Genesis 50:1-26

Genesis Study 133

JOSEPH'S LOVE, FAITH AND HOPE

Genesis 50:1-26
Key verse 50:24
"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.'"

I thank God for blessing our Genesis study last two years nine months and ten days. Through Genesis study we could learn that God created us in his own image and for his good purpose. But our first parents, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God in their arrogance. This put the whole family of mankind under God's curse. But God still loved his lost children and wanted to bless them. So he chose the most hopeless idol worshipper from Ur. God trained him until he became a true worshipper of God. God gave him a new name Abraham meaning "a father of many nations". God promised to bless all peoples on earth through him. The book of Genesis ends with the death of Joseph. But this was just a beginning. God would continue to keep his promise to Abraham. Finally God sent his one and only Son Jesus through the line of Abraham. The Bible says the purpose of Jesus' coming as follows: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believers in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Once we were condemned and cursed because of our sins. But now in Jesus all our sins are forgiven and all curses removed. In Jesus we are no more the children of hell but the children of God. In Jesus we got a permanent job to serve the King of kings. In Jesus we got an eternal reservation in the kingdom of God. Things are changing everyday. But God never changes. He is the God of promise. Whatever he promises he keeps at any cost. Even at the cost of sacrificing his beloved Son he keeps his promise. The book of Genesis tells about the things that had happened about four thousand years ago or even before. But all the promises written in this book are not outdated. Even today they are still "yes" to those who hold them by faith. May God bless us to hold his promise once again through today's study.

Look at verses 1 to 3. At the death of his father, Joseph threw himself upon him and wept over him and kissed him. Though he had a hope to meet his father again in heaven, it was still a very painful moment. Joseph honoured his deceased father by directing the royal physicians to embalm him taking a full forty days. The Egyptians held a nationwide mourning for Jacob seventy days. But honouring the man of God does not end here.
Look at verses 4 to 14. Pharaoh granted Joseph's request to bury his father in the land of Canaan. All royal officials accompanied Joseph besides all the members of Joseph's household and his brothers and those belonging to his father's household. They were escorted by the royal palace guards who were on their Chariots. It was a very large company. When they reached the threshing floor of Atad in Canaan, they lamented loudly and bitterly seven days. The Canaanites must have been wondering why these foreigners came all the way from Egypt to Canaan to bury their dead. They were greatly amazed at the scale and solemnity of the funeral ceremony. So they said, "The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning." Then they called the place Abel Mizraim meaning "mourning of the Egyptians."
We remember Jacob's situation when he was fleeing from his angry brother. He had nothing except one staff. His bed was the field, his pillow a stone and his roof the dark and cold sky. But God gradually blessed them. He became a father of twelve sons and man of great wealth. Later he became the father of the governor of Egypt. His family well settled in the best land of Goshen and royal food was provided daily. Most of all he became a great pilgrim. Now at his death he was honoured like a king. But all the glories and honours Jacob received on earth are nothing compared with what he would receive in the kingdom of God. Instead of mummifying his body, God would grant him a heavenly body. Then Jacob would never suffer from any illness or sinfulness or death. Instead of solemn mourning, God would let him join heavenly chorus and sing new songs of praise everyday. Jacob's one day in heaven would surpass all the glories of earthly kingdoms. Was this only for Jacob? No, the same glories and honours are for all those who live by faith to the end. With this hope we can continue our pilgrimage today and tomorrow.
Jacob's sons buried their father in the cave of Machpelah where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah had been buried. This burial site continually reminded them that one day they must return to the Promised Land. After completing the ceremony they returned to Egypt.

Look at verses 15 to 18. After the death of their father, Joseph's brothers looked like a half-dead not because of sorrow but because of fear. They said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died: 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph already forgave them seventeen years ago. He proved his forgiving love by providing them the best land, the best food and the best care for the last seventeen years. He was their good shepherd. But at the end his love was doubted. Joseph had been serving them to fear God and live before him. But they still feared Joseph more than God. He had been serving them to be free from their guilty and live a happy life. But they were still carrying the burden of sins. So when their message came to him, Joseph wept. He did not know what to do with his unchanging brothers. His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. How did Joseph help them?
Look at verses 18 to 21. He said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Here we see Joseph's divine love. We all want to love others. But we always find it so difficult. Let's learn from Joseph the secret of love. The secret is in his answer, "Am I in the place of God?" What does it mean to be in the place of God? It is to be in the place of judging others. It is to think that I am already perfect like God and others have to be perfect like God. Being in the place of God, all we can do is only judging and condemning others. But even God did not do that. Instead of judging and condemning Joseph's brothers, God loved them and trained them. God also used their wrongdoings to save many lives. At the end all Joseph's brothers grew to be the sources of blessing in world salvation ministry. When God still loves our brothers and sisters, how can we judge them? When God still keeps his great hope on them, how can we cut off our hope on them? Joseph said to his brothers, "So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." He refused to be in the place of God. Instead he chose to be in the place of a servant. This enabled him to love even the most difficult people like his brothers.
Look at verses 22 to 24. Joseph lived a hundred and ten years 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. God blessed him and his descendants to be very fruitful. Now it was time for him to conclude his pilgrimage. Joseph's brothers again worried about their future. But Joseph did not say to them, "Brothers, don't worry. I already spoke to Pharaoh to take care of you. Everything will be fine." Instead he said to them, "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." Joseph helped them trust in God alone. He believed it was not he who brought them down to Egypt but God. So the same God would take them up out of Egypt to the Promised Land. It was not easy for the brothers to send away Joseph. But it was a good chance for them to grow in independent faith. In the past God provided them everything through Joseph. In the future the same God would provide them everything through his own way. Here we learn from Joseph how best we can help others. The best help is not giving someone a job or money. The best help is to guide someone to have faith in God and his promise. Joseph did that and in the book of Exodus we see he was right. The Israelites became slaves in Egypt. They had no one to help them. But they had faith in God and his promise. This was more than enough for them to come out of Egypt and enter the Promised Land.
Look at verses 25 and 26. And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath and said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place." So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt. Here we see Joseph's ultimate hope. He longed to be placed not in the Prosperous Land but in the Promised Land. Now, the prosperity of Egypt is no more. But Jesus came through the spiritual line of Joseph. The spiritual children of Joseph are everywhere in the world. They are growing everyday. Joseph is enjoying the true prosperity even today. Those who put their hope in the promise of God will enjoy eternal prosperity. May God bless us to bear the fruit of Joseph's love, faith and hope.

Genesis 49:1-33

Genesis Study 132

JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS

Genesis 49:1-33
Key verse 49:28
"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."

Last week we studied that Jacob adopted Joseph's two sons as his sons and blessed them. In today's passage he blesses his twelve sons.

Look at verses 1 and 2. Even though he called for his sons to bless them, he did not say, "Gather around so I can bless you." Instead he said, "Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come." As we study we will find some of his words were not easy to digest. Especially in the cases of his first three sons his words sound very harsh. How could those harsh words still be a blessing for them? And as we study we also can see how their past affected their future. All these things will teach us something very important in our lives of faith. Jacob said to his sons, "Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel." He called for their careful attention. Let's listen to his words with full attention so that we too may be blessed by God.
Look at verses 3 and 4. Jacob says to Reuben. "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honour, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed, onto my couch and defiled it." Being the firstborn of the family Reuben had extraordinary strength, honour and power. But all his excelling capability made him proud. He became proud enough to defile his father's bed by sleeping with his father's concubine. God had gifted him with many good things for a good purpose. But when he misused the gifts, he lost everything. God humbled him down to the ground. But this was for his own good. True blessing is not giving someone always great honour and power. Even though he may be brought down to the ground, if it makes him holy and humble before God that is a true blessing.
Look at verses 5 to 7. Jacob says to his second and third sons. About forty years ago Simeon and Levi had killed the Shechemites to avenge the raping of their sister Dinah. In their anger they killed even the innocent people. By doing so they defiled God's name and put the godly family in great danger. As joy becomes double by sharing it so does anger. That is why Jacob scattered them in Israel. He said to them, "Simeon and Levi are brothers—their swords are weapons of violence. 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. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel." Jacob cursed their anger and fury. But he did not curse them. He was helping them repent of their emotional anger. When they repented God blessed their descendants to possess holy anger. Moses was from the tribe of Levi. With holy anger he fought against the false gods of Egypt and rescued God's people. With holy anger the Levites fought against the idol worshippers in Israel and saved the nation. With holy anger Phinehas, a priest from the Levites, fought against the immoral sins of Israel and honoured God's name. Emotional anger is so destructive. But holy anger honours God's name and saves many lives. To be trained by God and have holy anger is a true blessing.
Look at verses 8 to 12. Jacob blesses Judah. In human point of view, Judah was worse than Reuben, Simeon and Levi. But his father did not say anything bad about him. Instead Jacob raised Judah above his sons by saying, "Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you." In fact the kingship of Israel was given to him. In the future twenty kings of Israel would be raised from the tribe of Judah. But the greatest blessing was the coming of Jesus Christ through the line of Judah. Jacob said, "The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his." Everlasting kingship belongs to Jesus. When he comes the nations will obey him. Jesus will rule their hearts with grace and truth.
How could Judah receive such a great blessing? It was because he repented from the heart. He was no more a selfish Judah but a sacrificial Judah. It does not matter how dirty and selfish we have been in the past. When we confess our sins without hiding even the most shameful one, God lets Jesus be born in our hearts. Then Jesus cleanses all our sins. He helps us live for God and others. He makes us rulers in his everlasting kingdom. This is the greatest blessing.
Look at verses 13 to 21. Jacob blesses Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher and Naphtali. We don't know much about them. But through the words of Jacob we can imagine their characters.
Jacob says, "Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon." Mumbai and Chennai are haven for ships. Those harbour cities are always busy with trade. It seems Zebulun had a special talent in trade. Later his descendants would be actively engaged in trade and export God's truth to many nations.
Jacob says to Issachar, "Issachar is a raw-boned donkey lying down between two saddlebags. 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 labour." In movie Shrek the donkey never stops talking. But in reality donkeys don't talk but keep working. In New Delhi I saw them carrying heavy bricks even at noon in May. There are people who do not speak much. But they speak through their hard work. Every Saturday some of us arrange this hall for worship service. Every Sunday morning one of us prepares our lunch. They don't talk much. But their action delivers us the message of love and humble serving.
Jacob says to Dan, "Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward." Dan was not a romantic person. He was as shrewd as s serpent and as sharp as a viper's fang. He got low marks in poetry but always topped in law. He could be a good judge for his people. But he should judge the things not based on his human reasoning but based on God's truth. Judge Samson was from the tribe of Dan. His life displays the importance of judging the things based on God's truth.
In verse 18, Jacob prays, "I look for your deliverance, O Lord." Jacob humbly asked to God to enable him to complete his last mission. He also humbly asked God to deliver his sons from their sins and grow them as the sources of blessing for mankind.
In verse 19 Jacob says to Gad, "Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels." Gad must have had a never-give-up spirit. Proverbs 24:16a says, "…though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…" When God Almighty is with us why should we give up? Satan attacks us and makes us fall more than seventy times a day. But in God we rise again. He forgives our sins. He renews our strength. In God we fight back and win the battle. This blessing is guaranteed to all God's people.
Jacob says to Asher, "Asher's food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king." Asher must have been a very good cook like his father and our shepherdesses. Had he joined Christ College he could have been the topper in Hotel management course. In earthly kingdom one's greatness is measured based on how many people he rules over. But in God's kingdom one's greatness is measured based on how many people he serves. May God bless us to serve many campus students with delicious spiritual food and physical food.
Jacob says to Naphtali, "Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns." New King James Version reads this verse as follows, "Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words." He must have been eloquent in speech and beautiful in singing. His descendants would carry God's messages to the nations and lead them to sing praises to God.
Look at verses 22 to 26. Jacob blesses Joseph. Joseph was a special boy from his childhood. He received special love from his father. He received special dreams from God. This made his brothers bitter and hostile to him. Then they attacked him so badly. Joseph became a slave and later a prisoner. But he forgave his brothers from the heart. He prayed for them even in his prison cell. He accepted all hardships as necessary trainings to fulfil God-given dreams. So even at the bottom of his life he continued to serve others with God's love and truth. Then God exalted him to the highest. Joseph sacrificed his whole life to save many lives. He had thousands of reasons to cut off his relationship with his brothers and millions of reasons to give up his life of faith. But his love for his brothers grew bigger and his faith in God grew deeper. Jacob says it was all because of God who is the Mighty One of Jacob, the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, and the Almighty. By the grace of God, Joseph could be the shadow of Jesus Christ. His life reflects Jesus' suffering and glory, his forgiveness and salvation. When Jesus came to this world he came not only through the physical line of Judah but also through the spiritual line of Joseph.
God wants to give us the same blessing. Our present sufferings are the parts of God's blessing. Through hard problems God helps us grow in faith. And through hard people he helps us grow in love. In this way Jesus' image is carved in us. Those who bear Jesus' image bring glory to God and save many lives. This is the greatest blessing.
Jacob says to Benjamin, "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder." Benjamin must have been very ambitious. But God changed his human ambition into godly ambition. Then his descendants could do great things for God. Apostle Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He had godly ambition to preach the gospel to the end of the earth.
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. Each of them received the blessing appropriate to him. At present they had many weaknesses. But God trained them and raised them to be the sources of blessing for all mankind. Jacob instructed his sons to bury him not in Egypt but in Canaan. This would always remind them of the Promised Land. Finally Jacob breathed his last and completed his pilgrimage. May God bless us to thank him for his appropriate blessing. May God bless us to repent like Judah and bear Jesus' image like Joseph.

Genesis 48:1-22

Genesis Study 131

EPHARAIM AND MANASSEH

Genesis 48:1-22
Key verse 48:5
"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."

Last week we studied how God brought his great deliverance through Joseph. In the army I was trained for were two purposes—one was to deliver my life from all dangers and the other was to deliver my nation from all its enemies. In the same way when God trains us there are two purposes—one is to deliver us from all our sins and the other is to deliver people from their sins through us. Though it is very tough, I pray we may humbly go through all God's trainings. Someday God will bring his great deliverance through us.
In today's passage Jacob blesses Joseph's two sons—Manasseh and Ephraim. This was the moment of happiness and honour. However here is something more than ordinary blessing. Let's learn it.

Look at verses 1 to 4. According to chapter 47 verses 28 and 29, Jacob was a hundred and forty-seven years old. The time drew near for him to die. He requested Joseph to bury him in the Promised Land. Now some time later he became ill. Everyone sensed that it would be his last moment. In fact he would die after blessing Joseph's two sons in this chapter and his twelve sons in the next chapter. Jacob had lived such a hard but beautiful life of faith. And he wanted to accomplish his last mission that was to hand over God's blessing to the next generation. We can learn something wonderful from him.
When Joseph was told about his father's illness, he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. Jacob was lying on the bed. But he gathered his last strength and sat up on the bed. He said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me and said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and will 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.'" This was the very promise Jacob had received half century ago. By now he could hardly see because of his old age. He could hardly move from his bed. Yet he clearly remembered the half-century-old promise of God as if it was told him yesterday. This shows he had been putting all his hope in this one word of God. He had kept this one word of God as his most precious treasure. Now it was time for him to hand it over his sons. This one word of God would make them truly great in God's sight and this one word of God would bring God's great salvation to all mankind.

Look at verses 5 to 7. Here Jacob reckons Manasseh and Ephraim as his sons. The word "reckon" has the meaning of "consider". Even though Manasseh and Ephraim were Joseph's sons, from now on they would be considered as Jacob's sons. Jacob says, "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." What a great honour for Joseph and his two sons! Romans 2:10 says that God gives "glory and honour and peace to every man who does good." We all are born as sinners. It is very hard to teach our children to do good things. But even if we don't teach them they already know how to do bad things. It is because we all are sinners. Now the Bible tells us that even though we are bad sinners there is a way for us to be reckoned as God's children. What good should we do then to be reckoned as God's children? John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who received him (that is Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." The only good thing we can do as sinners is to receive Jesus as our Saviour. Then as Ephraim and Manasseh were adopted as Jacob's sons, we will be adopted as God's children.
Look at verses 8 to 16. Here Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh. Joseph brought his sons close to his father, and Jacob kissed them and embraced them. He said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too." Jacob had lived with Joseph for seventeen years in Canaan and another seventeen years in Egypt. But in between he had missed him for twenty-two years. Those twenty-two years was the darkest moment of his life. But it was a preparation time for the brightest future. Now Jacob sees God's grace and kindness clearer than ever before.
Then Joseph removed his sons from Jacob's knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. Joseph never had bowed down to anyone even to Pharaoh. But before receiving God's blessing from his father, he bowed down. This shows how much he feared God and valued God's blessing. And he took Ephraim on his right toward Jacob's left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Jacob's right hand. He wanted his father to bless his first son with his right hand that signifies greater blessing. But look at verse 14. But Israel that is Jacob 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' head, even though he was the firstborn. Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm—my 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 upon the earth." In his blessing he confessed God as his shepherd. Being a shepherd by profession Jacob knew very well about a relationship between a shepherd and a sheep. Sometimes Shepherd God guided him through rocky places or deep valleys. But at the end he always led Jacob to the most pleasant and secured places. Now he blesses Ephraim and Manasseh to be guided by the same Shepherd God all the days of their lives. He was sure that Shepherd God would protect them perfectly and make them so fruitful. Our God is not simply supernatural force. He is not one of many gods. He is not a product of mythology. Our God is our shepherd and we are his beloved sheep. He knows us personally because he created us in his own image. He knows our names, habits and hobbies. He knows our favourite food and favourite colour. He knows our past, present and future. While we are sleeping he still watches over us. Even when we are wandering in our sins, he still loves us and makes every effort to turn us back to him. This is what our Shepherd God says us in Isaiah 49:15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" In fact when we were completely lost in sin, he left all his glory in heaven and came down to this world. Then he took up all our sins upon himself and died on the cross. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11) Jesus is our Shepherd God. He never leaves us alone. He takes care of us until we reach his everlasting kingdom.

Look at verses 17 to 20. When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. This was the only moment where in Joseph was displeased with his father and tried to correct him. It was out of his spiritual ignorance. He did not know that it was God's will to put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
So Jacob refused Joseph's request and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations." He blessed them that day and said, "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So Jacob put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
We all want God's blessing for every part of our lives. We want God to bless our studies, health, family, job, marriage, children, friends, relatives, country, bike, and house etc. But we have something for which we want God's greater blessing. For someone it may be job placement. For another it may be his or her marriage. Yet for another it may be final exams. But when God changes the priority we become anxious. We say to him, "God, thank you for blessing my Bible study. But what about my job? This is more urgent and this needs greater blessing. Please do hurry." But God crosses his hands and blesses our Bible study more than other things. Even if we try to change God's hand position, he refuses. Then we are in trouble. But God does so for our own good. There was one brother who asked me, "Shepherd, please pray for my job." Next time he said to me, "Shepherd, please give me a job." Then finally he asked me, "Shepherd, why don't you give me a job?" What could I do for him? I only prayed to God to guide him through the best way. Then God blessed his Bible study first. His faith in God's word grew. At last after taking eight interviews he got a job placement in the world famous software company. On his interview form he wrote his life purpose as "To have faith in God". In the past his life purpose was "To have faith in myself." What a great change! God knows what is best and what is most urgent for us. He never makes a mistake. I humbly pray we may earnestly seek God's greatest blessing for our Bible study. Then all other blessings will naturally follow. May God bless us keep his promise as the best treasure and hand it over to our next generation.

Genesis 47:11-31

Genesis Study 130

GOD'S GREAT DELIVERANCE

Genesis 47:11-31
Key verse 47:25
"'You have saved our lives,' they said. 'May we find favour in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.'"

Last week we studied about Jacob's pilgrimage. His life was full of toils and trials. But the more he suffered the deeper he met God. In today's passage we see the famine becoming worse. However no one died of hunger. Instead everyone appeared to be happier and thankful. It was because God brought his great deliverance through one man Joseph. How could God use Joseph so greatly? Let's learn the secret.

Look at verses 11 and 12. Joseph settled his father and his brothers in the best part of Egypt. He also provided them with food. In spite of the severe famine their lives became so abundant. So they became fruitful and increased greatly in number. Joseph became a blessing to his father's household. Is that all? No, he became a blessing to all people in his generation.
Look at verse 13. There was no food in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine. Cultivation was impossible. All shops were closed. The value of food surpassed the value of silver or gold. Had Joseph not stored up the grain the situation would have become much worse. There is another great famine recorded in the Bible. (2 Kings 6:25-29, Lamentations 4:10) At that time a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver. And women cooked and ate their own children. People die of hunger every minute and disease spread everywhere. Robbery become common and riots take place everyday. This is the normal scenario during a great famine. But did such things happen in this passage?
Look at verse 14. People came to Joseph to buy grain. He could increase the price by hundred times. But he did not monopolize the market. He sold the grain at normal price. This made nation's economy stable and people generous to each other. However all the money went to Joseph because the people had to spend their money for food without income. Joseph brought all the money to Pharaoh. In this way he made everyone survive and his master rich. However the famine continued.
Look at verse 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 used up." It was time for Joseph to release emergency rice. The people expected to receive the government free aid. But what did Joseph do? He said to them, "Then bring your livestock. I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone." So they brought their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. Some poor people could bring only one lamb. But verse 17 says that Joseph provided the people with food throughout that year. In this way he saved the lives of all people and even all the livestock. However the famine still continued.
Look at verse 18. When that year was over, they came to Joseph 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." When they came to Joseph to buy food with their money, they did not talk to him. They paid money and took away their food. Second time when they came they demanded Joseph to provide them a free government aid. But now when they came to him for the third time, they called him "lord" twice in verse 18 and once in verse 25. According to verse 20 the famine was too severe for them. But they did not demand for free support. Instead they humbly requested Joseph to buy them and their land in exchange for food. In verse 19b, they asked for seed not only for their stomachs but also for their land. They were willing to work the ground even in the worst famine. They might not harvest that year. Yet such hard work would prevent their land from being completely desolate.
How did Joseph deal with their request? Look at verses 20 and 21. He bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh and reduced all the people to servitude. However, the priests and their land remained unsold because they received their salary from Pharaoh. In verse 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." Since the people became the government slaves whatever they produced should belong to the government. But Joseph declared that only one-fifth of their harvest would belong to Pharaoh and the other four-fifths would be theirs. But this rule was not something new. It had been practiced during the seven years of abundance. (Genesis 41:34) It was easy for Joseph to take advantage of their plight. But he showed them mercy. In India many employees including myself pay thirty percent of our income as tax. But the people in this passage though they were slaves paid only twenty percent of their income as tax. It means they were not slaves according to our standard. In fact they were permanent government employees. Joseph established it as a law. The law was good for Pharaoh since he would have regular income to run his government. At the same time the law was good for the people since they would be free from any illegal or heavy taxes. Joseph let all the people enter into a life time labour contract with the government and secure their future.
Here comes people's expression of gratitude. Look at verse 25. "You have saved our lives," they said. "May we find favour in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh." All the people were destined to die during the seven years of famine. But God saved all of them through one man Joseph. Even all their livestock was saved. Their land did not become desolate. During the famine the people could have become a begging, demanding and perishing nation. But Joseph trained them, and they became a humble, hard working and thanksgiving nation. Indeed this was God's great deliverance through one man Joseph.
How could Joseph manage such a hard time so well? It was because he was well trained by God. Before entering into the service of managing Egypt he was trained in a management school. The principal of the school was God. But there were many notorious teachers in the school. Joseph's first class started in Genesis 37:24. His class teachers were his brothers. They were burning with anger and jealousy against their student. Joseph's classroom was the empty and dry cistern into which he was thrown by his teachers. Since then his teachers were changed from his merciless brothers to heartless Midianite merchants, then from emotionless Mr. Potiphar to shameless Mrs. Potiphar, again from the bloodless prison warden to the thankless cup-bearer. His classroom was also changed from the cistern to a desert road, then from a slavery field to a dungeon. It took thirteen long years for Joseph to complete the course. During those long years he encountered a severe famine of human love and care. What he received from the people was only jealousy, hatred, temptation, misunderstanding and mistreatment. Many a time he might have asked himself, "Why is my life so hard? Why are people around me so cruel and cunning?" But whenever he remembered God-given dreams he got the answer, "Someday God will surely make me a leader of all. But this dream will come true only when I become a servant of all." Then he humbly learned servantship wherever he went. Before the seven years of famine started God let Joseph undergo the thirteen years of personal famine. During this painful period he learned how to rely on God's love and care. This made him serve the people with God's love and care. Before giving Joseph power to rule Egypt, God showed him mercy in each moment. This made Joseph a powerful yet merciful ruler. He used his power neither to increase his wealth nor to take his revenge but only to save lives. The Egyptians and the Canaanites lived only for today. So they did not store up anything for future. But God trained Joseph to live for tomorrow. Then he could see the things that would happen after three days, after seven years and even after four hundred years. Then through this one trained man God saved many lives.
Is our life harder than Joseph's? Are the people around us crueller and more cunning than the people around Joseph? Even if it may be true, we have God's answer. He is training us today so that someday we may bring God's great deliverance to this generation. God trained Joseph for three things: first to have faith in God, second to have mercy on others and third to live for tomorrow with God's vision. I humbly pray God may help us write Bible testimony and store up this wonderful truth deep in our hearts. Then God will grow us to be like Joseph. And he will bring his great deliverance to this generation through us.

Genesis 47:1-10

Genesis Study 129

JACOB'S PILGRIMAGE

Genesis 47:1-10
Key verse 47:9
"And Jacob said to Pharaoh, 'The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.'"

Last week we studied that Jacob's family went down to Egypt. In this passage they settled down in Goshen in Egypt.

In verses 1 to 6, Joseph introduces his brothers to Pharaoh. He chose five of his brothers and presented them before the king. They introduced themselves as shepherds as Joseph advised them. They requested Pharaoh to allow them to settle in Goshen. Pharaoh granted their request. He also granted them a privilege to take care of his livestock.

Look at verse 7. Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him before Pharaoh. Jacob did not bow down to Pharaoh. Instead he blessed the king in the name of the Lord. In human point of view Pharaoh did not need Jacob's blessing. In fact it was Jacob who needed Pharaoh's blessing. Pharaoh was the king of the most powerful nation whereas Jacob was a refugee in his country. However Jacob saw himself as a source of God's blessing. Fifty-three years ago God promised to him, "All peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 28:14) If Jacob does not bless, even Pharaoh cannot receive God's blessing. As Jacob was an old and helpless refugee in Egypt, we may be poor in study, jobless, suffering from ill health and strangers in this city. But we are here as the sources of God's blessing. The heads of our colleges and our companies already have many things. But they can receive God's blessing only when we bless them.
In the past Jacob envied Pharaoh-like people. So he worked very hard day and night. He did not mind deceiving his brother and his uncle if he could be powerful and rich. But now he did not envy such people anymore. Instead he had deep compassion on their perishing souls. Jacob's blessing on Pharaoh was not a simple greeting. It was his earnest prayer to bring God's salvation to Pharaoh. We tend to envy those who are powerful and wealthy. But the Bible tells us what we will be in heaven. Let's read Revelation 22:5, "There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." In heaven we will reign with God for ever and ever. God, the King of kings, has made us the Prime Ministers of his world. How does it look if Prime Minister Manmohan Singh competes with elementary school students for the post of prefect? We are not here to compete for earthly power or wealth. We are here to bless the people. We are their spiritual governors.

Look at verse 8. Pharaoh asked Jacob, "How old are you?" "The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty," said Jacob. "My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers." Here we see how Jacob viewed his life. How do people view their lives? They say, "Life is a voyage. Life is a battle. Life is a survival game. Life is a lottery. Life is a gambling. Life is a romance. Life is an amusement park. Life is a mystery." Whatever it may be, how you view your life will determine how you live your life. As for Jacob life was a pilgrimage. So he lived as a pilgrim.
What is a pilgrimage? It is a journey. But it is not the journey of a wanderer. It is a journey of a truth-seeker. He encounters many ups and downs in his life. But he does not give up his journey. He keeps going until he finds the truth. As for Jacob his life was a journey to meet the true God. Now he became the father of the Prime Minister. He settled in the best part of Egypt. But he did not say, "At last I reached my destiny." He believed he still had many miles to go. He could not stop his journey until he would meet his loving God. This was his song in each step of his journey:

Thou my everlasting Portion, more than friend or life to me,All along my pilgrim journey, Saviour, let me walk with Thee.Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,All along my pilgrim journey, Saviour, let me walk with Thee.

Not for ease or worldly pleasure, nor for fame my prayer shall be;Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.

Lead me through the vale of shadows, bear me o'er life’s fitful sea;Then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with Thee.Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,Then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with Thee.

According to the Bible, life is a pilgrimage. Someday we have to leave behind all our earthly enjoyment and achievement. And then we have to meet God our Creator face to face and confess before him all we have done on earth. The Bible says, "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." (Romans 2:7,8)
People see this world as their destiny. So they struggle hard to take possession of many things. But have you ever seen any pilgrim taking his bed, sofa, carpet, cable TV and internet connection along his journey? They make their belongings as light as possible. This was Jacob's attitude. He got a big chance to receive whatever he wanted from Pharaoh. But he did not request anything. In verse 10 he again blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence. As a pilgrim Jacob had one two interests: one was to come close to God and the other to help the people to receive God's blessing. In order to be the pilgrims of heaven what should we do? Should we leave our colleges and companies and take our journey to Jerusalem? If we earnestly seek God everyday by holding his promise we are the pilgrims of heaven. And if we serve others to believe in God's promise so that they too may receive God's blessing we are the pilgrims of heaven. Then one day God will take us to his kingdom to reign with him for ever and ever. May God bless us to live as heavenly pilgrims in each day.

Genesis 46:1-34

Genesis Study 128

GOD GOES DOWN WITH JACOB

Genesis 46:1-34
Key verse 46:4
"I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes."

Last week we studied that Joseph made himself known to his brothers. He was not angry with them. He said, "It was not you who sent me here, but God." This realisation made Joseph think how best he could help his brothers in God's point of view. Then instead of showing them human sympathy, he trained them harshly until they repented of their sins. But while training them he shed many tears in secret because he truly loved them. When they repented he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. He invited them to Egypt by saying, "Come down to me; don't delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. I will provide you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute." In today's passage they all go down to Egypt.

Look at verses 1 to 4. So Israel, that is Jacob, set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. He wanted to meet his most beloved son Joseph as quickly as possible. However there was something that made him afraid. He was afraid to leave the Promised Land. This fear grew stronger when he reached Beersheba. This was a place where Jacob's grandfather Abraham dug his well. This was a place where Jacob's father Isaac and Jacob himself loved to stay. On reaching this place Jacob remembered his grandfather. Two hundred ago Abraham had gone down to Egypt because of a severe famine. There he solved his food problem. But he encountered so many other problems. The worst was his wife Sarah being taken by the king of Egypt. Once Jacob's father Isaac also faced a severe famine. He decided to go down to Egypt. But God stopped him. Now it was Jacob's turn. He was going to down to Egypt to meet Joseph and escape from the famine. But he was afraid to leave the Promised Land without God's permission. He said to himself, "If this is not God's will…if I can never be able come back to the Promised Land…if my sons lose their faith in Egypt…" Then he decided to offer sacrifice to God and seek his guidance.
God spoke to him in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob! I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes." God knew Jacob's fear. But God cleared all his fears. First God will make his small family into a great nation. Second God will go down to Egypt with him, and surely bring him back again. Third God will bless him to die in peace.
In the past God did not allow Abraham and Isaac to go down to Egypt even during the severe famine. But why did he allow Jacob? Was God changing his plan according to Jacob's convenience? No, this plan was already announced to Abraham two hundred years ago. The Lord said to Abraham, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure." (Genesis 15:13-16) God allowed Jacob to leave the Promised Land and enter Egypt because his migration to the country was a part of God's plan. It took many centuries for the plan to be completed. By this time Abraham was no more and Isaac was no more. After seventeen years Jacob would be no more. However God himself would fulfil his plan. Had God failed to keep his promise, the Bible recording would have stopped in Genesis chapter forty-six. The movie Ten Commandments and the animation the Prince of Egypt would have never been made. But in Exodus, the second book of the Bible, we see God fulfilling his plan in the most marvellous way.
In human point of view Jacob's migration looks like a poor father rushing to meet his lost son and a poor family running away from the famine. But in God's point of view this was one of the most significant steps. It was a step to change a small family into a great nation that would fear God and serve him. For sometime they would enjoy their lives in Egypt as the family of the Prime Minister. But after the death of Joseph they would be enslaved and mistreated so badly. Their male children would be thrown into the Nile to be eaten by the crocodiles. Yet they would grow to be a great nation. They would come out of Egypt as great victors. How could it be possible? The answer is in God. Please listen to God's promise to Jacob, "I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again." It was not just Jacob's family who went down to Egypt. God himself went with them. When we become a part of God's family and our lives a part of his plan, we are not alone. God Almighty is with us. In each moment he takes a same step with us. He never leaves us until we grow to be a great nation.
How then can we be a part of God's family and God's plan? We learn the secret from Jacob. What drove him was not his emotion or calculation. Even though he was so eager to meet Joseph and the famine was so severe in the land, if it was not God's will he was ready to stop his journey. What drove him was the word of God. Whoever makes his decision based on the word of God will never fail. He will surely become a great nation because God is with him.

Look at verses 5 and 6. Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel's sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. They also took with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt. Jacob had four wives—Leah, Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah. Jacob's offspring through Leah was thirty-three in all, through Zilpah sixteen in all, through Rachel fourteen in all, and through Bilhah seven in all. Verse 27 says, "With the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob's family, which went to Egypt, were seventy in all." It took more than two hundred years for one man Abraham to have seventy offspring in Jacob's time. Can we be patient if it takes two hundred years for our ministry to grow to be seventy in number? We need Abraham's faith. After four hundred years the seventy people would become a nation of two million people. In average five thousand people would be added to them every year. Can we believe that five thousand people will be added to our ministry every year? We need Jacob's faith. What matters is not number but faith. If we have faith in God, we will surely see God's promise coming true.

Look at verses 28 to 34. At last Jacob meets his most beloved son Joseph after twenty-two years. They wept for a long time. Israel said to Joseph, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive." Joseph did not provide his brothers government jobs. Instead he advised them to identify themselves as shepherds. In those days all shepherds were despised by the Egyptians. So by identifying themselves as shepherds Jacob's family would have very less chance to be mixed with the ungodly Egyptian culture. As for Joseph, keeping identity as God's chosen people was much more important than the luxury of the world. If we lose the best offer of this world in order to keep our identity, God will give us the best offer of his kingdom. May God help us make our decision not based on our emotion or calculation but based on his promise.

Genesis 45:1-28

Genesis Study 127

IT WAS NOT YOU, BUT GOD

Genesis 45:1-28
Key verse 45:7
"But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance."

Last week we studied about the change of Judah. Once he sold his brother Joseph as a slave for money. But now he was offering himself as a slave to save his brother Benjamin. He said to Joseph, the governor of Egypt, "Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers." Judah had been the most notorious sinner. But now he repented. He turned his life direction. He was no more an old Judah. He became a new Judah. This was the very moment Joseph had been longing for last twenty-two years. God has changing power. He can change the worst into the best. How can we receive his changing power? The word of God carries the changing power. Today's word is given to us to change our lives.

Look at verses 1 to 3. At Judah's repentance, Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" Now only Joseph and his brothers were left. The brothers were wandering why the governor became so emotional. He had been always strict. Sometimes they wondered if this man was cold-blooded. But now he was weeping so loudly that even the people outside could hear him. Have you ever seen any judge weeping like this before the criminals? The brothers were greatly perplexed. Then Joseph said to them, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" What was their answer? The Bible says that they were not able to answer him, because they were terrified. They believed Joseph had died long back. So they couldn't believe him still being alive. Furthermore the slave boy becoming the governor of Egypt was beyond their imagination. For a moment they thought, "Is this governor making fun of us? But how does he know our dead brother's name? And now we hear him speaking directly to us in our own language." However they were not convinced. It was too shocking to believe that the governor was their own brother whom they had sold into Egypt. So Joseph had to tell them again and again, "I am Joseph!" (Verse 3) "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!" (Verse 4) "It is really I who am speaking to you." (Verse 12) But if what he is saying is true, if it is true, they can't expect anything less than the capital punishment. Considering their sins, it was too luxurious even to be the slaves of the governor. The sin they had been trying to cover last twenty-two years has been uncovered by the very person they sinned against. This was the most terrifying moment.
We all fear to face such moment. We don't disclose our failures in study except to our closest friends. Some shameful diseases we don't disclose it to anyone except to a medical doctor. But sin we have committed in secret we want to carry it to our tombs. We regret. We shed tears. But we fear to disclose our sins. When Jesus took our sins upon himself, he cried out to God, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." (Matthew 26:39a) He cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46) This is the weight of sin. Even for the Son of God it is too heavy to carry. But we still carry its burden because we fear to confess it. Can this burden be rolled out from us? What does today's passage tell us?

Look at verses 4 to 6. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you." Joseph forgave them. When did he forgive them? Was it when Judah repented? No, he forgave them from the beginning. Had he not forgiven them he would not have trained them. While they were still wandering in sins, Joseph loved them from the bottom of his heart. He prayed for them and waited for a chance to help them repent. But the brothers could know his forgiving love only when they repented. They could be free from the burden of their sin only when they repented. When they repented, they were immediately welcomed: "Come close to me," Joseph said. They were immediately comforted: "Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here," Joseph said. They were immediately given great honour to be the brothers of the governor. The famine would last five more years. But from now on they did not need to worry about food. The abundance of Egypt became theirs.
Such is the package God has prepared for all those who repent of their sins. The Bible says, "…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) God loved us even while we were still wandering in our sins. He forgave us two thousand years ago when Christ Jesus died for us. But we will never know his forgiving love until and unless we confess our sins. God helps us confess our sins not to condemn us but to give us the whole bunch of heavenly gifts. In Genesis 44:16, Judah said, " God has uncovered your servants' guilt." But he did not specify his guilt. When, where, who, what, how, and why he had committed his sin he did not mention. However when he showed a sign of repentance in the previous passage, God revealed everything to him in this passage. Every word from Joseph's mouth penetrated his soul like a sharp surgery knife. He felt acute pain on his soul. But when the surgery was over his soul could fly like a bird. In our Mysore tour last Wednesday we visited a bird sanctuary. We had a nice boating. While boating we saw two kinds of animals—one was crocodiles and the other birds. Crocodiles were swimming showing only their eyes and the top of their backs. But the birds were flying freely and beautifully on their white wings. Without confessing our sins we can live. But we will live like the crocodiles. However when we confess our sins we will fly freely and beautifully on the wings of God's forgiving love. May God help us confess our sins and enjoy his eternal freedom.

Look at verses 7 and 8. "But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt." If we saw the great change of Judah in the previous passage, here we see a great change in Joseph's life. In Genesis 37:2 we read about him as follows, "Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them." Joseph was a righteous man. He could not tolerate wrong. Anything incorrect must be corrected immediately and by any means. We know it is very difficult to make a friendship with such person. He is an alien to everyone. But God changed Joseph too. Now Joseph did not argue with his brothers. He did not report his father about what they had done to him. He did not use his power to punish them. When he revealed the truth to them he let all his attendants vacate the room. He forgave their sins and covered their guilt. He was ready to serve them and save their lives. Pointing out their fault was no more his business. His only concern was to help them live before God.
How could Joseph be so changed? We find the answer from his words, "It was not you who sent me here, but God." First this thought freed him from all anger, hatred, and despair. Second this thought led him to a new question, "Why has God sent me here?" For the people in ancient slavery was the end of their lives. There was no hope or meaning. But Joseph believed there was a divine purpose and meaning even in his slavery life because it was God who sent him there. He believed God would never let his sufferings go in vain. When he was falsely imprisoned he said to himself, "It was not Mrs. Potiphar who sent me here, but God." The dungeon was dark and cold. But his heart was bright and warm because he knew it was God who sent him there. When he was released from the dungeon and became the governor of Egypt, he did not become proud. He said to himself, "It was not Pharaoh who rescued me from the dungeon, but God for his own purpose." Finally he realized why he had to suffer so much and then suddenly become the governor of the land. It was to save all nations from the seven years of famine. And it was to help his brothers repent of their sins and become the sources of blessing for mankind. Then he began to prepare to meet God's purpose.
When something goes wrong, we tend to say, "It was you who put me in this trouble." The more we think like that the more we gain our enemies. But when we start thinking, "It was not you who put me in this situation, but God," we can see a different world. We will stop grinding our teeth. Instead we will humbly pray to know God's will. God never allows his people to suffer without any purpose. In fact in all things he works for the good of his people. So even in the darkest moment we can see God's bright hope. Instead of gaining people to hate we will gain more and more people to love. "It was not you, but God"—this one word changed Joseph into a great man of God. Without this one word Joseph's brothers experienced hell in the Promised Land. But with this one word Joseph experienced heaven in the land of slavery. May God plant this one word deep in our hearts so that we too may live like Joseph.

In verses 9 to 15, Joseph invites his father's household to Egypt. If they refused his invitation they would perish in the famine. When we humbly accept God's invitation to Jesus we shall not perish but have eternal life. Joseph kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him. They became one in love.
In verses 16 to 24, we see Pharaoh's favour on Joseph's brothers. When the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. Pharaoh promised to give them the best of the land of Egypt. He said to them, "Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours." Recently I saw an advertisement: "Bring your second hand scooter. We will give you two thousand rupees more than the market value." But I am still hesitating because I have to pay more than thirty thousand rupees for the exchange offer. I wish they say to me like Pharaoh, "Never mind about your old scooter, because the best scooter of our company will be yours free of cost." God has already arranged new and wonderful lives for us. They are all free. Why then should we still live old and miserable lives? God says to us, "Never mind about your old life, because the best life of heaven will be yours. Never mind about your worldly friends, because the best spiritual friends will be yours."
In verses 25 to 28 Jacob hears the news about Joseph. At first he couldn't believe. But when he heard Joseph's message and saw the carts Joseph had sent, he was convinced. When we carefully listen to God's message and see the lives changed by God, we will be convinced.
We have fear to confess our sins. We have fear to face troubles. We have fear to give up earthly belongings. May today's word give us courage--courage to confess our sins and enjoy God's forgiving love, courage to face troubles in God and gain more people to love, and courage to give up earthly belongings and take heavenly treasures.