The Famine Years

[Christ4Ever]

And they answered, "Your servant our father [is] in good health; he [is] still alive." And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves. Genesis 43:28 NKJV

Egypt’s king had a dream and was baffled. When the previously jailed butler heard about it, he remembered Joseph. Joseph met with the king, and God helped him understand the dream. The king took Joseph from prison and made him second only to him in power and responsibility.

The king had dreamed of a coming famine. There was time to prepare. People came from other countries to buy the grain Joseph stored for the famine years. Among the buyers were Joseph’s brothers—the same ones who had sold him into slavery. They didn’t recognize Joseph. Instead of remembering brothers who wanted to see him dead, Joseph saw men who needed help staying alive.

Maybe you’ve lived with the memory of someone who’s hurt you and made your life miserable. That person’s actions may have been unintentional or more malicious, like those of Joseph’s brothers. Don’t think of their downfall as justice but as an opportunity for restoration and healing. God offers mercy and asks you to forgive. It’s part of bearing with others.

Pray for your enemies. Bless those who offer a curse. Love those you find hard to love. Joseph did that for his brothers. Jesus did that for you. Now you have the opportunity to do that for others.

Prayer: Lord, when I would rather see someone get what’s coming to him, remind me that if I get what’s coming to me, I would have to live without You.

 

[Garee]

And they answered, "Your servant our father [is] in good health; he [is] still alive." And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves. Genesis 43:28 NKJV

Egypt’s king had a dream and was baffled. When the previously jailed butler heard about it, he remembered Joseph. Joseph met with the king, and God helped him understand the dream. The king took Joseph from prison and made him second only to him in power and responsibility.

The king had dreamed of a coming famine. There was time to prepare. People came from other countries to buy the grain Joseph stored for the famine years. Among the buyers were Joseph’s brothers—the same ones who had sold him into slavery. They didn’t recognize Joseph. Instead of remembering brothers who wanted to see him dead, Joseph saw men who needed help staying alive.

Maybe you’ve lived with the memory of someone who’s hurt you and made your life miserable. That person’s actions may have been unintentional or more malicious, like those of Joseph’s brothers. Don’t think of their downfall as justice but as an opportunity for restoration and healing. God offers mercy and asks you to forgive. It’s part of bearing with others.

Pray for your enemies. Bless those who offer a curse. Love those you find hard to love. Joseph did that for his brothers. Jesus did that for you. Now you have the opportunity to do that for others.

Prayer: Lord, when I would rather see someone get what’s coming to him, remind me that if I get what’s coming to me, I would have to live without You.

Amen..

Great way of looking at that parable that uses the temporal to give us the unseen eternal understanding. In Amos that famine represented the hearing of gospel the work of Christ yoked with us. .

Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:

It is used to signfy the gospel, the restoration of one's soul .A get out of jail free card for Joself .

Three branches, three days gospel metephors.. that represe nt ressurection or restoration.

Genesis 40:12-14 King James Version (KJV) And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: