Daily Digest

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[a] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

I find myself challenged by the single mindedness of John. No matter what people thought about him, good or bad, he stayed on mission. I wonder if he was ever tempted by the crowds?  The crowds loved him. They even thought that he could have been the Messiah that they were expecting to come.

Surely, he could have stayed on mission but enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle? No one would have questioned him or thought less of him. I mean, was it really that important to keep his Nazarene vow? Maybe not to the crowd, but it meant everything to John.

This is the path that God had set for him, and I imagine that never once did he consider anything else. For John, he chose complete obedience to God. Even though this obedience put him in jail, and eventually claimed his life, he didn’t waiver.

It’s easy to get distracted by life and all the ups and downs and not focus on the mission and plan that God has for us.

Father I thank you that you have a plan and purpose for each of us, and a mission to serve you with. Help me today to not be distracted but to stay on mission for you.

Written by Andrew Martin

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”

What a fascinating way Luke has chosen to write this portion of his account of Jesus. It is as if he starts with a long shot to establish the setting and then zooms in closer and closer until he reaches the extreme close up. Luke starts with the highest ranking leader in the Roman Empire, Tiberius Caesar; then the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate; then the Roman installed leader of Galilee, Herod the tetrarch; then the Jewish religious leaders, Annas and Caiaphas; and then … John.

Starting with great political power and ending with humble John. In fairness, John belonged to the tribe of Levi, God’s chosen priests, and his birth was quite remarkable… but it is almost comical to consider his everyday life against that of Caesar.

What strikes me is that all the other people in this list had great political power, wealth and influence. But it was John who received the Word of the Lord, and it was John whom God was going to use to announce His son, the saviour of the world.

God uses those He chooses, not necessarily the powerful, or wealthy, or influential to bring about His purposes. Will I answer God’s call today? Who knows how He may use me! God, I want to be part of the big story you are telling. Help me to recognise your voice and follow your leading today. Amen!

Written by Ps. Beth Waugh

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Lately I’ve been thinking about the human tendency to categorise life’s circumstances as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

In the case of the story of Anna here, she lost her husband after only 7 years of marriage and then lived as a widow for many years afterwards. That’s ‘bad’, right? But look at what this enabled Anna to do – she lived at the temple, worshiping, praying and prophesied that the child Jesus was the coming messiah.

But what if I look at life through the lens of Romans 8:28 – our God is able to work all things together for good for those who follow Him. This helps me see things from a different perspective, and instead of labeling circumstances as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’, I am prepared to see things as ‘both’.

When difficult things happen to us, when the enemy comes at us to cause trouble, our God is able to turn those ‘bad’ things into good. He is the God of ‘both’.

What things are happening around me that I am considering categorically ‘bad’ but God doesn’t see it that way? Lord help me to see through Your eyes of faith to be a person sees the ‘both’.

Written by Shelley Witt

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Jesus is circumcised, named and presented to the Lord. While circumcision is a parental decision not a religious decision nowadays, although we are to be circumcised in heart, naming and presenting/dedicating our children is very important.

Naming speaks to the character, personality and nature of a child. God commonly changed the name of someone after an encounter with Him.

Jesus was also presented to the Lord. This act of dedication was made by the parents in thanksgiving to God for the child as well as to dedicate themselves to bringing the child up to know the Lord.

For each us, irrespective of what our parents may or may not have done, dedicating ourselves to knowing and following Christ is very important. Making a decision deep on the inside to obey Jesus whatever the cost, consecrating ourselves to a life of purity and purpose in pursuing the will of God is an important action.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

7 verses, simple everyday details- a girl, a boy and a baby. And yet these 7 verses describe the beginnings of events that have changed the world. To an onlooker, the events in these verses would have seemed unremarkable, but it makes me wonder how many times over the course of history has God taken ordinary events and turned them into the extraordinary. Mary and Joseph were just living their best life, and I want to do the same. Mary and Joseph did not work hard so they would be used by God. They just humbly lived their lives, loving God. He came after them and used them mightily.

So I am thinking if I want to be part of great things for God, then maybe I just need to live my best life, humbly and in obedience. Maybe I need to be open to God and allow him to use my ordinary everyday as part of his plans and let Him make my life significant for His Kingdom.

Jesus, I give my life to you. Use me Lord to bring glory to your kingdom. Help me to be faithful to your call on my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Written by Christine Knight

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Sometimes the most foolish things come out of my mouth: Sometimes words that hurt people; Sometimes words that create barriers to understanding. I hate it when that happens. Jesus said that what comes out of my mouth expresses my heart (Matt 15:10-20) – more often stupid than intending to hurt, but none the less dangerous (James 3:1-12). It seems like it might be a good thing if God shut my mouth, like Zechariah, until I have something to say that comes from obedience to God.

Instead, God lets me choose what I say. That can be a problem: its an opportunity for me to choose those stupid, hurtful, harmful things. But its also an opportunity for me to choose words that bless, encourage or speak for God. There are still plenty of times that I choose badly, but every time I choose to speak in obedience to God it’s an expression of my love for him. Every time I choose to speak encouragement its an expression of my love for the people God loves. And every time I choose to hold my tongue when something harmful is lurking there, I choose for God and his way.

Father, give me words that build up, encourage and, like Zechariah, cause people to praise you. I choose you, when I speak and when I keep quiet.

Written by David Cornell

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary is keen to seek out what God is doing. So she goes to see for herself how her cousin Elizabeth is faring in the midst of a miracle pregnancy. I’ve no doubt this would have built her faith, and why not. And how cool that the Holy Spirit encourages her so strongly as Mary takes these steps to build her faith in God.

What steps of opportunity do I take to build my faith in God and His work in my life. Mary is such a model and example to me in this regard. God is for her in this venture, giving very specific and profound encouragement to her by the Holy Spirit.

Lord, I thank you for this reminder that it is good to take regular opportunities to build my faith through others and what you’re doing in their life. Help me not neglect this great opportunity that is often far more normal and accessible (eg. Mary’s cousin) than I recognise. Amen

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Here we have an amazing story of Zechariah and his encounter with an angel. The back ground to this story is what is so amazing. Firstly, Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were old – very old – well past having children old. So old, that naturally it was impossible for them to have children. No 21^st century medicine to support older women with child birth.

Secondly, despite being old, they have not stopped praying for a child. When it was easy to quit praying, they kept going. And then, one day, an angel turns up and says guess what? Your prayer has been answered; you are going to have a son!

I love Zechariah’s response in the Message Bible, “Do you expect me to believe this?” Yet, what is so amazing about this, is that they had not stopped praying. Their faith had not waivered. Even though he struggled to accept the answer, they hadn’t given up asking.

I can’t begin to list all the things that I have stopped asking God for. And to be honest, when you have been asking God for something for a long time, and there is no answer, and when it now looks like it is impossible, it’s easy to give up. We might even say it just wasn’t God’s will.

Well, as I read this story, I am encouraged, that it is never too late for God to answer my prayer. Until something else better comes from God, we should not let the naturally impossible be a reason to give up and stop asking God for it.

Father, forgive me for all the things that I have stopped praying for. For you, nothing is impossible, nothing is ever too late.

Written by Andrew Martin

22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees. 24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

What a beautiful ending to Joseph’s story. After all the hardship he experienced early on – separated from his family, wrongly accused of rape, being forgotten in prison – he experienced the joy of being reunited with his family, his character being redeemed and being elevated to high standing in pharaoh’s court.

What fascinates me is that even though he experienced many years of prosperity in Egypt, Joseph did not lose his sense of God’s story. It may have appeared that Joseph had ‘made it’ in life – wealth, status and power, as well as his family… but he knew that this was a stop on the way, that God was going to take His people into the promised land, and Joseph did not want to be left behind. He wasn’t going to be able to see it with his own eyes, but his bones were to go with them. I just love that sense from Joseph of – I am still going to be a part of this!

God, I want to be like Joseph, highly aware of the big story you are telling and my part within it. I want to live with the kind of faith and conviction Joseph did, that you God are going to fulfill every one of your promises. Help me to be like Joseph, trusting you in the big and the small, and prepared to journey through the tough and the rewarding seasons with you. Amen.

Written by Ps. Bethany Waugh

50 Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. 2 Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, 3 taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. 4 When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him, 5 ‘My father made me swear an oath and said, “I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’” 6 Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt— 8 besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen. 9 Chariots and horsemen also went up with him. It was a very large company. 10 When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father. 11 When the Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning.” That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim. 12 So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them: 13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 14 After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.

When a person of love and significance dies, the whole world stops.

The shock, the grief and the pain can be overwhelming. I remember when my own father died, way too young in years, when the world changed for me.

So the funeral service for a loved one is a part of dealing with this raw emotion and hopefully working through it, maybe even, eventually, some good might come out of the loss.

It’s also about honour. Jacob had requested that he be buried in a certain way in a certain location. Even though he wasn’t there to check if his request was followed, his children wanted to honour his memory and his life by treating him well in death.

But in the model death in today’s scripture, one thing (from the previous chapter) stands out to me: there is a conversation between Jacob and those who he loves, where everything that needed to be said was spoken.

As I read this passage, I’m reminded of the importance of saying the things I need to say, while there is still time, not holding back.

Lord, help me to find the words to speak the things that are of greatest importance to the people who I love.

Written by Ps. Justin Ware 

49 Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come. 2 “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel. 3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. 4 Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it. 5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers— their swords[a] are weapons of violence. 6 Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. 7 Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel. 8 “Judah,[b] your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. 9 You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[c] until he to whom it belongs[d] shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. 11 He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.[e] 13 “Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon. 14 “Issachar is a rawboned[f] donkey lying down among the sheep pens.[g] 15 When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor. 16 “Dan[h] will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan will be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward. 18 “I look for your deliverance, Lord. 19 “Gad[i] will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels. 20 “Asher’s food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king. 21 “Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.[j] 22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.[k] 23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. 24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed[l] limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, 25 because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty,[m] who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb. 26 Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than[n] the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among[o] his brothers. 27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.” 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.

Here we see that Jacob has gathered his family together. He knows that his time is coming to an end and he takes this time to bless them by speaking over them. It’s a significant time, a time of “last words”. The words of our father are powerful and life-shaping. For some of these family members, perhaps what they received wasn’t what they expected to hear.

I wonder how Reuben felt when, in the presence of the rest of the family, he heard the words spoken over him? I imagine that he would be devastated.  For many years earlier, Reuben had defiled his father’s bed and nothing had ever been said. Now his dad was correcting him for it and he lost his birthright blessing because of it. Yes, Reuben was still included as part of the family but his lack of repentance affected his future.

For most of the others, Jacob speaks a rich blessing over them. He speaks their future into existence. So while it may be Jacob’s end, their lives will continue. They can step into what their Father has spoken over them.

And for Rueben? Well, he might not have regained the birthright but he has an opportunity to make it right by having a change of heart and to live with honour. That he could affect.

Father, I thank you that You speak words of life over me. You call me and my future into existence.

Written by Gab Martin

48 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me 4 and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’ 5 “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6 Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. 7 As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem). 8 When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?” 9 “They are the sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them.” 10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. 13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm —may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly on the earth.”

In this passage there is such a beautiful picture of Jacob’s relationship with God and his knowledge of God’s character. Jacob speaks of God’s kindness and faithfulness, and it is clear that this knowledge comes from his personal experience of God’s goodness. Jacob says that God has allowed him to see not only his son Joseph, who he thought dead, but even Joseph’s sons. This restoration was not a happy coincidence or luck, Jacob identifies God as the one from whom all blessings flow. In blessing Joseph’s sons he describes his experience of God; the God of his father and grandfather who has remained faithful to his family; the shepherd who has looked after him all his life; and the one who has redeemed or rescued him from all harm. Wow! What a rich picture of Jacob knowing God.

I want to be like Jacob, speaking confidently of God’s character because I know my God and take time to stop and identify His workings in my life. I want to pass on to others a rich picture of God in His goodness.

God, please help me to truly seek rich relationship with you day by day, and to see your goodness all around me. Amen.

Written by Ps. Bethany Waugh

13 There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine. 14 Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying, and he brought it to Pharaoh’s palace. 15 When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all Egypt came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? Our money is all gone.” 16 “Then bring your livestock,” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock. 18 When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.” 20 So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude,[a] from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land. 23 Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. 24 But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children.” 25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.” 26 So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh’s.

It’s funny how the tide turns. We all know how the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt but here we read it’s the Egyptians who were sold into slavery to save their lives – at the hand of a Hebrew no less – and they were grateful to him for saving them.

Why didn’t the Egyptians remember this time in history? I wonder if their treatment of the Hebrews in Exodus would have been better had they remembered they were once in the same boat. Or even if they remembered it was a Hebrew that saved their lives.

What have I failed to remember? Am I treating my Heavenly Father badly because I’ve forgotten His past provisions and miraculous answers to prayer? Am I responding to crisis situations with greater faith?  Are the facts of Gods amazing stories in my life constantly in my mind so that when things go wrong it’s hardly a blip on my radar? Do we treasure these stories and think about them often like Mary did? (See Luke 2:19) Do I use them to say without a hint of doubt “because God came through for me then He will come through for me now!”?

Oh Lord my God. Jesus, forgive me for treating you badly and forgetting what you have done for me in the past. Make me like your earthly Mother – to treasure what you’ve done for me, think about it often, and let the stories fill my heart with faith. You are awesome and I praise you.   Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen

28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father[a] and wept for a long time. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.” 31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 The men are shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”

I am moved by the poignancy of the reunion between Joseph and his father. I imagine there were many times over the years when either one would have thought there was no hope of ever seeing one another again. We all face circumstances that seem hopeless, impossible and seemingly without solutions. Yet I am very challenged to think of whether I put ‘use by dates’ on things that I pray for or am believing God for. How long am I happy to pray for things until I put them aside?  Even if these men had laid aside hope of being reunited, it seems that God had not abandoned either of them, and brought them together again.

The whole story of Joseph is soap opera material, and yet in God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. So I am challenged to keep praying, keep trusting God and never give up hope, no matter what the circumstances. I want to rest my faith in God and let Him take care of me and my circumstances.

Heavenly Father thank you for watching over me every day. Help me to trust you with all I am, all I have and all that I love. In Jesus Name Amen

Written by Christine Knight