Read with Me
Genesis 45:25-28 (HCSB)
So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Listen with Me
When Joseph’s brothers returned to Canaan, Jacob was relieved, because even before they got down from the wagons they were now driving, he could see that both Simeon and Benjamin were with them. But what about those wagons? They had left with just 10 donkeys!
Then Jacob’s sons gathered around him, all talking at once and telling him that Joseph was alive! They had seen him in Egypt! And not only that, he was “the man” they had been talking about, the one who was second only to Pharaoh in the whole land of Egypt!
The information was coming at him so loudly and so rapidly that Jacob couldn’t make sense of it. Joseph was alive? Nonsense! The boys had showed him Joseph’s coat torn to shreds and stained with blood, and no one had seen him since. How could he have possibly made it clear over to Egypt in such a horribly wounded condition? If he could get all the way to Egypt, why hadn’t he come home instead? And even if he had made it to Egypt, how could he, a foreigner, possibly rise to such a powerful position among the Egyptians? He refused to believe them.
So, Jacob’s son slowed down. One at a time, they recounted to him how Joseph had revealed himself to them, and what he had told them. Then they took him over to the wagons and showed him all the good things that filled them – provisions for the trip to Egypt to join Joseph. Gradually, hope and joy began to flood back into Jacob’s gray, lifeless heart, and a new light shone in his eyes. He wasn’t sure how such a thing was possible, but he felt sure that Joseph truly was alive. And he could go see him!
Pray with Me
Father, we are often slow to believe what we cannot arrive at by logic. That’s part of the reason that many of the things You have done, miracles and fulfilled prophecies, both in the Scriptures and today, engender more doubt than faith. But You truly have done many great things, many miracles, even in my own life. And I not only see these things as miracles, but I also testify about them frequently so that others can start to believe as well. Lord, help me to continue to see Your work in my life and in my vicinity, so that I can continue to testify and to grow the faith of others. Amen.