Olabode Ososami's Blog, page 58

The Final Cry

Gen 45:1 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. 2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.

The Egyptians did not suspect that Joseph had any relationship with these tent dwellers and had no reaction for what was going on until they hear the loud cry of Joseph – who could no more restrain himself. This was no ordinary cry nor was it an expression of sorrow or loss. This cry was loud the Bible tells us and gets the attention of the house of Pharaoh.

This was a cry of victory. The victory of God over every plan of hell to destroy the destiny of men. Joseph could see that the father he missed was alive and well, the brother he missed was right in front of him, his other brothers had been transformed … and that God had used him to preserve the clan from death in the seven year famine. It was a cry of joy, to suddenly realize that the years of sacrifice and waiting on God was not in vain. It was a cry to announce that destiny has at last been fulfilled and dreams have come true. It was a cry that had never been heard before – that the salvation of God is real, complete and beyond the comprehension and manipulation of men. It was a loud cry to declare that Jehovah indeed reigns in all the affairs of men, and above every other god … including the gods of Egypt. It was a cry that wiped out every previous cry ushering a new era -an end to pain, toil and conflict.

But this sound also has a significance to Egypt … the Bible says in Rev 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of Heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

For the unsaved, there will be an appointed day of loud sounds, trumpets and cries. But it will be a day of woe. A day of sudden realization that the Most High reigns forever and ever, and He rules over every other god including the gods of Egypt and their evil princes of lust, mammon and religious deception. A day that marks the beginning of an eternal damnation and wails of regret – the shrieks in hell fire. The unsaved will one day hear … the announcement of a woe that has come upon them. A final cry is coming with different implications for different people. May God have mercy on us when the trumpet sounds.

Song.

Jesus cries out that “I am come … I am come with great love”

My heart in answer says come Lord – And bring salvation nigh

Will you be ready when the Lord shall come

Will you be ready when the Lord shall come

I will be ready I will be ready I will be ready when the Lord shall come 2ce

Prayer: Lord, May I be in the assembly that will rejoice forever at the final cry. Amen

The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa

Giving Account of Service

Gen 44:34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

There is a sense of giving account of service that is getting lost to many. There is an accounting for all we say, all we do not say, what we have been asked to do or not do and how we discharge duties given to us. There is an account on if we succeeded based on the indicator of the one who sent us – God. Judah knows his work is a failure if he brings back sacks of food and great treasures from Egypt and Benjamin is absent. Unfortunately, many in ministry now accord emphasis to human indicators of success – size of our church, funds in the bank, how quickly we climbed the church career totem pole and our acceptance and popularity. These are good but not always God’s measures and can actually lead to corruption. God may have set a target for you to watch over one soul in your 1000 man church and if that soul is lost to the enemy you have failed. God may have set a target to impact a small community by selfless giving and showing Christian love … and even if you did not receive any applause God can check if His targets were met.

We need a personal walk with God to know what God has asked us to do and how we are to do it. God gives instructions, gives us His goals and explains the methods we are to use. We fail if we deviate from any of these …and the end does NOT justify the means. Judah has a sense of accountability and fears to fail …his measure of failure is linked to Benjamin his brother. In similar fashion, I suspect God cares for people – especially those we do not care for ….much more than we think. He may be more interested in how you look after that widow than the size of your church. May God help us to truly know Him.

Song.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,

Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;

Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,

Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;

Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

Tho’ they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,

Waiting the penitent child to receive;

Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently:

He will forgive if they only believe.

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,

Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;

Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,

Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;

Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;

Back to the narrow way patiently win them;

Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

Prayer: Lord, May I not fail in my responsibility for the perishing. Amen

The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa

The Mission of Christ

Gen 44:34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

The Lion of Judah was sent on an assignment to restore the chosen of God back to God. God wanted the family of many like Christ with Him in eternity. The Lion of Judah would go and pay the necessary prize, His very life. Consider the mission of Christ. It is a mission that can never fail. I am not encouraging your complacency but I want to assure you that there is enough power to restore you to what you were meant to be. The legal ground has also been fully perfected. The redemption can be fulfilled because the previous contract of bondage has been cancelled.

Can evil now befall God? God forbid. Is it possible that Christ will not be able to present you – pure and holy, blameless before His Father. The blood of Jesus cannot be in vain. It is a most excellent and precious blood indeed, that of the only begotten of the Father. There is no need for any other sacrifice … all that is needed is for the good news to be spread far and near. Salvation has come to mankind.

How can Christ go up to say “It is not yet finished” … or “there were some too tough and sinful to be restored” … Even concerning His disciples, except the one He called another’s son – the child of perdition. After His death, in the first century of Christianity, a terrible persecution arose against the first leaders causing almost all of them to face very violent and horrible deaths and still found to be standing for Christ. If they made it, you will also do the same. Drop the weights and the sins that so easily beset you. Arise to be what God had designed you to be … one day to be presented to God – without speck or wrinkle.

If the grace of our Lord Jesus proved insufficient for you. it may only mean you never knew that grace in the first place. May none reading this devotional be identified as children of perdition.

Song.

Jesus, my heart’s dear refuge, Jesus has died for me;

Firm on the Rock of Ages, Ever my trust shall be.

Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is o’er;

Wait till I see the morning – Break on the golden shore.

Safe in the arms of Jesus – Safe on His gentle breast

There by His love o’er shaded – sweetly my soul shall rest.

Prayer: Lord, May the mission of the Lion of Judah never fail concerning my soul. Amen

The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa

Godliness Eclipses Self Part II

Gen 44:16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. 17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. 18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? 20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. 21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. 22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. 23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. 24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us. 27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life; 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. :32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren

Judah speaks of God. He has rediscovered God. He expresses the divine truth that this is the hand of God on them. If self is at the heart of all sin, then rediscovering and returning to God is at the heart of true repentance. The old Judah can kill to protect self … the new Judah, the second man, like the Lion of Judah, the King Christ offers His own life that his brother may be released. Judah no more thinks of himself as anything but a sacrifice that his father may not mourn the loss of Benjamin again.

Christ, the Lion of Judah came to establish the pattern of being the sacrifice for our sin. We are asked to be living sacrifices, crucified with Christ … our self, nailed to the cross. The Christian is a new person, the old has passed away. He has received the miracle of transformation, He is a changed man, bearing no resemblance to his old wild nature, having received grace, cleansing and the renewal of his mind to put God first, God always and God alone.

Have you received that salvation, that transformation. This is a supernatural change of character and not something that events can produce. The saints have been helped by God to be changed persons, having received a new heart and a renewed spirit. There are occasions when this new man will be tested and demonstrated to amazed angels watching to see that mankind has indeed received a transformation by the mercy and grace of God – to a restoration back to the image of God. Angels will be amazed at your transformation.

Song.

Thine forever! Thou our guide, All our wants by thee supplied,

All our sins by Thee forgiven, Lead us, lord, from earth to Heaven.

Prayer: Lord, You created me to be in your image. Lord, let your restoration be complete. Amen

The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa

Godliness Eclipses Self Part I

Gen 44:16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. 17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. 18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? 20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. 21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. 22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. 23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. 24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us. 27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life; 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. :32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren

Spend some time to reflect on this lengthy narration. The old Judah initiated the plan to sell off Joseph for his own selfish need to retain the love of a father and preserve his inheritance, or just an unresolved. This is the old man, the first man …Adam who disobeys God and ends up running from God, fallen. The old Judah is not just ungodly but has come under a satanic influence to murder his own blood and bring deep sorrow to an aging father.

Do not assume that time changes people for the better or that crisis births saints. More likely, it breeds even greater plots and opens doors to worse habits. The old Judah is wicked and disobedient. Benjamin could be so easily disposable as Joseph was. This was yet another opportunity for revenge on the children of Rachel so obviously preferred by their father. The old man is selfish, it seeks its own and puts God out of his thoughts. Every sin, be it lust, murder, lies or others is rooted on the desire to simply please self and disregard God. All sins. Selfishness is at the core of the hardened heart of stone. Not everyone changes for the better. Indeed, most are like King Saul, they only get worse until they are found in a cave with witches. But Judah had found grace with God … and the opportunity to prove the new heart he has received. Has God given you another chance to prove a new heart? Are you getting worse like King Saul or better?

Song.

Room for pleasure, Room for business – But for Christ the Crucified

Not a place that he can enter – In your heart for which He died

Prayer: Lord, Occupy all the rooms in me …Give me a heart of flesh – A new heart for you. Amen

The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa

Benjamin’s Cross

Gen 44:2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

Benjamin is chosen as a favorite of Joseph. Suddenly that choice which led to extra supplies, five times more than the other brothers is becoming what looks like a nightmare. Have you ever faced a situation of accusation in which you must simply be speechless and expect a punishment you do not understand. Christ asked us to take up our cross and follow Him. This is not an option, but a command.

Salvation is free …but what is the cross? Indeed, there are basic truths of free salvation …but also higher truths of testing and burdens that we must bear. One of these burdens is that of restitution to prove repentance and appease what would have been the harvest of wrong past actions. Christ bore His cross of cruel accusation and indictment without a whimper but He saw a glory ahead. Benjamin and the other brothers did not see the glory ahead, and must have been afraid at this sudden turn of ill-luck.

The choice of Benjamin is not accidental. The choice of the cross is equally deliberate. But even in all the cross you carry, there is the master architect – God still in charge, and who loves us dearly giving us a grace that will be more than sufficient. “Take up your cross and follow Me” means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. This is called “dying to self.” It’s a call to absolute surrender. Although the call is tough, the reward is matchless.

Wherever Jesus went, He drew crowds. Although these multitudes often followed Him as Messiah, their view of who the Messiah really was—and what He would do—was distorted. They thought the Christ would usher in the restored kingdom. They believed He would free them from the oppressive rule of their Roman occupiers. Even Christ’s own inner circle of disciples thought the kingdom was coming soon (Luke 19:11). When Jesus began teaching that He was going to die at the hands of the Jewish leaders and their Gentile overlords (Luke 9:22), His popularity sank. Many of the shocked followers rejected Him. Truly, they were not able to put to death their own ideas, plans, and desires, and exchange them for His.

Following Jesus is easy when life runs smoothly; our true commitment to Him is revealed during trials. Jesus assured us that trials will come to His followers. Discipleship demands sacrifice, and Jesus never hid that cost. In Luke 9:57-62, three people seemed willing to follow Jesus. When Jesus questioned them further, their commitment was half-hearted at best. They failed to count the cost of following Him. None was willing to take up his cross and crucify upon it his own interests.

If you wonder if you are ready to take up your cross, consider these questions: Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing some of your closest friends? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means alienation from your family? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means the loss of your reputation? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your job? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your life?

Song.

Fear not when shadows on your pathway fall, look to the lamb of God

In joy or sorrow Christ is all in all, look to the Lamb of God

Prayer: Lord, Help me to be courageous and to look to the Lamb of God always. Amen.

The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa

Final Examinations

Gen 44:2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. 4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? 5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.

There are many tests that God administers and God has an array of angels, men and even controls demons and the devil himself – all to bring His purpose to pass. Scriptures teach us that God does not bring out what has not been tested to be His own. We see this pattern even in the life of His only begotten son …where the Bible tells us that Christ was led by God to be tested. One of the greatest test we face is to establish if we will be ruled by our faith in God and His word or by our feelings based on how we perceive evidence before us. What does the bible teach us to when faced with accusations and inexplicable turmoil? Can we still praise him knowing His word says all things must work out for our good…All things ..even if the evidence does not prove so.

David said I will wait on thy name … Psa 52:9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

The brothers are about to undergo a tough test. There are times that what we go through is not our fault but we need go through them for our own good. God knows the processes and tests that all will need for the next level of elevation. We cannot be in a postgraduate class when we have not passed O-levels … surely our answers to the lecturer would only cause him to wonder … how did we get there … could we have possibly passed the basic undergraduate courses. If we cheat to come up, we will only find ourselves bewildered in a situation we have not been tested and proven ready to handle.

Do not be bewildered … just trust and obey God. God will still come through, in spite of the many conspiracies. God knows best when He insists that we reap what we have sown … the brothers having majored in intrigue are now the victims. Be still and know that He is God.

Song.

Be still and know that I am God 3ce

In you O Lord I put my trust 3ce

You are the Lord that healeth me 3ce

Prayer: Lord, Help me to trust and obey you always and to be still to know your processes and pass your tests. Amen.

The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa

Getting Ready to be Tested

Gen 44:2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. 4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? 5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.

It is one thing to know that you will be tested and it is another to get ready for that testing. The brothers were taken unawares by the test, but we need not be unprepared as they were. Every examination is based on a curriculum …and God’s curriculum is the word of God – the Bible. We need to read it and know exactly what it says. Every examination also has a timetable for written and practical tests. God has appointed dates for our testing and he will prove our teachings first in our own lives …the songs we have sung will be tested …the revelation we claim to know will be tested.

Many examinations tend to have surprise questions … even though we prepared well by studying model answers there will be questions we tend to be unfamiliar with and we wish were not asked. Model answers are discovered when we study the actors in the word of God, the teachings of Christ, the dealings of Prophets …and we understand what they went through and how they responded … and how Christ would have responded. When we see surprise questions that are unfamiliar and we do not know what to do, we are tested not on model answers but on what we have learnt so far … God is able to help us discover how far we have developed in an area and where we are still wanting. God will test our integrity …what we will do when no one sees us. God will test our patience and attitude to suffering…God will test our love for the unlovable … He will test faithfulness in a little … He will test our humility and how we correct our wrongs.

Perhaps the most advanced of tests focuses on handling aggressive accusation – whether they be true or not. He will test if we want glory for self or if we can release issues to God. Our preparation in prayer and the reading and studying of the word is most helpful or we would be clueless to respond. Our readiness for the surprise unexpected test shows we have grown and God can trust even more difficult environments in our care.

Jesus will test us to see if we will be ashamed of Him when things do not go as we expect … in times of disgrace and pain … will we still sing of His glory?

.

Song.

Jesus, and shall it ever be, A mortal man ashamed of Thee?

Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise, Whose glories shine thro’ endless days?

Ashamed of Jesus! sooner far – Let evening blush to own a star;

He sheds the beams of light divine O’er this benighted soul of mine.

Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend – On whom my hopes of heav’n depend!

No; when I blush, be this my shame, That I no more revere His name.

Ashamed of Jesus! yes, I may, When I’ve no guilt to wash away;

No tear to wipe, no good to crave, No fears to quell, no soul to save.

Prayer: Lord, Teach me to prepare and to await patiently to excel in all the tests you have set for me. Amen.

The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa

Lord, Expand our Coasts

Gen 44:1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.

God is unlimited but we are not. We are severely limited in terms of how much blessing, anointing, wealth and strength we can retain or manage. We can compare our capacity to a man going to the ocean with a large bucket – what can he possibly do to diminish the waters in the ocean. God understands our limitations and seeks the man who desires for an expansion in capacity to work for God. This man will be fulfilled no matter the scale of the depression inflicted on him. Consider Jabez.

I Chronicles 4:9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. [10] And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Jabez excelled though born in very depressive circumstances (details are not given of causes of a deep sorrow that typified his early days – it does not seem to matter) for it is said he was in spite of this – more honorable than his siblings. He did not need to seek expansion because he was already ahead in many ways, but Jabez was one to take risks to move forward. He did not thirst for blessings because he was in a rut … he simply wanted what God wanted for his life … knowing that God’s desire is far more than we often imagine. Therein lies an important principle to shine out of depressive circumstances and that is to cultivate the habit of going to God for more. Going to God for more is neither pride nor disobedience. Rather it tells God who always has far more to give that we can ever be ready for, that we are set to be equipped for another mission impossible.

Jabez was not just asking for resources, but by seeking an enlargement of his coast, he was seeking God for expanded accountability. Seeking a greater and farther reach for impact and influence is not cheap … it will require more – emotionally, physically, financially… in all categories– and especially in our mind-set. Jabez wanted God’s hand with him i.e. to be God’s battle axe, acknowledging that evil was present all around him and especially in the places God’s hand will move him, but God will keep him from evil. Many do not see evil as evil and rather justify it or downplay it. Finally, Jabez acknowledges that blessings can cause even more depression without God’s help. God must grant our pleas.

Joseph asks that his brothers should have their sacks filled with as much as they could possibly carry and to return their money. Joseph a mortal King is so immensely able to bless his brothers well beyond what they prepared for. If they had brought larger sacks, they would have carried more. They brought only what their money could buy. Indeed, their money was a limiting factor. God has no use for what limits us, as He is unlimited by anything but by our capacity and faith. Begin to expand your thoughts and possibilities of doing much more for God than previously envisaged.

Song.

The Lord’s my Shepherd I ‘ll not want – He makes me down to lie

In pastures green He leadeth me – the quiet waters by.

Prayer: Lord, Show me how to expand my coast for greater provisions that I may serve you at a higher level. Amen.

The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa

The Steward of His House ( Part 2)

Gen 44:1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.

We are given talents… opportunities and open doors in the same measure that we have the ability to do what is required with it. God does not give the same to all and we must not expect that God will bless someone else in the same measure as He blessed us. God may give us even more and may consider it prudent to give less. Actions and habits that repel God’s power also diminish what we can get from His hidden riches. We can therefore increase wealth by expanding our abilities-connection to divine power or by trading existing talents for more. One value focuses on nearness to God and deep faith in the unseen while the other focuses on innovation, obedience, diligence and persistent hardworking of our gifts. Both must work together – otherwise faith without works will produce zealous error and poverty arising from lack of action. Works without spiritual depth or strength could result in a large bag with many holes and much sorrow.

Meanwhile the owner has said in; Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.

Note, the disciples did not store up wealth for the future but lived in communal love, making available to every man as they had need.

Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. [42] And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. [44] Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, [45] and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

The word “needs” is very different in its meaning from “desires and wants”… again this is another concept important for reconstruction of our mindset. As long as our desires and wants remain well programmed by consumption advertising and modern appetites and lusts, God will not send down strength for true communal love and giving as we saw in the first century. If He does it will only cause chaos as many are misled in their needs and there can be no agreement on the meaning of this word. Paul wrote the masterpieces of faith – most of the New Testament from either prison or severely limited circumstance – yet all his needs were met for his peculiar journey. Reflect on the truth that God seeks Stewards who will do His will. Will He find us faithful?

Song.

Oh, what can little hands do

To please the King of heav’n Heaven?

The little hands some work may try,

To help the poor in misery:

Such grace to mine be giv’n.

Oh, what can little lips do

To please the King of heav’n Heaven?

The little lips can praise and pray,

And gentle words of kindness say:

Such grace to mine be giv’n.

Prayer: Lord, bless me … help me to be your steward. Amen

The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa