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It All Started With a Coat of Many Colors
It all started with a coat of many colors. All of us know the story of Joseph, who was favored by his father and given a coat of many colors;who as a young man thrown into a pit by his brothers, and then found by Midianites merchantmen; who sold Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:23-30). Joseph had many trials, including prison (Genesis 39:19-23), but was later entrusted authority over storage and distribution of grains throughout Egypt, because of famine throughout the land (Genesis 41:33-45). Because of the famine, his brothers traveled from the land of Canaan to Egypt, in order to buy corn. Because so much time had past, the brothers did not recognize their brother. They only knew that the man that they were speaking to was a man of great authority, and they feared him (Genesis 42:1-6).
Joseph spoke to the brothers without revealing who he was, asking about their father, and his younger brother. Joseph required them to bring him their younger brother (Genesis 42:7-20). After Josephs family had run out of corn, they discussed their return trip to Egypt to get more corn. They were concerned because the money that they had paid for corn on the first trip had been found in one of the sacks of corn, and they did not want to be accused of stealing. Secondly, if they returned to Egypt, they had to bring Benjamin, and their father did not want Benjamin to go to Egypt (Genesis 43:1-5).
Josephs father, Jacob told the brothers to carry extra money in order to pay for the distribution of corn this trip and the previous trip, and to take gifts to Joseph of honey, nuts, and almonds.
Genesis 43:11-13
11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: 12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:
This all lead to Jacob and members of his family leaving the land of Canaan, to live in Egypt because Joseph was able to provide for them very well (Genesis 46:5-27). This also lead to the slavery of Josephs family once a new Pharaoh was in place (Exodus 1:8-14), and then the eventually passage from Egypt to the land of Canaan, under the leadership of Moses (Exodus).
As we look at the big picture here, God had already promised that God would provide for them. While Jacob and his family may not have had corn available, remember that they had honey, nuts, and almonds, which is likely to have been more that the people of Egypt had. And while the Holy Bible does not tell us everything that Jacob had in his store house, we do know that God had already promised provision, and they had at the very least honey, nuts, and almonds.
How many times have we felt that we were missing something, needed something, and if we truly analyzed the situation, it was not truly essential to our existence? How many times have we had provision, but we did not recognize it as provision? Sometimes our situation changes, and even though what we have is not our preference, we still have what we need.
What if Jacob had stayed in the land of Canaan? What if Josephs family had return to Egypt, happy in knowing that Joseph was alive? Then we would have missed out on Gods rescue mission, and Moses leading the people out of Egypt. We would have missed the time that God spent leading the people through the desert as a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. We would have missed the instructions that we received from God of how to build the church, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Ten Commandments. The people of Israel would have missed the lessons learned, taught by God, that when they were obedient, they were blessed, and when they were disobedient, they were cursed. The people of Israel would have not learned the value of going to battle with God. Remember, the people of Israel won every battle they fought, as long as they were obedient to God, and went into battle with God.
Remember that our every decision has the potential for deciding the rest of our life. Even those moments, when you think that it really does not matter, it matters. Your daily decisions determine where you are, who you met, and the kinds of friends you make, and could possibly have a long term effect, for good or bad. So knowing that God, being omnipresent and all knowing, why not pray for guidance in all the decisions that we make?
Know also, that God works all things for good. God brought Joseph from slavery to a position of respect as governor of Egypt. God provided for Joseph and his family, even if they at times doubted the provision that they had.
God also keeps his promises. God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants, and went to great lengths to make sure that Abrahams descendants returned to the land of Canaan.
Genesis 17:7-9
7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. 9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
In the name of Christ Jesus, dear God, I am grateful for your mercy, your grace, and your ever-loving kindness. Dear God, I am grateful for provision. Dear God, I am grateful for your promises to us. Dear God, I am grateful for your leadership, your guidance, and for discernment. Dear God, I am grateful that you have promised to never leave us nor forsake us. I pray dear God, that you heal the hearts of people, and lead them to love again. Dear God, I pray that you heal our lands. I pray these things in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
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