August 9, 2023

When the enemy performs their counterfeit miracles, it hardens the hearts of those we try to convince to accept Jesus as Savior. The comforts of this world are too cozy, and sin seems more attractive. Their only hope beyond this world when someone dies is the saying, "They are in a better place." Death is not a better place for those without Jesus. They are dead until they accept Jesus and are given a new life in him. Jesus saw them that way, too; in Luke 9:60, "Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God." Jesus wants people to choose him over everything else, and when they don't, he considers them dead.

Moses and Aaron tried to convince Pharaoh to let the children of Israel leave Egypt. God gave them the power of miracles to show that they had heard from God and that their ability was from him. Aaron threw down the rod, and it became a snake. However, the enemy duplicated that power through the magicians and sorcerers. God caused Aaron's snake to eat all the others in a show of superiority. God hardened Pharaoh's heart. Then on a different occasion, God turned all the water into blood at the hand of Moses and Aaron, but the magicians and sorcerers performed the same miracle, so it didn't pierce Pharaoh's heart to let the people go. Remember, when trying to help people come to know Jesus, we face the same enemy that Moses and Aaron faced when trying to free the children of Israel. They didn't give up. Keep praying. God will eventually open a door when the timing is right.

And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. Exodus 7:22

August 8, 2023

We can rest from striving; God has given us good news, but because we are so wrapped up in our troubles, we fail to hear it. The US corporation is bankrupt; we are a republic again. Biden is president of the bankrupt corporation. We are no longer at the mercy of the British monarchy and are a sovereign nation. All our gold has been returned; it took 650 airplanes to get it back. President Trump confirmed that it is true. I heard this news Sunday night and have been on cloud nine ever since. There are essential things that the national media are not telling the American people. The truth slips out occasionally, but we are so caught up in the lies that we can't hear it. This story should be in the national headlines to give us hope, yet it was obscured on local television in England. God has told us that he has released us from our captivity, but we are so pressed down that we can't hear him or see his actions.

We are no different than the Israelites; they were so burdened by the oppressors that they didn't believe Moses and Aaron when they told them what God was doing. Even Moses, who heard God's voice telling him the truth, had difficulty moving forward with what he told him because of fear. 

My point today is to get on with your life and stop believing the lies of the national media. Our country was founded on Christian values, and we believe in the same God as Israel, the one and only God Almighty. He has rescued us from our oppressors; we just don't know it yet. 

That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee. And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me? Exodus 6:29-30

August 7, 2023

The road to freedom can be rough. God hears our cries for help, but sometimes things get worse when we move toward Jesus. Then, because we don't see immediate progress, we often give up in frustration, quitting before the real work begins and pointing our finger at God for not helping when it was the devil causing the resistance. The enemy comes on strong when we try to turn our life around. He is especially hard on new believers. 

The leaders of the Israelites agreed that the Lord had spoken to Moses and sent him and Aaron to ask Pharaoh to let them go into the wilderness to worship God. Pharoah didn't believe them and clarified that he didn't know their God and had no reason to release them to worship him. What made things worse is he stopped providing the straw for making bricks and made them gather it themselves without decreasing their quota. Though it seemed God had left them to handle the situation alone, he needed to see that they were willing to participate in their release. They needed to make the first move. It's comparable to accepting Jesus as our Savior. We make our move toward Jesus, receive his gift of salvation, and he gives us the Holy Spirit and frees us from the penalty of sin. Then he teaches us how to live in that freedom. 

And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? Exodus 5:21-22

August 6, 2023

God commissions Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that he let his people go to the mountain of God and worship him, but even though he is standing before the burning bush, he came up with objections. How many of us argue with God? God overcame his objections with truth and signs and wonders. He didn’t think they would believe that God sent him, so God gave him signs to convince them. He was a thinker and didn’t believe he could speak quickly enough, so God gave him Aaron as a spokesperson.

Moses’s excuses irritated God, but even though he finally did as God told him, he nearly lost his son’s life to His wrath on the way back to Egypt because he had ignored the command to Israel to circumcise his son by the eighth day. Thankfully, Moses’s wife, Zipporah, quickly cut off the foreskin before God unleashed his wrath. 

Moses and Aaron convinced the children of Israel that God saw their affliction, and they were grateful and bowed their heads and worshipped Him. Moses and Aaron were a powerhouse! Moses knew the Egyptian culture, and Aaron understood the culture of the Israelites. God used a partnership to bring about change and further his plan. It was a pairing similar to what Jesus did with the disciples by sending them out two by two. What one lacks, the other can overcome. God shows us that there is power in a three-stranded cord, with one being him!

And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped. Exodus 4:30-31

August 5, 2023

Moses saw the burning bush, and because it didn’t crumble from the fire, he drew closer to it. That’s when God spoke to him and identified himself as the great “I AM.” And God told him to show his reverence. Did you notice that Moses approached him first? He knew something was different about that fire and got closer to see what was happening. Take the time to reach out to God; he will speak to you just as he did Moses. However, notice that God expected Moses to revere him and humble himself before him. As you come to know God, if you don’t become respectful of him and understand how mighty he is, then you don’t know him well enough. Yes, he is loving, but he is also the most powerful!

And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Exodus 3:5

God has heard our cries as with the children of Israel and knows the burden the taskmasters have laid upon our backs. Though we may not all be processing bricks, we are working and laboring for a master who steals our money through taxes and gives to causes we don’t believe in. I believe he has sent a type of “Moses” to bring justice to his people, but he is not recognized as such. We should rejoice that the world is falling apart because we are not of this world; salvation is for the children of God, not the people of the world. As God sets our nation free, we will plunder the oppressors. Freedom and justice are just around the corner; God will deliver us!

And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; Exodus 3:7

August 4, 2023

A lot happened in Exodus 2. Moses was born, grew up, killed an Egyptian, escaped to Midian, got married, and had a son! To top it off, God heard the cries of grief from the Israelites over their bondage in Egypt. That is a lot of information in only 25 verses! 

Being a princess raised Moses, I expect he was well-educated in Egyptian culture. Anyone adopted into a family knows the ways of that family. God knew and was patient to wait for Moses to grow up and put him in situations to help train him for his purpose. Even killing the Egyptian within sight of some Israelites and making him run away to Midian was a step in his training. Though his reason for killing the Egyptian seemed noble because it helped his Israelite family, they were peaceful and didn’t see it the same way. 

Did you know that Moses had two sons? Each of them also had sons, so there is probably an entire lineage of Moses somewhere in this world. His wife, Zipporah, was the daughter of a priest. Jethro gave Moses Zipporah for saving his daughters from the shepherds driving them and their father’s flock away from the watering hole. 

Look at your past trials and remember what you learned from them. Consider that God may use them for his purpose in the future. Throughout my years of writing my daily devotionals, I have used issues from my past to drive a point and share my experience so others can learn from me. God will use you and your past for the good of others; commit to his will, and he will push you along.

Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. Exodus 2:15

August 3, 2023

God removed Joseph from his family early in his life by sending him to Egypt. Now we have Moses, who was removed and sent to Egypt because Pharaoh was killing all the male babies. Then you have Jesus, who was threatened to be killed as a baby by Herod. Herod knew the Messiah had been born, but God protected his family and sent them to Egypt. What is it about Egypt that is so special that it became part of the history of the most prominent saviors in biblical history? Joseph and Moses's lives were a living prophecy of the coming Messiah that would bring salvation to all people! 

Moses's mother knew there was something special about him, and rather than risk him being killed; she decided that it would be better to take a chance on Pharaoh's daughter finding him and hopefully have mercy on him. According to scripture, he was a goodly or fine child, so he was probably too cute to kill, and his mother knew the Egyptian princess couldn't resist him. Then she gave him back so his mother could nurse him. She must not have known it was his mother. Imagine that; his own mother got to raise him for a while and got paid for it. It's incredible how God works things out for the best. 

We can't see into the future, but God can. You can bet what happened to Moses's family destroyed them; they lost their son, and though he was saved from death, he was still taken away only to be raised by their enemy. Satan's plot had failed once again. His plot will fail in your circumstances too. It's just a matter of time; your story is not over. God rescues his children; you can count on it.

And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. Exodus 2:9

August 2, 2023

Though this may seem incomprehensible, we must realize that we will not be remembered for very long after our death. Think about it, you know your grandparents, but how well do you know your great-grandparents or great-great-grandparents? I know of mine, but I don't recall their personalities; they died before I could retain that information. 

The children of Israel were dealt harshly with, and the male children were threatened because the new Pharaohs in Egypt did not know how much good Joseph had done by saving their ancestors from starvation. So, when they saw their increase, the Egyptians felt threatened by them and decided to take action to try and decrease their numbers. It didn't work; God had another plan, and the children of Israel grew even more rapidly than before. When God's people are oppressed, their numbers increase exceedingly; it has been proven true throughout history. You cannot go against God and win. Compare this to what we see today, with the world's governments trying to decrease the influence of our Christian faith by blocking our voice from being heard to slow our numbers. It won't work. We can count on God to bring justice on our behalf. Wait for it; it will surely come. 

The main point that I want to make is to live for God. Everything you strived for your entire life will be forgotten by your family and friends not long after your death, but God will not forget! Our time is so short; do the things that will please God. Store up your treasures in Heaven!

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. Exodus 1:12

August 1, 2023

I’ve always loved Genesis, so I’m saddened to come to the last chapter. Going through it slowly and methodically has taught me more than I expected. Though I’ve read it many times, this time was the best. I will use my short commentary of each chapter to refer back to when I dig into the rest of the Old Testament; hopefully, I retained more than I lost.

Jacob’s family did as he asked and made the trip to bury him in Canaan. A whole caravan of his people went, leaving only the small children and the flocks and herds in Egypt. I’m guessing the servants stayed, watched the children, and fed the animals. 

Once again, the brothers became fearful of Joseph being their father was now dead. They feared he would deal harshly with them. It broke Joseph’s heart, and he cried as they shared their fear and pleaded for mercy. He had already forgiven them and praised God for his trials because it put him in the position to save many people from starvation. The things we’ve gone through help us through the next portion of our lives, and we must be grateful. We must also remember that Jesus has forgiven us of our sins. If it broke Joseph’s heart to hear them beg for mercy, imagine how Jesus feels when we keep bringing up our past sins that he has already forgiven and forgotten. Move on; get over it! Know that God is not holding your past against you and that you are indeed forgiven.

Before Joseph died, he instructed his family and said that God would visit them and tell them when it was time to leave Egypt to take possession of the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When he died, the Egyptians embalmed Joseph and put him in a coffin, and as he instructed, the family kept his bones until they were freed from Egypt.

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. Genesis 50:20-21

July 31, 2023

In Genesis 48, Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons and gives them an inheritance. Then in Genesis 49, before his last breath, he blesses and prophesies over his sons. He didn’t hold anything back; a few blessings seemed more like curses and a remembrance of their bad behavior. All I can say is thank God we are hidden in Jesus! Imagine what our life would be like if God saw all our failures rather than Jesus’s perfection when He looked at us; we receive God’s grace and mercy because of him. 

I wonder why Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons first. Is that significant? They are a part of the lost tribes. God is detailed; nothing is left undone; everything has a purpose and a meaning. Maybe we are linked to those tribes ancestrally. That would be fantastic, being Jacob was prophesying about the last days. Just a thought; only God knows.

Jacob also gives specific instructions that he should be buried in Canaan with his grandparents, Abraham and Sarah, his dad and mom, Isaac and Rebekah, and Leah, his wife. Isn’t it interesting that he chose to be buried with Leah rather than Rachel? Maybe he grew to love her over time since she became his first wife, though not by his choice. Nevertheless, he kept having children with her.  

God’s plans are perfect; don’t try to force your will into situations that God should handle. Relax; God’s got this!

And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. Genesis 49:33

July 30, 2023

Before passing, Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph and adopted them as his own, treating them equally with his sons. He also gave Joseph an extra portion of inheritance above his brothers; what's interesting is that it was a land that he had conquered by sword and bow. Was this a repayment for what his brothers did to him by selling him? He cut his sons' inheritance by giving Ephraim and Manasseh a portion, but he also gave Joseph a more significant portion than his brothers. He may have also done that to ensure they wouldn't stay in Egypt and follow their dad's leadership there. If I'm right, Ephraim and Manasseh, once Joseph passed, probably inherited his portion too. So it didn't matter that Joseph's brothers were a part of the blessed people; they still had to pay for their misdeeds towards him, but they weren't cut off. We all still sin and do not have to face eternal consequences for those sins because of Jesus, but there may still be a price to pay here on earth, though maybe not as harsh as those who are not Christ-followers. You can bet the devil will eventually come to collect from those not part of God's family. 

The adoption: “And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.” Genesis 48:5

The blessing: “And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.” Genesis 48:20 

The extra portion: “Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.” Genesis 48:22

July 29, 2023

People are not as self-sufficient as our families were before us; we have lived off the fat of the land for a long time and are too comfortable in our ways. What will happen if the rug gets pulled from under us and the supply chain fails? Will you survive and be able to provide for your family if the shelves are empty? Jacob and his family faced the same questions and sought help in Egypt. Thankfully Joseph was in charge and stored away food as God told him to and was able to supply his family with provisions so they wouldn't die. Pharaoh allowed Jacob to settle in the best land as long as they worked and were not there to take without giving anything in return; because they were shepherds, he allowed them to stay and put them in charge of his flocks. When the famine got worse, they were still thriving. However, the Egyptians suffered and ended up having to sell Joseph everything, including themselves, just for provisions, and they all became servants of Pharaoh. Though I wish no one would suffer, this portion of scripture gave me great comfort because it shows how God provides for his people. There will be a deep chasm between those who trust the Lord and those who've ignored his call.

Can you hear the Holy Spirit pressing you to learn how to survive? Joseph didn't trust that food would magically appear. He stored it away while times were good. Consider what's happening now, push past the government indoctrination, and evaluate whether you should be storing away provisions if things get tough.

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. Psalms 37:19

And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families. Genesis 47:12

July 28, 2023

For the very last time, Jacob has all his belonging packed with his sons, their wives, and children, and they moved to Egypt. An old broken-hearted man can return to God in peace, knowing his son is alive and his family would not die in the famine. Jacob may have been hesitant and fearful of going into Egypt, but after he stopped in Beersheba to make a sacrifice unto God, he came to him in a dream, assuring him that he would be with him and make him a great nation. 

Upon arrival, Joseph met them and showed them the land they would settle. Joseph was so happy to see him that he wept and held him for a long time. It gave Jacob the peace he needed so he could die without worry. 

Jacob probably thought he would never leave the home he had made in Canaan, but God had a different plan. This story shows that we should never assume our plans are sure and settled because God will wreck them to keep us on his path. He has a reason for everything he does, and you can bet that the people you encounter are a part of that plan. He wants us to engage and share our knowledge of Jesus by sprinkling his love wherever we go. So when things don’t go as planned, you can bet that God will use it to his advantage, and it will turn out better than you could ever imagine. 

And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. Genesis 46:3-4

July 27, 2023

Joseph finally revealed himself to his brothers and sent them to gather their father and his people and bring them into Egypt so they wouldn’t starve during the famine. It was a tremendous relief to them knowing that Joseph wouldn’t cause them any more torment; though they had yet to be harmed, only their fear gripped them. The point made here is that anyone who lives a sinful lifestyle is subjected to fear because no matter what, we all know that God is real, and without Jesus, he will bring every sinner to justice. Joseph didn’t reveal himself to everyone that day, only his brothers, much like the Holy Spirit when he showed us Jesus.

The Holy Spirit shined a ray of light on the story of Joseph. He was sold as a young man into slavery and in prison for three years, but he made the best of it, so God raised him as a leader and savior of a foreign people. During the seven years of plenty, he gathered as much food as possible throughout the land. When the famine hit, Egypt’s abundance drew others that were suffering to come and eat. Most importantly, it drew in Israel, and they came to know and love the savior of Egypt because it was their brother. The whole story is a prophecy of Jesus. His own people rejected him, so he gathered those from foreign nations, which thankfully is us. We are still living in the time of plenty, but it’s easy to see that famine is coming, and that’s when Israel will be drawn in and get fed by Jesus, our modern-day Joseph. Joseph was the picture of what was to come, a living testament to the power of God. If you’re not gathering food during this time of feasting, famine will hit you hard, and you will watch as those around you either starve or come to the table of Jesus and eat. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few; we must gather now before it’s too late. 

And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:7

July 26, 2023

Joseph tests his brothers by hiding his cup in Benjamin’s sack of corn. Why did he do that? Was it a punishment for selling him to the Egyptians, or could it have been to see how loyal they were to Benjamin? Joseph had control of their lives; he was the one testing their loyalty to his brother. Would they leave him there in service to the one they thought was an Egyptian as they had done to him? Judah spoke up after Joseph’s men found the money and the cup in Benjamin’s bag and made a heartfelt plea for his life. They knew that their father would be heartbroken if they returned without him, yet he made a case for him without justifying what seemed like evidence against him. They passed the test as they pled for mercy on Benjamin’s behalf. This portion of the story makes me think that God wants us to speak up on behalf of our brethren who have been falsely accused; he may test our loyalty to the church by putting us in a situation where we have the choice to hide our face or step up to the plate in their defense. Pay attention and be careful how you react in certain situations, knowing God may be testing you. How fitting was it that Judah came to his defense, a grandfather in the lineage of Jesus? Because of our faith, we have Jesus defending us without justifying our actions or holding us accountable. We are truly blessed.

Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. Genesis 44:18

July 25, 2023

Jacob would not send the brothers back to Egypt until they were nearly out of corn, and he protested about sending Benjamin as Joseph had requested. What gets me is that Simeon was still there! How could they leave him there knowing he was locked up? Was Simeon expendable? Another noticeable thing in this chapter is that though they had famine and no corn was growing, they still had honey, spices, nuts, and almonds. However, those things would not nourish their cattle or give them bread to go along with their meat, but they wouldn’t starve. I’ll bet they are like us Southerners and love cornbread! They returned to Egypt, taking gifts of honey, spices, and nuts, and took double the money for corn. They presented themselves and Benjamin to Joseph, and he sent them to his home to clean up and prepare for a feast he had made for them, still not revealing his identity. 

This progression shows how God works. We know how this story goes because we’ve heard it before, but they didn’t; they were frightened and feared what was coming. We may face many challenges, and fear may grip our hearts, but God is so calm about what is happening to us because he knows the outcome and is for us and not against us, much like Joseph’s brothers. They feared because of their sin but had not confessed it or asked forgiveness for what they had done, yet God used what they had done to keep them alive during the famine. They didn’t know that their actions would become a benefit but would soon find out. This story is an example of one of the times when God used for good what the devil intended for evil. Confess your sin daily so you don’t have to live in fear; then, you can live a content life knowing God is for you. It’s all about the heart. 

And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him. Genesis 43:34

July 24, 2023

Famine hit the land, and because of Joseph, Egypt had plenty of food. Jacob somehow found out and sent ten of his sons with money to get some for their family. That's when Joseph's dreams came true, and his brothers bowed before him. He recognized them, but he concealed his identity. He put them in a situation to make them remember their crime of selling him into slavery; they became very regretful because they understood that God was now punishing them for their sin. But they weren't being punished, although it felt like it was because of their guilt and because Joseph put them in jail for three days! He put them there to bring them into submission, not as revenge. Joseph wanted to see Benjamin, whom they had left behind, because Jacob wouldn't let him go. He concocted a plan to get them to bring him. Joseph kept Simeon and bound him before their eyes as a deposit. On their way home to get Benjamin, they discovered the Egyptians gave them back all their money, frightening them even more. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. When you feel guilty, it's hard to rejoice in the good things God does for us; that's why we must humble ourselves before Him and repent. The more I read the Old Testament, the more thankful I am for Jesus and his gift of salvation. We cannot outgive him! We commit all these crimes against him, and he forgives us and then gives us more like Joseph giving his brothers back their money.

And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us? Genesis 42:28

July 23, 2023

After two years, the chief butler finally remembered Joseph because Pharaoh had two dreams that needed interpretation, and no one in Egypt knew the meaning. Joseph told Pharaoh the interpretation belonged to God and gave him the meaning of his dreams. Because he had two dreams that meant the same thing, it confirms that God established it and would happen. He told him there would be seven years of plenty and seven years of famine, and he needed to put someone in charge to manage what was about to happen. That’s when Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of everything; no one would be over him except Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh clothed him and fine apparel and gave him a wife. He was thirty years old at that time; God had turned his life completely around and made him forget the struggles he had getting to that point. Joseph is a prime example of how God can change your situation from struggling and despair to gladness if you keep your faith and trust in him. It was thirteen years from his capture to becoming ruler over all of Egypt! Be patient in your afflictions; God will train and release you to bring out your full potential. God has a plan for you, just like he had for Joseph. Wait for it but stay faithful in the process.

Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. Genesis 41:40

July 22, 2023

Yesterday, as I was working in my garden, which is nearly gone and overtaken with weeds, a fleeting thought, a Bible verse, came into my head. It was "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" But I'm not sad, so I didn't understand why I thought about it. I looked it up last night and found the Psalm, and it's about depression. It makes perfect sense today and confirms that the Holy Spirit can grab control of my thoughts! Nothing is better than seeing his work come to life right before your eyes. Here's why:

Pharaoh's chief baker and cup bearer were imprisoned with Joseph for offending him. They had been there for a while, but both had awakened sorrowful, and Joseph noticed their sadness. You probably know the story; Joseph interpreted each dream, and it turned out that the cup bearer's dream was good, and he was about to be released from prison, but the baker's dream meant he would face execution. 

The simple act of pulling weeds is removing the plants from the garden that you don't want growing there. After grubbing them out, my plants look much happier, relieving some of my stress. We all have things that stress us and crowd our minds; many are sinful behaviors that we need to stop. You can't keep sinning and expect to be happy. 

In the story, Joseph noticed their sadness and tried to help. One got immediate gratification and handed his life, but the other had three days to think about his life ending and get right with the Lord. The point is that Joseph helped them; he saw their sadness and reached out to try and comfort them the best he knew how. Helping those who are sad is part of our job as a Christ-follower. Reach out to hurting people and do your best to bring them joy. Don't just tell them to pray about it; show your faith in God and pray for them while with them. Open your mouth and reach out to God on their behalf.

As far as that verse popping into my head, Matthew Henry used the exact words in his commentary on this section of scripture. Do you think God was telling me to cover depression today? I do, and it blows my mind! 

And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? Genesis 40:7

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalms 42:11

July 21, 2023

Joseph was sold and bought by an Egyptian, Potiphar, who was captain of Pharaoh’s guard and brought into his house as a servant. Potiphar saw that God favored him and put him in charge of his household; Joseph helped prosper him through God’s favor. He must have been handsome because Potiphar’s wife was drawn to him and practically begged him to lay with her. Joseph kindly rejected her and explained his loyalty to her husband. She cornered him alone with no other servants in the house and grabbed hold of his garment, and he fled, leaving her holding it. Remember, the devil seems to know when God has a purpose for you and will send tempters to taunt you. Sometimes, when you reject his advances, he accuses you of that crime even though you did nothing wrong. The enemy used Potiphar’s wife as his mouthpiece, and Joseph ended up in prison. He still had God’s favor in prison and was placed in charge. 

What happened to Joseph can and has happened to others. We are seeing it increasingly because of the turmoil worldwide, especially in the United States. A prime example is our former president; the crimes they’ve accused him of perpetrating are the very crimes they are guilty of committing. Victory is in the hands of God; He will win, and every evil being will get flushed into hell; you can count on it!

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Genesis 39:21