Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August10, 2022
Read Genesis 37:1-11
1 Jacob lived in the land of Canaan where his father was an immigrant. 2 This is the account of Jacob’s descendants. Joseph was 17 years old and tended the flock with his brothers. While he was helping the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, Joseph told their father unflattering things about them. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because he was born when Jacob was old. Jacob had made for him a long robe. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of his brothers, they hated him and couldn’t even talk nicely to him. 5 Joseph had a dream and told it to his brothers, which made them hate him even more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had. 7 When we were binding stalks of grain in the field, my stalk got up and stood upright, while your stalks gathered around it and bowed down to my stalk.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Will you really be our king and rule over us?” So they hated him even more because of the dreams he told them. 9 Then Joseph had another dream and described it to his brothers: “I’ve just dreamed again, and this time the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 When he described it to his father and brothers, his father scolded him and said to him, “What kind of dreams have you dreamed? Am I and your mother and your brothers supposed to come and bow down to the ground in front of you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father took careful note of the matter.
Good morning! This is the day that the Lord has made.
Joseph was blessed and called to be a leader among the Israelites. However, Joseph went through many challenges as he matured into his role. As his blessings were revealed to him, his family began to hate him as their envy and jealousy simmered. Joseph endured all his obstacles and came to lead his people to glorify God.
For Joseph’s family, it was a challenge to change their ideas from Joseph, the kid brother, and their father’s favorite to being a great leader. In time, they came to understand that God’s ways and thoughts were not their ways and thoughts. Joseph and his family experienced a major transition.
We all face transitions in our lives. As you know, this summer I have experienced multiple transitions and today I am working to help my dad transition to a new time in his life as well. We are facing challenges in the chaos that each move creates. For today, I am focusing on the blessings that are present and that will continue to be revealed over the next days, weeks, and years.
Loving and Caring God, Thank You for loving us. Through challenges we grow. Thank you for making us uncomfortable. Thank you for not giving up on us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God can use my struggles to prepare me for something better.
Thank God for opportunities! Pastor Liz
Kommentare