PREPARE FOR IT! - Genesis 47:29-13, 50:15-21

This week, we're studying  Genesis 47:29-13, 50:15-21 (ESV).  Let's review it again today in preparation for tomorrow's sermon.


29 And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If nowI have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt,


God's Good Purposes

15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, butGod meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Living on Mission with Joseph and Relationship Impacting Guilt

Living on Mission with Joseph and Relationship Impacting Guilt

Guilt makes people do really dumb things. Joseph’s brothers are a prime example.

I see two options for how we arrived at this place in our story:

1.     Either the brothers never actually apologized and connected with Joseph relationally. Or,

2.     They did apologize, but neglected to maintain the relationship and fear overtook them.

Option 1

Joseph’s brothers apparently had not fully addressed the pit/slavery issue between themselves or with Joseph. Did they ever look him in the eye and say – Hey, we all know who did wrong here. We admit that it was stupid and selfish and it caused you a great deal of pain and suffering. We are so sorry. Please forgive us.

It appears that this conversation never happened. They must have collectively decided that Joseph was fine with it since he kept saying how God used it for good. So, if he’s fine with it, we’re fine with it and we can all just pretend (FOR YEARS) that it never happened and “all’s well that ends well.”

That approach worked for almost 20 years. (Denial is a wonderful thing, right?)

OR

Option 2

The brothers did apologize and restore the relationship with Joseph.  But, over the years the busyness of life caused them to forget about it all.  They ended up taking for granted the blessings they were experiencing and along the way their relationship with Joseph just dwindled down to nothingness.

When Jacob died, things suddenly got real all over again.

Guilt about the unresolved issues surfaced. Their guilt made them very afraid and a little crazy. They remembered what they had done and reasoned that Joseph would surely want to pay them back now that their father had passed. The boys must have thought “uh oh!” Their safety net was gone. Their DMZ was taken out. Their neutral zone dissolved.  Without their patriarch to act as the glue that held them all together, what would happen?

Thankfully, Joseph really was fine. He really didn’t hold it against them. He had cancelled their debt long ago.

The big problem here is that the brothers bore guilt that was impacting their relationship with Joseph. Whether they never cleared it up with Joseph in the first place or whether their relationship with him drifted apart due to neglect, the end result is the same. Guilt. Fear. Shame. Distance.

It’s the same with our relationships with one another and with God.

If we aren’t intentional about restoring and maintaining relationships with one another, guilt can cause them to fall apart. If we aren’t intentional about confessing our sins to God, we can drift away from Him out of guilt.

Let’s practice Living on Mission and rid ourselves of relationship impacting guilt through repentance, confession, and restoration – with one another and with our Father God.

Pastor Angela

PRAY IT! Genesis 47:29-31; 50:15-21

At the beginning of the sermon series, Pastor Todd gave us all a "sneak peak" of where the story would be ending when he passed out a verse to all of us.  And now, we're finally there.

Genesis 50:20 "You planned to harm me, but God planned it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

Joseph, Jacob, and his brothers surely were on one wild ride as we follow along in this snippet of their lives.

Jealousy.  Deceit.  Attempted murder.  Slavery.  Lies.  Tarnished reputation.  Prison.  Ambivalence. Despair.  Mistrust.  Famine. 

Protection.  Promotion.  Freedom.  Power.  Forgiveness.  Reconciliation.  Feast.

Maybe you feel like you're in the pit RIGHT now.  And you've been there for far too long.  Maybe you feel helpless and estranged, and you just don't know what to do.  Maybe you are in the midst of a famine of sorts, and aren't sure when the abundance is going to present itself. 

Whatever the circumstances, we have a choice.  We can pray to our God, with the confidence found in Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."  We can choose to trust without knowing how things work out in advance.  (We just often don't like to... or want to... or maybe that's just been me...!)

Whatever the situation, God CAN use it for good to accomplish His purposes.  We can choose to trust in the waiting.

Dear God,
I choose to praise You today.  You have delivered me from the pit before.  You have provided clarity and passion in Your timing, when I have felt hopeless and directionless. You have met my needs when I thought they wouldn't be met.  You have shown me before how you can take a bad circumstance and bring about a lot of good from it.  Help me to trust you in this current season of my life and truly rest in you, believing confidently in Your outcome without knowing all the details in advance.
Amen.

Prayer Service, 7pm.  It may be cold out, but the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit can warm your soul! 

Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “The Divine Time Manager”

Supplies: Bible, a piece of paper and writing utensil for each member of your family 

SHARE 

Each person in a family plays a specific role.  For example, my son is our comic relief.  While everyone in our family has the ability to make the others laugh, no one does it better than Noah. 

What about the people in your family?  What role or gift does each person bring to your group dynamic?  Hand out a piece of paper to each person and take a few minutes to write down each person’s role in your home-group.  Share your answers with each other.  Are any of your lists the same?  Is anybody surprised at what others think their role is?

I’m well aware of my position in our family.  I am the Time Manager.  I’m charged with making all of the appointments and to-do lists fit into a 24-hour period.  Multi-tasking is second nature.  I have the ability to plan the most efficient route to get all of the errands done in the shortest amount of time while simultaneously practicing math facts, pre-reading skills and sneaking in snack time.  I know exactly how many minutes it takes to brush teeth, tuck the kids in bed, pray, sing “Jesus Loves Me,” and turn out the lights.  I don’t work at it—it’s how I’m wired.  I value each second my family has and I want us to do the most with it.  Whether it’s school, playtime, family bonding, or serving God, I don’t want our time wasted on pointless things.  

READ

Read Genesis 47:29-31 and 50:15-21 together as a family. 

THINK

Joseph’s story ends with an amazing verse.  Reread Genesis 50:20—“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”   Joseph says this to his brothers who, even after seventeen years of living with him in Egypt, are still concerned that “little brother big shot” might be carrying a grudge about those years in slavery and prison.  In his effort to calm his brothers fears, Joseph reveals this wonderful characteristic of God:  God doesn’t waste our time.

Our Creator and Sustainer is working so hard to redeem His children.  He’s not about to fritter away precious minutes (much less days/months/years) by walking us through pointless journeys.  Joseph had come to terms with the reality that, while incredibly unpleasant at times, his life path was necessary to get him from his beginning to God’s intended ending.  Each step—from favored son, to pit, to slave caravan, to palace, to prison, to bigger palace—had an impact on his position and/or his character.  In that time and place, it was the best way to get Joseph where God wanted him.  Not a single second of Joseph’s journey was wasted.

APPLY

So what does that mean for us?  For you?  Well the same God who valued Joseph’s life path values yours.  Remember: God doesn’t waste time.  He is the ultimate in efficiency.  That means we can trust our path, we can trust that we’re in the right place, as long as we’re following Him.  Maybe today you feel like you’re killing time in a dead end job.  Maybe you think life is taking it’s sweet time while you’re stuck in school.  Are you wondering how many months/years you lost in that relationship, that friendship that’s now gone south?  What was the point of lallygagging through that illness?  How long are your parents going to delay before they finally let you  (fill in the blank) ?  How long is God going to jerk you around before He finally answers your prayers?

Sound familiar?  First off, if this hits really close to home, I emphatically encourage you to be a part of our Advent series starting November 30.  Seriously…don’t miss it.  In the meantime, if this is where you’re at, hold on to the truth that Joseph shares with you: God’s not wasting your time.  It may look like life is trying to harm you.  It may appear that the powers-that-be are trying to mess with you and turn your world upside down.  BUT know that God has a purpose.  He is using each and every second of your life to accomplish His great plan in the world and in you.  Your life is being used to help save many more lives.  How awesome is that!

Take some time in prayer together surrendering the “wastes of time” in your life right now.  Turn it over to God, trusting that He is using it to do great things.

PRAY

Heavenly Father, we bow our heads before you today, recognizing that You can see the big picture.  Truthfully, we get caught in the little moments of “now,” often frustrated by where we aren’t and what isn’t.  Help us, God, to trust You with our time, with our journey.  We hold fast to Your promise that You are working everything…everything…toward Your plan.  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.

READ IT! - Genesis 47:29-13, 50:15-21

This week, we are in  Genesis 47:29-13, 50:15-21 (ESV).  Let's read it together today and begin to study it this week in preparation for this coming Sunday's lesson.


29 And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If nowI have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt,


God's Good Purposes

15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, butGod meant it for good, to bring it about that many people[a] should be kept alive, as they are today.21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

PREPARE FOR IT! - Genesis 45:16 - 46:7, 28-30

This week, we're studying Genesis 45:16 - 46:7, 28-30 (ESV).  Let's review it again today in preparation for tomorrow's sermon.

16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, “Joseph's brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”

25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Joseph Brings His Family to Egypt

46 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.”

5 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, 7 his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.

Jacob and Joseph Reunited

28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they cameinto the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

Living on Mission with Joseph and the Whole Family

Living on Mission with Joseph and the Whole Family     

Our story this week is filled with joyful moments.

Can you imagine how Jacob felt when he heard that Joseph was alive? After years of pain and anguish, he really couldn’t believe it at first. It took a while for the reality to set in that he would actually see his beloved son again.

Joseph was so happy that he sent his brothers on their way with new clothes and plenty of provisions for their journey. (And no surprises tucked in the sacks this time!) He was overjoyed and moved to tears at the sight of his father.

Even Pharaoh got in on the joy. He followed Joseph’s lead and started giving gifts to everyone.

“Look at how good and pleasing it is when families live together as one!” (Psalm 133:1)

This entire scene could have gone very differently.

What if Jacob had lashed out in anger at his sons for their deplorable behavior for so many years?

What if Joseph was filled with pride and sought revenge for the wasted years?

What if Pharaoh was not feeling so generous with his land and his servant?

Reconciliation is not easy. Reuniting can be painful. Mercy, grace, and forgiveness come at a price. If we are going to live on mission, we’ll have to remember that. This mission can get messy. We will have to be willing to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and love where it is not deserved, serve those we’d rather ignore, and be radically generous by denying our own desires. Why would we do this? Is it worth the cost?

Yes, it is! Jesus showed us the way. He and His Father started this redemption and reconciliation business. Now we are charged with running the shop. “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 5:19) Oh, and we have all of the power and resources we need. The Holy Spirit is our guide, advisor, and helper.

There is great joy to be had when reconciliation happens. Let's gather up all the joy we can by reuniting with long lost family and friends. Let's share the Good News that God has reconciled us to Himself in Jesus!

Let’s practice Living on Mission and enjoy relationship reconciliation freely with the whole family.

Pastor Angela

It's Family Reunion Time - A Letter from Pastor Todd

Dear PoC,

Have you ever been to an awkward family reunion?  

I . . . have!  

And, I would love to tell you about them (believe me!), but…my family and extended family read my blogs and I love them all too much-ish to call them out.  ☺  Of course, you all know me and know that I (the sweet little totes adorb’ pastor that I am) would NEVER-EVER be the source of said drama.  But, believe me when I say that I have witnessed or heard about many of the typical awkward phenomena that family reunions are known for, like . . .

• The kissing aunt that won’t take no for an answer . . . or a tic tac . . .
• The comments of “Boy, your wife sure must be feeding you goooood . . .” (Really?!??!!?)
• The quiet that commences every time the “black sheep” walks in the room . . . (Baaaaah!)
• The habitually late family that makes everyone wait . . . (you know who you are!)
• The bathroom hog that seems to forget that there are 27 others who have to share that room…
• The guy that no one quite remembers how they are related or why they are always invited…
• The new girlfriend or boyfriend that was prematurely invited to the reunion and even (gasp) the family picture. (You know we’ll be photo-shopping you out of the picture in a couple of weeks, right?  Just like all – the – others before you.)
• The girl who forgets that “you can’t say that in front of our kids”.  (Yes, that’s inappropriate!  Here, let me make you a list of things not to say.  Nope, that’s a cuss word too.  Seriously, honey, stick to the list.)
• The “one-upper” who is better than everyone at everything or has experienced more than you or is a “self-proclaimed” genius (which supposedly explains their baffling lack of social skills)…
• The hyper-conservative uncle who blames everything on Obama, including the lumpy potatoes and all things that actually predate Obama, Obama’s Mama, and Obama’s Mama’s Mama.  “You’re not seriously suggesting that Obama actually caused the Civil War, are you?!?”
• The “I’m smarter than all of my coworkers . . . and the government . . . and my pastors . . . and the general public . . . and all the doctors . . . and all of you who have the pleasure of hearing me mumble right now . . . and did you know that there are aliens coming for us . . . that’s why I have 458 weapons buried in my back yard . . . won’t you join me . . . pass the pie.”
• The “over-laugher” who’s only sad purpose is to break the tension caused by everyone else on this list, simply by holding her sides and laughing so uncomfortably that people begin to back away . . . slowly.
• The Aunt . . . with the Cockatoo . . . with the eye patch . . . that eats people food . . . at the kid’s table . . .  and says, “Please don’t die!” every time someone sneezes . . .
• The crazy cousin who keeps disciplining your kids, right in front of you and then begins to tell you about the miracle that is . . . Tofurkey! (FYI, it’s a portmanteau of blended tofu and turkey.)(yes, I said portmanteau . . . I know some stuff!)
• Or . . . the uncle who gave you, your kids and all the cousins their “first drink”!!!!!!!  Adorable!
• And then there is the guy who will do just about anything to get out of the house to run an errand for anyone.  (It’s usually me!)  “What’s that?  Your back itches?  They sell backscratchers at the mall, right?  I’m gone!” or “What’s that?  There’s a traffic accident on I-70 with 57 cars backed up?  Sounds like they need help over there!  Bye now!”

Remind me why we have family reunions again?  ☺

It’s true that it can be awkward sometimes, but in our imaginations, there is a wonderfully stubborn battleship-clad hope for familial bliss and harmony that compels us to give it a go again and again.  Isn’t it cute how hard we try?  And, praise God, for He is good enough to give those rare moments when it just seems to work.  Yeah, Family!  

Ya know, most people fall into one of two camps . . . they either look forward to the reunion with blind hope OR dread the very thought with blind despair.  (Which one are you?)  This week we get to watch the family reunion of Jacob, Joseph, His brothers . . . and the rest of the Hee Haw Gang!!  They are making their way to Egypt, and some are squeal-fully excited, while others are asking to stop at every single rest-area along the way simply to . . . delay . . . the . . . inevitable.  (“No seriously, I gotta pee!  Pull over”.)

But Joseph, our shadow of Christ, desperately wants to be reunited with His family, and He wants them safe.  So, his present-day practice really proves to be fueled by an eternity-focused attitude.  If you were to ask Joey, I’m convinced that he would have told you that he would not be content with even one family member missing from the table, even . . . “that guy”!

When we get to heaven, which names of your family and friends do you want to see written on the place cards at the great banquet table?  Between now and Sunday, let’s think about that.

I can’t wait to see you!  Invite like mad!

Your Pastor Is Praying For You . . . and is ready willing and able to run any errand you need!

Pastor Todd

PRAY IT! Genesis 45:16 - 46:7, 28-30

Did you follow along with this week's readings?  Yawn.  There, I said it.  Not much of a page-turner after all that we've read thus far. 

Joseph's brothers go report to Jacob that Joseph is not only alive, but alive and well, doing his prime minister thing for Egypt.  Jacob is pretty pumped about this and decides he must accomplish this unplanned "bucket list" task and see Joseph before he dies.  So, at God's prompting, he packs up everything he owns - family and possessions, and relocates to Egypt to be reunited with Joseph.

So what?  (Clearly I need to watch the Hallmark Channel and grow a deeper appreciation for happy endings, right Pastor Karin?!)

Let's take the seemingly simple and relatively boring readings and think a bit bigger.  Is it perhaps more exciting than we think it is, when we think about our God as a God who wants a relationship (reunion... reconciliation... transformation... as soon as possible and forever) with us?  And if we think about Jacob's response as our own?  Hmmmmm...

When God calls you close (and closer) to Him, are you willing to step out in faith as Jacob did?  When you are faced with something phenomenal (like the Good News that is Jesus Christ) are you so excited that you MUST drop everything with immediacy and urgency, and proceed toward Him with a newfound singular focus?  Do you disregard your "yeah, but" excuse, (be it your age, your position, your resources, your health, or your protest that "you don't like change" etc.) drop all your plans, and say "Okay God, here I come!"  (Jacob was old and settled, but he did not let this deter him.)  Will you "pack up" everything you own and do your best to excitedly bring everyone along with you because even though it is scary, it is scary-amazing, and you don't want yourself or anyone you love to miss it either? 

I think sometimes we can convince ourselves that reunions are less than desirable because nothing involving people is simple, neat, predictable, and cut-and-dry.  The Hallmark happy ending can be fickle.  I think we worry, because reunions can disappoint.  They don't live up to our imagined expectations.  For example, despite its popularity, the characters on the sitcom Friends are probably never going to reunite... Would it live up to the hype of what fans would imagine?  No.  Sometimes it is best to leave well enough alone.

Our God is different though.  Our God is all about transformation.  Our God has not pigeon-holed us into what we were as a high school junior, in His eyes, never to change despite how many years have passed.  Oh no.  Our God does not want to avoid us, even though we come to Him with our baggage, our drama, our messiness... in fact, He encourages us to come to Him!  Our God offers us new life through Jesus.  A reunion with our God will not disappoint.  I don't know much, but I do know that.

Here are some verses, for your reading pleasure:

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!

And, I stumbled across this gem in my devotional this week:

Deuteronomy 4:7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 

Amazing!!!

In sum:
God wants a reunion with you.
He wants this now.
He wants a reunion with everybody.
He does not want it to end.
One way we draw near to God is to pray.
Our God is awesome, loves us, and transforms us for the better.  Why would we not want to draw near to Him?

Dear God,
When you call me, help me to respond quickly, completely, and whole-heartedly.  I want to be all-in with my relationship with You.  I love You and I need You. 
Amen.

Join us tonight, at 7pm, where we will spend some time praying for our Encounter at PoC, as well as for this Sunday.  Let's continue to pray for God to do what only He can do, and for us to see more of Him and His transforming works in our lives, in our church, and in our communities.

Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Happy Endings”

Supplies: Bible

SHARE 

Category: favorite movie.  On the count of three, everyone say your answer.  Don’t give yourself time to think, just blurt out whatever is coming to mind.  One…two…three!  

Were you surprised by what your family said?  Were you surprised by what you said?  Share why you chose that particular cinematic feature.

In all fairness, I think for a lot of people favorite movies, like favorite foods, vary throughout our life.  For example, if you had been sitting next to me just now you would have heard me call out “While You Were Sleeping,” a cheesy 90’s romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman.  (I’ve watched it at least twice in the last week since I discovered it on Netflix.)  When I was in high school and college I tried really hard to love edgy cinema.  You know, those Sundance Film Festival kind of movies that left you with more questions than answers, like “Apocalypse Now” or “Citizen Kane.”  As I age, however, I find myself drawn to a very particular standard when it comes to movies I choose to watch.  In fact, if this one requirement isn’t there, I’m probably NOT going to watch it…ever.  

I want my movies to have a happy ending.

I know, it’s bourgeois.  But that’s what I like.  It’s what makes me smile.  It’s why I’ve already decided to pull up Sandra and Bill after I’m done typing this blog.  (Incredibly happy, cheesy, ride-off-in-the-sunset ending, in case you didn’t know.)

READ

Read Genesis Genesis 45:16-46:7, 28-30 together as a family.  Really soak in the verses from chapter 46.

THINK

I think God is the king of happy endings.  I mean, the story of Joseph plays out like some Hallmark Channel movie of the week, doesn’t it?  This dysfunctional family suffers for decades, Jacob in his grief, the brothers with their guilt, and then Joseph and his emotional merry-go-round while he struggles in Egypt.  And then, finally, the entire family is reunited!  That moment that none of them even dreamed possible became a reality and Joseph weeps on his dad’s shoulder.  (*sniff*)  

This is such a beautiful picture all by itself, but it is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to God.  Our Lord is in the restoration business, after all.  His goal is to restore broken relationships.  His passion is bringing healing to hurt hearts.  He wants to reconcile our marriages, our friendships, our families.  More than anything, the story of Joseph’s reunion with his father reminds us of what God has been doing throughout history: restoring His broken family by reuniting lost children with their Father.  The ultimate happy ending is living eternally in the love of our Father and the light of His Son, our Savior.  

APPLY

My guess is you have a relationship that is a little damaged right now.  Maybe it’s a friendship that’s a little strained.  It could be a long-standing tension with a family member.  Or perhaps there’s some hurt between you and someone in your home.  Know right now, no matter what the damage is, God wants to restore that relationship.  His passion is to help you work through the pain and hurt so that forgiveness and, ultimately, reconnection can happen.  Seek Him and He will give you the patience to wait through the process and the words to say when the moment comes to talk it out.

In the same way, realize that God also wants to restore His relationship with you.  If your connection with the Heavenly Father seems a little damaged or strained—or maybe not even recognizable—understand that this is not what He wants.  In fact, He’s at work right now trying to pull you two closer together so He can reconnect with your heart.  As you close your time together, pray for God to restore your broken relationships and heal hearts.

PRAY

Heavenly Father, we praise You and all Your ways!  Thank You, God, for being a leader who loves to bring people together, most especially together with You.  Help us, Lord, as we see to restore our relationships.  Bring us Your happy endings! 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.