Our reading challenge for the day is Genesis chapters 44-50. I'll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
At long last, Joseph is humbled and reveals himself to his brothers as the one who will watch over them and care for them. Does this mean his character changed entirely? Observe that he still proceeded to work as Pharaoh's instrument to enslave the nation. But then again, the people were left being able to work the land and pay a total tax rate of 20%, which is considerably lower than the taxes I pay as a self-employed citizen of the United States.
There's a big picture here. Joseph is used as God's instrument as well. For some reason, and we don't know the reason, God planned to keep his people in Egypt for some 500 years, in captivity, as they grew into a great nation which would inherit the land promised to Abraham. We never know how we will be acting as our Lord's instruments. We also can't predict reliably what he will do through us. All we can do is be faithful with the situation he has placed us in. May we grow in grace as we seek to do our Lord's will.
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