The Substitute Brother

1Now the famine was still severe in the land. 2So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

3But Judah said to him, “The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 4If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ ”...

8Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. 9I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. 10As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.” (Genesis 43:1-5, 8-10)

Thoughts: This was a huge passing of the test for the brothers.  Judah, whose name meant "Praise the Lord" and through whom the Savior Jesus would come, played the role of substituting himself for the safety of the new-favorite son, Benjamin.  He would guarantee his safety- willing to risk his own life to protect him.  This is the opposite of what the brothers did against Joseph.
     This is a foreshadowing of what Jesus Christ does for us.  He steps into guarantee our safety- our life- at risk to His own.  He was willing to put Himself at risk for us.  We are grateful for His love and grace not only spoken for us, but fulfilled for us in His death on the cross.  

Prayer: Lord, as you have been gracious to me, help me to be gracious to others.  

Joseph Tests His Brothers

1When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” 2He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”... [Joseph told them:]

20But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

21They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.”

22Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” 23They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.

24He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.

25Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, 26they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left...

35As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. 36Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”

37Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.”

38But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.” (Genesis 42 selected verses)

Thoughts: Here Joseph began to realize God's purpose for his troubles.  It was not just for his own power or gain- but to save the promised line.  He was testing them in three different ways:
1) He was testing them about their veracity- Were they more honest than when they lied to their father about him? 
2) He was testing them about their greed- he put silver in their sack as a gift but also to test their honesty.  They sold him into Egypt- now he was giving them more money to see what they would do with it. 
3) He was testing them about their brotherly love.  They had betrayed their love for him as their brother when they threatened to kill him and sold him.  Would they leave Simeon to rot in prison? 
Joseph was trying to see if they had changed, and perhaps he was also trying to change them.  Sometimes we are given the chance to prove we are changed people.  When that chance comes, we should not run away from it even if it makes us feel guilty.  We should embrace our change for it honors God when we change for good to honor Him.  

Prayer: Lord, when I am tested, let me come forth as gold!  Help me to face my tests with bravery and grace.  

Joseph Interprets for Pharaoh

16“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

17Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 19After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt.20The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.

22“In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.”

25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.

28“It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,30but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

33“And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.35They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

37The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God^a?”

39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” (Genesis 41) 

Thoughts: Joseph, despite his troubles, always gave glory and credit for God.  Joseph interpreted the seven years of plenty then seven years of famine.  Pharaoh liked the interpretation and put stock into it.  By God's clear grace Joseph was lifted out of the pits and onto the heights.  Despite being in the pits- the cistern, sold as a slave, put falsely into prison, forgotten there- Joseph did not deny God but still sought to honor Him.  This is faith.  Faith is believing when you cannot see.  It is trusting when we cannot see how it will happen.  

Prayer: Lord, you are the lifter of my head.  Help me to trust in you.  

Joseph Interprets Dreams

After they had been in custody for some time, 5each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

6When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”

8“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

9So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”

12“This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. 13Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.” (Genesis 39) 

Thoughts: God did not desert Joseph.  He was a dreamer who interpreted dreams.  He had a gift, and God used this gift to lift Joseph up.  He interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and Baker. he cupbearer was lifted up but the baker was killed.  Joseph interpreted these things, but the Cupbearer forgot him until the perfect time.  God does not forget us, though it may seem like a long time.  Joseph was sure to give God the glory. 

Prayer: Lord, When I am alone and it seems my life fails.  keep me from giving up.  Give me hope to trust in you.  

Joseph overcomes

3When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

8But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9No 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?” 10And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

13When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. 15When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

16She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

19When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. 20Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21the Lord was with him; (Genesis 39)

Thoughts: Joseph was discarded by his brothers.  But God blessed him where he was.  Then he was discarded by Potiphar's wife to prison.  But God even blessed him there.  God shows He is able to bless despite the cursing of human beings.  Joseph remained faithful to God even though he could not understand all his problems and temptations.  This is an example for us all.  He even ran away from temptation- which also is sometimes necessary.  God raised Joseph over both his brothers and Potiphar's household.  Joseph's job was to trust in God in the good and the bad.  He did.  We could learn a lesson from his integrity.  

Prayer: Lord, hel0 me to keep my integrity.  Be gracious and merciful to me.  

Joseph Elicits Jealousy

2This is the account of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

3Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate^a robe for him. 4When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

5Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

8His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

9Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. (Genesis 37)

Thoughts: Some would look at this and say that faith came from a dysfunctional family.  But Cain and Abel were dysfunctional.  Noah's sons were too.  Truth is, where is a functional family?  Every family is tainted with sin.  This doesn't mean families should not matter.  It just means we have to struggle against sin everywhere- even in our families! 
       In this passage, Joseph dreams of being in charge.  Even where his family bows down to him.  This seemed ludicrous, yet it was a dream of God.  In about 25 years it would literally become true.  The brothers would grow jealous and sell Joseph to slave traders headed toward Egypt.  There he would be put in prison but rise from prison to Pharaoh's right hand man. 
      What we might learn from this- is even if God gives you a dream, you might need to keep it to yourself.  Secondly, if you are in the place of the brothers- be more listening and kind with less jealousy.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to be less jealous, less proud, and more humble and loving in my family and with those around me.  

Jacob to Israel

1Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”

2So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. 3Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. 5Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.

6Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. 7There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel,^a because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.

8Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak outside Bethel. So it was named Allon Bakuth.^b

9After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram,^c God appeared to him again and blessed him. 10God said to him, “Your name is Jacob,^d but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.^e ” So he named him Israel.

11And God said to him, “I am God Almighty^f ; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. 12The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” 13Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.

14Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel. (Genesis 35)

Thoughts: There were three things that happened here. 
1) God asked Jacob to go back and he did.
2) Jacob recognized God's blessing and remembered his promise to give back 10%
3) Jacob built an altar to worship God. 

God appeared to the one who had dedicated himself to Him.  He appeared to Him, and blessed him.  God changed his name from Jacob (deceiver) to Israel (Prince of God).  The lesson for us is that if we really get real with God and dedicate ourselves to Him, He will bless us.  

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to give myself to you fully.  

Jacob Called to Go Back

3Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”

4So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. 5He said to them, “I see that your father’s attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me. 6You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength, 7yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me. 8If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young. 9So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.

10“In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. 11The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 12And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’ ” (Genesis 31)

Thoughts: This was important. God showed Jacob He had a plan for him- to go back to the promised land and begin to fulfill the promise.  With Jacob, it wasn't just one son, or two, but 12.  The multiplication and fulfillment had begun. The blessing also.  This shows us that when God wants to bless someone, it doesn't matter if people want to cheat them out of their blessing or not.  God can overrule the foolish and evil plans of others.  The vow at Bethel was in part to tithe if God would bless him when he came back.  Now God is saying, He has fulfilled His part of the bargain.  Now it is time for Jacob to come back and fulfill his part- by tithing, giving God glory, and living in the promises of his people given by God.  

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to live in your calling, hope and your promises.  

Jacob at Bethel

10Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13There above it^c stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.^d 15I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

16When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”17He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

18Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. 19He called that place Bethel,^e though the city used to be called Luz.

20Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord^f will be my God 22and^g this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” (Genesis 28)

Thoughts: Bethel was the place Abraham built an altar (Gen. 12, 13).  Here Jacob encountered God.  It was a special place- Jacob's eyes were opened to see.  Jacob had the promises of the covenant renewed with him by God.  Jacob only had the shirt on his back as he hurried away from the wrath of his brother, Esau.  But he promised God that he would give a tenth (as Abraham gave to Melchizedek) if he brought him back with blessing.  He knew God is the one who blessed him.  

Prayer:  Lord, help me to recognize your promises and blessings. 

Jacob and Esau

19This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac.

Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram^c and sister of Laban the Aramean.

21Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.

23The Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples from within you will be separated;

one people will be stronger than the other,

and the older will serve the younger.”

24When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.^d 26After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.^e Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

27The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. 28Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.^f )

31Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

32“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

33But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

34Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.

So Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:19-34)

Thoughts: Esau, whose name meant "Hairy" was the father of the Edomites.  Jacob, whose name meant deceiver/supplanter (later changed to "Israel" which means prince of God), was the father of the Jews.  Esau was willing to give up his birthright for a pot of stew.  Jacob was willing to manipulate his birthright from him.  Esau clearly valued the temporary over the more eternal- and could not cope with delayed gratification.  Jacob was taking advantage of his impatience.  He later would lie to his father Isaac to steal Esau's blessing.  This caused Esau to threaten to kill his brother.  Jacob responded by running away. 

Prayer: Keep me from manipulating others.  Also keep me from wanting the temporary over the eternal.