Today's Blog Title: "Joseph's Cup"
Today's Blog Scripture: Genesis 44: 1-34
Today's Key Verse: Genesis: 44: 16 "Then Judah said, "what shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord's slaves, both we and he also with who the cup was found."
In the close of Chapter 43, we saw how Joseph (whom still hadn't identified himself yet) eating and drinking with his brothers. Today's chapter opens with Joseph, again ensuring that their money was secretly returned in their grain sacks. This time however, Joseph continues to test the character of his brothers, by having his personal silver cup hidden in young Benjamin's sack.
The brothers were barely outside the city limits when they were overtaken by Joseph's household steward, who accused them of stealing the cup. The steward says to them, "Why have you returned evil for good?" (Genesis 44:4) The brothers were so certain of there innocence, that they offered to become slaves if the cup was found. The steward tells the brothers, "that only the person in whom's sack was found the cup would become the slave."
The tense search begins with Reuben's sack first, and then continues down at last to Benjamin's sack. When the cup was pulled out, the brothers in genuine despair tore their clothes, because they could not let Benjamin die. Remember in Genesis 39:31-33 instead of tearing there own clothes in grief for Joseph, they had torn his robe and dipped it in blood, to cover up what they had done.
The brothers are brought back to Joseph. Even though Reuben was the oldest, we now see that Judah speaks to Joseph. He offered no excuses, but offered himself and his brothers as slaves. Joseph told them that the one who's cup was found, would be his slave and that the rest of them could, "Go up in peace to your father." Joseph in saying this, was testing them again to see if they would leave there youngest brother as a slave in Egypt as they had done him.
As this Chapter closes, we see that Judah makes a stand for Benjamin. He tells Joseph the deep despair his father would experience, if he lost Benjamin. Instead of showing indifference as Judah had in the past, he offered his own life to save Benjamin. Judah's remorse for having done wrong to Joseph, was now complete with this statement before "Joseph".
Closing Question and Comment: "How do you react when someone points out a mistake you've made?" When Judah was younger he showed no regard for his brother Joseph or his father, Jacob. First he convinced his brothers to sell Joseph as a slave, then he joined his brothers in lying to his father about Joseph's fate. But in today's story we see the change had taken place in Judah! The man who once sold Joesph into slavery, had now offered to become a slave himself to save another favorite brother. He was so concerned for his father and Benjamin, that he was willing to die for them. When we are ready to give up hope on ourselves or others, remember that God can change even the most selfish personality.
Today's Hymn: "Faith Unlocks The Door"
Have faith when you speak to the master, that all He asks of you
Prayer is the key to heaven, But faith unlocks the door
Prayer is the key to heaven, But faith unlocks the door
Heavenly Father, How thankful we are you never give up on us. Help us Lord, never to give up hope on ourselves, or families or friends. May we always remember "That Nothing Is Impossible With You".
Amen
"Moment by moment, you will grow in your ability to live and walk by faith as you say Yes to God and No to sin."
Catherine Martin (from her book "A Woman's Walk In Grace"
Today's Daily Bible Verse Blog at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com is from: 1 John 4:9-11
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord with Gladness. Love God More Today and always remember that when you have a spiritual defeat in your day that yells out, "I Can't, God whispers to you, "BUT I CAN.
Yours in Christ,
Cindi
Today's Blog Scripture: Genesis 44: 1-34
Today's Key Verse: Genesis: 44: 16 "Then Judah said, "what shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord's slaves, both we and he also with who the cup was found."
In the close of Chapter 43, we saw how Joseph (whom still hadn't identified himself yet) eating and drinking with his brothers. Today's chapter opens with Joseph, again ensuring that their money was secretly returned in their grain sacks. This time however, Joseph continues to test the character of his brothers, by having his personal silver cup hidden in young Benjamin's sack.
The brothers were barely outside the city limits when they were overtaken by Joseph's household steward, who accused them of stealing the cup. The steward says to them, "Why have you returned evil for good?" (Genesis 44:4) The brothers were so certain of there innocence, that they offered to become slaves if the cup was found. The steward tells the brothers, "that only the person in whom's sack was found the cup would become the slave."
The tense search begins with Reuben's sack first, and then continues down at last to Benjamin's sack. When the cup was pulled out, the brothers in genuine despair tore their clothes, because they could not let Benjamin die. Remember in Genesis 39:31-33 instead of tearing there own clothes in grief for Joseph, they had torn his robe and dipped it in blood, to cover up what they had done.
The brothers are brought back to Joseph. Even though Reuben was the oldest, we now see that Judah speaks to Joseph. He offered no excuses, but offered himself and his brothers as slaves. Joseph told them that the one who's cup was found, would be his slave and that the rest of them could, "Go up in peace to your father." Joseph in saying this, was testing them again to see if they would leave there youngest brother as a slave in Egypt as they had done him.
As this Chapter closes, we see that Judah makes a stand for Benjamin. He tells Joseph the deep despair his father would experience, if he lost Benjamin. Instead of showing indifference as Judah had in the past, he offered his own life to save Benjamin. Judah's remorse for having done wrong to Joseph, was now complete with this statement before "Joseph".
Closing Question and Comment: "How do you react when someone points out a mistake you've made?" When Judah was younger he showed no regard for his brother Joseph or his father, Jacob. First he convinced his brothers to sell Joseph as a slave, then he joined his brothers in lying to his father about Joseph's fate. But in today's story we see the change had taken place in Judah! The man who once sold Joesph into slavery, had now offered to become a slave himself to save another favorite brother. He was so concerned for his father and Benjamin, that he was willing to die for them. When we are ready to give up hope on ourselves or others, remember that God can change even the most selfish personality.
Today's Hymn: "Faith Unlocks The Door"
Have faith when you speak to the master, that all He asks of you
Prayer is the key to heaven, But faith unlocks the door
Prayer is the key to heaven, But faith unlocks the door
Heavenly Father, How thankful we are you never give up on us. Help us Lord, never to give up hope on ourselves, or families or friends. May we always remember "That Nothing Is Impossible With You".
Amen
"Moment by moment, you will grow in your ability to live and walk by faith as you say Yes to God and No to sin."
Catherine Martin (from her book "A Woman's Walk In Grace"
Today's Daily Bible Verse Blog at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com is from: 1 John 4:9-11
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord with Gladness. Love God More Today and always remember that when you have a spiritual defeat in your day that yells out, "I Can't, God whispers to you, "BUT I CAN.
Yours in Christ,
Cindi
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