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THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Celia Bowring and are based on Genesis 41 and 42
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Genesis 41 & 42 (in full)
Joseph replied, “God has shown Pharaoh. Seven years of great abundance are coming, seven years of famine will follow.” Then Pharaoh said, “Since God has made all this known to you, I put you in charge.” Seven years of famine began. Joseph opened the storehouses. Jacob said to his sons, “Go and buy grain for us.” Joseph’s brothers arrived. Joseph recognised them but spoke harshly: “You are spies!” They replied, “Your servants were twelve sons of one man. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.” Joseph said “Let one of you stay here. Bring your youngest brother.” They said, “Surely we are punished because of our brother.” Reuben replied,
“Didn’t I tell you? Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain. They told Jacob all that had happened. Emptying their sacks, each man had his pouch of silver! They were frightened. Jacob said, “You have deprived me. Joseph is no more and Simeon, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!” Reuben said, “Put both my sons to death if I do not bring him back.” But Jacob said, “My son will not go; he is the only one left. If harm comes to him, you will bring my grey head down to the grave in sorrow.”
(Precis of Genesis 41 and 42)
Sunday September 14 - God’s merciful warning
Pharaoh said... “I heard... when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” “I cannot...” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” Genesis 41:15-16
No wonder Pharaoh lost sleep with those nightmares of scrawny cows gobbling up fat cows and healthy ears of corn consuming thin ones! The Bible often records God speaking to people; in this story he does it through three pairs of dreams, all interpreted by Joseph. In his youth he saw a vision of all his family bowing before him. While in jail he predicted the execution of one of Pharaoh’s imprisoned servants and the restoration of another. Now comes warning of terrible famine. Joseph has been hastily extracted from his dungeon and cleaned up to appear before a distraught Pharaoh and interpret his dreams. Joseph explains that the message “was given in two forms [because] the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon” (v 32). Joseph counsels that surplus food stored during seven abundant years must be used when the following seven failed harvests threaten to devastate the whole known world. While God has no pleasure in people’s suffering, he ordains all this because his eternal loving purposes to destroy evil are perfectly worked out through such disasters. In our troubles we naturally question, but let us trust that ‘the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with [us], not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance’ (2 Peter 3:9).
Father, please help us, in times of uncertainty and fear, to believe that you are always good and will bring us through. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY