Thou Art Even As PharaohWay back yonder in Joseph's dream, he saw his brethren bowing down to him. "We were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf." Genesis 37:7. Many years later in Egypt, Joseph had the mastery over his brothers and could easily have had them destroyed. As humiliated aliens before Pharaoh, they begged for mercy. Prophecy fulfilled.
Genesis 44:18 - "Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, ...let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh."
They Had Abused Joseph, But Had To Defend BenjaminJoseph played some serious mind-games with his brothers. He framed them for crimes they did not commit, although he had no intention of prosecuting them. He only wanted to teach them a long-overdue lesson. They had hated and betrayed him, so Joseph forced them to defend Benjamin.
Genesis 44:20-23 - "We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, ...if he should leave his father, his father would die. ...I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad ...and let the lad go up with his brethren."
Enslaved To Save LivesJoseph sent his brothers away with the money they paid him hidden in their grain sacks. Joseph's silver cup was in Benjamin's sack. Then his servants arrested them and charged them with theft. But Joseph dropped the charges. "I am Joseph," he weepingly confessed. Their old sins against Joseph turned out for everyone's good. Same for us. God has a glorious outcome for all our sufferings.
Genesis 45:5 - "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life."
GoshenJoseph knew God had put him through his trials in Egypt to preserve the posterity of Israel. "...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." Joseph gave them the fertile land of Goshen.
Genesis 45:10 - "And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast."
Hebrews
12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was
set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of God.(KJV)
Genesis 44:18 - "Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, ...let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh."
They Had Abused Joseph, But Had To Defend BenjaminJoseph played some serious mind-games with his brothers. He framed them for crimes they did not commit, although he had no intention of prosecuting them. He only wanted to teach them a long-overdue lesson. They had hated and betrayed him, so Joseph forced them to defend Benjamin.
Genesis 44:20-23 - "We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, ...if he should leave his father, his father would die. ...I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad ...and let the lad go up with his brethren."
Enslaved To Save LivesJoseph sent his brothers away with the money they paid him hidden in their grain sacks. Joseph's silver cup was in Benjamin's sack. Then his servants arrested them and charged them with theft. But Joseph dropped the charges. "I am Joseph," he weepingly confessed. Their old sins against Joseph turned out for everyone's good. Same for us. God has a glorious outcome for all our sufferings.
Genesis 45:5 - "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life."
GoshenJoseph knew God had put him through his trials in Egypt to preserve the posterity of Israel. "...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." Joseph gave them the fertile land of Goshen.
Genesis 45:10 - "And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast."
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| Focus on God |
We've talked
to a few race car drivers. Here's what we've learned from them: You have to focus on where you want to
go. Race cars move so fast that the slightest change in course -
the slightest turn of the wheel - quickly produces big changes in your position
on that track. Surprisingly, where you look can shift your body enough to turn
the wheel just enough to send you in that direction. In other words, your focus
determines your direction. That's why race car drivers are taught never to look
at the wall. Look at the wall and that is where you will end up - crashed.
I think that's also why the Bible spends so much time teaching us to keep our eyes on Christ. Because of our focus determines our direction.
Do you recall the story of Peter when he saw Jesus walking on the water in Matthew14:22-33? Peter climbed out of the boat and walked on the waves. As long as he focused on Jesus, he walked toward Him on the water. Peter looked down at the waves beneath him, that's precisely where he ended.
I pray that His
word, we meditate on it; we memorize verses with it, and use it to remind us to
keep our eyes on Christ, trusting Him for transformation in our life. Until we've
seen the transformation take place!
Reading Hebrews
12:2 reminds
us to take our eyes off ourselves and our circumstances - off the problem
behaviors or the "walls" in our lives—and fix them squarely on
Christ. Because of our focus determines our direction.
Dear
Lord, I want to fix my eyes squarely on you today. Help us see you at work in
my life and in the forming of my heart. In the name of Jesus Christ.
Related
Resources:
If you're looking for focus and direction this year, Rev.Ashcraft has made available many bible studies.. Get a copy Ashcraft Ministries and let's find out our purpose with God's word.
If you're looking for focus and direction this year, Rev.Ashcraft has made available many bible studies.. Get a copy Ashcraft Ministries and let's find out our purpose with God's word.
Memorization: We can replace the
words of a favorite song with scripture. In no time everyone will be singing
Bible verses.
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