grace.  I'm not talking about going up to the person who has hurt us and self-righteously saying, "Just know that I have forgiven you!"  Everything we do and say is to be done with God's love and tenderness.  Notice that Joseph initially stepped away to compose himself before speaking with his brothers.

If there is anything we have done wrong, it helps to lead with an apology, which might help them to apologize and release some of their guilt.  Now, there are some incidences where we will be completely innocent.  So even with that, notice that Joseph starts the conversation with his brothers by saying "do not be grieved or angry with yourselves..."  

As well, Joseph doesn't rehash what they did or tell them everything he had felt and gone through as a result.  Depending on what happened, chances are they will already realize what they have done, and will have already imagined how much hurt they have caused.  So unless they are continuing their bad behavior, why open old wounds and pour salt into them. 

Which brings us to how we react whether they apologize or not.  If they do apologize, don't say stupid things like, "That didn't sound very sincere."  Can we  judge anyone's heart?  And does it really matter?  Imagine that there is a chasm between us and this other person.  By saying something like that, we are only widening the chasm.  And then we can widen the chasm even further if we follow that with, "Well, I'll forgive you but I can never trust you ever again!"  Notice that Joseph hugs and kisses each brother, and extends long term help for them - and they didn't even apologize!  This is how to build bridges towards reconciliation.

Now, maybe a person is too dangerous to approach!  In some circumstances, security might be required.  Sometimes we just need to stay clear of someone.  Sometimes that person avoids us.  Sometimes that person has passed away.  Whatever the case, we are still to forgive.  and if it seems impossible, ask God, "Please forgive that person FOR me!  

And then we should be in prayer as to how to continue on in life.  Notice that Joseph more than equipped their brothers for the journey, and cared enough about them to say that he didn't want them arguing with each other.  We can foster an environment of peace by being an example of God's love, mercy and grace!

relationships (Genesis 44:1-34) Changing Behavior

(Genesis 44:1-34)  Then he commanded his house steward, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. 2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph had told him. 3 As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys. 4 They had just gone out of the city, and were not far off, when Joseph said to his house steward, “Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed uses for divination? You have done wrong in doing this.’”

6 So he overtook them and spoke these words to them. 7 They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing. 8 Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.” 10 So he said, “Now let it also be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” 11 Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. 12 He searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and when each man loaded his donkey, they returned to the city.

14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him. 15 Joseph said to them, “What is this deed that you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can indeed practice divination?” 16 So Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s slaves, both we and the one in whose possession the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me to do this. The man in whose possession the cup has been found, he shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

18 Then Judah approached him, and said, “Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord’s ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are equal to Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ 20 We said to my lord, ‘We have an old father and a little child of his old age. Now his brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.’ 21 Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me that I may set my eyes on him.’ 22 But we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ 23 You said to your servants, however, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’ 24 Thus it came about when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 Our father said, ‘Go back, buy us a little food.’ 26 But we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; 28 and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn in pieces,” and I have not seen him since. 29 If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’ 30 Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, 31 when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die. Thus your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. 32 For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever.’ 33 Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me—for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father?”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Joseph would not have used divination at all.  They only said that to ascribe an importance to the silver cup found in Benjamin's possession.  More than likely, Joseph knew that the brothers would know about this sort of thing.  Even though Joseph is a good example to follow, no one is perfect.  And God doesn't ever hide the truth in His word, even the "ugly" truth.  

The most mature Christians are not beyond making the worst mistakes!  We all need God in our lives - to save us - and then afterwards to help us.  We can also learn from people's good behavior as well as their wrong behavior.  I am curious how God would have wanted Joseph to handle this, as we know any kind of lying is wrong.  The end does not justify the means.  

Now, beyond that mistake, Joseph was testing his brothers.  He wanted to see if they had changed at all.  If they had changed, they would defend Benjamin.  Judah did step up and did everything he could to spare Benjamin, which would have also spared his father grief.  We don't know which brothers believed in the Lord or not, but if nothing else, the brothers exercised compassion towards Benjamin and their father, even to the point of offering themselves as slaves to Joseph.

To change one's behavior really requires that a "bad" habit is replaced by a "good" habit.  Without doing that, to simply try stopping a bad behavior will be far more difficult.  But anyone can change their behavior on their own.  Anyone can be good in their own efforts.  In fact, there can be people who are nicer and more giving than most Christians.  But this doesn't get anyone into heaven, as salvation cannot be earned.  One has to be holy - absolutely-fully-perfect - 100% without sin - in order to be a child of God, because God is holy and cannot have a relationship with sin.  

Because God desires that everyone would come to know Him personally, He provided the way through His work on the cross.  And it is a gift from the Lord that each person has to decide to receive, with humble and sincere hearts.  In repenting of our sins, Jesus forgives us, and we take on His righteousness.  The Holy Spirit seals us and changes us from the inside out, and is continually there to help us, guide us, change and shape us (as we allow).  Praise the Lord that He is ever so patient!  And praise the Lord that He extends His grace so that we cannot lose our salvation.