Sat.’s Devo - Return to Egypt

Read: Genesis 42:18-34; Matthew 13:47-14:12; Psalm 18:16-36; Proverbs 4:7-10 Instead of making all the brothers stay in prison and only send one home, Joseph chose Simeon to stay and sent all the rest home. He had told his men to secretly put every man’s money back in the top of their sack and give them provisions to make it back home safely. They were to bring Benjamin back and then he would release Simeon. When they returned home and told Jacob all that had happened, he was determined not to send Benjamin and was upset that they had told the man that they had another son. They explained how he had questioned him and they had no idea he would demand to see Benjamin. Then they found their money in their sacks and were even more afraid. Simeon stayed in jail until their grain was almost gone. They had to go back so Jacob finally allowed them to leave with Benjamin. When they arrived in Egypt and Joseph saw them he told his servants to kill a fattened calf and prepare a feast. They would be eating with him. The brothers were brought to Josephs own house and brought inside. They were petrified and tried to give the servant the money that had been returned in the sacks. He told them that God must have put it there because they had their money. When Joseph arrived they gave him the gifts their father had sent from the land of Canaan. Joseph asked if their father was still living and they said yes and presented Benjamin to him. Joseph had to leave the room because he was so overcome with emotion. When he had composed himself, he returned. The brothers were served from Josephs own table but seated at another table since the Egyptians didn’t eat with Hebrews. They were seated according to their age and Joseph filled their plates himself. He gave Benjamin five times as much as he gave the others. In Matthew, Jesus was still giving parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. At the end of the ages there will be a separating of the righteous ones from the wicked ones. The wicked ones will be thrown into hell. Jesus explained that if you are a teacher of the law who becomes a disciple of the Kingdom of Heaven, you will bring new truths as well as old from heaven to your students. That was who Jesus was and what he was doing. Jesus returned to Nazareth and taught in the synagogue but the people wondered where he got his information because they knew he was only one of them. They were offended by his authority and refused to believe in him so Jesus could do little miracles there. When Herod heard about his miracles he was afraid that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead. He had arrested John as a request from his new wife, Herodias. Herodias had been the wife of Herod’s brother Philip, but she divorced him to marry his brother who was more powerful. John had preached that it was against God’s law from him to marry her. Herod hadn’t had the courage to kill John but when Herodias’ daughter danced for him at a party he had publicly asked her what she wanted as a gift. Her mother instructed her to say she wanted John the Baptist’s head on a platter. To save face in front of all his guests he had him beheaded and his head presented to her. Lord, may we be those who bring the Kingdom of Heaven down to earth. May we enjoy the fruits of our labors and live in your blessings.