Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.... And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. (Genesis 45:1-5;25-28)
Today's Morsel: Sometimes I sit and wonder where some of the people I once knew are now. I think about many of the folks I served with in the military and wonder if they are still alive; I would love to see them. I can remember when I was a kid and some of our relatives that my mother hadn't seen is years would come home, and she would say to them, "I thought you were dead because I haven't seen you in so long." Joseph's brothers probably thought that he was still alive but where, they never knew. But their father Jacob thought that Joseph was dead, because the sons had lied to him and told him that he was. For years, Jacob lived with the thought of his beloved son Joseph being dead only now to realize that he is alive. I wonder what the atmosphere was like around the house with the brothers that now had to tell the truth. When Jesus was crucified on the cross and buried, they thought that he was dead. But on the first day of the week when they went to the tomb, they were surprised to hear the words, "He is not here, he is alive." What words of encouragement. Those words of hope. Those words of elation rang in their ears. Jacob, now got to hear the words that he had so longed to hear. Joseph is alive. Satan wants you to think that your dreams and hopes are dead, but I want you to know that they are still alive. As Job states: "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant" (Job 14:7-9). Just hold on to Jesus, there is hope.
Sing: He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me, and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart, you ask me how I know He lives, He lives, within my heart.
Thought for Today: Never think there isn't hope.
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