Day 26 of the 2nd Bible Study Journey - 26 Jan 2022 reflections
Day 26, 26 Jan 2022
Genesis 41
Genesis 42
GENESIS 41
Pharaoh's Dreams
1 After two whole years, Pharaoh had a dream that he was standing by the Nile.
2 Seven fine-looking and fattened cows suddenly came up out of the river,
and they grazed in the meadow.
3 Then seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt,
and stood by the other cows on the riverbank.
4 The ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine-looking and fattened cows.
Then Pharaoh awoke.
5 He slept and dreamed a second time. Seven ears of grain suddenly came up
on one stalk, plump and good.
6 Then seven thin ears, scorched by the east
wind, sprang up after them.
7 The seven thin ears devoured the seven plump
and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.
8 In the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called
for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men.
Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was
no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying,
"Today I remember my offenses.
10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants
and put me in confinement in the captain of the guard's house,
both me and the chief baker.
11 And we had a dream in the same night,
he and I. We, each of us, dreamed according to the interpretation
of his own dream.
12 A young Hebrew man was with us there,
a servant to the captain of the guard. We told him and he interpreted
our dreams for us. To each man he interpreted according to his own dream.
13 It happened just as he interpreted. He restored me to my position,
and the baker was hanged." (Joseph remembered)
14 So Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they brought him hastily
out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothes,
and came to Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have dreamed a dream,
and there is no one who can interpret it.
I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream to interpret it."
16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me.
God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream, I stood on the bank of the Nile.
18 And suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fattened
and fine-looking, and they grazed in the reeds.
19 Then seven other cows
came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt. I have never seen
such ugliness in all the land of Egypt.
20 And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows.
21 And when they had eaten them up,
no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still
as ugly as before. Then I awoke.
22 "I also saw in my dreams seven ears of grain, full and good,
suddenly come up on one stalk.
23 Then seven ears, thin and scorched
by the east wind, sprang up after them.
24 And the thin ears swallowed
the seven good ears. So I told this to the magicians,
but there was no one who could explain it to me."
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.
God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
26 The seven good cows
are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years. The dreams are one.
27 The seven gaunt and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years,
and the seven empty ears scorched by the east wind will be
seven years of famine.
28 "It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh
what He is about to do.
29 Seven years of great abundance
will come throughout all the land of Egypt.
30 However, there will arise after them seven years of famine.
All the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt,
and the famine will consume the land.
31 The abundance will be unknown
in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe.
32 The reason the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice is because
the matter is established by God, and God will soon bring it to pass.
33 "Now, therefore, let Pharaoh seek out a man who is discerning
and wise and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh do this,
and let him appoint officials over the land and collect the fifth part of
the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven abundant years.
35 Let them gather all the food from those good years that come
and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep
food in the cities.
36 This food will be for a reserve for the land
for the seven years of famine which will be in the land of Egypt,
so that the land does not perish during the famine."
Joseph Rises to Power
37 The counsel seemed good to Pharaoh and to all of his servants.
38 Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find anyone like this man,
in whom is the Spirit of God?"
39 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this,
there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
40 You will be over my house, and according to your word all my
people will be ruled.
Only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you."
41 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt."
42 Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand
and arrayed him in clothes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
43 Then he had him ride in the second chariot which was his,
and they cried out before him, "Bow the knee!"
So he set him over all the land of Egypt.
44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent
no man will lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
45 Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-Paneah,
and he gave him a wife, Asenath the daughter of Potiphera priest of On.
And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh,
the king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh
and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
47 In the seven abundant years the earth brought forth plentifully.
48 So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which was in
the land of Egypt and laid up the food in the cities.
He put in every city the food of the fields which surrounded the city.
49 Joseph gathered great quantities of grain as the sand of the sea
until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.
50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph,
whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him.
51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh,
"For God," he said, "has made me forget all my trouble
and all my father's house."
52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, saying,
"For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."
(Manessah and Ephriam the 11th and 12th Tribe of Israel)
53 The seven years of abundance that were in the land of Egypt ended.
54 The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said.
The famine was in all lands, but there was food in all the land of Egypt.
55 When all the land of Egypt was hungry,
the people cried to Pharaoh for food,
and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians,
"Go to Joseph. Do whatever he says to you."
56 The famine was over all the face of the earth,
so Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians,
and the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt.
57 Moreover, all countries came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain,
because the famine was so severe in all the lands.
Genesis 41
[1] And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed:
and, behold, he stood by the river.
[2] And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and
fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
[3] And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill
favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the
river.
[4] And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well
favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
[5] And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of
corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
[6] And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up
after them.
[7] And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And
Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
[8] And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he
sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men
thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could
interpret them unto Pharaoh.
[9] Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my
faults this day:
[10] Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain
of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:
[11] And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man
according to the interpretation of his dream.
[12] And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the
captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams;
to each man according to his dream he did interpret.
[13] And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored
unto mine office, and him he hanged.
[14] Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out
of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in
unto Pharaoh.
[15] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none
that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst
understand a dream to interpret it.
[16] And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give
Pharaoh an answer of peace.
[17] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the
bank of the river:
[18] And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and
well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:
[19] And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill
favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for
badness:
[20] And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat
kine:
[21] And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had
eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I
awoke.
[22] And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk,
full and good:
[23] And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east
wind, sprung up after them:
[24] And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto
the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.
[25] And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath
shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
[26] The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven
years: the dream is one.
[27] And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are
seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be
seven years of famine.
[28] This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about
to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
[29] Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land
of Egypt:
[30] And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the
plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume
the land;
[31] And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine
following; for it shall be very grievous.
[32] And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because
the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
[33] Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him
over the land of Egypt.
[34] Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and
take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
[35] And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay
up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
[36] And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of
famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not
through the famine.
[37] And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all
his servants.
[38] And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is,
a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
[39] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all
this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
[40] Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my
people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
[41] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of
Egypt.
[42] And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's
hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about
his neck;
[43] And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they
cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of
Egypt.
[44] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no
man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
[45] And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to
wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out
over all the land of Egypt.
[46] And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of
Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout
all the land of Egypt.
[47] And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
[48] And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the
land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field,
which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
[49] And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he
left numbering; for it was without number.
[50] And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came,
which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him.
[51] And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he,
hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.
[52] And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to
be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
[53] And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt,
were ended.
[54] And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had
said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there
was bread.
[55] And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to
Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph;
what he saith to you, do.
[56] And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened
all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore
in the land of Egypt.
[57] And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because
that the famine was so sore in all lands.
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
26 They 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.
Genesis 42
[1] Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his
sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
[2] And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you
down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
[3] And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
[4] But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he
said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
[5] And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the
famine was in the land of Canaan.
[6] And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to
all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down
themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
[7] And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange
unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come
ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
[8] And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
[9] And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto
them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
[10] And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants
come.
[11] We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.
[12] And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are
come.
[13] And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in
the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father,
and one is not.
[14] And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye
are spies:
[15] Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth
hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
[16] Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept
in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you:
or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
[17] And he put them all together into ward three days.
[18] And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear
God:
[19] If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of
your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:
[20] But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be
verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
[21] And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our
brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we
would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
[22] And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not
sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his
blood is required.
[23] And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them
by an interpreter.
[24] And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them
again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him
before their eyes.
[25] Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore
every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and
thus did he unto them.
[26] And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.
[27] And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the
inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.
[28] And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is
even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying
one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?
[29] And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told
him all that befell unto them; saying,
[30] The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us
for spies of the country.
[31] And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:
[32] We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest
is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.
[33] And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know
that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food
for the famine of your households, and be gone:
[34] And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are
no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and
ye shall traffick in the land.
[35] And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every
man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father
saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
[36] And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my
children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away:
all these things are against me.
[37] And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring
him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee
again.
[38] And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is
dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which
ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
(Joseph goes ahead in the name of the Lord)
2) Our Daily Bread for 25 January 2022
https://odb.org/CA/2022/01/26/genuine-happiness
entitled True Happiness
Ecclesiastes 3:9-14
The God-Given Task
9 (Ecc 1:3; 2:11) What benefit does the worker have in his toil?
10 (Ge 3:19; Ecc 2:26) I have seen the task that God has given to sons
of men to be concerned with.
11 (Ecc 8:17; Ro 11:33) He has made everything beautiful in its appropriate
time. He has also put obscurity in their hearts (Or timelessness,
or perpetuity.) so that no one comes to know the work that God has done
from the beginning to the end.
12 (Ps 37:3; Ecc 3:22) I experienced that there is nothing better for them
than to be glad and do good in their life.
13 (Ecc 2:24) And also that everyone should eat and drink and experience
good in all their labor. This is a gift of God.
14 (Jas 1:17) I have perceived that everything that God has done will
be lasting. And to this there is nothing to be added, and from it there
is nothing to be taken away. And God has done this so that in His
presence men fear Him.
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men
to be exercised in it.
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set
the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that
God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice,
and to do good in his life.
13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good
of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever:
nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it:
and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
In the tenth century, Abd al-Rahman III was the ruler of Cordoba, Spain.
After fifty years of successful reign ("beloved by my subjects,
dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies"), al-Rahman took a deeper
look at his life. "Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my
call," he said of his privileges. But when he counted how many days of genuine
happiness he'd had during that time, they amounted to just fourteen.
How sobering.
The writer of Ecclesiastes was also a man of riches
and honour (Ecclesiastes 2:7-9), power and pleasure (1:12; 2:1-3). And his
own life evaluation was equally sobering. Riches, he realized, just led to
a desire for more (5:10-11), while pleasures accomplished little (2:1-2),
and success could be due to chance as much as ability (9:11). But his
assessment didn't end as bleakly as al-Rahman's. Believing God was
his ultimate source of happiness, he saw that eating, working,
and doing good could all be enjoyed when done with Him (2:25; 3:12-13).
"O man!" al-Rahman concluded his reflections, "place not thy confidence
in this present world!" The writer of Ecclesiastes would agree. Since we've
been made for eternity (3:11), earthly pleasures and achievements won't
satisfy by themselves. But with Him in our lives, genuine happiness
is possible in our eating, working, and living.
By: Sheridan Voysey
Reflect & Pray
What do you turn to most to find happiness? How can you eat, work,
and do good with God today?
Heavenly Father, today I will do all things with You by my side.
3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association
Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools
Week 3 - Saved Now and Forever - Day 4 - Daddy!
Romans 8:15
'For you have not received the spirit of slavery again to fear. But you have
received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba, Father." '
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
"I've always been a Daddy's girl," Sandi said proudly, and her relationship
with her father proved it. She was never spoiled, but even as a grown woman,
Sandi maintained a closeness with her father, sharing intimately with him the
important issues of her life. And just her use of the name "Daddy" indicated
that he was, indeed a warm, approachable, affectionate man.
Many people are not so fortunate. Some fathers are stern and harsh;
others absent or uncaring, some even abusive. Few have the king of father
who presents a picture of the loving fatherhood of God.
But whatever our concept of fatherhood, God makes clear that he is everything
we always wanted our fathers to be - loving, forgiving, approachable,
totally accepting of us as we are, encouraging us to become all he has
created us to be.
In Romans 8, Paul calls God our "Abba Father". The Aramaic word for Father,
Abba, is an intimate term that might well be translated, Daddy.
God is our "Daddy," our "Abba" - not a distant, stern patriarch ready
to strike us down at the first sign of transgression, but a gentle,
loving Father who longs for us to climb into his lap and let him comfort us.
When we commit ourselves to Christ, Paul indicates, we do not receive a
"spirit of bondage to fear" but a "spirit of adoption." We are not called
to respond to God out of fear, but out of love and reverence.
We can relax and enjoy his presence, for we are his children,
and he is our loving Daddy.
Application
a) What concept of fatherhood do I have from my own experience with my father?
How does that correspond to Paul's description of God as "Daddy"?
b) How can this verse help change my perception of what it means to have
God as my Father?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Is 55:11
11 (Isa 45:23; 46:10) so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
11 so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
James 5:13-16
13 (Ps 50:15; Eph 5:19) Is anyone among you suffering?
Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms.
14 (Mk 6:13; 16:18; Ac 14:23) Is anyone sick among you?
Let him call for the elders of the church,
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil
in the name of the Lord.
15 (Isa 33:24; Jas 1:6) And the prayer of faith will save
the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
And if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
16 (Ge 20:17; 18:23-32) Confess your faults to one another
and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much.
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.
Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise
him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another,
that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
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 26 of the Month
a) Pray that Christians in the marketplace will demonstrate exemplary
work ethics and shine as witnesses of Christ (Matt 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
)
b) Pray for the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut
I) Pray for the leaders of Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut,
that God's Spirit would influence then to act justly,
serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards. ( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority;
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.
II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use
the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and Pray to Him to show you what the future holds.
Pray to the Lord
"Heavenly Father, today I will do all things with You by my side."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him that He is your loving Father.
Pray to the Lord and remember His Will will be done.
Pray to the Lord and pray for healing in the World.
Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Pray that Christians in the marketplace will demonstrate exemplary
work ethics and shine as witnesses of Christ .
Pray that church leaders will be strong in Algeria
and wise while enduring hardship.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God
Genesis 41
Genesis 42
GENESIS 41
Pharaoh's Dreams
1 After two whole years, Pharaoh had a dream that he was standing by the Nile.
2 Seven fine-looking and fattened cows suddenly came up out of the river,
and they grazed in the meadow.
3 Then seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt,
and stood by the other cows on the riverbank.
4 The ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine-looking and fattened cows.
Then Pharaoh awoke.
5 He slept and dreamed a second time. Seven ears of grain suddenly came up
on one stalk, plump and good.
6 Then seven thin ears, scorched by the east
wind, sprang up after them.
7 The seven thin ears devoured the seven plump
and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.
8 In the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called
for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men.
Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was
no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying,
"Today I remember my offenses.
10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants
and put me in confinement in the captain of the guard's house,
both me and the chief baker.
11 And we had a dream in the same night,
he and I. We, each of us, dreamed according to the interpretation
of his own dream.
12 A young Hebrew man was with us there,
a servant to the captain of the guard. We told him and he interpreted
our dreams for us. To each man he interpreted according to his own dream.
13 It happened just as he interpreted. He restored me to my position,
and the baker was hanged." (Joseph remembered)
14 So Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they brought him hastily
out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothes,
and came to Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have dreamed a dream,
and there is no one who can interpret it.
I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream to interpret it."
16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me.
God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream, I stood on the bank of the Nile.
18 And suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fattened
and fine-looking, and they grazed in the reeds.
19 Then seven other cows
came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt. I have never seen
such ugliness in all the land of Egypt.
20 And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows.
21 And when they had eaten them up,
no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still
as ugly as before. Then I awoke.
22 "I also saw in my dreams seven ears of grain, full and good,
suddenly come up on one stalk.
23 Then seven ears, thin and scorched
by the east wind, sprang up after them.
24 And the thin ears swallowed
the seven good ears. So I told this to the magicians,
but there was no one who could explain it to me."
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.
God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
26 The seven good cows
are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years. The dreams are one.
27 The seven gaunt and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years,
and the seven empty ears scorched by the east wind will be
seven years of famine.
28 "It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh
what He is about to do.
29 Seven years of great abundance
will come throughout all the land of Egypt.
30 However, there will arise after them seven years of famine.
All the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt,
and the famine will consume the land.
31 The abundance will be unknown
in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe.
32 The reason the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice is because
the matter is established by God, and God will soon bring it to pass.
33 "Now, therefore, let Pharaoh seek out a man who is discerning
and wise and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh do this,
and let him appoint officials over the land and collect the fifth part of
the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven abundant years.
35 Let them gather all the food from those good years that come
and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep
food in the cities.
36 This food will be for a reserve for the land
for the seven years of famine which will be in the land of Egypt,
so that the land does not perish during the famine."
Joseph Rises to Power
37 The counsel seemed good to Pharaoh and to all of his servants.
38 Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find anyone like this man,
in whom is the Spirit of God?"
39 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this,
there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
40 You will be over my house, and according to your word all my
people will be ruled.
Only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you."
41 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt."
42 Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand
and arrayed him in clothes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
43 Then he had him ride in the second chariot which was his,
and they cried out before him, "Bow the knee!"
So he set him over all the land of Egypt.
44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent
no man will lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
45 Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-Paneah,
and he gave him a wife, Asenath the daughter of Potiphera priest of On.
And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh,
the king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh
and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
47 In the seven abundant years the earth brought forth plentifully.
48 So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which was in
the land of Egypt and laid up the food in the cities.
He put in every city the food of the fields which surrounded the city.
49 Joseph gathered great quantities of grain as the sand of the sea
until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.
50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph,
whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him.
51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh,
"For God," he said, "has made me forget all my trouble
and all my father's house."
52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, saying,
"For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."
(Manessah and Ephriam the 11th and 12th Tribe of Israel)
53 The seven years of abundance that were in the land of Egypt ended.
54 The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said.
The famine was in all lands, but there was food in all the land of Egypt.
55 When all the land of Egypt was hungry,
the people cried to Pharaoh for food,
and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians,
"Go to Joseph. Do whatever he says to you."
56 The famine was over all the face of the earth,
so Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians,
and the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt.
57 Moreover, all countries came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain,
because the famine was so severe in all the lands.
Genesis 41
[1] And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed:
and, behold, he stood by the river.
[2] And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and
fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
[3] And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill
favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the
river.
[4] And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well
favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
[5] And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of
corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
[6] And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up
after them.
[7] And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And
Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
[8] And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he
sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men
thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could
interpret them unto Pharaoh.
[9] Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my
faults this day:
[10] Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain
of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:
[11] And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man
according to the interpretation of his dream.
[12] And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the
captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams;
to each man according to his dream he did interpret.
[13] And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored
unto mine office, and him he hanged.
[14] Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out
of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in
unto Pharaoh.
[15] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none
that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst
understand a dream to interpret it.
[16] And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give
Pharaoh an answer of peace.
[17] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the
bank of the river:
[18] And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and
well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:
[19] And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill
favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for
badness:
[20] And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat
kine:
[21] And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had
eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I
awoke.
[22] And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk,
full and good:
[23] And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east
wind, sprung up after them:
[24] And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto
the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.
[25] And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath
shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
[26] The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven
years: the dream is one.
[27] And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are
seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be
seven years of famine.
[28] This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about
to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
[29] Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land
of Egypt:
[30] And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the
plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume
the land;
[31] And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine
following; for it shall be very grievous.
[32] And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because
the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
[33] Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him
over the land of Egypt.
[34] Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and
take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
[35] And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay
up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
[36] And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of
famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not
through the famine.
[37] And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all
his servants.
[38] And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is,
a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
[39] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all
this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
[40] Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my
people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
[41] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of
Egypt.
[42] And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's
hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about
his neck;
[43] And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they
cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of
Egypt.
[44] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no
man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
[45] And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to
wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out
over all the land of Egypt.
[46] And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of
Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout
all the land of Egypt.
[47] And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
[48] And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the
land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field,
which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
[49] And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he
left numbering; for it was without number.
[50] And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came,
which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him.
[51] And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he,
hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.
[52] And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to
be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
[53] And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt,
were ended.
[54] And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had
said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there
was bread.
[55] And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to
Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph;
what he saith to you, do.
[56] And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened
all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore
in the land of Egypt.
[57] And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because
that the famine was so sore in all lands.
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
26 They 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.
Genesis 42
[1] Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his
sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
[2] And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you
down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
[3] And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
[4] But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he
said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
[5] And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the
famine was in the land of Canaan.
[6] And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to
all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down
themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
[7] And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange
unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come
ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
[8] And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
[9] And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto
them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
[10] And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants
come.
[11] We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.
[12] And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are
come.
[13] And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in
the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father,
and one is not.
[14] And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye
are spies:
[15] Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth
hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
[16] Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept
in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you:
or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
[17] And he put them all together into ward three days.
[18] And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear
God:
[19] If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of
your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:
[20] But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be
verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
[21] And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our
brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we
would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
[22] And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not
sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his
blood is required.
[23] And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them
by an interpreter.
[24] And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them
again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him
before their eyes.
[25] Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore
every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and
thus did he unto them.
[26] And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.
[27] And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the
inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.
[28] And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is
even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying
one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?
[29] And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told
him all that befell unto them; saying,
[30] The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us
for spies of the country.
[31] And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:
[32] We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest
is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.
[33] And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know
that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food
for the famine of your households, and be gone:
[34] And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are
no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and
ye shall traffick in the land.
[35] And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every
man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father
saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
[36] And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my
children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away:
all these things are against me.
[37] And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring
him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee
again.
[38] And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is
dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which
ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
(Joseph goes ahead in the name of the Lord)
2) Our Daily Bread for 25 January 2022
https://odb.org/CA/2022/01/26/genuine-happiness
entitled True Happiness
Ecclesiastes 3:9-14
The God-Given Task
9 (Ecc 1:3; 2:11) What benefit does the worker have in his toil?
10 (Ge 3:19; Ecc 2:26) I have seen the task that God has given to sons
of men to be concerned with.
11 (Ecc 8:17; Ro 11:33) He has made everything beautiful in its appropriate
time. He has also put obscurity in their hearts (Or timelessness,
or perpetuity.) so that no one comes to know the work that God has done
from the beginning to the end.
12 (Ps 37:3; Ecc 3:22) I experienced that there is nothing better for them
than to be glad and do good in their life.
13 (Ecc 2:24) And also that everyone should eat and drink and experience
good in all their labor. This is a gift of God.
14 (Jas 1:17) I have perceived that everything that God has done will
be lasting. And to this there is nothing to be added, and from it there
is nothing to be taken away. And God has done this so that in His
presence men fear Him.
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men
to be exercised in it.
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set
the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that
God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice,
and to do good in his life.
13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good
of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever:
nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it:
and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
In the tenth century, Abd al-Rahman III was the ruler of Cordoba, Spain.
After fifty years of successful reign ("beloved by my subjects,
dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies"), al-Rahman took a deeper
look at his life. "Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my
call," he said of his privileges. But when he counted how many days of genuine
happiness he'd had during that time, they amounted to just fourteen.
How sobering.
The writer of Ecclesiastes was also a man of riches
and honour (Ecclesiastes 2:7-9), power and pleasure (1:12; 2:1-3). And his
own life evaluation was equally sobering. Riches, he realized, just led to
a desire for more (5:10-11), while pleasures accomplished little (2:1-2),
and success could be due to chance as much as ability (9:11). But his
assessment didn't end as bleakly as al-Rahman's. Believing God was
his ultimate source of happiness, he saw that eating, working,
and doing good could all be enjoyed when done with Him (2:25; 3:12-13).
"O man!" al-Rahman concluded his reflections, "place not thy confidence
in this present world!" The writer of Ecclesiastes would agree. Since we've
been made for eternity (3:11), earthly pleasures and achievements won't
satisfy by themselves. But with Him in our lives, genuine happiness
is possible in our eating, working, and living.
By: Sheridan Voysey
Reflect & Pray
What do you turn to most to find happiness? How can you eat, work,
and do good with God today?
Heavenly Father, today I will do all things with You by my side.
3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association
Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools
Week 3 - Saved Now and Forever - Day 4 - Daddy!
Romans 8:15
'For you have not received the spirit of slavery again to fear. But you have
received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba, Father." '
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
"I've always been a Daddy's girl," Sandi said proudly, and her relationship
with her father proved it. She was never spoiled, but even as a grown woman,
Sandi maintained a closeness with her father, sharing intimately with him the
important issues of her life. And just her use of the name "Daddy" indicated
that he was, indeed a warm, approachable, affectionate man.
Many people are not so fortunate. Some fathers are stern and harsh;
others absent or uncaring, some even abusive. Few have the king of father
who presents a picture of the loving fatherhood of God.
But whatever our concept of fatherhood, God makes clear that he is everything
we always wanted our fathers to be - loving, forgiving, approachable,
totally accepting of us as we are, encouraging us to become all he has
created us to be.
In Romans 8, Paul calls God our "Abba Father". The Aramaic word for Father,
Abba, is an intimate term that might well be translated, Daddy.
God is our "Daddy," our "Abba" - not a distant, stern patriarch ready
to strike us down at the first sign of transgression, but a gentle,
loving Father who longs for us to climb into his lap and let him comfort us.
When we commit ourselves to Christ, Paul indicates, we do not receive a
"spirit of bondage to fear" but a "spirit of adoption." We are not called
to respond to God out of fear, but out of love and reverence.
We can relax and enjoy his presence, for we are his children,
and he is our loving Daddy.
Application
a) What concept of fatherhood do I have from my own experience with my father?
How does that correspond to Paul's description of God as "Daddy"?
b) How can this verse help change my perception of what it means to have
God as my Father?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Is 55:11
11 (Isa 45:23; 46:10) so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
11 so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
James 5:13-16
13 (Ps 50:15; Eph 5:19) Is anyone among you suffering?
Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms.
14 (Mk 6:13; 16:18; Ac 14:23) Is anyone sick among you?
Let him call for the elders of the church,
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil
in the name of the Lord.
15 (Isa 33:24; Jas 1:6) And the prayer of faith will save
the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
And if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
16 (Ge 20:17; 18:23-32) Confess your faults to one another
and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much.
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.
Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise
him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another,
that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
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 26 of the Month
a) Pray that Christians in the marketplace will demonstrate exemplary
work ethics and shine as witnesses of Christ (Matt 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
)
b) Pray for the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut
I) Pray for the leaders of Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut,
that God's Spirit would influence then to act justly,
serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards. ( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority;
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.
II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use
the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and Pray to Him to show you what the future holds.
Pray to the Lord
"Heavenly Father, today I will do all things with You by my side."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him that He is your loving Father.
Pray to the Lord and remember His Will will be done.
Pray to the Lord and pray for healing in the World.
Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Pray that Christians in the marketplace will demonstrate exemplary
work ethics and shine as witnesses of Christ .
Pray that church leaders will be strong in Algeria
and wise while enduring hardship.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God
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