Exodus 13 & 14: Will You Stand Still?
Verse of the Day: (14:13) And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
1. Sanctify (13:1-22)
Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. (13:2)
God commanded Moses to sanctify the firstborn of both men and beasts for His service, as they were spared from death, while all the firstborn of the Egyptians were killed because of their disobedience. However, even after the death of his firstborn, Pharaoh continued to harden his heart, and refused to repent, and even went on to lead his army to pursue and kill the Hebrews whom they had freed earlier. However, God was with the Hebrews as a pillar of cloud by day to lead them the way, and a pillar of fire by night to give them light. Indeed, God is always with His people because He truly loves them.
2. Stand (14:1-14)
And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. (14:22)
God will make a way when there seems no way. Moses and the Hebrews were desperately trapped as in front of them was the Red sea, while behind them were the pursuing Egyptians. The Hebrews began to cry out to God, and then blamed Moses, their leader, that he was the one who had led them into this mess, and that they shall surely die in the wilderness as if there was no grave in Egypt. They regretted following Moses, and wished that they were back in Egypt serving the Egyptians. However, by faith, Moses commanded Israel to fear not, and stand still, and see the salvation of God upon them. God then promised Moses that He shall open the Red sea when he lift up his rod, and stretch out his hand over it. Indeed as Moses stretched out his hand, God opened the Red sea by a strong east wind all that night, and Israel miraculously crossed it to the other side as if it was dry land, while witnessing the wall of waters on both sides of their way.
3. Save (14:15-31)
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. (14:30)
God miraculously saved Israel because of His everlasting mercy and amazing grace as well as the faith of Moses and Israel. (Hebrews 11:29). However, God destroyed Pharaoh and the Egyptians as He closed the Red sea and drowned them because they rebelled and rejected Him. On that day, Israel feared God, and believed in Him, as well as his servant Moses, and knew that their God, the God of Israel, was indeed the one and true God.
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to stand still and fully trust and obey You.
Exodus 11 & 12: Will The Lord Pass Over You?
Verse of the Day: (12:13) And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
1. Pharaoh (11:1-10)
And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. (11:1)
God told Moses that Pharaoh shall finally thrust the Hebrews out of Egypt when He sent the last plague, the tenth plague, which was the death of every firstborn of the Egyptians including their beasts. Indeed, the God of the Hebrews is the one and only true God.
2. Pass (12:1-20)
And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s passover. (12:11)
God commanded the Hebrews through Moses that on the tenth day of the first month of the year that they shall take a male lamb without blemish for each family, and shall keep it until the evening of the fourteenth day when they shall kill the lamb and sprinkled the blood of the lamb on the two side posts and the upper doorposts of the house. God shall then pass over all the houses of the Hebrews that had the blood of the lamb on them, while He slayed all the firstborns of the Egyptians and their beasts whose houses had no blood of the lamb on them. This great deliverance when God passed over the Hebrews and spared their firstborns was known as the LORD’s passover. Today, the Jews celebrate the LORD’s passover as a festival for seven days with a feast of unleavened bread thanking God for His great deliverance. Indeed, Moses and the Hebrews, by faith kept the passover, shed the blood of the lamb and sprinkled it on the doorposts of their houses signifying their belief in the great prophesy that one day, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, shall die on the cruel cross and shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. Indeed, whoever therefore believes in Jesus shall never perish in fiery hell, but have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven. (Hebrews 11:28).
3. Promise (12:21-51)
And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. (12:25)
God delivers what He promises. At midnight, when God slayed all the firstborn of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, Pharaoh finally commanded Moses and Aaron to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt, and eventually to the Promised land, so that they could serve their God. Pharaoh realised that the God of Hebrews was indeed the one and only true God.
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You pass over me, and grant me salvation in Christ.
Exodus 9 & 10: Will You Humble Before God?
Verse of the Day: (10:3) And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.
1. Hebrews (9:1-35)
Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. (9:1)
Pharaoh never believed and trusted in the God of the Hebrews as time and again he hardened his heart, and refused to let the Hebrews go. God then sent the fifth plague, which was a grievous murrain that caused the death of all the cattle of the Egyptians, while the cattle of the Hebrews survived the murrain. Pharaoh again hardened his heart, and God sent the sixth plague, which was boils upon man and beast, throughout Egypt. This time Pharaoh was physically hurt as the boils were upon him and the Egyptians, while there was no boil upon the Hebrews. Again Pharaoh hardened his heart and God sent the seventh plague, which was thunder and hail throughout Egypt, while there was no thunder and hail in the land of Goshen where the Hebrews stayed. Indeed, God always protects and preserves His people and those who trust in Him. Let us therefore keep trusting God as He shall protect and preserve us on earth and in heaven now and forever.
2. Humble (10:1-20)
And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD. (10:2)
God told Moses that His ten plagues, that were sent to humble Pharaoh and the Egyptians, was to tell the whole world, and in particular, the Hebrews, throughout the ages to come, that their God, the God of the Hebrews, is indeed the true and living God. As God explained to Moses, Pharaoh again hardened his heart, and God then sent the eight plague, which were swarms of locusts, to destroy all the vegetation throughout Egypt. Pharaoh then pleaded with Moses that he had sinned against God, and he would release the Hebrews provided God removed the locusts from Egypt. God removed the locusts, but Pharaoh did not keep his promise, and God sent the ninth plague, which was complete darkness, throughout Egypt, and the only light was in the land where the Hebrews stayed.
3. Harden (10:21-29)
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. (10:27)
It was not that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, but that God allowed Pharaoh to choose to harden his heart. Though God’s desire was for Pharaoh to humble his heart, yet He allowed him to have choices, and he chose to harden his heart and sinned against Him.
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to humble before You, and to love and serve You.
Exodus 7 & 8: Will You Let Go?
Verse of the Day: (7:14) And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
1. Go (7:1-25)
And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear. (7:16)
Though God appointed Moses to be His representative, and Aaron, His spokesman, to command Pharaoh to let the Hebrews depart from Egypt and possess the land of Canaan, yet He knew that Pharaoh had hardened his heart to rebel against Him. However, all things worked together in God’s purpose as He punished Pharaoh and the Egyptians with ten deadly plagues before they finally let the Hebrews depart from Egypt. God sent the first plague by turning all the waters of Egypt to blood causing widespread death of all fishes and creatures in the waters, and making the Egyptians unable to drink their waters.
2. God (8:1-19)
Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. (8:19)
Even with the first plague destroying the waters of Egypt, Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let the Hebrews depart from Egypt. God then punished Egypt with the second plague by sending multitudes of frogs to Egypt. Pharaoh then pleaded with Moses that he would let go the Hebrews provided God stopped the plague. However, Pharaoh lied to Moses, and did not keep his words. God then punished Egypt with the third plague by sending multitude of lice. The magicians by this time knew that the plagues were from the finger of God, and there was absolutely nothing they could do to stop these deadly plagues.
3. Goshen (8:20-32)
And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. (8:22)
However, Pharaoh again hardened his heart, and God then punished Egypt with the fourth plague by sending swarms of flies to Egypt. However, God loved and protected the Hebrews as there was no swarm of flies in Goshen, the place where the Hebrews stayed in Egypt. Again, Pharaoh promised Moses that he would let the Hebrews go provided God removed the flies from Egypt. Again, Pharaoh lied and did not keep his words. Finally, God severely punished Pharaoh for his unbelief, and Pharaoh eventually let the Hebrews depart from Egypt. Let us let go everything and everyone in our lives, and let God be in full control of our lives knowing that He is indeed the living and loving God.
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to let go, and let You take full control of my life.
Exodus 5 & 6: Who Is The LORD?
Verse of the Day: (5:2) And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
1. LORD (5:1-23)
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. (5:1)
Instead of agreeing with Moses and Aaron to let the people of Israel go and hold a feast in the wilderness, Pharaoh hardened his heart and ordered his taskmasters to oppress them even more by not giving them straws to make bricks for their building works. The people of Israel then blamed Moses and Aaron for making their lives worse after they had approached Pharaoh to let the people go. Indeed, until God opened the spiritual eyes of Pharaoh, he would never know and believe the LORD, the Creator and Maker of the entire universe, including mankind, because of his sins and pride. However, God was testing the faith of Moses, Aaron and the people of Israel, that through all the sufferings would they still trust and obey Him, and believed that He is their LORD, the true God.
2. Land (6:1-8)
And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD. (6:8)
Though God through Moses time and again reminded the people of Israel that He shall give them the land of Canaan as He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, yet they refused to believe in Him. However, Moses by faith believe in God and His promises, and he persevered, and eventually God fulfilled His promises. (Hebrews 11:23-29). Indeed, let us persevere in our faith and know that what God promises He shall fulfil.
3. Lips (6:9-30)
And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? (6:12)
Moses cried before God that he was a “nobody” with uncleaned lips, that not only Pharaoh, but even the people of Israel, refused to believe that He was God-sent. In the end, through much fiery storms, the LORD through Moses delivered the people of Israel to the Promised Land. Indeed, like Moses and the people of Israel, time and again, God shall send fiery trials to our lives to test our faith, and sometimes we are delivered from them but sometimes the trials stay with us but let us remember that God is always with us amid our trials until the day He calls us to His glorious home in heaven. (1 Peter 4:12-13).
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are my LORD and my Saviour, the true God.
Exodus 3 & 4: Who Am I?
Verse of the Day: (3:11) And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
1. Who (3:1-22)
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (3:14)
When the holy God appeared to Moses at the burning bush - where the bush never really got burnt - and commanded him that he shall be the one delivering the people of Israel out of the bondage of the Egyptians, and bringing them to the Promised Land, Moses’s reply was, Who am I? Moses was shocked as he was a murderer running away from Pharaoh who was after his life for killing an Egyptian, and the last thing he expected from God was that he would be appointed as the deliverer of Israel. Moses was now 80 years old, and he had spent 40 years of his life as the prince of Egypt - a Somebody - and another 40 years as a fugitive - a Nobody - and now God had appointed him to be the deliverer of Israel - God’s body - for the next 40 years, before God took him home to glory at the good old age of 120. (Deuteronomy 34:7). Indeed, God is I AM THAT I AM, and He can do anything and everything for us, and with Him, there is nothing impossible!
2. Words (4:1-17)
And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. (4:15)
Moses confessed to God that he lacked eloquence, and feared most to confront Pharaoh, the powerful king of Egypt. God reprimanded Moses, and then enlisted Aaron, Moses’ brother, who was eloquent, to help him speak to Pharaoh. God assured Moses that He shall be with him and Aaron, and shall give them His words to speak to Pharaoh to release the people of Israel from slavery as well as Egypt so that they shall go and possess the Promised Land. Indeed, we may think that we have not much confidence and skills, but let us fully commit to God, and let Him use us in His works and for His glory.
3. Wonders (4:18-31)
And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand, but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. (4:21)
God knows the end from the beginning – God knows everything! God told Moses and Aaron that even with all the wonders and miracles that He shall perform through them, Pharaoh would continue to harden his heart. However, the day shall come when God shall send the angel of death to destroy the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, then shall Pharaoh beg God for His mercy, and immediately release the people of Israel from Egypt.
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are my everything, and without You I am nothing.
Exodus 1 & 2: Will You Fear God?
Verse of the Day: (1:17) But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
1. Fight (1:1-14)
Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. (1:10)
Only one life, and so soon it will pass, and only what is done for God shall last forever. Joseph, the Hebrew, died, and soon his great works of saving the world from starvation were forgotten. As the Hebrews began to multiply in numbers in Egypt, the Egyptians saw them as a potential threat to join their enemies to fight against them during wartime, and therefore they began to make them their slaves and clipped their freedom and power.
2. Fear (1:15-22)
And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. (1:21)
As the Hebrews multiplied in number, the new king of Egypt who knew not Joseph, ordered the Hebrew midwives - Shiphrah and Puah - to kill all baby boys born by the Hebrews. However, Shiphrah and Puah feared God than the king of Egypt as they secretly spared the lives of the baby boys, and gave the reason that the Hebrews unlike the Egyptians were quick in delivering their babies way before they came by. Though they lied to the king and God chastised them, yet they feared God, and God subsequently bless them with many children! Indeed, let us fear God than man, as God is our Creator!
3. Flee (2:1-25)
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. (2:15)
What God promises, He delivers. God protected His chosen people, the Hebrews, as He preserved Moses who shall lead the Hebrews out of the bondage of the Egyptians. As Moses’ mother hid baby Moses by putting him on a small ark, and letting it flowed by the river that Pharaoh’s daughter spotted it, and took him to be her adopted son. By God’s providence, Pharaoh’s daughter appointed Moses’ mother as Moses’ nurse. Moses grew up, and was perturbed that his people, the Hebrews, were slaves under the Egyptians. One day, Moses killed an Egyptian who mistreated a Hebrew as he could no longer tolerate the fact that his people were oppressed by the Egyptians. When Moses heard that Pharaoh issued a warrant of arrest for him, he fled to Midian. However, it was during the time in Midian as a fugitive that God humbled and trained him to be the deliverer of the Hebrews!
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to fear You, and not men, as You are the Almighty God.
Genesis 49 & 50: Are You In God’s Place?
Verse of the Day: (50:19) And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
1. Progenitors (49:1-33)
The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. (49:26)
The last words of a man are usually the best words. Jacob’s last words to his twelve sons were God’s prophecies. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, was mighty but unstable. Simeon and Levi were unrighteous and their descendants shall be scattered in Israel. Judah, the lion’s whelp, shall be the progenitor of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Zebulun and Issachar were the diligent silent majority. Dan shall be a judge as well as a rebel. Gad and his descendants shall be warriors of Israel. Asher and his descendants shall enjoy prosperity. Naphtali and his descendants shall also enjoy prosperity. Joseph and his descendants shall be richly and greatly blessed. Finally, Benjamin, Jacob’s youngest son, and his descendants shall also be warriors of Israel. Though Jacob’s twelve sons were far from perfect and reaped the consequences of their sins, yet God eventually blessed them. Indeed, it is never the good of man, but the grace of God upon man! (Ephesians 2:8-10).
2. Pharaoh (50:1-13)
And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear. (50:6)
Pharaoh acceded to all of Joseph’s requests as Joseph was truly the saviour of his kingdom and even the world. Pharaoh agreed to Joseph to have Jacob’s body be carried to Canaan to be buried with his forefathers. It meant a lot for Jacob to be buried with his forefathers as this was God’s promise to Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, that in him shall the people of Israel be fruitful and multiplied throughout the world. Indeed, today, Israel is one of the most successful country of the world, but let us pray that the people of Israel shall truly come to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 3:16).
3. Place (50:14-26)
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (50:20)
Joseph forgave his brothers for the evil they did to him, as he realised that God meant it for good because he eventually became the saviour of the world. Joseph knew that he would never be in God’s place to judge his brothers, as it was God who was with him all the time. Joseph just submitted to God’s leadership even though he was mistreated and wrongly accused by his brothers. Let us therefore submit to God’s leadership even though we may not fully understand why we are mistreated and wrongly accused! (Romans 8:28).
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to fully submit to You that I can never be in Your place.
Genesis 47 & 48: Will You Give Your Best?
Verse of the Day: (47:6) The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.
1. Best (47:1-12)
And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. (47:11)
Pharaoh gave Joseph the best land for him and his family to tend all the cattle and sheep of Egypt. Pharaoh knew that God had given him the best man, Joseph, who not only accurately interpreted his dreams, but also saved his country, Egypt, as well as the world, from starvation. Pharaoh knew that Joseph loved his family, and therefore he gave them possession of the best land in Egypt. Pharaoh knew that without Joseph, he and his people would have perished because of the severe famine. However, God’s love is greater than Joseph’s, in fact, it is the greatest, as God gave His best, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the whole world. Whoever therefore believes in Jesus shall never die, as their precious souls shall forever be with God in glorious heaven!
2. Bury (47:13-31)
But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. (47:30)
Israel requested Joseph, his dearest son, that upon his death, to carry his body to Canaan and bury him together with his forefathers who were also buried there. Israel desired to fulfil God’s great promise to Abraham, his forefather, the father of the nation of Israel, that their people shall be fruitful and shall multiply themselves throughout the world. Indeed, today, Israel is one of the most powerful nations of the world, and let us pray that the people of Israel shall come to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ! (John 3:16)
3. Brother (48:1-22)
And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. (48:19)
Though Israel, by custom, was supposed to put his right hand on Manasseh’s head, Joseph’s firstborn, and bless him, yet God moved him to bless Ephraim, Manasseh’s younger brother. Indeed, man can never change God’s plan and purpose, as He is the supreme and sovereign God. Let us submit to God, even though many times we may not fully understand His plan and purpose, because His ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts, just as the heavens are higher than the earth! (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to give my best to You, as You give Your best to me.
Genesis 45 & 46: Will God Save You?
Verse of the Day: (45:7) And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
1. Save (45:1-15)
So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (45:8)
Joseph finally revealed to his brothers who he was and assured them that he had already forgiven them of their wicked deeds of casting him to the pit, and then selling him to the Ishmeelites, as he knew now that God was in control of everything. Indeed, all things including bad things, work together for good to them who loves God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28). From man’s perspective, Joseph had a bad deal, but from God’s perspective, he had a good deal. Without Joseph being in the pit, and then in prison, he would not have been called to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams at his palace, and subsequently became the most powerful ruler, next to Pharaoh, to save not only the Egyptians, but the world, including his father, brothers and their families from starvation!
2. Silver (45:16-28)
To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. (45:22)
Joseph demonstrated his great love and generosity for Benjamin, his younger brother from the same mother, Rachel, as he gave him three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of raiment, while he only gave the rest of his half-brothers changes of raiment.
3. Shepherds (46:1-34)
That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. (46:34)
The Egyptians hated the shepherds as they were associated with the people of Israel, and in particular with the God of Israel, who was often referred to the great Shepherd who led Israel. (Psalms 80:1). This was why Joseph told his brothers to introduce themselves to the Egyptians as traders of cattle, instead of shepherds. As a result of Joseph’s wisdom in interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams as well as saving Egypt and the rest of the world from starvation, Pharaoh rewarded Joseph by giving him and his family all the cattle and sheep and vast amount of pasture land. Indeed, it is not just how well we start, but how well we finish our Christian race. Like Joseph, let us keep on looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, and despising the shame, and is now seated at the right hand throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2).
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for saving me from fiery hell to Your home in heaven.
Genesis 43 & 44: Who Is Your Surety?
Verse of the Day: (43:9) I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blames for ever:
1. Surety (43:1-34)
And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. (43:14)
Judah repented of his sins of mistreating Joseph, his brother, when he volunteered to be the surety for the safety of Benjamin, his youngest brother. Joseph had instructed his brothers to bring Benjamin to him in Egypt in order to release Simeon, whom he had imprisoned because he had falsely charged his brothers of being spies of Israel, so as to punish them for their wickedness in selling him to the Ishmeelites many years ago. Judah not only was the surety of Benjamin, he also was the lineage where the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, shall come from! By this time, Jacob learned the hard way that he was truly under the mercy of God Almighty, and all his children were actually gifts from Him!
2. Silver (44:1-17)
And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. (44:2)
Joseph commanded his steward to secretly place his own silver cup together with the corn money in Benjamin’s sack, so that subsequently he would falsely accused Benjamin of stealing it, as a punishment for his brothers’ cruelty towards him many year ago. Joseph commanded his steward to chase after them, and exposed them for stealing his silver cup, and arrested Benjamin because his sack contained the silver cup. The brothers were shocked and sad when they found out that the silver cup was actually with Benjamin!
3. Sons (44:18-34)
And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: (44:27)
Judah begged Joseph to arrest him instead of Benjamin, otherwise Jacob would die of grief, for he thought he lost Joseph, his favourite son, (Joseph was sold to the Ishmeelites, and he was not killed by a wild beast as his brothers had deceived their father to cover up their wickedness) and now he would lose Benjamin, another of his favourite sons, as both of them were from Rachel, his beloved wife. Finally Joseph confessed to his brothers that he was testing them all this while whether they were remorseful of what they did to him many years ago. Joseph discovered that his brothers truly repented of their wickedness. Though it is heart-breaking for parents to lose their children, just like I lost my younger son, Benjamin, however, as Christians, death is sleep, as we shall wake up in heaven and live forever, and indeed, one day, I shall see my Benjamin, in heaven! (John 11:25-26)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Jesus is my Surety and Saviour now and forever!
Genesis 41 & 42: Is The Spirit Of God In You?
Verse of the Day: (41:38) And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
1. Seven (41:1-37)
And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. (41:36)
We may not understand God’s plan and purpose but He never make mistakes! If Joseph’s brothers had not thrown him into the pit and subsequently sold him to the Ishmeelites, he would not be serving Potiphar, his master. If Potiphar’s wife had not seduced him, he would not have been thrown into the prison, and met the butler, who later told Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret his dreams, when no one in Egypt could. Joseph correctly interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams of the seven years of plenty of corns as well as seven years of famine, and advised Pharaoh to save up the corns during the seven years of plenty so as to feed the people during the seven years of famine. Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph’s advice, and immediately appointed him as his right hand man. Joseph then delivered not only the people of Egypt, but the entire known world of starvation. Indeed, this was exactly the fulfilment of Joseph’s dreams earlier in his life, when he told his family that the whole world including his family shall bow before him! (Genesis 37:1-11)
2. Spirit (41:38-57)
Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. (41:40)
God’s Spirit was in Joseph as he saved not only the Egyptians, but the world from starvation as he supplied them with corns he had kept during the seven years of plenty.
3. Spies (42:1-38)
And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. (42:9)
Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt to buy corns, and little did they know that Joseph, their brother, whom they threw him into the pit and then sold him to the Ishmeelites was the one whom they would buy the corns from. Joseph recognised his brothers while the brothers could not as many years had passed by. Joseph taught his brothers a lesson for treating him badly by accusing them of being spies of Israel to gather information to attack Egypt. They denied, and Joseph imprisoned Simeon, one of their brothers, and commanded the rest of them to return to Israel in order to bring Benjamin, their youngest brother, who was in Israel with their father, to him to prove that they were not spies. Finally, the brothers reconciled with Joseph, and repented their wickedness. Indeed, all things work together for good to them who love God and have His Spirit! (Romans 8:28)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Your holy Spirit dwells in me now and forever!
Genesis 39 & 40: Is The LORD With You?
Verse of the Day: (39:21) But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. (39:21)
1. Lie (39:1-20)
And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. (39:10)
God shall test the faith of His children day by day until the day He calls us home! This was what happened to Joseph as his faith was tested daily when master’s wife kept seducing him to lie with her and sin against God. Joseph’s brothers had sold him to the Ishmeelites, who in turn sold him to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, who became his master. Potiphar saw that God with Joseph and had blessed him in everything that he did, and so he committed his house and business to him. However, life was not a bed of roses for Joseph, as his master’s wife kept seducing him daily until he was thrown into prison.
2. LORD (39:21-23)
The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper. (39:23)
Potiphar threw Joseph into the prison when his wife falsely accused Joseph of attempted rape. This was indeed hard for Joseph to swallow as he did everything right and even fled from the daily seduction of his master’s wife yet he was thrown into prison. However, time and again, God was with Joseph, and even showed him favour as the keeper of the prison saw God was with Joseph, and appointed him to be in charge of all the prisoners!
3. Lift (40:1-23)
Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. (40:13)
God was with Joseph and gave him the gift of interpretation of dreams and he was able to interpret two prisoners’ dreams - one was Pharaoh’s butler and the other was Pharaoh’s baker. Joseph interpreted the dreams that Pharaoh shall lift up the butler’s head and he shall be freed, while Pharaoh hang the baker. Joseph’s interpretations were spot-on, and the butler was released, while the baker was hanged. Joseph had requested the butler that when he would be released that he would plead with Pharaoh to release Joseph out of the prison, as he was wrongly accused. The butler agreed to his request, and eventually Joseph was freed. God was with Joseph right from the pit, to the prison, and eventually to the palace of Pharaoh! Indeed, whatever we are going through, let us remember that God is with us, and He shall deliver us from all our troubles until the day He calls us home!
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are with me now and forever!
Genesis 37 & 38: Will You Discern According To God’s Will?
Verse of the Day: (38:25) When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.
1. Dream (37:1-20)
And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? (37:10)
Before the Bible or God’s Word was completed, God spoke to His people through dreams and angels. Here God spoke to Joseph in his dream that he would be a powerful ruler one day, and everyone in the world, including his family, shall bow before him.
2. Deliver (37:21-36)
And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. (37:21)
Joseph’s brothers were angry with Joseph, because Jacob favoured Joseph, and also Joseph had told them that one day they shall bow before him. So when the opportunity arose that Joseph was with them, they conspired to kill him. However, Reuben delivered Joseph out of them, and suggested that they cast him into the pit. While Reuben was out of sight, they sold him to the merchants who were on their way to Egypt. Reuben was upset when he found out that Joseph was sold, and his brothers then conspired to deceive their father that a wild beast had killed him. Jacob could not be comforted when he was told that Joseph had “died”. However, let us rejoice as all who believe in Jesus Christ never die, as to be absent from the body is to be present with God. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
3. Discern (38:1-30)
And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. (38:26)
Tamar was upset with Judah, her father-in-law, as by tradition, he should have given her his other son to be her husband after the deaths of her two husbands who were Judah’s sons. Tamar took matter into her own hands and pretended to be a prostitute, and Judah committed immorality with her as her face was hidden from him. When Judah was told that Tamar was pregnant he did not discern that he was the father and commanded her to be burnt. When he discovered that he was the father of Tamar’s children, he repented his sins. Let us not be quick to judge the sins of others, but discern others according to God’s will as we are all sinners saved by grace. Indeed, God is so good, that despite Judah’s sins, he was chosen as the ancestor of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world! (Matthew 1:3,16)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to discern according to Your will, and never my will.
