Month: July 2025

Genesis 42:9 Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

You’ve heard the saying “Desperate times call for desperate measures”? That feels like what the brothers are experiencing right now. The only reason they are standing here in front of this man (who happens to be their long lost brother) is because they are desperate.

Genesis 42:10 “No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food. 

I wonder what is going through their minds as Joseph talks about them being spies. Panic? Fear? Any glimmer of a thought of what they put their brother through all those years ago when they sold him into slavery?

Genesis 42:11-12 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.” “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

Precious Savior, It still feels like Joseph is just being vengeful and mean to his brothers, but I know that’s not the way You operate, so I know there must be more going on here. Help me to see Your hand in today’s scripture. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.

Genesis 42:13 But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 42:5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.

I have always read this section as Joseph being mean to his brothers. Verse 7 seems to support my interpretation because not only did Joseph recognize his brothers (though they didn’t recognize him), but also he spoke harshly to them.

Genesis 42:6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 

Commentary, however, posits that Joseph is guided by the Holy Spirit in his actions here and that God is still developing and refining the brothers in this section. It is an interpretation that I like simply because I can’t reconcile Joseph’s actions otherwise.

Genesis 42:7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”

Precious Savior, Yet again You remind me that my job is not to judge but to shine Your light. Seeing Joseph as vengeful in this scripture never sat well with me. Thank You for putting another theory on my radar. Thank You for the ability to think and explore as I draw closer to You. Amen.

Genesis 42:8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 42:1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” 

Genesis is such a long, winding book, that I sometimes forget that the Jacob we are discussing here is the one who worked for Laban to earn Rachel, was tricked into marrying Leah, had two concubines and a whole lot of children. Those children are the ones who sold Joseph into slavery. Joseph and Benjamin are the children of Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel.

Genesis 42:2 He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”

And I am thankful once again that even though I sometimes lose the thread–forget where I started, forget what I’m working for, forget so much that came before–God never does. He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8). Thank You, Jesus.

Genesis 42:3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your sovereignty and wisdom in my life. Thank You that even though I sometimes forget, You never do. Guard me, guide me, lead me. Thank You. Amen.

Genesis 42:4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 41:53-54 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 

Joseph had no way of knowing, all those years ago when his brothers sold him into slavery, that God would use Him in such a powerful way—to save Egypt and to save his family.

Genesis 41:55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”

God has a bigger plan than we can see. All the heartaches, all the anxieties, all the chaos is leading us to Him. He doesn’t cause it, but He sees it, and He uses it to draw us closer. I believe it with every fiber of my being.

Genesis 41:56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 

Precious Savior, Life isn’t always sunshine and roses. Sometimes it is gut-wrenchingly difficult. Thank You for using those difficult times to draw us closer, to remake us in Your image. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 41:57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.

Have a blessed day. 

Genesis 41:39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 

Joseph has come a long way from the kid gleefully telling his family about that dream he had where all the family bows down to him. Had that kid had this conversation with Pharaoh, this would be an entirely different story. This Joseph has grown and matured.

Genesis 41:40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

He knows the betrayal of his brothers throwing him in a well and then selling him into slavery. He knows the hope of interpreting dreams for others and the despair of two more years in prison. This Joseph has experienced life’s ups and downs and learned to trust God in the process.

Genesis 41:41-42 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 

Precious Savior, I truly don’t think You bring bad things into our lives; however, You are aware of everything that will touch us, affect us, and You can use all things–all the good and the bad–to grow us, mature us, and draw us closer to You. Thank You. Amen.

Genesis 41:43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 41:35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 

Father, Sometimes, when we are in the middle of Your plan, all we feel is the slog. Still? We’re still here? We’re still doing this? We still can’t see the end? Forgive us for our impatience. Grant us Your peace, which surpasses all understanding.

Genesis 41:36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

Lord, Perspective is a beautiful gift, especially when we are in the middle of the slog. To be able to see where we started, to see how far we’ve come, to see that we are not where we were, that we’ve grown, that we’ve grown closer to You, that we are closer to the goal than on day 1–that is a gift. Help us, during the slog, not to lose sight of how far we’ve come.

Genesis 41:37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 

Precious Savior, We live in a world of instant gratification, but that is not Your way. Give us peace and patience as we walk the path You’ve set us on, step by step. Remind us that we are not alone. Help us to see the progress we’ve made. Help us to keep going, keep striving, keep moving towards You. Always. Amen.

Genesis 41:38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 41:31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 

Commentary uses verse 33 to talk about the difference between knowledge and wisdom. According to commentary, “Knowledge tells what is going on; wisdom tells what to do about it.”

Genesis 41:32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

How many times in these reflections have I said something along the lines of “Ok, so now I understand this (knowledge), but I’m not sure what to do with it (wisdom)”? But my understanding of drawing closer to God is that if I keep looking, keep seeking, keep asking, He will, eventually, give me answers (wisdom).

Genesis 41:33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the knowledge that I gain as I read and study Your word each day. Give me wisdom to know what to do with what I read, learn, and understand. Thank You. Amen.

Genesis 41:34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 41:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 

Joseph was a prisoner a few short verses ago, and yet, Pharaoh trusts his word implicitly. It makes me think of what I said many devos ago about having to decide who you will trust and then shut out the rest of the noise. Because one thing is for certain, this world is loud!

Genesis 41:26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 

That’s why it’s important to find your people, the people who get you, who love you, who understand you (or try to), those who guard your peace, accept your quirks, love you…warts and all. Not everyone is going to appreciate you, but your people absolutely will. Find them, treasure them, invest in those relationships.

Genesis 41:27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the people in my life who love me for me, who accept me, and challenge me to be better, do better, who wipe my tears, and cheer me on. Thank You for those folks who allow me to be one of their people. It is an honor that I do not take lightly. Help everyone to find their people, their support, and draw us all closer to You. Amen.

Genesis 41:28-30 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.

Have a blessed day.