Day 4: Joseph’s Secret

The story of Joseph has a ton of twists and turns. He’s deeply loved by his father, beaten by his brothers, sold into slavery, wrongfully imprisoned, then raised to become the second most powerful person in what was, at the time, the most powerful nation in the world. 

Joseph could’ve inflicted severe punishment on his brothers. He could’ve imprisoned them. He could’ve let them leave Egypt without any food, which would’ve led them to starvation. He could’ve had them beaten and sold into slavery. He could’ve responded in so many ways…but he responded in grace. 

We read in Genesis 45:16, “Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him.”

As you read today, consider this: 

Think back through all of the readings from this week: How did Joseph respond to the challenges he experienced? Would you have responded any differently a year ago? 5 years ago? 10 years ago? Would you respond any differently today?

READING:

     GENESIS 44, 45 & 46

Think back through all of the readings from this week: How did Joseph respond to the challenges he experienced?

Would you have responded any differently a year ago? 5 years ago? 10 years ago?

Would you respond any differently today? 

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Leviticus 8 & 9

Reflect: What did you H.E.A.R. from God today? HEAR Bible Study Method

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I’ve learned this week that Joseph’s story is more than a “Rags to Riches” story. It’s a story that ultimately speaks of Your redemption. It’s a reminder that I have been enslaved by things that I initially thought were outside my control. It’s a reminder that I can grow to love others who have hurt me. It’s a reminder that You strongly love me despite the things I have done to hurt You. Finally, it’s a reminder that You have been (and will continue to be) with me through it all. Thank You for that! I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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    Day 3: Joseph’s Brothers

Have you ever not seen somebody for a number of years, and when you do see them you’re initially unable to recognize them? Perhaps it was somebody you graduated high school with, or a distant relative you haven’t seen since childhood. Or maybe it was somebody who used to struggle with anger, addiction, or other behaviors, but today their demeanor is completely different.

How do you respond to such a situation? Do you proceed with caution? Do you respect them for the person they are, forgiving them for the person they were? Do you keep your distance, holding onto the past?

Initially, this is the situation in which Joseph’s brothers find themselves. After selling Joseph into slavery and assuming he is long gone, they’re unable to recognize their own brother, and even though he’s completely overcome with emotion, he decides to keep his true identity hidden. Soon, they will learn of his true identity, and they’re left with a big decision: how should we respond? 

As you read today, consider this: How do you think Joseph felt throughout his life experiences? 

READING:

     GENESIS 42 & 43

What problems was Joseph facing? 

How do you think Joseph (and Joseph’s brothers) felt throughout these experiences? 

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 40

Reflect: What did you H.E.A.R. from God today? HEAR Bible Study Method

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, today’s story is an excellent reminder that everybody has experienced major challenges in life. Joseph experienced life-changing trials due to his brothers’ decision to sell him into slavery. His brothers also experienced life-changing trials (fear, shame, hunger, and more). I ask today that You will lead and guide me in how to respond to others—even others who have personally wounded me—in ways that will lead others to better see and know You, and ultimately bring glory to You. The one person who comes to mind is (_______). Provide me the wisdom to respond to them in new, grace-filled ways. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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    Day 2: Joseph in Prison

Have you ever experienced a high level of jealousy towards somebody else? Chances are, they’ve had some painful experiences of which you may not be aware. The more you get to know people and hear their stories, the more you learn that nobody rides for free. Everybody has something in their story that which, if you listened closely, would bring you to your knees. 

Joseph lived what many would’ve considered a privileged life. Within the local customs and culture of his day, his family was well to-do. His parents showed him a lot of love and affection. At best, he was an overconfident young man without any worries or concerns. At worst, he was a spoiled child who was regularly at odds with his siblings. Still, from an outside perspective, he would’ve been seen as somebody who came from a family of great influence. 

Despite his privileged upbringing, Joseph’s story goes on a huge downward spiral. He finds himself not just sold into slavery, but also wrongfully imprisoned.  

As you read today, consider this: What aspects of Joseph’s story resonate with your own life experience?

READING:

     GENESIS 40 & 41

What aspects of Joseph’s story resonate with your own life experience? (Consider his family upbringing, those he worked for or was enslaved to, those he interacted with, etc.)

What kinds of ambitions or hopes could Joseph have had through his life experiences? In what ways does this help you to identify with the story of Joseph?

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 34 – 36:1

Reflect: What did you H.E.A.R. from God today? HEAR Bible Study Method

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, today I thank You for the many opportunities You provide me to share something about You with those I interact with on a regular basis. Though parts of my story are very different from Joseph, You continually provided Him with others who were ultimately seeking to know and understand You and/or Your plans for their life. May I learn and grow from Joseph’s example, and regularly point others toward You in whatever circumstances they may be facing. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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    Day 1: Sold into Slavery

Did you ever experience any kind of sibling rivalry throughout your childhood? (Unless you were an only child, surely the answer to that question is a resounding yes!)

This is the situation in which Joseph finds himself. He was one of the youngest of 12 brothers in a culture that regularly favored the eldest son. But because Joseph was born to his father at an old age, he was deeply loved by his father. In fact, he was loved more than his brothers.

To make the sibling rivalry worse, Joseph had a dream in which his father, mother, and brothers all bowed down to him. For his brothers who were already jealous of him, this was the final straw. Their jealousy became a fierce anger to the point of wanting to kill their brother. But due to the insistence of one of his siblings, they instead sold him into slavery and told their father he had been killed. 

As you begin reading through the story of Joseph today, consider this: What does this passage about Joseph tell you about reality? About humanity? 

READING:

     GENESIS 37 & 39

What does this passage about Joseph tell you about reality? About humanity? 

In what ways does this help you to identify with the story of Joseph?   

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 32 & 33

Reflect: What did you H.E.A.R. from God today? HEAR Bible Study Method

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, as I begin this week I simply pray that the story of Joseph will continue to speak to me in ways I didn’t expect. I ask that you help me to see Joseph, his father, brothers, and all of the others in his life story in such a way that I’m able to identify with them. Whether it’s their pride. Their fears. Their long-suffering. Their prayers. Or their trials. May I see some similarities between their experiences and my own, and may I respond to You in the same ways Joseph ultimately responds to You. I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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A daily Devotional & Scripture Reading will be made available each weekday over the next 8 Weeks for SRC’s current message series, God is WITH Us. Printed copies of the Devotional will be available at each location (Fairmont / Bridgeport). However, if you would like to receive an automatic email every weekday morning throughout the series, feel free to follow the blog (enter your email address on the right side of this page to follow). A PDF of the first four weeks of the devotional is available here.

A Brief Introduction to the Devotional:

The older I get, the more I realize just how real and relevant God’s Word is in my life. Admittedly, there have been times when I’m reading the Scriptures and I’m tempted to think things such as, “This person’s life story is so drastically different than my own, what can I possibly learn from them?” But I’m discovering more and more that some of the core issues they struggled with are the same core issues with which I’ve wrestled. 

They experienced significant trials in their lives. 

   They doubted God’s plan and purpose for their lives. 

      They struggled with self-centeredness.

         They sometimes didn’t mention the name of God. 

            They were confused. 

               They denied God.

                  They ran from Him.

                     They were criticized for their beliefs. 

But one significant truth shines through all of these stories. No matter what they were experiencing, God was WITH them. He was WITH them in their trials. He was WITH them in their doubts. He was WITH them in their humility. He was WITH them in the silence. Their confusion. Their denials. Their persecution. He was WITH them through it all. 

As you read and reflect through this Devotional and Scripture Reading Guide, it’s my prayer that we will all recognize the profound reality that God is WITH Us. No matter what we’re experiencing, He has been, is, and always will be WITH us through it all. 

~Pastor Justin