Living on Mission with Joseph and Radical Generosity

Living on Mission with Joseph and Radical Generosity

This portion of the story of Joseph leaves me scratching my head. Does anyone else get the feeling that Joseph was still trying to figure out his next move? I get the feeling that he hasn’t fully decided what to do with his brothers and that their actions were going to guide his decision. Maybe not. I’d like to believe that Joseph only ever intended to bless them and take care of them all for the rest of their lives and not to pay them back for the evil they intended toward him.

But Joseph is a man. Human. Just like you and me. He was obviously emotionally affected when he saw his brothers the first time and heard them talking about their father, their brother Benjamin, and the way they had mistreated him. There is the possibility that he was conflicted. He did speak harshly. He did throw his brothers in prison for a few days. He did tie one of them up and hold him as a hostage. It is possible that he thought they would never come back and get Simeon. Maybe they would abandon another brother.

The great news is this: even if Joseph was conflicted about his ultimate response to his brothers, and even though he was unsure of their character, his character was such that he still blessed them. He was radically, over-the-top generous. He showed mercy. Even through his pain. He gave the all of their money back along with the grain they needed to survive. When they returned again – this time with Benjamin – he threw a feast. This is a picture of radical generosity. They did NOT deserve this generous behavior. He knew it. They knew it.

What was it that caused Joseph to bless with radical generosity even those who had caused him harm? Perhaps it was the outflow of a heart transformed through the steadfast love of God. Perhaps it was partially out of his great love and respect for his father.

What should our response be when coming face to face with those who have hurt us? Can we show unconditional love and radical generosity? If we look at the life of Joseph, (and Jesus!) the answer is yes.  We can honor our Father by choosing to show mercy where it is undeserved. We can choose to be radically generous because our hearts have been transformed by the love of God.

Radical generosity can flow out of a heart that has found satisfaction. Ask yourself this: Is my heart fully satisfied? Do I know the love of God so fully that I am able to show this kind of love to others?

We have a loving and over-the-top-generous Father who offers us total satisfaction in His love. It’s there for the asking. Let’s fill up and let the overflow spill out onto the people around us.

Let’s practice Living on Mission, and learn to show radical generosity.

Pastor Angela

Lawrence’s Momma Showed Much Grace

Hi PoC,

I love ya!

So, I was talking to a new friend of mine named Lawrence.  He’s a Christian brother who went through years and years of drug and alcohol abuse and family heartache.  He was telling me a story about his momma, how she used to wait up for him to come home from his binges.  It would be 1 or 2 or 3 in the morning, or worse, every day.  He would stumble up to the locked screen door and would call his mom.  He said there was always an agonizing pause – the time it took her to walk from the living room to the door – when he would begin to panic, thinking, “What if she won’t let me in the house?”  Every night, she would say the same thing, “Lawrence, I’m going to show you the same grace God showed me.  I’m going to let you in the house.  Tomorrow I’ll be praying for you to see if God wants me to keep showing you grace.”  He finished by saying, “She let me in every night.  Never shut me out.  I will never forget that.”

It reminded me about a time when I was a college sophomore.  I had been less than “a good boy” the weekend before and was called on the carpet by one of the college deans.  I got a note in my mail box there on campus and quickly “got the story straight” with a few of my friends and then marched over to the dean’s office.  That same panic Lawrence experienced welled up in my chest as I wondered what the outcome would be.  It was a waiting time.  Agonizing.  It was a waiting time with only two options:  rest or confess.  Well, it wasn’t a long meeting or a long confession, and it ended with much grace.  Evidently my dean and Lawrence’s momma shared the same Spirit.

Grace is something that we do not deserve.  It’s a gift.  There’s nothing YOU have to do.  There’s nothing you HAVE to do.  There’s nothing you have to DO.  And, that’s the awkward-making feature of grace.  We can’t manipulate it or mold it to fit us or anticipate it, predict it or demand it.  So many of us are so sure of our scheming, sinful or natural, that “the waiting” is exhausting and it brings us to a point of decision where we can either confess sin as sin to our Redeemer, and/or simply choose to rest in His providential care for us as His children.  Sometimes it seems to take forever for Jesus to walk from the living room to the door.  Oh, the waiting.

PoC, I can’t wait . . . can’t wait . . . can’t flippin’ wait to see you all this coming Sunday. We’re going to rejoin Joseph’s brothers as they make the trip back to Egypt with their brother Benjamin to see how Joseph, the Prime Minister, will treat them.  They will be greeted at his house by his chief steward, served dinner, and then, they will have . . . to wait . . . for judgment . . . or grace.  Joseph seems to be taking forever to get from His chambers to the dinner table.  What could be taking so long?  What will happen next?

Hey, it’s not too late to invite some friends to join you Sunday, especially those who are waiting to confess to Jesus or rest in Jesus.  Get on that, PoC.  I’ll be praying and can’t wait to see you.

Let’s Keep Talking About Jesus,

Pastor Todd

PRAY IT! Genesis 43: 15-34

As we continue to follow along in the story of Joseph, we read about how the brothers have seemingly stopped dragging their feet, and are returning once again to Egypt, this time with Benjamin.  And gifts.  And money. 

Joseph’s brothers did not know how they would be received once they reached Egypt.  (Have you ever had to show up somewhere, not knowing how you would be received?  Awkward.  Kinda makes your stomach churn.)  Uncertainty loomed up ahead.  Of course, they would probably like to prove they were not spies, ransom Simeon, and buy more food to feed their hungry bellies.  But, would that happen?

As we reflect on how this passage can inform our prayers, it would behoove us to consider how we respond when faced with uncertainty or guilt.  Fear would have us react as the brothers did.  Joseph’s brothers were preparing for the worst.  I don't know about you, but I can definitely relate.  They took gifts and double the money with them in preparation for the accusations that could come (verse 15). 

Joseph’s brothers were anticipating the worst.  When they were unexpectedly brought to Joseph’s house, they assumed it was because of the money, and they were afraid.  They anticipated they would be assaulted, made to be servants, and that their donkeys would be stolen (see verse 18). 

It is also safe to conclude they had some guilt from doing “the worst” when looking back to Genesis 42:21.  “Now we’re paying for what we did to our brother – we saw how terrified he was when he was begging us for mercy.  We wouldn’t listen to him and now we’re the ones in trouble.”  Is responding to fear in thought and action God's plan for us?

Scripture suggests we respond a bit more confidently than that.  It has little to do with us, and everything to do with God and His grace.

Psalm 34:4:  I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Ephesians 1:7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

Dear Jesus,

Please help me identify current situations of uncertainty in which I am responding by anticipating and preparing for the worst.  Please help me trade in this fear for your grace.  Please help me identify times in which guilt re-appears over past sins that you have forgiven.  Remind me that I am forgiven and free.  Thank you for delivering me from all my fears.  Help me continue to exchange my fear for your grace.

Amen.

 Join us tonight, at 7pm, for the PoC Prayer Service, where we will spend time seeking the LORD and exchanging our fear for His grace.

Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Your Very Own Hallmark Movie”

Supplies: Bible

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I found myself in an interesting conversation this week about how different believers view prayer. The perspective I heard kind of made me shake my head in bewilderment, but the whole thing got me thinking about why people choose to bring some things to God and not others.  For example, I think some people see themselves as relatively self-sufficient—they only take big things to God because they feel they can handle the rest themselves.  I know of others who do the opposite: they only take the day-to-day stuff to Him.  They never pray about the big things, because their instinct is to trust God to handle it in His perfect way.  Then there’s the group that I belonged to for many many years: I only prayed about the big things, because I figured the little stuff wasn’t important enough to be worth praying about.

Take some time and share with each other which group best describes your personal “prayer reflex.”  Do you pray about everything or only some things?  Have you always prayed like that or has your prayer reflex changed over time?  Do you find yourself focusing your prayers more on big things or on the little day-to-day stuff?  Why do you think that is?

READ

Read Genesis 43:15-34 together as a family.

THINK

You know, the story of Joseph is truly epic.  Through incredibly unlikely circumstances, God positions Joseph in such a way as to save and secure the entire nation of Israel.  On the foundation of these events, the great I Am will build His people over the next 400 years.  In addition, through the story itself, we witness one of the most powerful examples of forgiveness.  For over three thousand years, the Holy Spirit has spoken through these chapters, convicting the children of God to let go of bitterness and resentment.  Isn’t that incredible???  What these men went through—their family story—has influenced countless others.  And yet even through all of that amazingness, God is also doing something rather personal and intimate.  He’s reuniting two brothers.

Biblical scholars believe that Benjamin was just a baby when Joseph was sold to those Midianite traders.  He would have had no memory of his only full brother.  Now it’s twenty years later—Benjamin is a man.  When the sons of Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah return, Joseph finally gets to see his little brother, the only other son of Rachel.  While he was certainly moved by the possibility of being reunited with his entire family, this one relationship was exceptionally powerful.  Look at verse 30 again: “Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep.”  It’s like a Hallmark movie!  How awesome is our God that in the midst of working out His sovereign plan for His people, He also works out the deep desires of two brothers’ hearts.

God still works that way.  He continues to work out His sovereign plan for us, His people.  Great events are taking place that will become the foundation for huge movements of His grace and power!  And yet in the middle of it, our wonderfully personal God, our very own Creator is working out the deepest desires of our hearts.  Never let yourself think that you are not important to Him.  Remember that you and your dreams are precious to the One True God.

APPLY

Is there anything you’ve been withholding from your prayers lately?  Have you felt like some of your dreams just weren’t important enough to bother God with?  Maybe you’ve been so swamped with lifting up big things that your own wants strike you as insignificant or superficial.  Realize that the God of the universe, the One who spoke the stars into being, cares deeply for you and who you are.  As the omniscient Ruler, He already knows what you’re thinking, but as your Maker He’s desperate for you to share with Him.  

Take some time and share some of your more personal dreams with God right now.  You can share out loud together, or you may choose to spend some time in silent prayer or scatter to different places so you can each pray on your own.  However you do it, be sure to share your full heart with Him.

PRAY

Precious Lord, thank You for Your epic story of grace.  In the pages of Your Word we see Your plan of mercy unfold and we are blessed to be included in it.  There are times, God, that we are so overwhelmed by the grandness of Your story that we withhold the simple desires of our hearts.  Yet You show us in the story of Joseph and Benjamin how much you value the simple desires.  Hear us now God as we open ourselves up to You fully, inviting You into every corner of our dreams.  In Your Holy Name we pray, Amen.

REPLY

Did you and your family enjoy this devotional blog?  We'd love to know about it!  Our hope is to continue providing this weekly opportunity for families to do a devotion together.  If your family did this devotion, please shoot us an email, text or just post a comment to this blog.

EXPLORE IT - Genesis 43:15-34

Some question the historical accuracy of the Old Testament stories.  Is the Old Testament just that, stories?  Or can we really trust they happened?  As we look at the story of Joseph in Genesis, can we accept this story as truth or is it fiction?  Do we have any other documents that support the New Testament accounts to help encourage our faith in the Old Testament events?  For instance, is there other documentation of such droughts and famines in early Egyptian literature? 

Natural causes like drought, locusts, and disease are recorded as sources of famine and the cause for malnutrition and starvation.  We see a locust plague bringing destruction in Joel 1.  Human action also inflicted drought on the population.  Times of war destroyed crops and fields.  Isaiah 7 shares the report of the invading Assyrians devastating Judah’s agricultural economy.  There are also accounts of powerful people hoarding food, which led to the starvation of many.

These famines were oftentimes local and temporary.  There are also records of long-term, widespread famines.  From the twenty-second to the twentieth centuries B.C., Egyptian texts indicate a prolonged and extensive drought and sporadic famines. 

One recorded famine dates to the time of the patriarchs.  The Admonitions of Ipuwer write about chaos in their community due to famine from an extended time of desert-like conditions.

Due to these extra-biblical writings (historical secular documents not included in the Bible), we are able to conclude that such times of famine did occur in Egypt and the story of Joseph in Genesis is historically possible.  We are called to believe the truth and accuracy of the Bible by faith, but there are historical accounts outside of Scripture that support our belief.  I believe we can utilize these historical documents to help encourage and build our faith.

Blessings,
Pastor Amy

READ IT! - Genesis 43:15-34

This week, we are in Genesis  43:15-34 (ESV).  Let's read it together today and begin to study it this week in preparation for this coming Sunday's lesson.

15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph's house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.” 19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food.21 And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man's money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, 22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.”23 He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph's house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 25 they prepared the present for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.

26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. 27 And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. 29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” 30 Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there.31 Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.” 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement. 34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry[a] with him.

PREPARE FOR IT! - Genesis 42:29-43:15

This week, we're studying  42:29-43:15 (ESV).  Let's review it again today in preparation for tomorrow's sermon.

29 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we have never been spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’33 Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way.34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’”

35 As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” 38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”

Joseph's Brothers Return to Egypt

43 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’”6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 

7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

PRAY IT! Genesis 42:29-43:15

Fear?  Worry?  Resentment? 

Reluctance?  Suspicion?  Closed-mindedness?

Ick!!!

Do you ever have days where you rely on yourself and what you are capable of, rather than front-loading your trust and relying on the strength of our Almighty God?  If I place my perspective solely on me, or on the general world/population-at-large, I can easily find myself slipping into an assortment of the above listed things.  My reluctance to trust in the Lord can result in disaster, ranging from personal burn-out and disgust, to damaged relationships.  My prayer life definitely takes a hit when my focus is only horizontal (what is going on around me in the world) and not focused on the vertical (God).  Oh no!

As we continue to follow along in Genesis, we revisit Jacob, Joseph's Dad.  If we follow along in the bigger story of Jacob, we can see how he often resorted to doing nothing when faced with difficulties.  Passivity can be dangerous for us as Christians and as the Church. 

Psalm 20:7-8 states "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.  They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright." 

Indeed, as we front-load our trust in Jesus, we need to remain alert and in God's presence.  Romans 13:11 suggests we "wake from sleep.  For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed."

Whatever hurdle you need to jump over, or ceiling you need to bust through, in order to get over the block of negativity (or whatever is distracting you from prayer and God's presence), please consider joining us tonight and we'll tackle that together.  With God's help, we can get our focus on Him.  Join us tonight, at 7pm, where we will spend some time "getting over the wall" and into God's presence as we pray.  Why not?  Let's wake up and take charge by crying out to the One who can do something about it, rather than shrugging our shoulders and going "oh well" or trying to solve it all on our own and going crazy in the process. 

It's essential.  It's imperative.  It's missional. 

(Seriously, come to prayer service... it'll be great!  We had a shredder and rocks last week... betcha wish you knew what I was passing out this week...)

Dear Jesus,
Please help me keep my eyes focused upward, on You, and what you are capable of, rather than keeping my eyes only on what myself/the world is capable of.  Please help me respond with long-lasting trust immediately rather than with worry and negativity.  Amen.

Blessings,
Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Armfuls of Nothing”

Supplies: Bible

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When our first born was about four, she had a same-age peer over to play.  For many months before, most of her playmates had been much older or younger than she was, so at first, she was excited to play at our house with another four-year old.  Yay!  But then something happened: this other little girl began to pick up and play with our daughter’s toys.  Now, you and I know that this is exactly what’s supposed to happen on a play date, but as far as our daughter was concerned, this was a near tragedy.  You could see the panic set in on her face.  While her friend was occupied with a newly acquired plaything, our daughter wandered around the room picking up her most treasured items.  Soon, she had an armload of toys that she refused to put down.  Of course, she still wanted to play with her friend, so she just carried around this monstrous bundle while they tried to play house, and chase, and every other four-year old game.  It was hysterical watching her try to run or pour tea or dress up with her arms stuffed with her unsharable collection!

As much as we may laugh at that visual image, I think we often find ourselves in a similar situation.  I bet there’s something in your past…or present…that you were unwilling to share with others. Ok, so maybe you didn’t walk around with it vice-gripped in your arms, but in your mind this thing was still held tight as “mine.”  Once you’ve thought about it, go around your family and share.  What was something you were unwilling to share?  Why do you think you felt so attached and protective of that thing?

READ

Read Genesis 42:29-43:15 together as a family.

THINK

Jacob definitely had his arms wrapped tightly around something, only it wasn’t a stuffed animal or even a car.  It was his youngest son, Benjamin.  The loss of Joseph was undoubtedly a tragic experience for Jacob.  His reaction, however, shows us that Jacob lost more than just his favorite child in that ordeal.  He also lost some of his faith in God.  Jacob essentially put Benjamin under house-arrest, protecting him so much that there was no way any harm could come to him.  In doing so, Jacob reveals a lack of trust in the Father to care for Jacob and his family.  Jacob feels that he alone can control and protect his boy satisfactorily. Even when Simeon is detained, the patriarch still can’t allow his youngest to travel to Egypt as requested.  After all, something might happen—God can’t be trusted to provide or protect any more.  In fact, the entire clan has to reach the point of starvation before Jacob finally releases his grip on Ben.

Often times our vice grip on things has that same source point.  We don’t trust God.  Something has happened in our past that leads us to think God is unreliable.  It may be a loss, a natural disaster, or even an outside observation of the chaos of life.  But whatever it is, we’ve decided somewhere inside that the only way to guarantee something survives or prevails is to be in solitary control.  But that’s counter to our walk with Jesus.  If we want to know the true peace and freedom of a relationship with the Savior, we have to be willing to turn everything—every. thing.—over to His control.

APPLY

Is there something you’re holding onto that’s a little more personal than a toy?  It may be a relationship, or a dream.  Perhaps it’s a past hurt, or maybe an actual fear.  You’ve got it locked tight away in your heart and you aren’t willing to share it with anyone, not even God, because if you do, you run the risk of that chaotic life getting in the way.  You and only you can be counted on to take care of this thing properly.

If that’s where you’re at today, would you ask your family to pray with you as you leave it at the feet of the Master?  As long as you’re holding on to that one thing, you can never fully experience the life—the fun, joyful, peace-filled life that God has purposed for you.  By handing it over, you can finally know what true freedom feels like!

PRAY

Loving Lord, thank you for releasing us from our burdens.  Through the gift of Jesus, we no longer have to be weighted down by bondage to anything.  How amazing!  Yet there are times when we strap ourselves to things because we think it’s necessary.  Forgive us, Lord, for being so prideful, for thinking that our way is the only and best way.  Forgive our doubt and lack of faith in your love and desire to provide for us.  Help us today, Heavenly Father, to finally let go of the things we’re grasping at so that we can finally live in your peace.  In Your Holy Name we pray, Amen.

REPLY

Did you and your family enjoy this devotional blog?  We'd love to know about it!  Our hope is to continue providing this weekly opportunity for families to do a devotion together.  If your family did this devotion, please shoot us an email, text or just post a comment to this blog.

EXPLORE IT - Genesis 42:29-43:15

Scripture tells us that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) and our passage this week (Genesis 42:29-43:15) illustrates this principle well.  We’ve all sugarcoated the stories we have shared from time to time.  We try to soften the blow of bad news.  We try to lessen the intensity of a situation in order not to cause someone unwarranted stress.  As Joseph’s brothers arrive home, the tale they tell their father Jacob is not quite an accurate account of events.

As they share their experiences, the brothers change their wording order slightly to make a better impression on Jacob.  When speaking to Joseph, the brothers said they were, “the sons of one man” and when speaking to Jacob they are, “the sons of the same father.”  The comments about Joseph and Benjamin are reversed.  When addressing Joseph, they say, “The youngest is now with our father, and the other one is gone.”  When relaying their story of Jacob, they say, “the one is gone, and the youngest is now with our father.” 

In order to make the situation seem less critical, the brothers omit their three day stint in jail.  They also alter Joseph’s “let one of your brothers be detained in your place of custody” to “leave one of your brothers here with me” as if Simeon were a guest instead of being held in jail.  The brothers also leave out the “your words shall be verified, and you will not die” and just intimate their brother will be returned to them upon their return to Egypt with Benjamin.

Even though the brothers attempt to soften their story, they are still not allowed to return right away to Egypt with Benjamin.  Jacob is still afraid what might befall Benjamin if he leaves.  Eventually, the food runs out again and he has no option but to let the ten remaining brothers journey once more to Egypt. 

Join us next Sunday as the adventure continues!

Blessings,
Pastor Amy

READ IT! - Genesis 42:29-43:15

This week, we are in Genesis 42:29-43:15  (ESV).  Let's read it together today and begin to study it this week in preparation for this coming Sunday's lesson.

29 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we have never been spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’33 Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way.34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’”

35 As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” 38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”

Joseph's Brothers Return to Egypt

43 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’”6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 

7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

PREPARE FOR IT! - Genesis 42:1-28

This week, we're studying Genesis 42:1-28 (ESV).  Let's review it again today in preparation for tomorrow's sermon.  

Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt


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 carrygrain 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.

26 Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

Living on Mission with Joseph, Choosing Mercy

Living on Mission with Joseph, Choosing Mercy

“Hey Losers! Remember that time I had a dream that you would bow down to me? Remember how it made you so mad that you wanted to kill me?  Remember how you chose to sell me as a slave instead?  Remember how you told dear old dad that I was dead? Who’s laughin’ now, suckers?!?!?” (My version of what Joseph COULD have said, but didn’t.)

Can you imagine how Joseph felt when he saw his brothers come in to buy food? The last time he saw them he was looking up at them from the bottom of a pit. We know that he said God had blessed him and caused him to forget his former troubles, but this passage makes me think that all of those memories came flooding back when he saw his brothers again.  At one point he was so overcome with emotion that he had to turn away and weep.

Here’s the thing.  Joseph had every right pass judgment and to throw his brothers in prison forever or even have them executed. You can bet that Pharaoh would have backed that decision. But, Joseph chose mercy instead of passing an instant/impulse judgment.

What would I have done? What would you have done?

I know what I’ve done in the past and it’s not something I’m proud of. Yes, I had been wronged but I showed no mercy. Not only were my words harsh, but I handed down immediate judgment out of hurt, anger, and fear – leaving nothing but a shattered relationship.

Thank God, Joseph took a different path! He chose the path of mercy, which led to eventual restoration. That, my friends, is exactly what we are called to do. Restore. Redeem. Act justly. Love mercy. We’ll never get to restoration if we don’t choose mercy over judgment.

Let’s practice Living on Mission, and learn to choose mercy instead of judgment.

Pastor Angela

PRAY IT! Genesis 42:1-28

Have you ever crossed paths with someone who hurt you?  Or someone that you hurt?  What did you do?  How did you feel? 

As we continue to follow along in Joseph's story, Joseph comes face-to-face with his brothers, years after they threw him in a pit and he was sold into slavery.  Except now Joseph is in a position of power and brothers are the ones in need.  Could it get any more interesting?  Yes!  While Joseph recognizes his brothers, his brothers do not recognize him.  (Sounds like a "reality" TV producer's dream...)

Joseph could have ultimately not forgiven his brothers.  He could have recounted all the immediate hurt that resulted as a direct result of their actions.  In a pit... left to die... fear... alone... sold... He could have chosen to live there:  in a prison of memories, run by voices of accusation and justification.  He could have chosen to dwell on the negative consequences that occurred long after the initial injustice:   the painful ripple effects of his brothers throwing that rock of mistreatment and abandonment in his pond.  Slavery... False accusations...  Prison... Years of my life I'll never get back... Forgotten...

Likewise, Joseph's brothers could have chosen to ignore the conviction they seemingly felt as they recalled past actions. 

Genesis 42:21-22:  Then they started talking among themselves.  "Now we're paying for what we did to our brother - we saw how terrified he was when he was begging us for mercy.  We wouldn't listen to him an now we're the ones in trouble.  Reuben broke in.  "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't hurt the boy'?  But no, you wouldn't listen.  And now we're paying for his murder."  (MSG)

With God's help, we can forget what we should not remember.  Time may not heal all wounds, but God can.  We can choose to shred the list we have perhaps been keeping of "that one time" or "that one person".  Additionally, with God's help, we can remember what we should not forget:  the blessings and grace He has given that we do not deserve. 

Dear God,

Please help me to forgive people who have hurt me and to forget what I should not remember.  Please help me to remember what I should not forget - the ways in which You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.

Join us tonight, at 7pm, at our PoC Prayer Service, where we will be doing just this!

Blessings,
Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “A No I-Told-You-So Zone”

Supplies: Bible, paper, markers or pen

SHARE 

Some words are wonderful to hear.  “I love you.”  “Merry Christmas!”  “Yes, you may open all of your birthday presents and eat the whole cake yourself.”  (Ok, maybe that last one is just me.)  Likewise, there are some words that are just delightful to say.  Of all the choices, one of the sweetest phrases is, “I told you so.” (ITYS) Oh, how we loooooove to say those four words back-to-back!  We feel superior in just about every way when we have earned the right to point out that we were correct in our predictions while someone else close to us was wrong.

Can you think of a time when you were involved in an ITYS situation?  Maybe you got to say the words, or maybe you had to hear them instead. (Ouch!)  Share the circumstances with your family and how you felt when those words were spoken.

READ

Read Genesis 42:1-28 together as a family.

THINK

If ever there was a well-deserved ITYS moment, it was here with Joseph and his brothers.  After 13 grueling, tortuous years, God finally delivers on the vision He gave Joseph as a teenager.  Like the shocks of wheat from his dream, Joseph watches as his ten older brothers all bow before him.  I can only imagine how that must have made the governor feel.  If it were me, my brain would be screaming things like, “You had no use for me when I was a child, but now you come to me begging on your hands and knees.  Why does this look familiar?  You thought my dreams were a joke.  Who’s laughing now?!”  Maybe Joseph was having the same witty  conversation in his head, but if so, he never let it out of his lips.  He squelched any desire to fling around his hard-earned ITYS, and just let God do the teaching.  (As we’ll see in the next few weeks, God’s approach taught those boys way more than an ITYS ever would have.)

It can be so hard to hold back our words when we feel like we’ve earned the right to say ITYS.  It’s almost like we’re gagging on the letters, they are that powerful.  But the reality is, as fun as those words are to say, they have almost no impact on the people they’re directed to.  Let’s face it: they already know they were wrong and we were right.  Saying the words only tears them down more, and that’s not what God wants.  We can be a lot more effective and a lot more like Jesus when we show grace and mercy by NOT rubbing our right-ness in their face and let God do the correcting on our behalf.  I’ve found in my own life that the times I’ve held back my ITYS the end result has been a lot more transforming for my “opponent,” just like we’ll see in Joseph’s brothers. 

APPLY

As a family, why don’t you choose to model this approach by embracing a “No ITYS” policy in your home?  Take a piece of paper and design a sign that states that this house is a place where grace and mercy reign—a No ITYS Zone.  Allow family members to hold each other accountable to NOT point out who was right and who was wrong.  You might even choose to add a penalty for flinging around an ITYS, like the one who says it has to do an extra chore for the person to whom it was said.  Imagine: we could start a whole new grace & mercy trend in Bloomington/Normal.  What we begin to reinforce at home will eventually spread to our workplaces, our schools, our other relationships, etc.  Don’t believe me?  Well, when you see it happen, I promise not to say, “I told you so.”

PRAY

Sweet Jesus, thank You for Your incredible gift of grace.  Without Your sacrifice, we would truly be nothing.  Help us to carry Your grace and mercy into our relationships, Lord.  Remove that desire to wield our “rightness” like a weapon of justice, reminding other just how wrong they are.  The only right we truly know is You.  That’s enough!  In Your Holy Name we pray, Amen.

REPLY

Did you and your family enjoy this devotional blog?  We'd love to know about it!  Our hope is to continue providing this weekly opportunity for families to do a devotion together.  If your family did this devotion, please shoot us an email, text or just post a comment to this blog.

EXPLORE IT - Genesis 42:1-28

I love this week’s passage!  It’s full of travel, adventure, …and family drama.  Genesis 42:1-28, begins with a “meanwhile, back at the farm…” feeling.  It’s been twenty years since we have heard anything from Jacob and his brothers (except for the brief interlude with Judah in Genesis 38).  We haven’t heard about their families or their wellbeing.  We don’t know how the brothers have dealt with selling Joseph into slavery or how Jacob has worked through his grief, believing Joseph is dead.  We do see right away that Jacob is still the patriarch of the family.  He orders his sons to go to Egypt to buy grain for the family.  Knowing that Jacob’s family is quite large, we can assume they must have been doing well financially to be able to afford purchasing enough grain for everyone!

As the ten brothers arrive (with Benjamin staying at home with Jacob), Joseph recognizes them immediately.  With the brothers bowing down, Joseph remembers his earlier dreams when he saw sheaves of grain bowing to him (representing his brothers) as well as eleven stars, the moon, and the sun bowing to him (representing his brothers and his parents) (Genesis 37:5-9).  Joseph remembers, after God helped him to forget (Manasseh).

Joseph is seeing partial fulfillment of both dreams (not all of the brothers are present and neither are his parents).  Joseph’s wisdom comes shining through as he devises a plan to send his brothers away, detaining one to ensure their return with Benjamin, Joseph’s only full-blooded brother.  Three times Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies and three times they respond with more and more information about their family.  The character of the brothers is also revealed.  Joseph is able to witness their honesty and he also learns that his eldest brother, Reuben, was not in favor of selling him into slavery.  This may be why Joseph held Simeon, the second oldest, instead of Reuben.

The brothers buy the grain and head home only to find their money back in their sacks.  They wonder, “What is this that God has done to us?”  The adventure continues.

I am excited to dive deeper with you into this great adventure on Sunday at 10am as I share the message during our worship service!  I can hardly stand the wait!!

Blessings,
Pastor Amy

READ IT! - Genesis 42:1-28

This week, we are in Genesis 42:1-28  (ESV).  Let's read it together today and begin to study it this week in preparation for this coming Sunday's lesson.

Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt

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 carrygrain 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.

26 Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

PREPARE FOR IT! - Genesis 41:41-57

This week, we're studying  Genesis 41:41-57 (ESV).  Let's review it again today in preparation for tomorrow's sermon.

41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.


46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.


50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”


53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”


56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.