Conflicting Emotions
Read This Week: Genesis 42
Then, ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others because he was afraid that harm might come to him. So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also. Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. – Genesis 42:3-7 NIV
Genesis 42 is emotional. It is hard to read it and not be deeply moved by the themes of reconciliation, forgiveness, and the mysterious ways God works through brokenness and extracts His glory and purpose through difficult and sometimes unbearable circumstances. This chapter is also filled with conflicting emotions or emotions that stand in contrast to one another around the same issue. Emotions are rarely clear-cut and obvious. We can experience positive and negative feelings about any situation and be torn emotionally about the desired outcomes. This conflict is what is confronting Joseph here in this section.
It opens with the famine that Joseph had predicted gripping the land, compelling Jacob’s sons to journey to Egypt in search of grain. Unbeknownst to them, their brother Joseph, whom they had callously sold into slavery years ago, has now risen to prominence as the governor of the land. A poignant reunion follows, filled with tension and laden with the weight of past wrongs. As they bow before him, fulfilling the dreams foretold in Joseph’s youth, he recognizes them but conceals his identity, testing the sincerity of their hearts.
Through a series of trials and tribulations, Joseph grapples with conflicting emotions, torn between the desire for revenge and the yearning for reconciliation. We can all relate to this moment. A moment of conflicting emotions when we have been wronged by someone close to us, and we want them to experience justice for that while at the same time wanting to be in the right relationship with them. It is a difficult moment that we need God’s wisdom and guidance to navigate.
Because of this dichotomy of thought and emotion, repentance and redemption are central. When Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies and incarcerates Simeon as collateral, their guilt resurfaces, prompting them to reflect on their past actions. They acknowledge the wrong they had done to Joseph, expressing remorse for their betrayal. This pivotal moment sets the stage for a profound spiritual journey, wherein the brothers confront their past and seek reconciliation with Joseph and their father, Jacob.
Genesis 42 serves as a testament to the transformative power of forgiveness. Despite the deep wounds inflicted by his brother’s betrayal, Joseph exemplifies compassion and mercy, extending grace to those who had wronged him. His actions serve as a poignant reminder that forgiveness is not merely an act of pardoning but a profound act of healing and restoration. When we are following Christ and in tune with the word and Holy Spirit, the Lord leads us through our conflicting emotions to His purposeful ends. He helps us successfully steer through a minefield of opposing thoughts to His sovereign will.
Ultimately, the chapter underscores God’s sovereignty amidst the fluctuations of life. What the brothers intended for evil, God orchestrated for good, weaving together the threads of human frailty into the grand tapestry of divine providence. In the fullness of time, Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers, embracing them with open arms and offering words of reassurance and comfort.
God wanted me to read verse 22-23:
22 Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” 23 They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.
He said on this:
“When you speak in private to man, I am still with you. I hear what your heart says even when it is inaudible. Know that words you say are powerful with or without an earthly audience. Be pure in your words always as I am always listening. Let your words in the earthly realm have meaning.”
Joseph was able to know Reubin’s true heart as Reubin spoke freely and from his heart, thinking that nobody outside could understand him. That purity is what God asks of us. Its up to us to have compassion and listen to God the same way He listens to us.
Genesis Chapter 42 verse 6
Now Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was who sold to all the people of the land; and Joseph’s. h[alf] brothers came and bowed themselves down before him with their faces to the ground.
Genesis Chapter 42 verse 7
Joseph saw his brothers and he recognized them, but he treated them as if he were a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. He said, where do you come from? And they replied, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
~The Greater Plan~
God Is Saying To Me:
Always remain humble and strive to make me first in your life. Joseph spoke harshly to the men wanting to buy grain because it’s part of the greater picture I have for his brothers. Joseph probably wanted to reveal his identity to the brothers but I needed the brothers to come to terms with selling him off to slavery and revealing himself at that time wasn’t part of my plan. I orchestrate all things and plan things according to the greater plan I have for each of them. Joseph’s brothers do not reverently fear me the way Joseph does. I will allow them to go to prison and feel isolation just like Joseph felt. The brothers must deal with their sin against Joseph because it’s part of the entire plan for all of them and Joseph too.
What This Means To Me:
God has great plans for each of us. He had plans for the brothers and for Joseph too. In the grand scheme of things, He wins! His plans may not look like what we think they should, but be certain that His plans are in the best interest of each of you. Trust God with your whole heart, never doubt the validity of His great plan for you and go with the flow of the spirit letting Him help you to be the vessel for the greater good of mankind. Be careful in what you do and say in life because you may regret decisions later that you make today. You don’t want them to come back to haunt you or cause you to sin. ❤️
Genesis 42: 24 He turned away from his brothers and [left the room and] wept; then he returned and talked with them,
Genesis 42: 25 Then Joseph gave orders [privately] that their bags be filled with grain, and that every man’s money [used to pay for the grain] be put back in his sack, and that provisions be given to them for the journey. And so this was done for them.
Genesis 42: 27 And at the lodging place, as one of them opened his sack to feed his donkey, he saw his money in the opening of his sack. 28 And he said to his brothers, “My money has been returned! Here it is in my sack!” And their hearts sank, and they were afraid and turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”
The gift of Time, the gift of forgiveness, the gift of Grace and Mercy, the gift of reconciliation
The gift of release and letting Go!
There are many more!
I hear God saying
I Love all my children, I Am all about Family and you can trust Me in all that I’m doing and I always provide for you!
I love it when you all get together and help one another and I love it when you’re able to open up your hearts to Love, when you learn to forgive and let go of the past offenses, hurts.
Do know that there is a proper time to do it too!
I’m always working in your hearts I know when the time is right, so trust in Me for it, the right time maybe when you come home before it happens because I know what’s going to happen, their hearts may not be ready yet!
So again trust in Me for the right time.
So don’t spend your days worrying about it
I’ll let you know if I want you to do something!
It’s important to walk with Me in all do and say!
When the brother said what has God done to us.
There is different ways you can take this
For Joseph His heart was ready to forgive He blessed his brothers and His Father.
His heart wept for what happened to him and he wanted to be loved and he wanted to see his Father and his brother Benjamin and he knew the truth because his heart was open to Me. this was the beginning of forgiving and providing for them!
That’s what I am all about!
So keep your heart open to what I Am always doing look to see what I Am doing!
I Am with you always ❤️️
I love you My daughter
What this means to me is a beautiful story of forgiveness and healing in this family!
It can’t be forced or hurried either!
Sometimes it takes time! Time is a gift.
It’s learning to walk with father God daily spending time with him, Jesus and his Holy Spirit to help us and guide us in all that we do and say! Knowing that God knows everything and he has good plans for all of us, especially working together for the kingdom of heaven.
And loving people where their at and helping them to see Jesus in our hearts ❤️Thank you, father God that we get to.!
Love you Father God, Jesus and Your Holy Spirit ️
I got a song in chapter 42 Genesis
Trusting
Let’s gather together to worship our Lord worship, our Lord, trusting our Lord in everything we do no matter what goes on in our lives. It’s always better with Jesus. It’s always better with Jesus no matter where we start when Jesus is in the middle we always finish great we always finish great. It’s always a better life with Jesus, trusting in our Lord always and forever so let’s gather together to worship our Lord worship our Lord amen.
Life is great and amazing when we put our Lord Jesus in the middle. He never leaves us or forsakes us we are truly blessed. amen.
Have you ever faced the challenge of making difficult decisions or taking tough actions? How did it affect your heart? Did you manage to maintain a soft heart, or did it feel like your heart was hardening as you carried out what was necessary?
We are often called to make tough choices and take challenging actions as God guides us. Speaking the truth and doing what is right isn’t always easy, but it’s crucial to approach these situations with a kind and loving heart.
Through life’s experiences, we gain wisdom, learning what actions to take and which to avoid. This learning process is universal; some of us grasp these lessons quickly, while others repeatedly make the same mistakes. It’s fundamentally about discerning the right actions from those that are merely convenient or driven by our emotions.
If you have navigated through challenging areas in your life and absorbed the lessons, you understand what I mean. If you find yourself primarily acting out of convenience or emotion, this may be an area where seeking God’s guidance could be especially beneficial.
I find joy in guiding others as directed by God. I’ve learned that teaching someone how to fish, and thereby encouraging them to experience the process themselves, is often more beneficial than simply giving them a fish. This approach fosters growth and strength rather than dependency.
1. It’s vital to learn to do and say the right things, even when it’s difficult.
2. Always strive to maintain a spirit of kindness and love, particularly when faced with hard decisions.
3. People grow as they experience life’s processes with God’s guidance, so it’s more constructive to support them through their growth rather than doing things for them.
PODCAST
This Week in the Life: Genesis 42
For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, the message, and the second song.
1. Sunday Worship – First Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240428-Worship1.wav
2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240428-Message.wav
3. Sunday Worship – Second Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240428-Worship2.wav
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