Slices
Prepare
Use these words for reflection and prayer: ‘Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground’ (Psalm 143:10).
Bible passage
Joseph reassures his brothers
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?’ 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, ‘Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 “This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.” Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.’ When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. ‘We are your slaves,’ they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
The death of Joseph
22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.
24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, ‘God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.’
26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.
Explore
With Jacob gone, the brothers fear that Joseph will now get his revenge (v 15). They hatch a plan to beg for forgiveness (vs 16,17). Once again, they throw themselves down at his feet (v 18).
They need not have feared. Joseph responds in the way that God always responds to repentant sinners – with mercy and kindness. Knowing that God has been using the events of his life – the good and the bad – to fulfil his purposes, how could Joseph act otherwise (vs 20,21)? He could hardly punish his brothers for unwittingly being used by God!
Joseph and his brothers are the last in the line of the sometimes all-too-human stories of Genesis. Adam and Eve’s descendants – right through to Joseph – have all lived lives marked at times by faith and at others by their flaws. But Joseph’s profound insight (v 20) reminds us that Genesis is more than a story of faithful-but-flawed humans: it is the story of God, accomplishing his purposes to bring history to his desired end.
And the story will continue (v 25)!
Respond
‘For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose’ (Philippians 2:13). Are you aware of God working in your life? If not, can you believe that he is? Turn your thoughts into prayer.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Numbers 4,5; Acts 15
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray that the Red House team find a way to involve more girls in mission through sports. (Today's prayer relate to this article.)
