Good morning, dear family,
Wishing you a blessed Sunday and a lovely February month!
Joseph trusted God’s vision and dreams even though he went through a lot of disturbing and stressful times.
The king gave Joseph a new Egyptian name – Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. Although Joseph got a new identity and a new life, Joseph’s heart was always towards God.
“Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.””
Genesis 41:51-52 NLT
Two lessons
1. GOD OF NEW BEGINNINGS – Everyone, including Jacob and his sons, believed that the chapter called “Joseph” was over and closed. However, God was not done. He brought out two – half tribes of Israel from Joseph. God of New beginnings! Today one of you may be considering giving up on your dream because of age, ability, qualifications or circumstances but God wants to remind you this – that He is able to pull you out of the cistern and fulfil the dream that He has given you. Rejoice in Him.
2. GOD OF NEW BLESSINGS – Joseph’s entry to the land of Egypt was as a slave. Imagine a young boy walking behind the camels with his hands tied and torn/dusty clothes. But God walked with him and made him fruitful in that land and blessed him with two sons. Jesus came from heaven, took a humble birth in a lowly place and grew up in Nazareth where nothing good was expected. On the Cross, He appeared as a Lamb that was slain, but behold, He walked out the grave as Lion of Judah. God is a God of new blessings – Today is the day of the fulfillment of His Covenant for you and me.
As we prepare to go to the House of the Lord to worship, let’s remember who our God is. And also let’s remind ourselves who we are to Him. Although the entry of the nation of Israel into the promised land was marked by disobedience, doubts, distress and seemed like another slavery, God gave them an opportunity to start afresh as Royals – Sea and river were parted for them, strongholds were broken, wars were won and it was established that Israel was a nation whose King was God himself. Our God who is a God of New Beginnings and New Blessings.
“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalms 23:6 NLT
Amen 🙏