Genesis 43:24-34
New King James Version (NKJV)
24 So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. 25 Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there.
26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. 27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
28 And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves.
29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.”
32 So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. 34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
Joseph's brothers were taken into his home cared for, given water to wash their feet, and their animals were fed. The brothers heard that they would dine there so they prepared the gift that they had brought for Joseph so it would be ready to give to him when he got home. When Joseph arrived home and saw his brothers his heart yearned for them and he wept. When they sat down at the table, Joseph sat them in their birth order. Because he had not yet revealed himself to them they were astonished.
As I read this this morning I was astonished at the parallels to our relationship with God our Father. In the beginning we are strangers to God and slaves to our sin but God loves us, calls us to Himself, woos us and cares for us until our blind eyes are opened and we give our lives to Him. The only gift we have to give to God is our lives lived for Him. One day, those of us who belong to the family of God, we will sit down to supper with God in heaven (Revelation 19:9, 17) so we should be preparing our gift, our lives, for him while we wait His triumphant return.
Just as Joseph wept for his brothers because his heart yearned for them, our Lord has wept for those He loves. John 11:35 records Jesus weeping at the death nof Lazarus and the anguish it caused Mary and Martha. Luke 13:34 records how Jesus lamented over Jerusalem and Luke 19:41records how He wept over Jerusalem. I believe God weeps over the lost still and His children because He is the same yesterday, today, forever. He loves us so deeply that He wants the best for us and it breaks His heart when we choose not accept His best.
Joseph's brother's were astonished because he knew their birth order. God has revealed Himself to us and He still is able to astonish us with His blessings and power. It is still exciting to see Him at work in our lives!
Father, Healer, Comforter, Keeper You are our Provider! Thank You for Your deep love for us! Thank You for revealing Yourself to us and continually astonishing us! Open our eyes to see You at work in our lives and all around us! Help us to prepare our lives as gifts for you while we wait for Your glorious return! Knowing You more is our nhearts desire! In Jesus name, amen!
26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. 27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
28 And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves.
29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.”
32 So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. 34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
Joseph's brothers were taken into his home cared for, given water to wash their feet, and their animals were fed. The brothers heard that they would dine there so they prepared the gift that they had brought for Joseph so it would be ready to give to him when he got home. When Joseph arrived home and saw his brothers his heart yearned for them and he wept. When they sat down at the table, Joseph sat them in their birth order. Because he had not yet revealed himself to them they were astonished.
As I read this this morning I was astonished at the parallels to our relationship with God our Father. In the beginning we are strangers to God and slaves to our sin but God loves us, calls us to Himself, woos us and cares for us until our blind eyes are opened and we give our lives to Him. The only gift we have to give to God is our lives lived for Him. One day, those of us who belong to the family of God, we will sit down to supper with God in heaven (Revelation 19:9, 17) so we should be preparing our gift, our lives, for him while we wait His triumphant return.
Just as Joseph wept for his brothers because his heart yearned for them, our Lord has wept for those He loves. John 11:35 records Jesus weeping at the death nof Lazarus and the anguish it caused Mary and Martha. Luke 13:34 records how Jesus lamented over Jerusalem and Luke 19:41records how He wept over Jerusalem. I believe God weeps over the lost still and His children because He is the same yesterday, today, forever. He loves us so deeply that He wants the best for us and it breaks His heart when we choose not accept His best.
Joseph's brother's were astonished because he knew their birth order. God has revealed Himself to us and He still is able to astonish us with His blessings and power. It is still exciting to see Him at work in our lives!
Father, Healer, Comforter, Keeper You are our Provider! Thank You for Your deep love for us! Thank You for revealing Yourself to us and continually astonishing us! Open our eyes to see You at work in our lives and all around us! Help us to prepare our lives as gifts for you while we wait for Your glorious return! Knowing You more is our nhearts desire! In Jesus name, amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment