Stunned and Sobbing

O.T.#96  "Stunned and Sobbing"
July 31, 2013
Genesis 45-Part 1
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.  Genesis 45:3

LET IT GLOW

I couldn't take any more. I broke down and sobbed. The year of 1997 was the hardest I had ever lived through. What happened? We moved to a new church and parsonage, our daughter got married a week after graduating college, my mother died suddenly, and my mother in law was dying of cancer, which happened less than a year after Mom. I couldn't take any more, but didn't have to. Was Joseph at that point, too?

When Joseph's silver cup was found in Benjamin's sack of grain, his brothers came back to intercede for baby brother Ben. These guys had been guilty of getting rid of one brother, and they didn't want to be guilty of the same thing, murder. They knew it would be too much for their father to endure another son's death and he would die. Judah did the talking to Joseph, who was second in command in all of Egypt.

How does chapter 45 start out? Joseph could not control his emotions and cried. He had tested his brothers to see if they had a change of heart after 22 years. Joseph sent his attendants out of the room. He needed some privacy to be with his brothers. Joseph cried in verses 1, 2, 14, and 15. The Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard poor Joseph wail. He broke down.

His great emotion showed Joseph didn't cruelly manipulate his brothers. He was directed by God to make these arrangements and it hurt him to do it. (Guzik)

Have you ever been at that breaking point? Where do you turn for comfort? Jesus is there waiting with open arms.

LET IT GROW

In verse 3, Joseph told his brothers, I am Joseph! Is my father still living?

How did the brothers respond? NIV says, But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

King James Version uses the word troubled, which means trembled inwardly; be alarmed, anxious.
Were they shaking in their boots, so to speak? Joseph knew how badly they had treated him, sold him into slavery, almost killed him by leaving him in a pit. The family secrets were known by the second most powerful man in the world. They were at his mercy. What would happen to them?

Joseph's revelation of himself brought his brothers terror, for they fully expected him to judge them for their past sins. but he had seen their repentance; they had bowed before him; and he knew he could forgive them. God had sent him before to save their lives. (Wiersbe)

Stunned by the revelation of who it really was with whom they dealt, the brothers then heard expressed a masterpiece of recognition of and submission to the sovereignty of God, His providential rule over the affairs of life, both good and bad.  (MacArthur)

I think we will be stunned whenever we stand before our Holy God and bow before Jesus and proclaim Him as the Only Lord and Savior.

LET IT GO

Confess my sins daily; ask Jesus and others to forgive me.

Bow before Jesus as I pray.

Stand in awe of the awesome God.

The Silver Cup

O.T. #95 "The Silver Cup"
July 30, 2013
Genesis 44
Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.  Genesis 44:33

LET IT GLOW

Whew! What a week it was last week. I was busy teaching VBS every night, my husband preached the message for a fallen Marine from our church, and then Friday and Saturday, I attended our denomination's state annual Woman Missionary Union meeting. I was so proud of my hometown people that turned out to line the streets waving flags and honoring the 19 year old man who served our country. Tears came to my eyes as I walked under this huge American flag flying over the street and the Marines who came to carry him to his final resting place. Then, each night we had more children come to learn about Jesus through Paul. As I enjoyed getting together with women throughout my state, we celebrated the 125th anniversary of our mission organization. It was so much fun and encouraging, as well as seeing those ladies again. We heard missionaries speak about their work for the Lord and prayed for those serving around the world. Yes I was exhausted Sunday, but pumped up and ready to worship and serve our Living Lord Jesus. (Sorry for each post being late this week.)

Getting back to Joseph and his hungry brothers...
During their second trip to buy grain in Egypt, the brothers sat at their missing brother's table for dinner, unbeknowing to them. The sacks of corn were filled and Jacob's sons were headed home.

Joseph had instructed the steward to:

• fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they could carry;
• put every man's money(payment) in his sack's mouth;
• put Joseph's silver cup in the mouth of Benjamin's sack with his money. (Joseph is second in command in all of Egypt.)

The brothers left, then Joseph gave the steward instructions to catch up with them, and accuse them of stealing his cup, when in actuality, they were innocent. (Joseph was testing his brothers again. He wanted to see if they would seize the opportunity to get rid of Benjamin, like they did him so many years earlier.)

The guys were so sure that the cup could not be found within their sacks of grain that they said,
"If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die, and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves."

The steward agreed that the guilty one would become a slave in Egypt and the rest of them would be free from blame.
Isn't that what happened to Jesus? He became a slave to the cross, paying for a debt of sin that He didn't owe, did it for us and we get to go free from the blame of sin? He took the blame for the sins that we have committed when He had done none of them Himself. Such a loving Savior!

Are we willing to become a slave to this Master Jesus so others can experience this freedom from guilty sin known as salvation?

LET IT GROW

Meanwhile, Joseph was waiting in his house to see what happened to the brothers and his cup. Would they let Benjamin take the blame for stealing it and they go free, or would they intercede for their little brother, offering themselves in his place? What a plan!

As it turned out, Judah and his brothers returned to Joseph, falling down before him, not pleading their innocence, but offering themselves to Joseph as his slaves. Joseph refused to let all of his brothers becomes his slave, only the guilty one who had the cup would be his slave. He told the rest of the guys back to their father, but Judah pled with Joseph, if Benjamin didn't return with them, their father would die. Judah offered to take the blame for not returning with the youngest to Jacob and he offered himself to Joseph in the same way.

We cannot help but admire Judah's speech, not only for its humility and confession, but also for the love that it shows toward his father and his youngest brother. He was willing to be surety, to bear the blame; even though it would cost him his life. Judah thought that Joseph was actually dead, and that he himself was guilty of murder. What he did not realize was that Joseph was alive-and was his savior!  (Wiersbe)

It wasn't their confession of guilt, their sacrifices, nor their gifts that brought salvation to the brothers. It was the gracious forgiveness of Joseph, a forgiveness purchased by his own suffering on their behalf. What a picture of Jesus Christ! (Wiersbe)

It is possible that Joseph's schemes had been intended to probe his brothers' attitude toward each other and toward their father. He also wanted to test the sincerity of their repentance. God had changed the hearts of the brothers. Judah's plea reminds us of the servant born to this tribe, the Servant who offered Himself for the transgressions of His people.  (Falwell)

Jesus was the only one who could drink the cup of sacrifice because He was the only perfect person who could meet God's requirements. Jesus gave His blood, body, and life for us sinners. I still can't comprehend such love! What an awesome and amazing Savior!

Thank You Jesus!!!!

LET IT GO

Let go of the past, forgiving and loving those who have hurt me.

Offer myself unto the One who offered Himself for me, who paid the price for my sins.

Share this wonderful salvation story to others who need this grace and mercy as I did and do.

Marvelous Things

O.T. #94  "Marvelous things"
July 29, 2013
Genesis 43-Part 4
And they sat before him, the first-born according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marveled one at another.  Genesis 43:33

LET IT GLOW

What marvelous things has God done for you? I can answer that question. He created me. I was born seven years after my brother. He protected me throughout my childhood. God provided salvation for me before he created anything. I have a marvelous husband and family. But can't we all say those same things? What marvelous things has God done for only me? He has extended my life 12 years, giving me breath each day. I experienced His love through friends, old and new this weekend. I have seen the beautiful mountains and rivers as I traveled to our capital city. My flat tire wasn't a blowout so I wrecked. I saw a huge walking stick on our kitchen wall.
(How it got there, I can't figure out.) Most of all, God's marvelous grace and mercy follow me all the days of my life.

What has happened so far to this chosen family? God created a famine in Canaan where Jacob and his sons and families resided. Their son and brother Joseph had ended up in Egypt due to some of the brothers selling him as a slave, yet it was by God's providence. Joseph eventually ended up being put
in charge of the food distribution during this time, as well as second in command. Jacob sent ten of the brothers down to Egypt to buy grain when their food supply ran out. They went. Guess who Joseph's brothers appeared before in order to buy the grain. It was Joseph, their brother whom they had sold  into slavery. He was the agriculture consultant, too. Joseph recognized his brothers,
although they didn't recognize him. So Joseph tested his brothers to see if they had a change of heart by secretly refunding their purchase money in the sacks of grain. On their way home, the brothers stop off at the Holiday Inn. Not. They discovered the money and told their father. Now they had to return the money and bring Benjamin, the youngest brother with them (Joseph required it, as well as kept Simeon in jail until their return).
Jacob's son, all ten of them, returned to Egypt in order to purchase more grain and return the returned money of the first trip. This is what happened during their second stay/trip in Egypt. Joseph had them taken to his house for lunch. while they waited for the head honcho, Joseph to come, the guys spilled the beans and told the steward what had happened concerning the money. He already knew about the situation. That's where we pick up the story, which actually happened in real life.

Joseph got emotional when he saw his baby brother, Benjamin. They were the only brothers with Rachael as their mother. Joseph had to leave the room because he was weeping.
Verse 31 says in NIV, After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, "Serve the food."

Can you imagine the brothers reactions when Joseph had them seated at the table in their birth order, oldest to the youngest? Who would know such a thing other than one who was part of the family?
they looked at each other in astonishment.
KJV says the men marvelled one at another.
Marvelled means be amazed, be astonished, wonder. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)

Do we ever stop and marvel at what happens in our life? Does God do marvelous things for us?
Do we give God the credit for them?

LET IT GROW

Joseph didn't eat with his 11 brothers at his table. It was a forbidden thing for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews. Guess who received 5 times the portion of food that the others did to eat at the table.
Benjamin did. This time, the brothers were not jealous nor resentful toward the youngest brother. It seems that they had a change of heart since Joseph was a teen.

It was not their confession of guilt, their sacrifices, or their gifts that brought salvation to the brothers. It was the gracious forgiveness of Joseph, a forgiveness purchased by his own suffering on their behalf. What a picture of Jesus Christ! (Wiersbe)

Have you been jealous of your siblings? Can you let it go, forgive, and love them instead?

LET IT GO

Give God the glory for the things He has done.

How marvelous is His creation, faithfulness to provide for me.

Forgive and love like Jesus.

Send jealousy down the road.

What Brings Tears to Your Eyes?

O.T.#93  "What Brings Tears to Your Eyes?"
July 26, 2013
Genesis 43-Part 3
God be gracious to you, my son.  Genesis 43:29

LET IT GLOW

When Joseph came home, his brothers were waiting for him, bowed down to him, and presented
their gifts to him. Joseph's boyhood dream (37:5-8) had  become a reality (42:6). Why didn't
this excite Joseph?

When Joseph saw his little brother Benjamin, he said, "God be gracious unto thee, my son."

Joseph easily used the name of God in his conversation, but the brothers did not hear the name
of their own covenant God being spoken by one who looked just like an Egyptian (42:18).
(MacArthur)

Joseph was working his plan, with a little sidetrack now and then. How would we have reacted
had this happened to us?

LET IT GROW

What brings tears to your eyes? Is it only sad things or does joyful, happy events?
I would think that seeing his brother would have ignited joy in Joseph, but it didn't. He was
moved to tears, instead. In fact, Joseph ran out of the room so the guys couldn't see him
weeping. He ran to his private chamber.
Joseph was moved to tears on several occasions:

• During the brothers' first trip to Egypt, after Joseph told them to leave one brother in          prison while they went home, then bring their youngest brother back with them. Joseph heard  them talking amongst themselves, not knowing Joseph understood their language. Reuben thought they were giving an account for Joseph's blood. (42:24)
• When Joseph made himself known to his brothers, he wept. (45:2)
• When Joseph spoke to Benjamin, he hugged him and wept. (45:14)
• Joseph kissed all his brothers and wept over them. (45:15)
• When Joseph met his father, who moved to Egypt, he wept a long time. (46:29)                

I get the idea that Joseph was a very sensitive man. He certainly forgave his brothers for what
they did to him, selling him as a slave for money ,and deceiving their father into believing he
was killed by a wild beast. He had a giant heart and strong character.

Can I forgive others like Joseph did?

LET IT GO

Keep my faith in Jesus.

Stand firm for my Christian beliefs and convictions.

Love people to Jesus.

What's in Your Sack?

O.T.#92  "What's in Your Sack?" 
July 25, 2013
Genesis 43-Part 2
"It's all right," he said. "Don't be afraid. your God, the God of your father, has given
you treasure in your sacks. I received your silver."  Genesis 43:23  

LET IT GLOW

When I was a kid, we had a barn where Dad kept provisions of food for the milk cows, a few
hogs, and hens on the farm. Inside the  brown, burlap sacks, gunny sacks he'd call them, was
corn or grains mixed together. These were important items in the barn, along with the hay up
in the loft. The animals depended upon their substance to sustain them, or fill their bellies.
There were treasures in those sacks. Not silver or gold treasure, but food. Joseph's brothers
found treasure in their sacks of grain.

On the way home from purchasing grain in Egypt, Joseph's ten brothers found their payment
of silver inside their sacks of grain, returned to them. When they came to Egypt again
(Benjamin's first time), while Simeon was still held hostage. Joseph told his steward to take
them to his house and prepare a noon meal for him and them. This frightened the brothers.
They were very suspicious, sounds like to me. (Maybe they were just being themselves.)

Why did they think Joseph did that?

• because of the silver that was put back into their sack of grain on their last visit;
• perhaps Joseph wanted to attack them;
• to overpower them;
• to seize them as slaves;
• to take their donkeys.

So they told the steward what happened after their first visit to Egypt-silver as payment for
the grain was returned into their sacks, they brought additional silver to buy more grain plus
return that money as first payment, and they don't know who did it. These guys are really
nervous, aren't they. Here they are in a foreign land and afraid of being accused of stealing.

The steward reassured the brothers. Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father,
has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your silver, he told them. Then he brought
Simeon out to them.

Sounds like Joseph had witnessed to his steward about God; about God directing the events
of Joseph's life and Jacob's life and his family.

What treasures has God put into your sack? Eternal life in heaven, salvation, love, peace?
What do we treasure? Bible, prayer time, family, friends, job?
Do we trust God to put treasure in our sack, our life? Do we give Him glory and credit for
our provision?
Are we thankful for all that we have? Will we share it?

For where our treasure is, there will our heart be also. Luke 12:34


LET IT GROW

So the steward took the brothers to Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet, and
provided for their donkeys. The brothers prepared their gifts for Joseph, since they would eat with him at noon.

Are we prepared to dine with the Savior, at His table, in heaven? I am considered different in
that I believe it is not physical food that we will be eating, but spiritual food for our soul, while in a new body. One day we will find out.
Are we bringing Jesus our gifts? What will we present to Him? Oh, they won't be physical
things, after all, He owns it all in heaven and on earth. What gifts could our Creator possibly
enjoy receiving from us?
Perhaps the gifts of praise, worship, glory and  honor, thanksgiving, faithfulness, a heart of
love given to Him. Isn't He worthy of them all? I know we will lay our crowns at His feet
because we will be so unworthy to wear them. King Jesus. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Perfect Lamb of God who takes away our sin with His blood.


LET IT GO

Look in my sack (life) and see what treasures God has given me.

Worship, praise, and thank my Savior daily.

At the End of My Rope

O.T.#91  "At the End of My Rope" 
July 24, 2013
Genesis 43-Part 1
And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other
brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. Genesis 43:14

LET IT GLOW

Have you ever been at the end of your rope? Maybe you feel that way now. Well I literally
was. It was almost 40 years ago. We had bought a nice house and wanted to move the
antennae for the tv from the old house. So my husband tied some ropes onto it, and we were
going to let it down easily to the ground from the roof. My job was to hold onto one rope while
he preceded to lower it with the other one. Good plan. One thing we didn't anticipate was that
the rope I held would break. That's just what happened. I went flying off the roof of the house, holding onto the end of the rope, thinking, why am I holding onto this rope? I survived our
adventure with only a sprang ankle. (It's okay to laugh, I do.)
In this chapter, Joseph's family was at the end of their rope.

Jacob's family became hungry again. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15, these men had to go
back to Egypt and Joseph, or starve to death. What's so good about that?

We see indications of their change of heart:

• Judah's willingness to be surety, to bear the blame for young Benjamin;
• their willingness to return the money first paid for the grain, then found in sacks of grain;
• confession of the truth to Joseph's steward (verse 19-22).(Wiersbe)

Doesn't the Lord know what to do so we get to the point of our need for Him, at the end of
our rope? He changes our heart when we come humbly to Jesus.  The result is our willingness to make things right that we did wrong.
Are you at the end of your rope?

LET IT GROW

We left Simeon back in Egypt while his brothers took the grain home. It was just a matter of
time when they returned to buy more. Sure enough, the food ran out and there was no where
else to turn. Judah talked their father, Jacob, into letting Benjamin, Joseph's younger brother, go with them.

What did the 10 brothers take with them on their second visit to Egypt?

• balm
• honey
• spices
• myrrh
• pistachio nuts
• almonds
• double the silver for the 2 purchases
• Benjamin.

Jacob made the statement found in our key verse. God does grant mercy to the sinner that
confesses their sins, asking for forgiveness.

So the guys got in their jet plane and flew to Egypt, well maybe it was another camel caravan.
When Joseph saw Benjamin, he told his steward to take them to his house and prepare a meal
for them. He intended on
The brothers made a mistake of confessing to Joseph's servant, instead of to Joseph. God
controls circumstances to bring the sinner to himself and to the end of himself. We can't buy
our salvation (brothers' gifts). It doesn't do any good to confess to a human servant (only Jesus
forgives sins), nor making some great sacrifice (as Judah offered his own life as surety for
Ben). Since Joseph is a type of Jesus in the Old Testament, the brothers needed to confess and
repent of their sins before him, as we do to Jesus.

Have you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins?

LET IT GO

Confess my sins to Jesus.

Have a change of heart.

Be willing to follow Jesus wherever.

When I'm at the end of my rope, turn to Jesus.

When All is Against You, What do You Do?

O.T. #90  "When All is Against You, What do You Do?"
July 23, 2013
Genesis 42-Part 1
And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is
not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
 Genesis 42:36

LET IT GLOW

What a week! I fought battles last week and have the scares on my heart to prove it. Not
physical ones, just emotional ones unseen, deep down inside. Are you there too, my friend?
When all is against me, though it seems, what do I do? Do I run to someone or something for
comfort, for the answer? Or do I run to Jesus?

Ephesians 6:12-13 says, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you
have done everything, to stand.

Our enemy isn't a family member, friend, or coworker. It is the devil, stirring up controversy.
Jesus is the only one who can do heart surgery and make things all right. He has the answers.
So I am trusting Him. It will all work out, if I trust my Savior to handle it. He can change
hearts.

Shall we see what is happening to Joseph? I think he had a heart wrenching experience when
he saw and spoke with his brothers who sold him into slavery. How does he react when their
family is in need of food? He is the man in charge, so Joseph could have refused to sell the
food to them, getting his revenge or he could give it to them without charge. Read on to see
which happened :)

The famine continued for 7 years. Joseph was in charge of distributing the corn bought and
sold in Egypt during that time. Keep in mind, it had been about 20 years since Joseph had
seen his father and 11 brothers. (They all thought he was dead.) He now had 2 sons and a
wife of his own, a CEO position in the most powerful nation of the world at that time, and he
spoke a different language. Yet, I wonder if a day passed by that Joseph didn't think of his
blood family.

Meanwhile, back home... Jacob, who was Joseph's father, heard that there was corn in Egypt.
He asked his sons why they just keep looking at each other. He told them to go down to Egypt
and buy some corn for them so they wouldn't die. That's where the story gets interesting.

Ten of Joseph's brothers went down to Egypt to buy corn, as their father had instructed. Benjamin, the youngest brother and second son of Rachael, who was Joseph's mother, stayed home. Jacob
was afraid of loosing Benjamin like he lost Joseph so many years earlier.


LET IT GROW

 Let's see what happens during the first visit of Joseph's brothers.

1. The men bowed down to the governor of the land, the man who sold grain to all its people, which was Joseph. Bingo! Do you remember back in chapter 37 when Joseph had two dreams? In the first dream, his brothers' grain bowed down to his grain.
2. As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them.  Joseph pretended to be a          stranger and spoke harshly to them, asking where they were from. His brothers didn't   recognize Joseph. You know, 17-20 years can change a person's looks-a few gray hairs, a beard.  
3. Joseph remembered his dream that God had given to him in prophecy of his future. He  accused them of being spies, looking where the land was unprotected.
4. The brothers told Joseph they were not spies, but honest men, and sons of one man. They explained their situation-12 brothers, sons of one man, only one was no more and the youngest was back home with their father.  
5. Joseph put the 10 men into prison for 3 days. He wanted to test them to see if they were    telling the truth. they were to send one man back home and bring the youngest to see     Joseph. 
6. Joseph changed his mind on the third day and let all but one of the brothers go back           home to bring Benjamin to see Joseph. He gave them grain to take back to their families.
7. The brothers reasoned that this was happening because of what they had done to Joseph      years earlier. Now they must give an account. (Joseph understood what they were saying,       but the men didn't know this.) 
8. How did Joseph react? He wept without them seeing it. Simeon stayed behind as the men returned to their father and with the grain for food. 
9. Joseph tested his brothers by returning the money paid for the grain in the sack. they told Jacob, their father all about what happened to them in Egypt.
10. Jacob reacted to the news by saying, " Everything is against me!" Reuben offered the lives       of his 2 sons in exchange for Benjamin, if anything happens to Ben. However, Jacob         refused to let Benjamin go, saying it would cause Jacob to die.  

There the curtain falls down on the first scene of our drama. (Keep in mind that this actually
occurred.)
What will the brothers do? If they stay home, they would be thieves, but if they went back to Egypt, they'd have to risk taking Benjamin with them. (Verse 36 indicates that Jacob knew what they
 had done to Joseph years earlier.)

How often do I bow before Jesus, seeking His food for my soul? Asking forgiveness of my
sins, wrongs and turning around then I don't forgive a person for what they have done to me?
Do we refuse to let our loved ones go, even when they are answering the call of God? Or do
we encourage them to follow God wherever He leads? It's a dangerous thing to stand in the
way of God's will for someone.
Do we sometimes feel that all is against us? Are we fighting against God or submitting to Him?

LET IT GO

Keep a soft heart and don't let it become hard toward others.

Forgive without keeping track of the number of times it is required.

Love my enemies; pray for them that despitefully use me.

Let God dish out the revenge instead of me.

Be the kind of Christian I am supposed to be in spite of how others treat me.

Love as Jesus loves, unconditionally.

Run to Jesus when all is against me; He is for me.

What's in Your Storehouse?

O.T. #89  "What's in Your Storehouse?"
July 22, 2013
Genesis 41-Part 4
And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses,
and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all
the countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was
so sore in all lands.  Genesis 41:56-57

LET IT GLOW

We left the people of Egypt in a famine, crying to their king for bread. He didn't have bread
to feed them, nor did he know anything about the grain distribution. It was all in Joseph's hands, under his supervision. Pharaoh did the right thing. He told the Egyptians to go to Joseph and
do what he says. And so it is with us. We tell others to go to Jesus, the Savior, the Bread of
Life, and do what he says to do. Jesus says to repent of our sins, believe in Him as the son of God, the Messiah, the Way, the Truth, the Life. Have you my friend?

God withheld rain on the earth for a reason-to cause a famine, so Joseph's family would come to
him for food, be kept alive, and eventually move into Egypt. Because God gave wisdom to
Joseph to interrupt Pharaoh's two dreams, 7 years earlier, there was food. Because Joseph
worked hard and made sure the corn was stored up during those years of plenteous crops,
there was food. Not only was there enough food for all the Egyptians to buy, there was food
for the rest of the world to buy.

Isn't God's storehouses of blessings full and ready to be given out, like the corn in Egypt?
What's in your storehouse? Do we have love, forgiveness, compassion, faith there? Is there
plenty to go around? What are we handing out daily?

Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth
and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also.

What do we treasure? Do we treasure God's Word, our prayer time, worship time, fellowship
with believers, and family above our job, house, material things, money. Are we sending spiritual gold, silver, and precious stones to heaven or just hay, wood, and stubble?

LET IT GROW

Where did all the countries go for food when the famine continued on and on, for 7 years?
They went to Egypt, to see Joseph about buying grain. Do we go to Jesus for our spiritual food, sustenance? How much do we hunger for God's Word and thirst for His Spirit?

All neighboring nations (Syria, Arabia, Palestine, Canaan), when they heard there was corn
there for money, came from all parts for it and were glad to get it at such expense and trouble.
Men of all nations receive grace, spiritual sustenance and nourishment through Jesus.
(John Gill)

Let the price be determined by that golden rule of justice, to do as we would be done by.
(Matthew Henry)

I am confident that Joseph did hike the price up for certain people or nations. I don't see him
taking advantage of the desperate or poor, do you? Jesus looks into our heart.

Did you know that you can do a lot with corn, come to think about it. You can grind it up into cornmeal, make corn oil from it, have corn mush for breakfast (grits), fry corn fritters for lunch,
and cornbread or cakes for supper; cows and hogs even eat it, too. There's field corn, sweet
corn, maze, and popcorn. Did I leave any out? It's a starch, so corn will sustain a body. Isn't
God smart to have Joseph store the corn as a way to preserve his family?

Word's going to get around and guess who's coming to the store? We'll find out tomorrow.
Ya'll come back now, hear?

LET IT GO

Daily fill my heart's hunger and my soul's thirsting with God's Word and the Holy Spirit.

Give, not take.

Don't take advantage of the needy.

Send treasures to heaven.

Be faithful in what God has me doing.

Share Jesus as the Living Water and Bread of Life.

Go and Do

O.T. #88  "Go and Do"
July 19, 2013
Genesis 41-Part 3
Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."
Genesis 41:55

LET IT GLOW

If a problem arises at work, do we go to the top boss instead of going to our supervisor first?
I have and it was the wrong thing to do. She made it so hard on me that I had to quit my job.
I learned my lesson the hard way.

Joseph is prime minister, head of the agriculture department, second in command over all of
Egypt, the most powerful nation of the world at this time. He is busy getting the grain stored
up during the 7 years of plenteous crops and preparing for 7 years of famine. He didn't make
political promises and then not keep them when put in the position. Joseph didn't put off his
work for a few years or for a more convenient time.

Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave Joseph a pagan wife (verse 45). Her name is mentioned in
the Bible-Asenath. She was the daughter of a priest of On. Ra was an important Egyptian
deity as early as the Fifth Dynasty. His marriage to a priest's daughter completed his outward Egyptianization, but he still maintained a bold confession of the God of Israel. (Falwell)

Joseph and Asenath had two sons-Manasseh and Ephraim. Manesseh, the first born, means
one who causes me to forget. God had made Joseph forget all his toil and all his father's
house.(verse 51)  His new position in god's will had caused him to forget the trials of the past.
He had forgiven those who had wronged him. Ephraim means fruitful. God caused Joseph to
be fruitful in the land of his affliction, suffering. (verse 52) God kept His word to Joseph, and
his predictions came true. All of this was a part of God's greater plan, a plan to preserve Israel
and prepare the way for the birth of Christ the Messiah.

Do we keep our promises?

LET IT GROW

The 7 years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, and the 7 years of famine began, just as
Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there
was food. When all of Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food.
Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."

Do we go to the one in authority over us first before we jump ahead and do things? Do we go
to Jesus with our problems having an attitude of obedience to His instructions? Am I listening
with a pure heart? What is Jesus telling you to do?

LET IT GO

Stay faithful to God even during the hard times.

Keep a servant's heart.

Do what I say I'll do.

What a Difference One Day Can Make

O.T. #87  "What a Difference One Day Can Make"
July 18, 2013
Genesis 41-Part 2
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 
 Genesis 41:41

LET IT GLOW

What a difference one day can make in a person's life. One day you can have parents living
and the next day not. One day you can have a job, the next day not. One day your marriage is
great and the next day not. One day your child is healthy and the next day not. Need I go on?
If we live long enough, we will all experience the ups and downs of life.

Joseph certainly did. One day he was overseer of Potiphar's house, the next day he was in
prison for something he didn't do. One day he was in prison, the next day he was the second-
in-command of all of Egypt. Shall we zoom in on the latter circumstances?

You recall that we left Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's two dreams with God's wisdom. There
was going to be 7 years of plenty of food and 7 years of famine to follow. The king of Egypt put Joseph in charge of preparing for these lean years and distributing the food to the people during
it.
What happened to Joseph on that day?

• The king put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
• He was given Pharaoh's signet ring.
• He was dressed in robes of fine linen.
• He was received a gold chain around his neck.
• The king had Joseph ride in a chariot as his second-in-command.
• Men shouted before him, "Make way."
• No one would lift hand nor foot without Joseph's command.
• Pharaoh gave Joseph a new name.
• All of this happened when he was 30 years of age.
• He received a wife, a daughter of one of their priests.
• He traveled throughout the land of Egypt.

In the MacArthur Bible Commentary, it explains:

Pharaoh and his officials recognized that Joseph spoke God-given revelation and insight (verse 39). Joseph's focus on his Lord had quickly taken him from prison to the palace (verse 41). The signet ring, gold chain, and linen garments were emblems of the office as prime minister. Joseph wore the royal seal on his finger, authorizing him to transact the affairs of state on behalf of Pharaoh himself. All these dreams had been revealed by God, in a rare display of manifesting truth through pagans, so that Joseph would be established in Egypt as a leader and, thus elevated, could be used for the preservation of God's people when the famine came to Canaan. Thus, God cared for     His people and fulfilled His promises (45:1-8).

Foreigners in Egypt were known to have been assigned an Egyptian name. The new name
given to Joseph was Zaphnath-Paaneah, which probably means "The Nourisher of the Two
Lands, the Living One" or "God speaks and He lives."
Only 13 years elapsed since Joseph's involuntary departure from Canaan. He had been 17 at
the time, and now was 30. What a difference one day in his life made.

You know, they put a purple robe and a crown of thorns on Jesus to mock Him. They cast lots
for His robe. Revelation 19 describes  His future robe dipped in blood with His name The
Word of  God. He will be wearing a king's robe again. This time no one will take it from Him.
How magnificent our King of kings and LORD of lords will look! Oooh! Aren't you ready?


LET IT GROW

In my readings, I found that verse 38 has the first mention of a man filled with the Holy Spirit.
Pharaoh saw that Joseph was filled with the Spirit of God.
As part of the Trinity, the Spirit of God indwells His children. (Didn't want to forget that.)

Joseph spent 7 years working, storing up grain in cities close to where it was grown. He
gathered so much corn that he couldn't keep up with the count of storage bins.

David Guzik says, "It was customary for Pharaoh to take 10% of the grain in Egypt as a tax.
Joseph doubled the taxes over taxes over the next 7 years (41:34 says 1/5 =20%)."

The seven years of plenty ended, came to pass. We will pick up there next time. Someone is
coming for dinner. Is Joseph ready?

Do I trust God to keep His Word? Do I live by faith and not by sight?


LET IT GO

Always be ready to be caught up in the clouds with Jesus.

Work 'til Jesus comes sharing the good news of salvation.

Trust Him to provide for my needs.

*I just wanted to say welcome to all the new visitors. Hope you will join our group going through the Old Testament. There is so much to learn. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read with us.

From a Prison to a Palace

O. T. #86  "From a Prison to a Palace"
Genesis 41-Part 1
The matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.  Genesis 41:32b

LET IT GLOW

Two whole years passed-Joseph was still in the king's prison, but he was made second in
command of the prison. Joseph had a good work ethic, was trustworthy, and probably had a
positive attitude. Everyone like this young man. He had interpreted the dreams of the butler
and baker, but was forgotten until...
One night Pharaoh had two disturbing dreams. The king's wise men and magicians couldn't
explain the dreams. Then the king's butler (cupbearer) remembered Joseph and how he had interpreted his and the baker's dream, which came true. So the king sent for Joseph out of the
prison.
Joseph got cleaned up and presentable to stand before the king. Pharaoh  heard about the butler
and baker's dreams being interpreted by Joseph.

What was Joseph's response?

• I cannot do it.
• God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.

There are some things that we cannot do, only God can. Things like changing hearts, desires, attitudes.
Do I do what I can do, knowing it is right, and leave the rest to God. do I give Him the credit
for what He does?

LET IT GROW

Joseph gave God the credit for his ability to interpret dreams. He had interpreted his 2 dreams, the butler and baker's dreams, which came true. Then he interpreted the king's 2 dreams, which also happened. you can read the details in chapter 40.
Joseph's interpretation for the king's dreams was that Egypt would have 7 years of plenty of food, crops, and then 7 years of famine following.
The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms was that the matter had been firmly
decided by God, and God would do it soon (verse 32). Joseph suggested that Pharaoh look
for a discerning and wise man in charge of the land and food supply. Also, appoint commissioners over the land to store 1/5 of the harvest during the 7 years of abundance, keep it in cities for a reserve for the country, to be distributed during the famine. (NIV)

Pharaoh asked if they could find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God. He recognized that Joseph was the man. Joseph was in charge of the king's palace and everyone.
Only with respect to the throne would the king be greater than Joseph. That made Joseph
second in command over Egypt, the prime minister. It's looking like his dreams may come
true. Can you imagine the look on Mrs. Potiphar when her husband informed her of the day's
events.

Are we trusting God in the tough and easy times as well?

LET IT GO

Praise the Lord while working hard.

Trust Him for things to work out in our lives.

Keep Jesus as the commander of my life.

Hang In There!

O.T. #85  "Hang In There!"
July 16, 2013
Genesis 40-Part 1

LET IT GLOW

Have you seen the poster of the cat hanging from a bar? Poor kitty is about to drop.The caption
tells us to Hang in There. Problems come, trials, and testings in life seem to stay forever. What are we hanging onto friend?
Is it things, positions, money? Who are we going to put our faith in-God or man? Are you ready
to give up? Can we hang on just a little bit longer?

Joseph was put into the royal prison because of something he did not do. Potiphar's wife
accused him of trying to have his way with her, when in fact it was the other way around.
While in prison, Joseph's character took him to the top again. After a while, he was put in
charge of the other prisoners. His positive attitude, good work ethic, and trustworthiness
caused the keeper of the prison to have confidence in him. Here was Joseph waiting for the
day when his prophetic dreams would come true.

Then Pharaoh became angry with his chief baker and chief butler. the butler was the king's cupbearer who gave him his drinks. (If the drink was a poison intended for the king, then the cupbearer would taste it and die instead of the king. The baker cooked the king's bread. Both men had to be trustworthy.)
So the king put them in prison where Joseph was. We know that God arranged their arrest for Joseph's sake. While there, each man had a dream one night which they couldn't understand.
Since the baker and butler were looking sad, Joseph asked them why. They told him.

Verse 8 NIV says, Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God" Tell me your dreams."

The chief butler's dream meant that he would be reinstated as the king's cup bearer in three
days. Joseph asked the butler to remember him so he could be freed from the prison.
The chief baker's dream meant a different end result-he would die hanging from a tree.

LET IT GROW

The story continues. On the third day, it was the Pharaoh's birthday. At this party Pharaoh held for his servants, he rendered two different kind of judgments. What Joseph said happened. The
cupbearer, butler, was restored to his position while the baker was hanged. Yet Joseph was
left in prison. The butler quickly forgot about Joseph for the next 2 years. Later we will see
that it was prompted at just the right moment.

Do we wonder why others experience the blessings that we so desperately need? Do we
continue to trust in God's plan and His timing? Or do we trust in men rather than in God?

God was ultimately going to use the butler's bad memory to deliver Joseph, but the right time
had not yet come. The butler forgot Joseph, but God did not forget him!  (Wiersbe)

How strong is our faith? Will we hang in there until God's ultimate will is accomplished?

LET IT GO

Trust Jesus through it all.

Surrender to His will, His way.

In Prison

O.T.#84  "In Prison"
July 15, 2013
Genesis  39-Part 3
But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.  Genesis 39:23

LET IT GLOW

There is a lady in our state that ministers to women in prison. She knows what they need
and how to provide it. That's because she once was there herself. Now God uses those
experiences to draw others to Him. She is one of our state missionaries. She never expected
her life to turn out like this, but she is so happy to serve her Savior where He sends.
We can be in our own prison-prison of bitterness, anger, disappointment. Only Jesus can
set us free. Will you turn to Him today? Our study tells us of Joseph who was put into
prison for something he didn't do. How did he react?

We left Joseph being put into the king's prison because Mrs. Potiphar lied about him. She tried to seduce the young man into her bed of sin, but he refused the first time and fled the second time. However, she grabbed his coat and everyone believed her story. Joseph didn't try to have his way with her, it was the other way around.

Here is what Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament has to say about the situation:

Not only was Joseph able to control his appetites, but he was also able to control his tongue; for he did not argue with the officers or expose the lie Potiphar's wife was spreading about him. Control of the tongue is a mark of spiritual maturity (James 3). It is likely that Potiphar was the captain of the guards in charge of prisoners; he may even have been the chief executioner. At any rate, he saw to it that Joseph was put in the king's prison (verse 20), and Joseph's faithfulness and devotion again brought him favor with the officers. "The Lord was with Joseph" is the key to his success (32:2, 5, 21). Joseph had to suffer as a prisoner for at least two years, and probably longer.

So what is the exciting thing about this occurrence? [Our main character of the story (which actually happened) is in prison.]

• The LORD was with Joseph.  
• God showed Joseph mercy (chesed in Hebrew), which means favor, loving kindness.
• God gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
• Joseph was put in charge of all the prisoners in the king's prison.
• That which Joseph did, the LORD made it to prosper.

God did not leave Joseph alone, but Joseph got alone with God. What does it take for god to get us alone with Him so He can speak to us? Sickness, disease, financial, marital problems,
prison? Do we set aside alone time with God daily? How do we react to people who have
been or are in prison? Do we know people who are in a prison of their own choosing? Where sin has them bound? Jesus can set them free.


LET IT GROW

The death penalty for adultery may not have applied to a charge of attempted
adultery, attempted seduction or rape (verses 14,18), so Potiphar consigned Joseph
to the prison reserved for royal servants, from where in the providence of God, he
would be summoned into Pharaoh's presence and begin the next stage of his life
 (chapters 40 & 41). (MacArthur)

Potiphar could have killed Joseph on the spot, but instead chose to have him put in
Pharaoh's prison. I don't think he totally believed his wife, but he could not very well do nothing.
(Dick Kelsey)

God faithfully demonstrates His loyalty to His people. God had saved Joseph, and now
He was being faithful to His covenant with Joseph by giving him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. When we make positive, difficult decisions to live according to God's standards, he will remain faithful to us and meet our needs. (Falwell)

The keeper of the prison recognized Joseph's loyalty in service, as did Potiphar. This guy
put Joseph in charge of his prison. The warden put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners
there, to the extent that whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it (verse 21).

Verse 23 c says, that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Do we ask the Lord to lead us, bless our work, prosper it for His glory?

LET IT GO

I am trusting God for the outcome of my situation. He is in charge, our Sovereign God,
All-powerful.

Seek God's plans, then follow them.

Let go of the past and walk with Jesus today.

She Lied Because He Wouldn't Lie

O.T. #83  "She Lied Because He Wouldn't Lie"
Genesis 39-Part 2
But he refused. Genesis 39:8
And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me; and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Genesis 39:12

LET IT GLOW

When he arrived in Egypt, Joseph was sold as a slave by his brothers to the captain of the guard named Potiphar. His owner was an officer of the king called Pharaoh. We know that Joseph spent the next 13 years away from his family. He learned a new language, a new culture, new customs, and different foods.

In this chapter, we focus on Joseph's new life. As he exchanged a tailored coat for a servant's
garb, Joseph learned how to serve others and how to work. He practiced self-control. Although this young man lost his coat, he kept his character. He was able to control his appetites and his tongue.

Dick Kelsey wrote this description of Joseph in his book called the Success Puzzle: 

What we can assume about Joseph as a slave speaks very well of his character and what he learned as a youth. He apparently worked very hard, had a good attitude, was trustworthy, and had the best interest of his master at heart. Imagine having a positive attitude when you went from being a spoiled rich kid to a slave in a foreign country. He did it. His good work ethic and honesty enabled him to be promoted to be the head of all Potiphar's household. He was entrusted with everything it took to run the large operation. The other slaves worked for him.

How's our work ethic? Are we doing our best work, putting out our most effort, honoring our boss as well as our Savior?

LET IT GROW

In order to understand what is taking place next in Joseph's life, let's back up to the last part of
verse 6 in the NIV-Now Joseph was well-built and handsome.
Okay, we have a young man in his early twenty's, who no doubtedly inherited his mother's qualities of a beautiful/handsome appearance. He is working in the office at Potiphar's house, managing all of his master's estate, finances, workers, all of his business affairs. This was one trustworthy good looking dude. He's a top executive, a modern day CEO of the company. Day in and day out he
was around the house of Mrs. Potiphar. Perhaps the two would discussed his work, had a cup of coffee together, hung a picture on the wall, planned a party. I don't know what went on in that mansion. I know she had eyes for him; her eyes were watching Joseph; her heart was touched by his character, though she had none. Mrs. P devised a plan and tried to seduce Joseph. Did it work?

In the very next verse, it says, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "come to bed with me!"
Is that plain spoken or what? What was Joseph's response to this invitation? Verse 8 tells us he refused.
Webster's Dictionary defines refuse as to decline to do or grant; deny; decline to accept: reject.

Here is the woman of a high official in the country, living in a mansion, has servants waiting on her hand and foot and she wants to have sex with a foreign kid running her husband's estate. Who can figure? I guess forbidden fruit is more tempting. Maybe Mr. P was always feeding his face or
off on a business trip, leaving her lonely.

Not only does Joseph refuse to commit fornication with Mrs. P, he does not want to sin against
God.
Verse 9 states, My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his
wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? 

This boy is one smart cookie. He refused to be with her, according to verse 10. did He avoid her at all costs? Walk out of the room when she came in?

Josephs actions are to be contrasted with Reuben's (35:22) and Judah's (38:16). Her first approach involved flattery (verse 7), then the long enticing (verse 10), and finally the ambush (verse 12). He fled to preserve his honor. (Falwell)

Keep in mind, Mrs. P doesn't care about Joseph's God. She is an Egyptian who worships idols.
Does she even have any values at all? The story doesn't end there. She didn't take no for an answer.
She approached him again, only this time, she made sure the household servants were not around.
How did Joseph respond the second time? She caught Joseph by his cloak, an outer garment, and
he fled, slipping out of it, leaving it behind. YES! Go Joseph! Get out of there! RUN, BOY, RUN!
Take notice that this is the second time a coat of Joseph is made to lie about him (37:31).

Do we linger when tempted or do we  flee? Sometimes you just have to turn and walk away or run away or drive away. Anyway, get out of there!

Wiersbe says," Egyptian women were known for their unfaithfulness, but Joseph did not yield.
God was testing Joseph, for if Joseph could not control himself as a servant, he could never control others as a ruler."

2 Timothy 2:22 NIV states,  Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith,
love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Poor Joseph! Nothing like a woman scorned. She lied because he wouldn't lie, with her, that is.
Mrs. P called the men servants and told them, "This Hebrew has been brought to us to make
sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream
for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.

She told her husband the same lie and he believed his wife. Did he even ask Joseph what happened? It caused Potiphar to burn with anger against Joseph. Mr. P put Joseph in prison, the one where the king's prisoners were confined.
We will leave Joseph, an undeserving prisoner held captive. What's he going to do now?

There are times that we are in a pit or in a prison because of our own doing, or not because of anything we did at all. How do we react? How did Joseph react? Are we loving people to Jesus
no matter our circumstances?

LET IT GO

Keep my eyes and heart focused on Jesus, not things of this world.

Stay faithful to my own husband.

Watch my words, actions, and dress so I do not tempt others to sin.

Be aware of what is going on around me; keep my eyes and ears open.

Be grateful for what I have.



 

Best Work

O.T.#82  "Best Work"
July 11, 2013
Genesis 39-Part 1
And Joseph found grace in his sight.  Genesis 39:4a

LET IT GLOW

I remember how excited I was when I got my first job. We had only been married a couple of months. The job was sewing collars onto children's clothes. My parents knew my supervisor so
that helped me get it, I'm sure, because I had no work record. I always loved to sew, so what better thing to do and get paid for it? I stayed focused on my work, tried to do my best, and sew the most collars on that I could within an hour. Besides getting paid for what I loved to do, I could see all the new clothes for kids. At that time I had twin nieces that were two years old. I often went out to the car to eat my lunch and read my Bible. I was hungry, even back then, for the Word of God.

We left Judah's family at the birth of twin boys, one of which was Perez.

He became the ancestor of Jesus the Messiah (Matt. 1:3, Luke 3:33). God took the son of this ungodly situation and put him in the family line of the Messiah, despite the fact that neither parents were examples of godliness. this is a glorious example of grace. God chose them despite their works, to have a role in His plan of redemption. The sons of Israel (Jacob) were by no means an all-star team. They were a corrupt and problem-filled family. ( David Guzik)

Now back to Joseph, the one favored by his father and hated by his brothers.
This chapter expresses God's quiet control and the man of faith's quiet victory. (Kidner)

Joseph exchanged his tailored coat for a servant's garb. God forced him to learn how to work.
This way he learned humility and the importance of obeying orders. Because Joseph was faithful in the small things, God promoted him to greater things (Prov., 22:29, 12:24). (Wiersbe)

Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Did you catch that? He had to be brought down before he was lifted up to second in command. The Ishmaelite merchants sold Joseph to Potiphar. Who was Potiphar? He was an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt; he was captain of the guard.

What do we notice about this 17 year old Joseph?

• He begins as a trusted slave in the house of Potiphar.
• The LORD was with him.
• He was a prosperous man.
• His master saw that the LORD was with him.
• Potiphar saw that the LORD made all that Joseph did to prosper in his hand.

Sounds like Joseph was noticed, was a prized slave, different from the rest, his works made him
shine above all the others. What is funny to me is that his boss realized that it was the LORD that had His hand upon Joseph and blessed his work. I wonder if Joseph was bold enough to share
his God with Potiphar. He must have learned their language along the way. I don't read of it until later when his brothers come. It would have been needful.

Do our works honor our God? Do we prosper, not because of us, but because we honor our Lord Jesus with our work?

LET IT GROW

God's guidance in Joseph's life was to prepare for Jacob's household a way out of the dangerous conditions depicted in chapters 37-38. (Falwell)

What do we learn about Joseph over time?

• Joseph found grace in his master's sight and Joseph served him.(verse 4) Grace means favor.
• Joseph was made overseer over his master's house. (verse 4)
• Joseph was put in charge over all that Potiphar had. (verse 4)
• The LORD blessed the Egyptian house for Joseph's sake. (verse 5)
• Potiphar left all that he had in Joseph's hand; entrusted to his care everything he owned.       With Joseph in charge, Potiphar didn't concern himself with anything except the food he ate.      (verse 6, NIV) Potiphar didn't know the full extent of his own business affairs (verse 8).
• Joseph was a goodly person and well favored. NIV describes him as well-built and handsome.   

Overseer means to care for; do judgment, lay up, look, an officer, have oversight. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)

The blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house and in the field. Joseph was
steward over the whole estate, house and field; one criteria for which was trust. Joseph was experiencing fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, even at that time before Israel was in the
land (12:1-3) (MacArthur)

New Living Translation describes Joseph as being Potiphar's personal attendant. All of Potiphar's household affairs ran smoothly and his crops and livestock flourished. He gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned.

It sounds like Joseph was around the house, the place, in the office a lot for his job. Everyone knew who he was and liked their boss, I figure.
What kind of reputation do we have at work? Are we faithful stewards with what we have been
put in charge? Are we honoring the Lord Jesus in our work? Do I find grace, favor, in God's sight?
Whether it's scrubbing the shower, doing laundry, or working outside the home, am I doing my
best to honor Jesus?

Colossians 3:17 says, And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 3:23-24 state, And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto
men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve
the Lord Christ.

LET IT GO

Let go of the past and forgive people. Focus on the present and the future.

Be trustworthy in all my dealings, in all my work.

Thank and praise the Lord for my job and household chores.

Work for the Lord.

Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right

O.T. #81  "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right"
July 10, 2013
Genesis 38-Part 1
And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren.  Genesis 38:1a

LET IT GLOW

What started the down hill slide of Judah? He left his family and went down into the land of
Canaan. They were forbidden to marry these people, idol worshipers.

What good can come out of this messy chapter? Judah commits incest with his daughter in law, though unknowingly to him. She gets pregnant by him and has twins. Before that happened, he
has 3 sons, two die because they are wicked. Judah didn't give his third son to Tamar like he had promised.
If you look at the genealogy of Christ through Joseph, you'll see Judah, Tamar, and son Pharez
listed.
Those people are worthy to be mentioned in the Bible, in Christ's Jewish background?

Sounds like grace and mercy to me. I'm sure we all have some sins in our background that need cleansed in the blood of Jesus, and grace and mercy spread over the top.

LET IT GROW

What happened? Judah's first son, Er was exceedingly wicked, guilty of some very heinous sin,
 not mentioned; his second son, Onan, was sent by his father to father a child in brother Er's name, but didn't. The Lord killed them both. Judah promised the third son to Tamar to give her a son in the name of her first husband, but was sent home to wait on the little brother to grow up. (This didn't occur.)
Tamar took matters into her own hands. She played the harlot and seduced Judah. Demanded a pledge from Judah of a ring, bracelet, and his staff. (The objects became proof that Judah fathered
her babies.) However, two wrongs don't make a right. Her revenge didn't settle things, only made matters worse for her. They may have gotten married, but there was no more physical relations between them.
Twin boys were born in this mess, with the situation similar to Jacob and Esau. One son, Pharez, became one in the lineage of Joseph, which was Jesus' adopted father.

The entire story illustrates the sovereignty of God and God's providential care of His own. Judah yielded to the lusts of the flesh. It is quite a contrast to Joseph's purity in the next chapter. Judah was willing to sell his brother for a slave, yet he himself was a "slave of sin" (John 8:34). Even son, where sin abounds, grace much more abounds (Rom. 5:20), for we see that Tamar is included in the human lineage of Christ. (Wiersbe)

Am I a slave to sin? Are there sins that I keep repeating, without considering it sin?

LET IT GO

Recognize my weaknesses so Satan can't tempt me with them.

Confess my sins and turn from them.

Leave revenge to the Lord when others hurt me.

It's the Pits

O.T. #80  "It's the Pits"
July 9, 2013
Genesis 37-Part 5
Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.  Genesis 37:20

LET IT GLOW

When I was a child, we had a couple of cherry trees in our yard. I preferred eating those canned
ones you buy at the store instead of the fresh ones, though. Mom and I would pick them off the trees, them take the pits out of each one. She would make a cobbler out of them. It was all right, but you know which one I preferred.

Life isn't always a bowl full of cherries. Often we reap what we've sown or what others have sown.
Sometimes we can't do any more and give up and let God take over. Isn't that the way it is supposed to be? There are pits in those beautiful cherries, you know. Can't life be the pits?

Although Joseph had been put into a pit by his brothers and was plotted to be killed, he was not.
At that time a caravan of merchants were coming by and they sold Joseph to them as a slave.
So he got to live. Wasn't it enough to have his brothers mean to him as he grew up?

Although he was absent at the time of the sale, Reuben would be held responsible for the treachery, and so joined in the cover-up (verses 30-35). His grief manifested how much he had actually
wanted to rescue Joseph (42:22). (MacArthur)

When Reuben got back, maybe from tending the sheep and goats, Joseph was not in the pit. Judah  talked the others into selling Joseph instead of killing him.

I wonder what the guys did with the money? Did they go into Schechem to party?

LET IT GROW

Joseph is on his way to Egypt as a slave. The brothers are left holding the bag, I mean coat. The scheme continues. They dip the coat into goat's blood and deceived their father into thinking a
wild beast killed and devoured Joseph. How mean is that?
Jacob knew it was Joseph's coat. He drew the conclusions that his sons wanted.

Years before, Jacob had slain a kid to deceive his father (27:9), and now his sons deceived him the same way. We reap what we sow. Jacob spent the next 22 years in sorrow, thinking that Joseph
was dead. He thought that everything was working against him (42:36), but in reality everything was working for him (Rom. 8:28). God had sent Joseph ahead to prepare the way for Israel's
preservation as a nation. (Wiersbe)

Do we ever feel that way, everyone is against us? Life is dealing you a bad hand? Are you in a
pit? God is still in control, friend. Trust Him. I am in that pit. There is nothing else that I can do. I have turned the situation over to God for Him to handle.

Romans 8:28 in NIV says, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those
who love him, who had been called according to His purpose.

LET IT GO

I pray for the people involved in the situation and God's mercy as He works things out.

Trusting Jesus, even when things go wrong in my eyes.

Love Jesus, love others.

Let Jesus be in the pit with me.

Schemes

O.T. #79  "Schemes"
July 8, 2013
Genesis 37-Part 4

And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired
against him to slay him. Genesis 37:18


LET IT GLOW

Something good will come out of this bad situation. Haven't we heard that before? Often those
words are easier to say than apply. Trusting God to handle things that we can't is sometimes hard. No, it is hard. Believing that good will come of this on down the road is our assurance. I have a situation in my life that I am going to get resolved concerning a fellow believer. I sure don't want hatred to fester up in my heart from such a little thing. That's what today's lesson has taught me.

I noticed that Joseph was hated by his brothers, which is mentioned three times in this chapter.
Verse 4 says they hated him after their father gave Joseph his coat of many colors; verse 5 says
they hated him yet the more after Joseph shared his dream; then in verse 8 they not only hated
him the more but also for his words; verse 11 says they envied him, which occurred after they
heard about the second dream.. This hated had been simmering on the stove of their hearts
and it was about to boil over.

The Hebrew word for hated is sane (saw-nay') which means to hate (personally): enemy, foe; to
be hateful, a hater, odious, found in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance.

Envied means to make jealous or provoke to jealous (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance); envy is a feeling of mortification or discontent excited by seeing the superiority or prosperity of another person; a desire for the possessions or advantages of another, found in Webster's Dictionary.

No words were spared when it came to describing the attitude of Joseph's brothers toward him.
Scripture doesn't say that their father Jacob called the guys to a family meeting and worked through this strong hatred. If it had, perhaps things would have worked out differently. After all, the
dreams that Joseph had were from God. He was working His plan for this special family. He was going to turn this bad situation into something good on down the road. It would take some time
to change Joseph, though. God had to get him away from his brothers and their bad influence. Joseph's brothers did one day bow down to him.
So where's the good in this situation? It teaches us how not to act toward our brothers and sisters.

Do we have feelings of jealousy, envy, or even hatred that needs to be dealt with? Take it to our Heavenly Father, then to the one that it involves. Get things worked out before it blows up out of proportion and messes up relationships.

LET IT GROW

Another scheme to do evil is planned.

Here's a summary of what happened to Joseph according to Warren Wiersbe:

We aren't told which of the brothers first suggested doing away with Joseph. Possibly it was Simeon, who resented Joseph's intrusion on the rights of the firstborn(which would finally be taken away from Reuben, 49:3-4). We know from chapter 34 that Simeon was crafty and cruel, and in 42:24, Joseph was rather harsh on Simeon. At any rate, the brothers were back in the region of Shechem (where they had gotten into trouble before, chapter 34), and they plotted to slay Joseph. It is to Reuben's credit that he tried to spare Joseph's life, although he used the wrong method to accomplish a noble deed. God overruled the hatred of the men, and Joseph was sold into slavery instead of slain in cold blood.

With murder in their hearts, the brothers could not plead righteous indignation this time. They
could only conceal it with a cruel lie. Judah's plan "unwittingly thwarted Reuben's, but did save Joseph from death." (Falwell)

Joseph's brothers conspired to kill him because of their hatred for him. Jesus equated hatred with murder! The oldest brother, Reuben, intervened and suggested they put him in a pit instead. His
plan was to get joseph out later. then, while most of the brothers were eating, a caravan of
Ishmaelites came along on their way to Egypt. The brothers, without Reuben present, decided to
sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites, who in turn sold him for a profit in Egypt. Slavery was a common
part of the culture at that time. Joseph went from being a favored son to a slave in one day.
(Dick Kelsey in the success Puzzle)

So for 20 pieces of silver Joseph was sold into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.
I am reminded that Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, so the Jews could kill Him.

Do I betray Jesus for nothing in return?(Not even money is involved.) Do I forsake His teachings and ways to go my own way. am I harboring ill feelings toward others that need to be forgiven?
Yes, the Lord has been working on me to get the log out of my own eye before I point out the
splinter in someone else's eye.

1 Corinthians 16:14 says Let all you do be done in love.

LET IT GO

Don't harbor ill feelings toward others; get it worked out.

Have a forgiving heart and seek the forgiveness of others.

Put walk to my talk.

Love like Jesus-unconditionally.

Dreams

O.T. #78  "Dreams"
July 5, 2013
Genesis 37-Part 3
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
Genesis 37:5

LET IT GLOW

Here's the favored son, Joseph, only a teenager, wearing that coat of may colors. It set him apart as someone special. His brothers resented his relationship with their father and the Word says they
hated him. I can't imagine what it was like when all of Joseph's brothers, except Benjamin, ganged
up on him, teased him, hated him. What a family life! (Maybe it was a blessing to be separated from them.)

Joseph had two dreams mentioned in this chapter. At that time, dreams had a special significance.
Joseph's father, Jacob, had a dream back in chapter 28. We refer to the dream as Jacob's ladder as
the time and place when the Lord spoke and reassured him of his special place in God's plan for His chosen people.

Joseph's first dream involved sheaves, stalks of grain in the field. All the sheaves stood up, then
his brothers' sheaves bowed down to his sheaf. The brothers asked if he would indeed reign over them and would he have dominion over them.

Joseph's second dream involved the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing down to him. Joseph told his brothers and father about the dream. This time Jacob questioned and rebuked Joseph. Jacob asked,
Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you? (verse 10)

Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament states:

That these dreams came from God, there is no question; and certainly the assurance that one day he would rule helped to keep Joseph faithful during those many years of testing in Egypt. Note that the first dream had an earthly setting, while the second dream was set in heaven. This suggests Abraham's earthly children (the Jews) and his heavenly seed (the church). Joseph's brothers did one day bow down to him! (42:6, 43:26, 44:14)

Since Joseph represents Jesus, we can be assured that one day the Jews and the church will bow
down to King Jesus. Scripture says that all will bow down to Jesus.

Philippians 2:10-11 says, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue would confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

Have you bowed down to Jesus yet? Have you asked Him to be your Lord and Savior? You can
do it today, friend. One day we all will bow down to Him and declare that Jesus is Lord.
Are we practicing it here, now, before we get to heaven? Does He see us on our knees before
the Son of God, our Savior, praying?

LET IT GROW

How did Joseph's brothers and father react whenever Joseph told them of the two dreams?
It didn't go over too well. His brothers hated him all the more. There is no emotion more harmful than hatred. It caused the downfall of many people. It will rob you of your happiness and joy and even destroy your health. Joseph's brothers were tormented for many years by their hatred of their
brother. (The success Puzzle, by Dick Kelsey)

Jacob responded to Joseph's dream by rebuking him. He didn't want to see the turmoil that was
taking place in his family, although he knew dreams often meant something. Now Joseph became known as the dreamer and his brothers called him that. Will the teasing ever quit?

We know that Joseph had two dreams, in which his parents and brothers bowed down to him.
Since we have the advantage over them and know what happens later in their lives, we know that these two dreams came true. When the famine came in their country, his brothers bowed down to
the one in charge of the grain, seeking to purchase some for their family to eat. Then, when the  whole family moved into Egypt, they bowed to Joseph, who was the second in command in Egypt, and the grain supervisor.

Our nation had some dreamers in its early history. Our forefathers dreamed of a free, independent, and prosperous country where they could worship God as they saw fit.
What do we dream of for our children?
Joseph's dream instilled within him that God had a special purpose for his life. He knew that he was here for a reason. Do we have a sense of God's purpose for their life? Do we dream of what God can do through us?
Does Jesus reign over us? How often do we bow down to pray?

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalm 37:4 states: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Did you notice, the Lord will place His desires in our hearts.


LET IT GO

Allow Jesus to direct the dreams and desires of my heart.

Daily bow down to King Jesus.

Listen as others proclaim His Word.

Independence Day

July 4, 2013

John 8:36 says, So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Thank You Jesus for setting us free from sin; for Your sacrifice.
Thank You for America where we are free to worship; for the sacrifice of so many lives.
Help me to sacrifice my time, energy, money, and self to share Your free salvation with others.

Have you been set free from the burden of sin?
No matter our circumstances, it's never too late to be free. Joseph found true spiritual freedom from self-pity, anger, and retaliation. (Karen Ehman)

Only Jesus can set us free. Let's turn to Him.


Have a safe holiday, dear friends. I am spending it with my family. I picked fresh blackberries the other day, cooked the juice, and now am going to make a cobbler. I will enjoy it, except for the chigger bites and poison ivy itching me. Small price to pay for pleasure.

See you tomorrow.
Linda