Tuesday, 8 September 2020 Genesis 43:1-34
And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth.... Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table,...And they drank and were merry with him. -Genesis 43:33-34 [ESV]
During our childhood reading of the Bible, certain characters cling to our memory. Joseph is one such character. We flip through the pages to see the ending of all the drama that is happening in the life of Joseph. Here is one such instance, where the first dream has been brought to a climax as his brothers come and bow before him as he saw in his first dream. The narratives from the life of Joseph always draws parallel to that of Jesus in almost all instances.
We have seen in yesterday's devotion, how God masterminds every bit and piece of our life and brings it to the desired end. So let us trust God with all our heart, to see all the dreams that God has given us, will be accomplished without fail. Today let us see how Joseph after accomplishing his dream, takes it further. The divine character of Joseph is displayed beautifully in this narrative. Instead of taking revenge upon his own brothers, who on their part had done harm, he plans good for them. This is displayed by sending back the money they brought; calling them for feasting with him and honoring them without revealing himself at first. His heart was overflowing with brotherly love - the very warmth of that love made him cry alone in his own chamber. Does it not teach us how to treat our own Christian brothers, even though at times they harm us in many ways knowingly or unknowingly?
Think about eternity, when our elder brother Jesus reveals Himself fully to us at His Table. What an amazement will fill our souls to see us seated with Him at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev.19:6-9), adorned with all the heavenly rewards! But down here on the earth we have taken this love so lightly; we never loved Him as He deserves; instead, we have brought shame to Him by our disobedience. We brought severe pain to His heart with our heartless attitude towards one another. The list is long but all of that has been nailed on that cross and He has purchased us and made us His own. What a reunion it would be, dear brothers to be on that eternal shore with our beloved Jesus! He is waiting to lavish us with His bounties.
It takes eternity to fathom all that He has in store for –unexplored riches are hidden in Him. He will be our eternal portion. He will never be exhausted, and He lavishes His love to our souls and it will overflow. Oh what wonderful days lying ahead! Let us spend our days wisely to meet Jesus at His second coming. The only thing that will separate us from Him is our sin. Let us be washed in His blood and let us trust Him to provide us the grace for our daily sustenance to carry us to that eternal shore. We cannot make it alone; we need His very presence in our lives every moment. Let Him be our light, strength and the shoulder to lean on in our troubles. He will never leave us nor forsake us!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to display our divine character upon this earth every day and be prepared for our Lord as we wait for a wonderful reunion with Him. In Jesus name. Amen.