Today's Reading:

Genesis 41
Genesis 42
Genesis 43

 
Joseph spent two years in prison for upholding God’s laws and righteousness, remaining faithful even when falsely accused. Yet God was with him, protected him, and granted him favor, so that he was made overseer of the prison. Ultimately, God took the evil act of Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery and sovereignly used it to set Joseph on the path that would one day position him to save his family and the entire nation of Egypt from famine. Years earlier, Joseph’s brothers had mocked his dreams, scoffing at the very idea that they would ever bow before him. Now, starving and desperate, they came to Egypt and bowed down before the brother they once betrayed; the dream they ridiculed had become the means God used to save their lives. God showed grace they never earned nor could repay. This is a story of forgiveness, provision and a promised future.

Pharaoh awoke trembling from two haunting dreams: seven fat cows devoured by seven starved ones, and seven plump heads of grain swallowed by seven thin, scorched heads; though his magicians and wise men scrambled for answers, none could interpret the visions. At last, the chief cupbearer remembered Joseph from prison who had accurately explained his own dream, and Joseph was brought to the king. Joseph humbly declared, “I cannot interpret dreams, but God can.” He revealed that seven years of great abundance would come upon Egypt, followed by seven years of devastating famine. Convinced by the word of the Lord, Pharaoh placed Joseph in charge of the entire kingdom, giving his own signet ring—with the royal seal that gave its wearer the full authority to act in the king’s name to Joseph. During the years of plenty Joseph stored up grain, and when abundance turned to famine, he opened the storehouses, saving many nations.

In those prosperous years Joseph married Asenath, daughter of an Egyptian priest, and she bore him two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. All of the world came to Joseph due to the famine, including 10 of Jacob’s other sons, although they left the youngest, Benjamin, at home. Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, was born at the cost of his mother’s life. With Joseph presumed dead—sold into slavery by his own brothers—Jacob’s heart clung to this final child of his beloved Rachel, shielding Benjamin from harm and refusing to let him out of his sight, in the chance that he lost the last link to the wife he had loved.

Joseph, not speaking his native language, recognized his brothers immediately as they bowed to him. He jailed them for three days and kept one brother back as collateral to see the youngest brother, Benjamin, whom he dearly loved. Joseph has his steward put the money sacks back in the brother’s bags (Genesis 42:25). Simeon was most likely jailed for a year or two before his family returned on a second journey for grain. Reuben’s offer to sacrifice his own sons failed to move Jacob, but Judah’s calm, lifelong personal guarantee of the safety of Benjamin finally persuaded the grieving father to send Benjamin to Egypt.

Joseph had a meal made for his brothers at his own home and they fear he was out to get them, since Hebrews and Egyptians normally did not eat together. Joseph asked, “Is this your youngest brother?” Overwhelmed with emotion, Joseph left the room to weep privately at seeing his youngest brother Benjamin whom he had not seen since he was a toddler. The brothers were seated by Joseph in

their exact birth orders, all eleven of them. They looked at each other in amazement, at the fluke of Joseph being able to place them in order, still failing to recognize him as their own brother. The one who was betrayed is now the one that measures out the grace. How often do we sit at the table of divine mercy failing to recognize who set it before us?

Today's Discussion question: 
Think about Joseph’s brothers; they once tried to get rid of him, but years later, they’re starving and end up bowing to him for help—without even knowing it’s him. When have you realized too late how much someone really mattered to you, maybe after you’d hurt or pushed them away? How does it feel to read that God used even the brothers’ cruel mistake to put Joseph in the exact place to save them? What does this story make you think about how God might be working in your own regrets or broken relationships?

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