by Ruth Olsen
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Read Genesis 47:1–21
Drought and famine are a part of life in Australia. It’s a dry country. We need to be prepared and ready to deal with its effects. Of course, we don’t know when, where or how long – months or years. Wise stewardship of water and other resources can help; however, if proper care is not taken, we can end up in dire circumstances. Ignorance is not bliss!
The Lord had enabled Joseph to prepare well. I can imagine Joseph was receiving insight, understanding, vision and strategies for whatever was needed along the way, both for his blood relatives and the Egyptian people. That’s some assignment from the Lord. Even the current pharaoh wanted any of Joseph’s relatives with special ability to be put in charge of Pharaoh’s own livestock (47:6). No longer detestable? (See yesterday’s devotion.)
Soon, all the money of the Egyptian people was used to buy food from Joseph. The next year, they sold their livestock to him in exchange for food. I’d guess that livestock was moved to Goshen to thrive there. Then, the people sold themselves. They were famished. Desperate.
Was God being mean to the Egyptians? No, floods and famine were also part of the ‘broken’ world then. There are times when he lets us ‘come to the end of ourselves’, our abilities, before we finally wake up, recognise and acknowledge our need for him. In our fallen pride, we like to believe we can manage life perfectly okay ourselves. Humility asks for help, as 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us. A humble heart is teachable, not full of itself, but open, receptive and discerning. That’s not what our fallen nature wants, nor what Satan wants. But Jesus has overcome the power of the devil, the world and our fallen nature. Walking with him in his life, death and resurrection is available every day.
Holy Spirit, increase our discernment of God’s ways and our ways. Show us where we are famished and lead us into Jesus’ truth in that area of life so that we can flourish, to the Father’s glory!
Tough things happen in life for each of us at some stage. Currently, Ruth is on a health-issue journey with Jesus in a ‘winter season’. For helpful insights into seasons, she recommends Pastor Rolly Stahl’s teaching series, ‘Seasons of the Soul’, available on YouTube.
by Ruth Olsen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
You should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock … all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians’ (Genesis 46:34).
Read Genesis 46:1–7,28–34
Joseph’s brothers had been tending livestock since their boyhood (Genesis 37:16; 46:6). Israel (Jacob) now tells them what he will say to Pharaoh about their occupations. Goshen is a region east of the River Nile delta, very fertile and ideal for raising livestock. Along the way to Egypt, the entourage stopped at Beersheba, where Israel, like his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham, had worshipped the Lord (Genesis 21:33; 26:23–25). There, the Lord had appeared to them, giving reassurance and promise of blessing.
Earlier, in Genesis 43:31,32, when Joseph had a meal served to his brothers, we are told: ‘They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with them by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews for that is detestable to Egyptians.’
The taboo was probably based on ritual or religious reasons (Exodus 8:26); however, the Egyptian refusal to associate with shepherds was likely based on social custom.
Do you stop to think about what you do, when you do it, why you do it that way and its purpose? Sometimes, our customs are full of rich meaning. Other times, they may be hollow and empty. Perhaps the Lord is calling us to change our thinking, desiring to lead us to rest beside still waters for a time. Others may not understand and even ridicule us. But, here, being detested became a huge blessing of abundance from God’s provision for the Hebrews, where they could flourish and thrive.
Something may be happening in your current circumstances, causing people to turn away from you. That happens. Yet do you ask the Lord to enable you to see that situation from his perspective? Perhaps he is trying to prepare you to work with him to bring his love, life and forgiveness into that very situation. Talking with him over time, listening to the Spirit’s leading and holding onto his word as our anchor will likewise enable us to grow where he has planted us for now.
Lord Jesus, you didn’t do your own thing, neither does your Spirit. Teach us to walk with you in the Father’s ways, by your Spirit’s power, even if it means we are detestable to some people. Amen.
Tough things happen in life for each of us at some stage. Currently, Ruth is on a health-issue journey with Jesus in a ‘winter season’. For helpful insights into seasons, she recommends Pastor Rolly Stahl’s teaching series, ‘Seasons of the Soul’, available on YouTube.
by Ruth Olsen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Then he sent his brothers away … [saying] ‘Don’t quarrel on the way!’ (Genesis 45:24)
Read Genesis 45:16–28
As Joseph’s story continues, his brothers were generously welcomed by Pharaoh and his officials to move their families to Egypt. Abundant provisions were made for them to take back to their father, Israel (Jacob), and their community. Grace upon grace, given freely to them. Overflowing.
So why would Joseph say, ‘Now don’t quarrel on the way’? What do we do when we experience guilt, shame, or feel backed into a corner or confronted with something we do not want to acknowledge?
We instinctively blame others! Unless we have painfully learned to humble ourselves and acknowledge our culpability. Only when we finally accept our responsibility, repent and ask for help from the Lord does the truth of forgiveness dawn on us. We discover what Jesus meant when he said, ‘the truth will set you free'. So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed’ (John 8:32,36). That truth is liberating! The load is lifted and gone. Amazing!
Pride was Satan’s downfall. The Book of Proverbs often speaks of pride:
- ‘When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom’ (Proverbs 11:2).
- ‘Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice’ (Proverbs 13:10).
- ‘Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech’ (Proverbs 8:10–13).
Father, surely you desire truth in the inner parts; by your Spirit, you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Thank you for welcoming a broken and repentant heart and enabling us to come to you in and through Jesus at any time (Psalm 51:6,17). We bless you! Amen.
Tough things happen in life for each of us at some stage. Currently, Ruth is on a health-issue journey with Jesus in a ‘winter season’. For helpful insights into seasons, she recommends Pastor Rolly Stahl’s teaching series, ‘Seasons of the Soul’, available on YouTube.
by Ruth Olsen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
[Joseph] wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it (Genesis 45:2).
Read Genesis 45:1–15
Imagine yourself in Joseph’s sandals. Sold into slavery, taken against your will to a foreign country and culture, tested and found to be trustworthy, yet falsely accused and imprisoned for something you didn’t do. How would you deal with all of that?
Thirteen years of captivity (or slavery) is a long time! Some of us prefer to avoid or deny facing reality, blaming others and trying to blot out our pain. For some, it’s a much longer, painful process. Do we remember to cry to the Lord for help? Do we react (feelings), or do we respond with faith?
Going deeper and wider: Are we willing to learn to see from God’s perspective, to recognise our ‘tough times’ as ‘seasons of training’ for something the Lord is trying to help prepare us so that we are more ready to trust him, to work with him, when that ‘season’ comes about?
As the previous chapters in Genesis tell us, on recognising his brothers, Joseph wisely needed to test them to discern and discover their current attitudes. Had they changed at all? Could they be trusted?
Have you considered whether God can actually trust you with greater responsibility to be his person in a situation? Are you available to him? That kind of learning does not happen overnight! He chips away, builds up, strengthens, encourages and expands (if we are willing to work with him).
I recall being in a couple of situations of devastation where my loud cries were heard from further away than I realised. It was like a dam wall had burst. Joseph could no longer constrain himself. And now he works hard to convince his guilty, stunned brothers that he actually is their brother Joseph but was sent by the Lord ahead of them to provide for them in their time of need. The Lord went ahead of them, in and through Joseph, to provide for their good.
Father, increase your Spirit of wisdom and revelation in us so that we may know you better. Teach us your ways and the difference from our own – for Jesus’ sake.
Tough things happen in life for each of us at some stage. Currently, Ruth is on a health-issue journey with Jesus in a ‘winter season’. For helpful insights into seasons, she recommends Pastor Rolly Stahl’s teaching series, ‘Seasons of the Soul’, available on YouTube.