Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 17
Thursday


ALL KINDS
OF HELP

READ:
Genesis 41:56-57
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Pharaoh said to Joseph,
"Inasmuch as God has
shown you all this,
there is no one as
discerning and wise as
you." __Genesis
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In the wake of the shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, many people have felt strongly compelled
to help. Some donated blood for the injured, some provided free lunches and coffee at their restaurants for workers. Others wrote letters of comfort or just gave hugs. Some sent gifts of money and teddy bears for the children; others offered counseling. People found ways to serve according to their personalities, abilities, and resources.

A story in the Bible about Joseph tells how he used his skills to play an important role in helping people survive a 7-year famine (Ten. 41:54-54). In his case, he could prepare beforehand because he knew a difficult time was coming. After Joseph warned Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, that the lean years were coming, Pharaoh put him in charge of the 7-year preparation time. Joseph used wisdom and discernment from God to get his country ready (41:39). Then, when "the famine was over all the face of the earth,...Joseph opened all the storehouses" (v.56). He was even able to help his own family (45:16-18).

These stories show the heart of God for the world. He has prepared us and made us who we are that we might care for others in whatever way He leads us. __Anne Cetas

``````````````````Lord, help me feel the hurt that others feel`````````````````````
`````````````````````When life inflicts some bitter pain,`````````````````````````
```````````````````And use me in some loving way to heal````````````````````````
``````````````The wounds that may through life remain. __D. DeHaan``````````````
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Compassion offers whatever is necessary to heal.

**************************Today's Bible Reading __ Genesis 41:46-57***********************

46 Joseph was thirty years
old when he stood before
Pharaoh king of Egypt. And
Joseph went out from the
presence of Pharaoh, and
went throughout all the land
of Egypt. 47 Now in the
seven plentiful years the
ground brought forth
abundantly. 48 So he
gathered up all the food of
the seven years which were
in the land of Egypt, and
laid up the food in the
cities; he laid up in every
city the food of the fields
which surrounded them.

49 Joseph gathered very
much grain, as the sand of
the sea, until he stopped
counting, for it was
immeasurable....

53 Then the seven years of
plenty which were in the
land of Egypt ended, 54 and
the seven years of famine
began to come, as Joseph had
said. The famine was in all
lands, but in all the land of
Egypt there was bread. 55 So
when all the land of Egypt
was famished, the people
cried to Pharaoh for bread.
Then Pharaoh said to all the
Egyptians, "Go to joseph;
whatever he says to you, do."

56 The famine was over all
the face of the earth, and
Joseph opened all the
storehouses and sold to the
Egyptians. And the famine
became severe in the land of
Egypt. 57 So all countries
came to joseph in Egypt to
buy grain, because the famine
was severe in all lands.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Although Joseph suffered many injustices, God ultimately used
him to help others by empowering him to provide food for those
who otherwise would have starved. This principle applies to the
believer even today. God can help us persevere in our suffering so
that we can help others who are in need in the future. In the New
Testament, Paul tells us that we experience pain and God's comfort
in order to comfort others (2 Cor. 1:3-4).