A Prayer for Mercy

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Redemption
Justified by Faith in Christ

Luke 18:9-14

The Message

The Story of the Tax Man and the Pharisee

 ^9-12He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.' ¹³"Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.'"
 ¹⁴Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."

For Reflection
There is no justification for the attitude that as a Christian you are somehow more entitled than others (even other Christians).  The fact of the matter is that you are just like other people, a sinner.  As such, you are incapable of living a righteous life out side of God's transformational redemption. 

Judging others immorality is just another way of thinking that you are incapable of similar behavior and some how better in the eyes of God for it.  In fact, you exhibit immorality when you are judgmental.

The world is God's to judge.  Our role is to be faithful to the transformation symbolized in baptism.  We are not called to be separate from this world but to help realize God's kingdom by becoming a witness to God's promise and call to all people to reside in the Kingdom of God.

Pray
that you will be a blessing to all whom you encounter.  Pray that your life will be sacrificed to God's will.

A Mighty Redemption

LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Redemption
Justified by Faith in Christ

Romans 3:21-26

The Message

God Has Set Things Right

 ^21-24But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. ^25-26God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it's now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.

For Reflection
God works in light.  He does not hide his intention for human kind in darkness and fear.  Over and over again God fixes us.  He has faithfully responded to our need.

God and Jesus are one.  Having faith in Jesus is to have faith in God and the Holy Spirit.  They are inseparable.  We live in God's righteousness.  We change and grow into the grace of God constantly maturing as we and God overcome obstacles to living righteous lives.

Who you are now is not who you were.  Who you are now is not who you will become.

Pray
thanking God for His faith in us.  Pray that you will embrace the challenges of our human existence.  Pray that you will listen to God's gentle guidance.  Pray that you will have patience and courage to do God's will.

An Unsurpassable God

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Out of Egypt

Exodus 15:11-18

The Message

 ^10-11 You blew with all your might
      and the sea covered them.
   They sank like a lead weight
      in the majestic waters.
   Who compares with you
      among gods, O God?
   Who compares with you in power,
      in holy majesty,
   In awesome praises,
      wonder-working God?

 ^12-13 You stretched out your right hand
      and the Earth swallowed them up.
   But the people you redeemed,
      you led in merciful love;
   You guided them under your protection
      to your holy pasture.

 ^14-18 When people heard, they were scared;
      Philistines writhed and trembled;
   Yes, even the head men in Edom were shaken,
      and the big bosses in Moab.
   Everybody in Canaan
      panicked and fell faint.
   Dread and terror
      sent them reeling.
   Before your brandished right arm
      they were struck dumb like a stone,
   Until your people crossed over and entered, O God,
      until the people you made crossed over and entered.
   You brought them and planted them
      on the mountain of your heritage,
   The place where you live,
      the place you made,
   Your sanctuary, Master,
      that you established with your own hands.
   Let God rule
      forever, for eternity!

For Reflection
They had now seen an end of Pharaoh’s reign. His time is ended.  But for the people of Israel, time is God's time, a time which has no end.  God's reign is not subject to change.  The promise is timeless.  God provides comfort to all for all of eternity. There is no end to God's dominion.   Why would anyone not want to be part of God's kingdom?

Pray
for the world.  Pray for the realization of God's Kingdom.

A Divine Intervention

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Out of Egypt

Exodus 15:4-10

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Out of Egypt

Exodus 15:4-10

The Message

 ^1-8 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to God, giving voice together,

   I'm singing my heart out to God—what a victory!
      He pitched horse and rider into the sea.
   God is my strength, God is my song,
      and, yes! God is my salvation.
   This is the kind of God I have
      and I'm telling the world!
   This is the God of my father—
      I'm spreading the news far and wide!
   God is a fighter,
      pure God, through and through.
   Pharaoh's chariots and army
      he dumped in the sea,
   The elite of his officers
      he drowned in the Red Sea.
   Wild ocean waters poured over them;
      they sank like a rock in the deep blue sea.
   Your strong right hand, God, shimmers with power;
      your strong right hand shatters the enemy.
   In your mighty majesty
      you smash your upstart enemies,
   You let loose your hot anger
      and burn them to a crisp.
   At a blast from your nostrils
      the waters piled up;
   Tumbling streams dammed up,
      wild oceans curdled into a swamp.

 ⁹ The enemy spoke,
      "I'll pursue, I'll hunt them down,
   I'll divide up the plunder,
      I'll glut myself on them;
   I'll pull out my sword,
      my fist will send them reeling."

 ^10-11 You blew with all your might
      and the sea covered them.
   They sank like a lead weight
      in the majestic waters.
   Who compares with you
      among gods, O God?
   Who compares with you in power,
      in holy majesty,
   In awesome praises,
      wonder-working God?

For Reflection 

"How Can I Keep from Singing"

Moses lead the the Israelites out of Egypt.  They celebrated the toil of their journey and remembering their God, sang praises and expressed their joy in God's mighty power.  How do you sing in remembrance of what God has done for you?

Here are three quite different versions of the Robert Wadsworth Lowry hymn.  Sing joyfully for the promise of living in the hollow of God's hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leR0iJNQLFs&feature=related OR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YVnGNgdpZE&feature=related OR Appalachian immersed, John McCutcheon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWVmJdZVvKE

Pray
with songs of you own.  Sing loudly of the fruits of your faith.

A Treacherous Plan

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Out of Egypt

Exodus 1:15-22

The Message

 ^15-16 The king of Egypt had a talk with the two Hebrew midwives; one was named Shiphrah and the other Puah. He said, "When you deliver the Hebrew women, look at the sex of the baby. If it's a boy, kill him; if it's a girl, let her live."
 ^17-18 But the midwives had far too much respect for God and didn't do what the king of Egypt ordered; they let the boy babies live. The king of Egypt called in the midwives. "Why didn't you obey my orders? You've let those babies live!"
 ¹⁹ The midwives answered Pharaoh, "The Hebrew women aren't like the Egyptian women; they're vigorous. Before the midwife can get there, they've already had the baby."
 ^20-21 God was pleased with the midwives. The people continued to increase in number—a very strong people. And because the midwives honored God, God gave them families of their own.
 ²² So Pharaoh issued a general order to all his people: "Every boy that is born, drown him in the Nile. But let the girls live."

For Reflection
We always have a choice!  The consequences of choice options may differ in resulting harm or risk, but nevertheless a choice is made.  Even though the midwives were familiar with the abusive power of the Pharaoh, they chose to defy him. They chose possible death over denying their God.  How do you choose?

Pray
Pray for strength to make hard choices.  Pray that you follow your faith fearlessly.  Pray for God's protection.

A Strong People

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Out of Egypt

Exodus 1:1-14

The Message

"A New King . . . Who Didn't Know Joseph"

 ^1-5 These are the names of the Israelites who went to Egypt with Jacob, each bringing his family members: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,    Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
   Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
   Seventy persons in all generated by Jacob's seed. Joseph was already in Egypt.
 ^6-7 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers—that whole generation. But the children of Israel kept on reproducing. They were very prolific—a population explosion in their own right—and the land was filled with them.^8-10 A new king came to power in Egypt who didn't know Joseph. He spoke to his people in alarm, "There are way too many of these Israelites for us to handle. We've got to do something: Let's devise a plan to contain them, lest if there's a war they should join our enemies, or just walk off and leave us."

 ^11-14 So they organized them into work-gangs and put them to hard labor under gang-foremen. They built the storage cities Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. But the harder the Egyptians worked them the more children the Israelites had—children everywhere! The Egyptians got so they couldn't stand the Israelites and treated them worse than ever, crushing them with slave labor. They made them miserable with hard labor—making bricks and mortar and back-breaking work in the fields. They piled on the work, crushing them under the cruel workload.

For Reflection
Life was good.  Then the inevitable occurred.  A new king changed everything.  I suppose Jacob's descendants were fat, happy and complacent.  But to stay in Egypt was not God's plan.  They would never leave the land of comfort on their own.  They had to have a compelling reason.  What could be more compelling than to escape slavery?

Realizing the promise of God is not always easy.  Faith is often challenged.  What do you do when thing change for the worst?

Pray
for hope in an uncertain future.  Pray that you maintain faith in your God even when His presence seems hidden.  Pray that you will find comfort in God's faith in you.

A Mighty Redemption

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Out of Egypt

Psalm 77:11-20

The Message

 ^11-12 Once again I'll go over what God has done,
      lay out on the table the ancient wonders;
   I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished,
      and give a long, loving look at your acts.

 ^13-15 O God! Your way is holy!
      No god is great like God!
   You're the God who makes things happen;
      you showed everyone what you can do—
   You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble,
      rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph.

 ^16-19 Ocean saw you in action, God,
      saw you and trembled with fear;
      Deep Ocean was scared to death.
   Clouds belched buckets of rain,
      Sky exploded with thunder,
      your arrows flashing this way and that.
   From Whirlwind came your thundering voice,
      Lightning exposed the world,
      Earth reeled and rocked.
   You strode right through Ocean,
      walked straight through roaring Ocean,
      but nobody saw you come or go.

 ²⁰ Hidden in the hands of Moses and Aaron,
   You led your people like a flock of sheep.

For Reflection
Take time today to remember what God has done for you.  Remember the times when the outcome was frighteningly unknowable.  Remember the times when hope sprung surprisingly out of hopelessness.  Remember the times when the inconsolable was comforted.

Pray
remembering all of those times when God was by your side and thank Him,  Offer yourself in debt to his abiding promise.

Abraham's Living Promise

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Joseph Transmits Abraham's Promise

Genesis 50:15-26

The Message

^14-15 After burying his father, Joseph went back to Egypt. All his brothers who had come with him to bury his father returned with him. After the funeral, Joseph's brothers talked among themselves: "What if Joseph is carrying a grudge and decides to pay us back for all the wrong we did him?"
 ^16-17 So they sent Joseph a message, "Before his death, your father gave this command: Tell Joseph, 'Forgive your brothers' sin—all that wrongdoing. They did treat you very badly.' Will you do it? Will you forgive the sins of the servants of your father's God?"
   When Joseph received their message, he wept.
 ¹⁸ Then the brothers went in person to him, threw themselves on the ground before him and said, "We'll be your slaves."
 ^19-21 Joseph replied, "Don't be afraid. Do I act for God? Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people. Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I'll take care of you and your children." He reassured them, speaking with them heart-to-heart.
 ^22-23 Joseph continued to live in Egypt with his father's family. Joseph lived 110 years. He lived to see Ephraim's sons into the third generation. The sons of Makir, Manasseh's son, were also recognized as Joseph's.
 ²⁴ At the end, Joseph said to his brothers, "I am ready to die. God will most certainly pay you a visit and take you out of this land and back to the land he so solemnly promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
 ²⁵ Then Joseph made the sons of Israel promise under oath, "When God makes his visitation, make sure you take my bones with you as you leave here."
 ²⁶ Joseph died at the age of 110 years. They embalmed him and placed him in a coffin in Egypt.

For Reflection 

We are all sinful.  In spite of our sometimes wicked ways, God finds a way to redeem us and to use us to realize His kingdom.  Be reassured, God is good and will lead us to good ends.  He has faith in us.  We should remain faithful in spite of what we interpret as evil. God turns it into good.

Pray
for all of Gods people.  Pray that they will hold steadfast to the goodness that is God. 

New Beginning

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Joseph Transmits Abraham's Promise

Genesis 50:7-14

The Message (MSG)

 ^7-9 So Joseph left to bury his father. And all the high-ranking officials from Pharaoh's court went with him, all the dignitaries of Egypt, joining Joseph's family—his brothers and his father's family. Their children and flocks and herds were left in Goshen. Chariots and horsemen accompanied them. It was a huge funeral procession.
 ¹⁰ Arriving at the Atad Threshing Floor just across the Jordan River, they stopped for a period of mourning, letting their grief out in loud and lengthy lament. For seven days, Joseph engaged in these funeral rites for his father.
 ¹¹ When the Canaanites who lived in that area saw the grief being poured out at the Atad Threshing Floor, they said, "Look how deeply the Egyptians are mourning." That is how the site at the Jordan got the name Abel Mizraim (Egyptian Lament).
 ^12-13 Jacob's sons continued to carry out his instructions to the letter. They took him on into Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah facing Mamre, the field that Abraham had bought as a burial plot from Ephron the Hittite.

^14-15 After burying his father, Joseph went back to Egypt. All his brothers who had come with him to bury his father returned with him. After the funeral, Joseph's brothers talked among themselves: "What if Joseph is carrying a grudge and decides to pay us back for all the wrong we did him?"

For Reflection
Death of the patriarch is not an ending of God's promise to Israel's family.  Rather it is a beginning of new phase in God's faithfulness.  Israel is buried in a way reserved for the most influential thus elevating the importance of him and his household.

Joseph's brothers, however, are still not confident in their position with him.  At their father's death they fear the future.  Their faith in God is tested again.


Pray
that your natural fear of the unknown consequence of change will not diminish your faith that God's plan for you is good.  Pray that you will know that in all things God is trustworthy.

A Father's Final Wish

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Joseph Transmits Abraham's Promise

Genesis 49:29-50:6

The Message
^29-32 Then he instructed them: "I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave which is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah facing Mamre in the land of Canaan, the field Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite for a burial plot. Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried there; Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried there; I also buried Leah there. The field and the cave were bought from the Hittites."

 ³³ Jacob finished instructing his sons, pulled his feet into bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 50

 ¹ Joseph threw himself on his father, wept over him, and kissed him.
^2-3 Joseph then instructed the physicians in his employ to embalm his father. The physicians embalmed Israel. The embalming took forty days, the period required for embalming. There was public mourning by the Egyptians for seventy days.
 ^4-5 When the period of mourning was completed, Joseph petitioned Pharaoh's court: "If you have reason to think kindly of me, present Pharaoh with my request: My father made me swear, saying, 'I am ready to die. Bury me in the grave plot that I prepared for myself in the land of Canaan.' Please give me leave to go up and bury my father. Then I'll come back."
 ⁶ Pharaoh said, "Certainly. Go and bury your father as he made you promise under oath."

For Reflection
Why in heaven's name would Israel want to be buried so far from his family?  For heaven's sake, Israel remembered God's promise to return Israel's family to the land of Canaan.  His request assured that his family would remember God's promise and in the end he would surrounded again by his people.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, my children wanted to visit the graves of my parents and family in Pittsburgh.  I was a little surprised and very pleased that my children and grand children were all intent in finding the resting places for each of the family buried there.  Each of my children told stories in remembrance of my mother, the only one that they knew.  But even the grandchildren were interested in the stories mostly about the Irish side of my family whom none have ever met.  The journeys of their ancestors seemed to give meaning to their own life journeys.

So it is with our Christian journeys.  We must all set the stage for remembering God's promise.  God's promise gives meaning to our lives, our children's lives and the lives of our children's children.  Offer signs of your faith in God's promise at every chance. 


Pray
prayers of thanksgiving for the faith God has in you.  Pray that your faith in God's promise will be obvious in your words and deeds.  pray that you faithful living will remind the next generation of the value of God's promise.  Pray that others will embrace God's promise and realize the meaning in their lives.

A Joy Filled Reunion

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Joseph Transmits Abraham's Promise

Genesis 46:28-47:6

The Message
^28-29 Jacob sent Judah on ahead to get directions to Goshen from Joseph. When they got to Goshen, Joseph gave orders for his chariot and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. The moment Joseph saw him, he threw himself on his neck and wept. He wept a long time.

 ³⁰ Israel said to Joseph, "I'm ready to die. I've looked into your face—you are indeed alive."
 ^31-34 Joseph then spoke to his brothers and his father's family. "I'll go and tell Pharaoh, 'My brothers and my father's family, all of whom lived in Canaan, have come to me. The men are shepherds; they've always made their living by raising livestock. And they've brought their flocks and herds with them, along with everything else they own.' When Pharaoh calls you in and asks what kind of work you do, tell him, 'Your servants have always kept livestock for as long as we can remember—we and our parents also.' That way he'll let you stay apart in the area of Goshen—for Egyptians look down on anyone who is a shepherd."

Genesis 47

 ¹ Joseph went to Pharaoh and told him, "My father and brothers with their flocks and herds and everything they own have come from Canaan. Right now they are in Goshen." ^2-3 He had taken five of his brothers with him and introduced them to Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked them, "What kind of work do you do?"
 ^3-4 "Your servants are shepherds, the same as our fathers were. We have come to this country to find a new place to live. There is no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine has been very bad there. Please, would you let your servants settle in the region of Goshen?"
 ^5-6 Pharaoh looked at Joseph. "So, your father and brothers have arrived—a reunion! Egypt welcomes them. Settle your father and brothers on the choicest land—yes, give them Goshen. And if you know any among them that are especially good at their work, put them in charge of my own livestock."

For Reflection
What a joy filled reunion.  This is the story of a family, reconciled to God and to each other.  As is in many cases God uses the lives of ordinary  people, warts and all, for extraordinary results.  Joseph's instruction to Israel and his family ensures that they will grow in God's protection insulated in so far as possible from Egypt's influence.

God invites us all to live a life extraordinary in the fulfillment of his promise.

Pray

Praise God for the comfort of his promise to Israel and the world.  Pray that you will be fulfilled in that promise and lead extraordinary lives in the brilliance of Gods embrace.

A Divine Confirmation

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Joseph Transmits Abraham's Promise

Genesis 46:1-7

The Message

 ¹ So Israel set out on the journey with everything he owned. He arrived at Beersheba and worshiped, offering sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. ² God spoke to Israel in a vision that night: "Jacob! Jacob!"
   "Yes?" he said. "I'm listening."
 ^3-4 God said, "I am the God of your father. Don't be afraid of going down to Egypt. I'm going to make you a great nation there. I'll go with you down to Egypt; I'll also bring you back here. And when you die, Joseph will be with you; with his own hand he'll close your eyes."
 ^5-7 Then Jacob left Beersheba. Israel's sons loaded their father and their little ones and their wives on the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They arrived in Egypt with the livestock and the wealth they had accumulated in Canaan. Jacob brought everyone in his family with him—sons and grandsons, daughters and granddaughters. Everyone.

For Reflection
Our Bible is a testimony to God's faithfulness to human kind.   His faithfulness warrants our faithfulness.   Without a thought, without consideration, without debate or doubt -- as a matter of course, first nature, Isrsael' first act was one of worship, offering sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.  Our God is a confirming God. He confirms his faithfulness to all of us.  Do we confirm his faithfulness to us?  Do something this week that confirms God's faithfulness to you.

Pray
that you will not take this life for granted.  Pray for humility.  Pray for those who muck their way through life with out the experience of God's faithfulness.  Pray that you will be a strong witness to God's faithfulness.

God's Call for Reconciliation

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
God Preserves a Remnant

Genesis 45:3-15

The Message (MSG)

 ³ Joseph spoke to his brothers: "I am Joseph. Is my father really still alive?" But his brothers couldn't say a word. They were speechless—they couldn't believe what they were hearing and seeing.
 ^4-8 "Come closer to me," Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn't you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt.
 ^9-11 "Hurry back to my father. Tell him, 'Your son Joseph says: I'm master of all of Egypt. Come as fast as you can and join me here. I'll give you a place to live in Goshen where you'll be close to me—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and anything else you can think of. I'll take care of you there completely. There are still five more years of famine ahead; I'll make sure all your needs are taken care of, you and everyone connected with you—you won't want for a thing.'
 ^12-13 "Look at me. You can see for yourselves, and my brother Benjamin can see for himself, that it's me, my own mouth, telling you all this. Tell my father all about the high position I hold in Egypt, tell him everything you've seen here, but don't take all day—hurry up and get my father down here."
 ^14-15 Then Joseph threw himself on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. He then kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Only then were his brothers able to talk with him.

For Reflection
God restores harmony between the members of Israel's family and between Himself and Israel's family.  Such reconciliation is offered to all mankind.  It is the reconciliation offered by God's recognition of human sinfulness, His own acceptance of responsibility, and the sacrifice of his son, Jesus.

God offers all of us a way out of sinfulness and into a life protected in the hollow of His hand.  His promise to Abraham and His faithfulness in us are realized in our reconciliation.  Living in harmony with the living God is our reward.

Pray
that you will respond to God's call to reconciliation.  Pray that you will honor your debt to God by hoping for and working for reconciliation. Pray that you will work toward reconciliation in your relationships.  Pray that you will become a willing participant in God' promise of reconciliation for all.

Benjamin Detained in Egypt

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
God Preserves a Remnant

Genesis 44:1-10

The Message

 ^1-2 Joseph ordered his house steward: "Fill the men's bags with food—all they can carry—and replace each one's money at the top of the bag. Then put my chalice, my silver chalice, in the top of the bag of the youngest, along with the money for his food." He did as Joseph ordered. ^3-5 At break of day the men were sent off with their donkeys. They were barely out of the city when Joseph said to his house steward, "Run after them. When you catch up with them, say, 'Why did you pay me back evil for good? This is the chalice my master drinks from; he also uses it for divination. This is outrageous!'"
 ⁶ He caught up with them and repeated all this word for word.
 ^7-9 They said, "What is my master talking about? We would never do anything like that! Why, the money we found in our bags earlier, we brought back all the way from Canaan—do you think we'd turn right around and steal it back from your master? If that chalice is found on any of us, he'll die; and the rest of us will be your master's slaves."
 ¹⁰ The steward said, "Very well then, but we won't go that far. Whoever is found with the chalice will be my slave; the rest of you can go free."

For Reflection
God's work is not yet completed.  Joseph sets the stage for yet another catastrophe.  This time the brothers admit their sin and accept their guilt.  The brothers show compassion toward their father, Israel. Jacob offers to sacrifice himself for the sake of his father.  Thus,  only now can the reconciliation of sin be realized.

Reconciliation begins with the recognition of one's own sin. It continues with the acceptance of one's responsibility for the sin and the sacrifice of one's self in restitution for sin.

Pray
that you will recognize God's hand in leading you to reconcile your sin.  Pray that you accept the responsibility for sin and give yourself to God in restitution for your sinfulness.

Hold Me Accountable

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
God Preserves a Remnant

Genesis 43:1-14

The Message

^1-2 The famine got worse. When they had eaten all the food they had brought back from Egypt, their father said, "Go back and get some more food." ^3-5 But Judah said, "The man warned us most emphatically, 'You won't so much as see my face if you don't have your brother with you.' If you're ready to release our brother to go with us, we'll go down and get you food. But if you're not ready, we aren't going. What would be the use? The man told us, 'You won't so much as see my face if you don't have your brother with you.'"
 ⁶ Israel said, "Why are you making my life so difficult! Why did you ever tell the man you had another brother?"
 ⁷ They said, "The man pressed us hard, asking pointed questions about our family: 'Is your father alive? Do you have another brother?' So we answered his questions. How did we know that he'd say, 'Bring your brother here'?"
 ^8-10 Judah pushed his father Israel. "Let the boy go; I'll take charge of him. Let us go and be on our way—if we don't get going, we're all going to starve to death—we and you and our children, too! I'll take full responsibility for his safety; it's my life on the line for his. If I don't bring him back safe and sound, I'm the guilty one; I'll take all the blame. If we had gone ahead in the first place instead of procrastinating like this, we could have been there and back twice over."
 ^11-14 Their father Israel gave in. "If it has to be, it has to be. But do this: stuff your packs with the finest products from the land you can find and take them to the man as gifts—some balm and honey, some spices and perfumes, some pistachios and almonds. And take plenty of money—pay back double what was returned to your sacks; that might have been a mistake. Take your brother and get going. Go back to the man. And may The Strong God give you grace in that man's eyes so that he'll send back your other brother along with Benjamin. For me, nothing's left; I've lost everything."

For Reflection 

Israel knew God.  And yet, he lived with the knowledge of his son's treachery and was willing to cover up the sins of his family.  Israel could not bear to lose his youngest son and was willing to sacrifice another son imprisoned in Egypt.   Perhaps trying to atone for his and the sins of his brothers, Judah accepts responsibility for the sin and argues rationally.  Israel gives up.  He has exhausted  his mortal ability.  He is forced by circumstance to put the outcome in God's hands.  He offers a sacrifice of restitution in hope that the grace of God will guide the Pharaoh's man.

When all resources are lost to whom do you turn?  What will you offer in restitution for your sins?

Pray
that you will accept the ineffectiveness your humanity.  Pray that you will see the path that God has always held open for you.  Thank God for his merciful grace.  Pray that you will embrace the gift of sacrifice.

Paying the Penalty

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
God Preserves a Remnant

Genesis 42:18-25

The Message (MSG)

 ^18-20 On the third day, Joseph spoke to them. "Do this and you'll live. I'm a God-fearing man. If you're as honest as you say you are, one of your brothers will stay here in jail while the rest of you take the food back to your hungry families. But you have to bring your youngest brother back to me, confirming the truth of your speech—and not one of you will die." They agreed.
 ²¹ Then they started talking among themselves. "Now we're paying for what we did to our brother—we saw how terrified he was when he was begging us for mercy. We wouldn't listen to him and now we're the ones in trouble."
 ²² Reuben broke in. "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't hurt the boy'? But no, you wouldn't listen. And now we're paying for his murder."
 ^23-24 Joseph had been using an interpreter, so they didn't know that Joseph was understanding every word. Joseph turned away from them and cried. When he was able to speak again, he took Simeon and had him tied up, making a prisoner of him while they all watched.
 ²⁵ Then Joseph ordered that their sacks be filled with grain, that their money be put back in each sack, and that they be given rations for the road. That was all done for them.

For Reflection

Joseph's brothers now face their transgressions.  They have to recognize their sin and its consequence. They are not blaming God for their transgression.  Rather, they are understanding that their current suffering is a result of their own Godless action.

Recognizing our sins against God is the first step in reconciliation.  To what extent do you face up to your own folly?  To what extent do you accept responsibility for your own action?

Pray
that you will accept the responsibility for your own action.  Pray that you will recognize your own sins.  Thank God for His faith in you.  Pray that you will accept His grace in your life and embrace your role in fulfilling the promise of His Kingdom.

Joseph Recognized His Brothers

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
God Preserves a Remnant

Genesis 42:6-17

The Message

 ^6-7 Joseph was running the country; he was the one who gave out rations to all the people. When Joseph's brothers arrived, they treated him with honor, bowing to him. Joseph recognized them immediately, but treated them as strangers and spoke roughly to them.
   He said, "Where do you come from?"
   "From Canaan," they said. "We've come to buy food."
 ⁸ Joseph knew who they were, but they didn't know who he was.
 ⁹ Joseph, remembering the dreams he had dreamed of them, said, "You're spies. You've come to look for our weak spots."
 ^10-11 "No, master," they said. "We've only come to buy food. We're all the sons of the same man; we're honest men; we'd never think of spying."
 ¹² He said, "No. You're spies. You've come to look for our weak spots."
 ¹³ They said, "There were twelve of us brothers—sons of the same father in the country of Canaan. The youngest is with our father, and one is no more."
 ^14-16 But Joseph said, "It's just as I said, you're spies. This is how I'll test you. As Pharaoh lives, you're not going to leave this place until your younger brother comes here. Send one of you to get your brother while the rest of you stay here in jail. We'll see if you're telling the truth or not. As Pharaoh lives, I say you're spies."
 ¹⁷ Then he threw them into jail for three days.

For Reflection
A little taste of their own medicine?  Maybe. Or perhaps not seeing his younger brother and fearing that he had met a fate similar to his own, Joseph tested the remaining brothers.

In spite of what we do to each other, God turns the suffering into goodness.  It was Joseph's jealous brothers that took it on themselves to get rid of their brother.  But, it was God who intervened to save Joseph from death.  It was God that gave the spiritual gift of dream interpretation to Joseph. It was God who delayed Joseph's recognition by the Pharaoh.  It is now God who will reconcile the family and make good on His promise to Abraham.

God is faithful to us.  We all live within the grasp of God's promise.  We  have only to accept his offer.


Pray
that you will look beyond the events of everyday life and see the big picture of God working to fulfill his promise in you.

The Dream Interpreted

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Joseph Finds Favor

Genesis 41:14-16, 25-36

The Message

 ¹⁴ Pharaoh at once sent for Joseph. They brought him on the run from the jail cell. He cut his hair, put on clean clothes, and came to Pharaoh.
 ¹⁵ "I dreamed a dream," Pharaoh told Joseph. "Nobody can interpret it. But I've heard that just by hearing a dream you can interpret it."
 ¹⁶ Joseph answered, "Not I, but God. God will set Pharaoh's mind at ease."
____

 ^25-27 Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's two dreams both mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh what he is going to do. The seven healthy cows are seven years and the seven healthy ears of grain are seven years—they're the same dream. The seven sick and ugly cows that followed them up are seven years and the seven scrawny ears of grain dried out by the east wind are the same—seven years of famine.
 ^28-32 "The meaning is what I said earlier: God is letting Pharaoh in on what he is going to do. Seven years of plenty are on their way throughout Egypt. But on their heels will come seven years of famine, leaving no trace of the Egyptian plenty. As the country is emptied by famine, there won't be even a scrap left of the previous plenty—the famine will be total. The fact that Pharaoh dreamed the same dream twice emphasizes God's determination to do this and do it soon.
 ^33-36 "So, Pharaoh needs to look for a wise and experienced man and put him in charge of the country. Then Pharaoh needs to appoint managers throughout the country of Egypt to organize it during the years of plenty. Their job will be to collect all the food produced in the good years ahead and stockpile the grain under Pharaoh's authority, storing it in the towns for food. This grain will be held back to be used later during the seven years of famine that are coming on Egypt. This way the country won't be devastated by the famine."

For Reflection
In spite of being imprisoned and a slave, Joseph prepares himself to honor the Pharaoh.  He assigns his talent to God and acts as a priest to Pharaoh.  Joseph not only interprets the dream but sets a course to make the Pharaoh appear as a wise and great leader.

The key here is that Joseph, in humility, rejects the temptation to be bitter and exact retributive justice.  Instead, Joseph honors the Pharaoh and offers good advice.  Joseph sacrifices self for the good of God's Kingdom.  This is God's grace at work through Joseph.


Pray
that you will continue to sacrifice your self image in service to God.  Pray for the wisdom of Joseph.  Pray for the patience of Joseph.  Pray for the strength of faith of Joseph.

Interpretations Belong to God

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Joseph Finds Favor

Genesis 40:1-8

The Message

 ^1-4 As time went on, it happened that the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt crossed their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the head cupbearer and the head baker, and put them in custody under the captain of the guard; it was the same jail where Joseph was held. The captain of the guard assigned Joseph to see to their needs. ^4-7 After they had been in custody for a while, the king's cupbearer and baker, while being held in the jail, both had a dream on the same night, each dream having its own meaning. When Joseph arrived in the morning, he noticed that they were feeling low. So he asked them, the two officials of Pharaoh who had been thrown into jail with him, "What's wrong? Why the long faces?"
 ⁸ They said, "We dreamed dreams and there's no one to interpret them."
   Joseph said, "Don't interpretations come from God? Tell me the dreams."

For Reflection
Are our dreams the stuff of our own making or are they messages from God?  God appeared in dreams many times to people of the old and new testaments.  Does He appear to us today in dreams?

Who, today, interprets dreams from a God-centered perspective?  Google Christian dream interpretation and you will discover that much time and effort has been given to this endeavor.

If we focus on dream interpretation, however, we may miss an important point.  Joseph said interpretations come from God.  It is the fact that God provided a spiritual gift the influence of which the Pharaoh could not avoid.  This was not Joseph's doing but God's.  Want to know what dreams mean?  Ask God.


Pray
thanking God for His constant protection.  Pray that you will respond to God when he calls you to action.  Pray so that you will hear God's will.

The Interpretation Remembered

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Joseph Finds Favor

Genesis 41:1-13

The Message

 ^1-4 Two years passed and Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile River. Seven cows came up out of the Nile, all shimmering with health, and grazed on the marsh grass. Then seven other cows, all skin and bones, came up out of the river after them and stood by them on the bank of the Nile. The skinny cows ate the seven healthy cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. ^5-7 He went back to sleep and dreamed a second time: Seven ears of grain, full-bodied and lush, grew out of a single stalk. Then seven more ears grew up, but these were thin and dried out by the east wind. The thin ears swallowed up the full, healthy ears. Then Pharaoh woke up—another dream.
 ⁸ When morning came, he was upset. He sent for all the magicians and sages of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but they couldn't interpret them to him.
 ^9-13 The head cupbearer then spoke up and said to Pharaoh, "I just now remembered something—I'm sorry, I should have told you this long ago. Once when Pharaoh got angry with his servants, he locked me and the head baker in the house of the captain of the guard. We both had dreams on the same night, each dream with its own meaning. It so happened that there was a young Hebrew slave there with us; he belonged to the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us, each dream separately. Things turned out just as he interpreted. I was returned to my position and the head baker was impaled."

For Reflection

All God's Good Time.

The stage was set two years prior.  The time for Joseph to be recognized had not yet come.  God delayed the cupbearer's report on Joseph until such time when revealing Joseph and his God would make a difference in the outcome for Joseph's people.  Joseph now gets to serve the Pharaoh directly.  How would you react if you were disappointed in the cupbearer and two years later still siting in jail, a slave to the guard?


Pray
that you will recognize God's timing is not the same as your timing.  Pray that you will keep your faith in God and hope in the fulfillment of His promise in you.

The Predictions Come True

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Protection
Joseph Finds Favor

Genesis 40:16-23

The Message

 ^16-17 When the head baker saw how well Joseph's interpretation turned out, he spoke up: "My dream went like this: I saw three wicker baskets on my head; the top basket had assorted pastries from the bakery and birds were picking at them from the basket on my head."
 ^18-19 Joseph said, "This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days; within three days Pharaoh will take off your head, impale you on a post, and the birds will pick your bones clean."
 ^20-22 And sure enough, on the third day it was Pharaoh's birthday and he threw a feast for all his servants. He set the head cupbearer and the head baker in places of honor in the presence of all the guests. Then he restored the head cupbearer to his cupbearing post; he handed Pharaoh his cup just as before. And then he impaled the head baker on a post, following Joseph's interpretations exactly.
 ²³ But the head cupbearer never gave Joseph another thought; he forgot all about him.

For Reflection
Well, that went well for the baker!  Death image to be sure.  Vultures pecking at his head? Wow!

The only thing Joseph asked the cupbearer in return for the interpretation of his dream was that the cupbearer remember Joseph to the Pharaoh.  This interpretation was given conditionally.  Joseph expected a return on his good deed.  Sadly, Joseph was disappointed.  His trust was misplaced.  What happens when we place our trust in anything or anyone other than God?  Disappointment!


Pray
that you will not lock your hope in the action of others.  Pray for the patience to wait on the Lord's will.  Pray that you will never lose trust in the Lord.

Choosing the Way of Faithfulness

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Covenant
God Watches Over Joseph

Psalm 119:25-32

The Message

 ^25-32 I'm feeling terrible—I couldn't feel worse!
      Get me on my feet again. You promised, remember?
   When I told my story, you responded;
      train me well in your deep wisdom.
   Help me understand these things inside and out
      so I can ponder your miracle-wonders.
   My sad life's dilapidated, a falling-down barn;
      build me up again by your Word.
   Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
      grace me with your clear revelation.
   I choose the true road to Somewhere,
      I post your road signs at every curve and corner.
   I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me;
      God, don't let me down!
   I'll run the course you lay out for me
      if you'll just show me how.

For Reflection
Prayer is a sure deterrent for temptation.  Studying the scriptures in the fellowship of believers, and keeping your eye on the fulfilling the promise of God will guide you to avoid temptations toward the un-Godly.

Pray
Reread the passages from Psalms and take it to your heart as a prayer.  Pray that you will choose God.