Focus
Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.
Read
21 The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each one of them he gave a set of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments. 23 To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Do not quarrel along the way.”
25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.” He was stunned; he could not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph that he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die.”
Reflect
This story is an illustration of grace! Joseph had two options. One, he could have taken revenge on his brothers. That would feel good. He could justify himself and make them pay. Second, he could forgive his brothers, and allow God to redeem even the worst situation. He chose the second and because of that, a family was reconciled and everyone’s dignity was restored.
This world can be evil and we think we are too small or insignificant to make an impact for good. But, maybe by practicing forgiveness and grace we can contribute to the healing of the world.
The Gospel is powerful because in preaching it, we proclaim that God works for reconciliation. And when we practice the Gospel we see miraculous acts of reconciliation. Let us have faith in the power of God when we preach and practice the Gospel. See God work!
Pray
God of Jacob and Joseph and us all, we come to You in this Lenten season reflecting on our lives, the good, the bad, and the ugly things we are not proud of. We, like the sons of Israel long to bring good news to others rather than the bad that we have spread in the past. Revive our faith and recognize the places in our lives that are still alive when we thought they were long dead. Revive us again! Amen
Go with God!
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.