Today’s scripture: Genesis 37 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Mark Shoup):
Elul 19, 1269
Could my brother be anymore annoying? It’s bad enough that he is always spying and tattling on the rest of us, but today he actually had the gall to say he had a dream where all of us were bowing down before him. Him, the youngest in the family! I don’t know why father dotes on him so. To me he is just a lazy gold digger trying to act more important than he really is. I’m so sick of the way he flaunts that new colorful robe father made for him. I’m sure it will never get dirty, since Joseph hardly ever does any real work, unless you count working his mouth. . .
Tishrei 13, 1270
Oh, he’s at it again. Today, Joseph told the family he had another dream where not only the family, but the sun, moon and stars were bowing down to him. Even father, who usually coddles the little brown noser, rebuked him about it. But it was really funny when Reuben passed him a baguette and said, “Here is your scepter, my lord.” Japheth laughed so hard that yak milk came out his nose!
Cheshvan 28, 1270
Oh, camel dung! I can’t believe what has happened. We were out with the flock, when we saw Joseph off in the distance coming to spy on us. We decided to teach him a lesson, so we caught him, ripped off that infernal multicolored tunic that he is constantly wearing, and threw him in an old well. I think some of the other brothers would have actually killed him if Reuben hadn’t intervened. Instead, while Reuben was sleeping off three falafel sandwiches, we sold him to some Midianites that were passing by, then took his coat and put blood all over it so that Father would think that a lion or something had eaten Joseph. Then we all took an oath of secrecy.
Tevet 14, 1297 (also see Genesis 45)
Wow! I have never been so happy to see someone in my whole life! I can’t believe how well Joseph has done for himself in Egypt, not to mention that the whole clan probably would have starved if it hadn’t been for the food he gave us. He was still a conniving little brat when he was younger, but I guess there really was something to those dreams he had. I suppose it just goes to show you that God uses even the most annoying people in the long run! To think, we used to joke about Joseph being the “extra grace required” member of the family, and now he probably thinks that about us. Well, maybe he doesn’t, but if he did, who could blame him!
Joseph sums up his experience with these insightful words:
“I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God.”
Thought for the day: I’m so quick to complain when things don’t go my way. What inconvenience or challenge have I resented, rather than looking for the good that can come from it?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.