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.

QT 12/22/2025 Gen 42:1-17, First steps in dealing with guilt is exposing it

Genesis 42:1–17 (ESV) —

1 When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 2 And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” 3 So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. 5 Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

6 Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. 7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” 8 And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” 10 They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.”

12 He said to them, “No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see.” 13 And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.” 14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you. You are spies. 15 By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” 17 And he put them all together in custody for three days.

 

NOTE: The story starts out with an almost "same-old, same-old." In other words, nothing has changed. No one is leading the family, they (the ten brothers) are looking for leadership. The father assumes the leadership, almost reluctantly by telling them to go get food from Egypt so that they don't die. But the father, Jacob, is still playing favorites, and now Benjamin is his favorite son. There is something else hidden below the surface as the author reveals that Jacob feared something might happen to his son Benjamin if he went with his brothers (Simeon and Levi have already slaughtered a whole town). Maybe he doesn't believe his sons regarding what happened to Joseph (a bloody coat but no remains).

 

Why does Joseph treat his brothers so harshly? Is it revenge, or maybe he is seeking to find out if his brothers have changed? Ultimately he charges them with spying, a capital offense, puts them all in custody for three days. It might have been the same prison he was put in. I think Joseph knows that God has placed him in Egypt to save his family (he says as much in Gen 50:20), so none of this catches him off guard. He has probably spent some time thinking about it and wondering if his brothers were ever sorry, and what he would do. I also think what the brothers did to Joseph has caused each to struggle with guilt. I can't imagine what 20 years of guilt for your brother's life feels like.

 

PONDER:

Is there guilt I carry for an offense committed a long time ago? If so, this is the time to go to God, confess it, and the let the blood of Christ wash away the guilt -- that is the promise of the blook, it cleanses us of a guilty conscience.

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for a clear conscience. There are stupid things I have done in life, and they remain just that, stupid things. I am forgiven and cleansed. I can be better, different from the man or child I once was. Thank you for the power of the cross and blood of Christ shed for me.

QT 12/19/2025 Gen 41:50–57, Being a player, not a spectator

Genesis 41:50–57 (ESV) —

50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”

56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

 

NOTE: Joseph was not part of the line of the Messiah. He had two sons who would become major tribes in Israel, so in a sense, he got a double portion of the inheritance. From a financial position, his gain was multiple times greater than what he would have received as the eleventh son. But, that is not what is important. His role in bringing the messiah into the world was to save his family. Judah carried the seed, but Joseph was the key to their survival. Of course, God could have used any number of ways to save Israel, but he chose Joseph. And later, in an incredible display of power, he would uses Moses to bring his people back to the land.

 

God has a role for each of us. It may not seem like the most important because it is only a supportive role, but even those roles are tremendously important, as was Joseph's role. What is my role in the kingdom? Am I leading or supporting? Or worse, am I sitting on the sideline and just spectating?

 

PONDER:

1. What is my role in the kingdom?
2. What am I doing today to further the kingdom?

 

PRAYER: Father, my role today seems very minor. But I believe it is important and you are using me for good in the kingdom. Thank you and help me to remain faithful to your calling.

QT 12/18/2025 Gen 41:41-49, Sometimes life requires a long wait

Genesis 41:41–49 (ESV) —

41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.

 

NOTE: Over the years, I have wondered why Joseph did not go back to visit his family after 13-14 years away. There are a number of explanations. "Out of sight, out of mind" can be a job killer. And given the political intrigue in a capital and Joseph's "Heber" background, the safest course of action was to always be available to the Pharaoh. A second explanation is that Joseph was still struggling with bitterness toward his brothers, and he was not sure what they might do. Ultimately he does realize that God has placed him in Egypt to save his family (Gen 50:20). A third explanation, and the most likely is that Joseph knew from his other dreams that his family would be coming to him in time, and bowing down. He knew that his family would run out of food. And he knew that Egypt would be the only place in the entire region with food. So he waited for the seven years of abundance, and was probably in the second year of famine when Israel ran out of food. He waited an additional nine years to know if there was any remorse in his brothers. He would end up waiting 22 years to see his father and full brother again.

 

I don't know that Joseph realized how much pain his Father was struggling with or he might have sent a message.

 

It is hard to wait, especially for good things. Twenty-two years seems like a lifetime, but if it results in healing or reconciliation, it is worth it. When we are in those estranged situations, we need to keep praying, the Lord does marvelous things in answer to our prayers, but usually it does not happen as quickly as we desire. Trust him. Persevere in prayer.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have some estranged situations in my life?
2. Am I praying and waiting upon God for reconciliation and healing? It may take considerable time.

 

PRAYER: Father, there are a few estranged situations in my own family. Our mother has not always helped to keep peace but has instigated things that did not need to be. I pray for healing. I pray for reconciliation. I pray for you to open eyes and bring true repentance.

QT 12/17/2025 Gen 41:33-40, God working through history

Genesis 41:33–40 (ESV) —

33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”

 

NOTE: I did some reading on the subject of yield. I grew up on a farm but I never saw a famine in Ohio. Apparently, 30 percent above normal is a good year and 60 percent is a great year. Exceptional yields are as high as 130 percent above the average. And world records have been achieve at multiple times the average. In our story, a God of miracles is promising seven great years. If we assume God provides world record levels, then 2 1/2 times the production during the good years and the years of famine at half the normal yield, the total production of the 14 prophesied years is equivalent to 14 years of normal production. And that is without any belt tightening on the part of the population. With belt tightening and some reduction in farm animals (which could then also provide additional food), the story is clearly within possibility.

 

But, proving this story is possible is actually a meaningless exercise, because God can do whatever he chooses. This is not a cop-out, it is a fact. And God was doing something here in order to move his people out of the land temporarily while he allowed the sin of the inhabitants to reach their limit.

 

Genesis 15:16 (ESV) — And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

 

Likewise, God is working in our lives. Maybe it does not seem miraculous but it is just as purposeful. We need to trust the promises God has made to believers in Jesus Christ. He knows our needs, and he is working through our pain to do something good.

 

PONDER:

1. Are we looking for God's hand in our life?
2. More importantly, do we know God? Because the promise only extends to his children (we are NOT all children of God), those adopted into his family by belief in the savior's work on the cross.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for those who only go through the motions that they would wake up and seek you. Jesus, your son, revealed you to us through his life. He died to give us eternal life and to bring adoption into the family of God. Open the eyes of the blind to see truth.

QT 12/16/2025 Gen 41:17-32, Using our skills and gifts for God

Genesis 41:17–32 (ESV) —

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. 18 Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 19 Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, 21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. 23 Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.

 

NOTE: The only differences between the first explanation of the dream and Pharaoh's rehashing is that the use of more extreme nouns and adjectives at various points in the retelling. Obvious, Pharaoh himself has spent some time analyzing his own dream. I don't know to what extent God uses dreams today. I would be cautious of anyone who had a dream or felt they could interpret dreams. That being said, there are a few principles that come out of dreams in the OT. Repeated dreams generally mean something is going to happen soon. As to the idea of days or years, Joseph notices the seasons implied in the dreams and correctly notes that the period of time is years. In the previous case with Pharaoh's officials, the stories did not include anything that took time, also, since Pharaoh's birthday was three days away, Joseph correctly inferred days. But of course, it is not Joseph's analysis, but rather God working though the Holy Spirit who clearly resides in Joseph. Another aspect of these dreams from God is that they are vivid and remembered. Most dreams that we have, are forgotten, especially the details. That is not to say, dreams that are remembered in detail are from God, quite the contrary. I am leery of dreams. God has spoken to us directly in his word. There is very little reason for him to use dreams today to accomplish his will.

 

So what do we take away from this passage? I think it is hard to miss the hand of God. This part is completely God as he gives dreams to two officials to set up the dreams that he gives Pharaoh. Also, as we will see tomorrow, God's training of Joseph from his days at home to Potiphar's house to the jail has given him tremendous skills of organization and administration. The years, 14 plus, have put him in the right position at the right time for God to use him.

 

PONDER:

1. What are the skills and spiritual gifts that God has given me?
2. How am I using my skills and my gifts for his glory?
3. Or do I only use my skills for my own self?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for these days and the skills you have given to me. Continue to give me wisdom to recognize opportunities to use your skills and gifts to advance your kingdom.

QT 12/15/2025 Gen 41:1-16, Learning to trust God and not our own actions

Genesis 41:1–16 (ESV) —

1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

 

NOTE: The cupbearer had forgotten Joseph for two years. Most likely he did not want to bother the Pharoah or anybody else with the concerns of a prisoner (Joseph). But God gives to Pharaoh, two very specific dreams. At this point the cupbearer speaks up, but it was God which set everything up. He used sinful actions (Potiphar's wife), forgetful actions (the cupbearer), and miraculous actions (two dreams of Pharoah) to bring about his will and ultimately the deliverance of the nation.

 

For his part, Joseph shows amazing courage and humility. This was his chance, he stood before the highest ranking individual he had ever known, and probably the most important man in the western world of his time. When Pharaoh asks him if he could interpret dreams, he basically replies "No," but followed by a quick "God will give an answer."

 

Having worked with numerous 4-star generals (to include a Chief of Staff of the Air Force) and a couple of Secretaries of the Air Force, the temptation is to build yourself up, or take credit for the work. It takes tremendous courage to answer "no" or to disagree/correct a comment made by the high ranking person. But I have found, that the person who can do that earns more trust from the high-ranking individual than someone who agrees or parrots back everything the high-ranking person says.

 

For the believer, we need to trust God that he is at work. We need to be obedient, honest, and humble. We don't need "to create our career," God will take care of those things.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I give honest answers even when it is not what others want to hear?
2. Am I trying to build my career or am I trusting God to take care of those things?

 

PRAYER: Father, we need to trust you in all areas of life. We need to take prudent steps and be responsible to the things you have given, but always in an attitude of trust and dependence on you, giving to you in prayer the ultimate results.

QT 12/12/2025 Gen 40:16-23, Finding real, absolute truth in a day and age of echo chambers

Genesis 40:16–23 (ESV) —

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” 18 And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.”

20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

 

NOTE: In one of Paul's last letters before his death, he tells Timothy that in the latter days people will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening truth.

 

2 Timothy 4:3–4 (ESV) — 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

 

These are called echo chambers and they are happening across the information spectrum. We find news that we like and friends that we agree with. Of course, we have been doing that for quite a while as evidenced by the chief baker who only told Joseph his dream after hearing a positive outcome to the chief cupbearer. I do wonder if the chief baker was guilty, which is another reason he withheld his dream.

 

We've taken this concept to its ultimate degree in these latter days. Partly because of corruption in our news sources, we have sought other news sources. The result is an increasingly hostile political atmosphere where everybody has their "truth."

 

There is only one truth, and it is found in the person of Jesus Christ, whom John calls the Word. John also records Jesus' statement:

 

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.

 

Jesus preached an exclusive faith. It was inclusive in the sense that it was for all people who would believe, but it was exclusive in that it did not include all religions and belief. If we truly seek TRUTH, it will be found in certainty in Jesus.

 

PONDER:

1. What are my sources of information?
2. Do I spend time in the bible seeking ABSOLUTE TRUTH?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to wash my mind in absolute truth. Cleanse it, clean it, renew it in truth. Help me to discern the lies of the culture and the world. Help me to share truth with others so they can escape the darkness that is in the world.

QT 12/11/2025 Gen 40:1-15, Learning not to blame others

Genesis 40:1–15 (ESV) —

1 Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.

5 And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” 8 They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”

9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, 10 and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” 12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”

 

NOTE: The phrase "some time" indicates "years," why, because in two years, Pharaoh will have a dream, and we know that Joseph will be elevated at the age of 30. Since he was 17 at the time of abduction into slavery, we have 13 years of slavery or prison. And still another 7 years until he sees his family. In the case today, the cupbearer, after his elevation, will forget Joseph for two years.

 

Joseph takes advantage of the situation to request help. But, he does not blame his brothers nor Potiphar's wife. He gives no bad reports. And to be honest, it was not necessary, and in most cases, it really is water under the bridge in terms of how the situation came about. The facts are that he is in prison and it was unjust. I suppose most prisoners would argue the same thing, but it shows strong character to not blame others for misfortune.

 

We do like blaming others or rules or whatever. I did the same thing a couple of days ago in my QT notes. A far better response would have been to say, I was wrongly accuse of discrimination and almost fired. But fortunately, my boss went to bat for me at her personal risk. The other details were not important and really was just an attempt to place blame. I do appreciate my boss who supported me in the false accusation.

 

PONDER:

1. Are their situations where I am still blaming others for a misfortune?
2. Do I harbor bitterness against someone for their sin against me?
3. Do I need to forgive someone who has hurt me?

 

PRAYER: Father, I haven't thought about the situation in years until this week. I don't want to be bitter. Forgive me for my attitude and help me to truly forgive my employee. The person gave their best. My actions disappointed them. Maybe I should have been more direct so as not to cause false expectations. Give me wisdom for now and the future.