שלום חברי   אל שדי  רוח הקודש

The dam bursts

Joseph stood in front of his eleven brothers, they were alone all the servants had been ordered out of the house, then he wept so loud that people outside the building heard it, in pharaoh’s house they heard it. This was emotional for Joseph, he had longed for his family now for 22 years, his tender heart burst open and the tears were flowing, the physical had to give for the power of God’s divine love.

The secret

Then he revealed himself to them, Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph, they were shocked, was this the time for Joseph to punish them, they were speechless and afraid, but God showed them His goodness and love through Joseph. Maybe they didn’t believe him so he said, come closer, then he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt” This was not known to anyone, but them and Joseph. This secret, they had kept from their father and the rest of the camp for 22 years, they were murders, they were liars, they were criminals and here stood Joseph knowing their past and he had the power to be their judge, he could sentence them to death.

How

However, Joseph forgave them, not superficially, but from his heart, he had no vengeance in his mind; humanly this is not possible, how could he manage? Joseph believed in his God from his youth, when thrown into the pit believing his brothers would kill him, when sold as a slave to the Midianites, his own relatives that sold him on the slave market to Potiphar in Egypt, when serving nine years for him.

The faith

Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph for trying to rape her, for that accused crime, Joseph knew that Potiphar, the chief executioner would execute him on the spot. Potiphar however didn’t believe his wife and put Joseph in the dungeon to rot there until he died to avoid any further scandal. Wherever he was, whatever happened to him, Joseph believed God’s protection, and he knew that his God also would save him from this terrible prison.

The final exam

It took 4 years. In that prison, a terrible dark place Joseph had his final graduation in the University of God and when Joseph was ready, God promoted him directly to the position as prime minister of Egypt, the mightiest country on earth at that time.

Leave it

Joseph could love his brothers knowing that what happened was the will of God. Joseph never tried to sort things out himself, he didn’t accuse Potiphar’s wife, he didn’t blame his brothers, he left it all to God to work it all out in His intelligent and divine way.

God knows

In this world we would like to have full control, however, in your own smartness and effort, it is not possible; leave it to Him that has all the knowledge, and all the ability needed. God knows you, your family, your friends, your enemies and all the bits in your life puzzle.

How could he?

How Joseph trusted in his God is shown how he explains things to people, in this case to his brothers; I verse 5, “for God sent me ahead of you to save life and preserve our family.” In verse 7, “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great escape.” In verse 8, “So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” In verse 9, “Hurry and go up to my father, and tell him, ‘Your son Joseph says this to you: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay.” Joseph praised his awesome God every time he talked to someone about the achievements he accomplished.

Appreciation

Joseph and his brothers united, they talked wept together in love and relief. Pharaoh heard of it, and it pleased him, and he gave Joseph what he needed to bring his family down to Egypt. God prepared for the nation of Israel to multiply and grow strong in the land.

The power of hope

The brothers of Joseph traveled north to Canaan for another three weeks and came to their father, probably at the oaks of Mamre. When Israel saw the wagons, they brought to carry him and the young ones to Egypt, he believed his sons and his spirit revived. Israel needed hope to go on living, he was on his way to die; now it chanced, he wanted to live, he desired to see Joseph and his sons, this hope made him strong and the future, once more had brightness in it.

To get strength

We are no different from Israel, we need hope for the future to get strength in our life, and our lives are both physical and spiritual. Without Jesus we have only the physical to rely on, our spirit however is based on the devil’s ideas of human strength and the deception of richness: money, houses, cars, beauty, and so on. These things will not last, the disaster is approaching. What’s lacking is the hope of salvation from yourself, the hope is that Jesus will take over and show us the gate, open it and take our hand and lead us on the narrow road into the will of God, here on earth and then in heaven. The glory of God is not just in heaven, it is here where you are too.

Questions

1. Are you in the university of God?
2. Do you believe Jesus has work for you?
3. Do you have to ask him, which work it is?
4. Do people decide your faith?