Tag: joseph

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 4^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 101 and 109; Evening, Psalm 119:121 to 144;

Genesis 50:15 to 26; 1^st Corinthians 12:1 to 11; Mark 8:11-26:

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” So Joseph made the Israelites swear, saying, “When God comes to you, you shall carry up my bones from here.” And Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old; he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.” (Genesis 50:24 to 26)

I love re-reading our ancient stories. In the ending of Genesis, Joseph tells us how God can, and will, bring good out of what was intended to be evil. There is a lot of crying with Joseph and his brothers about their sad history, but there is forgiveness with new understanding about what God has done, and is doing.

Joseph tells them that God will come to them and bring them up out of Egypt. He doesn’t say when, or how, or in whom, God will do this. And, after many, many generations of Hebrew families, and many kings of Egypt, we will get Moses. He is the second Hebrew-born, Egyptian-raised person to lead the Hebrews.  God’s action is played out in the person of Moses as it was with Joseph.

As the Book of Genesis ends we again have God identified as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. While God does not change, our knowledge of God evolves. We always have goodness first and then comes some sinister human action requiring mercy. This has happened throughout human history and is still happening today. But know this, God wins every time.

Today we remember Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and theologian (March 18, 386),  and his information may be found at: Cyril of Jerusalem

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob, continue to be with us still, as we often fail to maintain the proper path that you have set before us in the person of Jesus Christ. Lead us and guide us to that promised land where dwells eternal life for all who believe in you. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 2^nd Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 56 and 57; Evening,  Psalms 64 and 65;
Genesis 41:46 to 57; 1^st Corinthians 4:8 to 20(21); Mark 3:7 to19a

“And since the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41.56)

While Joseph, young son of Jacob, was mistreated by his older brothers, God walked with him and he found his way in Egypt and after a while, was given high ranking status. He himself married the daughter of an Egyptian priest and had two sons.

We all have choices in life when we are mistreated. We can hold the hurt and wait for the opportunity to hurt others, or we can watch for it happening to others and stand in the breach. Joseph, will do the latter. His story is amazing.

In good times, Joseph orders that grain be stored in several cities. It paid off. He had food for not only Egypt, but also for surrounding countries, including his original family. We never know how God will lead us and what the rewards are for following closely where God leads. In following God, we must maintain good and loving hearts. I think good and loving hearts are the prerequisite for God to lead us in the first place.

When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt and beyond. Notice that this was not a “give-away.”  There had to be some accountability on the part of those who received.

Joseph saved the promise of God that He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel, and us. The story is amazing, and at points, tearful. But God has a plan for us. We must learn to follow it through the hard times as well as the good.

Today we remember Chad of Lichfield, Educator, and his information may be found at:  St. Chad

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: For the Right Use of God’s Gifts (BCP p.827)

Almighty God, whose loving hand hath given us all that we possess: Grant us grace that we may honor thee with our substance, and, remembering the account which we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of thy bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.