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GENEROSITY WITH JOSEPH

By: Steve Negley

Posted: October 29, 2022

Category: Daily Devotional

Genesis 50:15-23

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil which we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died, 17 ‘Say to Joseph, Forgive, I pray you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’ And now, we pray you, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him, and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Fear not, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he reassured them and comforted them.

22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s house; and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. 23 And Joseph saw E′phraim’s children of the third generation; the children also of Machir the son of Manas′seh were born upon Joseph’s knees.

Prayer

God of our lives, I am struck by the life-long plan you had for a person named Joseph. As I am getting older, the beauty of this plan comes more into focus. Help me to have the wisdom of Joseph, who realized that the evil plans of his own siblings played a part in the broken path that led him to Egypt. Help me to put aside my own desire for righteous vindication over the mistreatment I may have suffered, so that your generous love can be displayed in my treatment of others. Use my life, and my life-long relationship with you, to help me to live each day as a grateful and generous child of God. Amen