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The Correction of God

Words of Faith Final

The Correction of God
Words of Faith 7-25-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 42
[18] On the third day, Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God: [19] If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. [20] But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die." This they proceeded to do.
[21] They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us."
[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.
[24] He turned away from them and began to weep, but then turned back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.
[25] Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man's silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, [26] they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.
[27] At the place where they stopped for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. [28] "My silver has been returned," he said to his brothers. "Here it is in my sack."
Their hearts sank, and they turned to each other trembling and said, "What is this that God has done to us?"

Joseph had a pretty good plan in mind. He would hold one brother in prison. The other brothers would go and bring back Benjamin. This would allow Joseph to see his baby brother after many years. It would also create an opportunity for him to draw Jacob and the rest of the household to Egypt.
But things don't always go according to plan. When Joseph overheard his brother talking, it touched him deeply to the point of tears. We don't know precisely what caused Joseph to weep. It may have been revisiting the terrible betrayal he experienced at the hands of his brothers. It may have been the first time he realized that Reuben, the eldest brother, had opposed the plan and tried to stop it.
As a result, Joseph chose to hold only one brother, Simeon. Why Simeon? We don't know for sure, but Simeon was the second oldest and a bit of a hothead. Remember that Simeon led the ambush on the Shechemites to avenge the rape of their sister, Dinah. Simeon also may have led the plot against Joseph.
Perhaps most important was that Joseph sent nine brothers back to Canaan with much-needed grain. This was a desperate time of famine. He also included the silver each had brought for the purchase in the bags. This was a double blessing, but the brothers were astounded at this discovery. They were suddenly afraid of what this might mean.
This was much more significant than finding that a cashier failed to ring up the purchase price. The "ruler" in Egypt could kill their brother over this! The brothers would now have to face their father with the terrible news that he might never see Simeon again! Trembling in fear, they asked, "What is this that God has done to us?"
Interestingly, the question was phrased this way. The brothers had dug themselves into a terrible situation over the years. Now they wondered why God had done this to them! Something significant was happening. God was finally getting through to the brothers. They realized that the sin they had hidden all these years would eventually be discovered.
They realized that God was indeed paying attention to their lives and actions. Perhaps most remarkable was that God was bringing not wrath but provision. The brothers eventually faced their crime, but God was still providing for their families.
God keeps watching over our lives. Part of this includes accountability. We must face the consequences of our choices, but He reaches out to us in mercy and grace.
His intention is not to harm us but to give us a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11). But the path to that future will include conviction of sin and repentance. This is not because he hates us. It is precisely because He loves us.
Sometimes in our lives, we experience the correcting hand of God. Why? Because He disciplines those he loves (Hebrews 12:6). Correction is not something God is doing TO us; it is something that God does FOR us.

Father God, I give thanks for Your loving watch over Your children. I give thanks for Your correction. By Your Spirit, bring me to the place of conviction and repentance. Correct and cleanse my life so that I may walk into the future and hope You have for me. 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.