A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/11

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

            GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                            PART XI

"I, Joseph, the "Egyptian" official in charge of the food distribution here in Egypt, had a most unusual experience three days ago... That day had started as any other day... I was overseeing the distribution of grain...But on that day my ten brothers came before me.... They had travelled from Canaan to Egypt to buy grain for their families... They did not recognise me when they bowed down before me...That is not so surprising.. After all, I am wearing Egyptian clothing fitting with my important position... But I reognised them...However, I did not let them know who I am...I continued to play the role of "Egyptian" official they believed me to be... I then decided that I needed to test my brothers.. So I had them put in prison...They were there for three days... However, earlier today I went to visit them... I told them that nine of them could go home... I told them as well that when they return they must bring their youngest brother with them...I will most probably keep Simeon here.... I hope keeping him in prison will be an incentive for the other brothers to return to me one day... However, I have already made it clear that they cannot return to me without their youngest brother Benjamin.... I so long to see him... It has been such a long time since I last saw him... I wonder if he has changed.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Joseph visits his brothers in prison...

                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                    GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                      PART XI

Joseph, who is in charge of the distribution of grain in Egypt, goes to see his brothers, who are in prison, on the third day of their confinement as you can read in Genesis 42:18-20

On the third day, Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die." This they proceeded to do.

Joseph makes sure his brothers understand that, even though he will be merciful to them by letting them go back home to Canaan, there is a condition attached to his kindness to them: they must one day return to Egypt with their youngest brother.

Read Part Twelve HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/10

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

            GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD 

                         PART X

"I, Joseph, am the ""Egyptian" official in charge of the distribution of grain here in Egypt... And I have here ten men standing in front of me...They just bowed down to me..I know who they are... They are my ten brothers... And they have just confirmed that to me by telling me details of their background... They told me that they are the ten sons of one men... They told me as well that they have a younger brother... That will be my brother Benjamin... How I miss him... For I have not seen him for twenty-one years.... They told me as well that their youngest brother is with his father... That can only mean that my father is still alive!!... I am so thankful that my father is still alive... I have thought of him every day since I arrived here in Egypt....Perhaps I will be able to see him one day soon...But for now I must play the role of the strict official...I must test these men in front of me... That way I will know if they have changed since they sold me to merchants all these years ago... I will put them in prison for a three-day period... But I will send one of them back home to fetch my youngest brother."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the "Egyptian" official puts the brothers in prison for a three-day period.

                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                       GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                      PART X

Joseph, who is in charge of the distribution of the grain in Egypt, recognises his brothers but they do not recognise him so he puts them through some tests to find out if they have changed. He demands as well that they return with their youngest brother as you can read in Genesis 42:14-17

Joseph said to them, "It is just as I have told you: You are spies. And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unles your youngest brother comes here. Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies." And he put them all in custody for three days.

Joseph allows his brothers a taste of what he has been through, having spent a number of years in prison The brothers, no doubt, are concerned about his demand that they return to Egypt with their youngest brother for they know their father Jacob will not let him leave his side.

Read Part Eleven HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/9

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

            GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                       PART IX

We, the ten sons of Jacob, have travelled all the way from Canaan to Egypt.... We arrived earlier today... Our father Jacob had told us to go to Egypt to buy grain for our families because of the famine... We were quite tired when we arrived... But we knew we should see the official in charge of the distribution of the grain as soon as we possible... So we refreshed ourselves quickly... And we then presented ourselves to him... Being a very important man we bowed down to him... He began to question us as to where we had come from and why we are here...We told him we have come from Canaan...We explained as well that we have come to buy grain... He did not seem to believe us...He told us that we are spies who have come to check out the land... How can we convince him that we have only come to buy grain?... We decided to give him more details about our background... Perhaps that will make him believe us... We told him about our father and our youngest brother... We knew we had to tell him as well about our one brother who is no longer with us... We wished we did not have to mention that to him... For it is a painful truth, even after all these years... Twenty-one long years to be exact.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the brothers give Joseph more details of their family...

 

 

             ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                      GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                   PART IX

The brothers, standing in front of this "Egyptian," look at each other. Their father Jacob has sent them on a mission to buy grain for the families since they are running out of stock. They did not expect to be accused of spying the moment they come before this official who is in charge of the grain distribution. They decide to tell him a little more of their background as a way to soften his heart towards them as you can read in Genesis 42:13      

But they replied, "Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more"

With these words the brother hope to win over the official in front of them. After all, they have nothing to hide. They are honest men who have just come to buy grain for their families 

Read Part Ten HERE                                                                                                                                         

A PURPOSEUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES:GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/8

 

                                                                                    Read Part One Here 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

             GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD  

                           PART VIII

"I, Joseph, had my ten brothers come before me today... They bowed down before me.... They told me they had come to Egypt to buy grain because of the famine... They did not recognise me... To them I am an Egytian official... But I recognised them... And I remembered a long forgotten scene the moment they bowed down before me.... A scene I had put out of my mind for many years already... It was a scene of me being before these men telling them of a dream I had had... In that dream they were bowing down to me... They laughed at me at that time... That was twenty-one years ago...I was seventeen years old at that time...At that time I did not know how that could happen...I certainly never expected it to happen in Egypt.. I expected it to happen in Canaan...In my father Jacob's tent...So I put that dream.... Or in fact these dreams.... For I had two dreams... Out of my mind when I got to Egypt.... Until today... For today the impossible has become possible... My dreams have come true... My brothers have bowed down to me... Only God could have made that happen... With Him nothing is impossible... I decided that I needed to test my brothers... So I told them they are spies who have come to check out the land."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Joseph remembers his dreams when his brothers bow down before him...

                     ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                         GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                       PART VIII

When Joseph's brothers come before him and bow down to him, God reminds him of his God-given dreams. At that time he was seventeen year old and still living with his family in Canaan as you can read in Genesis 42:8-9

Although Joseph recognised his brothers, his brothers did not recognise him. Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, "You are spies. You have come to see where our land is unprotected."

Joseph may originally have thought that his dreams would be fulfilled in his father's tent but God had never shown him where these dreams were to be fulfilled. It must have been such a bitter-sweet moment for he will not only have remembered these dreams themselves, he will have remembered that he had gone to his family members to tell them that they would bow down to him. O, how full of pride he had been, how full of arrogance, how full of foolishness. He recognises these things now, but he had not then. Moreover, he recognises that God has been the source behind his brothers' scheme to sell him as a slave to Egypt so that godly character could be formed in him. It is now time to test his brothers to find out if they have changed.

Read Part Nine HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/7

 

                                                                                        Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

            GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                           PART VII

"I, Joseph, had a very unusual day today... To be honest, life has been quite unusual for many years already.... Let me explain why that is... I am a Hebrew, originally from Canaan... I used to live there with my father Jacob and my eleven brothers...One day ten of my brothers sold me to a group of merchants....They were on their way to Egypt.... These men then sold me as a slave to an Egyptian named Potiphar...I took care of his household....He was very good to me...But one day he had me put in prison for something I had not done...While in prison I took care of a prisoner who had been the chief cupbearer of Pharaoh...One night he had a dream... I helped him understand his dream... He went back to Court to serve as chief cupbearer of Pharaoh...Some time ago, to be exact, eight years ago, Pharaoh had two dreams... I was invited to the palace to help him understand his dreams....And I explained to him how to implement these dreams... I was then put it charge of the land...These dreams are becoming true.... For seven years we have saved up grain... We are now in the time of famine... One of my main tasks today is to oversee the distribution of the grain that we have saved up... Every day people come to me buy however much grain they may need... Most of the people who come to me are from Egypt... However, today I had customers from another country... They were ten in total... When they came to the room I was in they greeted me in the customary fashion..... They bowed down to me...Their faces touched the ground...I recognised them at once... They are my brothers... The ones who sold me to merchants all these years ago....They did not recognise me... To them I am an Egyptian official.... I did not tell them who I am... I asked theme where they had come from..I asked them as well why they had come to Egypt...They told me they had come from Canaan to buy grain."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jacob's ten sons arrive in Egypt and come before Joseph...

                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                    GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                   PART VII

Jacob had told his sons to go  Egypt to buy some grain. With these words he sends them on a path which will end up all of them bowing down to Joseph, who is in charge of the grain in Egypt, as foretold in the dreams he had when he was seventeen years old. Let 's read Genesis 42:6-7

Now Joseph was governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognised them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. "Where do you come from?" he asked. "From the land of Canaan, " they replied, "to buy food."

Jacob's sons eventually arrive in Egypt where they come before Joseph. As is the custom, they bow down before this "Egyptian," recognising his superior position. Joseph recognises his brothers but treats them firmly.

Read Part Eight HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/6

 

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

          GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                           PART VI

"I, Jacob, am the father of twelve sons... I should say, I am the father of eleven sons...For, as far as I know, one of my sons has been killed by wild animals.... His name is Joseph... I lost him over twenty years ago... I still mourn his loss every day... He was my favourite son... I had given him a colourful coat as a sign of my favour of him... My other sons, apart from my youngest one, Benjamin, did not like Joseph....I think they were somewhat jealous of him... This was possibly because God seemed to favour him as well.... After all, He had given him two dreams....Joseph had told us these dreams....From these dreams it seemed we would all bow down to him, myself included...Of course, that will never happen now....We live in Canaan... Life has been good for us so far... However,  more recently we have begun to struggle with a famine... It seems this famine is not just affecting Canaan.... It seems to affect other countries as well...But I have heard that there is food in Egypt...Normally speaking, I would not want anything to do with the people in Egypt...After all, they are a people who worship pagan gods... We worship the true God, the God of Abraham and Isaac....And he is my God as well.... But I have to be practical for we are running out of food.... I have, therefore, told my ten older sons to travel to Egypt to buy some grain... They left earlier today... My youngest son, Benjamin, has not gone with them... I need him too much... Especially after the loss of my son Joseph."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jacob sends ten of his sons to Egypt to buy grain...

                     ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                      GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                    PART VI

Going back to the story of Joseph, who is now in charge of the grain distribution in Egypt, after seven years of plenty, the seven years of famine start. This period does not just affect Egypt but it neigbouring countries as you can read in Genesis 1:57

And all the countries came to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.

The famine affects Jacob and his family, who live in Canaan, as well so Jacob sends ten of his sons to Egypt to buy grain as you vcan read in Genesis 42:1-2      

When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?" He continued, "I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die."

Jacob makes the decision that his sons need to go to Egypt to buy grain since there does not seem to be anything else they can do to survive. However, he is determined to keep his youngest son Benjamin home with him. Having lost one son already, Benjamin's older brother Joseph, Jacob will not allow Benjamin out of his sight.

Read Part Seven HERE

      

A URPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/5

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

           GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                             PART V

"I, Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, looked at my officials... They were with me in the throne room when the Hebrew slave Joseph was brought before me... They too heard his explanation of my two dreams... They heard as well his plan of action... I could see from their faces that they were very impressed with everything they had heard.... We briefly discussed what we should do... We all came to the same conclusion.... The Hebrew slave Joseph should be put in charge of his plan... He is the only one who is wise and discerning enough to know how that plan can be successfully accmplished...The reason I, the Pharaoh, believe this is so is because he has the Spirit of God in him....So, after my brief meeting with my official, I turned to Joseph... I told him that we will put him in charge of overseeing the storage of food when it is the time to do so...I told him as well that from this day he will have the post important position in my kingdom, apart from me... He may have been nothing more than a Hebrew slave... But he is no longer a slave... He is now governor of the land... I am confident that he will not abuse his position...But will use his position wisely... Because he knows that he has been given his position because of his God."... Please read the typed out attachement when you will learn that Joseph is given the position of governor of the land....

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                   GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                  PART V

Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, is wise enought to realise who should put the plan that has been proposed into action for it can only be the one who has been given the knowledge not only what his dreams mean but how these dreams should be implemented. And that person is Joseph as you can read in Genesis 41:37-39

The plan seemed good to Pharoah and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no-one so discerning and wise as you. You should be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."

You can see here that Pharaoh recognises and honours the God that Joseph serves. You can see here too that God is using all the practical skills Joseph has learned when he was in charge of the household of Potiphar as well as the time when he was overseeing everything in prison so he can now administrate this great task of overseeing the storage of food. Likewise, you too may know that God had a specific calling for you but you are not at present walking in your calling. As a matter of fact, you are doing something which may not be remotely related to what you believe the Lord is calling you to do. Like Joseph, do not despair. God will use your present training to get you ready physically, emotionally, mentally and spirtitually and, at the right time, you too will walk in what God has for you.

Read Part Six HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/4

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE           

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

         GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                          PART IV

"I, Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, am so grateful to the God of the Hebrew slave Joseph for helping me understand the two dreams I dreamt last night... I now know that there will be a seven-year period of plenty... I know too that this period of plenty will be followed by a seven-year period of famine... No doubt, the God of this Hebrew slave has shown me these things because He wants me to preserve the lives of the many people in my kingdom... I know too that a plan needs to be put in place to not waste the abundant harvests that we will have for seven years... However, I cannot take care of preserving these harvests for I have too many other things to take care of as ruler of this nation... I will need to select someone else to take on that responsibility.... Someone who is capable of that very important task... The Hebrew slave Joseph has just now put forward some thoughts on how these future harvests of grain can be stored up for the time of famine...I believe that his God who helped him understand my dreams may well have helped him put together this plan of action...It sounds like very good and wise advice... I should talk to my officials to see what they think of this plan of Joseph."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Joseph's proposed plan of action...

 

  

               ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                 GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                  PART IV

However, God does not only enable Joseph to interpret the dreams for Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, He gives Joseph wisdom in knowing how to put the dreams into action as you can reas in Genesis 41:33-36

"And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egyt. Let Phararoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine."

It is very important for Pharaoh not just to understand the dreams God has given him, but to know how to implement them.Thankfully, with God's help, Joseph is able to share with Pharaoh how the coming harvests can be a blessing to the nation during the time when food will be scarce.

Read Part Five HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/3

 

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

           GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                          PART III

"I, Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, listened very carefully to the Hebrew slave in front of me when he began to speak... His name is Joseph... He was a slave in the house of Potiphar... However he was then put in prison for something he, apparently, has not done... My chief cupbearer told me that he has a gift of explaining dreams... So I had him come before me... And I told him my two dreams... The dreams my magicians were not able to interpret... After I had given him all the details of my two dreams I waited... The moment this Hebrew slave Joseph began to speak I knew that his God was real... And I knew that what Joseph shared with me was true...His God has given me these two dreams to show me what will happen in the future... The first seven years will be years of plenty... But the next seven years will be years of famine...No doubt, Joseph's God has given me these dreams because I am responsble for many people in my kingdom as their Pharaoh... Joseph's God will want me to take action so that the lives of my people will be preserved... And, possibly, not just the lives of the people in my kingdom... Perhaps, Joseph's God intends to save the lives of many other people beyond my kingdom... He may even want to save the people living in Canaan where this Hebrew slave Joseph is from originally...".... Please read the typed out attachement when you will learn that Joseph explains to Pharoah his dreams...

  

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                   GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                      PART III

Pharaon, the ruler of Egypt, must have felt such relief when he hears the words of Joseph that God will give him the answer he desires. And he is not disappointed because Joseph does indeed give him the explanation as inspired by God in Genesis 41:25-27

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream.                                                                                  The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterwards are seven years and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind; they are seven years of famine."  

Joseph explains tht there are going to be seven years when the land will be blessed with an abundant harvest. But this will be followed by another seven years when there will be a famine throughout that period.

Read Part Four HERE