Category: Genesis

Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Genesis 45 before reading the devotional below.

It’s time for the big reveal of Joseph’s identity, and Jacob is about to be in for the shock of his life. After the emotional tension grows too high, Joseph finally breaks down in tears and tells his brothers the truth. It’s an emotional reunion and after the news is broken, Pharaoh rolls out the red carpet for Joseph’s entire extended family to move to Egypt. Jacob has to hear the story twice and see the fancy movers pull up before he believes his ears.

What is amazing to me about this story is the way Joseph tells it. First, he tells his brothers not to be angry with themselves for selling him into slavery. He describes it as all part of God’s big plan to position Joseph and provide for the family during the years of famine. He tells his story of challenge and hardship not out of a place of despair but out of excitement!

Here’s your freedom for today:

Your outlook determines your freedom.

The Bible and modern psychology overlap in many areas, including the idea that a hopeful, grateful, or positive outlook improves mood. Joseph has shown himself to be an emotional guy, yet he’s kept his spirits up throughout a whole lot of pain. How did he do it? He had a perspective that included the bigger picture of how God was at work. Certainly, a hopeful outlook does not mean you will never experience depression, anxiety, grief, or other emotional struggles. However, some of the best treatments for these illnesses include shifting your perspective on what you are going through. Is there a situation in your life right in which you can shift your outlook? If you aren’t sure how to do that, start by writing down three things you are grateful for every day. The Bible and science agree it will help!

Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Genesis 44 before reading the devotional below.

I don’t know about you, but I would not have been able to keep up the charade that Joseph has in keeping his identity secret from his brothers. He’s still pulling a fast one on them, and as they leave for home he plans one last bit of trouble. He hides his personal silver cup in his brother Benjamin’s bag and then sends his men after them to accuse him of stealing.

The Bible doesn’t make it clear what Joseph’s long-term plan is. Is he just messing with their heads, or did he intend to keep Benjamin with him while sending the rest of his brothers away? We’ll find out tomorrow how it all plays out, but it seems like Joseph was not working off a long-term strategy. Perhaps his emotions were driving him, and ultimately emotions bring him to a breaking point.

Here’s your freedom for today:

Freedom comes with acceptance of your human limitations.

Joseph was a human. He was only emotionally capable of so much. He had been through more trials in his brief lifetime than most of us can imagine, and he’s running a food program for the entire MIddle East region while standing face to face with the very brothers who betrayed him. He’s overcome. He acts out of impulse and has a mix of getting revenge on his brothers and showering them with kindness. Even though I haven’t been through anything like Joseph, I can relate to his humanity. Facing people who have hurt you brings up a lot. Today I’m just sitting in a place of acceptance that hard emotions are part of the human experience. I can find freedom in not trying to make hard feelings “go away,” but instead accept them part of going through life.

Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Genesis 43 before reading the devotional below.

Jacob is playing favorites with his sons again, seeming to have no trouble leaving Simeon in prison in Egypt while delaying at the thought of sending Benjamin back to Egypt with the others. Benjamin was the only son remaining from his beloved wife, Rachel, who died giving birth to Benjamin. As far as Jacob knows, Joseph was killed by wild animals (the lie his other sons made up to explain his disappearance after selling him as a slave). He can’t bear to lose his other son from Rachel.

In the end, he has no other choice but to send Benjamin because they are all going to starve. When they all get there, Joseph continues to pretend he does not know them. He is overcome at seeing Benjamin and has to leave the room to weep. He composes himself and sets the table for a feast, blowing their minds when he seats them in order from oldest to youngest.

Here’s your freedom for today:

Sometimes we need to let go in order to gain.

Jacob did everything he could to avoid giving up Benjamin. He drove the rest of his family to near-starvation because he feared losing Rachel’s only remaining son. But we know the truth — Joseph is alive and well! The only way Jacob can ever reconnect with Joseph is to release Benjamin, which he does. As we will see in the coming days, Jacob will be blessed with the return of all of his sons, including Joseph and Benjamin. Is there something you need to release today? There is no guarantee of gaining something greater, but what you can’t see right now may just be tomorrow’s possibility.

Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Genesis 42 before reading the devotional below.

Joseph’s dreams are coming true, but it sure doesn’t feel like sweet victory quite yet. In today’s chapter, Joseph is the governor in charge of selling all the grain they had stored up in the years of plenty. Famine has hit now and people are coming from all around to buy food from Egpyt. Joseph’s brothers travel a long distance to seek food in Egypt, and Joseph recognizes them right away. They bow down to him, just as the dream had foretold.

Joseph seems to be getting a little revenge at this point. Although he could have had them all killed, instead he simply acts the part of an angry ruler who accuses them of spying. He uses a translator so they do not know he actually speaks their language. He demands that the youngest brother, the only one left home, be brought back. Recall that the youngest, Benjamin, is Joseph’s only full brother as they had the same mother (Rachel). He takes Simeon as collateral while he waits for the brothers to arrive.

Here’s your freedom for today:

Innocence turns into favor from God.

Joseph was treated badly when he was sold into slavery, when he was falsely accused of sexual misconduct, and when he was forgotten as a prisoner. To this point, he has remained innocent and there is no record of him even complaining to God about his circumstances (which the Bible has no problem telling us about in many other stories). Even here as his brothers return and his dream is fulfilled, he does not act out of anger or arrogance. While he does make his demands, he sees to it that no one is hurt and the brothers’ money is secretly given back to them. When we remain innocent in challenging situations, God honors our obedience. Although it may take time, we will reap the favor of God when we have continually done the right thing.

Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Genesis 41 before reading the devotional below.

As we discussed in yesterday’s post, Joseph was in prison for two years longer because the king’s cup-bearer forgot about him. The cup-bearer’s memory is jogged because Pharaoh has a dream that troubles him and no one is able to interpret it. Joseph had shown his supernatural connection to God in his ability to understand the dreams of the cup-bearer and baker, and the cup-bearer knew that everything Joseph had said came true.

Notice that when Pharaoh calls for Joseph and asks him to explain the dream, Joseph doesn’t act out of arrogance or pride. He fully acknowledges that he has no power by himself, instead saying that God will bring the meaning of the dream to light. Turns out the dream was a prophecy: there will be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh appoints Joseph to manage the storage process during the plentiful years in order to prepare for famine. That advanced planning saved a lot of lives.

Here’s your freedom for today:

Don’t be afraid to act when God speaks.

We’re often timid about prophecy and we put a lot of disclaimers on words we hear from God (including the Bible). While discernment is a good thing, I think sometimes our hesitation is actually pride. We are afraid of being wrong, so we never step out in faith. Joseph first acknowledged God’s power, then boldly gave a clear interpretation of the dream, then took the position of leadership God gave him as a result, and performed his job with excellence. Where is your boldness today? What has pride held you back from in listening to God’s voice? How can you seek God’s voice more today?