Read: Genesis 43-45
Focus verse: “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” (45:8a)
Devotion: Joseph finds something quite beautiful in the midst of chaos. He turns around his brothers selling him as a slave into noticing it ended up being Israels salvation during the years of famine. All the journey that Joseph has gone through, from being sold into slavery, and thrown in prison, he is now the second in charge in Egypt. God has used him to prepare for the famine and now he has the means to provide salvation to God’s people. Upon realizing that his brother is still alive, Judah expects that Joseph will pay them back for what they did to him (43:18), but Joseph instead chose to reward, bless, and love them. Any situation, no matter how bleak, God can turn it around, for the purposes of saving and redeeming his people. Although the story of Israel is full of ups and downs, God is always working to show them love and to rescue them for the purpose of rescuing all of creation. Speaking of reversals, I can think of another. Jesus died on the cross and resurrected to save the whole of creation. God takes something broken, and makes it beautiful!
Pray: LORD let me be something you can make beautiful. God take my brokenness and make me beautiful. Help me realize that even in the midst of chaos, you are there wanting to redeem and restore me. Thank you for Your unending love and kindness that you show to me. Amen.
Additional Scripture: “This is the day that the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)