Provisions for the Journey

O.T. #98 "Provisions for the Journey"
August 2, 2013
Genesis 45-Part 3
...and he also gave them provisions for the journey.
 Genesis 45:21c

LET IT GLOW

Before we made our journey to the Dominican Republic last June, we were given some provisions. I bought snacks to eat while there, we took Spanish Bibles to distribute, and bracelets for the children attending VBS. What excitement there was when people of the small country churches received their own Bible. The 200 children were so ecstatic to get a bracelet, though made of rubber, one would think they were made of gold. And there were times that I couldn't eat the festive food, so I was happy to have my snacks, especially peanut butter and crackers and water. The provisions for our journey across the water were greatly appreciated. Pharaoh and Joseph gave his brothers provisions for their journey home. Shall we see what they took?

It was 22 years later that Joseph saw his brothers again. They had sold Joseph into slavery so they would be rid of him for the rest of their lives. Now he had the opportunity to do away with their lives. Did he retaliate? Joseph was now 39 years old. It came to my mind today, as Joseph was the grain administrator and distributor for two of the seven years of famine, he had the option to refuse to sell grain to his brothers. If Joseph had not forgiven his brothers long before this time, then he probably would have turned them away. The result would have been his father and whole family would have died from starvation. What they all deserved was being turned away, paid back for Joseph's sufferings. However, the story doesn't end that way and their lives didn't end then. We heard what Joseph told his brothers when he revealed his identity.

How did the Egyptians react to this? Verse 16 in NIV tells us when the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 

Here was the second in command of this nation, the one whom everyone liked, whom they had heard wailing across the lawn, now was happy, excited, and ecstatic to have his brothers there after 22 years. This made everyone happy, too.

Are you happy today? Is your happiness rubbing off? Are you sharing the joy of Jesus with others?

LET IT GROW

I don't know if Joseph discussed with Pharaoh his family's situation or not, but Pharaoh told Joseph to tell his brothers this:

• Load their animals and return to the land of Canaan;
• Bring your father and families back;
• He would give them the best of the land of Egypt;
• Take some carts from Egypt and come;
• Never mind about their belongings, because the best of all Egypt would be theirs.

Not only did the brothers take carts and grain, but they also were given new clothing, with Benjamin receiving 5 sets of clothes and 300 shekels of silver. Joseph sent to his father 10 donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt and 10 donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provisions for the journey.

Joseph sent his brothers home, loaded down, and told them, "Don't quarrel on the way!"
Maybe Joseph knew his brothers better than they did.

Are we grateful for all the provisions that God has given us for our journey of life?
Do we thank Him daily?

LET IT GO

Forgive others and seek forgiveness.

Thank God for all He has given to me.