The Slave Becomes The Savior

From today’s reading…

Joseph, which means “increase” in Hebrew, is the one who turns away and weeps in Genesis 41 today.

He was the first son of Rachel but the 12th son of Jacob—renamed Israel—who had tricked his father, Isaac.

Joseph was favored by his father, which made his brothers jealous, thus they sold him into slavery. (Jacob is deceived by his sons as he had deceived his own father. Interesting, huh?)

But God increases good even from bad.

In His infinite wisdom He was able to bless Egypt, the world, and even Joseph’s family of jealous brothers from the evil actions of his brothers.

You see, Joseph the slave eventually became the right hand man to the Egyptian Pharoah, which is the position he holds in today’s reading when his brothers approach him seeking food during the great famine.

Seeing his brothers for the first time in decades, hearing them speak his native language, and hearing them admit to their wrongdoing is what led to Joseph’s breakdown.

Fortunately for us, God is more powerful than Santa. He knows if you’ve been bad or good. He sees what is going on in our lives and He is constantly increasing the good in the world despite all the bad that continues around us.

Keeping that in mind should be enough to help you…

Stay the course. Keep the faith. Endure.