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Today is Thursday January 15, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Genesis.

Today's Message: It's All In God's Hands
The circumstances of our lives change day by day, but much of life is dealing with the good and the bad times of our lives and responding to them properly. By putting our trust and faith in God He will lead us to overcome any situation that we are faced with.

Today's Bible Reading: Genesis Chapters 43-45
You can read the chapters by clicking on the link above, if the link does not work you can copy and paste this one into your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2043-45&version=9

As we learned from yesterday's reading, there was a great famine throughout the land of Canaan and Jacob was forced to send his sons to Egypt to get food. Unknowingly, this would be the first time they would see their brother Joseph, who was the second most powerful ruler of Egypt, since they sold him into slavery. "Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food." (Genesis 42:1-7). Joseph talked through an interpreter so his brothers were unaware that he understood everything that they were saying.

After questioning them about their family, Joseph had his brothers imprisoned. As they sat there they recalled how their younger brother Joseph had pleaded with them not to be sold as a slave to the Ishmaelite traders on their way to Egypt. Now, they humbly confessed what a terrible act of cruelty they had committed toward him. "And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us." (42:21). Joseph was not trying to get revenge on his brothers, but give them time to think about their sinful past. Three days later Joseph let them go, except for Simeon, and gave strict orders that they must bring their youngest brother Benjamin when they returned, or they would not be allowed to buy any more food nor will he release Simeon.

Jacob was deeply distressed about the demand to bring Benjamin to Egypt, but when the food ran low he realized that he must do as Joseph demanded. "And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food............ And their father Israel (Jacob) said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph." (Genesis 43:2,11-15). When faced with difficult decisions we must be willing to let God handle the situation and do what is necessary to follow His will. We may not understand why we need to do ceratin things, but God has a purpose for every one of them.

When they returned with Benjamin Joseph sent for them to come to his home. "And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house." (43:16-17). Joseph finally revealed to them who he was. "Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." (Genesis 45:1-8). Can you imagine their shock when Joseph said, I am your brother? For years, they had deceived their father and had escaped all accountability for their cruel sin against him and now they were forced to face their brother for their actions.

Joseph's brothers are an example that no sin goes unpunishable, we are all accountalbe for our actions regardless of how long it takes. Many of the struggles we face today can be traced back from something that we have done years ago. God brings us to the place where we no longer attempt to defend ourselves, but confess that we are undeserving sinners. However, God is merciful and forgiving, once we call on Him for forgiveness the sin is forgotten, never to be brought up again.

A lesson can also be learned from Joseph, he held no hatred or bitterness toward his brothers for what they had done to him. Although his brothers were cruel, God used their wickedness to fulfill His will for Joseph and blessed him abundantly for it. Regardless of how cruel someone has been we must be willing to forgive them, I know it can be hard, but if we do not all we are doing is hurting ourselves. We create a viscious cycle that is not only dangerous to our minds, bodies, and spirits, but to those around us as well. It is a command from God that we are to forgive those who wronged us if we are to be forgiven by Him. "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15). You do not have to worry about whether or not one will receive the justice deserved for what they have done, God will handle it. It may seem as though they are getting away with things, but they are not, it's all is God's hands.

Jesus Christ is Revealed: Through Joseph's dealings with his brothers.
"And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." (Genesis 45:7-8). Christ deals with us in such a way as to bring about our confession of sin and a recognition of His forgiving love.

Today's Psalm: 85:2-3
"Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
There are circumatances in my life that I just do not seem to understand, but I know that You have a plan and purpose for them. Lord, pour the power of Your Holy Spirit upon me and bless me with the peace and comfort I need to endure all the trials I am facing. Bless me with understanding and forgive me for holding on to things that are of the past. Help me to follow Your will and lead me away from all emotions that try to get me to lose my faith and trust in You. In Jesus' name..........Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and be blessed.
God bless you,
Christina

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