January 26-31, 2016

January 26, 2016

Genesis 41: 1-40

Two years after the release of the chief cupbearer, Pharaoh dreamt. He was standing by the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. These dreams troubled Pharaoh to the point that he called on all the magicians and wise men of Egypt to help him interpret his dreams. However, no one among them could interpret the dreams. Meanwhile, the cupbearer was reminded of Joseph and the latter’s ability to interpret dreams. The cupbearer, then related his experience with Joseph to the Pharaoh. Hence, the master ordered for Joseph’s release from prison and the latter’s appearance before him. As Joseph was shaved and clothed anew, he was spoken to by Pharaoh who said, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Joseph replied, “I cannot do it but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” So, Pharaoh related his dreams to Joseph. Then Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream as God’s warning of a future event and that he is given idea on what should be done before such comes. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. The 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. “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They 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. This 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.” The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God ?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You 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.”

Message:

This part of the bible tells me that “God’s will prevails no matter what.” In the previous chapter, Joseph interpreted the dream of the chief cupbearer and told the latter to mention the interpreter’s case to Pharaoh as soon as the cupbearer was out of the prison. However, the cupbearer forgot all about it. He was only reminded and did what Joseph pleaded about when Pharaoh got troubled about his dreams and needed an interpreter of those dreams. So, Joseph attained release as ordered by Pharaoh who later declared the interpreter in charge of everything in the palace. God favored Joseph and willed his release, thus making the master dreamt of something which only Joseph was capable of interpreting. All these worked in accord to God’s will – Genesis 35:12.

Application:

God has his own way of making things happen depending upon His will. Just like Joseph, I will use and reflect my God-given ability so that I can be of service to my fellowmen and to the church that He brought me into.

Prayer:

Dear Father, You are my creator and my master. You alone Father sets my direction and You alone I will follow. I thank You for letting me experience these spiritual challenges Lord for despite all the difficulties I attain enlightenment Lord. Now, I desire to know You more and long to realize my purpose in this world. Reading the Scripture does not only give me time to commune with You my Lord but ignites my interest in everything concerning spirituality, something which I never felt before. Father, had I ignored Your call, had I disregarded You then, I ask forgiveness. Just like Joseph Father, bless me that I would be able to utilize the talent, the ability that You have given me to serve You, to serve the people and the church where You brought me into. Had I wasted time, let me catch up Father. Lord, I’m listening to You now. Fill me Lord with the Holy Spirit that I may be guided in all that I think and do. Make me worthy of Your promises Father. Make me deserving of Your love. Above all, make me a blessing to each person I’ll be meeting today. This I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

January 27, 2016

Genesis 41: 41-57 (summarized)

Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt. He let Joseph wear his signet ring, dressed him robes in fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He made him ride in a chariot and his second-in-command. Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-Paneah (Revealer of secrets)and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. At that time Joseph was thirty years old. Seven years of abundance was experienced in Egypt and during those years Joseph collected and stored food in the cities. Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure. Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath.  Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” Seven years of abundance in Egypt ended and soon famine began. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.” When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.

Message:

Through these verses I am reminded of God’s generous providence to those who reflect Him in their lives. Joseph despite all his afflictions remained faithful to God. He never thought or revenge against his brothers. He did not speak ill of Potiphar and his wife for his imprisonment. He did not desire confrontation for the chief cupbearer who was not able to fulfill his plea. Great faith was manifested by the man plus an impressive demonstration of God-given ability, thus making him achieve the preferment by Pharaoh and above all, God’s favor.

Application:

I will remain true to my vow to God and see to it that I use my God-given ability not to impress men, but to glorify God, my Father.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for making me see what faithfulness to You brings to a believer like me. Thank you God for the assurance of your provisions and merits. Lord, had I used my ability to flatter or to impress my fellows, forgive me God. Bless me Father as I pursue Your will. Make me like Joseph who was able to withstand temptations. I also pray for Tracy Lord. Let her survive the title defense today. Make the panel see the importance of her work and its impact to her future respondents. This I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

January 29, 2016

Genesis 42: 16-19

If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” And he put them all in custody for three days. On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.

Message:

Joseph’s statement “Do this and you will live, for I fear God…” reminds me that it’s the fear of God which enables a person’s resistance to sin. Joseph eventually met his elder brothers who desired death for him and this happened at the time that he had all the means to avenge all the woes they caused him.  However, he could not do it because he feared God. Joseph was great but his awareness of another entity that’s greater than he set limits to his actions.

Application:

I will manifest my fear of God in my speech and actions. I will not speak of swear words and will guard myself against actions which will harm others.

Prayer:

Lord God, You are the mightiest. You are the one capable of doing what I and others cannot. Father, plant in me the fear of Joseph that I may be able to resist the desire of acting against my fellows. Yes Lord I confess that there was a point in my life that I desired revenge for people who have caused me sufferings, whom I think have done me wrong. It’s this desire that drove me to think and speak ill of them, acts which I know You do not and will never favor Lord. For these Lord, I ask forgiveness. Father, as I confront life today, bless me. Make me withhold the yearning to retaliate. Make me see your point of letting me experience distress. Above all, let me remember Lord that vengeance is Yours. This I pray, in Jesus’ name, amen.

January 30, 2016

Genesis 42: 21-22

They 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.” Reuben 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.”

Message:

These verses make me recall the instances at which guilt occurred to me because of the offense I caused upon a fellow. Also those moments when I thought that the sufferings I experienced were consequences of my misdeeds. Thus, I think thru these verses God is reminding me that it’s not always about the pain that a person or others had caused me but also the pain which I could have made them experience. I am capable of inflicting pain upon my fellows, that I must admit. Reuben’s experience, on the other hand, reminded me of those circumstances where I could have influenced people to do good yet I failed.

Application:

I will manifest sense of accountability for the challenges that I and my fellow employees undergo today. I will not blame others for the challenges the school confronts but accept the fact that any of my acts might have contributed to those.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, my Father I believe that I cannot keep anything from You and that my conscience is one of the manifestations of your great love for me; thus, I must listen to it. Yes, Lord I admit that oftentimes I tend to think of the wrong others did to me without considering that which I did to them. Selfishness overcomes me most of the time that I find myself blaming others for the occurrence of trouble in my and my fellows’ lives. Father, I ask forgiveness for that. Forgive me Lord for not considering what my conscience dictates, for making myself appear as if I never did anything wrong and for the times that I ignored the opportunity of playing the role of Reuben to my fellow employees. Lord, bless me today that I may be able to control my selfishness and pride. Make me see my fault Lord as much as I see others’. Bestow upon me sensitivity that will enable me to feel other people’s pain. This I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

January 31, 2016

Genesis 43: 1-10

Now Jacob’s family had eaten all the grain bought from Egypt. Hence, he prompted his sons to buy some more.  But Judah said to him, “The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. But 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.’ ” Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?” They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’ he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?” Then 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. I 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. As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.”

Message:

This part of the book gave me the idea that even before children were allowed to reason out with their parents if needed. Here, Judah humbly expressed the reasons of his unwillingness to get back to Egypt and even advised his father to allow him to bring his brother Benjamin along as he desired to fulfill his father’s command.

Application:

I will continue modeling ethical reasoning to my children and students and will teach them the importance of respect and humility as they reason out.

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for making me see the value of letting the young ones express their thoughts, for making me realize that it’s not always the elder’s words that matter. Lord as I desire to instill in the youth the importance of respect and humility as they reason out, guide me Father. Let me see the points that require emphasis and make me an example worth emulating Lord. This I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.