- Genesis 45 Daily DEVO So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Genesis 45:8 – God is in control of what happens in your life. Now do I believe that God plans and desires the bad things that take place in our story? Not at all, but I do believe He is powerful enough to bring peace in our life through the chaos that this sinful world brings. We see this with Joseph’s story. He acknowledges that every step was God working out his story. Did God desire Joseph to go through the feelings of loneliness and worthlessness that must have been attached to the being abandoned by his brothers? Not at all, but He used them and grew Joseph. Just know God isn’t about bringing pain into your story, but He is aware how painful the world can be. He’s powerful enough to write a beautiful ending story for you even in the middle of a broken world. Don’t let the struggles you’re facing today make you feel like God’s lost control. Sometimes to get to the end the path isn’t smooth, but each bump is manageable when you know God is with you and for you and knows where you need to go. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 525
- Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.” Genesis45:24 – Do you desire disconnect and death in your relationships? Then you should fight about what’s already been resolved and forgiven from the past. Here Joseph is speaking to his brothers after he revealed himself to them and made it clear he isn’t holding any grudges towards them for selling him into slavery. He has forgiven them and the situation is resolved. Yet in his final words to them before they head out is to not fight amongst yourselves. Fight over what? Of who was to blame for Joseph’s being sold. Yes, they hurt Joseph and they all had their hand in his being sold, but Joseph made it clear the hurt was forgiven and the relationship healed. Bringing up the past that has been resolved was only going to bring unneeded pain and separation. It’s easy when things aren’t going well with a relationship to be tempted to bring up past issues that have been resolved into your current battle. If you truly desire death to that relationship, then use that weapon, otherwise leave what’s been resolved in the past in the past. Do not quarrel over things that have been forgiven, instead seek to walk in peace as much as possible with the person God has brought back to you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1851
- But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. Genesis 45:27 – Joseph finally reveals to his brothers that he was alive and had been the Egyptian ruler that they had been speaking to this whole time. Joseph sends his brothers home with wagons full of provision, other blessings, and most importantly with the message to tell their father Israel that Joseph is alive and waiting for you to come to him. While great news to share, we see Israel at first not believe the words his sons spoke to him about Jospeh. It wasn’t until the shared with Israel the words of Joseph and showed him all the blessing Joseph gave them that he believed Jospeh truly was alive. I love how one commentary put it, “By analogy, we can say that the only way people will know Jesus is alive is if we tell them His words and show them His blessings in our lives” (Guzik). As with Israel and Joseph, so will it be with us and those we seek to share the Gospel with. We must be able to share with others the words of Jesus and show them what Jesus has done and provided within our life. Let them see the truth of God’s word and the truth of His power. For our words hold no power, but God’s word holds immense power. Also showing them what we can do won’t change their life, but demonstrating to them what only God can do can change everything about their life. As it was then with Joseph’s brothers, simply be in the business of telling others the words of the One who sent you and show others what the One who sent you gave you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2851
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