Prayer: Father, testing is a part of life. I am tested by You, by friends and enemies. Testing to see if we are consistent in our walk with You. May I pass the tests and be faithful to you. Amen.
Reading: Genesis 44 key: 16
16 Then Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we as well as the one in whose hand the cup was found.”
Attention: I traveled from Washington State to Southern California in January of 1978 to attend a well-known Bible college. On the first required day, they had an orientation and testing sessions. College students assisted the staff in handing out packets of information. One of the students helping was a male whom I knew, but he didn’t know me. He had dated a girl that I attended high school with in a neighboring town. Why I remembered him, I am not certain. But as he passed my aisle and handed me a packet, I said hi to him and told him he was from Auburn Washington and had attended Auburn High School. His look was priceless as in awe he said, “How did you know that?” Without missing a beat, I replied, “I’m clairvoyant!” Later, at the conclusion of the orientation, I walked up to him and revealed who I was, and how I knew him. Obviously, I was not clairvoyant.
Today, Joseph tells his brothers that he discerned who his brothers were, “by divination.” What is divination? Divination is a practice used by nations and people who do not recognize Adonai. Divination certainly was practiced by Egyptian culture at the time of Joseph’s reign. Was he being serious or truthful? No. He knew the whole story.
His brothers felt that God had exposed them for the guilt of Joseph’s supposed demise years earlier. They had offered that in whosever’s bag the silver cup was found, they would remain as Joseph’s slave. Of course, the cup was placed in Benjamin’s bag intentionally. When found, Judah pleads with Joseph to accept his life as a substitute for keeping Benjamin, his youngest brother and last child by Rachel, Joseph’s mother.
Do you remember how much silver money the brothers were paid for Joseph (Genesis 37:28)? Was it coincidence that Joseph places a silver cup in the sack of Benjamin? Was it coincidence that Joseph placed his brothers in “birth order” around the table at which they sat (Genesis 43:33)? Was it coincidental that Judah was the brother who stood up for Benjamin? Which brother advocated the plan to sell Joseph (Genesis 37: 26) and avoid killing him? Was it a coincidence that a “caravan of Ishmaelites” happened to cross the brothers’ path with Joseph in the pit?
With God, there are no coincidences and no accidents. This was all by God’s design and providence.
Action: I appeal today for God’s plan, will and design for my life.
Yield: I yield when I hand the keys over to God to order my steps.
Engage: I am engaged with God when I ask Him to order my steps.
Relationship: Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the orchestration of my life. You are the grand Maestro, directing the symphony of my life. Amen.
Memory Verse: 1 John 4:2-3
2 You know the Ruach Elohim by this—every spirit that acknowledges that Messiah Yeshua has come in human flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Yeshua is not from God. This is the spirit of the anti-messiah, which you have heard is coming and now is already in the world.
Music Video: Canyon Hills Worship—Spirit of God https://youtu.be/kB6TrbT7vJ4
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”