Month: July 2023

V1 – The Lord Jesus seemed to have an inside team of disciples who were closer to him than the rest. Peter, James, and John, in particular, were the closest.

These three saw him at his highest moments of glory, like the raising of Jairus’s daughter, the transfiguration (which we see in these coming verses in this chapter), and the garden of Gethsemane when the Lord prayed before He was to be crucified, and He wanted them to watch with him.

Later in the early church, Peter becomes a very prominent leader in the church in Jerusalem (Peter was the leader of the apostles), James becomes the first apostle who is martyred, and John is the one who sees the Revelation as He is exiled in Patmos.

The Lord intentionally revealed his glory and his moments of pain more to these three. He puts them close so that they can know him deeper. They later become very instrumental in the strengthening of the Church.

The Lord still does the same for some of us today. He draws us even closer when He is preparing us for something, which may be a hardship or ministry, and He ensures to ensure we are well prepared. Glory be to His name.

V2 – What was the transfiguration?

It is a transformation to a glorified body. As for us, our bodies will also be transformed when He appears. I long for this day! See what Philippians says:

Philippians 3:21 NLT

He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

V5 – In this verse, the father testifies of the son that He brings him great joy. For us, we now have been made sons through Jesus. We should really be very interested in making the Lord have great joy. What was unique about Jesus in his relationship with the Father? – He was obedient and humble. Jesus was very focused on doing the will of the Father and was also always in communion with the Father.

Take time and check this article: 10 Attributes Of Jesus’ Relationship With His Father (And what we can learn from them)

V10 – After seeing Moses and Elijah in the Transfiguration, the disciples are confused and are, therefore inquisitive about the issue of Elijah coming before the Messiah. They now want Jesus to clear up their confusion. And the Lord does — He makes it clear that Elijah has already come. He was John the Baptist.

What do we do when something is unclear or when we hear confusing teaching? We need to check and confirm if that’s really what the word of God says. This was a quality that the Bereans had. Paul was teaching something they had not had before, so they searched the scriptures to see if they said that. They are compared to the people of Thessalonica, who, it seems, were not very open-minded.

Acts 17:11

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

An even better way of living is not to wait first to hear these different teachings and even inputs from the world. We feast on God’s word and know him so that when anything other than the truth is taught, we will know. This is what Hebrews says:

Hebrews 13:8-9a

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. 

V20 – The disciples could not cast out the demon disturbing the boy. When they ask Jesus, look at how Jesus replies. Check these different bible versions:

How do you build your faith in God? How do you build your trust in Him? How do you cast off doubt on God’s power?

The more you know Him, the more you realize that He is good and kind and that He cares for you personally, and that He wants to do you good, then you start resting on Him and in his awesome Power, and you are no longer afraid, and nothing remains impossible.

Jesus says in vs 20:

Matthew 17: 20 NLT

“I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.

V24 – The temple tax collectors come to ask for this tax from Jesus. But Jesus explains through his conversation with Peter that this is actually misplaced.

When we read Exodus 30:13-16, we learn that this temple tax was actually an offering for the Israelites to atone for their lives:

Exodus 30:13-16 NLT;

Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the Lord. (This payment is half a shekel,[a] based on the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.) All who have reached their twentieth birthday must give this sacred offering to the Lord. When this offering is given to the Lord to purify your lives, making you right with him, the rich must not give more than the specified amount, and the poor must not give less. Receive this ransom money from the Israelites, and use it for the care of the Tabernacle. It will bring the Israelites to the Lord’s attention, and it will purify your lives.”

So, now Jesus explains that free people do not need to pay the temple tax because He had come. He was symbolically talking about the purpose of his death and how He will pay one sacrifice (his life) to atone for all people, the rich and the poor alike. And now, no one needs to do anything more to atone; Jesus paid it all!

Our call is now to live for him. To love him and obey what He says so we can be like Him.

V1 – By now, the brothers must have started to build an emotional connection to Joseph, not because they know this is their brother but because they start to notice that these happenings are unique. First, the return of the money in their bags the first time, then the feast at the palace. He even arranged them according to their ages at the table at the feast. And increasingly, He is treating them with more and more kindness. I think the sensitive ones must have started noticing… “there is just something with this whole Egypt thing.”

You see, I feel that God does the same thing for all of us. He knows how to use different situations and events to bring us to Him. We even start noticing, through the conviction by the Holy Spirit, that there is something going on. Whether in our events or daily activities or any other area.

The most important thing is to know that God cares about man’s relationship with Him and his relationship with Him. So, He draws us closer, sometimes very quickly and sometimes, slowly by slowly. He wants us to know and realize that He is calling us. He wants us to come to know Him.

See how Jesus prays in John 17:3 NLT:

And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

God’s ultimate goal is that we may know Him, which is eternal life. The Lord wants us to know Him, and He draws us closer to Him. His Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgement. He is present like a shepherd, always guiding our way. He uses his rod and his staff to ensure we come to the way and remain in the way and focused on Him.

Psalm 23:4b says:

Your rod and your staff, protect and comfort me.

I see these actions Joseph takes as a rod and staff. When they finally come to the realization of who it is who has been doing these doing to them, that it is Joseph, they will obviously break down in tears. The same thing Jesus wants of us. The most important thing is to realize that Joseph, like Jesus, is doing these things out of love. He has a deep longing to be reunited with them and to help them because He now has the power to help them. This is the same thing the Lord wants because he knows that our lives are only in Him. We will only be saved through Him.

(Lord, help me see you and realize when you are calling. You are always doing this, drawing this soul closer to you, Almighty, omnipotent and sovereign God.  My heart humbles before you and desires to humble before you forever. Lord, have your way in me, do whatever you wish with me. Order life events, order my ways, order what happens with my life, because I know in all these things, you are drawing me closer to you, into deeper obedience to you, Master. Help me. I humble.)

V2-17 – Just see how Joseph is obviously very crafty in dealing with them. He plans events knowing clearly what the outcomes will be. He even says in

Genesis 44:15 NLT

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

It’s just proof of How elaborate his plan is. He clearly has a plan. Joseph now has the plan to keep some of the brothers so that He can have a ransom, and so He can have the power to demand more. But remember, his ultimate goal is to reveal himself to them and to have them stay close. How much more our God. How much more elaborate are his plans to save me and you.

V18-34 – Judah steps up and keeps his word which He had given to his father before. And He ensures to narrate the whole story to Joseph so that Joseph can truly understand their plight. Two lessons I see here:

Lesson 1 – Keep your word when you give it. Otherwise, don’t give it. And don’t say things beyond you. Jesus teaches a radical teaching of truthfulness in

Matthew 5:37 NLT:

 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

Another teaching on speaking is this:

James 4:13-15 NLT

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.

Lesson 2: Learn to tell the full context and story. Give people a full picture. That’s exactly how Judah does it. He tells the whole story to Joseph

V19-22 Because Joseph’s brothers are not sure about the money that was put back in their bags, they bring it back and make sure the manager of Joseph’s household knows.

A big lesson here is the habit of assumption and the virtue of honesty. It’s good to be honest. Speak the truth from your heart and seek clarity. Keep every conversation in context, even when explaining what someone else said, keep it in context. Joseph’s brothers want to clarify the issue with the manager so that they just don’t assume… they want clear consciences. And this is biblical:

Acts 24:16 NIV

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

V23 – The brothers’ honesty and lack of assumption in this matter are met with a reply from the manager that clears the conscience. They don’t have to worry anymore; everything is clear. In that matter, they are blameless.

I am blessed by Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, He says…

2 Corinthians 1:12 NLT

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.

Wow!! I really admire that. I desire that. That’s how I want to live. That I shall confidently say that I have lived in the world in holiness and godly sincerity. And how can I live this way? The answer is by obeying God’s word and walking in the Spirit. That was Paul’s “secret.”

V25-26 – A continuation of the story about gifts. They give the gifts from their father to Joseph. The lesson is that we must address our gifts to the right person. Joseph’s brothers met with the palace manager before they met Joseph, as you can see above, but they did not give him the gifts. They could have, and the manager would have given them to Joseph later, but they waited and gave the gifts directly to Joseph.

When you give the gift of your life in service to the Lord, give it to Him. Don’t give it to his servants. The posture of your heart matters a lot.  Your sacrifice must be directed to God and God alone. While men will be receiving it, you should see and know in your heart that you are giving it to God in full devotion and sincerity. Not to get recognition from men. Have your focus at the right place.

Other applications: When you carry a gift for your child, as much as you can, give it to them yourself. The same applies to everyone else.

V28 – Joseph’s dreams are being fulfilled. The brothers bow low to him… again and again. In vs 26, they bow. Here also, they bow. What the Lord says will happen will do.

V30 – It’s okay for a man to cry. Don’t listen to ideologies from the world. God gave human beings emotions for a reason. And God, too, has emotions. Check this excerpt from a blog on Christianity.com.

V31 – But it’s good wisdom to know how to handle your emotions. Joseph clearly does.

V32 – When people have no Godly love, they can see you as less or different, especially when you are not like them. They might despise you. It’s written here that the Egyptians despised the Hebrews. And, of course, we go on to see that the Egyptians go on to enslave the Israelites.

Some Synonyms for despise are: detest, hate, loathe, abhor, abominate.

When this happens, how should you react?

The answer is Love.  When people hate you, love them. Love them deeply with Godly love. God will take care of the rest.

V33 – Joseph seats his brothers according to age. He recognizes and acknowledges their age. One of the unique things about life is age difference.  God designed some to be born earlier than us and others later. And so you have to be careful to know how to recognize age and treat people respectfully.

V34 – It’s clear Joseph was very happy to see his brothers, and He treats them with love. He is filled with Faith and sees the bigger picture. He does not dwell on the past.

V1 – How long does your famine last? How long do the difficult times last? Does it matter how long it lasts?       

Psalm 30:5 NLT

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

        It does not matter how long the difficult times last; the Bible says they last only for a moment. God’s kindness, on the other hand, is forever. The most important thing is my posture in the difficult times. Am I in despair, worry, and anxiety? Or am I in hope and trust, waiting on the Lord and hearing what He says? Am I asking, “what does the Lord want me to learn during this time?” ” Is there something He is correcting in my life?” “Is my dependence on Him?”  “Is my heart repentant of my sin?” “Am I or Have I been walking with the Lord?”

V2 – The good thing about our God is that even in difficult times, He is still kind. He provides Egypt; a place where we will still get our provision. He will still provide what we need.

Be it comfort in the pain, financial provision, guidance, etc. He will give it.

V9 – Jacob is finding it difficult to let Benjamin go. And so, Judah says some “very strong words”— that He personally guarantees the safety of Benjamin. We have to be careful only to say words when we are willing actually to do them. Judah was essentially laying down his life for the sake of his brother and family.

Are we willing to lay down our lives and take up Jesus and his call for the sake of our brothers and sisters? Those who have not known the Lord?

V11 – Jacob uses this strategy of gifts again when He is faced with a tough man whom He does not know how to deal with. Initially, in Genesis 32: 3-21, He sent gifts to Esau, his brother whom He had robbed. Why does He do this?

      What is the meaning and place of gifts? One clear meaning is that gifts are a sign of humility. But also a sign of love. That’s why God sent Jesus; He is a gift to all of us. And Jesus himself offered himself for us; He gave his life as a sacrifice for our sins. God gave us the ultimate gift… He died and paid our penalty of sin so that we may live.

        So, what should really happen when someone does this? When you owe someone your life, literally? When, basically, your life was in their hands, and they gave it back to you? What is the right response? The truth is that the right response is absolute humility towards Him. You must remember why your life was in God’s hands in the first place, why you deserved punishment… it is because of sin. And that’s exactly why God tells us:

Micah 6:8 NLT

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

 Another thing I learn here is that we should learn to give gifts. To God, we give the gift of our lives and ultimate submission. And to men, we give the gift of God’s word.

We can also learn a lesson about the meaning of gifts, and we can learn to give them. Gifts have a way of softening people’s hearts. It’s a good idea to make it a practice. Some simple gift ideas include notebooks, unique pens, water bottles, etc.

V14 – Jacob now moves from despairing to putting his trust in God. “May God Almighty give you mercy.” and He lets the matter be in God’s hand.  He says, “But if I must lose my children, so be it.“

But Jacob takes a long while to come to this place of letting go. We know this because of Judah’s words in verse 10 – “If we hadn’t wasted all this time, we could have gone and returned twice by now.” He really fights before letting go.

Isn’t it just easier to let go and trust God? You are powerless anyway! The Lord is the all-powerful one, the omniscient and omnipotent! — Nothing! Absolutely nothing defeats Him.

V18 – You get all kinds of wrong ideas and thoughts when you are guilty and fearful. When you have Jesus and are humbling, walking with Him, rested, and trusting in Him, you get forgiveness and enjoy a unique gift:

John 14:27 NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

V1 – When there is a need, what do you do? Do you look around at each other? Or do you ask the Lord?

(Prayer – Lord, I often forget to come to you about everything. I easily go into despair. Help me, Lord. I know you are present; you are always with us, ready to help and do wondrous things.)

V2 – After asking the Lord, your next step is to do something. Do not be idle. If there is a specific direction from the Lord, do it. If there is no specific direction, the Lord will still provide/make a way because it’s His word, and you trust Him. Remember:

Ecclesiastes 11:6 NLT– “Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.”

God has called you and me to a life of working hard. Work at all times, put effort. Sow your seed. Don’t worry about the growth of the seed. It’s the Lord who causes it to grow.

V4 – Jacob fears and does not Let Benjamin go because of Trauma, He fears what happened to Joseph might happen to Benjamin as well.

(Lord, help me rise above trauma and past failures or pains. I must put my trust fully in you in every moment.)

V6 – God gave Joseph the dream interpretation, made him ruler of Egypt, and now we see Joseph’s quality of hard work and diligence. Even if He delegated and had workers, He was still present overseeing. His brothers went to Him.

When you have a task/dream/duty/business etc, be there to oversee. You must know what’s going on.

V9 – Joseph now remembers the dreams. With dreams or God’s messages or plans for us, it can happen or be fulfilled after many years. Until his time comes.

V21-22 – When you sin against the Lord and do not repent or make restitution, you will always hide, and guilt will always be with you.

Repentance and restitution.

This website explains it this way… “Repentance demands a radical turning from sin and a sincere turning to God (James 4:7-10). Sincere repentance leads to moral renewal, often evidenced by restitution – the effort to right one’s wrongs whenever possible.” ¶610.3 REPENTANCE AND RESTITUTION – The Free Methodist Church in Canada (fmcic.ca)

V36 – When they tell Jacob the story, Jacob complains bitterly against them. Jacob had never healed, and because of past wounds, Jacob says in despair, “Everything is going against me.”

Have you/I found yourself saying that? Where is your trust? All things are the Lord’s and all people, even our family members and children. Give it all to the Lord, and you will not suffer from this kind of pain. In all things, trust the Lord in prayer and have peace from God in your heart. It’s clear that God had a plan for all this, but Jacob did not understand it, and He never had peace. It also seems that his trust in God in these moments was almost not there. He therefore had no peace.

So, when you find yourself in life’s pains, what do you say? Do you say, “Everything is going against me!” or do you say “

But when I am afraid,    I will put my trust in you. 4 I praise God for what he has promised.    I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?    What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:3-4 NLT

And at that point, when you despair, do you remember this:?

Romans 8: 35-37

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.