Category: Genesis

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The brothers feast with Joseph amidst plenty but with fear and trepidation. Consider why the Scripture devotes so much time to this incident!

SJA Notes

* Merciful Father, You have given to us another day. Thank You Lord! Please teach us today what it means to live in this world for You.

“May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin.”

It took a little while but Jacob came around and cast his cares and anxieties upon the Lord.

This is a very real example of a believer wrestling with what is happening in their life, not dealing well at first (like most of us), but eventually bringing themselves in humility before the Lord and trusting in His sovereignty.

We can be encouraged with Jacob’s witness here, as we go through events in our own lives.

These are opportunities to submit ourselves under the hand of God – May we take them, wrestle with them, and grow in our trust.

I believe Lord, please help my unbelief!

* Oh Lord God,

We come before You today with our cares, our worries – We cast them on You, for Your care for us.

Please guide us Lord, each day, in the path You have for us. The path of life.

Help us to be wise and humble; seeking Your face, fleeing from evil.

In our King Jesus’ precious Name we pray,

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

In the seven years of plenty, Joseph has two sons with Asenath. Children are the blessing of the Lord. In these two, Joseph feels blessed as well as knows it. The brothers before their brother is a most instructive piece. Every eldest has felt like Reuben at some time I’m sure.

SJA Notes

* Dear God Above, thank You for the sun that shines this morning, and for the Son of Righteousness who rises with healing in His wings. Please teach us more of You today.

“Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.”

God is at work.

We see here a famine that stretched across entire countries, over all the earth.

Joseph was able to effect the saving of many people, not just Jacob’s seventy-odd tribe. People from all over the earth came to Joseph to buy food.

But it is Jacob that God has promised much too, it is the seed of Abraham that would bring blessing to all nations.

And here is Joseph the son of Jacob, not in full as Jesus but in part, bringing blessing to all nations.

It is a wonderful testament to God’s grace here on earth, to us, as we walk through this life of travail and hardship.

God works good for us in the _now_, as well as in the _not yet_.

Joseph points us to Jesus, the ultimate Saviour whose saving is everlasting (unlike Joseph’s, which was temporary in nature and power).

Praise God that Jesus came and saved us through the power of His unquenchable irrepressible indestructible life.

* Dear Lord God,

Thank You for saving us from our sin.

Thank You for Jesus, whose salvation does not end or have limits.

Please mark us as a faithful people who walk obediently under Your will as Joseph did.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

God’s timing is perfect. He has purposed that Joseph will not only save his family in the coming famine, he will save the entire nation of Egypt. No doubt, Joseph blessed the circumstances he once cursed, that left him in a stinking prison for years.

SJA Notes

* Merciful Father in Heaven, Your word teaches us how to live. Please show us a little more today.

“It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

Joseph has gone through some trials to get to this point, and his spiritual maturity has grown alongside.

Joseph is clear – God is the one who interprets. God has the power here, Joseph is the obedient vessel.

And that’s important. Joseph submits himself under God’s sovereign will, and delivers God’s word to Pharaoh.

He doesn’t run away from going before the most powerful person in the country and witnessing to God’s power and majesty.

Instead he humbly gives God the glory.

This is to be our own attitude, our own practice.

Let us contemplate today how we might go about in humble courage as Joseph did, pointing to our Saviour God and King.

* God Above,

Thank You for working in Joseph’s life. Thank You that through Joseph You brought salvation for Your people.

Thank You that Joseph points us to Jesus, the one who saves us from our sin and the justice we deserve for our sin.

Thank You for restoring us back into a right relationship with You.

Please help us to give You the glory in all humility.

Amen.