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V1 – When word reaches Joseph that his father is failing and is essentially about to die, He goes together with his sons to see his father and be beside Him.

This signifies care. Joseph cared and loved his father and is careful to be by his side even in the last days. At one point, most of us will find ourselves at this point where we have a loved whose health is failing and is close to their time to leave the earth. Its critical to be by their side. You may not do anything much to improve their health, but you will be by their side.

For our parents, this is part of obeying the command to honor them. Even in their last days and on the death bed. As the Bible says:

Ephesians 6:2-3 New Living Translation (NLT)

“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

V2 – Jacob responds to the honor given him by Joseph by strengthening himself and sitting up on his bed in order to speak to Joseph, giving him instruction and blessing him.

Parents always know which children honor them. And there is a special blessing that flows from them onto that child.

V3 – Jacob has not and does not ever forget God’s word to Him. It’s clear that this word has been in his heart and that He has been trusting in the Lord that it will be fulfilled exactly how God said it. He keeps the faith in God’s word.

Don’t fall into a place of doubting God’s word. The Lord is faithful to his word.

Psalms 33:4 – NLT

For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does.

V3 – God’s sovereign divine plan is amazing. Jacob takes Ephraim and Manasseh as his sons and gives them an inheritance equal to his other sons. Later we learn that Israel had twelve territories: The tribe of Levi did not have an inheritance because their inheritance was the Lord. When counting, Joseph is counted twice: under Ephraim and Manasseh. This was God’s plan and design.

V8-14 – We see the continuation of God’s plan here. Jacob being a man of great faith and led by the holy spirit crosses his hand and puts his right hand on the younger boy, Ephraim instead of Manasseh who was the actual firstborn.

It’s clear that God had set Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. What this teaches me is that God does not always follow the default of what we think. Sometimes He does but other times, He does not. His purposed will always be established.

One of the most important things that we always need to ask the Lord is that his sovereign will be done. It’s an important part of the prayer that Jesus teaches us to pray:

Matthew 6:10 NLT

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth,  as it is in heaven.

V15 – Jacob’s blessing to the two sons of Joseph is actually a prayer. He exalts the Lord who has been with him and prays that the Lord bless and multiply them.

When blessing, make it about the Lord. May He be the one that you bless people through. Look at this verse:

Numbers 6:24-26 NLT

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.

V17 -20 – Joseph feels the father is making a mistake but No, Jacob knows what He is doing. It was by God’s design.

V21 – As we saw above, Jacob always remembers God’s word and keeps it in his heart. He clearly tells Joseph that God will take the people of Israel back to the promised land.

It is therefore very clear that even as the nation of Israel grows in Egypt, they know that Egypt is not their home. They have a promised land and this blessed hope keeps the nation of Israel even when they started getting oppressed later on.

God’s promise and his word creates and continually renews our hope. Be reminded dear friend that we are just sojourners in the world. We look forward to a greater hope of being with the LORD forever. This is my prayer for you and me:

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NLT

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

 V22 – Jacob gives the special blessing, an additional portion to Joseph. He acknowledges that indeed God used Joseph to save him and his family from famine.

As we said before, when God uses someone in your life to help you or save you, bless them. Of course, give glory to God because it’s his awesome and amazing doing, Glory be to his name! but also remember that the person is God’s servant.

V13 – The famine continues just as Joseph had explained from the dreams that God had given Pharaoh. When God says something about the future, it’s important to listen and prepare according to the wisdom He gives us.

V14 – Joseph here is an example of how effective we can be when we hear God’s word and prepare. In a time of famine, Joseph prospered. Every person depended on Him for life. And just like in the previous times, Joseph is still very faithful to Pharaoh because He puts the money He gets into Pharaoh’s treasury. He continues to remain faithful and wise.

V15 – It seems that there are two categories of people during times of famine: the one who saved and the others who did not save enough. The one who prepared and the one who did not. The one who was not prepared comes to beg from the one who saved.

V16 -20 – Joseph now has all the people’s money, the livestock, the land, and the people themselves and He gives all to Pharaoh. Simply put, Joseph makes his master Pharaoh a very powerful man. Pharaoh must have obviously been very happy with Joseph.

By God’s spirit of wisdom, one man completely turned around the nation of Egypt and made its government very powerful. There is a big lesson to be learned here; Nations prosper through God’s wisdom, not any human wisdom. When a nation stops trusting in the Lord, it cannot prosper. When we trust in the Lord, He is able to raise men and women like Joseph who will have his wisdom in policy creation. These God-given policies, no matter how strange, go on to transform a country.

(Father, I pray for my nation. Lord, may you cause men and women in this country to honor you and to fear you. Forgive us and cause us to truly turn to you. May you cause us a nation to repent from all our evil ways and may you restore the fear of God in the hearts of every person in this nation. Come and be highly glorified in my nation. May your word be exalted in this land. May the name of Jesus be exalted in this land.)

V23 – 26 – Joseph also continues to look to the future. Through God’s wisdom, He sets up a way for the Egyptians to give a fifth of their produce to Pharaoh and this is for the future. This set the land of Egypt to be very powerful.

V27 – The people of Israel also prosper because they were led to Egypt. It is God’s plan to grow them and make them a big nation here.

Remember what God had told Jacob in Genesis 46: 3-4 NLT

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.”

V28 – 31– Jacob always kept God’s word in his heart. He knows and understands that Egypt was not the promised land. And He, in faith, ensures that his body will not be buried in Egypt. He was to be buried with his father, Isaac, and grandfather, Abraham.

Faith focuses on the Lord and what He said. When we trust the Lord, He directs our path.

Proverbs 3:5-12-5-12 The Message (MSG)

Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to GOD! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor GOD with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent GOD’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that GOD corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.

V 1- 5 – It happens just like Joseph had said. Pharaoh asks Joseph’s brothers’ exactly what Joseph had explained, and they replied how Joseph had told them to. And Pharaoh indeed allows them to live in the land of Goshen.

We have first to remember that all this is God’s plan. It’s God’s purpose being fulfilled, but personally, I also see how God causes everything to fall into place through Joseph. Joseph is the Lord’s servant in all this. All of God’s plan for the young Israelite “nation” is hinged upon Joseph’s life. God leads Joseph to understand the times and seasons, and He even understands the words that must be used to reply to Pharaoh’s questions whenever He asks anything.

God’s plan and purpose will be fulfilled in our lives. So that He can provide for us, He will cause other people and us around us to know what to say, how to act, where to go, and even how to answer questions… just like how He does this for Jacob and his family at this time.

For me, this is very reassuring. God’s got the details. God does the “heavy lifting.” In fact, in all life situations, God does the heaviest work. Our part is so small. The burden He gives is so small. He asks that we trust in Him, we walk with Him. We love Him and make Him the absolute center of our lives.

This is what Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jacob does this. A small example – After reaching Beersheba on his way to Egypt, in Genesis 46, Jacob stops there and offers sacrifices to God. And look, God speaks to him and assures him that the decision to go down to Egypt is his will.

What is the posture of your heart? Do you completely trust Him? Do you feel the Lord leading you in all your daily activities? Remember, God is not quiet. If you don’t hear him leading you, then you need to go deeper. Take this time to evaluate your walk with the Lord. Have you surrendered everything? Are you walking according to His word? Do you spend quality time with the Lord every day in his word, meditation and prayer?

V 7 – 10 – Jacob is a blesser. He carefully blesses the people God uses to provide for His needs. In this case, He blessed Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. 

When the Lord uses something or somebody to provide for your need, remember to bless. Pray for these people and bless them. Because in your heart, you understand that, indeed, it’s the Lord who has provided for you, but there is a person who he has used to do this. Let your heart rejoice and be very thankful that God cares for you, and also, thank God for choosing and using that person/organization/hiring manager etc etc….to meet that need. Pray for their life and, most importantly, pray that they would personally grow into a deep relationship with Jesus.

V 11 – 12 – God gives us all we need. He gives Jacob and his family food according to the number of our dependents and shelter by settling them in the region of Rameses. Blessed be God in the Highest, who provides for our every need. Look at what

Hebrews 13:5-6 New Living Translation (NLT) says:

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

V12 -14 – It is such a blessed truth to know that God is always constantly seeking us and is always careful that we remain in Him. He comes seeking and knocking all the time. It is not his will that any of us perish, and so He comes calling for me and you. He calls and says… “Stop living like that.” “You are on a dangerous path.” “Come have deeper communion with me.” “Why are you constantly doubting my power? Put your trust in me.” “Son/daughter, read my word so that you may know me… that is eternal life.”

And, of course, there is so much more that God does. He warns, disciplines and ensures that He brings us back. And so…

Hebrews 3:15-19 NLT

Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice,  don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses led out of Egypt? And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed him? So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.

V15 – 17 – The same way God is always seeking us, to ensure that our relationship with Him is restored, He asks us to do the same in this very detail for every one of the other believers who has sinned against you. Our hearts must always be filled with forgiveness as well.

It is good to help the other person see that they did you wrong, but it’s also important not to hold it against them. Even before you tell them the wrong they did, deal with it before the Lord and ensure that you forgive them.

And of course, remember, as v15 says – do it privately.

V18-20 – I think these are some of the most misinterpreted verses in the church. It seems as if Christ is speaking about this kind of great power such that whatever two or more believers agree about, it is given to them. Of course, this may not be fully correct in its entirety. And so, to understand these verses, we must look at the context and have a better understanding.

Based on the context, it’s clear that Jesus is speaking about church discipline and restoring believers. These verses need to be connected to the verses above. In particular, verses 15-17.

To understand better, look at these readings on these websites:

What does Matthew 18:18 mean? | BibleRef.com

Matthew 18:18 Meaning of Whatever You Bind on Earth – ConnectUS (connectusfund.org)

What Does it Mean ‘Whatever You Bind on Earth’? (Matthew 18:18) (christianity.com)

V21 – 35 – The parable of the unforgiving debtor is very profound. As a believer, forgiveness must be automatic. There is no negotiation with God or anyone else about whether to forgive or not. We MUST always forgive. When we consider what Jesus did for us on the cross and how He has forgiven all of our sins, we cannot fail to forgive anyone. Regardless of the kind of mistake that was made.

This parable starts with Peter trying to negotiate with Jesus about the number of times someone needs to be forgiven. And Jesus essentially says you must forgive every time because God has forgiven you much more.

Dear friend, stop arguing with God about forgiveness, thinking that God will change his mind about this. The Lord is very clear on this. Forgive! Forgive everyone who has wronged or has ever wronged you. Do it now!!

If you don’t, then the consequences are clear, God will not forgive you. And that means eternal separation from Him.

Colossians 3:13-14 NLT says:

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

And the Message version says (v12-14):

 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

V1 – V4 – At times, you would wonder, like the disciples… who is really the greatest person in God’s kingdom? And the Lord answers… He who is like a little child. So, the question is, what are these characteristics of little children, or what is it about them that makes them so great?

Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.“

So clearly, it is about repentance, humility, and trust in the Lord. Look at what these other Bible versions say”

AMP (Amplified Bible) – I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

TPT (The Passion Translation) – “Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable like a little child, you will never be able to enter in. Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this little child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm.

To set some background, this website explains it this way:

“ Jesus begins to answer their question by calling a little child to come over to Him. Some commentators speculate this scene is unfolding at Peter’s house, so perhaps, this is one of his children. Jesus sets the child in the middle of this group of disciples. Children are the most powerless members of most societies. This was especially true in ancient times. Jewish people loved their children, but children had no rights under the law of Moses. They had no status in a very status-conscious culture. They were completely dependent on those who cared for them to provide everything they needed and to protect them from harm. The very fact that Jesus focused the attention of this ambitious group of men on a child may have been remarkable.”

I have these two commentaries that say this:

“He means that a child’s attitudes of easy dependence, trust, unpretentiousness, awareness of weakness, lack of knowledge, and submission to parents illustrate what we as converted adults must become toward God.“

“Jesus tells the disciples that their attitudes of ambition are wrong, and they must change or have no part in His Kingdom. To do this, they must be like small children, who, for the most part, lack arrogance and pride. Children are characteristically humble and teachable.”

Real-life example: One of the things my wife and I have noticed about our firstborn son is that He carefully copies what we do and does it. He does what He sees us doing and is always interested in being around us. He greatly enjoys being in our company and doing all kinds of fun stuff with us. And He cries when we leave: He does not want to be separated from us. And, of course, our son worries about nothing: He does not worry about what He will eat, what He will wear, what kind of house He lives in. etc.  I believe that’s exactly what God wants of us. He wants my wife and I to be like our son. Always longing for and loving his presence and communion with Him, being anxious about nothing but fully trusting in Him and obeying Him, and lastly, doing what He, the Lord, does. Some of the things He wants you and I to do include — Loving people, caring for the needy, correcting each other in righteousness, calling people to Him (evangelism), praying for each other, and much more, as directed and commanded by His word.

V5 – V6 – The Lord Jesus then explains another very important teaching regarding how we teach and care for each other. We must be extremely careful not to cause anyone to sin.

In particular, the Amplified version specifies in verse 6: “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching]“

Be careful what you teach others and what you talk to them about. Direct people to Jesus, not away from Him. Don’t teach them things that are not biblical. Dwell on God’s word. Teach God’s word. And be careful to heed all the Holy Spirit’s warnings.

V7 – The world tempts believers and all people to sin, and as the verse explains, God will very strongly judge and punish the one who does the tempting. Oh! Blessed be the Lord. He is fair, just, and righteous.

V8 – However, for us believers, Jesus tells us how to handle temptation. I like how the AMP version puts it:

Matthew 18: 8-9 AMP

If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire. If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life with only one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery hell.

What you feed yourself is always what is going to grow in you. If you let your eyes, ears, feet, hands, etc.,  do the wrong things… you will definitely be strengthening your flesh. And this is what Jesus explains here. Run away from that source of temptation. Is it social media, Netflix, or a person… remove yourself from such. And I exhort you, dear believer, to focus on the Lord, on the things of the Lord: Bible reading and study, prayer, fellowship, sermons, and more.

The word says in James 4:7 NLT

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

I think this wraps up all the above teachings beautifully.

V10 – And lastly, for today, the Lord tells us here that we should be careful not to despise each other. Treat every believer with high esteem because He or She is God’s child.

Or, as John Piper puts it here

“Therefore (!), don’t despise this simple, unimpressive disciple of Jesus! Let his angelic entourage remind you whose son he is. Let this angelic entourage remind you who his older brother is. Put your hand over your critical mouth, and show great esteem (Philippians 2:3) to all ordinary, childlike disciples. If having God as their Father, and Jesus as their Lord does not cause you to exchange your derision for deference, then let the terrifying advocacy and rank of their magnificent angels wake you from your stupor.”

V1 – Jacob has a consistent practice of offering sacrifices to God. His heart is positioned to humble before the Lord. His heart is also expectant to meet the Lord.

V2 – Look at Jacob’s response to God’s call, “Here I am.” We also see this from other people like Mary and the young Samuel. What is your response to God when He calls, and He is speaking? Be ready for God.

V3 – God tells Jacob that He will be with him as He goes down to Egypt, and He will bring him back again. But He also tells Jacob that He will die in Egypt, meaning God speaks of Israel, his descendants.

Sometimes, God’s promises are not fulfilled in your lifetime here on earth, but He assures you that He will accomplish them and fills your heart with hope and great expectation.

And so Jacob goes down to Egypt, with confidence and trust in the Lord. Where do you get confidence in your plans and decisions from? Is it from the Lord or the craftiness of your thinking? Don’t you know how flawed and weak your thinking can be?

God wants and desires to be involved and depended upon. And you know, His ways are better and perfect. He wants to come and help. This is the best way to live life. The best of the best. The bulls-eye of living life. And you need to learn quickly: Be open to God today. Be reminded:

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

And Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Deuteronomy 8:3 NLT

Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

V31 -34 – Joseph, again with his wisdom, tells them how to speak to Pharaoh. He guides his family so they can live in the land of Goshen. He is meticulous even in the wording He tells them to use.

V1 -V3 – Joseph can now no longer stand it, He breaks down and weeps. His emotions are so strong; He weeps so loudly that even Pharaoh gets told about it. He reveals his identity, and the brothers are stunned, speechless.

The brothers cannot even begin to believe what is happening. This man they have been buying food from is second only to Pharaoh in Egypt. He lives in a palace and has many servants. And yet this is their brother??!! The one they betrayed and sold?! What!

When they were evil against him, selling him many years ago, they could never have thought what had happened right before their eyes. It is true our human minds cannot fathom the things of God. We think we are so much in control when putting plans (good or bad), but the truth is…No! We are definitely not in control. The Lord God, who created the Heavens and the Earth, rules from on High. He orders the winds, rains, sun, moon, and everything. Everything and every story is in His Power.

Why would we even think He is not in control right now? Why do you think He doesn’t care when those difficult things happen? Why are you calling the things that are happening… “just a coincidence?” The Bible does not show or tell about coincidences. On the contrary, it shows us that there is one who is sovereign over all. The best thing you can do is:

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.

and 1 Peter 5:6 NLT

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour.

And Proverbs 9:10 NLT

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

And Proverbs 4:14 -15

Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.

V4 – V8 – Joseph sees things with the eyes of God. He is a man of Faith and thus sees God’s plan. I believe part of the weeping was because He had realized so powerfully what God had been doing with his life. It all made sense now!

Do we see God in the details? And do we always wait upon Him, even when things are unclear? Let’s put our Faith in the Lord today and wait patiently for Him. Patiently and expectantly because He will act.

Again, V9 – V11 – Joseph shows Godly wisdom, as He has done many times before. After He understands what God is doing, He knows what God wants him to do. He tells his father and family to come down. But remember, in all these things, Joseph does everything by Faith in God. He casts off doubts, trusts in the Lord and sets things in motion.

There are two lessons here. First, put your faith in God and trust in Him wholeheartedly and then second, use common sense and discernment (good judgement) to act.

One of the most important foundations of good judgment is LOVE. Clearly, here, Joseph is acting out of love. He wants to preserve his family. So, in that situation, what does LOVE say? (This means AGAPE love… Godly love.) When thinking about what Love says in your situation, you must also search your heart. Is it filled with another agenda? A sinful agenda? Like Pride? Are you taking that decision out of pride? Is your lust of the flesh pushing you? Is it the lust of your eyes pushing you? Think prayerfully about these things before making decisions.

V16 – 23 – Because of Joseph’s favoured position, Jacob and the family get a lot of favour from Pharaoh.

V24 – Knowing what the brothers’ reaction might be about coming down to Egypt and all the happenings that had taken place, Joseph again is wise to tell them not to quarrel about this. He knows there is no need to. He knows that it is and has always been God’s plan to preserve them, so it’s useless to quarrel about it.

There is no need to fight over what God wants. Be quiet and obey. This applies to all of God’s commands and his will for us. God wants a closer relationship with us and wants to preserve us. He wants us to enjoy eternity, so He gives us his word. What is the need to continue arguing against Him? Why do you keep giving God a quarrel, excuses and complaints? Do what He says… it is to preserve your life in these last days.

V27 – V28– A very important fact of the story is that his brothers are not put to shame before their father. They do not have to go and narrate the whole story of how they sold Joseph long ago. No, Joseph gave them the exact words to say. He does this in verses 9-13: giving them the words to tell Jacob. And He also gave them a lot of provisions for the journey to and from.

And so, when they arrive, Jacob can’t believe it at first, but He then believes after they explain to Him according to what Joseph said and how Joseph had sent him all these wagons and provisions.

Even in future chapters, it doesn’t ever seem that Jacob ever knew what really happened to Joseph.

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.