July 10 – Genesis 42:1-25

July 10 – Genesis 42:1-25

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https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whengodwhispers/episodes/July-10--Genesis-421-25-e26oufq

Heavenly Father, like Joseph’s brothers, there are many times I think back on things I have done or said that I know don’t honor You and feel guilty because of my disobedience.  There are things that I have tried to make right, but sometimes no matter what I do, I can’t seem to “fix” what I have broken.   Help me to know when I need to work to ask forgiveness or when I need to let it go and know Your forgiveness is enough.  So often we get so wrapped up in grief over something we’ve done that we can’t move forward and I know that isn’t what You want for me.  Help me to rely on You and You alone.  Not on what I can do to fix the past.  Jesus died for my sins.  I don’t need to drag them with me everywhere I go and relive them and allow them to drag me down.  Help me, Father.  Help me let go of these burdens I carry.  They are no longer mine.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!

It appears that Rueben has carried the guilt for Joseph’s misfortune and feels the time of reckoning has come.  What emotions do you think Rueben and the brothers are experiencing? 

Do you think Joseph’s tears are an expression of grief, sorrow, joy or gladness? 

Do you find it interesting that he seems to seek no revenge? 

Even though he binds and keeps Simeon imprisoned near him, he returned the brothers’ money and gives them provisions until they return with the youngest brother.

Reread the scriptures and think of how you’d feel if you were one of the brothers. 

The unfolding of these scriptures continues to show us God’s love demonstrated through Joseph.  

Genesis 42:1-25

42 When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” ² And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” ³ So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. ⁴ But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. ⁵ Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

⁶ Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” ⁸ And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. ⁹ And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” ¹⁰ They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. ¹¹ We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.”

¹² He said to them, “No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see.” ¹³ And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.” ¹⁴ But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you. You are spies. ¹⁵ By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. ¹⁶ Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” ¹⁷ And he put them all together in custody for three days.

¹⁸ On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: ¹⁹ if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, ²⁰ and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. ²¹ Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” ²² And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” ²³ They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. ²⁴ Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. ²⁵ And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man's money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.