Tag Archives: Christian poem

GENESIS 43 BENJAMIN IS PRESENTED TO JOSEPH

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March 27

GENESIS 43

13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.”  – Genesis 43:13-18

GENESIS 43 BENJAMIN IS PRESENTED TO JOSEPH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After much thought, Jacob agreed to let Benjamin go to Egypt

He began to accept his concern about losing Benjamin

They needed to survive this severe famine in the land

Jacob hoped that the present and the double payment will work

So, the brothers took Benjamin with them to present him to Joseph

As soon as Joseph saw his younger brother, he ordered a feast

Little did the brothers know what was going to happen

They were so terrified of what this fuss was all about.

What a suspense-filled story we hear in this account! On the part of the brothers, it was all anxiety and fear that they felt. How hard that must have been to think that they may be all prisoners in Egypt. They may never see their father or own families.

On the part of Joseph, it was also an emotional moment. He must have thought of his younger brother Benjamin all those years they were separated from each other. This scene reminds me of the prodigal son who came back and the father ordered a feast for his prodigal son. Only this time, it was a brother whom he hasn’t seen for many years.

REFLECTION

  • Were the brothers’ distress and fear justified? Why or why not?

GENESIS 43 JACOB’S STRATEGY TO SURVIVE THE FAMINE

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March 26

GENESIS 43

Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” 6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight.  – Genesis 43:1-12

GENESIS 43 JACOB’S STRATEGY TO SURVIVE THE FAMINE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the grain was almost finished, Jacob told his sons to buy more

But Judah reminded his father of Joseph’s order to bring the youngest son

Jacob though of sending presents to Joseph to ensure his sons are back

So, he asked them to bring honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio, almonds and nuts.

If only Jacob knew that the ruler in Egypt was his beloved Joseph, the fear and panic wouldn’t be in their midst. He was fearful to lose Benjamin as he had already lost his beloved Joseph, so he thought of a strategy to be more generous to the ruler so that he could be convinced that they were genuinely good people and not spies.

REFLECTION

  • What trait of Jacob/Israel do we witness in this account?

GENESIS 42 JACOB RESISTS TO LET GO OF BENJAMIN

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March 25

GENESIS 42

35 As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” 38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”  – Genesis 42:35-38

GENESIS 42 JACOB RESISTS TO LET GO OF BENJAMIN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Jacob saw the bundles of money given back to his sons

He became so fearful that he will lose his beloved son Benjamin

He couldn’t bear to lose his youngest one after losing Joseph

Reuben dramatically offers his sons to appease his father.

This account is full of fear and high emotions. When Joseph ordered his servants to put bundles of money in their sacks, they had no idea he was their own brother. Imagine the terror and guilt they have felt knowing that God is punishing them for their plot to kill Joseph. They could have confessed at this time that Joseph wasn’t killed by an animal, but sold to slavery. Jacob was so distressed and anxious that Benjamin, the only son he had by Rachel would also be taken away from him. He believed the lie of his sons that Joseph was dead, and now it is unbearable to think of his beloved Benjamin also going to be gone. There was no mention of his concern for Simeon who might be imprisoned.  It apparently showed Jacob’s love for his wife Rachel more than his other wife Leah. Since Joseph and Benjamin were his sons by Rachel, he loved them more than all his other children.

Reuben’s offer to kill his other two sons if he doesn’t bring back Simeon and Benjamin to his father seems off. We witness Reuben’s arrogance to offer the lives of his sons for something he has no control over. He is bargaining for appeasement of his father’s fear and using his son’s lives to do so shows foolish pride.

REFLECTION

  • Why can believing in lies keep us imprisoned in fear and distress

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GENESIS 42 GUILT AND SHAME CONSUME THE BROTHERS

March 24

GENESIS 42

26 Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”29 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we have never been spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’– Genesis 42:26-34

GENESIS 42 GUILT AND SHAME CONSUME THE BROTHERS       

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Joseph’s brothers were sent to get their youngest brother

They discovered their payment for the grain were returned

They were afraid that God is punishing them for their past sin

Why else could the ruler of Egypt not have taken their money?

They assumed that they won’t be able to convince him they were honest

They were scared how their father would react to such a request by Joseph.

This story is interesting as it shows how guilt and shame can consume humans, especially when they haven’t confessed their sins. They made their father Jacob believe that Joseph was killed by a beast and up to this point, which may have been at least a decade and a half, they still kept those lies intact and hidden. Unless sin is exposed in God’s light, it will stay in the dark and produce more sins. Sins couldn’t be cleansed if we don’t confess and repent of them. It will keep us living in guilt and shame.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it difficult to let go of lies and sins when we have kept it hidden for long?

GENESIS 42 JOSEPH WITNESSES HIS BROTHERS’ REMORSE

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March 23

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 remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, 20 and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” 22 And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” 23 They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. 24 Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 25 And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.

                                                                   – Genesis 42:18-25

GENESIS 42 JOSEPH WITNESSES HIS BROTHERS’ REMORSE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Joseph told his brothers to bring their youngest brother to him

He heard them discussing amongst themselves their remorse of their sin

They didn’t know that Joseph understood them as he had an interpreter

So, he held Simeon confined in Egypt un-til they bring back their brother

He also ordered his servants to fill each of their bags with grain

And they were also given provision for their journey back to Canaan.

This is a tearjerker scene that we are given in this account. The brothers recalled how they came up with their plot to kill Joseph in the past and Reuben reminded them that he didn’t want any harm done to Joseph. Without their knowledge, Joseph understood what they were saying and must have been weeping inside as he heard their discussion.

We realize how loving and forgiving Joseph was to these evil brothers who meant so much harm to him when he was a young lad. Only by God’s grace can we forgive those who have sinned against us, otherwise, our sin nature prevails and keeps us bitter and mad.

REFLECTION

  • How do you think Joseph felt when he heard their discussion of their sin?

GENESIS 42 JOSEPH PUTS BROTHERS TO THE TEST

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March 22

GENESIS 42

12 He said to them, “No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see.” 13 And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.” 14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you. You are spies. 15 By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” 17 And he put them all together in custody for three days.

                                                                   – Genesis 42:12-17

GENESIS 42 JOSEPH PUTS BROTHERS TO THE TEST

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Joseph questioned their true identities in their coming to Egypt

Because they didn’t recognize him, he wanted it to stay that way

To know that his father and youngest brother were still alive,

He accused them of being spies and prove to him that they weren’t

If they bring the youngest brother to Egypt, they passed the test

It was the only way Joseph could see his only brother by his mother.

We witness again the wisdom of Joseph in this account. Of course, Joseph knew they were his brothers, but by accusing them they were spies, he will be able to ask them to prove that they truly had a younger brother. Since they didn’t recognize him, they were all so fearful that they wouldn’t have grain to bring back to their father and Benjamin and would eventually die because of the famine. 

Joseph’s plan to find out about his father and Benjamin was brilliant. He could continue to make them believe what they know about him: the authority to grant them to buy grain in Egypt. This way he can confirm that his father and Benjamin are all well. It also gives him a chance to confine the rest of his brothers, not to punish them for what they had done to him, but to share with them his comfort and riches in Egypt.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think Joseph had that ability to still treat his brothers well despite what they did to him?

GENESIS 42 JOSEPH’S BROTHERS BOW DOWN TO HIM

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March 21

GENESIS 42

When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 2 And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” 3 So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. 5 Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.6 Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. 7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” 8 And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” 10 They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.” – Genesis 42:1-11

GENESIS 42 JOSEPH’S BROTHERS BOW DOWN TO HIM

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As soon as Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent his sons

Only ten of them were sent since and had his youngest son stay with him

He feared that he will lose Benjamin as he already lost Joseph

Without recognizing Joseph, the brothers bowed down to Egypt’s ruler.

Joseph’s dream came true again. The dream that they would bow down to him. The dream that they mocked Joseph with and hated him more was truly happening. But they didn’t recognize him, but Joseph did. Joseph had such humility and amazing memory to even recall those brothers who sold him into slavery and also plotted to murder him. So, Joseph treated them as if he didn’t know them and accused them of being spies. This accusation must have caused much fear for them since it will jeopardize their desire to buy grain and without food, they can also starve to death.

REFLECTION

  • How come Joseph recognized his brothers and they didn’t?

GENESIS 41 JOSEPH STEWARDS THE YEAR OF FAMINE FOR EGYPT

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March 20

GENESIS 41

53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.” 56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth. – Genesis 41:53-57

GENESIS 41 JOSEPH STEWARDS THE YEAR OF FAMINE FOR EGYPT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After seven years of plenty and overflowing crops in Egypt

The time of famine was followed after those seven years

As God led Joseph to foresee what was coming in Pharaoh’s dream

The Lord also provided him with wisdom how to steward the famine

Assigning Joseph to head the land of Egypt to prepare for things to come

Was the best decision Pharaoh had done to save the land and his dominion.

According to phrases.org.uk The source of the proverb ‘The devil is in the details’ is often attributed to the German/American architect Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe. This is almost certainly a misattribution. The expression derives from an earlier German proverb – “Der liebe Gott steckt im detail”, which translates as ‘God is in the detail’.  The details of a plan, while seeming insignificant, may contain hidden problems that threaten its overall feasibility is the meaning of this proverb. It is not literal in terms of the devil is at work, but the proverb actually refers more to God’s exquisite detail when he plans.

In Pharaoh’s dream, God was in the details, especially in the interpretation he gave to Joseph. He gave Joseph the discernment and wisdom on how to execute and steward the crops during the bountiful years in preparation for the coming seven years of famine. In this account, we witness that godly wisdom given to Joseph to anticipate the scarcity.

REFLECTION

·       Give examples of how God is in the details that you know is written in the bible.

GENESIS 41 JOSEPH’S RULE DURING 7 YEARS OF PLENTY

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March 19

GENESIS 41

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”–

                                                                   – Genesis 41:46-52

GENESIS 41 JOSEPH’S RULE DURING 7 YEARS OF PLENTY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Joseph turned thirty, he was appointed ruler of Egypt

He was given authority to manage all the crops for the years of plenty

This was in preparation for the coming years of famine

Joseph manifested God’s wisdom to steward all the produce in the land

He stored up grain in great abundance before the famine came

It was also at this time that God blessed and granted him two sons

He called the firstborn Manasseh for God made him forget the difficulties

The second son was named Ephraim for God made him fruitful despite trials.

As Joseph became ruler of Egypt just a position below the king, he manifested such wisdom and good management skills. The Lord was always with him and guided him in every little or big decision he made. He was also blessed with such bounty in terms of crop harvest that all the produce was overflowing. This was God’s way of preparing the whole Egypt for the coming famine. What wonderful way of turning events around for Joseph! After all his suffering, he now had authority over the whole land and was also blessed with two children.

REFLECTION

  • How do we know that Joseph’s wisdom came from God alone?

GENESIS 41 JOSEPH RISES INTO POWER

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March 18

GENESIS 41

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.  – Genesis 41:37-45

GENESIS 41 JOSEPH RISES INTO POWER

A poem by Ilma based on these verses

After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and laid down his recommendation

The king asked himself and his council, can we find a man to do this for us?

Pharaoh was impressed by Joseph’s wisdom and discernment

So, he assigned Joseph to have authority over his house and the land

He gave his signet ring to Joseph which symbolizes the power given to him

This made Joseph rise into power and became ruler over all of Egypt.

What a climax to Joseph’s traumatic story! From being sold into slavery, being slandered and put in prison and now a ruler in the land of Egypt. This only shows us God’s power working in his life. What is amazing about Joseph is that he remained the same in all those situations we witnessed. He was humble and never fought back or rebelled. He surrendered and obeyed the destiny that God prepared for him, without question or rebellion or whining. When we live to serve and obey the Lord, we will definitely have his blessings in all we do, whether there is lack or there is plenty.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think Joseph stayed the same in all the situations he was in?