Mercy 5: Joseph's Journey to Mercy

In a world full of vengeance, God offers mercy and forgiveness. This is devotional #5 for the June 2 Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day, to help us pray for our prodigals and for wanderers all over the globe. Our theme this year is Mercy. Whether or not you love a prodigal, surely you desire more mercy in your life. We follow Joseph this week.

pawel-czerwinski-Y-6SHRRgD38-unsplash.jpg

Joseph’s story is another one we know. Here it is in a nutshell.
 
He was his father’s favorite—protected, praised, gifted with the magnificent coat of many colors.

He was a dreamer—and he was the star of his dreams. He made sure his brothers knew he had dreamt that someday they would all be bowing down to him.

So when his father Jacob sent him out to the brothers who were tending their flocks, they saw their chance. They intended to kill him, but instead sold him as a slave to a passing caravan. They bloodied his coat and told their father a wild animal must have killed him.
 
He was sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian leader who quickly discovered Joseph had leadership and management skills, integrity and a love for his God. Soon he was in charge of everything.
 
Lessons in prison
Apparently he was also handsome and Potiphar’s wife took a liking to him. When he wouldn’t respond, she accused him of attacking her, and off he went to prison.
 
He continued to have dreams and interpreted dreams, and was respected by the jailer. Those years in prison drew him close to God and grew humility in him.
 
When a severe famine threatened, Pharaoh himself called for Joseph, who predicted seven years of drought and suggested a plan. Suddenly Joseph was Pharaoh’s second in command.
 
The famine included the land of Canaan, where Jacob and his sons lived. Their father told them to go to Egypt to buy grain so they didn’t perish.
 
Joseph and his brothers
They came before Joseph to ask for grain. They did not recognize him, but he recognized them. Though his emotions filled him with compassion, he still tested them. They returned to Canaan, but eventually were  back again wanting to buy more grain. We pick up the story in Genesis 45:

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 

And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?”

But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer.

He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.  And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 

"So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay…’

And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you.  Hurry and bring my father down here.” 

Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him. (Genesis 45:1-15)

So Jacob and all his children and their families moved to Egypt. Jacob’s reunion with Joseph was filled with joy and tears.

Years later, when Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers feared he would now get even with them for their treachery.

Joseph chooses mercy

But Joseph did not choose revenge. He chose mercy.

He said, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people. ...You have nothing to fear; I’ll take care of you and your children.” (Genesis 50:19-21)
 
Gratefully, God does the same for us. He does not seek revenge. He does not condemn. He chooses mercy. He forgives.
 
And He asks that we remember Joseph and give mercy to our loved prodigals.

With grace and mercy,
Judy Douglass

P.S.
1. Next week I will send our last devotional to help us prepare to pray for our loved ones, and for the many whose names have been entrusted to us—it will be just a few encouraging words. And I will announce the winners of the Bottle of Tears drawing.

2. Remember that you can send names and requests by replying to this email. If you have friends who want to submit names, or join our prayer community, tell them to write to PrayerforProdigals@gmail.com.

3. You might want to be thinking about someone to pray with. It can be you and the Lord, or with a friend or neighbor, or a group of prodigal lovers, in your home or your church. Or over zoom. Here in Orlando we will be meeting from 7-9 at Avalon Realty Group 3925 Peppervine Dr Orlando  32828. Dena Yohe will also be hosting an online prayer group 1-2:30 p.m. ET. We will give you a link next week.
 
4. This week’s merciful music: His Mercy Is More Keith and Kristyn Getty