[Linux4christians] Tuesday Genesis 38:1-11

[pastordavid at bibleseven.com]

    Tuesday


      Genesis 38:1-11


Joseph's Brothers in Egypt

42:1 When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, 
"Why are you looking at each other?" 42:2 He then said, "Look, I hear 
that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy grain for us so that 
we may live and not die."

42:3 So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 42:4 
But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for 
he said, "What if some accident happens to him?" 42:5 So Israel's sons 
came to buy grain among the other travelers, for the famine was severe 
in the land of Canaan.

42:6 Now Joseph was the ruler of the country, the one who sold grain to 
all the people of the country. Joseph's brothers came and bowed down 
before him with their faces to the ground. 42:7 When Joseph saw his 
brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger to them 
and spoke to them harshly. He asked, "Where do you come from?" They 
answered, "From the land of Canaan, to buy grain for food."

42:8 Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 
42:9 Then Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them, and he 
said to them, "You are spies; you have come to see if our land is 
vulnerable!"

42:10 But they exclaimed, "No, my lord! Your servants have come to buy 
grain for food! 42:11 We are all the sons of one man; we are honest men! 
Your servants are not spies."

42:12 "No," he insisted, "but you have come to see if our land is 
vulnerable." 42:13 They replied, "Your servants are from a family of 
twelve brothers. We are the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The 
youngest is with our father at this time, and one is no longer alive."

42:14 But Joseph told them, "It is just as I said to you: You are spies!

42:15 You will be tested in this way: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you 
will not depart from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 
42:16 One of you must go and get your brother, while the rest of you 
remain in prison. In this way your words may be tested to see if you are 
telling the truth. If not, then, as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are 
spies!" 42:17 He imprisoned them all for three days. 42:18 On the third 
day Joseph said to them, "Do as I say and you will live, for I fear God. 
42:19 If you are honest men, leave one of your brothers confined here in 
prison while the rest of you go and take grain back for your hungry 
families. 42:20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me. Then 
your words will be verified and you will not die." They did as he said.



      Prayer


Lord, sometimes You test me because I have shown evidence of a poor 
character in the past. May I be humble and allow Your testing to teach 
me and never respond with rebellion so that it becomes a temptation and 
then sin.


      Commentary


Jacob/Israel challenges his older sons for standing around looking 
helpless in the face of the famine to go to Egypt and to buy some grain, 
but he refuses to send Benjamin with them.


When they arrive in Egypt Joseph recognizes them but they do not 
recognize him.


Joseph decides to test them by accusing them of being spies, at which 
time they defend themselves by saying they have a father and younger 
brother in Canaan -- thinking that would be evidence that they were not 
spies -- but Joseph wants to see his Benjamin and wants to know if his 
brothers are still selfish and untrustworthy.


Joseph throws them in jail for 3 days then demands that one stay in 
prison as hostage while the others go and bring back Benjamin as 
evidence that they were not lying.



      Interaction


        Consider this:

Joseph had good cause to mistrust his brothers.




        Discuss this:

Jacob/Israel feared the loss of Benjamin because he had never ceased 
mourning the loss of Joseph, however, because the other sons had lied to 
him about Joseph they no longer whined about his improper favoritism. 
When they sinned in their anger against Joseph they lost the right to 
complain about their father's sin.



        Reflect on this:

If Joseph had not been there to save and to later distribute the grain 
what might Jacob/Israel's family done for food during the famine? God 
surely would have provided but what a convoluted way for it to happen 
because of the sin of Joseph's brothers.



        Share this:

When have you made a bad decision that made something in your future a 
whole lot more complicated and difficult than it may otherwise have been?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you may be complicating your 
future because of poor choices today.


        Action:

I agree to accept what the Holy Spirit shows me and to act to bring my 
choices into line with what God desires rather than what I have been 
doing out of the weakness of my flesh.


        Be Specific ________________________________________________________


    Wednesday's text will be:  Genesis 42:21-38



-- 

Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!  Pastor David
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Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
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