Day #27

Sermon - Audio
Gen 43-45 - Audio
Gen 43-45 - Daily Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Welcome to day #27! You're doing great. My guess is that you are shocked, awed, and understand God in ways you never did only 27 days ago...now on to the thoughts:

Gen 43

*Judah seems to have been humbled from the whole Tamar incident earlier and is now letting Jacob know that he is willing to accept responsibility for Benjamin if he doesn't end up coming back with him.

*We will see that Joseph's forgiveness is not one that has limits. Joseph has truly forgiven his brothers and all his actions prove this to be true. We see later that Joseph understands that it was God working out His plan through his brothers the entire time. We see this later in 45:4-8

Q. Does your forgiveness come with restrictions? Or is your forgiveness open-handed?
Q. If this is how Joseph forgave, what does this say about the forgiveness of sins through Jesus?
Q. When things aren't going how "we want them to go," are we open to God using them for His purpose?

*It's ok for men to cry and show emotion...and I assume Joseph was not a "wuss."

*In verse 32 we see that the Egyptians ate separately from the Hebrews. The Egyptians couldn't stand, "abhorred" the Hebrew people. It wasn't just the Hebrew people, but eating with foreigners in general was looked down upon. Oddly, another thought on why they abhorred the Hebrew people in particular was because "they had bodily hair and found their beards repulsive" -Apologetics SB-

Gen 44

*Joseph has a little plot of his own. Up till this point Joseph has yet to reveal himself as their brother. He wants to see if his brothers are truly repentant for their earlier sins against him, and to see if they would do the same thing with Benjamin. You'll see that the brothers choose not to leave without Benjamin and ask for mercy from Joseph.

*Oprah Moment! Judah gives his testimony in v 18-34. Judah lays it all out on the line. Remember, this is the same Judah that wanted Joseph to be sold into slavery, now he's willing to become a slave to Joseph. Judah seems like a changed man.

Gen 45

*Really, it's ok to cry.

*Joseph reveals himself as their brother. The word "dismayed" is actually better translated as "dumbfounded!" I can just imagine seeing their faces in that moment.

*All the emotion from not seeing his father for so many years comes out, and now his only concern is being reunited to his father.

*Joseph tells of his faith in God's provision and plans for him. He understands that God wanted these things to happen to him and is even "thankful" for these events taking place in his life. Through Joseph's hardships God saves thousands of people, secures His people, and makes Joseph a powerful man. While his brothers thought that it was their hand that allowed Joseph to be sold into slavery, Joseph understands that it was actually God at work.

Q. What does it look like for us to trust in His story despite hardships surrounding us?

*The extent of Joseph's forgiveness is shown here. Joseph not only will accept his family back, but will also provide and look out for them.

*45:10 land of Goshen - "The precise location of Goshen is disputed; it was probably a region in the eastern delta area of the Nile suitable for herdsmen, in the area of the Wadi Tumilat. This Goshen should be distinguished from the one mentioned in Josh. 10:41; 11:16; 15:51. Joseph chooses the region of Goshen because of its suitability for herdsmen and its close proximity to him. This location probably also lessened the likelihood of Jacob’s family being absorbed into Egyptian society (as Joseph had been), enabling them to retain their ethnic and religious distinctiveness." -ESV SB-

*The Pharaoh shows concern for Joseph and his family as well. At first glance this may seem like no big deal, but the Pharaoh typically would not care. This just shows to what extent Joseph had found favor in the land of Egypt, and how God is working through not only Joseph but those around him.

*Jacob has a hard time believing the brothers, but can't deny the gifts and wealth that was brought back with them. Jacob, or Israel, will go to Joseph.