Christmas in Heaven

While we anticipate the glory of giving and receiving gifts in a few days, twenty children from Newtown, Connecticut will spend Christmas with Jesus. Last week they enjoyed the ribbons and wrappings under their Christmas tree, and as the time grew closer, they thought about what Santa might bring them. Maybe they planned to bake cookies for him and leave a few carrots for his reindeer.

Christmas this year will be more exciting than any Christmas they ever had, because they will be in the loving arms of Jesus, our Lord. But their parents and grandparents and brothers and sisters will grieve this Christmas. The lights and tinsel will not mean the same. Their hearts are broken because a man under Satan's control killed the precious children in their families. My heart is broken too. Will you pray with me?

Lord Jesus, thank you that these children are home in Heaven with you. Thank you that they will cry no more tears and have no more hurts. But, Lord God, we pray for those they left behind. Comfort them with your love. Soothe their aching hearts and give them your peace. Amen.

Joseph Forgave His Brothers

When Joseph saw his brothers, he accused them of being spies.

"Oh, no sir," they said. "We are the sons of one man, Jacob."

"Is this all of you or are there more brothers?"

"We have a younger brother and another one died."

When Joseph accused them of being spies again, they said to each other, "It's because of what we did to Joseph." Imagine what Joseph thought when he overheard them. He gave them grain and put their money back into their pouches.

"You must bring your younger brother next time, or I'll not give you more grain," Joseph told them.

"We could not do that to our father," they said. But Joseph insisted and he kept Simeon in jail to be sure they would return. When they did, they brought Benjamin, their younger brother. It was hard for Joseph not to reveal to them who he was. His servants provided dinner for Joseph and his brothers Then they filled his brother's sacks with grain again and returned their money into their pouches. In Benjamin's sack Joseph put his own silver cup.

Joseph's servant caught up to his brothers after they traveled a day or so. "Why have you exchanged evil for good?" they asked.

"We have done no evil!" they exclaimed.

"The governor's silver cup is gone and you took it."

"Oh no! We would not do such a thing!" cried the brothers. "Look in all our bags. If you find it, the owner of the bag will be your servant."

The governor's servant looked until he found the cup in Benjamin's bag. The brothers couldn't believe their eyes.

"Take me instead," said Judah. "I'll serve the governor, but don't take Benjamin." All the brothers had to go back to Egypt and they all bowed down to Joseph, breaking his heart. He had to leave the room to cry by himself. "Prepare dinner for my guests," he told his servants. Then he returned to his brothers and confessed he was Joseph their brother whom they sold into slavery. Filled with fear, they were speechless until he wrapped his arms around each of them and kissed them.

"Don't be afraid," he said. "You meant to harm me but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many, as He is now doing." (Genesis 50:20).

Then Joseph ate with his brothers and caught up on old times. He told them to go home and bring his father and all his relatives, seventy-five in all, back to Egypt. And that reunion was sweeter than the first.

Joseph could have taken revenge on his brothers, but he forgave them. Many bad things happened to Joseph but God used them all to train him and make him wise for the position of Governor of Egypt.

Sometimes we may not understand why we have to experience tough times, but we can trust God as Joseph did, and choose to do what is right.

Application
Joseph's brothers were afraid when he invited them to eat at his table. They were afraid when he barked at them for being spies. They were afraid when his cup was found in Benjamin's bag. Have you been afraid? Remember what Joseph said to his brothers. "Don't be afraid.You meant to harm me but God intended it for good, the saving of many as He is now doing." Remember that God loves you and He is always with you. Remember that "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we praise you for your faithfulness, even when we are not faithful. Thank you for your love and blessing on us. Help us to trust You and not be afraid. Amen.

Joseph's Coat of Many Colors

Jacob had twelve sons, but he loved Joseph the most and made a royal coat for him. He crafted strips of red and gold, blue and green, orange and brown into a beautiful robe with a golden sash. He decorated the front edges with rich embroidery. Joseph made his brothers jealous when he paraded in front of them wearing his coat of many colors. They wondered why Jacob didn't make coats for each of them.

As if that wasn't enough, Joseph had dreams--big dreams. He dreamed that someday his whole family would bow down to him. This made his brothers angry with him, so angry they wanted to kill him. Instead they threw him in a dried up old well.

"Get me out of here!" Joseph cried. So they pulled him out and sold him to some Egyptian slave traders. In Egypt Joseph worked hard for a man named Potifer. The man trusted him with his whole household.

Joseph was tall and handsome and caught the eye of Potifer's wife. She tried to seduce him but he ran away from her. She grabbed his robe, but he fled, leaving the robe behind. The evil woman used it in a lie to her husband against him. Poor Joseph ended up in jail because of things she said. While he was in jail he interpreted the dreams of the Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker. Three years later the Pharaoh had dreams that made him crazy. No one could interpret his dreams except for Joseph.

The Pharaoh's dreams foretold of a coming famine. He respected Joseph so much that he made him governor of Egypt. Joseph harvested and stored the food during the seven good years and managed the food during the seven years when the fields yielded no grain and the livestock died. People had to come from many surrounding towns to Egypt to get grain for food.

Guess who showed up in front of Joseph. Yep! His brothers. He recognized them but they didn't recognize him in his Egyptian clothes and headdress. Do you think Joseph forgave his brothers or took this opportunity to get revenge on them? Check back next week to find out.