Highlights In Today's Reading:
You may weep as you read about Joseph who foreshadows Christ. Both are especially loved by their fathers but hated by their brethren. Joseph's dreams result in him being sold into slavery. God could have kept Joseph out of prison, instead He accompanies him through his captivity (Gen. 39:2-3;21-23). Judah and Tamar; the deceit of Potiphar's wife; Joseph imprisoned.
Verses for Today:
His master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master . . . hath committed all that he hath to my hand. . . . neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? (Gen. 39:7-9).Joseph had been sold as a slave in Egypt. Day after day, his Egyptian master's wife tried to get Joseph to commit adultery (39:10). Joseph did not accuse or expose this woman for her evil intentions; he simply considered his own responsibility as a servant of God, saying: How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Joseph purposed to be loyal to the trust of his earthly master and would not sin against his Heavenly Master.
Driven by hate and revenge over Joseph's refusal to yield to her lust, she attempted to have him destroyed. But Joseph would not compromise his convictions — for her pleasure or for his. He remained faithful to the Lord. In time, God wonderfully blessed Joseph.
The Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison. . . . The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper (39:21-23). Later Pharaoh called Joseph out of prison and made him ruler over all Egypt, second only to himself (41:40-41).
When we remain faithful to Christ and submit to Him as Lord and Master of our lives, God will wonderfully bless us. What? know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body (I Cor. 6:19-20). We must be willing to do His will — regardless of the consequences.
Thought for Today:
Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart (Ps. 119:2).
Christ Portrayed:
By Joseph,who was rejected by his own brothers, sold for 20 pieces of silver to Gentiles, and unjustly imprisoned, but who eventually became their savior and a world ruler (Gen. 37:28; 41:39-40). Jesus came unto His own (people), and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God (John 1:11-12). He will return victoriously to rule the world (Rev. 19:11-16; 22:3).
Word Studies:
37:2 evil report =of sinful things they were doing; 37:7 made obeisance =bowed in respect; 37:11 observed =pondered; 37:22 rid =rescue; 37:29 rent =tore his clothes as an act of grief; 37:34 sackcloth = coarse, loose cloth worn as a sign of mourning; 38:2 took =married; 38:18 signet =ring bearing seal with which official documents were stamped; 38:24 whoredom =prostitution; 39:14 mock =disgrace.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by Harold Bartley • Staff: Mary Kay Wagner • Country: Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) (19 million) an island in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern tip of India • Major languages: Sinhala and Tamil • Christianity suppressed • 69% Buddhist; 15% Hindu; 8% Christian (mostly Catholic); 7% Muslim (mostly Sunni); 1% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Confess your sins to the Lord; He is merciful and forgiving (Dan. 9:4-9).
Optional Reading: Matthew 13
Memory Verse for the Week: Psalms 23:4