Revenge or Reconciliation?

Joseph's brothers hated him for his high and lofty dreams about them becoming his servants. They hated him because their dad loved him the most. They wanted him dead, but they sold him into slavery and lied to their dad with his  robe of many colors bloodied with the slaughter of a goat. They wanted to harm Joseph, but God had another plan. Joseph became the servant of Potifer, then the governor of the land, second in command to the king.

During a great famine Joseph's brothers came for grain to feed their families. They bowed before Joseph (fulfillment of a dream). When Joseph recognized his brothers, he had the opportunity to carry out revenge, but he chose to forgive.

God sent the law through Moses to teach people how to live with love for each other. They learned how to keep records of their good deeds and became prideful. God loved the world so much He send His Son Jesus to show us how to live, even to the point of taking our place on the cross for our sin, so we would experience forgiveness.

Forgiveness is vital in relationships with people and with God. Since God forgave us, we ought also to forgive one another for wrongs done against us.

Think About It
Have you hurt someone with lies or taken something that wasn't yours? Has someone lied about you? Has anyone robbed you of something special? Like Joseph, you have a choice to get even or to forgive. What will you do?

Pray About It
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for Joseph's story. Teach me how to live more like You. Show me your ways even when I want to choose my ways. Amen.

The Burning Bush

Darkness filled the desert air and a cool breeze swished through Moses hair. He gathered his sheep close to him. "B-a-a," went the lambs. Then he saw it. A bush on fire but it didn't burn up. He sneaked up to take a peak. 

"Moses! Moses!" a voice thundered. His knees knocked and his teeth chattered.

"Here I am," said Moses.

"Take off your sandals for the ground where you stand is holy ground," said God.

Moses kicked off his sandals and bowed before the Lord.

"I've heard the cries of my people," God said, "and I've come to rescue them and take them to a spacious land flowing with milk and honey."

"Who am I?" asked Moses. "I can't even talk right." Now why would he say that? He grew up in Pharaoh's palace and went to good Egyptian schools. He grew up to be strong and powerful. He thought he could do anything. But God had him in the desert with helpless lambs for a reason. He had to teach Moses to trust Him with everything, because he would lead God's people out of Egypt to a place where they would not suffer from slavery.

God will rescue us from things that enslave us too, things that cause us to worry or stress or hurt. When we say His name, He hears us just as He did His people in Egypt. He loves us so much He promised to always be with us, and we can trust Him to keep His promises.