God's Vision: Reconciliation - Devo

August 26th, 2018

Devotional 

“God’s Vision: Reconciliation” -Genesis 45: 1-15

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Monday: “Revealed Himself” - Genesis 45: 1-3

Have you ever had the experience of seeing someone in the grocery store or walking down the street and thinking to yourself ‘they look familiar’. Or maybe ‘I know them from somewhere, but I can’t remember their name.’ 

It would seem that Joseph’s brothers didn’t recognize him at all. They didn’t even think that he looked familiar - probably because they believed that there was no way, after what they had done, that he was alive all these years later.

Yet, Joseph was alive. He was standing right in front of them. And after years of playing cat and mouse, he finally had the opportunity to make himself known to them. Jospeh wanted this to be an intimate moment - it touched his heart so deeply that he wept - and made everyone else leave. This was just for him and his brothers. 

For Joseph, the intimate part of himself that he was revealing was that he was Joseph. That he was still alive. But it made me wonder what intimate parts of our heart we need to reveal today? Could it be that we are compelled, just as Joseph was with his identity, to reveal our true identity as children of God as well? We can only hide our faith for so long, before we will have to face such opportunities to make ourselves known. 

How do you let people know about your faith in God?

What can we learn from Joseph’s example in this particular passage about discussing our faith with others?

Prayer: Loving God, some days it just seems so easy to hide our identity as your children. We choose to act like everyone else - out of fear, out of our desire to fit in. Yet, O God, you have called us apart. Let us lovingly be able to discuss our faith with others in a way that open up hearts and minds. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Don’t be Angry with Yourselves” - Genesis 45: 4-5

No matter what translation of the Bible I read these particular verses in, I’m always struck by the care and concern that Joseph shows for his brothers. These were folks that contemplated killing him, and decided to sell him into foreign enslavement instead. How many times over the past decades had his anger rose up against them? How many times did he think about them? 

But when the time comes for them to be reconciled face to face - he shows his deep care and concern for them. He asks how their father is doing. He tells them, in powerful words, to forgive themselves, because no matter what their intentions were, God wove everything together for something bigger than any of them could imagine. 

The type of forgiveness that Joseph showed towards his brothers is not something that we can demand or legislate. It has to come out of the fruit of our relationship with Christ. Often we make things, like forgiveness, in the local church seem so simple, when really they are complex and flow out of our heart being touched by God’s heart. 

Do you find it easy or hard to forgive? Why?

Prayer:  Lord, we confess that sometimes, we just don’t want to forgive. And other times we throw around the words “I forgive you” without our heart actually being in it. Forgive us, O Lord, and lead us to the place where we can bear the fruit of forgiveness because of our relationship with you. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

Wednesday: “God Sent Me” - Genesis 45: 6-8

If given the choice, how many of us would be able to see God’s plan if we were put in a situation like Joseph? How many of us, if given the opportunity, would be able to respond as Jospeh did to his brothers in this passage of scripture?

One of the things that can be so distructive for our faith, is the thought that once we become a Christian nothing bad will happen to us. There seems to be this belief that if only we trust in and follow God, then we will be set the rest of our days. Only that isn’t how life works. Hardships still come. Diagnosises still appear. Trials still are part of living. 

Instead, what if we were able to look at situations, however difficult they may be and admit, yes, this not where we prefer to be, but that we trust that God is with us in the midst of all of it - no matter what. 

Jospeh was able to see a very particular purpose in his situation - that he was able to interpret the dream of the Pharaoh in such a way that Egypt was able to prosper during the famine and because of that he now had the opportunity to feed his brothers. We may not be able to see what will come out of our particular situation, but even if we can’t see the end result, we can still lean into the presence of God in the moment. 

How have you sensed the presence of God when you were going through a difficult time?

Prayer: Lord, we so desire that life is easy and when it doesn’t go as planned we can become dismayed. Help us to have the faith of Joseph, that leans into your grace and presence even in difficult situations. Be with us Lord, we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “Hurry!” - Genesis 45: 9-11

God was able to reveal to Joesph the purpose of his current situation in order to give him a vision for the present and the future. Joseph may not have even understood fully what was going on until this particular moment, when he realized that he could provide for his family in a meaningful way because of how God had provided for him. 

Sometimes the vision God has for us is like that as well - coming in an instant. Other times it is revealed to us, piece by piece over time. But we should be praying for the vision of God to come to us as a community of faith so that we can be both faithful and fruitful for such a time as this. Who knows what a blessing we can be to our community, if only we seek together after the vision God has for us. 

What vision is God revealing to us for the Church?

How do see God weaving together the past and present to propel us into the future?

Prayer: Lord, help us to continually be seeking after your will and way - your vision for us as a church. Reveal to us as you will and when you will, so we can faithfully follow after you. Amen. 

Friday: “Embraced” - Genesis 45: 12-15

There are many signs of reconciliation - for Jospeh and his brothers in was weeping and embracing. They wept for years gone by and for new opportunities. They clung to each other as a sign of forgiveness. 

What signs will we offer to God for our reconciliation? Let us offer renewed hearts, listening years, and spirits that yearn to follow after the will of God. 

What signs of reconciliation do you offer to God today?

Prayer: God, we thank you for your ability to forgive us. As we often say in our communion liturgy, when our hearts strayed, you remained faithful. Thank you, O Lord, for not giving up on us and inviting us to be reconciled to you so we can go out to proclaim your name. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Joy Together: Thankfulness” - Col 3: 15-17

Family Activity: Talk about forgiveness. How can we learn to forgive others? To forgive ourselves? Why do we need to forgive?