As we move into week five we will get to see the unfolding story of Joseph. We will see his own dream as a teenager become a reality and once again see his unusual but extraordinary reaction to his brothers. We will watch as they bow down to him. We will see them leave one brother behind in prison in order to bring Benjamin to Joseph – and we will listen as they try to convince their father to let his youngest son go back with them to Egypt. We will witness Joseph’s affection for his betrayers and see a sacrificial love that the brothers have for each other and their father. We will witness Joseph’s revelation that he is their brother and the reunion with his father. We will even get to see how Pharaoh reacts to learning that Joseph’s brothers had arrived. The fears and challenges are great and the lessons are inspiring as we see the battle with trust run deep with Jacob and his ten sons, and then there’s Joseph’s beautiful declaration that God had meant it all for good. I would encourage you to sneak away to a quiet place today for about 30-minutes to read these chapters, 42-46:30. It’s 5 chapters and not nearly as long as you would think but well worth the read as a whole before focusing on them individually in the study. I promise it will be time well spent and I know your heart will be glad.
The feature verse
This week’s feature verse comes from day 2, and is found in 1 Peter 3. If you watch carefully throughout the week you will see how well it applies to the reactions and actions of Joseph.
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9
Challenge
This week we will focus on Joseph’s process of testing his brothers, as well as their reconciliation. Is there someone with whom you need to reconcile? Take steps to forgive them first, and then if possible seek reconciliation. Record how God works in your life and how you see His faithfulness in the process.
But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me. NLT
Observation:
The Genesis Saga: The Cupbearer and Royal Baker
So , not only was Joseph a dreamer – apparently he was also an interpreter. sometime after Joseph was put in prison Pharaoh had two of his officials, a cupbearer and a royal baker, put in prison. As God would have it, they were placed in the same facility where Joseph was being kept and he was made their attendant. While they were there the cupbearer and royal baker both had a dream that left them noticeably depressed. They shared the dreams with Joseph and they (well, at least the cupbearer) were delighted that he was able to interpret them. Joseph was most likely delighted as well – since it gave him hope that they would mention him to Pharaoh and he would release him. Unfortunately, while things went just as Joseph had predicted from the dreams, his name was not mentioned and he remained in prison.
TODAY’S FOCUS VERSE
David wrote this Psalm in a very emotional state. He spills out frustration, confusion, fear of his enemy, desperation, great sorrow, hunger for God’s attention, worry, suffering, shame, and embarrassment. “BUT…” (you have to love the ‘buts’ of God’s Word – right?). After spilling out all of these emotions he responds to his own rant, breakdown, or what I would call a panic attack with the expressed determination and declaration, “But I trust in Your faithfulness.” His trust was so solid that he even declared a time of rejoicing, certain that God would both deliver and vindicate him. Don’t you love this? I do. I love that David open and close relationship with God, especially knowing that God refers to David as “a man after My own heart”. Don’t you see, God wants to have this kind of relationship with us – one where we are open and honest, not hiding our hearts from Him but laying them open before Him – truthful of our doubts but so confident in Him that trust and praise always win out.
But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’ NLT
While we shouldn’t doubt God, when doubts arise – and they will – we should cry out to Him like David did. We should also follow-up our questions and concerns with declarations of His faithfulness, His goodness, and our trust in Him to ‘deliver’ or meet whatever need we have expressed. When we do this praise is sure to follow and overwhelm the emotions of doubt.
Doubt brings sorrow; faith brings praise
BibleRef.Com
PRAYER: RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD
Father, help me never doubt you. Surely I have seen Your goodness and faithfulness all the days of my life. Help me in the throes of suffering and trials of this life to trust You, to remember, to call out to You, and to look for Your deliverance, and to praise You when it comes! – In Jesus’ Name – amen and amen.
How was God’s faithfulness shown to Joseph in prison?
How have you seen God show His faithfulness to you when you were in a season of despair?
WANT MORE?
(I’m sure that I’ve shared this before but the highlighted portions came to mind when I was reading/writing and I couldn’t resist sharing again – I encourage you to read the lyrics and then take some time to sit [or dance] before God in worship.)
Blessings Lyrics[this song and its rights do not belong to me]
We pray for blessings We pray for peace Comfort for family, protection while we sleep We pray for healing, for prosperity We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering And all the while, You hear each spoken need Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You’re near? And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?
We pray for wisdom Your voice to hear And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love As if every promise from Your Word is not enough And all the while, You hear each desperate plea And long that we’d have faith to believe
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? And what if the thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You’re near? And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?
When friends betray us And when darkness seems to win We know that pain reminds this heart That this is not, this is not our home It’s not our home
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? And what if the thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You’re near?
What if my greatest disappointments Or the aching of this life Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy And what if trials of this life The rain, the storms, the hardest nights Are Your mercies in disguise?
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. NLT
Observation:
The Genesis Saga: Joseph’s Story
After being sold by his brothers (chapter 37) Joseph was taken down to Egypt. Away from his father and all the “comforts of home” he now belonged to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officicals and the captain of the guard. Scripture makes it quite clear though that the LORD was with Joseph, so much so that Potiphar could see that the LORD made everything he was doing successful, so he appointed Joseph over all that he owned, and the LORD blessed it all.
the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. 6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned.
Genesis 39:5-6 NLT
Potiphar was not wrong to trust Joseph as he did. However, it does seem that he was wrong to trust his wife. I’m sure you’ve heard the story – she continually propositioned Joseph and while he faithfully turned her down, in the end he was forced to run away from her bold advances – unfortunately not before she grabbed his outer garment. She used this as a weapon against Joseph making Potiphar believe that Joseph had taken advantage of her. Potiphar, of course, was furious and threw Joseph in prison. Even there, the LORD was with Joseph, showing him kindness and granting him favor in the sight of the prison warden – so that he was put in charge of all the prisoner’s care.
If we watch and listen – even in the hardest times, we will see and hear God with us and around us.
Me-from the inside-out
TODAY’S FOCUS VERSE
James writes that the one who “endures testing”, or testing and temptation as the NLT translates it, is blessed. While most translations explain this blessing as happening because “he has stood the test”, I love the way the NET phrases James’ words of explanation: “because he has proven to be genuine in his faith.” Regardless of which translation you read, the result is the same – the one who endures receives the “crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” While there are differences of opinions among commentators as to whether the crown of life is equal to eternal life, I fall on the side of those that say they are different – in that, all believers are promised eternal life based on their faith in Christ, while the crown of life seems to be a distinct reward for loving God and enduring the testings of this life.
Other note worthy observations in these three verses would be ….
God cannot be tempted and does not tempt anyone.
Every good and perfect gift is from God.
God does not change.
APPLICATION: HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE?
Today’s application is, like most applications of God’s Word, challenging. I mean, let’s face it, enduring the trials and temptations of this life is rarely easy and can at times seem impossible. I have found a helpful key to this challenge is to remember Paul’s words to the Corinthians about temptations. He told them that when they are tempted God would show them the way out so that they could endure. We can and must TRUST GOD to show us that way of escape, actively looking for the escape in each struggle. We must purpose in our hearts and minds to endure, meaning we choose to press on to prove ourselves genuine and obtain the ‘crown of life’. We must guard against the mental and spiritual battle of questioning God’s motives in our troubles and trust that they are to strengthen our faith and produce endurance, (James 2:2-4, 13). We must also guard against trusting God less because of our trials and instead rely on Him even more. To paraphrase one commentator, if we don’t see Him as trustworthy we will move away from Him when trials come.
A Little Extra Insight from james
In light of today’s portion of the Genesis saga, I think we would be remiss to not make note of why we are tempted. Like Esau, Judah, Tamar, and so many others we have seen throughout our cast of characters, we are tempted when we are lured and entice by our own desires. Once the desire is born, it gives birth to sin and grows – and gives birth to death. James’ final warning here is a notable application for us – “Do not be led astray” or in other words – “choose God (life) instead of the world (death).
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1 Corinthians 10:13
PRAYER: RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD
Father, when we remember that every good and perfect gift is from You – the enemy flees*! As we name the good gifts we defeat his use of the trial to move us away from You. He seeks to steal, and kill, and destroy – help us to constantly be in the habit of naming the gifts and blessings of Your generous hands. Alert us to the temptations of this world and help us to always choose You! – Your ways – Your power – Your love – and Your strength! To Your Glory and the promised reward of The Crown Of Life! – AMEN and AMEN – In Jesus’ Name!
You can also dive deeper into James with these helpful commentaries from BibleRef.com
[James 1:12] makes the connection between our love for God and our ability to remain faithful to Him in hard times. Those who truly love God trust Him, and those who truly trust Him continue to obey even when life gets hard. https://www.bibleref.com/James/1/James-1-12.html
[James 1:13] The temptation attached to trials is to trust God less. We might decide He is not strong enough to provide for us, not faithful to meet our needs, not compassionate about our pain and heartbreak. Is God good? Is He loving? Is He powerful? James is talking about how we choose to answer those questions about God on our worst days. If we decide to tell ourselves God is not faithful, we may declare our independence from Him by choosing not to obey. If we decide He is trustworthy, we will move closer to Him looking for more help, more connection.
James makes clear that blaming God for tempting us to reject Him, by allowing trials into our lives, is not a valid response. God never orchestrates the events of our lives with an intent to lure us away from Himself. He always roots for us to move closer. That’s who He is. The purpose of trials is not to drive us away from God, but to draw us closer to Him.
In the previous verse, James urged his readers not to be deceived. Emotions and sinful thinking can trick us into turning away from God. It’s important to cling to the truth, which is that every good thing in our lives is a gift from God. In the midst of our trials, we are tempted to change our opinion of the trustworthiness of our God. We start to make lists of all the things we think we are missing in our lives, of all of the things we have lost. If God were good, wouldn’t we have those things?
This attitude leads to even more temptation. We begin to look elsewhere for the good things we think we’re missing. “If God won’t provide them,” we think, “we’ll have to go and get them for ourselves.” We attempt to take control. We struggle to find our own satisfaction.
12 And may the Lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah.” Ruth 4:12 NLT
Observation:
The Genesis Saga: Judah’s Story
Judah, Jacob’s fourth son born to Leah, is the focus of today’s portion of Genesis. He marries, has three sons of his own, acquires Tamar as a wife for Er, his oldest son, and shortly after this he buries that same son. Now Judah requires his second son to fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to his brother’s widow, his son’s refusal -of sorts- brings death to him as well; soJudah – fearful that his third son would also die – sends Tamar away with the lie that when the son is old enough he will send him to her. If you haven’t read the story, you may want to – so that you don’t miss all the details I’ve left out. However, the real story comes when Tamar realizes that Judah has lied to her. Not only did he lose his two sons but he lost his wife as well. When Tamar learns that he is traveling near her she positions herself in his path – disguised as what Judah believed to be ‘a temple prostitute’, so he did not recognize her. Judah’s fleshly appetite overcomes him and he barters his very identity (his seal, cord, and staff) for sexual pleasures. You need to readthe rest of the story but suffice it to say her plot worked and twins were born – Perez came out first then Zerah.
TODAY’S FOCUS VERSE
Ruth 4:12 is literally a one sentence prayer, but in conjunction with the story played out in Genesis 38 that one sentence carries a lot of weight. I wonder what you hear or see in your mind when you read the prayer. Do you see Tamar’s veiled face, as she played the prostitute along the roadside hoping to entrap Judah? Or do you hear Judah’s desperation fueled by his fleshly appetite for sexual pleasures. Perhaps you gasp when you realize that his desire was so great he pledged his very identity by giving her his seal, his cord, and his staff. Maybe you see Perez and can only think of how God used Tamar, the shamed, lied to, and embittered daughter-in-law who sought her own kind of justice … or is it the fearful father-in-law, Judah, who had lost two sons, protected the third, and having now lost his wife is so desperate for physical satisfaction that he literally and figuratively gives himself away.
There are so many things that can come to mind when we hear these names and recall their story – not exactly a love story for the centuries … or is it? We only have to read the genealogy recorded in Matthew to see that in some beautiful way it is the love story of God. Love that for the sake of fallen man led him to send His son to save the lost and dying world. Love, poured out in grace and mercy, that used the fallen of this world to play a role in the birth of that Savior.
From Abraham, the one chosen and called by God to be the father of a new nation, to Joseph, the husband of Mary, and all that were listed in between – none were perfect. Each man and woman and generation made their share of bad choices but God was always there – working all things together for the good of those who loved Him and were called according to His purpose – and this was JESUS. The sinless Son of God, sent to make a way where there was no way – sent through a human in human form – descended through Judah and Tamar. – Now this is love!
APPLICATION: HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE?
While we can see great beauty in this story – we must not miss the application of wisdom that says … learn to trust God and leave the outcome to Him – rather than take it upon ourself to fix what we see as wrong in our life or someone else’s. I battle this sometimes, do you? One of the things that helps me in the battle is reading through these genealogies. I love looking to see who God used – and always appreciate the fresh reminder that God uses whom He pleases to accomplish what He pleases – when He pleases. Again, as in our previous day’s journey we also see the importance of learning to choose God instead of the world is learning to walk by faith and not by sight.
God uses whom He pleases to accomplish what He pleases – when He pleases.
Me from the Insideout
PRAYER: RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD
Father, who would have believed that the actions of Tamar and/or Judah would have ever lead to something (Someone) so good? Yet, as Your Word allows us to see – not only did it bring about good – it led to life and light and hope for a world lost in sin and darkness. You, in Your goodness, take all things and work them together for Your glory and for the good of those who love You and have been called according to Your purpose. No scheme of man can thwart Your plan! In this there is great HOPE! – And in this HOPE I pray and trust – AMEN!
YOUR TURN:
Have you faced a situation where you have felt the need to resort to desperate means to bring about God’s purposes?
How can you remain obedient to God even in difficult situations?
How can you trust Him today even if you are in the middle of a mess?
In week three we have seen everything from reconciliation to horrific revenge, the difference between choosing life and death, the benefit of holding on tightly to our faith, and the importance of being faithful even in a little thing. With all of these lessons we have seen the wisdom in choosing God instead of the world in our own lives.
A Look AheaD to week four
As we move into week four we will get to know Joseph and see his extraordinary reaction to the horrifying and challenging events of his life. We will read shocking details about the life of Judah, another of of Jacob’s sons, and get a glimpse of God’s fingerprints in the outcome generations later. We will also listen as Joseph moves from dreaming dreams to interpreting the dreams of others.
Your turn: (Comments are welcome below)
What stood out to you this week from the story of Jacob?
What were your early impressions of Joseph?
What benefits or reasons are you seeing for choosing God instead of the world?
As we move into week four we will get to know Joseph and see his extraordinary reaction to the horrifying and challenging events of his life. We will read shocking details about the life of Judah, another of of Jacob’s sons, and get a glimpse of God’s fingerprints in the outcome generations later. We will also listen as Joseph moves from dreaming dreams to interpreting the dreams of others; and no matter how many times we’ve read or heard the stories – I believe we will yet again – perhaps even more so – stand in awe of how God uses it all to position Joseph exactly where he needs to be.
Don’t forget our memory verse from John 14:15
This week’s focus verse(s) will come from day one’s reading of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. A message from Paul that would have no doubt been encouraging to Joseph during the challenging days of suffering that lay ahead.
17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT
This Week’s Challenge from the team at Love God Greatly:
God allowed Joseph to endure great suffering in his life to bring about His divine purposes. As you read, note Joseph’s suffering. After you complete this wee’s reading, go back through the moments of his suffering and reflect on how God redeemed each of these events. Do you believe God can work the same way in your life? How has God already redeemed some of your seasons of suffering?
10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. NLT
Observation:
A glimpse of Joseph
Today’s passage from Genesis gives us a sneak peak at Joseph, whom we will continue to learn from in the coming weeks. Some of the things from today’s reading may be helpful to remember in future passages. While some speculate that Joseph was more loved than his brothers because he was the son of Rachel, the truth is that Joseph was loved more than all of his brothers because he born to Jacob in his old age, Genesis 37:3. As you can imagine, this caused problems with the brothers, as jealousy and hatred arose, fueled not only by the obvious display of Jacob’s love for Joseph, Genesis 37:3, but made worse by the dreams Joseph shared with them that seemed to be prophecies that he would one day rule over them. It also didn’t help that he gave a bad report to his father on how the brothers were caring for the sheep, Genesis 37:2. Scripture makes it clear that the brothers hated Joseph, leaves no doubt that the hate was fueled by jealousy, and clearly reveals that the hate destroyed relationships, Genesis 37:4, 8, 11.
Today’s Focus Verse
Today’s verse, Luke 16:10, is short and to the point. Basically it can be a stand-alone statement, “if you are faithful in a little you will be faithful in much and if you are dishonest in a little you will be dishonest in much”. However, there is much to be learned from it and the verses that surround it that make it much more than a general statement.
Learn more about the parable of the ‘unjust steward’, found in Luke 6:1-13, from Gotquestions.org
We should be a faithful steward, not unfaithful. Being faithful with our ‘earthly’ wealth or things entrusted to us here will bear witness to what kind of stewards we will be with the responsibilities and treasures that God will entrust to us in His Kingdom.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, help us to be faithful stewards here so that we may be found even better stewards with the responsibilities and treasures of Your Kingdom. This to Your glory both on earth and in heaven. – Amen!
Your Turn:
Over what areas has God given you responsibility?
How can you be faithful in the small things in you life?
How can you be faithful in the big thing God has given you?
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23 NLT
Observation:
As I was rereading this verse a sing-song-ditty from my childhood came flooding back to my mind. I really only remember this one part … “hold on tightly, hold on tightly – swinging high, swinging low”. We would sing it over and over as we soared high into the air and descended low to the ground and back up again. It seems like a nice little reminder that regardless of how high or low the events of our swinging pendulum of our days/lives take us we must hold on tightly to our hope. We should clarify that the hope we refer to is the faith and hope we have placed in Christ Jesus and the promises God has made through Him. This is especially important when we are being pressured because of our faith, which was the case of those the author of Hebrews was addressing. His readers were Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and being pressured to return to Judaism. While we may never face the persecution they were facing we certainly face daily pressures in this fallen world to choose the ways of Jesus or the ways of the world. We would be wise to take this wisdom and make it our own – so that whether the pendulum of life has us on a mountain top or in the valley – our “hope” will not be shaken. Whether we soar on the swing to the mountain-top or descend on it to the valley floor we must remember and be resolved to hold on tightly to Jesus, Paul told the Galatians, we wait eagerly for the hope of righteousness, by faith, Galatians 5:5. According to the commentary from gotquestions.org, on this verse, Paul is referring “to the day of judgment, when we will hear God Himself declare us righteous because of our faith in Christ. Until that day, we wait, placing all our hope in just one person: Jesus.” Now, doesn’t that sound like something worth holding on to?
Application: How then should we Live?
Hold on tightly to Jesus and the hope that is ours through Him. Don’t lose sight of Him when everything is going right – and when everything seems to be going wrong and there seems no way out – hold on tightly and trust in the promises that God has made to us, for we know that they are ‘yes and amen’ in Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 1:20.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, help us to live faithfully – unswayed by the pressures of this world to take the easier road or to revert to the way we used to be – to live for self or others. Help us to hold on tightly to the hope of our faith and to Your good and trustworthy promises. – In His Name – AMEN!
Your Turn:
What examples have you seen of secular greatness or success growing faster than spiritual greatness?
Why do God’s promises demand patience from the recipient?
Want More?
If you have the journal for this study then you will already have access to this devo – but for those of you without the journal – I think you will find this to be quite helpful in understanding the connection between our focus passage and the continuing saga of Jacob’s life.
19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19 NLT
Observation:
The Genesis Saga
The story in chapter thirty-four turns unexpectedly grim. If you don’t mind a spoiler alert keep reading, but if you haven’t read the story yet stop and read it … You may remember at last count there are eleven brothers and at least one daughter, Dinah, the daughter of Leah. Today’s story begins with her being sexually assaulted while she was meeting the other young women of the land. It is written that the man, Shechem, who assaulted her fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. When Dinah’s brothers learned of the assault they were angry. Their emotions were fueled by righteous indignation and shame. When Shechem’s father approached Jacob and the brothers about marrying Dinah, the brothers “answered deceitfully” and their deceitful plan led to a massacre of Shechem, his father, and every male in the city, by Simeon and Levi – the sons of Leah. They plundered everything in the city including the children and wives. Jacob’s sons did not consider the consequences for themselves or the family – they thought only of what had happened to their sister and their anger took control of them. Revenge comes with a great and terrible price for all involved.
Revenge comes with a great and terrible price for all involved.
Me-From the Inside-out
Our Focus Passage:
This part of Jacob’s story and especially the actions of Simeon and Levi are a perfect segue to our focus passage. The brothers certainly could have benefited from Paul’s instructions to “not repay evil for evil: consider what is good for all people … to live peaceably with all people so far as it depends on you.” Paul goes on to quote a verse from Deuteronomy, “Do not avenge yourselves – but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the LORD.”
Application: How then should we Live?
As followers of Christ, the obvious answer as to how we should live in light of this passage is to not repay evil for evil and to trust that God will take care of the situation. This isn’t easy, in fact it is one of the most difficult callings on a believer – ranking right up there with turn the other cheek (Matt 5:39) and forgive seven times seventy (Matt 18:22). It requires getting rid of anger and malice, being self-controlled rather than emotionally controlled. It requires not leaning on our own understandings that convince us how wrong the situation is and taking it upon ourselves to make it right. Simply put, it requires trusting God will take care of the situation the way He deems best and in His perfect timing. We would also do well to remember that anything we do or say to right the wrong will only bring more problems and heartache. Retaliation of any kind, from swords drawn for a massacre or fingers on a keyboard typing hard and hurtful words to strike back, is wrong and we must resist. Before you say, it’s impossible not to retaliate in some situations – consider 2 Peter 1:3-4 … “God has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His great and precious promises so that we might participate in the divine nature having escaped the corruption of of the world caused by evil desires.” The question is – will we choose God’s way instead of the world’s way?
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, I confess it is so difficult to not retaliate when my loved ones are hurt by others – So thank You for this reminder from Your Word – that even when our anger is justified, You want us to let You handle it. Help us to remember to lean on You and Your strength to resist the urge to pay back evil for evil; and please cause us to consider not just our anger but how Your name and the lives of others will be affected by our actions. In Jesus Name – thank You that you have given us everything we need to choose Your way instead of the world’s – Amen!
Your Turn:
Do you believe God will bring about justice?
In what areas is it difficult for you to wait on and trust in God’s justice?
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NLT
Observation:
Reunited: A glimpse at Jacob and Esau
After twenty plus years and all of the fear and planning Jacob and Esau are finally reunited and reconciled to one another. No longer was there a fear of death or present anger over the other’s past deceit or threat of death. While the scene reveals more of Jacob’s careful, or what I like to call – “just in case” planning, it also reveals a beautiful reunion and open reconciliation.
New Testament Reconciliation
As our focus verse points out – without the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus we would have every reason to live in fear of death like Jacob did. We were God’s enemies according to Paul, in Romans 5:10, when we were restored/reconciled by the death of Jesus.
10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
Romans 5;10 NLT
Like Jacob, we have been given a new identity in Christ, the old character is gone and the new is here. It is a gift of God. Not only has He clothed us with the righteousness of Christ, no longer counting our sins against us, but the title ‘Ambassadors for Christ’. He has given us a purpose, a ministry of making His Son known so that others can be reconciled to Him. – Til the whole world knows.
Application: How then should we Live?
We have been made ambassadors for Christ and should live faithfully proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel and what Christ has done for us. We should also faithfully praise Him for laying our sins on Christ and not counting them against us.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, as Jacob and Esau were reconciled to one another – so You have even more so – reconciled us to You – through Christ. And You no longer count our sins against us because we are new creations in Christ, the old has passed and the new has come! Glory to Your Holy Name!
Your Turn: Personal Reflections
Is there a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation?
What is God prompting you to do as you wait for His perfect timing for the reconciliation?
Me From the Inside Out 