Day 27 - 27 Jan 2021
Day 26, 26 Jan 2021
Gen 42 - 45
GENESIS 42
Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt
1 Now when Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt,
Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?"
2 And he said, "I have heard that there is grain in Egypt.
Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die."
3 Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.
4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers
for he said, "Perhaps some harm might happen to him."
5 Thus the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who came,
for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6 Now Joseph was the governor over the land,
and it was he who sold to all the people of the land.
So Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves
down before him with their faces to the ground.
7 Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them,
but he pretended to be a stranger to them
and spoke harshly to them. He said to them, "From where do you come?"
And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."
8 Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him.
9 Joseph also remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them.
He said to them, "You are spies! You came to see the nakedness of the land!"
10 They said to him, "No, my lord, your servants have come only to buy food.
11 We are all one man's sons. We are honest men. Your servants are not spies."
12 But he said to them, "No, you have come to see the nakedness of the land!"
13 They said, "Your servants are twelve brothers,
the sons of one man in the land of Canaan.
The youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer living."
14 Joseph said to them, "It is as I said to you, 'You are spies!'
15 Here is how you will be tested. By the life of Pharaoh,
you will not leave here unless your youngest brother comes here.
16 Send one of you, and let him get your brother,
and you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested,
whether there be any truth in you.
Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, you are surely spies."
17 He put them all together in custody for three days.
18 Joseph said to them the third day, "Do this and live, for I fear God.
19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined
in your prison house. The rest of you go and carry grain for the famine
of your households.
20 Nevertheless, bring your youngest brother to me so that your words
may be verified and you shall not die." And they did so.
21 Then they said one to another, "We are guilty concerning our brother,
because we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us,
but we would not listen. Therefore, this distress has come upon us."
22 Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not speak to you, saying,
'Do not sin against the boy';
and you would not listen? Therefore, his blood is now required of us."
23 They did not know that Joseph understood them,
for he spoke to them through an interpreter.
24 He turned himself away from them and wept,
but then turned back to them again and spoke with them.
Then he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.
25 Joseph then gave the command to fill their sacks with grain
and to restore every man's money to his sack
and to give them provisions for the way. And it was done for them.
Joseph’s Brothers Return Home
26They loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there.
27 As one of them opened his sack to give
his donkey feed in the lodging place,
he saw his money. It was in the mouth of his sack.
28 And he said to his brothers, "My money has been returned.
Here it is in my sack!"
Then their hearts sank, and they were afraid, saying to one another,
"What is this that God has done to us?"
29 They came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan
and told him all that had happened to them, saying,
30 "The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly to us
and took us for spies of the country.
31 And we said to him, 'We are honest men. We are not spies.
32 We are twelve brothers, all sons of our father.
One is no longer living, and the youngest is with our father today
in the land of Canaan.'
33 "The man, the lord of the country, said to us,
'Here is how I may know that you are honest men.
Leave one of your brothers here with me,
take food for the famine of your households, and be gone.
34 But bring your youngest brother back to me.
Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men.
Then I will deliver your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.' "
35 As they emptied their sacks, every man's bundle of money was in his sack.
When both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
36 Then Jacob their father said to them,
"You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more,
and you will take Benjamin away. All these things are against me."
37 Reuben spoke to his father, saying,
"Kill my two sons if I fail to bring him to you. Put him in my hands, a
nd I will bring him back to you."
38 But Jacob said, "My son must not go down with you, for his brother is dead,
and he alone is left. If harm should happen to him on the journey
you are to make, then you will bring down my gray hairs
with sorrow to the grave.
(Joseph goes ahead in the name ofthe Lord)
GENESIS 43
Joseph’s Brothers Return With Benjamin
1 Now the famine was severe in the land.
2 When they had eaten up the grain which
they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them,
"Go back and buy us a little food."
3 Judah spoke to him, saying, "The man solemnly warned us, saying,
'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'
4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.
5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down.
For the man said to us, 'You will not see my face
unless your brother is with you.' "
6 Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly as
to tell the man that you had another brother?"
7 And they said, "The man asked us directly about ourselves and our family,
saying, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?'
So we answered his questions. How could we even know that he would say,
'Bring your brother down'?"
8 And Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the boy with me,
and we will arise and go, so that we may live and not die,
both we and you, and also our little ones.
9 I will be a surety for him. You may hold me personally
responsible for him. If I fail to bring him back to you and set him before you,
then let me bear the blame forever. 10 For if we had not delayed,
we could have returned twice."
11 Their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, do this.
Take some of the best fruits in the land in your bags,
and carry down a present for the man: a little balm
and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.
12 Take double the money with you, along with the money
that was brought back in the mouths of your sacks.
Carry it with you again. Perhaps it was a mistake.
13 Also, take your brother and arise, return to the man.
14 And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man,
so that he may send away your other brother, along with Benjamin.
As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved."
15 The men took the gift, and they took double the money with them,
along with Benjamin. Then they went on their way down to Egypt
and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them,
he said to the house steward,
"Bring these men home, slaughter an animal and prepare it,
for these men will dine with me at noon."
17 The man did as Joseph ordered, so the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
18 The men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house.
They said, "We have been brought in because of the money
that was returned in our sacks the first time,
so that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us
and take us for slaves with our donkeys."
The Feast With Joseph
19 They approached the steward of Joseph's house,
and they spoke with him at the entrance of the house.
20 They said, "My lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food.
21 When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks and realized
every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight.
So we have brought it again with us.
22 We have also brought additional money with us to buy food.
We cannot tell who put our money in our sacks."
23 He said, "Be at peace; do not be afraid.
Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks.
I had your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.
24 The man brought the men into Joseph's house
and gave them water to wash their feet and gave feed to their donkeys.
25 Then they made ready the gift for Joseph's coming at noon,
for they heard that they would be eating a meal there.
26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house
to him the present that they had with them
and bowed themselves to him to the ground.
27 He asked them about their well-being and said,
"Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?"
28 And they answered, "Your servant our father is in good health.
He is still alive." And they bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves.
29 He lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son,
and said, "Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?"
And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son."
30 Joseph hurried out, for he was deeply moved over his brother
and sought a place to weep. So he entered into his chamber and wept there.
31 Then he washed his face and came out. Controlling himself,
he said, "Serve the food."
32 They served him by himself and them by themselves and the Egyptians
who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat a meal
with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
33 They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright
and the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked
at one another in astonishment.
34 He gave them portions from his own table, but Benjamin's serving
was five times more than any of theirs. So they drank and feasted with him.
GENESIS 44
Joseph Detains Benjamin
1 Then he commanded the steward of his house, saying,
"Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry,
and put every man’s money in the mouth of his sack.
2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest,
along with his grain money." And he did according to what Joseph had spoken.
3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away,
they and their donkeys. 4 When they were gone out of the city,
but not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward,
"Get up, follow after the men. When you overtake them, say to them,
'Why have you rewarded evil for good?
5 Is this not the one from which my lord drinks
and uses as he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.'"
6 So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words.
7 They said to him, "Why does my lord say these words?
Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing.
8 Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan
the money that we found in the top of our sacks.
Why then would we steal silver or gold from your lord's house?
9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die,
and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves."
10 He said, "Now let it also be according to your words.
He with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you will be blameless."
11 Then every man hurriedly took down his sack to the ground,
and every man opened his sack.
12 He searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest.
The cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey
and returned to the city.
14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house,
he was still there; and they fell to the ground before him.
15 Joseph said to them, "What deed is this that you have done?
Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?"
16 And Judah said, "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak?
Or how shall we clear ourselves?
God has found out the iniquity of your servants.
Here we are, my lord's servants,
both we and he also in whose possession the cup was found."
17 But he said, "Far be it from me that I should do so.
The man in whose possession the cup was found shall be my slave;
but as for you, go up in peace to your father."
Judah’s Plea for Benjamin
18 Then Judah approached him and said, "O my lord, please let your servant
speak a word in my lord's ears, and do not be angry with your servant,
for you are equal to Pharaoh.
19 My lord asked his servants, saying, 'Have you a father or a brother?'
20 And we said to my lord, 'We have a father, an old man,
and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead,
and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.'
21 "You said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me,
so that I may set my eyes on him.'
22 We said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father,
for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'
23Y ou said to your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down
with you, you will not see my face again.'
24 When we went back to your servant, my father,
we told him the words of my lord.
25 "Our father said, 'Go again and buy us a little food.'
26 We said, 'We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us,
then we will go down, for we may not see the man's face,
unless our youngest brother is with us'
27 "Your servant, my father, said to us,
'You know that my wife bore me two sons.
28 And the one went out from me, and I said, "Surely he was torn in pieces,"
and I have not seen him since.
29 And if you take this one also from me and he is harmed,
you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave'
30 "Now therefore when I come to your servant, my father,
and the boy is not with us, as his life is bound up in the boy's life,
31 when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants
will bring down the gray hairs of your servant, our father, with sorrow to the grave.
32 For your servant became surety for the boy to my father, saying,
'If I fail to bring him to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever.'
33 "Now therefore, please let your servant stay as a slave to my lord
instead of the boy, and let the boy go up with his brothers.
34 For how can I go up to my father if the boy is not with me,
lest perhaps I see the evil that would find my father?"
GENESIS 45
Joseph Reveals His Identity
1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all who stood by him,
and he cried out, "Make every man go out from me." So no man stood
with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
2 He wept so loudly that the Egyptians
and the house of Pharaoh heard about it.
3J oseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?"
But his brothers could not answer him,
for they were dismayed in his presence.
4 Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me,"
and they came near. Then he said,
"I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
5 Now do not be upset or angry with yourselves b
ecause you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6 For these two years the famine has been in the land,
and there are still five years in which there will be
neither plowing nor harvesting.
7 God sent me ahead of you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth
and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 "So now it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me
a father to Pharaoh and lord of his entire household and a ruler
throughout all the land of Egypt.
9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him,
'This is what your son Joseph says,
"God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not delay.
10 And you will dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near me,
you and your children and your children's children, along with your flocks,
your herds, and all that you have.
11 I will provide for you there, for there are still five years
of famine to come, lest you and your household,
and all that you have, come to poverty." '
12 "Your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that
it is my mouth that is speaking to you.
13 You must tell my father of all my glory in Egypt
and of all that you have seen, and you must hurry
and bring my father down here."
14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept,
and Benjamin wept on his neck.
1 5Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept on them.
After that his brothers talked with him.
16 When the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come,
it pleased Pharaoh and his servants.
17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers,
'Do this. Load your animals and go to the land of Canaan.
18 Get your father and your households and come to me,
and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt,
and you shall eat the fat of the land.'
19 "You are also commanded to say,
'Do this: Take your wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones
and for your wives, and get your father and come.
20 Also do not concern yourself with your goods,
for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.' "
21 So the sons of Israel did so, and Joseph gave them wagons,
according to the commandment of Pharaoh,
and gave them provisions for the journey.
22 To each of them he gave a change of clothes,
but he gave to Benjamin three hundred shekels of silver
and five changes of clothes.
23 To his father he sent the following:
ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt
and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread
and provisions for his father on the journey.
24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed.
He said to them, "Do not quarrel on the way."
25 They went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan
to Jacob their father.
26 They told him, "Joseph is still alive,
and he is governor over all the land of Egypt."
And Jacob’'s heart stood still because he could not believe them.
27 They told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them,
and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him,
the spirit of their father Jacob revived.
28 Then Israel said, "Enough! Joseph my son is still alive.
I will go and see him before I die."
2) Our Daily Bread for 20 Jan 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/01/27/free-at-last
entitled Free At LAst
John 8:31-36
The Truth Will Set You Free
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him,
"If you remain in My word, then you are truly My disciples.
32You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's seed
and have never been in bondage to anyone.
Why do You say, 'You shall be set free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly I say to you,
whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
35 Now a slave does not remain in the house forever,
but a son remains forever.
36Therefore if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed."
Twenty long years passed before British journalist John McCarthy
—a five-year hostage during Lebanon’s grueling civil war—met
the man who negotiated his release. When McCarthy finally met
U.N. envoy Giandomenico Picco, McCarthy simply said,
"Thank you for my freedom!" His heartfelt words carried great
weight because Picco had risked his own life during dangerous
negotiations to secure freedom for McCarthy and others.
We as believers can relate to such hard-won freedom.
Jesus gave up His life—enduring death on a Roman cross—to secure
spiritual freedom for all people, including each of us. Now as His children,
we know "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free,"
the apostle Paul boldly declared (Galatians 5:1).
The gospel of John also teaches of freedom in Christ, noting,
"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
But free in what ways? In Jesus, we experience freedom
not only from sin and its hold on us but also from guilt,
shame, worry, Satan's lies, superstitions, false teaching,
and eternal death. No longer hostages, we have freedom
to show love to enemies, walk in kindness, live with hope,
and love our neighbors. As we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading,
we can forgive as we’ve been forgiven.
For all of this, let’s thank God today.
Then let’s love so others will know the power of His freedom too.
By: Patricia Raybon
Reflect & Pray
What spiritual chains still hold you hostage?
As you release those chains to God,
what words can you use to thank Him for setting you free?
Dear liberating God, thank You for my freedom—
for setting me free from spiritual death and releasing me to love.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 4 - Giving and Receiving
Luke 6:38
38 "Give, and it will be given to you: Good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over will men give unto you.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured unto you."
"Just give the Lord", the voice on the radio declared. "Give, and he will
give back to you, a hundredfold." The preacher went on to explain how
an old woman on social security had sent her last $10 to support his
ministry, and the next day she got an anonymous money order for
a $1000 . "The Lord will be faithful to his Word," the preacher
concluded. "You give, and you'll receive."
The Lord is, of course, faithful to his Word. But many well-meaning Christians
have interpreted Luke 6:38 as a "paymant in kind" bargain with God:
if I give God my dollar, he's obliged to return it to me with interest.
This "seed-sowing" fallacy, where $20 supposedly becomes $2000 by
an act of divine, multiplication, has caused much
disappointment and frustration.
The "giving and receiving" principle is a valid one; the Lord does, indeed say
"Give, and it will be given to you," but he does not specify what the "return"
will be. The verse appears in the context of forgiveness, of not judging; the
principle is not investment, in any material sense, but generosity.
As we give, as ew are compassionate with others, we take on the
character of the Lord himself. He is generous and giving, and he gives
to us as we give ourselves in love to others.
Application
a) Have I ever "given" to God ot to others as a bribe, to get something
in return?
b) What is God's concept of giving, as demonstrated
in the gift of Jeus Christ?
c) How can this verse help me to give more selflessly?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Cor 9:8,11
8 God is able to make all grace abound toward you,
so that you, always having enough of everything,
may abound to every good work.
11 So you will be enriched in everything to all bountifulness,
which makes us give thanks to God.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Facing Pain and Suffering
Ps 9:9-12
9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble.
10 Those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
11 Sing praises to the Lord who dwells in Zion;
declare His deeds among the people.
12 He who avenges deaths remembers them;
He does not forget the cry of the humble.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493
British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver
and surrounding areas. There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000 and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.
Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc.
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice. Let us agree in that
- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 27 of the Month
a) Pray that God's Spirit will melt the pride that causes many to
hold to wrong opinions of Christ and His Salvation.
(
2 Cor 10:4-5
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,
5 casting down imaginations and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
)
b) Pray that the Lord will awaken a desire in the hearts of those who
are lost to seek Him and to seek The Truth.
Conclusion:
Pray to seek the Lord's willl for reconciliating in your family.
Pray to seek the Freedom from Jesus.
Pray to the Lord on your motives for giving.
Pray to the Lord for how your life can be abundant.
Pray for those who have not come to Salvation.
Pray for forgiveness of sins and repentance.
Pray to accept Jesus in your life
Gen 42 - 45
GENESIS 42
Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt
1 Now when Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt,
Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?"
2 And he said, "I have heard that there is grain in Egypt.
Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die."
3 Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.
4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers
for he said, "Perhaps some harm might happen to him."
5 Thus the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who came,
for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6 Now Joseph was the governor over the land,
and it was he who sold to all the people of the land.
So Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves
down before him with their faces to the ground.
7 Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them,
but he pretended to be a stranger to them
and spoke harshly to them. He said to them, "From where do you come?"
And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."
8 Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him.
9 Joseph also remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them.
He said to them, "You are spies! You came to see the nakedness of the land!"
10 They said to him, "No, my lord, your servants have come only to buy food.
11 We are all one man's sons. We are honest men. Your servants are not spies."
12 But he said to them, "No, you have come to see the nakedness of the land!"
13 They said, "Your servants are twelve brothers,
the sons of one man in the land of Canaan.
The youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer living."
14 Joseph said to them, "It is as I said to you, 'You are spies!'
15 Here is how you will be tested. By the life of Pharaoh,
you will not leave here unless your youngest brother comes here.
16 Send one of you, and let him get your brother,
and you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested,
whether there be any truth in you.
Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, you are surely spies."
17 He put them all together in custody for three days.
18 Joseph said to them the third day, "Do this and live, for I fear God.
19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined
in your prison house. The rest of you go and carry grain for the famine
of your households.
20 Nevertheless, bring your youngest brother to me so that your words
may be verified and you shall not die." And they did so.
21 Then they said one to another, "We are guilty concerning our brother,
because we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us,
but we would not listen. Therefore, this distress has come upon us."
22 Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not speak to you, saying,
'Do not sin against the boy';
and you would not listen? Therefore, his blood is now required of us."
23 They did not know that Joseph understood them,
for he spoke to them through an interpreter.
24 He turned himself away from them and wept,
but then turned back to them again and spoke with them.
Then he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.
25 Joseph then gave the command to fill their sacks with grain
and to restore every man's money to his sack
and to give them provisions for the way. And it was done for them.
Joseph’s Brothers Return Home
26They loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there.
27 As one of them opened his sack to give
his donkey feed in the lodging place,
he saw his money. It was in the mouth of his sack.
28 And he said to his brothers, "My money has been returned.
Here it is in my sack!"
Then their hearts sank, and they were afraid, saying to one another,
"What is this that God has done to us?"
29 They came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan
and told him all that had happened to them, saying,
30 "The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly to us
and took us for spies of the country.
31 And we said to him, 'We are honest men. We are not spies.
32 We are twelve brothers, all sons of our father.
One is no longer living, and the youngest is with our father today
in the land of Canaan.'
33 "The man, the lord of the country, said to us,
'Here is how I may know that you are honest men.
Leave one of your brothers here with me,
take food for the famine of your households, and be gone.
34 But bring your youngest brother back to me.
Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men.
Then I will deliver your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.' "
35 As they emptied their sacks, every man's bundle of money was in his sack.
When both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
36 Then Jacob their father said to them,
"You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more,
and you will take Benjamin away. All these things are against me."
37 Reuben spoke to his father, saying,
"Kill my two sons if I fail to bring him to you. Put him in my hands, a
nd I will bring him back to you."
38 But Jacob said, "My son must not go down with you, for his brother is dead,
and he alone is left. If harm should happen to him on the journey
you are to make, then you will bring down my gray hairs
with sorrow to the grave.
(Joseph goes ahead in the name ofthe Lord)
GENESIS 43
Joseph’s Brothers Return With Benjamin
1 Now the famine was severe in the land.
2 When they had eaten up the grain which
they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them,
"Go back and buy us a little food."
3 Judah spoke to him, saying, "The man solemnly warned us, saying,
'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'
4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.
5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down.
For the man said to us, 'You will not see my face
unless your brother is with you.' "
6 Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly as
to tell the man that you had another brother?"
7 And they said, "The man asked us directly about ourselves and our family,
saying, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?'
So we answered his questions. How could we even know that he would say,
'Bring your brother down'?"
8 And Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the boy with me,
and we will arise and go, so that we may live and not die,
both we and you, and also our little ones.
9 I will be a surety for him. You may hold me personally
responsible for him. If I fail to bring him back to you and set him before you,
then let me bear the blame forever. 10 For if we had not delayed,
we could have returned twice."
11 Their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, do this.
Take some of the best fruits in the land in your bags,
and carry down a present for the man: a little balm
and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.
12 Take double the money with you, along with the money
that was brought back in the mouths of your sacks.
Carry it with you again. Perhaps it was a mistake.
13 Also, take your brother and arise, return to the man.
14 And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man,
so that he may send away your other brother, along with Benjamin.
As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved."
15 The men took the gift, and they took double the money with them,
along with Benjamin. Then they went on their way down to Egypt
and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them,
he said to the house steward,
"Bring these men home, slaughter an animal and prepare it,
for these men will dine with me at noon."
17 The man did as Joseph ordered, so the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
18 The men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house.
They said, "We have been brought in because of the money
that was returned in our sacks the first time,
so that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us
and take us for slaves with our donkeys."
The Feast With Joseph
19 They approached the steward of Joseph's house,
and they spoke with him at the entrance of the house.
20 They said, "My lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food.
21 When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks and realized
every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight.
So we have brought it again with us.
22 We have also brought additional money with us to buy food.
We cannot tell who put our money in our sacks."
23 He said, "Be at peace; do not be afraid.
Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks.
I had your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.
24 The man brought the men into Joseph's house
and gave them water to wash their feet and gave feed to their donkeys.
25 Then they made ready the gift for Joseph's coming at noon,
for they heard that they would be eating a meal there.
26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house
to him the present that they had with them
and bowed themselves to him to the ground.
27 He asked them about their well-being and said,
"Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?"
28 And they answered, "Your servant our father is in good health.
He is still alive." And they bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves.
29 He lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son,
and said, "Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?"
And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son."
30 Joseph hurried out, for he was deeply moved over his brother
and sought a place to weep. So he entered into his chamber and wept there.
31 Then he washed his face and came out. Controlling himself,
he said, "Serve the food."
32 They served him by himself and them by themselves and the Egyptians
who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat a meal
with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
33 They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright
and the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked
at one another in astonishment.
34 He gave them portions from his own table, but Benjamin's serving
was five times more than any of theirs. So they drank and feasted with him.
GENESIS 44
Joseph Detains Benjamin
1 Then he commanded the steward of his house, saying,
"Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry,
and put every man’s money in the mouth of his sack.
2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest,
along with his grain money." And he did according to what Joseph had spoken.
3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away,
they and their donkeys. 4 When they were gone out of the city,
but not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward,
"Get up, follow after the men. When you overtake them, say to them,
'Why have you rewarded evil for good?
5 Is this not the one from which my lord drinks
and uses as he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.'"
6 So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words.
7 They said to him, "Why does my lord say these words?
Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing.
8 Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan
the money that we found in the top of our sacks.
Why then would we steal silver or gold from your lord's house?
9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die,
and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves."
10 He said, "Now let it also be according to your words.
He with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you will be blameless."
11 Then every man hurriedly took down his sack to the ground,
and every man opened his sack.
12 He searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest.
The cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey
and returned to the city.
14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house,
he was still there; and they fell to the ground before him.
15 Joseph said to them, "What deed is this that you have done?
Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?"
16 And Judah said, "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak?
Or how shall we clear ourselves?
God has found out the iniquity of your servants.
Here we are, my lord's servants,
both we and he also in whose possession the cup was found."
17 But he said, "Far be it from me that I should do so.
The man in whose possession the cup was found shall be my slave;
but as for you, go up in peace to your father."
Judah’s Plea for Benjamin
18 Then Judah approached him and said, "O my lord, please let your servant
speak a word in my lord's ears, and do not be angry with your servant,
for you are equal to Pharaoh.
19 My lord asked his servants, saying, 'Have you a father or a brother?'
20 And we said to my lord, 'We have a father, an old man,
and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead,
and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.'
21 "You said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me,
so that I may set my eyes on him.'
22 We said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father,
for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'
23Y ou said to your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down
with you, you will not see my face again.'
24 When we went back to your servant, my father,
we told him the words of my lord.
25 "Our father said, 'Go again and buy us a little food.'
26 We said, 'We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us,
then we will go down, for we may not see the man's face,
unless our youngest brother is with us'
27 "Your servant, my father, said to us,
'You know that my wife bore me two sons.
28 And the one went out from me, and I said, "Surely he was torn in pieces,"
and I have not seen him since.
29 And if you take this one also from me and he is harmed,
you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave'
30 "Now therefore when I come to your servant, my father,
and the boy is not with us, as his life is bound up in the boy's life,
31 when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants
will bring down the gray hairs of your servant, our father, with sorrow to the grave.
32 For your servant became surety for the boy to my father, saying,
'If I fail to bring him to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever.'
33 "Now therefore, please let your servant stay as a slave to my lord
instead of the boy, and let the boy go up with his brothers.
34 For how can I go up to my father if the boy is not with me,
lest perhaps I see the evil that would find my father?"
GENESIS 45
Joseph Reveals His Identity
1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all who stood by him,
and he cried out, "Make every man go out from me." So no man stood
with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
2 He wept so loudly that the Egyptians
and the house of Pharaoh heard about it.
3J oseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?"
But his brothers could not answer him,
for they were dismayed in his presence.
4 Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me,"
and they came near. Then he said,
"I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
5 Now do not be upset or angry with yourselves b
ecause you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6 For these two years the famine has been in the land,
and there are still five years in which there will be
neither plowing nor harvesting.
7 God sent me ahead of you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth
and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 "So now it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me
a father to Pharaoh and lord of his entire household and a ruler
throughout all the land of Egypt.
9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him,
'This is what your son Joseph says,
"God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not delay.
10 And you will dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near me,
you and your children and your children's children, along with your flocks,
your herds, and all that you have.
11 I will provide for you there, for there are still five years
of famine to come, lest you and your household,
and all that you have, come to poverty." '
12 "Your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that
it is my mouth that is speaking to you.
13 You must tell my father of all my glory in Egypt
and of all that you have seen, and you must hurry
and bring my father down here."
14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept,
and Benjamin wept on his neck.
1 5Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept on them.
After that his brothers talked with him.
16 When the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come,
it pleased Pharaoh and his servants.
17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers,
'Do this. Load your animals and go to the land of Canaan.
18 Get your father and your households and come to me,
and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt,
and you shall eat the fat of the land.'
19 "You are also commanded to say,
'Do this: Take your wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones
and for your wives, and get your father and come.
20 Also do not concern yourself with your goods,
for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.' "
21 So the sons of Israel did so, and Joseph gave them wagons,
according to the commandment of Pharaoh,
and gave them provisions for the journey.
22 To each of them he gave a change of clothes,
but he gave to Benjamin three hundred shekels of silver
and five changes of clothes.
23 To his father he sent the following:
ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt
and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread
and provisions for his father on the journey.
24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed.
He said to them, "Do not quarrel on the way."
25 They went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan
to Jacob their father.
26 They told him, "Joseph is still alive,
and he is governor over all the land of Egypt."
And Jacob’'s heart stood still because he could not believe them.
27 They told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them,
and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him,
the spirit of their father Jacob revived.
28 Then Israel said, "Enough! Joseph my son is still alive.
I will go and see him before I die."
2) Our Daily Bread for 20 Jan 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/01/27/free-at-last
entitled Free At LAst
John 8:31-36
The Truth Will Set You Free
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him,
"If you remain in My word, then you are truly My disciples.
32You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's seed
and have never been in bondage to anyone.
Why do You say, 'You shall be set free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly I say to you,
whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
35 Now a slave does not remain in the house forever,
but a son remains forever.
36Therefore if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed."
Twenty long years passed before British journalist John McCarthy
—a five-year hostage during Lebanon’s grueling civil war—met
the man who negotiated his release. When McCarthy finally met
U.N. envoy Giandomenico Picco, McCarthy simply said,
"Thank you for my freedom!" His heartfelt words carried great
weight because Picco had risked his own life during dangerous
negotiations to secure freedom for McCarthy and others.
We as believers can relate to such hard-won freedom.
Jesus gave up His life—enduring death on a Roman cross—to secure
spiritual freedom for all people, including each of us. Now as His children,
we know "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free,"
the apostle Paul boldly declared (Galatians 5:1).
The gospel of John also teaches of freedom in Christ, noting,
"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
But free in what ways? In Jesus, we experience freedom
not only from sin and its hold on us but also from guilt,
shame, worry, Satan's lies, superstitions, false teaching,
and eternal death. No longer hostages, we have freedom
to show love to enemies, walk in kindness, live with hope,
and love our neighbors. As we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading,
we can forgive as we’ve been forgiven.
For all of this, let’s thank God today.
Then let’s love so others will know the power of His freedom too.
By: Patricia Raybon
Reflect & Pray
What spiritual chains still hold you hostage?
As you release those chains to God,
what words can you use to thank Him for setting you free?
Dear liberating God, thank You for my freedom—
for setting me free from spiritual death and releasing me to love.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 4 - Giving and Receiving
Luke 6:38
38 "Give, and it will be given to you: Good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over will men give unto you.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured unto you."
"Just give the Lord", the voice on the radio declared. "Give, and he will
give back to you, a hundredfold." The preacher went on to explain how
an old woman on social security had sent her last $10 to support his
ministry, and the next day she got an anonymous money order for
a $1000 . "The Lord will be faithful to his Word," the preacher
concluded. "You give, and you'll receive."
The Lord is, of course, faithful to his Word. But many well-meaning Christians
have interpreted Luke 6:38 as a "paymant in kind" bargain with God:
if I give God my dollar, he's obliged to return it to me with interest.
This "seed-sowing" fallacy, where $20 supposedly becomes $2000 by
an act of divine, multiplication, has caused much
disappointment and frustration.
The "giving and receiving" principle is a valid one; the Lord does, indeed say
"Give, and it will be given to you," but he does not specify what the "return"
will be. The verse appears in the context of forgiveness, of not judging; the
principle is not investment, in any material sense, but generosity.
As we give, as ew are compassionate with others, we take on the
character of the Lord himself. He is generous and giving, and he gives
to us as we give ourselves in love to others.
Application
a) Have I ever "given" to God ot to others as a bribe, to get something
in return?
b) What is God's concept of giving, as demonstrated
in the gift of Jeus Christ?
c) How can this verse help me to give more selflessly?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Cor 9:8,11
8 God is able to make all grace abound toward you,
so that you, always having enough of everything,
may abound to every good work.
11 So you will be enriched in everything to all bountifulness,
which makes us give thanks to God.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Facing Pain and Suffering
Ps 9:9-12
9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble.
10 Those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
11 Sing praises to the Lord who dwells in Zion;
declare His deeds among the people.
12 He who avenges deaths remembers them;
He does not forget the cry of the humble.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493
British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver
and surrounding areas. There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000 and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.
Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc.
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice. Let us agree in that
- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 27 of the Month
a) Pray that God's Spirit will melt the pride that causes many to
hold to wrong opinions of Christ and His Salvation.
(
2 Cor 10:4-5
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,
5 casting down imaginations and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
)
b) Pray that the Lord will awaken a desire in the hearts of those who
are lost to seek Him and to seek The Truth.
Conclusion:
Pray to seek the Lord's willl for reconciliating in your family.
Pray to seek the Freedom from Jesus.
Pray to the Lord on your motives for giving.
Pray to the Lord for how your life can be abundant.
Pray for those who have not come to Salvation.
Pray for forgiveness of sins and repentance.
Pray to accept Jesus in your life