The Daily Dose

Provision in the middle of famine

“So Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread, according to the number in their families.” ~ Genesis 47:12

Genesis 47 is a powerful picture of God’s provision. The famine was severe, and people all across the land were struggling to survive. Yet in the middle of the famine, Joseph’s family had what they needed because God had positioned Joseph in advance to provide for them. What looked like years of pain and setbacks in Joseph’s life turned out to be the very preparation God used to save his family and many others.

There were many times in my life when I faced financial strain. Bills felt heavy, and the resources we had didn’t seem like enough. I prayed and asked God for wisdom, and He began to show me ways He had already positioned provision in my life.  Then gradually as I began lining my life up with His ways, design and plan, His abundance showed up in opportunities, creative solutions, and people God placed around me. Just like Joseph’s family, I realized that even in times that felt like famine, God was already ahead of me and making a way.

Maybe you are facing a situation today where it feels like your resources are running out. It could be financial, emotional, or even physical strength. Joseph’s life reminds us that God is not limited by famine or anything in this world. He can provide bread in barren seasons, hope in discouraging times, and peace in the middle of uncertainty.

Here are some ways to get started today:

• Begin each day by thanking God for the ways He has already provided for you, no matter how small. Your personal relationship with Him is the key to stepping into all He has for your life.
• Ask God for wisdom in how to steward the resources you have right now.  This may require giving some things up for right now. (i.e. going out to eat, going on trips or entertainment streaming and etc.)
• Be willing to receive help from others that God may send into your life as part of His provision.
• Look for opportunities to share what you do have with someone else in need, even during lean times. Planting seeds of love and compassion will always produce good fruit for the future.
• Keep trusting that God sees your need before you even ask and is already working on your behalf. Press in close to Him and ask Him to make His presence evident each day.

Today I want to encourage you to trust God as your ultimate provider. Just as Joseph’s family was sustained in a season of famine, you can be confident that God has already gone before you to prepare what you need. Your situation may feel uncertain, but His provision is certain. Keep trusting Him, keep looking for His hand at work, and you will find that He has been faithful every step of the way.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 47

1 Then Joseph went to see Pharaoh and told him, “My father and my brothers have arrived from the land of Canaan. They have come with all their flocks and herds and possessions, and they are now in the region of Goshen.”

2 Joseph took five of his brothers with him and presented them to Pharaoh. 

3 And Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?”

They replied, “We, your servants, are shepherds, just like our ancestors. 

4 We have come to live here in Egypt for a while, for there is no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine is very severe there. So please, we request permission to live in the region of Goshen.”

5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and brothers have joined you here, 

6 choose any place in the entire land of Egypt for them to live. Give them the best land of Egypt. Let them live in the region of Goshen. And if any of them have special skills, put them in charge of my livestock, too.”

7 Then Joseph brought in his father, Jacob, and presented him to Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

8 “How old are you?” Pharaoh asked him.

9 Jacob replied, “I have traveled this earth for 130 hard years. But my life has been short compared to the lives of my ancestors.” 

10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh again before leaving his court.

11 So Joseph assigned the best land of Egypt—the region of Rameses—to his father and his brothers, and he settled them there, just as Pharaoh had commanded. 

12 And Joseph provided food for his father and his brothers in amounts appropriate to the number of their dependents, including the smallest children.

13 Meanwhile, the famine became so severe that all the food was used up, and people were starving throughout the lands of Egypt and Canaan. 

14 By selling grain to the people, Joseph eventually collected all the money in Egypt and Canaan, and he put the money in Pharaoh’s treasury. 

15 When the people of Egypt and Canaan ran out of money, all the Egyptians came to Joseph. “Our money is gone!” they cried. “But please give us food, or we will die before your very eyes!”

16 Joseph replied, “Since your money is gone, bring me your livestock. I will give you food in exchange for your livestock.” 

17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph in exchange for food. In exchange for their horses, flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and donkeys, Joseph provided them with food for another year.

18 But that year ended, and the next year they came again and said, “We cannot hide the truth from you, my lord. Our money is gone, and all our livestock and cattle are yours. We have nothing left to give but our bodies and our land. 

19 Why should we die before your very eyes? Buy us and our land in exchange for food; we offer our land and ourselves as slaves for Pharaoh. Just give us grain so we may live and not die, and so the land does not become empty and desolate.”

20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. All the Egyptians sold him their fields because the famine was so severe, and soon all the land belonged to Pharaoh. 

21 As for the people, he made them all slaves, from one end of Egypt to the other. 

22 The only land he did not buy was the land belonging to the priests. They received an allotment of food directly from Pharaoh, so they didn’t need to sell their land.

23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Look, today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. I will provide you with seed so you can plant the fields. 

24 Then when you harvest it, one-fifth of your crop will belong to Pharaoh. You may keep the remaining four-fifths as seed for your fields and as food for you, your households, and your little ones.”

25 “You have saved our lives!” they exclaimed. “May it please you, my lord, to let us be Pharaoh’s servants.” 

26 Joseph then issued a decree still in effect in the land of Egypt, that Pharaoh should receive one-fifth of all the crops grown on his land. Only the land belonging to the priests was not given to Pharaoh.

27 Meanwhile, the people of Israel settled in the region of Goshen in Egypt. There they acquired property, and they were fruitful, and their population grew rapidly. 

28 Jacob lived for seventeen years after his arrival in Egypt, so he lived 147 years in all.

29 As the time of his death drew near, Jacob called for his son Joseph and said to him, “Please do me this favor. Put your hand under my thigh and swear that you will treat me with unfailing love by honoring this last request: Do not bury me in Egypt. 

30 When I die, please take my body out of Egypt and bury me with my ancestors.”

So Joseph promised, “I will do as you ask.”

31 “Swear that you will do it,” Jacob insisted. So Joseph gave his oath, and Jacob bowed humbly at the head of his bed.

Journal:

• What area of my life feels like famine right now, and how can I invite God’s provision into it?
• How has God provided for me in unexpected ways in the past?
• What step of trust can I take this week to acknowledge Him as my provider?

God goes with you

_{“I am God, the God of your father,” the voice said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation. I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. You will die in Egypt, but Joseph will be with you to close your eyes.” ~ Genesis 46:3-4}

There have been many times in my life when God called me to step into something new and unfamiliar. For Jacob, leaving Canaan and going down to Egypt was a huge step. It meant leaving the land of promise, facing the unknown, and trusting God’s word that He would still fulfill His covenant. What made the difference for Jacob was God’s assurance: “I will go down with you.”

I remember a time not so long ago when God was clearly calling me into something new, but I was apprehensive. It felt safer to stay where I was, even though I knew God was directing me forward. I worried about what I might lose, how I might fail, or what people might think. Yet in the middle of all my concerns, God reminded me that He wasn’t sending me somewhere alone. He was going with me. Looking back now, I can see that some of my greatest growth and deepest blessings came out of those steps of obedience.

Maybe you are standing in a place right now where God is asking you to step out. It might be a new job, a new ministry, a change in your family, or even a deeper level of faith. Like Jacob, you might feel uncertain, but God is the same today as He was then. He promises to go with you, to bless you, and to bring good out of the journey, even if it feels unfamiliar.

Here are some ways to walk this out in your life:

• Spend quiet time in prayer asking God to show you where He is leading you right now.
• Write down any fears or doubts that come up, then surrender them to God one by one.
• Look for one step of obedience you can take this week, even if it feels small.
• Share with a trusted friend or mentor what God is placing on your heart so they can pray with you.
• Remind yourself daily of God’s promise, “I will go with you,” especially when you feel hesitant or afraid.

Today I want to encourage you to take the step God is asking of you with confidence, knowing that He goes with you into every place He calls you. Just as He promised Jacob, He will not leave you alone, and He will fulfill His word in your life. What feels uncertain today may become the very place where you see His faithfulness most clearly tomorrow.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 46

1 So Jacob set out for Egypt with all his possessions. And when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac. 

2 During the night God spoke to him in a vision. “Jacob! Jacob!” he called.

“Here I am,” Jacob replied.

3 “I am God, the God of your father,” the voice said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation. 

4 I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. You will die in Egypt, but Joseph will be with you to close your eyes.”

5 So Jacob left Beersheba, and his sons took him to Egypt. They carried him and their little ones and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had provided for them. 

6 They also took all their livestock and all the personal belongings they had acquired in the land of Canaan. So Jacob and his entire family went to Egypt— 

7 sons and grandsons, daughters and granddaughters—all his descendants.

8 These are the names of the descendants of Israel—the sons of Jacob—who went to Egypt:

Reuben was Jacob’s oldest son. 

9 The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

10 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul. (Shaul’s mother was a Canaanite woman.)

11 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12 The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (though Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

13 The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.

14 The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

15 These were the sons of Leah and Jacob who were born in Paddan-aram, in addition to their daughter, Dinah. The number of Jacob’s descendants (male and female) through Leah was thirty-three.

16 The sons of Gad were Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

17 The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. Beriah’s sons were Heber and Malkiel.

18 These were the sons of Zilpah, the servant given to Leah by her father, Laban. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Zilpah was sixteen.

19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

20 Joseph’s sons, born in the land of Egypt, were Manasseh and Ephraim. Their mother was Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.

21 Benjamin’s sons were Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

22 These were the sons of Rachel and Jacob. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Rachel was fourteen.

23 The son of Dan was Hushim.

24 The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

25 These were the sons of Bilhah, the servant given to Rachel by her father, Laban. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Bilhah was seven.

26 The total number of Jacob’s direct descendants who went with him to Egypt, not counting his sons’ wives, was sixty-six. 

27 In addition, Joseph had two sons who were born in Egypt. So altogether, there were seventy members of Jacob’s family in the land of Egypt.

Jacob’s Family Arrives in Goshen

28 As they neared their destination, Jacob sent Judah ahead to meet Joseph and get directions to the region of Goshen. And when they finally arrived there, 

29 Joseph prepared his chariot and traveled to Goshen to meet his father, Jacob. When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long time. 

30 Finally, Jacob said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen your face again and know you are still alive.”

31 And Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s entire family, “I will go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘My brothers and my father’s entire family have come to me from the land of Canaan. 

32 These men are shepherds, and they raise livestock. They have brought with them their flocks and herds and everything they own.’”

33 Then he said, “When Pharaoh calls for you and asks you about your occupation, 

34 you must tell him, ‘We, your servants, have raised livestock all our lives, as our ancestors have always done.’ When you tell him this, he will let you live here in the region of Goshen, for the Egyptians despise shepherds.”

Journal:

• What step of obedience do I feel God calling me to take right now?
• What fears am I holding onto that I need to surrender to Him?
• How have I seen God’s faithfulness when I trusted Him in the past?

God’s hand in your life

‘But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. ‘ ~ Genesis 45:5

Joseph’s life is one of the most powerful demonstrations of God’s purpose and grace. After years of hardship, betrayal, and waiting, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt and explained that everything he went through was part of God’s plan to save lives. Instead of bitterness, Joseph responded with compassion and forgiveness, recognizing God’s hand in every detail, even in the painful parts.

I see this same truth when I look back over my own life. For years I carried regrets, feeling like I had wasted so much time and made so many wrong decisions. While I know it wasn’t God’s plan for me to make those mistakes, I also know He was with me every step of the way. He picked me up, carried me through hardships and even though many of them were self-inflicted, He has now turned those experiences into my purpose for helping others. What once looked like wasted years has proven to be preparation, as God has worked through the struggles to open opportunities I never imagined.  The very pain that I wanted to avoid was preparing me for opportunities I never imagined. Like Joseph, I realized that God was not only working all things together for my good but also for the good of many others through my story.

This is true in your life right now. You may be going through difficulty, waiting on God, or dealing with a situation that does not make sense. What you cannot see yet is how God is weaving it all together for a greater purpose. Just as Joseph’s pain prepared him for leadership and positioned him to save lives, your trials may be setting the stage for blessings and breakthroughs that will touch others as well.

Here are some ways to walk this truth out in your life:

• Choose forgiveness toward those who have wronged you and release bitterness to God
• Look for evidence of God’s hand in your situation, even if the outcome is not yet clear
• Pray daily for God to use your circumstances to bless others
• Keep trusting God in the waiting season, remembering that He is faithful to fulfill His promises
• Share your story with others to encourage them that God works all things together for good

Take a few quiet moments this week to pray over the hard areas of your life. Write them down and ask God to help you see them through His perspective. Begin thanking Him in advance for how He will use those very things for a greater purpose. Start with one small step of forgiveness or faith, trusting that He is guiding your story.

Today I want to encourage you to see beyond the pain and disappointment of your current circumstances and believe that God is working for a greater purpose. Just as He raised Joseph up to preserve life, He is preparing you to bring hope, healing, and blessing to others. Trust that every part of your journey is in His hands and that He will bring it together in ways you could never imagine.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 45

1 Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, “Out, all of you!” So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was. 

2 Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace.

3 “I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. 

4 “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 

5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. 

6 This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 

7 God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. 

8 So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.

9 “Now hurry back to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me master over all the land of Egypt. So come down to me immediately! 

10 You can live in the region of Goshen, where you can be near me with all your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. 

11 I will take care of you there, for there are still five years of famine ahead of us. Otherwise you, your household, and all your animals will starve.’”

12 Then Joseph added, “Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph! 

13 Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly.” 

14 Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same. 

15 Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him.

16 The news soon reached Pharaoh’s palace: “Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his officials were all delighted to hear this.

17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan. 

18 Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’”

19 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt to carry your little children and your wives, and bring your father here. 

20 Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 So the sons of Jacob did as they were told. Joseph provided them with wagons, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them supplies for the journey. 

22 And he gave each of them new clothes—but to Benjamin he gave five changes of clothes and 300 pieces of silver. 

23 He also sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the finest products of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies he would need on his journey.

24 So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!” 

25 And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan.

26 “Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it. 

27 But when they repeated to Jacob everything Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, their father’s spirits revived.

28 Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.”

Journal:

• Where in my life do I need to trust that God is working for a greater purpose even when I cannot see it?
• Who do I need to forgive so that I can walk in freedom and allow God to use my story for His glory?

Before it is too late

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.  ~ Acts 17:6

In the world we live in today, it feels like the culture is upside down. Right is often treated as wrong, good is called bad, and many celebrate things that God calls evil. We are living in the fierce times the apostle Paul described in his letters to the churches. When we look at all the trauma and confusion on the earth, it can be easy to lose hope and believe there is little we can do to make a positive impact.

In today’s reading, Paul and his team faced this same reality. At first, it looked like they were gaining ground in Thessalonica, but things changed quickly. A mob formed against them, and when the people could not find Paul, they dragged Jason and other believers before the city rulers. The charge brought against Paul’s team was remarkable: “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” The people recognized that Paul’s message of salvation through Christ Jesus challenged the world’s beliefs and authority structures. He proclaimed the Kingship of Jesus over every earthly ruler.

It is sobering that God’s people were falsely accused and persecuted, yet it is also encouraging that their impact was so evident that the outside world could not ignore it. Could the same be said of us today? Could we live in such a way that the truth of God’s love and power turns the world around us “upside down”? I believe the answer is yes. At least for now, in America, persecution is still minimal compared to what Paul and the early believers endured. If we use our voices today, if we live boldly for the Lord Jesus in our little corner of the world, we can help shift people’s focus from fear to faith in the God who saves, before it is too late.

You can start taking steps toward impacting the world around you, today. Show those in your sphere of influence the love of God by being the hands and feet of Jesus. Just as Paul and Silas faced resistance, you may also meet opposition. But their example reminds us that when we stand firm in truth and share the message of hope, lives will be transformed. The gospel still has the power to turn hearts, homes, and communities “upside down” for God’s glory. Begin now, while the cost is small, and you will be ready to stand strong when greater challenges come.

Here are some ways to apply this truth you your life:

• Share the message of Jesus with one person this week, even in a simple conversation
• Look for a practical need you can meet in someone’s life to demonstrate God’s love
• Speak words of faith and hope in environments where fear and negativity dominate
• Invite a friend, coworker, or neighbor to church or a Bible study
• Pray daily for courage to stand firm in your faith, even when it feels uncomfortable

Today I want to encourage you that the same Spirit who empowered Paul to boldly preach the gospel lives in you. You can make a difference right where you are, and your obedience can create a ripple effect that reaches farther than you can imagine. Start today, before it is too late, and let God use your life to turn the world upside down for His kingdom.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 17:1-9

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 

2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 

3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” 

4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 

6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 

7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” 

8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 

9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

 Journal:

• What part of my world feels “upside down,” and how can I bring God’s truth into it?
• Who in my life needs to hear or see the love of Jesus through me this week?
• What small act of courage can I take today to live boldly for Christ?

Follow up

So, they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.  ~ Acts 16:40

Have you ever had a friend or even someone from your past suddenly come to your thoughts? Maybe it was someone you had not talked to in a while, or perhaps it was a person who always seemed like they had it all together and never really seemed to need encouragement. This happens to me often. For many years, I didn’t know what to do with those thoughts when they came, but then the Holy Spirit showed me that He was putting them on my heart so I would pray for them.

As I began to pray for the people who randomly came into my memory, I would feel inspired to reach out and encourage them. Sometimes I thought, “They are doing fine and don’t care what I have to say.” Other times I wondered, “I haven’t spoken to this person in years, won’t it be strange to message them now?” Despite my reservations, I became determined to encourage whoever came to mind. I recognized that the Holy Spirit placed them on my heart for a reason. I cannot remember a single time when I reached out and the person didn’t respond with something like, “This is exactly what I needed right now.” Even if that hadn’t happened, I would still continue to follow the Spirit’s leading. After reaching out, I often followed up a few days later just to check in again and remind them that they were still on my heart.

In today’s reading, Paul and Silas were released from prison after being wrongly accused. But instead of leaving town bitter about their mistreatment in Philippi, they circled back to Lydia’s house to encourage the believers there. They didn’t go for their own comfort, but to strengthen the church and remind them to keep up the good fight of faith.

Can you imagine going through a terrible ordeal that was not your fault, and then turning around to encourage someone else who wasn’t even going through anything so difficult? Paul wanted the church to know that God had turned everything for good, and that they should not be afraid to continue the work of the gospel in their region. His encouragement strengthened their faith in God’s ability to do the impossible.

So go ahead and check in on those around you, whether they are walking through good times or hard times. Send a message of encouragement and let them know you are praying for them. Share what God has done for you and remind them that miracles still happen. You may not see prison doors swing open in the natural, but you will certainly see chains fall in the spirit when you walk in faith and speak life into others. God will never let you down when you put your trust in Him.

Here are some ways you can begin to put this into practice in your life:

• When someone comes to mind unexpectedly, pause and pray for them right away
• Reach out with a simple message of encouragement, even if it feels weird or uncomfortable
• Share a verse of Scripture or a testimony of what God has done in your life
• Follow up after a few days to let them know you are still thinking of them and praying for them
• Make encouragement a habit by scheduling a weekly reminder to reach out to someone God places on your heart

Today I want to encourage you to see every thought of another person as a possible nudge from the Holy Spirit. Your obedience to pray and to reach out may be the very thing that lifts their heart and reminds them that God is with them. Just as Paul strengthened the church after walking through trials, you can strengthen those around you by speaking encouragement and sharing God’s faithfulness.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 16:35-40

35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.”

36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart and go in peace.”

37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 

39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out and asked them to depart from the city. 

40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

 Journal:

• Who came to mind recently that I should reach out to and encourage?
• What specific Scripture or truth could I share with them this week?
• How can I make encouragement a consistent practice in my walk with God?

The test of the heart

 “So please, my lord, let me stay here as a slave instead of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!” – Genesis 44:33-34

Genesis 44 is a powerful moment in Joseph’s story. Joseph tested his brothers by having his silver cup hidden in Benjamin’s sack. He expected them to abandon Benjamin just as they had left him years earlier when they sold him into slavery. But this time, Judah stepped forward with a changed heart. He offered himself in Benjamin’s place, showing sacrificial love and proving that God had changed their evil intentions through years of hardship and waiting.

There have been many times when my own heart has been tested in the middle of difficult situations. On one occasion, I was passed over for a promotion that was given to someone who seemed less qualified but was also a close friend of mine. It would have been easy to distance myself to protect my pride. I also felt justified in being hurt and could have held on to bitterness and resentment. But I knew that God had placed that friendship in my life for a purpose, and He showed me how to support that friend with grace and encouragement instead of hanging on to bitterness. That choice tested me, but it also revealed that God was growing me in love and maturity. What felt like a painful rejection became an opportunity for transformation and growth.

Everything in life is a test, not to harm us, but to reveal what is in our hearts and to deepen our dependence and trust in our heavenly Father. Sometimes the testing comes through relationships, sometimes through work, and other times through times of waiting. These tests can feel overwhelming, but they also lead us into deeper growth, stronger character, and unexpected breakthroughs. Just as Judah revealed a new heart through his willingness to sacrifice, God desires to transform the heart to look more like His.

Here are some ways you can pass the next test that comes into your life:

1. Ask God to reveal areas in your life where He may be testing your heart and trust Him in those moments.
2. When faced with difficult choices, consider what decision would demonstrate sacrificial love and honor God.
3. Remember past tests and how God brought growth and blessing through them, use that as encouragement in current challenges.
4. Pray for the courage to do what is right even when it costs you something.
5. Choose grace and integrity over fear and self-protection.

It can feel overwhelming and even impossible at the moment, but when you prepare ahead of time to recognize tests and ask the Holy Spirit for help, He will empower you to grow through every trial you face. You can begin today by identifying one current situation that feels like a test in your life. Write it down and pray, “Lord, help me respond in a way that honors You.” Then look for one small step you can take this week that demonstrates trust in God and love toward those involved.

Today I want to encourage you to see your test not as a punishment but as an opportunity for God to reveal His work in your heart. Just like Judah, you may discover that the very situation you thought would break you is the one that shows how much God has grown you. Tests are not the end, they are doorways to new beginnings and deeper faith. God is with you, and He is shaping something beautiful in your heart through the challenges you face. Keep in mind that if you don’t pass the first time, know that God, in His mercy, will allow the test to come again so you can keep growing and strengthening you to step into the next level of faith He has for you.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 44

 1 When his brothers were ready to leave, Joseph gave these instructions to his palace manager: “Fill each of their sacks with as much grain as they can carry, and put each man’s money back into his sack. 

2 Then put my personal silver cup at the top of the youngest brother’s sack, along with the money for his grain.” So the manager did as Joseph instructed him.

3 The brothers were up at dawn and were sent on their journey with their loaded donkeys. 

4 But when they had gone only a short distance and were barely out of the city, Joseph said to his palace manager, “Chase after them and stop them. When you catch up with them, ask them, ‘Why have you repaid my kindness with such evil? 

5 Why have you stolen my master’s silver cup, which he uses to predict the future? What a wicked thing you have done!’”

6 When the palace manager caught up with the men, he spoke to them as he had been instructed.

7 “What are you talking about?” the brothers responded. “We are your servants and would never do such a thing! 

8 Didn’t we return the money we found in our sacks? We brought it back all the way from the land of Canaan. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? 

9 If you find his cup with any one of us, let that man die. And all the rest of us, my lord, will be your slaves.”

10 “That’s fair,” the man replied. “But only the one who stole the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may go free.”

11 They all quickly took their sacks from the backs of their donkeys and opened them. 

12 The palace manager searched the brothers’ sacks, from the oldest to the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack! 

13 When the brothers saw this, they tore their clothing in despair. Then they loaded their donkeys again and returned to the city.

14 Joseph was still in his palace when Judah and his brothers arrived, and they fell to the ground before him. 

15 “What have you done?” Joseph demanded. “Don’t you know that a man like me can predict the future?”

16 Judah answered, “Oh, my lord, what can we say to you? How can we explain this? How can we prove our innocence? God is punishing us for our sins. My lord, we have all returned to be your slaves—all of us, not just our brother who had your cup in his sack.”

17 “No,” Joseph said. “I would never do such a thing! Only the man who stole the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may go back to your father in peace.”

18 Then Judah stepped forward and said, “Please, my lord, let your servant say just one word to you. Please, do not be angry with me, even though you are as powerful as Pharaoh himself.

19 “My lord, previously you asked us, your servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ 

20 And we responded, ‘Yes, my lord, we have a father who is an old man, and his youngest son is a child of his old age. His full brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him very much.’

21 “And you said to us, ‘Bring him here so I can see him with my own eyes.’ 

22 But we said to you, ‘My lord, the boy cannot leave his father, for his father would die.’ 

23 But you told us, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes with you, you will never see my face again.’

24 “So we returned to your servant, our father, and told him what you had said. 

25 Later, when he said, ‘Go back again and buy us more food,’ 

26 we replied, ‘We can’t go unless you let our youngest brother go with us. We’ll never get to see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’

27 “Then my father said to us, ‘As you know, my wife had two sons, 

28 and one of them went away and never returned. Doubtless he was torn to pieces by some wild animal. I have never seen him since. 

29 Now if you take his brother away from me, and any harm comes to him, you will send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave.’

30 “And now, my lord, I cannot go back to my father without the boy. Our father’s life is bound up in the boy’s life. 

31 If he sees that the boy is not with us, our father will die. We, your servants, will indeed be responsible for sending that grieving, white-haired man to his grave. 

32 My lord, I guaranteed to my father that I would take care of the boy. I told him, ‘If I don’t bring him back to you, I will bear the blame forever.’

33 “So please, my lord, let me stay here as a slave instead of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 

34 For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!”

Journal:

• What situation in your life right now feels like a test?
• How can you respond with faith, grace, or sacrificial love instead of fear or self-protection?

A table of grace

_{The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house. “It’s because of the money someone put in our sacks last time we were here,” they said. “He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.” ~ Genesis 43:18}

Today’s chapter in Genesis continues with Joseph’s brothers in a fearful place. They had already carried the guilt of their past decisions to sell Joseph and now, when invited into Joseph’s house, their minds immediately jumped to suspicion and fear. They thought it was a trap. They expected judgment. But instead of punishment, they were welcomed to a feast. They sat at Joseph’s table, unaware that the one they had betrayed years before was showing them grace and preparing the way for reconciliation.

One of my favorite things to do is to show grace to others, especially when they are undeserving. Oh, it isn’t always easy, but it is such a blessing when you get past your hurt and step into the love of God to share with those who have hurt you. I could give you many examples of “setting a table of grace,” but one particular instance produced great results in a time when we were facing a roadblock when buying our home.

The short story is that we were sharing our driveway entrance with two neighbors and needed them to sign off on a contract that they would be willing to keep things the way they were as the property changed ownership. Of course, one neighbor agreed immediately, but the other not so much. It was weeks of getting nowhere and the sale process came to a screeching halt. One morning when I got up, the situation was so heavy on my heart that I lifted it up to my Father yet once again. He gave me an idea to make something for that neighbor and then take it to them to talk about the situation.

That felt weird and uncomfortable. Not to mention, we were frustrated with them for making things so difficult, but I did it anyway. When I got to their house, the wife answered the door and I gave her the gift and told her that I didn’t want any hard feelings to build and that I hoped we could become good neighbors and friends one day. By that afternoon, my husband got a call from them saying they would sign off on the clearance so that we could proceed with buying the house.

What a miracle that was, and how showing grace in the situation made all the difference. Many times, we anticipate the worst when we step into unfamiliar or difficult situations. We rehearse in our minds all the ways it could go wrong. Yet God is often preparing something far greater, a feast of grace in the very place we expected fear or judgment. What Joseph’s brothers thought was the end of their freedom turned out to be the beginning of restoration. That is when they received the miracle of getting their brother back, something they didn’t even realize was possible.

Maybe you are in a situation today that feels blocked or even scary. You might be carrying fear, guilt, or doubt about what is ahead, and your mind is running through all the worst possibilities. Just like Joseph’s brothers, you may expect a trap when God is actually preparing a table. He is already at work behind the scenes creating a place of grace, reconciliation, and breakthrough. What feels like an ending may actually be the very thing that ushers in your miracle.

Here is what you can do the next time you face an impossible situation:

• Pray and ask God to show you where you may be anticipating the worst instead of trusting His goodness.
• Make a list of situations or people where fear has tried to take over your thoughts. Commit those areas to God in prayer.
• Ask the Lord for one specific way you can “set a table of grace” for someone who has been difficult in your life.
• Choose a verse on grace and forgiveness to speak over your heart and over that person each day.
• Remember a past situation where God surprised you with His goodness and write it down as a reminder when new challenges come.
• Be willing to take a simple step of kindness, even if it feels uncomfortable, and trust God with the results.

Today I want to encourage you that your fear or worry about what could go wrong may only be a doorway into God’s unexpected blessing. Joseph’s brothers walked into what they thought was a trap, but it turned out to be a table of grace. You can walk into your situation today with confidence, knowing that God may already be preparing a place of restoration and provision for you. He is not out to punish you, He is for you. You may just find that what you thought was the end is actually the beginning of God’s miracle.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 43

1 But the famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan. 

2 When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

3 But Judah said, “The man was serious when he warned us, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 

4 If you send Benjamin with us, we will go down and buy more food. 

5 But if you don’t let Benjamin go, we won’t go either. Remember, the man said, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”

6 “Why were you so cruel to me?” Jacob moaned. “Why did you tell him you had another brother?”

7 “The man kept asking us questions about our family,” they replied. “He asked, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ So we answered his questions. How could we know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”

8 Judah said to his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will be on our way. Otherwise we will all die of starvation—and not only we, but you and our little ones. 

9 I personally guarantee his safety. You may hold me responsible if I don’t bring him back to you. Then let me bear the blame forever. 

10 If we hadn’t wasted all this time, we could have gone and returned twice by now.”

11 So their father, Jacob, finally said to them, “If it can’t be avoided, then at least do this. Pack your bags with the best products of this land. Take them down to the man as gifts—balm, honey, gum, aromatic resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 

12 Also take double the money that was put back in your sacks, as it was probably someone’s mistake. 

13 Then take your brother, and go back to the man. 

14 May God Almighty give you mercy as you go before the man, so that he will release Simeon and let Benjamin return. But if I must lose my children, so be it.”

15 So the men packed Jacob’s gifts and double the money and headed off with Benjamin. They finally arrived in Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. 

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the manager of his household, “These men will eat with me this noon. Take them inside the palace. Then go slaughter an animal, and prepare a big feast.” 

17 So the man did as Joseph told him and took them into Joseph’s palace.

18 The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house. “It’s because of the money someone put in our sacks last time we were here,” they said. “He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.”

19 The brothers approached the manager of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the palace. 

20 “Sir,” they said, “we came to Egypt once before to buy food. 

21 But as we were returning home, we stopped for the night and opened our sacks. Then we discovered that each man’s money—the exact amount paid—was in the top of his sack! Here it is; we have brought it back with us. 

22 We also have additional money to buy more food. We have no idea who put our money in our sacks.”

23 “Relax. Don’t be afraid,” the household manager told them. “Your God, the God of your father, must have put this treasure into your sacks. I know I received your payment.” Then he released Simeon and brought him out to them.

24 The manager then led the men into Joseph’s palace. He gave them water to wash their feet and provided food for their donkeys. 

25 They were told they would be eating there, so they prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon.

26 When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought him, then bowed low to the ground before him. 

27 After greeting them, he asked, “How is your father, the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive?”

28 “Yes,” they replied. “Our father, your servant, is alive and well.” And they bowed low again.

29 Then Joseph looked at his brother Benjamin, the son of his own mother. “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Joseph asked. “May God be gracious to you, my son.” 

30 Then Joseph hurried from the room because he was overcome with emotion for his brother. He went into his private room, where he broke down and wept. 

31 After washing his face, he came back out, keeping himself under control. Then he ordered, “Bring out the food!”

32 The waiters served Joseph at his own table, and his brothers were served at a separate table. The Egyptians who ate with Joseph sat at their own table, because Egyptians despise Hebrews and refuse to eat with them. 

33 Joseph told each of his brothers where to sit, and to their amazement, he seated them according to age, from oldest to youngest. 

34 And Joseph filled their plates with food from his own table, giving Benjamin five times as much as he gave the others. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

Journal:

• What situations in my life do I immediately anticipate the worst outcome instead of trusting God?
• Who can show unexpected grace or kindness to this week?
• What “tables of grace” has God already invited me to in my past, and how did it change me?

When God uses hard times for healing

And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before. He said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.” ~ Genesis 42:9

Genesis 42 brings us into a powerful moment in Joseph’s story. After years of separation, pain, and betrayal, Joseph finally came face to face with his brothers. They were the ones who sold him into slavery all those years ago, yet here they were standing in front of him in desperate need. What once looked like the end of Joseph’s dreams was actually the beginning of God’s plan to fulfill them.

I can think of a time in my own life when I carried deep hurt from someone close to me. Their lies and betrayal were devastating, and for a long time I could not understand why God allowed it. I prayed for answers, but none came quickly. Years later, I looked back and saw how God had been working all those things together for a good outcome for me and my family. That painful experience gave me the strength, compassion, and wisdom to help someone else walk through their own valley of pain. What I once thought had only broken me had actually prepared me. God had been weaving His purpose and my growth through the pain and the choices I made all those years ago.

You may be facing circumstances that feel unfair, confusing, or heavy in your life right now. Maybe you are dealing with betrayal, loss, or disappointment. Let Joseph’s life be a reminder that God does not waste anything. Even the painful chapters of your story are part of how He brings His promises to fulfillment. Joseph could have held on to bitterness, but instead he chose to trust that God’s hand was at work even in the middle of what others meant for evil.

Here are things you can do when the circumstances around you do not make sense:

• Choose forgiveness as an act of obedience, even when you do not feel it yet.
• Ask God to show you how He may be using this situation to prepare or strengthen you.
• Keep praying for those who have wronged you and release them into God’s hands.
• Look for opportunities to serve others out of your own story of pain and healing.
• Stay anchored in God’s promises, knowing His purpose will prevail.

Today I want to encourage you that your hardest chapters are not wasted in God’s hands. What others meant to harm you, He will use to position you, grow you, and heal you. Joseph’s reunion with his brothers was not just about food in a famine, it was about God’s bigger plan of redemption for His people. The same is true for you. Your pain may one day become the very platform God uses to bring healing and hope to others.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 42

1 When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another? 

2 I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise, we’ll die.”

3 So Joseph’s ten older brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain. 

4 But Jacob wouldn’t let Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, for fear some harm might come to him. 

5 So Jacob’s sons arrived in Egypt along with others to buy food, for the famine was in Canaan as well.

6 Since Joseph was governor of all Egypt and in charge of selling grain to all the people, it was to him that his brothers came. When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground. 

7 Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where are you from?” he demanded.

“From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We have come to buy food.”

8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him. 

9 And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before. He said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.”

10 “No, my lord!” they exclaimed. “Your servants have simply come to buy food. 

11 We are all brothers and members of the same family. We are honest men, sir! We are not spies!”

12 “Yes, you are!” Joseph insisted. “You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.”

13 “Sir,” they said, “there are actually twelve of us. We, your servants, are all brothers, sons of a man living in the land of Canaan. Our youngest brother is back there with our father right now, and one of our brothers is no longer with us.”

14 But Joseph insisted, “As I said, you are spies! 

15 This is how I will test your story. I swear by the life of Pharaoh that you will never leave Egypt unless your youngest brother comes here! 

16 One of you must go and get your brother. I’ll keep the rest of you here in prison. Then we’ll find out whether or not your story is true. By the life of Pharaoh, if it turns out that you don’t have a younger brother, then I’ll know you are spies.”

17 So Joseph put them all in prison for three days. 

18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “I am a God-fearing man. If you do as I say, you will live. 

19 If you really are honest men, choose one of your brothers to remain in prison. The rest of you may go home with grain for your starving families. 

20 But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. This will prove that you are telling the truth, and you will not die.” To this they agreed.

21 Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly, we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.”

22 “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?” Reuben asked. “But you wouldn’t listen. And now we have to answer for his blood!”

23 Of course, they didn’t know that Joseph understood them, for he had been speaking to them through an interpreter. 

24 Now he turned away from them and began to weep. When he regained his composure, he spoke to them again. Then he chose Simeon from among them and had him tied up right before their eyes.

25 Joseph then ordered his servants to fill the men’s sacks with grain, but he also gave secret instructions to return each brother’s payment at the top of his sack. He also gave them supplies for their journey home. 

26 So the brothers loaded their donkeys with the grain and headed for home.

27 But when they stopped for the night and one of them opened his sack to get grain for his donkey, he found his money in the top of his sack. 

28 “Look!” he exclaimed to his brothers. “My money has been returned; it’s here in my sack!” Then their hearts sank. Trembling, they said to each other, “What has God done to us?”

29 When the brothers came to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened to them. 

30 “The man who is governor of the land spoke very harshly to us,” they told him. “He accused us of being spies scouting the land. 

31 But we said, ‘We are honest men, not spies. 

32 We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One brother is no longer with us, and the youngest is at home with our father in the land of Canaan.’

33 “Then the man who is governor of the land told us, ‘This is how I will find out if you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take grain for your starving families and go on home. 

34 But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. Then I will know you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give you back your brother, and you may trade freely in the land.’”

35 As they emptied out their sacks, there in each man’s sack was the bag of money he had paid for the grain! The brothers and their father were terrified when they saw the bags of money. 

36 Jacob exclaimed, “You are robbing me of my children! Joseph is gone! Simeon is gone! And now you want to take Benjamin, too. Everything is going against me!”

37 Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I don’t bring Benjamin back to you. I’ll be responsible for him, and I promise to bring him back.”

38 But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down with you. His brother Joseph is dead, and he is all I have left. If anything should happen to him on your journey, you would send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave.

Journal:

• Write about an area of hurt or disappointment in your life.
• How can you begin to see God’s hand at work in that situation, even if you do not fully understand it yet?

God’s timing for promotion

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”  ~ Gnesis 41:41

Joseph had spent two long years in prison, overlooked and forgotten by men, but not by God. In a single day, he went from the prison to the palace. He did not force his way forward, but when the moment came, God opened the door and placed him at the Pharoh’s side as second in command in Egypt.

Many times in my life, God opened the doors for promotion.  The funny thing about it is that I don’t ever remember chasing after it.  I was just consistent and faithful to work hard and do a good job in whatever position I held.  Oh, I wasn’t perfect by any means, but God’s favor was evident on my efforts which resulted in advancement. It was never because of my striving or because someone remembered me, it was because God’s hand opened the right doors at the right times. I realize now that at exactly the right time, when I was ready those moments came. God had been preparing me all along the way, even when I couldn’t see it happening.

You may be waiting for your own breakthrough right now. Maybe you are looking for a promotion at work, a healing in your body, a restoration in your family, or an answer to prayer that seems overdue. The waiting can feel long and heavy, but the life of Joseph can be a reminder and an encouragement that when God’s timing arrives, things can change in a single moment. What looks impossible today can be turned around tomorrow. Just as Joseph’s gift made room for him, God has placed gifts inside of you that He will use at the appointed time.

Here are some ways you can get started with this today:

• Stay faithful where you are today, even when it feels small or unnoticed.
• Continue to use your God-given gifts to serve others with a willing heart.
• Pray specifically for God’s timing and for wisdom to recognize His open doors.
• Guard against discouragement by speaking God’s promises over your life every day.
• Choose gratitude in your waiting season, thanking God for what He has already done.

Today I want to encourage you that God’s timing is always perfect. When the right moment comes, nothing and no one can stop the promotion He has for you. Joseph’s years of waiting were not wasted, they were preparation for the very position that God would place him in. The same is true for you. Your waiting season is shaping you, strengthening you, and preparing you for what God has ahead. Do not give up, your palace moment is closer than you think.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 41

1 Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. 

2 In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. 

3 Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. 

4 Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows! At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up.

5 But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. This time he saw seven heads of grain, plump and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. 

6 Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were shriveled and withered by the east wind. 

7 And these thin heads swallowed up the seven plump, well-formed heads! Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was a dream.

8 The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant.

9 Finally, the king’s chief cup-bearer spoke up. “Today I have been reminded of my failure,” he told Pharaoh. 

10 “Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard. 

11 One night the chief baker and I each had a dream, and each dream had its own meaning. 

12 There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant. 

13 And everything happened just as he had predicted. I was restored to my position as cup-bearer, and the chief baker was executed and impaled on a pole.”

14 Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. 

15 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”

16 “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”

17 So Pharaoh told Joseph his dream. “In my dream,” he said, “I was standing on the bank of the Nile River, 

18 and I saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. 

19 But then I saw seven sick-looking cows, scrawny and thin, come up after them. I’ve never seen such sorry-looking animals in all the land of Egypt. 

20 These thin, scrawny cows ate the seven fat cows. 

21 But afterward you wouldn’t have known it, for they were still as thin and scrawny as before! Then I woke up.

22 “In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, full and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. 

23 Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were blighted, shriveled, and withered by the east wind. 

24 And the shriveled heads swallowed the seven healthy heads. I told these dreams to the magicians, but no one could tell me what they mean.”

25 Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. 

26 The seven healthy cows and the seven healthy heads of grain both represent seven years of prosperity. 

27 The seven thin, scrawny cows that came up later and the seven thin heads of grain, withered by the east wind, represent seven years of famine.

28 “This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. 

29 The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. 

30 But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land. 

31 This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased. 

32 As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen.

33 “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. 

34 Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. 

35 Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. 

36 That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.”

37 Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. 

38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” 

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 

40 You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”

41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” 

42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. 

43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. 

44 And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”

45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. 

46 He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt.

47 As predicted, for seven years the land produced bumper crops. 

48 During those years, Joseph gathered all the crops grown in Egypt and stored the grain from the surrounding fields in the cities. 

49 He piled up huge amounts of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure.

50 During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. 

51 Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” 

52 Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”

53 At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt came to an end. 

54 Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food. 

55 Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.” 

56 So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses and distributed grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt. 

57 And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.

Journal:

• Write about the areas of your life where you are waiting for God’s timing.
• How can you remain faithful today while trusting Him to open the right doors tomorrow?

When you feel forgotten

_{Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought. ~ Genesis 40:23}

Waiting can be one of the hardest things we do in life. Joseph had been faithful, obedient, and honorable even in difficult circumstances, yet when he gave the interpretation of the butler’s dream, and asked to be remembered, he was forgotten for two long years. It must have felt like a crushing disappointment for Joseph, who was already unjustly sold into slavery and then imprisoned.

I often remind myself about Joseph’s life when I feel overlooked or forgotten. There have been many times that I was looking for a breakthrough or directions for my next step while serving faithfully in a ministry. Pouring my whole heart into it, even seeing others receive promotion, blessing and honor while I remained waiting and wondering when I will have my big “Joseph” moment. Sure, these were painful pockets in my life, but when I remember what God did in Joseph’s life, I know He is still moving me forward in mine.  He is always preparing me and working with me to get me ready for something greater than I can see right now.

You may be walking through a season where it feels like no one sees the effort you are putting in. Maybe you are believing for a breakthrough in your family, finances, or health, but things are not moving as quickly as you had hoped. Like Joseph, it can feel discouraging when the people you counted on to help you do not come through. But what we cannot forget is that God never abandons us. His timing is always perfect, and His plan is never delayed.

Here are some things you can do the next time your are in the waiting:

• Pray daily for strength and patience in your waiting season.
• Write down the promises of God you are standing on and read them out loud when discouragement tries to set in.
• Choose to serve and bless others while you wait, just as Joseph continued to use his gift to interpret dreams even in prison.
• Guard your heart against bitterness when people fail you, and trust that God’s faithfulness is greater than human forgetfulness.
• Keep a journal of answered prayers so you can remember how God has been faithful in the past and trust Him for the future.

Today I want to encourage you that even if people forget you, God never does. He sees every act of faithfulness, every tear you cry, and every prayer you whisper. Joseph’s waiting was not wasted, and neither is yours. The very moment that seemed forgotten was setting the stage for the fulfillment of his destiny. Hold on to the truth that God is working behind the scenes on your behalf.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 40

1 Some time later, Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and chief baker offended their royal master. 

2 Pharaoh became angry with these two officials, 

3 and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard. 

4 They remained in prison for quite some time, and the captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, who looked after them.

5 While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning. 

6 When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset. 

7 “Why do you look so worried today?” he asked them.

8 And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.”

“Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.”

9 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream first. “In my dream,” he said, “I saw a grapevine in front of me. 

10 The vine had three branches that began to bud and blossom, and soon it produced clusters of ripe grapes. 

11 I was holding Pharaoh’s wine cup in my hand, so I took a cluster of grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

12 “This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days. 

13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cupbearer. 

14 And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. 

15 For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.”

16 When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given the first dream such a positive interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I had a dream, too. In my dream there were three baskets of white pastries stacked on my head. 

17 The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head.”

18 “This is what the dream means,” Joseph told him. “The three baskets also represent three days. 

19 Three days from now Pharaoh will lift you up and impale your body on a pole. Then birds will come and peck away at your flesh.”

20 Pharaoh’s birthday came three days later, and he prepared a banquet for all his officials and staff. He summoned his chief cup-bearer and chief baker to join the other officials. 

21 He then restored the chief cup-bearer to his former position, so he could again hand Pharaoh his cup. 

22 But Pharaoh impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had predicted when he interpreted his dream. 

23 Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.

Journal:

• Write about a time when you felt forgotten but later saw how God was faithful.
• How does remembering His past faithfulness give you hope for what you are waiting on today?