Mon.’s Devo - The Great Reunion

Read: Genesis 44:1-45:28; Matthew 14:13-36; Psalm 18:37-50; Proverbs 4:11-13 Joseph gave instructions to fill his brother’s sacks with as much grain as they would hold along with their money they paid for it and to put his personal silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. *** When they had barely made it out of the city gate, Joseph sent his steward to go and accuse them of stealing his cup. He was to search all the sacks starting with the older. He did this and found it in Benjamin’s sack. They tore their clothes and were doomed to return and stand before Joseph. *** Judah asked Joseph how they could clear themselves and Joseph said that only Benjamin would be held responsible and the rest could return home. Judah asked to speak to him and offered to stay himself. He told him that if they didn’t return with Benjamin, it would kill their father. *** Joseph then realized that they were sorry for what they had done to him and for breaking their father’s heart. He told all his servant to leave and then revealed his true identity to them. It took them a moment to grasp what he was saying. He told them not to be upset with themselves for selling him because it was God’s will to preserve life for them and their families. The famine that had been going on now two years would continue for five more. They needed to go to Canaan and bring their father to Egypt and live and prosper there during the famine. *** Joseph’s brothers then believed he was Joseph and came and hugged and talked with him. Pharaoh’s household heard that Joseph had been reunited with his family and they were happy for him. *** The brothers went back home with wagons to transport their father and all his goods to Egypt. He believed when he saw the Egyptian carts and rejoiced that he would see his son before he died. *** Joseph tested his brothers to see if they would break their father’s heart again by letting Benjamin take the fall. He was not as concerned about what they had done to him as what they had done to his father. They passed the test. Jesus came to reconcile the hearts of the people back to his father also. *** In Matthew, Jesus had just learned of John the Baptist’s beheading. He went alone to mourn but the multitudes learned of where he was and came looking for him. He was filled with compassion as he saw them and healed their sick. *** That evening the disciples came to him and told him it was late and he needed to send them away to find food. (I’m sure they were hungry also.) Jesus told them to give them something to eat. They told Jesus that they only had five loaves and two fish. Jesus asked them for the bread and fish and they brought it to him. Jesus commanded the multitudes to sit down and he took the bread and fish and blessed them. He began to break the food and gave it to the disciples and the disciples distributed it to the people. They feed five thousand and took up twelve baskets full of fragments. *** Immediately, Jesus made his disciples get in the boat with instructions to go to the other side. He sent the multitudes home and he went up on the mountain to talk to God. *** A storm came up on the sea and the disciples were having a time fighting it. Jesus came walking on the sea and when the disciples saw him they screamed it was his ghost. He told them not to fear. Peter asked if he could walk out to meet him and Jesus told him to come. He walked on the water to him until he looked at the waves them he began to sink. He cried out and Jesus saved him. Jesus said to Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the waves stopped. The disciples in the boat worshiped him saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” *** They landed at Genesaret, the place Jesus had cast out the demons from the wild man in the rocks. The city had feared Jesus and sent him away at that time, but after hearing and seeing the change from the demoniac, the whole city showed up to meet Jesus. He was able to heal all he touched. Lord, thank you for the stories of faith and teaching us your heart. Help us to have faith to walk out on stormy seas and walk with confidence and peace.