QT 1/9/2026 Gen 46:28-34, The great healer

Genesis 46:28–34 (ESV) —

28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

 

NOTE: Joseph, despite his position, presented himself to his father. Even though Joseph had royal power, to his father, he was just a son, and his father would always demand the respect due him as his father. The moment is very touching. It is the first time they have seen each other in 20-plus years. What is not said, is how he escaped the wild beasts, and how he ended up in Pharaoh's court? Did they lie? Did they gloss over those details? It doesn't really matter. There was healing, and the love of the whole family is renewed. I suppose it could be that Jacob knew all along, but it doesn't matter. What matters is renewal, and restoration, and moving back to God.

 

We all go through difficult periods of life. It is time to let go of the past, and move forward. You can only do it through Jesus Christ -- all other paths will fail. Don't waste your time in human paths. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through me."

 

PONDER:

1. Has life thrown you wrenches?
2. Are you still recovering or wondering if you will ever recover?

 

PRAYER: Father, you are the great healer -- the great physician. You can heal the things that no one else can. Dig deep into our souls and show us our greatest need, and lead us into the path of healing, restoration, and salvation.

QT 1/8/2026 Gen 46:8-27, God is looking for people who will be his witness on earth

Genesis 46:8–27 (ESV) —

8 Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, 9 and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three.

16 The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, with Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons.

19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, bore to him. 21 And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob—fourteen persons in all.

23 The son of Dan: Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob—seven persons in all.

26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

 

NOTE: Commentators have a lot of difficulty with the last two verses (26-27). When I add verses 8-25, I get 70. The writer then says that 66 traveled to Egypt. Joseph was already in Egypt as were his two sons, and Jacob may not have included himself, since 66 is the number "belonging" to Jacob. In any case, the most significant aspect of the number 70 is that it is the number of nations that were scattered at the tower of Babel in Genesis 10.

 

Why is that significant? Because this 70 people represents a new beginning for God's creation. The previous 70 nations did not pursue God, so God chooses one nation, a very insignificant group of people. They were not the largest, and they were not the smartest. Their technology was always weak. But God blesses them and protects them. For now, they will be an entire nation of slaves until they number nearly 700,000 men.

 

There were also 70 disciples (some versions translate 72) of Jesus who went out two-by-two and shared the gospel. They also represent another new beginning in history. This third group of 70 is the last group that God will start until he comes again to restore all things. This last group represents Grace. This is the nation we want to be a part of. It actually isn't a nation but rather the body of Christ. All other groups ultimately fail, but this last group will continue until the rapture.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I a part of the body of Christ?
2. Or am I just a religious person or worse, just a spiritual person? Christ is the only way to God!

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you that I know you and have seen my life transformed by the Holy Spirit. I want to continue to walk in this new life. Help me to be a good witness, and do all within my power to advance the kingdom.

QT 1/7/2026 Gen 46:1-7, He is with his children

Genesis 46:1–7 (ESV) —

1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”

5 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, 7 his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.

 

NOTE: It must have been hard for Jacob to leave the land. Abraham was so fearful of his son leaving, that he sent a servant to fetch a wife from relatives. God encouraged Jacob to come back after he left and found himself in Haran. And now God encourages Jacob to leave the land. There was good reason. They were beginning to assimilate into the  culture of Canaan. In Egypt, because of Egypt's attitude toward Shepherds, Israel will remain a tight community.

 

But Jacob also knew of the prophecy when they leave the land.

 

Genesis 15:13 (ESV) — Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

 

While things were starting well, they would end up being slaves. So God met with him -- this is the sixth time God spoke to Jacob, and this is the fifth "Do not be afraid" consolation that God gives in Genesis (the previous four were given to Isaac and Abraham). This was a huge move. The only positives were that he would see his son Joseph again, and they would have food for his family.

 

We all face big events in our life: a new job, a move, marriage, family, etc. Sometimes these moves takes us far away from home and family. But they never take us away from God. He is always with us. He may seem far at times, but he is not. He is with those who are his children by adoption always.

 

PONDER:

1. Are you in a new season in life? God is there!
2. Are you facing tremendous pressure and struggles? He is there.
3. Go to him in honesty. He will hear.

 

PRAYER: Father, Life is not always how we want it, but it is always as you allow. You are in charge despite the evil against you. God has not forgotten you. Stay with him and he will bring you through.

QT 1/6/2026 Gen 45:1-28, Moving on -- Spiritual revival

Genesis 45:1–28 (ESV) —

1 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

21 The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”

25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

 

NOTE: Oops, I think I messed up yesterday and redid the same passage from last week. Oh well.

 

This is the climax of the story, and Joseph can barely hold in his emotions. There are a few responses to this truth. 1) Joseph is in tears to be reconciled to his step-brothers and his brother. They were different. They held no grudges nor bitterness but were truly repentant. 2) His brothers were stunned, almost unbelieving that the person they feared was actually their brother. Joseph's dreams had been true. And he held no grudge. And they could relax a little knowing that their actions had not killed their step-brother. 3) Benjamin recognizes Joseph in some special way since he was too young to really have known Joseph. There is a special connection between the brothers. 4) The spirit of this father revived. For over 20 years, much like his 20 years with Laban, he dealt with personal struggles. He never seems to get over the loss of Joseph because he brings it up so often. I call this a 20-year funk that Abraham never moves on. But now he is revived which should have happened sooner.

 

Are we in some kind of funk where we are reliving years that did not happen, a promotion that got away, the death of a loved one, an embarrassing decision, or something / anything that has zapped us for years. It is time to move on. It is time to be revived in spirit. It is time to return to God.

 

PONDER:

1. What is it that I cannot let go of?
2. Where do I need to move on?
3. What will it take to revive my spirit? It starts with repentance and seeking God wholeheartedly again?

 

PRAYER: Father, sometimes I fall into a morass where I relive something that did not happen as I wished. Forgive me. I am right where you want me to be, doing exactly what you have planned for me. I am grateful for my lot in life, it has fallen in pleasant places.

QT 1/5/2026 Gen 44:12-20, Facing injustice

Genesis 44:12–20 (ESV) —

12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. 15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” 16 And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

18 Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ 20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’

 

NOTE: Joseph never says that he practices divination, only "a man like me can indeed practice divination." I doubt Joseph practiced divination since he clearly said to Pharaoh, only God can give to Pharoah the answer he seeks. The law had not been written yet, and it is possible no one saw divination as evil. Apparently, men in high positions like Joseph in Egypt, did indeed practice it. In any case, by calling it what Joseph did, it undercuts the argument that they had brought back the previous money and certainly are not greedy for gold.

 

All of this brings us to our climax. The search from eldest to youngest (with each passing man, the men either were more relieved or more worried) increases the stress. The finding of the cup in the last bag of the youngest was the worst possible outcome.

 

In my opinion, Judah's comment, "God has found out the guilt of your servants" seems more like a reference to the general guilt of the group (because of what they did to Joseph) than Benjamin's specific act of taking the cup. He doesn't say that but why does he say God has found out the guilt when none were guilty. Why not lead off with a "I swear we did not do this thing, someone has framed us?"

 

Judah takes the lead over his three older brothers, partly because he was the one who swore to his father to bring back Benjamin and partly because he has become the new leader in the family. He then very expertly explains their whole family story in the next paragraphs (tomorrow's reading).

 

How does this apply to us? Rather than fighting for their innocence, Judah humbly begins to ask for mercy. There have been times where we have been dealt with unjustly. Joseph was, and now all the brothers are facing an unjust verdict. One can be bitter. Or one can rest upon God who is in charge of all things. We do what we can, we do the best we can, and we remain confident in God's ultimate control.

 

PONDER:

1. How have I responded to injustice in work or in relationships?
2. Do I seek to justify myself or clear myself, or do I cling to God?

 

PRAYER: Father, my life has been easy compared to others. I have faced injustice but never on the scale that others have. I pray that even so, I would cling to you and to your mercy knowing that this life is not even a drop in the bucket compared to eternity.

QT 1/2/2026 Gen 45:1-11, Seeing God's hand for good

Genesis 45:1–11 (ESV) —

1 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’

 

NOTE: Leupold writes, “The simple statement, ‘I am Joseph,’ must have come like a thunderclap out of a clear sky on these unsuspecting men.” The emotion of the story is overwhelming. As Joseph listens to Judah's affection plea, he can see the sincerity of their repentance.

 

When Joseph says "it was not you, but God who sent me here," that is not to say that God caused them to consider an evil scheme, first death, then slavery. There are many ways God could have saved his people. God does not sin nor cause people to sin, but God can even use sin and turn it to good for the believer.

 

Romans 8:28 (ESV) — And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

 

God can work through any situation to bring you to where he wants you to be. He can allow very terrible things to happen and not intervene because he sees a way to something great.

 

In the story of Job, I find it interesting that Satan does not bring up Job's name, but rather God brings up the name. Satan complains about the hedge and argues that if Job face tough times his faith would fail. God allows Satan to do as he pleases with the one restriction on his life. Twice God allows this. How does Job respond? Well, initially he puts on his stoic face and responds very well, but after time, he demands an audience God to set him straight, and calls his justice wrong. In chapters 38-42, we learn the real reason for God allowing Satan to inflict suffering. God has two points and in both cases Job repents. First, God shows the man who used to have people come to him for council and wisdom, that God is the source of all wisdom, and to run his life, he needs God's wisdom (Job 38-39). Secondly, God shows the richest man on earth, that no matter how powerful he might feel, he needs to trust in God's power, not his (Job 40-41).

 

WISDOM

Job 1:4–5 (ESV) —

4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

Job 4:3–4 (ESV) —

3 Behold, you have instructed many,

and you have strengthened the weak hands.

4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,

and you have made firm the feeble knees.

Job 29:7–10 (ESV) —

7 When I went out to the gate of the city,

when I prepared my seat in the square,

8 the young men saw me and withdrew,

and the aged rose and stood;

9 the princes refrained from talking

and laid their hand on their mouth;

10 the voice of the nobles was hushed,

and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.

Job 29:21–25 (ESV) — 21 “Men listened to me and waited

and kept silence for my counsel.

22 After I spoke they did not speak again,

and my word dropped upon them.

23 They waited for me as for the rain,

and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence,

and the light of my face they did not cast down.

25 I chose their way and sat as chief,

and I lived like a king among his troops,

like one who comforts mourners.

 

POWER

Job 1:1–3 (ESV) —

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.

 

Job's story was never a battle between Satan and God. From the beginning of God's question to Satan, "Have you consider Job?" God knew what he was going to do with Job.

 

Likewise, God knows what he is doing in our life. We need to trust him no matter how things might look.

 

PONDER:

1. What situations am I facing?
2. Where am I struggling with God's sovereignty?

 

PRAYER: Father, in this new year, I pray to listen to you. I don't desire to learn lessons the hard way. I want to be one who hears and who responds. Have mercy on me, a sinner.

QT 1/1/2026 Gen 44:27–34, Changing through a relationship with God

Genesis 44:27–34 (ESV) —

27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28 One left me, and I said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have never seen him since. 29 If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.’

30 “Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy’s life, 31 as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. 32 For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ 33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”

 

NOTE: Judah, representing the brothers, offers his life for Benjamin, because he loved his Father and he loved Benjamin. The commitment to the father by the brothers as a whole has been questionable since they massacred the Canaanite town. And their father was still playing favorites. But something had changed in 20-plus years. They did love their father and the son of his favored wife. It is not just Judah, verse 13 said, and "… they tore their clothes … and everyone … returned to the city." God had been at work in the heart of the brothers just as he had been at work in Joseph's life. As we will see, Joseph has no bitterness, and there is no pride any more. God had cleaned his heart as well.

 

That is the goal of the Christian life, cleaned hearts, not done in human strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, that does require obedience. It is a strange thing how obedience and a relationship with God gives us the ability to change in such a way that can only be described as transformation.

 

Too many people live in religion these days trying to change their life by human strength when the real power is not in a religion or a church, but in a relationship with Jesus.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I seeking to change in human strength?
2. Or am I seeking a deeper relationship with the savior which changes a person from  the inside out?

 

PRAYER: Father, in this new year, I want to continue growing, learning, and following your will. As I take time to review the year, lead me and guide me. If there is a new direction, make it very clear.

QT 12/31/2025 Gen 44:11-26, What happens when the law appears to conflict with love

Genesis 44:11-26 ESV

[11] Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. [12] And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. [13] Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city. [14] When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. [15] Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” [16] And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” [17] But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.” [18] Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. [19] My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ [20] And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’ [21] Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ [22] We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ [23] Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall not see my face again.’ [24] “When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. [25] And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ [26] we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down. For we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’

 

https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.44.11-26.ESV

 

NOTE: One of the questionable items of this passage is the comment that Joseph practices divination. Later, after the law is given, this would be a major affront to God. Two possibilities exist, 1) Joseph did practice divination but did not know it was wrong. It would still be a sin, but what man does not have sins that he is not aware of? 2) Joseph knew it was wrong and did not practice it, but in order to maintain the illusion of a man who was Epyptian in practice, he said what he did. It also makes the theft seem much worse that a simple silver cup. In this second case, he is now lying to his brothers. Although technically, if you read his words, he does not say he practices divination, but he hints he might by saying, "... a man like me ...." So, he misled them but did not lie. Realistically, I don't see lying as black and white as many do. I think there are cases where lying is necessary. Rahab the prostitute lied to protect the spies and is mentioned in the hall of fame of faith. David lied to the priests (in an attempt to protect them which did not turn out well, but that was Saul's sin, not David's) when he took the shew bread from the tabernacle. I think the spirit of the law is more important than the letter of the law. Jesus sums up the law in two commands that are based on the spirit of the law, love God and love your neighbor. I think hurting someone by telling the truth when it is not necessary is religiosity and not the true gospel. Yes, lying is wrong in almost every situation, even white lies, but there are places where it is a necessity, such as a diplomat or a spy.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I love God first?
2. Do I love people or find enjoyment by hurting people with the truth?

 

PRAYER: Father, our church "logo" is "Treasure Jesus, Cherish People." I love the statment because it keeps things in perspective. I never want to be the hypocrite who if the name of Christ is cruel and unloving to people. Give me grace to know how to love like Jesus. When confronted with the adulterer, Jesus was kind, "go and sin no more" whereas the religious people wanted her stoned to death.

 

QT 12/30/2025 Gen 44:1-10, Testing

 

Genesis 44:1–10 (ESV) —

1 Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, 2 and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him.

3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. 4 They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’ ”

6 When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. 7 They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! 8 Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.” 10 He said, “Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.”

 

NOTE: Why does Joseph do this? It is obviously intentionally planned. I think it is intended to answer a few questions and to bring about healing. One, do the brothers love only themselves or their step brothers too, especially those of Rachel? Two, are they willing to sell off Benjamin as easily as they sold Joseph? Three, are they sorry for what happened to Joseph? Four, have they changed? Lastly, healing needs to begin with the recognition of their own evil.

 

This test is Joseph's test, but God tests us too. I believe in this case he uses Joseph's test for his own purposes as well. God used the actions of his sinful brothers likewise to bring Joseph to where he was at that moment.

 

PONDER:

1. What is God doing in my life at this moment?
2. Am I being tested in some area?
3. How am I responding to the test?

 

PRAYER: Father, give me grace these days to do what is right and to be faithful in the things you have placed before me. As I spend extended time with you this week, may the goals and plans be yours

QT 12/29/2025 Gen 43:26-34, Listening to God's voice in this new year

Genesis 43:26–34 (ESV) —

26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. 27 And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. 29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” 30 Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.” 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat 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 at one another in amazement. 34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.

 

NOTE: The Egyptians had a very strict caste system that separated people. The Egyptians shaved a lot of their body, the Jews were a hairy group. The Egyptians would not eat certain meats because they were sacred to them. I really never thought about it, but even before the giving of the law, the Egyptians would not have mixed with the Jews. Ultimately, God placing the people in Egypt protected them from intermingling with other races which would have drawn many Jews away from their faith. At this point in the story, the above comment is irrelevant except for the fact that there were three distinct tables.

 

If it has been 22 years since Joseph saw Benjamin. He would be at least 23 years old. If that is true, Joseph would have only recognized Benjamin as the brother he did not know. Benjamin represents his mother who was gone, and the only brother who never had any bitterness toward him.

 

Joseph gives hints to his identity, but the brothers don't recognize what is going on. He has the brothers seated by birth. He gives Benjamin five portions. Of course, they had no reason to think that the second highest authority in Egypt was their brother. Still, I wonder how often God gives us hints of things and we are too busy with life to notice. Which really is the application today, you will never see what God is doing in your life unless you meet with him regularly, every day.

 

PONDER:

1. Do you meet with God each day in a time of devotions?
2. Are you listening to God or just going through the motions of life?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to speak through your word to me. Help me this year to understand your direction. Will my ministry change? Will different opportunities present themselves. Do I just need to be obedient in the things you have given me already? Continue to speak I pray.

QT 12/26/2025 Gen 43:1-25, Develop a life of prayer and not crisis prayer

Genesis 43:15–25 (ESV) —

15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.” 19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. 21 And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, 22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph’s house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 25 they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.

 

NOTE: I suppose they would have been worried in any case, but once again, their fear seems to be exacerbated by their guilt. It is as if they feel there is some payback coming without even knowing that the "man" was Joseph.

 

Joseph has had an impact upon his household. The servant gives the praise to God for the fact that the brothers had their money returned, even though he probably knew Joseph has paid it out of his pocket.

 

Simeon is brought out and the text suggests no knowledge of who Joseph is. I'm not sure Joseph cared to meet with Simeon privately since he and Levi may have been the hot heads who led the brothers against Joseph. When you have killed men in the past, it is easier to kill again.

 

The waiting for Joseph to return home probably added extra tension as well. These are critical moments in our life. Most people go to prayer when life seems unpredictable and dangerous. But we must not go to God only when times are difficult, but we must go to God regularly, especially when times are good. We must develop a habit of dependence on God that will carry us through the hard times.

 

PONDER:

1. How often do I speak to God? Is it only during the hard times or is it a regular habit that extends into the good times as well?
2. Have I developed a regular habit of prayer?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do pray each day but not as often as I should and not enough for others. In this new year, I pray to make regular prayer a more natural part of my life. It is getting there, and I've learned to identify triggers to remind me to pray. I pray to get better at seeing regular things as prayer triggers.

QT 12/25/2025 Gen 43:1-14, Seeing ourselves as others see us

Genesis 43:1–14 (ESV) —

1 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ ” 6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

 

NOTE: Judah takes the lead for the family at this point. There is a back and forth between Judah and his father. Israel's (Jacob) reasoning is poor, "why did you have to mention your brother?" In a sense, they did the right thing (they were honest), but they are being attacked by their father for their honesty. And yet, Israel sends the money back and additional money for the next load, as well as gifts from the land. So, Israel shows integrity with the money. Israel ultimately does agree, but almost in an Eeyore manner, "if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." Some have said he is showing faith, and they point to the passages' use of the name Israel instead of Jacob. And his faith is seen in a prayer that precedes, "May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man …" 

 

I suppose it is possible that Jacob (Israel) is coming out of his funk, hence the reuse of the name Israel. Sometimes suffering forces us back to the savior. Israel shows wisdom, prudence, and at least a certain level of trust in God's sovereignty. He listens to the wisdom of Judah and finally agrees with the logic of his argument

 

PONDER:

1. Is God trying to get my attention in some way?
2. Am I listening? It may come from my wife, my friends, or my children -- am I listening?

 

PRAYER: Father, search me and show me my hidden sin. I want to hear in areas where I may have closed myself off. Give me grace, mercy, and wisdom in the next stage of my life.

QT 12/24/2025 Gen 42:29–38, Emerging out of self-pity

Genesis 42:29–38 (ESV) —

29 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we have never been spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’ ”

35 As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” 38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”

 

NOTE: Reuben as the oldest, takes the lead in the family. His proposal is ridiculous -- … you can kill two of your grandchildren if I don't return with Benjamin. Judah will take the lead next time, and his argument will be more reasonable. For Jacob's part, all he seems to do these days is wine and mope -- "All this has come against me" -- as if he was saying that life has been terrible to him. The forgotten person here is Simeon. He is a hot head. He and Levi slaughtered a whole town. He probably was the leader in wanting to kill Joseph, since Reuben, the oldest wanted to rescue him, and Simeon was the next oldest. The previous passage infers that Joseph took Simeon from them (even though they were given the choice). I wonder what God was doing in Simeon's life. He sat in jail a long time, probably months, and had a lot of time to think about the town he slaughtered and Joseph.

 

Jacob's response is pretty typical when we go through hard suffering. All of life could be going well, but when disaster hits, all is forgotten and life seems terrible and not worth it. I've been there. It is a very foolish emotional response, but completely normal. The problem is that Jacob seems to have languished in his pity party ever since Joseph was "killed" and now twenty years later, he is still mourning.

 

It is normal to mourn, to cry out against God, and to be angry with life. But we cannot stay there. At some point, we need to escape our pity party and go on living again. We can't live in a cocoon.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I still struggling with bitterness over something that has happened many years ago?
2. What will it take to emerge and start living in peace, joy, and hope again?
3. Maybe, I need to approach God asking forgiveness and strength to move on?

 

PRAYER: Father, I have been where Jacob languished. Thankfully, you helped me to see my sin and come out of my cocoon of self-pity. Thank you for what I have learned and what I can teach others.

QT 12/23/2025 Gen 42:17-28, The need for a savior

Genesis 42:18–28 (ESV) —

18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19 if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, 20 and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” 22 And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” 23 They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. 24 Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 25 And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.

26 Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

 

NOTE: Guilt can be hidden, but it is always there, just under the surface. When bad things happen, the first place we often go to is the guilt we are harboring in our soul. People nowadays, talk about karma, but there is no such thing. We will all be judged someday for our sins and it won't be karma. It will be God who will be our judge unless we have trusted in Jesus' death and burial for the payment of all our sins and guilt. If not, we will be judged, and the penalty for all and every sin is eternal separation from God. If you are not perfect and no one is, you will face this punishment.

 

Romans 3:23 (ESV) — for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) — And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Romans 3:9–12 (ESV) — What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;

no one understands;

no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

no one does good,

not even one.”

Romans 6:23 (ESV) — For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:20–21 (ESV) — Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

John 14:6 (ESV) — Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

The verses above represent the gospel message in the bible's own words. They are only a few. A better, more in-depth presentation is found in the Gospel of John and the Epistle to the Romans.

 

2 Thessalonians 1:7b–10 (ESV) — … when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

 

Joseph's brothers cry out after finding their money returned, "What is this that God has done to us?"

 

PONDER:

1. Where are you in relationship to God?
2. What is God doing in your life to get your attention?
3. When are you going to believe and live for God?

 

PRAYER: Father, during this Christmas season, when the year is dying off, and we give gifts to each other, remind us of the greatest gift of all, the gift of your son who came into this world for the main reason of saving us from our sins which are slowing killing us.