Daily as I commute to work, I listen to Charles Swindoll. He has preached a series on Joseph. Joseph’s angry brothers sell him into slavery. His brothers lead their father to believe he is dead. Joseph’s slavery leads him to be a house boy and he is accused of raped and unjustly thrown in prison. God never forgets Joseph. In prison, Joseph interprets dreams waiting two more years to get out of prison, when Pharaoh needs a dream fore-told Joseph is let out of prison and as Joseph is promoted to Prime Minister. As Prime Minister, he prepares for the famine. He is well-liked and respected. He is the Pharaoh’s right hand man. Charles Swindoll shared in his sermon, Joseph’s attitude is stellar.
Joseph has a great work ethic. How is yours? How is your attitude toward your boss? your co-workers? Chuck Swindoll says, “Life is 10% what happens to me and 90 % how I react to it.”
So in Genesis Joseph listens to Pharaoh’s dream and predicts a famine after seven years of plenty, for us, there is a famine in our land. Our land is God-starving., In the conference, Mental Health and The Church I was at this last week Paolo Del Vecchio MSW, “There is one-half million homeless in Los Angeles and 30% have mental health problem.” Their land the famine has reached where Joseph’s bother’s were living in Goshen. His father sends his brothers all except Benjamin to Egypt to get food for the family. After twenty-years, they arrive in Egypt Joseph immediately recognizes his brothers but they do not recognize him. Beloved, the story in Genesis is worth reading. Joseph plays along and then he manipulates them until they bring his younger brother. He wants to see that their hearts have changed, softened, repented from when they sold him in to slavery. Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Finally, the day arrives, all is revealed. Genesis 45: 13-15
Joseph Sends for his Father
“Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.
Connecting with Tracie Miles at #StressLess Living
Beloved, Joseph forgave his brothers. He reassured his brothers. Is there someone you need to forgive?
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. “So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50: 19-21
Beloved, how do you react to things that happen to you? Will you pray and give your attitudes to God?
