Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

November 9
Sunday


TEAR DOWN
THE WALL

READ:
Genesis 50:15-21
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He comforted them
and spoke kindly to
them. __Genesis 50:21
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The years following World War 2 nations exchanged threats and jockeyed for power. The Berlin Wall, built in August 1961, stood for almost 3 decades as one of the most powerful symbols of the smoldering animosity. Then, on November 9, 1989, it was announced that citizens could cross freely from East to West Berlin. The entire wall was demolished the following year.

The familiar Old Testament story of Joseph follows a favorite son whose brothers hated him (Gen. 37-50). Yet Joseph refused to build a wall of hatred between himself and his brothers who sold him into slavery. When a famine brought them face to face after many years, Joseph treated his brothers with kindness, saying, "You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good....And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them" (50:20-21), helping to restore the relationship between them.

Twenty-five years ago today, an oppressive man-made barrier was opened, offering freedom and reuniting families and friends.

If we've built walls of anger and separation between ourselves and others, the Lord is willing and able to help us begin tearing them down today. __David McCasland

``````````````Heavenly Father, examine my heart; reveal to`````````````
``````````````me where I have erected walls in relationships.````````````
``````````````Show me the way to start tearing them down``````````````
```````````````````that there might be reconciliation. `````````````````
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Anger builds walls; love breaks them down.

******************************Today's Bible Reading __ Genesis 50:15-21******************************

15 When Josephs' brothers
saw that their father was
dead, they said, "Perhaps
Joseph will hate us, and
may actually repay us for
all the evil which we did to
him." 16 So they sent
messengers to Joseph,
saying, "Before your father
died he commanded,
saying, 17 'Thus you shall
say to Joseph: "I beg you,
please forgive the trespass
of your brothers and their
sin; for they did evil to
you." ' Now, please, forgive
the trespass of the servants
of the God of your father."
And Joseph wept when they
spoke to him.

18 Then his brothers also
went and fell down before
his face, and they said,
"Behold, we are your
servants."

19 Joseph said to them,
"Do not be afraid, for am I
in the place of God? 20 But
as for you, you meant evil
against me; but God meant
it for good, in order to bring
it about as it is this day, to
save many people alive.

21 Now therefore, do not be
afraid; I will provide for
you and your little ones."
And he comforted them and
spoke kindly to them.

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

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, forgotten by
people he helped, falsely accused, and unjustly imprisoned. But he
overcame all these setbacks to become the second most powerful
man in Egypt. Earlier in Genesis 45:5-8, and again here in Genesis
50:20, Joseph acknowledged God's sovereignty and purpose in his
good of mankind. Paul succinctly summed up the same truth in
Romans 8:28: "We know that all things work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are the called according to His
purpose."