Saturday, Ordinary 20/Proper 15-- Aug 16
HealthFitNow
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Meditation
Saturday, Ordinary 20, Proper 15, brought the healing ways of God to the foreground. The saga of Joseph continued as the Old Testament lesson recounted the story of the years of famine and how it affected the family he hadn’t seen since he had been sold into slavery.
The work of God sought to heal the brokenness of the family of Israel. Brothers knew their sin against Joseph. Joseph knew their sin against him. But the trials that Joseph went through toughened and softened him. The wisdom that God gave him to govern the country of Egypt through the famine successfully, readied the country as not only the source of its own salvation but also those around. Far and near came to Egypt with hope for survival.
The news that Egypt had corn reached the famine struck Canaan, and Jacob decided to send his sons to buy corn. He sent 10, but kept Benjamin, his favorite since Joseph’s death, and the brothers traveled to present themselves to the Egyptian-looking governor.
Joseph recognized his brothers and recalled the dreams he had had as a child. He was deliberately rude, but they didn’t recognize him. To boot, he spoke through an interpreter, so he distanced himself further, though he understood their talk among themselves. His tough side tested them by accusing them of being spies, though they denied it. He insisted they were.
Among themselves they acknowledged they had been punished for what they had done to Joseph. Reuben reminded them that he had told them not to do what they had done to Joseph.
They tried to explain that they were all brothers of one father, save a younger brother left at home and one, who had died, so they couldn’t possibly be spies. Joseph’s heart wanted to see Benjamin and so he continued to accuse them, told them he would not believe them if he did not see this ‘younger brother’ and put them in prison for three days.
After three days, he struck a deal; allowing all but Simeon to be released from prison to return to Canaan with grain for the family, but Simeon would remain in prison for the time until they returned with Benjamin.
The brothers attributed their troubles to the hand of God punishing them for their actions against Joseph back when. I suspect that every bad thing that had happened since they sold him caused them to feel God was punishing them for their bad behavior.
Joseph’s soft heart nearly cried as he overheard his brothers discussing their fears for their own lives and Benjamin’s. He withdrew and allowed the brothers to have their sacks of grain loaded onto their pack animals, telling the servants to return the money paid for the grain in the sacks. The brothers left for Israel and discovered their money among the grain and the trepidation really set in.
This was the beginning of the healing for the brothers.
Whenever we are sinful, we must acknowledge that sin in order to be forgiven by God. True healing doesn’t come until repentance has opened the door for whole health.
The New Testament lesson carried the theme of the healing of the people of Israel. Jesus retreated to the far eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee and people recognized him, sending out the word to come and bring their sick. Word of mouth brought many sick for Jesus’ touch and he healed their brokenness, just as the Old Testament lesson demonstrated the beginning of the healing of a fractured family.
God wants unity. Our pride makes us divisive. When we humbly bow before God, as Joseph’s brothers did to Joseph, we can find the healing that Jesus offered. Jesus will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Thanks be to God.¬¬
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 20, Proper 15
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 133;Genesis 42:1-28;Matthew 14:34-36&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Saturday, Ordinary 20, Proper 15
Psalm 133
Genesis 42:1-28
Matthew 14:34-36
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 133:1
King James Version (KJV)
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Genesis 42:1-28
King James Version (KJV)
42 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
4 But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.
11 We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.
12 And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
13 And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.
14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
17 And he put them all together into ward three days.
18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:
19 If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:
20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.
24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.
26 And they laded their *kitten* with the corn, and departed thence.
27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his *kitten* provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.
28 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?
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, thank you that you are at work in our lives to bring healing—to our bodies, to our health, mind and spirits, to our fractured relationships like Joseph’s and to our careers and financial challenges. We give you thanks and praise for your blessings. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Conclusion
Saturday, Ordinary 20, Proper 15 drew the fracture family of Joseph together. For the first time since Joseph had been sold into slavery, God began the reuniting that would bring healing to the hurt souls that had sprung from youthful family rivalries and enmities.
The toughness of Joseph, who had risen to power through the grace of God working wisdom in the interpretation of dreams, had been balanced through his pain and suffering, making his tender heart willing to work to bless the brothers that hurt him, but also reunite him with his long lost brother and father.
The healing that Jesus did in the New Testament exemplified the desire of God to bring people wholeness and well-being. Through our struggles, challenges and temptations, we can trust that God is at work in our lives just as he was through the family of Israel in the Old and New Testament.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Saturday, Ordinary 20, Proper 15, brought the healing ways of God to the foreground. The saga of Joseph continued as the Old Testament lesson recounted the story of the years of famine and how it affected the family he hadn’t seen since he had been sold into slavery.
The work of God sought to heal the brokenness of the family of Israel. Brothers knew their sin against Joseph. Joseph knew their sin against him. But the trials that Joseph went through toughened and softened him. The wisdom that God gave him to govern the country of Egypt through the famine successfully, readied the country as not only the source of its own salvation but also those around. Far and near came to Egypt with hope for survival.
The news that Egypt had corn reached the famine struck Canaan, and Jacob decided to send his sons to buy corn. He sent 10, but kept Benjamin, his favorite since Joseph’s death, and the brothers traveled to present themselves to the Egyptian-looking governor.
Joseph recognized his brothers and recalled the dreams he had had as a child. He was deliberately rude, but they didn’t recognize him. To boot, he spoke through an interpreter, so he distanced himself further, though he understood their talk among themselves. His tough side tested them by accusing them of being spies, though they denied it. He insisted they were.
Among themselves they acknowledged they had been punished for what they had done to Joseph. Reuben reminded them that he had told them not to do what they had done to Joseph.
They tried to explain that they were all brothers of one father, save a younger brother left at home and one, who had died, so they couldn’t possibly be spies. Joseph’s heart wanted to see Benjamin and so he continued to accuse them, told them he would not believe them if he did not see this ‘younger brother’ and put them in prison for three days.
After three days, he struck a deal; allowing all but Simeon to be released from prison to return to Canaan with grain for the family, but Simeon would remain in prison for the time until they returned with Benjamin.
The brothers attributed their troubles to the hand of God punishing them for their actions against Joseph back when. I suspect that every bad thing that had happened since they sold him caused them to feel God was punishing them for their bad behavior.
Joseph’s soft heart nearly cried as he overheard his brothers discussing their fears for their own lives and Benjamin’s. He withdrew and allowed the brothers to have their sacks of grain loaded onto their pack animals, telling the servants to return the money paid for the grain in the sacks. The brothers left for Israel and discovered their money among the grain and the trepidation really set in.
This was the beginning of the healing for the brothers.
Whenever we are sinful, we must acknowledge that sin in order to be forgiven by God. True healing doesn’t come until repentance has opened the door for whole health.
The New Testament lesson carried the theme of the healing of the people of Israel. Jesus retreated to the far eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee and people recognized him, sending out the word to come and bring their sick. Word of mouth brought many sick for Jesus’ touch and he healed their brokenness, just as the Old Testament lesson demonstrated the beginning of the healing of a fractured family.
God wants unity. Our pride makes us divisive. When we humbly bow before God, as Joseph’s brothers did to Joseph, we can find the healing that Jesus offered. Jesus will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Thanks be to God.¬¬
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 20, Proper 15
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 133;Genesis 42:1-28;Matthew 14:34-36&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Saturday, Ordinary 20, Proper 15
Psalm 133
Genesis 42:1-28
Matthew 14:34-36
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 133:1
King James Version (KJV)
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Genesis 42:1-28
King James Version (KJV)
42 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
4 But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.
11 We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.
12 And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
13 And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.
14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
17 And he put them all together into ward three days.
18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:
19 If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:
20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.
24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.
26 And they laded their *kitten* with the corn, and departed thence.
27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his *kitten* provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.
28 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?
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, thank you that you are at work in our lives to bring healing—to our bodies, to our health, mind and spirits, to our fractured relationships like Joseph’s and to our careers and financial challenges. We give you thanks and praise for your blessings. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Conclusion
Saturday, Ordinary 20, Proper 15 drew the fracture family of Joseph together. For the first time since Joseph had been sold into slavery, God began the reuniting that would bring healing to the hurt souls that had sprung from youthful family rivalries and enmities.
The toughness of Joseph, who had risen to power through the grace of God working wisdom in the interpretation of dreams, had been balanced through his pain and suffering, making his tender heart willing to work to bless the brothers that hurt him, but also reunite him with his long lost brother and father.
The healing that Jesus did in the New Testament exemplified the desire of God to bring people wholeness and well-being. Through our struggles, challenges and temptations, we can trust that God is at work in our lives just as he was through the family of Israel in the Old and New Testament.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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