- Genesis 50 Daily DEVO As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20 – God can make something beautiful out of the worst of situations yet know that beautiful thing may be for someone else. We see Joseph wisely looking at the troubles he went through due to his brothers actions and acknowledging that God has a plan through it all for good to come out of it. Yet what was the good Joseph said came about through his troubles? His wealth? His power? No, those things did come to him, but the good Joseph talked about was that through his troubles people were alive today that wouldn’t be if he hadn’t gone through what he did. So know that what you are going through God can make something beautiful out of it, but realize He might be using your story to help someone else’s as well. Whether it’s through you sharing your story to encourage them, them seeing your life after the struggles, or something else, God’s using your troubles for good. Know that there may be people that come to life in Jesus because they hear your story. That’s what makes all the pain worth it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 530
- So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. Genesis 50:7-9 – Some things are meant to go through together. Here Joseph is navigating the most heartbreaking season yet in his story, the death of his father. What we see here though in this journey to bury him Joseph isn’t alone. Scripture says a very great company followed Joseph and was with him in this time. Right now that may be exactly what you need as well, people to just be around you in this season. Sure some things we can walk through on our own, but maybe the reason we haven’t fully moved through a season of pain or grief is because we’ve been trying to do so alone. This new year I encourage you to seek to have some sort of community that knows your story and is walking with you through it. This means going even deeper than just attending church, but investing in a smaller group of people that can listen to you and do life with you. While these last couple of years have been hard, there’s nothing saying 2022 is going to be any more peaceful. You though can step into it prepared by stepping into it with others. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1854
- And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Genesis 50:24 – For Joseph’s brothers, this may not have been the message they wanted to hear. While we know in the future centuries the Jewish people would be enslaved by Egypt, right now they were richly blessed by Egypt. They had the best of the land of Egypt as their home and they were supplied food by Pharoah. What they had in Egypt was pretty great, so going back to Canaan wasn’t likely on their to-do list at that time. Yet Canaan was their Promise Land, and it was to be far better for them than anything they had in Egypt. Let us remember that truth today as we think about Heaven, our Promise Land. For what we have on Earth may seem good. We can enjoy a great meal, taste a great cup of coffee, see wonderous places on this earth, and enjoy the most special of relationships with others. While I’m not discounting those things as amazing, let us never begin to think that what we have on earth is anywhere near equal in amazement to what’s ahead for us in Heaven. Heaven is impossible to describe fully in detail and impossible for us to comprehend fully. While there will be things like streets of gold and all our faithful loved ones who have passed before us, the most amazing thing about Heaven will be seeing God face to face. So yes, enjoy the blessings that God provides on this earth, but know God one day will bring His followers out of this place and take them to the land He has promised to them. And that day will be such a day of rejoicing for what God has ahead for His followers is greater than anything in this world. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2856
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