Heavenhigh

Life, a Serious Matter!

# 13 2024 Dev. Ecclesiastes 7:7. Life, a Serious Matter! Read all of chapter seven first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ecc.7:20 “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.”

Ecc.7. Ecclesiastes is a difficult book and there are different ways to deal with it. One way is to look at the plain meaning of the text. The “teacher” tells us that life is a serious matter. And asks; “Why were the old days better than these? ‘For it is not wise to ask such questions.’” And he says; “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.”

Vs.1-6 The teacher wants to impress upon us the meaning of life from the perspective of the future. Although there is no indication of an afterlife here, the book as a whole does confirm it. Here he points to death as a reality of life and the end of a person on earth. Is death better than to be born? Is the end better than the beginning? Yes, that could be true, but it depends if you look to the future or not. Many live in the past and many live in the present, of course we live in the present but that does not control the future. There are times of mourning and times of pleasure. That is real, but not if you pay more attention to one over the other. New Testament Christians look forward to the future and live in the present by faith.

V.7 Is a proverb that stands alone but is a commentary on living in the present only. “Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.”

V.8-14 We have mentioned this above, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” Again this puts the emphasis on the future. V.10 asks about the past, the teachers says; don’t live back there, it is not wise. “Wisdom is a shelter”, as well as money but only “wisdom preserves those who have it.” God is in control; He blesses us, sometimes He does not. God is in control of our lives, forming us to be who He wants us to be.

Vs.15-22 The next seven verses are proverbs to direct one’s life.

We live in a broken world, life is not always fair but we as Christians participate in that brokenness with our short comings and sometimes outright sins. Can we be over righteous? Yes, it leads to self righteousness and to condemnation of others. Can we be overwicked? Yes, it is foolish, willful and destroys the future. “Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.” Righteousness is hard to come by and sins come easy. Do not believe everything you hear or what you read but have a discerning heart.

Vs.23-26 “All this I tested by wisdom and I said,” “Whatever exists…who can discover it?…and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly…I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare… a trap…The man who pleases God will escape her but the sinner she will ensnare.” Most commentators put Solomon as the author and if that is the case he may want to take his own advice. “This only have I found: God created mankind upright but they have gone in search of many schemes.” He does not mention God’s grace that he himself has experienced. We thank God for His grace in our lives! Amen!

Future Blessings and Consequences!

# 12 2024 Dev. Ge. 49:1 Future Blessings and Consequences! Read all of chapter forty-nine first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge. 49:1 “Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.”

Chapter 48-49 Is about the Covenantal Blessings given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob now about to be passed on to Jacob’s sons. This chapter, 49, is about Jacob blessing the rest of his sons. Here as in Ch. 48 as well God’s grace is on display as well as His condemnation.

Vs.1-7 Reuben, the first born, should have had all the honor but lost it by defiling his father’s bed. Simeon and Levi, based on what happened in Ch. 34, also were not blessed, they killed the Shechemites by deception using the Covenantal sign of circumcision. The word used for “sword” is used only here, but the suggestion is cutting knives used for circumcision (NIV Application Com.). Reuben and Simeon will be scattered among the tribes replaced by Ephraim and Manasseh. However, God showed mercy to Levi, they were scattered as a tribe among the other tribes as servants of the Lord and their brothers in religious functions.

Vs.8-12 Here Jacob leaves the past and moves to the future and now uses animal metaphors in his blessings. “Judah,[b] your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you.” Judah is the chosen from all his brothers and is compared to a lion. God’s grace is at play here as well, Judah’s mother was Leah and her fourth son, out of six. Judah is in the line of Christ through his daughter in law Tamar. Go figure?

First, we have Tamar, a Canaanite woman, and there is Rahab of Jericho, and the list goes on of women other than Israelites that are in the line of Christ. God’s Story is one of His grace. Verse 10 is determinative: “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[c] until he to whom it belongs[d] shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” This phrase is uncertain; “until to he to whom it belongs…”. What confuses it is; “The scepter will not depart from Judah”. The NIV Application Com. answers that in this way: “David/Messiah is a representative of Judah, (or rather Judah represents) “David/Messiah ”. They are representatives, not replacements.

Vs.13-21 The next group of six sons blessed are Zebulun and Issachar born to Leah. Zebulun, a sailor and Issachar, a worker, both blessings from God. Dan born to Bilhah, Leah’s hand maid, “will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.” But he is described as a snake lying in wait. Jacob says: “I look for your deliverance, Lord.” It is not clear why Jacob inserts this prayer at this point. Is he reflecting on his domestic struggles from the day of his marriage to this day, his struggle to establish his family in the land, the horror of Shechem, the horror of the famine? Now he is away from the promised land again.

Do we look for deliverance from our God in times of physical and religious struggles, moving us away from being close to God? Yes, we do! If not, we should!

Gad. born to Zilpah, Rachel’s hand maid. Is this a word play on his name? See Footnotes. Asher, born to Zilpah, his “food will be rich…” This is the plain reading of the text, he is going to pay attention to food. Naphtali, born to Bilhah, he bears beautiful children or beautiful words. Both are welcome.

Vs.22-26 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.[k]” (Or a wild colt or donkey -see footnotes). The alternative reading does not reflect the reality of Joseph’s experience. He was attacked more than once, Satan wanting to stop God’s plan, but “because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel…” Joseph receives God’s protection and God’s abundant blessings.

Vs.27-28 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf…” The opposite of his brother. Jacob blessed all his sons “giving each the blessing appropriate to him.” Are we receiving the blessings appropriate to us? Yes, by God’s grace!

Vs.29-33 Before Jacob died he gave the instruction to be buried in the family plot in Canaan, the cave of Machpelah. Like Joseph, Jacob wanted to be buried in the land. That was the understanding, Canaan is the promised land, but Canaan is also the metaphor for the reality of the New Heaven and the New Earth. Praise the Lord!

Reality!

# 11 2024 Dev. Ecclesiastes 6:2 Reality! Read all of chapter six first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ecc. 6:2 “God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them…”

Ecc. 6 Ecclesiastes is a difficult book and there are different ways to deal with it. One way is to look at the plain meaning of the text. Often the material is a foil to what is good and to what is meaningful. The “teacher” tells us “ God gives some people wealth…” and asks; “For who knows what is good for a person in life…?”

Vs.1-6 What is reality for us reading God’s Word? Answer: God created us in His image, male and female, to honor Him, to worship, to be fruitful, to work and take care of His creation. All of life is worship! Secondly, the teacher talks about wealth, he had more wealth than most people in his world. What is he saying?

The first thing to clear up is that: “Capitalism (Socialism) and Communism are idols at their core” (NIV Application Commentary). Let us establish that at the start; without our devotion to God, wealth is one of many idols in people’s lives. What the teacher is saying is that when God is not first in your life, wealth is meaningless, it becomes an obsession to have more and more. That obsession does not allow one to enjoy what God has given.

Vs.7-12 What is real in God’s creation cannot be changed. We either live in that reality or we live in a fake construction of what is real. “Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite.”

What is real in this life? “Whatever exists has already been named, and what humanity is has been known; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.” We are limited in our ability to understand, as Paul says,” we see in a glass darkly.” But there is one human that is Perfect and Stronger, Jesus Christ! He calls us, redeems us and loves us. He “knows what is good for a person in life”! He directs the future, our future, into the eternal Kingdom of God. Praise Him!

God’s Grace!

# 10 2024 Dev. Ge. 48:3-4. God’s Grace! Read all of chapter forty eight first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge. 48:3-4 “Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty[a] appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me 4 and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’”

Chapter 48 Is about the covenantal blessings given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob now about to be passed on to Jacob’s sons. This chapter begins with Joseph and his sons.

Vs.1-7 Jacob, now being old was not well, but when Joseph heard about it he showed up with his two sons and Jacob revived. Jacob starts this covenantal blessing transfer with Joseph as well as starting with God choosing him.

It is about God’s grace. Isaac was aware of God’s choice of Jacob over Esau even before they were born but Issac was set on blessing Esau. Jacob and Rebecca’s deception got Jacob the blessing but it cost him. He was fleeing Esau when God approached him at Bethel (Luz). He was the most undeserving person for God’s grace but even at this time Jacob accepted God’s blessing conditioned upon God’s care for him and to bring him back to his father’s house.

Jacob continues what God Almighty told him; “I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.” Now the blessing becomes redemptive. This covered Joseph and Joseph’s two sons, and it covers us. The promised land is for all who follow God’s Son as part of the everlasting covenant of His blood.

Jacob claims Manasseh and Ephraim as his own, “Just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.” Think about Reuben and about Simeon, it becomes clear that Reuben and Simeon are replaced by Joseph’s sons.

Vs.8-20 “Then Israel said,’ bring them so I may bless them.” Here again God’s grace comes into play. “The Angel who delivered me from all harm – may he bless these boys.” Joseph realized that Jacob blessed the younger boy with his right hand, “he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.” But Jacob refused, “I know, my son, I know” he will become great but “his younger brother will be greater than he,” God’s grace is on both sons but the younger one is chosen.

“In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”

Vs.21-22 “Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers.’” Indeed they would go back to the land but not in Joseph’s time. His bones would be laid to rest in the land but his soul, his spirit, would be in the promised land.

Jacob gives Joseph a ridge, a slope of land that he took with his bow and his sword from the Amorites. Yet, Jacob was a passive domestic individual, not like Abraham who had a standing fighting force. Jacob spent most of his time dealing with domestic issues, not his desire, he only wanted Rachel, but Laban by his greed wanted to keep him around, he saw that God blessed Jacob. He used deception to keep Jacob indebted to him. The conflict of the two sisters that were his wives moved him into a situation where he had four wives. Not Jacob’s choice but God used all that in his life and his family to be who he wanted them to be.

The only conflict the family was involved with was at Shechem. Jacob condemned what his sons did, but now he sees it in a different light, understanding that God gave this land to Abraham, Isaac and to him. So Jacob passes it on to Joseph and to the rest of the family. It is God’s grace and the covenantal blessing in Christ, that reaches us today, Praise be to God!

What is Wealth?

# 9 2024 Dev. Ecclesiastes 5:10. What Is Wealth? Read all of chapter five first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ecc. 5:10 “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.”

Ecc. 5. Ecclesiastes is a difficult book and there are different ways to deal with it. One way is to look at the plain meaning of the text. Often the material is a foil to what is good and to what is meaningful. The “teacher” tells us to “Fulfill Your Vow to God” and that “Riches Are Meaningless.”

Vs.1-7 “Guard your steps when you go to the house of the God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know what they do wrong.” This is the introductory statement for worship. In the Old Testament people made sacrifices and they made vows.

What do we do today? Do we make sacrifices and vows? Yes, we do, we support our churches, we support mission, we support special project of assistance around our cities. What the teacher is saying at his time applies to us in our time: We worship to experience God, which means to quiet our minds and our voices, clear our thinking of this world and of ourselves. Draw close to learn, to know God and to worship Him internally and externally on a daily basis. Keep your commitment to the church, to the ministries you have decided to support, “do not delay to fulfill” them.” Worship is not entertainment, it is not about us, it revolves around God and not around the world.

Vs. 8-20. In a godless society people are “oppressed and justice and rights are denied.” Whoever “loves money never has enough;” Whoever you are or what you believe, love of wealth is an idol! Has there ever been a time when we’ve not had an idol in our lives? I think not and you know! It is as the teacher says: it is “a grievous evil under the sun.”

We are born with nothing and leave this world with nothing, God is the one who blesses many people with wealth but how wealth is used determines a person’s happiness, a peaceful life and a meaningful life.

Irrespective. of your income this is where worship and possessions intersect. All of life is worship, how we make our wealth, how we spend our wealth has everything to do with how we worship. You want a happy life? Worship God with your life and with your possessions!

God’s Blessings!

# 8 2024 Dev. Ge. 47:10 God’s Blessing! Read all of chapter forty seven first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge. 47:10 “Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.”

Chapter 47 Is about Joseph introducing his brothers and father to Pharaoh and finalizing their move to Goshen. The chapter also tells us how Joseph dealt with the Egyptian population.

Vs.1-12 “Joseph went and told Pharaoh, ‘My father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.’” Pharaoh had suggested to Joseph that his family should live in Goshen.

Joseph introduced five of his brothers to Pharaoh. Why only five? Some commentators think that Joseph took the fiercest looking brother to try to forestall any opposition to his family. Others say, no, Joseph wanted to present the finest to Pharaoh in order to impress him. To me, that seems more likely. In any case the brothers indicated that they had run out of pasture in Canaan and now needed pasture. They asked to stay in Goshen.

Next Jacob was ushered in to Pharaoh, Joseph was honoring his father as the head of the clan. Jacob blessed Pharaoh twice, this is the covenantal fulfillment of: “all nations will be blessed through you and your offspring.” God had indeed blessed Egypt by sending them Joseph and sending Pharaoh the dream. But God has a bigger agenda; building this 70 member family into a great nation.

Vs.13-31 Joseph has to adjust the method of payment for the grain because he “had collected all the money in Egypt and Canaan.” So now he collected all the livestock for Pharaoh. After that he took all the land, only the priests kept their land and belongings because they received a food allowance. Joseph also treated his family in that way as well, they received a food allowance for all family members, to the point that “They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number.”

Jacob tells Joseph not to bury him in Egypt. Joseph agreed but Jacob demanded; “Swear to me,” ‘he said.’” Then Joseph swore to him and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.”

Jacob trusted the promises of God “To you and your offspring I give this land, forever, “Canaan”. Forever assures us that the Promised Land pre-figures the New Heaven and the New Earth. Praise be to God!

God’s Comfort!

# 7 2024 Dev. Ecclesiastes 4:1 God’s Comfort! Read all of chapter four first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ecc.4: “I saw the tears of the oppressed-and they have no comforter”

Ecc.4 Ecclesiastes is a difficult book, and there are different ways to deal with it. One way is to look at the plain meaning of the text. Often the material is a foil to what is good and to what is meaningful. The “teacher” talks about oppression, about toil, friendlessness and yes, meaninglessness, the theme throughout the book.

Vs.1-3 “I saw the tears of the oppressed…” There is oppression in every country, there are different kinds of oppressions; disease, racism, economic inadequacy, lack of infrastructure as in the third world. We can go on, in some countries there are no comforters but in most countries there those who comfort, those with compassion, those who want to help where God uses people to comfort. Thank God! But those countries and institutions that oppress, and offer no help, no compassion, you know who the are, those who are oppressed by them are better off dead, better yet, “is the one who has never been born.”

Vs.4-6 “And I saw that all toil and all achievement springs from one person’s envy of another.” The verse says “all” twice. Are all people envious? Do all achievements rise out of envy? No, very few. Toil and achievement is what God created us for. V.5 Laziness, belies the envy premise V.6 asks for restraint in gaining goods, too much is “chasing after the wind.”

Vs.7-8 expands on v.6. Obsession with gain is “a miserable business.”

Vs.9-12 “Two are better than one,” the benefits; easier labor, pick each other up, help each other, keep each other warm, and defend each other. “Pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” “A cord of three strands is not easily broken” often quoted at weddings, but applies to all Christian families. Christ is in the mix.

Vs.13-16 Wisdom exceeds foolishness, moving from poverty to kingship he is followed not by advancement to kingship but because of his wisdom. Wisdom or foolishness, there are always those who are displeased, that is a lack of wisdom, “a chasing after the wind.” Thanks be to God!

God Speaks!

# 6 2024 Dev. Ge. 46:2. God Speaks! Read all of chapter forty six first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge. 46:2 “And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said ‘Jacob! Jacob!’”

Chapter 46 is about Jacob being convinced to move to Egypt. We can imagine his reluctance to move to Egypt with all his offspring and all their flocks and possessions. I think of my own family moving to a foreign land, different language, customs and culture, a big undertaking and a huge step in faith.

Vs.1-7 Pharaoh had sent transport for Jacob and family so they started their journey from Mamre, where both Abraham and Isaac had lived, to Egypt. This was Jacob’s ancestral home for three generations, for something like 500 years. Every offspring, all their goods, there would be nothing to come back to.

“So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. Beersheba was on the border. Jacob worshiped there, God had returned Jacob back to Mamre from Pana Aram, Jacob needed assurance about leaving the land promised to him, to Issac and to Abraham. God spoke to Jacob: go to Egypt, I will go with you, make you a great nation and bring you back again. So Jacob went, with all his offspring and all he had with him.

Vs. 8-27 These are the names of all who went to Egypt. Based on other genealogies Like in Numbers 26 this one is not as accurate as we expect. Joseph and sons are included, as well as Er and Onan are replaced by Perez and Zerah, none of the women are included except for Diana and Gad’s daughter Sarah.

This is what The NIV commentary has to say about it: “ we must remember that we need not expect genealogies to operate in the Israelite culture the same way they operate in ours. If they have a different function in the culture, different methods can be used to construct them, and different criteria must be used to evaluate their accuracy.” It appears that the goal was to add up to 70 which is considered as a complete number.

Vs.28-34 they arrive in Egypt and Judah is sent ahead to Joseph, and then Judah leads Jacob and group to Goshen. It appears that had settled in before Joseph went to see His father. After that Joseph prepares to introduce his family to Pharaoh. What do we take away from this chapter?

The first thing is that we see that family is so important in our lives and God considers it as such. The second thing is that God works through families and with individuals formed in families. The third thing is that God controls our lives and our situations as he controls all of history. The Word of God gives us the big picture. Praise the Lord.

“Eternity in Our Hearts!”

# 5 2024 Dev. Ecclesiastes 3:11. Eternity In our Hearts! Read all of chapter three first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ecc. 3:11. This verse sets the tone for this devotional: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ”

Ecc.3 The “teacher.” This book is about the experiences throughout one person’s life, he is not named but there are indications in the text that Ecc. was probably written by King Solomon. That puts the date of writing at 970 BC to 931BC.

Vs.1-14 “A Time for Everything” The author does not measure time in terms of hours and days but in terms of human existence and experience. Time is defined as “the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.”“travel through space and time” (Oxford Dictionary)

The author is describing time in terms of God’s creation, It was very good but sin entered in, Satan’s attempt to destroy it. Even so, “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” But God has revealed himself in His Word both in the authors time and in ours!

Vs.15-17 “Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.” God created time, we live in time and space and we are created for God’s glory. Yes, there is a place of judgment, there will be “a time to judge every deed.” For “both the righteous and the wicked.” But the righteous, the believers, are judged in Christ Jesus, both in the author’s time and in our time, praise the Lord.

Vs.18-22 Here the author despairs comparing humans with animals. Animals follow their natures as created. Humans follow their conscience or lack of it displayed in their actions both good and bad. Yes, every living thing dies because of sin in our broken world. God who lives outside of time and is eternal created this world to be forever. And it will be again. God created us for His glory, and Satan is not able to take that away. God created human’s in His image, male and female He created them. Humans are given a soul, “eternity in the human heart.”

The author asks a rhetorical question: “Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” This is what God wants us to consider!

The author say; enjoy your work, this is your lot, “For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?” A second question; what is the answer? No, on our own we will not know what will happen to us, only by faith in Christ Jesus are we assured that “the human spirit rises upward” to eternity with God!

God’s Purposes!

# 4 2024 Dev. Ge. 45. God’s Purposes! Read all of chapter forty five first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge. 45:7 “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”

Chapter 45 is the culmination of Joseph’s testing his brothers from the first time they came to him for food. Joseph was convinced that his brothers had changed and decided to forgive. He also saw God’s hand in all that had happened to him. That is a lesson for us, as Christians, we know God uses us but there are times when God blesses us by revealing how we are used by Him.

Vs.1-7 Joseph comes out to his brothers, he had wanted to do that from the beginning but God used him to test his brothers. It seems God wanted to bring to light their awful deed of selling their own brother, God gave them plenty to think about.

Joseph reveals his true identity. “But his brothers were not abled to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.” Imagine what was going through their minds at that moment!

Joseph reassures them; “And now, ‘do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you…to save your lives by a great deliverance.’”

Vs. 8-11 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” The events in Joseph’s life are nothing but fantastic, God is in control from the beginning; his dreams, his brothers jealousy, the caravan that came along, Potiphar’s house, the jail, Pharaoh’s servants in jail with him, the dreams, Pharaoh’s dream, the famine, all that to bring the Israelis down to Egypt so that they become a nation, protected from enemies and from spiritual attacks by Satan. Think about that!

Vs.12-15 Finally, Joseph and his brothers are reconciled, it was a great relief and a wonderful event for them all.

Vs.16-20 “When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased.” Here God adds blessing upon blessing, Pharaoh orders Joseph to bring his family to Egypt and provides transportation as well. This part of God’s plane is almost complete.

Vs.21-24 “So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels[b] of silver and five sets of clothes.”

What Irony, they had striped Joseph of his multicolored coat but now Joseph sends them off in new clothes and with love.

Joseph adds; ‘Don’t quarrel on the way!’” It is a command but the Hebrew word used here is normally translated as, don’t be anxious, upset, or fearful.

Vs.25-28 Now they had to convince Jacob, that Joseph was alive. “They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.’ Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.” Can you imagine the brothers explaining how this could be possible? God had to bring about major reconciliation and forgiveness. It would seem impossible, but with God it is possible, when we let Him work in our lives. This is what we take away from this story; GOD is in control and he wants good for his people, and he does brings only good for His people even as we go through difficult times God is accomplishing his purposes!