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Christian Devotional – November 14, 2018
Go above and beyond. Joseph was brought to Pharaoh’s presence because God interprets dreams through Joseph. But Joseph didn’t stop there. Read Genesis 41:17-36 Now let Pharaoh look for a man discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Genesis 41:33 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.41.33.NASB Pharaoh told Joseph his dreams, and then Joseph interpreted them. But he didn’t stop there. Joseph had some advice and he dared to go agead and share that too. It’s crazy, if you think about it. The prisoner/ slave daring to tell the Pharaoh advice on what to do. Joseph was bold. He had thoughts and a plan and he shared them. Do we…
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Christian Devotional – November 13, 2018
The pressure is on, so how will you answer the difficult questions? Joseph has been hurried from the prison, told to get presentable and led before Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh tells Joseph why he has been sent for and Joseph has that moment to decide how to respond. Read Genesis 41:14-16 Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Genesis 41:16 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.41.16.NASB Even with all the glory and splendor of Pharaoh’s court and the excitement of being out of prison, Joseph continues to give glory to God for being the true one who gives answers. Just like he has done throughout…
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Christian Devotional – November 12, 2018
God works behind the scenes. Sometimes we tend to think that we should know everything that God is doing, but his plan is so far reaching and vast that we can’t see exactly what God is doing. It all comes together for Joseph in Genesis 41:1-13 and Joseph doesn’t even know it. Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I would make mention today of my own offenses. Genesis 41:9 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.41.9.NASB Pharaoh had a dream. He called all his magicians and wise men to help tell him what the dream meant, but nothing worked. Then, the very last person that Pharaoh would have expected ended up having words…
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Christian Devotional – November 11, 2018
How long do you expect to wait on God? A day, a week? We have such short timelines and expectations of when we think God should act. What was a timeframe for Joseph? See Genesis 41:1 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. Genesis 41:1 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.41.1.NASB Joseph had gotten his hopes up that the cupbearer would plead his case to Pharaoh. He was probably thinking every morning, “Today might be the day that the cupbearer’s story will result in me getting out of here.” Nothing. A week, a month, several months go by…
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Christian Devotional – November 10, 2018
Have you ever felt forgotten? With everything that goes on in life and in the world, it’s easy to get caught up with all the daily stuff and wonder if people remember us. Joseph knew what it felt like to be forgotten. Read Genesis 40:20-23. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. Genesis 40:23 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.40.23.NASB Joseph had done something amazing. These two prisoners had told him their dreams and Joseph, through the power of God, had interpreted those dreams. And then everything came about exactly as Joseph had told them it would. That wouldn’t be something you would forget right away, right? Unfortunately, that’s exactly…
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Christian Devotional – November 9, 2018
It’s hard to deliver bad news. No one just really loves telling people difficult things, but sometimes we make the mistake of not giving feedback when we should simply because it’s not what the person wants to hear. Read Genesis 40:16-19. within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head from you and will hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh off you.” Genesis 40:19 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.40.19.NASB Pharaoh’s chief Baker had a dream too. He shared his dream with Joseph, especially after having been encouraged by hearing such a favorable interpretation of the chief cupbearer’s dream. However, Joseph did not have nearly as good…
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Christian Devotional – January 29, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 44 VERSE: Genesis 44:33–“Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers.” TRUTH: Joseph was testing them to see if they still resented their father’s favoritism. With Joseph gone, Jacob now favored the youngest son, Benjamin. So, Joseph wanted to see whether the brothers had truly learned anything from the way they had treated him. Judah, who had been one of the leaders trying to get Joseph killed and who had sold Joseph into slavery, now is the very one offering to become a slave himself in order to spare Benjamin.…
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Christian Devotional – January 26, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 41 VERSE: Genesis 41:16–“I can’t do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” TRUTH: Do we recognize what God can and does do through us, or do we take credit ourselves for the things that God does in and through us? When we have successes, we have to recognize who gave us the skills, knowledge, and opportunity to be successful. Only God is able to make things come together for success. God will not be pleased if we are busy taking credit for the things that God has done. This can be difficult to do and it goes against our…
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Christian Devotional – January 23, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 39 VERSE: Genesis 39:9–“No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” TRUTH: Joseph understood something very important about temptation. He knew that if he gave in to temptation, he wouldn’t be sinning against Potipher, although it would damage their relationship for sure. He wouldn’t be sinning against the wife, although she is the one begging for him. He wouldn’t even be sinning against himself, although he would most certainly endure the consequences of his actions. Joseph knew that…