Nougat 11

This Good News we call the Gospel, has no practical value until we opt to do something about it. We hear that time and again, and hopefully will see the connection in today’s Holy Nougat

““Go up quickly to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son, Joseph: God has made me lord over all Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t delay.”

[pharaoh added…] “Don’t be concerned about your goods, because the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”” Genesis‬ ‭45:9, 20‬ ‭TLV‬‬

The offer by both Joseph and the pharaoh was exceptionally lucrative. What pharaoh offered to Joseph’s brothers was not given to the average Egyptian. While it speaks to the high regard he held for Joseph as his deputy; we also learned something about the brothers.

Their exoneration by Joseph, as indicated yesterday, was total. Of course, Pharaoh might have been unaware of the brothers’ dishonorable actions toward Joseph, OR he chose to overlook that because of Joseph’s visible and complete joy in their presence. For pharaoh told them that their (meager) possessions were unnecessary in Egypt; ALL they needed would be supplied!

Before jumping and dancing a jig, as well we should, since the parallels to our own lives are very clear; let’s ponder this a little further.

The offer was lucrative but meant nothing if they didn’t CHOOSE to take it. They could choose to be sidetracked (or even weighted down) by their guilt over the past. What they had done was horrible, but Joseph’s forgiveness wiped that old slate clean! Same brothers; brand new lives.

That’s a similar lucrative offer given to us by Jesus and it is signed with the Blood of the Lamb of God. God knows the old nature we possess; yet CHOOSES to overlook our past; in exchange for us receiving Life Eternal with Jesus. Or, as the Pauline writer says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, the old is past and all is new WHEN we find ourselves in Christ.

Of course, the validity of Joseph’s forgiveness and pharaoh’s offer was dependent upon TWO factors:

1- they FIRST had to believe that the offer was true; and

2 – they had to accept it by doing what was asked

The brothers had every reason to think Joseph was tricking them. Trickery was part of the old family heritage. They could have decided that this was Joseph‘s Ultimate Revenge. And, though not a trick, that act of forgiveness was the ultimate revenge against the one who sought to destroy families and healthy relationships.

It’s the same with us and the gift of Christ‘s forgiveness. We have to decide that it’s for real and join in the Ultimate Revenge against the one who seeks to kill steal and destroy families and healthy relationships.

Do we?

For, if we do, then what is asked is that we ‘go tell’ … just like the brothers were asked to do. They had to go tell their father and their families; following the directions to Goshen, where Joseph met them. We go tell all who haven’t yet received following Christ’s directions to meet Him at the throne of God.

And that is the Good News; waiting for activation in each of our lives.

Will we?

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May all we seek be found in Christ