SCRIPTURE: Genesis 37:12-36
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“How the mighty have fallen!” “Pride goes before the fall”. Joseph is learning humility through hardship. Even though what his brothers did was wrong, God uses this situation to (a) accomplish His ultimate purpose of rescuing His people, and (b) to build deep, humble faith in Joseph, so that he can be useful for God. As long as we remain full of ourselves, proud of our ornamented robes (whatever they might be for us, the things we take pride in), our hearts remain closed to the good things God has in mind for us.
What is making me proud? What gift of God am I taking the credit for, or using for my own glory and reputation? Humility is a hard lesson to learn, and if we think we’ve learned it, chances are we haven’t. Not sure that I boast in my gifts, but I do use them for my own glory, I do enjoy the esteem that they acquire me. Do I realize that I am NOTHING without God?
PRAYER:
Lord, I pray this prayer with caution, but please teach me humility… gently. Forgive me for the ways in which I pride myself in what You have blessed me with. Help me give You the glory! Amen.
What do you think, please, of Obadiah Shoher’s interpretation of the story? (here: samsonblinded.org/blog/genesis-37.htm ) He takes the text literally to prove that the brothers played a practical joke on Yosef rather than intended to murder him or sell him into slavery. His argument seems fairly strong to me, but I’d like to hear other opinions.
Joseph was an obedient son, who followed his father’s commands. What a blessing it is to have children like that! Yet his brothers hated him and whoever hates his brother is a murderer. Yet our mighty awesime God has the whole world in His hands because God used all the happenings for His purpose to save His people. The brothers felt no guilt/remorse after putting Joseph in the pit. They went about their living as nothing had happened, God has prevented them from murdering His child,
Once again we see man comitting a sin and then covering up that sin with another. Ihey could not comfort their father because their hearts were hardened, otherwise they would have told him the truth.
I must pray daily for my children You have entrusted to me Lord as Job did for his, May they also ;ive for Jesus in all they do and say. Use them as instruments of Your will in their lifes. Create in them a clean heart – willing servants, in Christ’s family living at peace – Your peace which passes all understanding – with one another.
Create in me a clean heart oh God,
And renew a right spirit within me.
Create in me a clean heart oh God,
And renew a right spirit within me.
And cast me not away from Thy presence oh Lord,
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,
And renew a right spirit within me.