Journey Through the Bible in a Year
Reading God's Word and learning more about His plan for my life each day!
Saturday, October 12, 2002
Introduction to Journey Through the Bible
A note about online study
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your written word, which shows me over and over again that You fulfill Your promises! I thank You for the story of Joseph, which shows me that sometimes Your promises take decades to be fulfilled, and sometimes longer! Grant me the patience that only comes from being filled with Your Holy Spirit to wait for Your timing in my life. Let me live boldly for You, and yet wait for Your promises to be fulfilled for marching forward without Your blessing. These things I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
My Journey Verses for Today
Genesis 43:1-34
1 But there was no relief from the terrible famine throughout the land. 2 When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, "Go again and buy us a little food." 3 But Judah said, "The man wasn't joking when he warned that we couldn't see him again unless Benjamin came along. 4 If you let him come with us, we will go down and buy some food. 5 But if you don't let Benjamin go, we may as well stay at home. Remember that the man said, 'You won't be allowed to come and see me unless your brother is with you.'" 6 "Why did you ever tell him you had another brother?" Jacob moaned. "Why did you have to treat me with such cruelty?" 7 "But the man specifically asked us about our family," they replied. "He wanted to know whether our father was still living, and he asked us if we had another brother so we told him. How could we have known he would say, 'Bring me your brother'?" 8 Judah said to his father, "Send the boy with me, and we will be on our way. Otherwise we will all die of starvation – and not only we, but you and our little ones. 9 I personally guarantee his safety. If I don't bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 For we could have gone and returned twice by this time if you had let him come without delay."
11 So their father, Jacob, finally said to them, "If it can't be avoided, then at least do this. Fill your bags with the best products of the land. Take them to the man as gifts – balm, honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money that you found in your sacks, as it was probably someone's mistake. 13 Then take your brother and go back to the man. 14 May God Almighty give you mercy as you go before the man, that he might release Simeon and return Benjamin. And if I must bear the anguish of their deaths, then so be it." 15 So they took Benjamin and the gifts and double the money and hurried to Egypt, where they presented themselves to Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw that Benjamin was with them, he said to the manager of his household, "These men will eat with me this noon. Take them inside and prepare a big feast." 17 So the man did as he was told and took them to Joseph's palace. 18 They were badly frightened when they saw where they were being taken. "It's because of the money returned to us in our sacks," they said. "He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us as slaves and take our donkeys." 19 As the brothers arrived at the entrance to the palace, they went over to the man in charge of Joseph's household. 20 They said to him, "Sir, after our first trip to Egypt to buy food, 21 as we were returning home, we stopped for the night and opened our sacks. The money we had used to pay for the grain was there in our sacks. Here it is; we have brought it back again. 22 We also have additional money to buy more grain. We have no idea how the money got into our sacks." 23 "Relax. Don't worry about it," the household manager told them. "Your God, the God of your ancestors, must have put it there. We collected your money all right." Then he released Simeon and brought him out to them. 24 The brothers were then led into the palace and given water to wash their feet and food for their donkeys. 25 They were told they would be eating there, so they prepared their gifts for Joseph's arrival at noon. 26 When Joseph came, they gave him their gifts and bowed low before him. 27 He asked them how they had been getting along, and then he said, "How is your father – the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive?" 28 "Yes," they replied. "He is alive and well." Then they bowed again before him. 29 Looking at his brother Benjamin, Joseph asked, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about? May God be gracious to you, my son." 30 Then Joseph made a hasty exit because he was overcome with emotion for his brother and wanted to cry. Going into his private room, he wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out, keeping himself under control. "Bring on the food!" he ordered. 32 Joseph ate by himself, and his brothers were served at a separate table. The Egyptians sat at their own table because Egyptians despise Hebrews and refuse to eat with them. 33 Joseph told each of his brothers where to sit, and to their amazement, he seated them in the order of their ages, from oldest to youngest. 34 Their food was served to them from Joseph's own table. He gave the largest serving to Benjamin – five times as much as to any of the others. So they all feasted and drank freely with him.
Reflecting on God's Word for My Journey
What was the most important “reunion” you have ever experienced in your life?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word for My Journey
What does today’s reading tell us about how God may use the circumstances of life to bring about the fulfillment of His promises?
Understanding God's Will for My Journey
Why do you suppose that Joseph made his other brothers bring his youngest brother Benjamin to Egypt in order for them to be allowed to return for more food?
Why do you think that Judah was willing to take the blame “forever” if they didn’t return Benjamin to Jacob?
Applying What God's Word Tells Me to My Journey
What does Joseph’s response to his brothers teach us about our relationships with our siblings (or if we don’t have any, about our dealings with others)?
My Personal Journey Thought for the Day—“They Bowed Low Before Him!”
How many times did Joseph picture the day when his brothers would bow down before him? It was such a vivid image when it occurred in the dreams! As a teenager, Joseph must have relished the idea of having his family bow before him. Through the years of slavery and imprisonment, the image may have faded, dimmed, even seemed to have gone out. But when Joseph saw his brothers for the first time, as we read about yesterday, he remembered the dream. Now it was fulfilled. His brothers bowed down before Him. Their lives were in his hands, but they didn’t know it was Joseph! They didn’t see the fulfillment of their “dead” brother’s dreams being played out by them right before his eyes. The situation brought Joseph to tears. He was overcome with the reality that his family was still alive AND we may assume that God’s faithfulness was displayed in this meeting. Sometimes we wait a long, long time for God to respond to our prayers. Sometimes our visions and dreams go unfulfilled, but if they are truly form God, it is only a matter of time—short or long—God is always faithful and he will never forget us.
As we go about this day, may we rejoice in the knowledge that our God is ready, willing and able to do abundantly more than we can ever ask or imagine in our lives!
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