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Reversal of Fortune

Words of Faith Final

Reversal of Fortune
Words of Faith 7-22-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 42
[6] Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. [7] As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. "Where do you come from?" he asked.
"From the land of Canaan," they replied, "to buy food."
[8] Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. [9] Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected."
[10] "No, my lord," they answered. "Your servants have come to buy food. [11] We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies."
[12] "No!" he said to them. "You have come to see where our land is unprotected."
[13] But they replied, "Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more."
[14] Joseph said to them, "It is just as I told you: You are spies! [15] And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. [16] Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!" [17] And he put them all in custody for three days.

The brothers' arrival in Egypt must have been a shock to Joseph! Some would say "the tables were turned," or "he had the upper hand," or there was "a reversal of fortune." We know that God's sovereign plan to save the family of Israel was at work, but that plan had not been apparent. Joseph had always trusted that God knew what He was doing. Now the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place.
When Joseph saw his brothers, he immediately recognized them but did not reveal himself. His first inquiries of them were harsh. How would any of us respond to seeing someone who had hurt them so deeply? Then Joseph remembered the dream God gave him years earlier. He remembered the prediction of this scene in which his brothers would bow to him. It was all starting to make sense. This had been God's plan all along!
Joseph might have blown it here. He could have easily determined that the point of the dream was to predict a time when he could have vengeance upon his treacherous brothers! He could have imprisoned or slain them all.
But Joseph remembered there were two dreams, not just one. The first dream of the sheaves bowing down concerned the brothers. The second vision of the sun, moon, and eleven stars concerned his father coming to bow before him (37:30). The vision was not complete. The last brother, Benjamin, would have to come, as would the father, Jacob.
We don't have any record of Joseph seeking divine guidance, but he was clearly led by the Lord in this chapter. He looked at the bigger picture and sought a way to bring the entire family to Egypt so they would not starve. He would have to use a bit of trickery to make this happen.
So how do we respond when "the tables are turned"? How do we respond when we suddenly "get the upper hand" or find ourselves in the place of advantage over those who have hurt us? Joseph was wise to listen and realize that the point of his "reversal of fortune" was not to wreak vengeance.
We may never have as dramatic a reversal as Joseph did. Still, there will be times when we will have the opportunity either to gain revenge or minister reconciliation. The point here is to listen to God's actions in us and around us and seek the reason. What does God want me to do with this situation?

Father God, guide me today. Help me to see Your hand at work in my life. Give me Your grace to respond with Your mind and heart to the events and opportunities You bring my way. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.