(Gen 42:13 ERV) And the brothers said, “No, sir, we come as servants from Canaan. We are all brothers, sons of the same father. There were twelve brothers in our family. Our youngest brother is still at home with our father, and the other brother died a long time ago.”
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”, by continuing in the story of Joseph. Yesterday we left off with Joseph accusing his brothers of being spies. Joseph’s brothers adamantly refuted the claim and they explained to Joseph, the Prime Minister of Egypt, that they were honest men from the same family. Their point was that it is highly unlikely that a father would send 10 of his sons to spy out another country. But Joseph insisted that they were spies. This is when they let out the information Joseph was probably after. They said, “We are all brothers, sons of the same father. There were twelve brothers in our family. Our youngest brother is still at home with our father, and the other brother died a long time ago.” Of course Joseph was that “other brother” and he was far from dead. But nonetheless, I believe Joseph heard what he wanted to hear; and that was that his father and little brother were still alive. Not only did this bring joy to Joseph’s heart, but it also meant that the second dream God gave him was still alive as well. The fulfillment of the second dream included his father and little brother (Gen 37:9). Why is this important? Because it was reassurance to Joseph that God was watching over his life and that both dreams would come to pass.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Be patient. Joseph was patient. He had waited over 20 years to get to the point where the first dream was fulfilled, he could wait a few more days for the second. If he had exposed himself to his brothers at first sight, the second dream would never come to pass. Fulfilling your destiny will require Godly patience.
2. Control your emotions. I am sure Joseph was very emotional when he first saw his brothers, but he had to restrain himself in order to carry out God’s plan.
a) Had Joseph allowed his emotions to get the best of him he might have cancelled out the manifestation of the second dream. He could have forfeited God’s best with just a few seconds of anger.
b) Many forfeit God’s best for just a few seconds of uncontrolled action. Some lose their families over a few seconds of uncontrolled passion. Others lose their careers over a few seconds of uncontrolled anger. Joseph remained in control of himself (spirit, soul, and body), he remained in character, and he calmly expected the manifestation of the second dream.
3. Walk in love. While his brothers were standing before him Joseph’s heart would be tested within the internal jury of his soul. If he still harbored resentment and hatred towards his brothers it would come out or if he had truly developed into a man of God he would have the ability to love them in spite of their betrayal. Joseph had the power to had them all executed, but it is clear that Joseph was more interested in seeing the promises of God manifested in his life.
a) Pursuing revenge will often veer you off of God’s path for your life.
b) Had Joseph operated in hatred and bitterness and had his brothers killed he would have never experienced God’s best and the second dream would not have come to pass. Joseph could have forfeited God’s best with just a few seconds of anger.
c) Operating in love will keep you on the path to God’s best for your life.
4. Play chess, not checkers. Don’t be shortsighted. Keep the end in sight.
a) God wants to fulfill every promise He has made to you, but in order for your to receive them all, you cannot be shortsighted.
b) Making permanent decisions off of temporary emotions will derail you from God’s best.
c) Your expectation should be to see God’s best in every area of your life and your decisions should be based on God’s overall plan, not a temporary feeling. Keep the end in sight.
d) It takes discipline to play the ‘long game,’ to make decisions that will take you towards God’s overall expected end.
e) Don’t always take the ‘quick win,’ because some quick wins lead to costly losses later on. Pray, exercise patience, and play the ‘long game’.
f) Your decisions will either bring you closer to or take you further from God’s best. What will you decide today?
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You made plans for me before the world began. In accordance with those plans, You have given me many great and precious promises. I stand in faith for Your promises to come to pass in my life. I believe they are already done in heaven and it is only a matter of time before they manifest in the earth. So with that in mind, I don’t make hasty decisions; especially not decisions that will derail me from my destiny. I control my emotions. I do not allow my emotions to control me. I don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions. I am led of Your Spirit, I walk in love, I am quick to forgive, I make decisions that are bathed in prayer, and I live the life You destined me to live. I enjoy every moment of every day, but I am not so consumed with today that I cannot see tomorrow. I live with the end in sight. Your overall plan for my life is more important to me than any temporary satisfaction. So I play the ‘long game,’ I keep the end in sight, I don’t allow what I see to change what I believe, and I live every day with the expectation of getting incrementally closer to Your overall expected end for my life. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
