April 10th & 14th
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
—Ephesians 3:20 MSG
They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
—Genesis 37:18-24 ESV
When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes 33 And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.
—Genesis 37:29, 33-34 ESV
JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T CHOOSE IT THAT DOESN’T MEAN GOD CAN’T USE IT!
What is my part in this pit?
And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
—Genesis 37:24 ESV
And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.
—Genesis 37:2b ESV
His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
—Genesis 37:8 ESV
They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer.
—Genesis 37:18,19 ESV
The first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins.
—Proverbs 18:17 NLT
What am I being protected from in the pit?
Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.
—Genesis 37:20, 26-27 ESV
What is God perpetuating in the pit?
Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep.
—Genesis 37:33,35 NLT
Meanwhile, the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain of the palace guard.
—Genesis 37:36 NLT
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
—Genesis 50:20 NLT
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Next Steps:
1. Today, I will invite Jesus in my life for the first time.
2. I am in a pit and feel torn to pieces so please pray for me.
3. I will memorize Genesis 50:20.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
4. This week I will read Genesis 40-43. (App->Bible->Plan)