Tuesday Devo
Scripture:
Genesis 50
16 So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us 17 to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. 18 Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.
19 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. 21 No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
16 So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us 17 to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. 18 Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.
19 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. 21 No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
Commentary:
50:18–21 Probably encouraged by news of Joseph’s reaction to their message, the brothers also came and fell down before him. Once again, their obeisance and words, Behold, we are your servants, fulfill Joseph’s dreams (37:5–10). Echoing what he had said previously (see 45:5–9), Joseph stresses that God transformed their evil into good and that as a result, many people have been kept alive. This principle that God ultimately overrules human sin for his glory and the ultimate good of mankind is important in Scripture. The crucifixion is the prime example of it (Acts 3:13–26; Rom. 8:28). Joseph’s gracious, forgiving attitude unites the family. Like the lives of Jacob and Esau, Joseph’s life was marred by deadly hatred between brothers. In both cases the story ends with the offended brother’s offering full forgiveness to those who had mistreated him (Gen. 33:4).
50:20 God uses even evil to work out his good purposes, foreshadowing the time when he will bring the supreme good, namely, eternal salvation, out of the wicked actions of the men who condemned and crucified Jesus (Acts 2:23; 4:25–28).
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 136.
50:20 God uses even evil to work out his good purposes, foreshadowing the time when he will bring the supreme good, namely, eternal salvation, out of the wicked actions of the men who condemned and crucified Jesus (Acts 2:23; 4:25–28).
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 136.
Questions:
- Jesus rose from the dead and sent us His Holy Spirit. As a believer, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in YOU, and this changes everything! Because Jesus rose, God brings BEAUTY from ASHES. If He can raise a dead body, anything is possible! He can raise a dead marriage back to life. He can resurrect your finances. He can bring purpose where there seems to be none and make sense of our suffering. This is what God does... He takes the broken pieces of our lives and, like a stained glass window, fashions them into a masterpiece; something beautiful that is for our good and His glory. How has God brought beauty from the ashes of your life? Is there something in your life that you need God to resurrect?
- Joseph is a great example of God bringing beauty from ashes. Joseph endured 13 years of hardships, pain, slavery, prison and false accusations, only to use it all to raise him up to be second in command in all of Egypt. In this position, God used him to save the entire region from a famine. What are some difficult things in your life now that God might be using but you can't see it yet?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would allow God to use your brokenness for His glory.
- That He would give you patience as He works.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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