Tues.’s Devo - When All Else Fails… God Has A Plan!!!

Read Gen. 47:12-27 Today’s scripture blesses me in a very personal way. My husband came home last night with concerns about his future at the place he works. They are restructuring and looking for ways to cut and it may greatly affect us. When I read today’s reading I saw it in a brand new way. The famine has been going on for years and the people have run out of money to buy grain so they come to Joseph who is the only one with grain. Joseph tells them to give him their cattle and he will give them grain. God reminded me that Israel kept the kings cattle, so Israel and all his sons got all the cattle of the land. So not only did God provide for Israel and his family but they prospered and multiplied during the time of famine. Everyone else lost their money, land, and cattle. Israel received free land, abundant grain, and now everyone’s cattle. Verse 27 sums it up, “Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.” As for the people, they felt blessed too because they gave everything they had to Joseph and he in turn gave them land and seed to plant and the ability to make their own way during this hard time. He only required one-fifth of their increase. The priests were exempt like Israel. So the ones that prosper during hard times are the ones who “draw near” and the priests whose business is the Lord’s. I’m sure that his priests were not godly priests but they were a type of God’s priests. We are to be a part of God’s priesthood who dwell in the presence of the Lord and we are called to live in the land of Goshen (“drawing near”) so that the famine of the world doesn’t affect our production and our prospering. I feel much better about our future! Lord, thank you for bringing a word in due season. Your truths are like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (Prov. 25:11)

Mon.’s Devo - The Blessings of Pharaoh

Read Gen 47:1-11 Joseph moved his family to Goshen then took 5 of the men to meet Pharaoh. (I would love to know which 5.) Joseph had already schooled them in how to answer the Pharaoh when he asked their occupation. Shepards were an abomination to Egyptians so they were to explain to him that it was a family business that had been going on for generations. Somehow that knowledge should explain to him why they were living in Goshen and not in Egypt. In Egypt, it would have been harder to keep their Jewish traditions and laws without causing the contempt of the Egyptians. Also, their children would be bombarded with false teaching, idolatry, and perversion. This answer pleased the Pharaoh so much that he gave them the potential job of watching his own sheep. Joseph brought Jacob before Pharaoh and he blessed the Pharaoh. (I would have loved to have the words of that blessing.) When Pharaoh asked Jacob about himself, Jacob told the Pharaoh that he had been living in this life for 130 years and he boiled his whole life down to two words: few and evil. What a terrible description of a life! He felt he hadn’t done nearly what his forefathers had done and his life wasn’t near as long. He was right about that. Abraham died at 175 and Isaac at 180. Jacob must have felt he was near and he was only 130. When he left, Jacob blessed the Pharaoh again. Pharaoh gave him the best land in Egypt, in the land of Rameses. “Rameses” means “thunder”. When Jacob left he blessed Pharaoh again. Two things stood out to me as I read this: 1. Jacob blessed an unrighteous king in an unholy land (twice). 2. Pharaoh gave them the best he had. This same thing happened to Joseph. When we are in an ungodly situation and we are wondering whether to stay, this might be your answer. Sometimes we are to flee and sometimes we are to stay. If we are called to stay then we should bless the unrighteous leader and watch what happens. He might give you the best that he has. God wants a people that he can exalt in these last days, who will stay humble and just, so he can pour the riches of the unrighteous on them. Proverbs says that the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous. (Prov. 13:22) Lord, I pray that we will not sum our lives up in the words of “few and evil”. May our epitaph read “a destiny fulfilled in righteousness”. And may we learn to bless our authority.

Fri.’s Devo - In the End

Read Gen. 46:18-34 Yesterdays devotion about Asher is a good description of our days. The next in line is Joseph whose name means “let him add”. His two son’s names mean “causing to forget” and “double fruit”. So, let’s just add the fact that Jesus will cause you to forget all your sins and bless you double to all the good things God promised through Asher. Benjamin’s names all have to do with the tribulation and rise of the antichrist. Dan’s name means to “judge” and he had one son whose name meant “the hasters” which is who God is going to judge (those who rushed carelessly through life with no thought of eternity) and Naptali has to do with God’s promise to his bride. I’ll leave those for you to look up and discover. Verse 26 says that all the souls that came from his loins were 66, then the next verse says that all the house of Jacob that came out were 70. So the extra 4 were the wives I guess. That is not many wives for 12 men! But I do know that there are 66 books in the Bible and the number 66 means that man has been tested and found pleasing to God or not pleasing to God. Seventy is a set time of judgment and represents the price of redemption. The number 70 means that man’s test is complete. So, Jacob and his sons had been tested for 70 years and God found them complete. He placed them in a good land called Goshen which means “drawing near”. Here they would be close to Joseph who would take care of them and provide for their families in the days of famine and testing in the world. That is God’s promise to us. We, who don’t deserve it, have been given a place in God where we can go that is full of provision and satisfaction in the midst of famine and uncertainty. Judah was sent to get Joseph and bring him to his family. It will be praise that will gain us audience with Jesus in days of uncertainty. When Jacob saw Joseph they had a very sweet reunion. Joseph wanted to go immediately before the pharaoh and present himself as a servant to him. Won’t that be our response when we get to heaven… just to go meet God and humbly present ourselves as his servant! Lord, provoke us to want to draw near and seek you provision in times of famine.

Thurs.’s Devo - Happy is the Man…

Read Gen. 46:12-17 I would love to take apart each of Jacob’s sons and explain them, but after studying this for a few days I just don’t feel confident enough to write about it. I do want to highlight a few of them like Asher. Asher means “happy”. There are a few scriptures that talk about what makes a person happy like the people saved by the Lord, those who listened to Solomon’s god-given wisdom, the man that God corrects, the man with many children, the people whose God is the Lord, the man that finds wisdom and gets understanding, the man who puts his trust in the Lord, the man that keeps the law, those who endure, and those that are persecuted for righteousness sake. Reading this list gives me a new perspective on happiness. Asher had 4 sons whose names mean: “prosperity”, “he will equalize”, “in trouble”, and “superfluity”. The son whose name means “in trouble” had two son’s whose names mean “community” and “my king is God”. God’s “happiness” means spiritual prosperity. You will only prosper as your soul prospers… all other prosperity is fake and surface. You can own all the money you could ever want and die miserable. On the other hand you can be dirt poor and feel like a million dollars because you have a relationship with God that fills all your needs. Or, you can have the riches of the world and the riches of the kingdom like Joseph, David, and Solomon. God’s Word has a way of equalizing all of us: it humbles the proud and exalts the poor in spirit. When you are in trouble God surrounds you with community and gives you a kingdom perspective. Superfluity means having more than you need; overabundance; excessive. That is what God wants to be able to pour on his body, especially in the end times. It all starts in finding your happiness in God. Lord, help us to desire you above all the world’s glitter and find our happiness in you presence.

Wed.’s Devo - “It’s All in a Name”

Read Gen. 46:1-11

Jacob begins his journey to see Joseph who has gone ahead to prepare a place for them to live free of want and starvation.  He comes to Beersheba, the place where they have buried some of the “greats” of the Old Testament.  It is a portal to God also.  As he is there God speaks to him and assures him that he is leading him into Egypt and he will be with him there.  But one day, he will lead him back out.  He tells him that it will be Joseph that will close his eyes when it is time for him to die.  So Jacob believed God and took all of his off-spring with him and traveled to Egypt.  

Next we have the list of the tribes of Israel and their offspring.  If you look up the meanings of the names you will find a thumbnail sketch of history from the beginning of time.  Since the Hebrews had little written down they remembered their history through songs and stories.  God gave them names to help them remember things.  It would take days to go through the whole list but I’ll highlight a few so you can see.  The first son is Rueben.  His name means “see a son”.   His son’s names mean “initiated or dedicated”, “distinguished or wonderful”, “enclosed courtyard”, and “gardener/my vineyard”.  Adam was God’s first son on earth.  He was dedicated to him and truly wonderful in every way.  He was placed in a garden and told to be the gardener.  The next son is Simeon whose name means “hearing”.  His son’s names’ mean “he will be made slumber of God”, “the right hand”, “to be united”, “he shouted”, “he will be established”, “whiteness”, and “asked for”.  Adam met God everyday and walked with him.  He listened as God talked to him and told him about life.  God put him to sleep so he could bring him a wife that would be his “right hand”.  They were to be united in spirit.  When he saw her he shouted for joy and they were established as man and wife.  They walked in righteousness.  They had everything they could ask for.  But Eve wanted more.  The next son was Levi.  His name means “attached”.  His first son’s name means “outcast”, the next: “to ally oneself” and the last means “bitter”.  Eve attached herself to the forbidden tree and just couldn’t seem to tear herself away.  She needed to know what was so bad about that tree.  The “outcast angel”, the devil, came to ally himself to her in the form of a beautiful serpent.  Through his deception he brought bitterness and sin to the world.  

Lord, you are so amazing beyond our comprehension and your ways are so beyond us.  Teach us to understand you better and draw us.  

Tues.’s Devo - God’s Lavish Provisions

Read Gen. 45:23-28

Joseph sent 10 donkeys loaded with corn and bread and 10 donkeys loaded with the riches of Egypt back to his father.  He knew they would need some proof for him to believe their story.  When Joseph’s brothers told Jacob that Joseph was not dead but the ruler of Egypt he was faint.  I wonder if that is how the Jews are going to respond when they see Jesus coming back as the victor of the world... the one they thought was just a prophet who died like all the other prophets.  I’m sure it is going to take them a while to process the whole scene.  No doubt the extra donkeys helped convince Jacob.  Verse 27 says that when Jacob saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him in his spirit revived.  Joseph had sent his own wagons for his father to ride back in.  Since Jacob was so old I wonder if it wasn’t like a handicap vehicle with anything he could possibly need!

As Christians, we sometimes have a hard time understanding wealth and how to enjoy it when their are such dire needs all around us.  Prov. 13:22 says that the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.  God desires that we prosper in proportion to the prospering of our soul so that when he showers down his blessings we will know what to do with them and how to use them for the kingdom.  Joseph lived in lavish abundance but his surroundings didn’t snare his soul because he had been tested to be able to handle it rightly.  Ps. 112 says that the man who fears the Lord will produce seed that will be great upon the earth.  Riches and wealth will be in his house and he will be a light that shines in the dark times.  He will be generous and lend to those in need and guide his affairs with discretion.  He will not be afraid of bad news but he will set his heart to trust in God.  He will give to the poor and his righteousness will honor God.  The trick in riches is knowing how to hear from God and obey.  The woman in the New Testament was reviled for waisting all that expensive perfume on Jesus feet when it could have been sold and the money given to the poor.  Jesus said she chose rightly because she was following her heart.  She anointed Jesus for his death.  What an honor!

Lord, may what we be like perfume that welcomes your coming.  

Mon.’s Devo - God’s Provision in Famine

Read Gen. 45:9-22

God sent Joseph to Egypt, a stronghold for the occult and a people that had many gods so that he could rule over it.  God sent Jesus down to earth to a stronghold of Satan’s to a people that had many gods so that he could be lord over all Satan’s house.  Eventually, God would send another saviour, Moses to deliver them out of this place.  God sends us into godless situations so that we can take dominion over that place.  We just need to keep in mind that greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.  Joseph told his brothers to go and tell his father what God had done through him and give him hope.  If they and their families would move to Goshen and draw near to him, they would be taken care of.  (How comforting in today’s times!)  He told them to tell Jacob of all the glory that God has given him then he hugged Benjamin and wept again…. how Jesus loves the church.  He kissed everyone, visited with them and sent them back to Canaan.   

Word got out to Pharaoh’s household that Joseph had found his lost brothers and they were coming and they rejoiced with him.  When God gives you favor, he causes even your enemies to be at peace with you.  (Prov. 16:7)  The Pharaoh provided everything they would need to get them home and back.  He gave them all clothes but to Benjamin, Joseph gave 300 pieces of silver and 5 changes of clothes.  God has a plan to provide abundantly for his children even in the midst of famine.  The number 300 means “totally conforming” and 5 means “grace”.  By God’s grace the church in the end is going to be completely transformed by God’s grace to look like Jesus. 

Lord, you are so good to us.  Let us see your provision in the midst of famine and may you conform us to look like you.