But what truly fascinates me is how different Joseph is from his forefathers. - P65
There are two noticeable sin cycles in Joseph‘s lineage that grewworse with each generation. - P65
Abraham struggled with lying. So didIsaac. With Jacob, deceit was almost an art, and later his sons hoodwinked an entire town
and then massacred its men. - P65
Then there wasthe family strife: Ishmael did not get on well with Isaac, Esau hatedJacob, and Joseph‘s brothers wanted him dead.
- P65
Yet when you get to Joseph, you see a commitment to truth and akindhearted demeanor that make him stand out from the rest of hisfamily. - P65
In fact, God uses him to patch his family together when it hadbeen unraveling for years. It is amazing what God can do with a lifethat is fully committed to Him! - P65
May Joseph‘s story encourage us togive God our all and anticipate what He will accomplish through us. - P65
Lord Jesus, You have shown me the greatest example of love by laying downYour life for the church. - P65
Help me to display sacrificial love for those who belongto Your precious body so that the world may know that I am Your disciple. InYour name, amen. - P65
[NIV] 1 So Israel set out with all that was his, and whenhe reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the Godof his father Isaac. - P66
2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said,
"Jacob! Jacob!" "Here I am," he replied.
3 "I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do notbe afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make youa great nation there.
4I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surelybring you back again. And Joseph‘s own hand will closeyour eyes." - P66
As Jacob begins his journey, God speaks to him and tells him not to beafraid. - P68
Whereas Abraham and Isaac were discouraged from departingfrom the land of Canaan and seeking solace in Egypt, the Lord givesJacob express permission to take his family there. - P68
God promises to bewith him and to make him into a great nation, even in Egypt. - P68
Jacobhas no idea what kind of future awaits his family or how God will bringthem back to the Promised Land, but he has learned to trust God tofulfill His promises. - P68
God will sometimes call us to leave the comfort ofthe familiar and take our family into new, potentially hostile territory.
- P68
But He never sends us alone-He goes us and protects us with His presence. - P68
Jacob leaves Canaan with his entire family and all his possessions, withno intention of returning any time soon. - P68
He takes a true step of faith,
uprooting everything to start a new life in Egypt where his family canescape the harsh realities of the famine. - P68
There may be times when wewill need to make significant changes to our lives for very practicalreasons like financial difficulty or an illness in the family. - P68
While sucha change might feel like an unwanted interruption or an inconvenientdetour, we must remember that God is not in a rush to fulfill His plansfor us. - P68
He has a purpose for every circumstance, so let us patiently keepstep with Him and continue walking with Him. - P68
I began simply by saying "Good morning" and "Good night" to Godevery day. Then I started inviting Him to be with me when I worked,
read, watched movies, and went about my daily activities. - P69
BeforeI knew it, I found myself talking to Him about everything. I alsonoticed other changes: I loved reading His Word; I began prayingmore fervently; Christian fellowship still used up my energy, but I nolonger resented it. - P69
In fact, I had grown extremely fond of my churchcommunity. The most noticeable change was how I faced trials. Mypity parties turned into prayerful laments, and I learned to declareGod‘s praises in the storm.
- P69
Living in the presence of God has given my most mundane days adepth and richness I never knew they could have. - P69
Enjoying God‘sgifts together with the Giver gives them a flavor that makes it feel sogood to be alive. God has given us His presence: the Holy Spirit livesin us. - P69
Let us not take this great treasure for granted but rather enjoyHim to the fullest. - P69
Heavenly Father, although I do not know the road ahead, I know that You arewith me and will never forsake me. - P69
Give me the strength to journey with Youand to learn the lessons You have for me in this season. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P69
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