The Dinner with Joseph - Tuesday evening, 6.30.2009

Genesis 43:32- They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews; for that is detestable to Egyptians. The men had been seated before him in the order of their age, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

During the second trip that Joseph’s brothers made to Egypt to buy food, they received an invitation to dine at the house of the official in charge of dispensing grain during the famine (this was Joseph, but they did not realize it).

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Bring Benjamin and Jacob - Tuesday evening 6.23.09

Genesis 43:7 - 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 supposed to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”

Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt to buy food, thinking it would be a simple transaction.  They did not expect that the official in charge there would want to know if their father was alive, and would insist that they bring their remaining brother, Benjamin, there as well.  This is a prophetic illustration of how sinners meet the Lord and come to salvation.

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Joshua & the Day the Sun Stood Still - Sunday morning, 6.21.2009

Joshua 10:12-14 - On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:  “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”  So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar.    The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!

This was a major battle for Israel as they entered the Promised Land.  Up to this point, the Israelites had fought and won only two localized battles (Jericho and Ai).   Continue reading Joshua & the Day the Sun Stood Still - Sunday morning, 6.21.2009 »

Silver in Their Sacks - Tuesday evening, 6.16.2009

Genesis 42:27-28 - At the place where they stopped for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack.  “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers.  “Here it is in my sack.”  Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” 

In this story, Joseph’s brothers traveled to Egypt to buy food during the famine.  They did not realize that the official in charge of the food there was Joseph, whom they had beaten and sold into slavery many years before.  They did not recognize him, but he recognized them immediately.  

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Remember your Creator in the days of your youth - Sunday morning 6.14.2009

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 - “…Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them…”

We live in the last days before the Rapture, when the darkness in this world grows increasingly prevalent. These verses talk about something important that needs to be complete before it is too late. The Faithful Church knows that she is to always remember her Creator (and Redeemer) Jesus Christ who is one with God the Father and Holy Spirit. We must do so through constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit now, in the days of our spiritual youth. We cannot allow ourselves to age spiritually and thereby lose the blessing.

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Joseph’s brothers: “We are honest men” - Tuesday evening 6.9.2009

Genesis 42:10 - “No, my lord,” they answered.  “Your servants have come to buy food.  We are all the sons of one man.  Your servants are honest men, not spies.” 

Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt to buy food during the famine.  They claim to be honest, righteous men, despite their long history of committing murders, immorality, deception, and acts of cruelty.  They show the position of sinners when they come before Christ trying to justify themselves, not recognizing their own sin and need for salvation.  Joseph’s brothers were indebted to him, but they want others to treat them as honorable men - just as unbelievers want God to treat them. 

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