St Timothy Presbyterian Church

Vibrant church in Etobicoke, Toronto with roots in the Korean immigrant community.

  • Home
  • Worship Updates
  • About
    • People
    • Member
  • Message
    • Sermons
    • Bible Studies
    • Retreat Lectures
    • E-book Library
    • Kids Church Curriculum
  • Community
    • Worship
    • Ministries
    • News and Announcements
    • Social Media
    • Kids Church
    • Hi-C
  • Mission
    • Local Missions
    • Missions Abroad
    • Fundraisers
  • Spirituality
    • Becoming Together as a Beloved Community
    • The Inner Voice
    • Pastor’s Corner
    • Psalms of Devotion
    • Reflections
    • Stories of Faith
    • Expecting Parents
    • Black Lives Matter
  • Contact

Aug 10 2020

Psalms of Devotion – “Joseph Makes Himself Known”

Passage of the week: 

“45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.  3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.  4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’  12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”  14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.” – Genesis 45:1-15

Hi everyone,

Whenever I think about forgiveness, this story is what comes to mind.  I can’t imagine how Joseph would have felt in the moment he first saw his brothers after having been sold by them.  How easy it would have been for him to feel gratified with his own success and throw it back in his brother’s faces.  But Joseph didn’t think in this way nor did he approach his situation with any hostility or vengefulness.  In fact, he attributed all of his success to God, embraced his brothers, and offered to look after them even though they completely disowned him.  There is a refreshing feeling of relief to see Joseph’s unwavering trust in God and his rock-solid confidence in God’s plan.  I believe if the world could embrace just a fraction of the faith & confidence Joseph had, it would look like a very different place.

This Week’s Playlist:

For the Master Playlist and archive of each week’s playlist, please go to the Psalms of Devotion homepage

Written by Administrator · Categorized: Psalms of Devotion

Recent Posts

  • Following Jesus January 22, 2023
  • Desiring God January 15, 2023
  • Sunday Announcements – January 8, 2022 January 8, 2023
  • A Gentle Servant January 8, 2023
  • God Makes Everything New January 1, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

St. Timothy Presbyterian Church, 106 Ravenscrest Dr., Etobicoke, ON M9B 5N3

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
한국어

© 2023 St Timothy Presbyterian Church · Rainmaker Platform