Genesis 50:14-26
As we finish out the final chapter of Genesis, Joseph's brothers are afraid that with Jacob out of the picture, Joseph will retaliate against them. But their fears are unfounded because Joseph was a man of his word. He had already told his brothers (Genesis 45) not to be dismayed at their bad actions because God had sent him ahead to provide for the family. And here in Genesis 50:19-20, Joseph reiterates that even stronger. "'Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. . .'" My response as I read these verses was Wow, Joseph. You are truly the real deal. I want to be more like you.
So, how do we go about being more like Joseph? What are some things you can do (or need to do) to be more forgiving, to be a person of your word, to be more loving to family and others around you, to be less focused on circumstances and more focused on pleasing God? Tami W.
P.S. If you had any big "takeaways" or "aha moments" from Joseph's story, I'd love to hear them.
Reading Joseph's story was very inspiring. From the Temptation that he withstood.To watching GOD protect and show him favor, no matter what circumstance was going on in his life. He Trusted that God would work it out . Over and over God has worked it out for my benefit,no matter what the other person meant the circumstance to be.I had a business partner tell me a year ago,he no longer wanted to be in business with me. We were unequally yoked, I Trusted God. A year later the business is more sucessfull then ever. I continue to read God's Word Daily through these devotionals. After reading this I decided to go see the Story of Joseph at Sight and Sound in Pennsyvania.Joseph really understood that Even if the enemy means it for bad,GOD will use it for good to help others.
This doesn't pertain to any of the questions and isn't even a big "takeaway" or "aha moment"...just something that stood out to me as I was reading this passage: Joseph's story, Biblically speaking, ends at his father's death...why is that? Chronologically speaking, he's only lived about 2/3 of his life. What happened to Joseph and his amazing influence on the nation of Egypt in his later years? Just a thought...
I've been really blessed by this series in studying the life of Joseph. Indeed, Joseph remained faithful until the end. His view on God's plan is very inspiring and encouraging. He saw things in God's perspective that is why he finished well. I pray that I would be like him more each day. To be more trusting to God even if I don't see the bigger picture. :)
I just want to thank you for this study. I listened to it each morning on the radio, and when I missed the radio, I played it over and over on the internet. I got so many "aha's" out of the study. I've read Joseph's story so many times. But this time, with Dr. Kroll, Tammy, and the online community, it was really edifying! Eleven years ago, I found myself in a new city with my family. Shortly after the move, my marriage ended. I ended up divorcing and staying in that new city which happens to be in the midwest. A friend of mine told me to ask God who in the bible was my life similar to so I could see what they did, do what they did, and learn from it. Joseph was that person!! I asked myself, if Joseph was a slave, why didn't he do what slaves usallly do and try to run away and return home? My answer was because he knew that God had something for him in his new place. Likewise so, I stayed in my new place knowing that God had something for me here. Lots of "somethngs" have occurred. I have not been elevated to a position like Joseph but that's okay too. It's not to say it can't happen or won't happen. Another "aha" moment was when Jacob (Israel) blessed Joseph's sons. He blessed them with the hands crossed, the younger getting the blessing over the older. When I was listening to the broadcast on the day we covered that, this is what I saw: Jacob blessed his two grandsons with the same blessing he recieved. In our lives, we shcould do the same for others. If we have been blessed with deliverance, then that's what we should bless others with (or earnestly pray that someone gets). If we are blessed through overcoming heartache, then that is what we are to bless others with (like praying and encouraging them through it.) Jacob couldn't bless his grandsons any other way but criss-cross because that is how he received it. Like in preaching, if God reveals it to us one way, why should we try to give it to our audience any other way? Joseph also blessed his family because he was blessed. Somehow, he had insight to know that he was going to be over them (the dreams). He recognized that this was God's blessing to him, and therefore he was a blessing to his family through the blessing that God bestowed upon him. He was blessed to be a blessing. When you are blessed to be a blessing, you have no choice but to forgive, share, love, etc. Otherwise you stop your own blessing!
Again, I was so blessed by this study. Thank you so much for sharing the word of God. I look forward to future studies with Back to the Bible!
Defeated, tied-up, and blind, not a description we’d normally relate to strength. Yet, it is in this exact situation when Samson finally realized his true source of strength and managed to be used by God to set his people free.
Often times, when things seem to be going well, we tend to get complacent and rely on our own strength. However, this is not what God intended for us. He wants us to depend on Him and not ourselves, for it is through Him that we can achieve great things.
When God made man, He created us to need Him, and we have little strength apart from Him. Yet, when we recognize our weakness and humbly seek His face, our omnipotent God will then become our strength.
It is then that we no longer have to struggle for strength, for God now fights our battles on our behalf, and if God is for us, who can be against us?
Therefore, let us find the grace and strength to proclaim, “The Lord is the strength of our lives”. God longs to show Himself strong on our behalf, and all we have to do is to entrust ourselves to Him and let Him strengthen us when we are feeble.
-less on circumstances and more on pleasing God. That phrase alone is motivational. I think I whine too much about being overloaded in my job. Thanks to TJ for his thoughts on giving blessings back.