Study of Joseph character

Dear Friends,
Among the great men of the Old Testament, Joseph is truly unique, he was the 11th son of Jacob and was born to his father’s favorite wife Rachel in Paddam Aram after she had been barren for 7 years. Information about Joseph is found in Genesis Chapters 37 to 50. The character of Joseph is worthy of careful study in our Christian life. Because his nobility of character, his purity of heart and life and his magnanimity as a ruler and brother. Lets review the life study of Joseph briefly.

As a son in Canaan:-
Joseph was hated by his brothers and they sold him for 20 pieces of silver as a slave to a man Potiphar, who was a high ranking government official, Captain of the guard in Egypt. Joseph was also faithful to his father and willing to obey his wishes.
Joseph as a slave in Egypt:-
Joseph was a overseer in Potiphar’s house, he was blessed by God and found favor in Potiphar’s eyes. Though a young man, he proved industrious and trustworthy. He made the best of the situation and God blessed him and Potiphar. Jospeh was well built and handsome, so he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife and she tried time and again to seduce him. He resisted out of faithfulness to Potiphar and God. Most young men would have been unable to resist, but Joseph knew the difference between right and wrong. He knew God’s law fobade adultery. His reply to Potiphars wife reveals an insight into his values and character and now Jospeh is in his imprisonment.
Overseer in Pharoah’s Prison:-
Joseph was blessed again by God and he is favored by the keeper of the prison. He was placed in-charge of other prisoners with complete trust. He also interpretated the dreams of the baker and the butler and the dreams have been fulfilled yet Joseph was FORGOTTEN. This again taught me that how Joseph was too faithful to God in his calling. Because after giving good interpretation to butler, he could have changed baker’s dream in a nicer way to please others, but he didn’t. Since butler forgot Joseph, he was forced to stay in the prison in another 2 full years. How many times, we have been forgotten by men? But lets assure that our loving god is always mindful on our ways.
As a Prince in Egypt.
Now the day has come for Joseph, this is the days for God’s purpose to be revealed in Joseph’s life. Pharoah sent for 30 year old Joseph in a prison. Josephs prediction and advice to Pharoah’s dream pleased Pharoah and he made Joseph his second in command. And Jospeh wisdom manifested in his administration. If we observe the court scene between Pharoah and Joseph, we could able to find Joseph humbleness and worship to his God.
Merciful in his treatment to his brothers.
This is a wonderful character from the life of Jospeh. He was sold by his brethren, would have created bitterness and anger within. Being away from family and placed in new place, with new people and new language should have made Joseph to be drawn into bad characters, but Joseph WALKED with GOD in Egypt. He learned to wait patiently on God and to look to God for EVERYTHING. It takes tremendous courage to look away from circumstances and to look instead to God.

Conclusion:-
In the life and story of Joseph, I learnt the following.
He was centered in faith and trust in God
Devoted to serving God and man with honor and DEPENDABILITY.
Unwilling to be deterred by the hatred, betrayal and UNFORGETFULLNESS of others.
Willing to forgive the wrongs committed by others.
Able to see the big picture, GOD’s WONDERFUL working.
These noble characters helped Joseph in his youth (tempted and tried with no help from family and friend), in his mature individual (charged with important responsibilities) and in his old age (knowing that death is imminent).

If hard times, bitterness, resentment or anger are things that you and me are struggling with, lets read Joseph’s story and learn from his courage. God probably has a blessing waiting for you and me at our trials too. Amen. May the character of Joseph inspire us to develop our character as well?

Love and Prayers,

DP Vathani

Doubting the goodness of God

Dear Friends,

Let's see the God's command about the knowledge of tree in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2: 16-17 describe "The Lord God commanded the man, you are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die". In the midst of all the opulence of Eden, stood a tree whose fruit God had told Adam and Eve they could not eat.

Was GOD playing some kind of game with Adam and Eve? Was God tempting them beyond their ability to withstand?

The answer is NO. Before going in to detail, let's refresh our mind with chapter 1 & 2 of Genesis. God created living organism from the ground, He made trees to grow out of the ground. He made man from the dust of the earth. God found good method of creation. But He introduced a new method to create woman. He created woman from man, they both had dominion. They were both created in the image of God. This Eve was a flawless woman in a flawless world with a flawless relationship to her creator and to her husband. All His creations have been programmed to respond as God designed it to respond. Birds fly, Fish swim, Deer run, stars move, etc. But in the midst of all creation, a man and woman were created with a difference, in HIS own image.

Why God created Adam and Eve in HIS image??
It was that they stood between God and His created world as His representatives. Imaging God in the world, they had a responsibility to care for everything God put under them. They could choose to love God and obey Him. OR they could choose to turn their backs on God and go their own independent way. God validated choice and He validated HIS image in us by giving us the Power to choose. The tree gave Eve and Adam the opportunity to love God meaningfully. The tree, through its very presence, was the visible reminder to Adam & Eve that they were Creatures, dependant on their creator. Do you have any thing like this in your life? What ever the problem you have or people you feel that they are taking your blessings; they are all visible reminders to us that we are dependant on our creator.

If we see Genesis 3: 1-7, Eve disobeyed God by believing Satan's lie and made Adam to eat the fruit. For Eve, it was really a decision to doubt the goodness of God. Eve chose to listen to Satan’s lies. She chose to believe that God had lied because He did not want His creatures becoming like Himself. She mad a choice to ignore our creator. Fellowship with God was destroyed by her disobedience. Verses 8-13 describe that they hid from God and they shifted blame to one another. How is our choice with God? Do we doubt the goodness of God, if we don't get our prayers answered? Do we hide from God because of our disobedience? Or are we ashamed to communicate with our creator due to our hidden secrets?

In John we see, "My sheep knew my voice". Are we tuned to know and obey to our shepherds voice in the midst of all disturbances? All of our loves are bound up in choice. Without the power to choose, to say that we love God, has no meaning. Are you wrestling with many options? To make wise decision, we must know Gods word and apply it well. I Corinthians 15: 22 say that As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
In Christ we can be made alive; we can choose to have Him establish a relationship that is not broken by our independence and our bad choices. Now, let's make good choice with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Do whatever He tells you

Dear Friends,

In John 2:1-12, we see Jesus’ first miracle, everyone is well aware of this wonderful miracle in the bible. Though I have meditated this miracle few times, I have been drawn to Mary’s response and servants’ attitude now. Verse 5 says that, His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you”

Before going into detail, lets bring the wedding to our imagination. I felt that Mary, Lord Jesus mother was a close relative to the bride and the groom, may be Mary was asked to take care of catering service for the party. There we see Mary, Lord Jesus and his disciples. When I was reading, I have been inspired by Mary’s command. Mary’s words are important ones for everyone of us. Notice that she did not direct men to obey her or any other human being; instead she pointed them to the Lord Jesus and told them that He was the One who should be obeyed. “ Do whatever he tells you”. Now the question is, are you available for God’s command? Are you there to do whatever God tells you in your life? He wants to meet the needs in every area of our life. There is no prayer that is unimportant to God.

Secondly, see verse 7, Jesus said to the servants, “ Fill the jars with water”, so they filled them to the brim.
If you were a servant and asked to these ridiculous tasks, what would be your reaction? Some time, God is going to ask you to do something that you think is crazy. Our preconception stops God’s blessings. We plan a day or a event with lots of preparation, but God’s ways are always higher than ours. Would you mind to fill the jar with water? Lets imagine our lives now, most of our jars are empty and hoping that God will fill it with wine, no, we need to fill our jars first with available water. God has blessed you and me in many ways but still, we have not taken steps to fill our own life jars with word of God. We need to be like these servants, they willingly obey Christ command, and they were trained to listen God’s command.

Thirdly see verse 8, then he told them, “ Now draw some out and take it to the master of banquet”, they did so. If I was one of the servants, I should have asked Lord Jesus like this, “Don’t you think Lord; we need to taste first before taking to Master of the banquet? To my surprise, the servants obeyed completely without a doubt. Why? Because, they trusted God and they were asked to obey to Him completely. Are you there to do whatever our lord tells you in your life?

Actually, Grooms’ family knew nothing about this miracle. Apparently the only ones who knew were Jesus disciples, Mary and the servants. Why? Lord Jesus took none of the compliments away from the groom. Because Jesus cared much about that family so he would keep His first miracle a secret. Our unchanging Lord Jesus still could work for you and me in the same manners, because He accepts us as we are. Why don’t we put our faith once again to Him? Lets obey willingly so that we could see miracles in our life. Lets do whatever He tells us to do. Amen and Amen.

you are worth more than many sparrows

Dear Friends,

We have seen many kinds of birds. Some species are very nice and expensive. How bout sparrows? The following verses lifted me physically and spiritually. Amen, His words are alive and His grace is new and sufficient to us. “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12: 6-7.”

We see birds for sacrifices in the bible. When Joseph and Mary presented the baby Jesus to the Lord, they offered a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, we also see in Lev 14, The Lord instructed Moses how a leper who was healed from his leprosy might offer tiny birds (sparrows) for a cleansing ceremony. In Jesus time, sparrows were sold for a very low prize, five sparrows for 2 pennies. It seems that sparrows are of very little value in the eyes of men and that no man cares for them, but God does care for them, for even, “ not one of them is forgotten before God.” How about you and me? Some times, we think that God is concerned for great events in history, or in the world, or in our lives. No, the fall of a little sparrow is still under God’s control and permission. Then how much more value of you and me? God does care for every detail in our lives.

Our Lord Jesus says, " But the very hairs there are on our head are all numbered". Have we counted our hairs? We have not, but God has. Do we know how many hairs there are on our head? we do not, but God does. Then nothing happening to us is by chance without God's permission. When we are sick, miss a bus, loose something etc., we should not think that it is a coincidence. Our Lord teaches us not to FEAR. it confirms that God's protection is there for us with assurance. He is our shelter and most High, so lets not be afraid of any troubles. Yes, we are more precious than little sparrows. When little sparrow is still under God's control, God really cares for you and me. We are under His perfect will and control. so we are to love God and obey Him, in Romens 8:28 we see that, " And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose".

Lets love God by keeping His words and commandments. Lets learn to be humble and understand that God allows us to fail or to make mistake to teach us to trust in Him more and more.

May God remind us of His sovereignty and loving care always and help us to love Him, trust in Him, obey Him continually. Amen and Amen.

The blessings to those who fear God

Dear Friends,
Psalm 34 is a Psalm of David when he refined madness before Abimelech who drove him away and he departed.David begins this psalm with a vow or a promise. Here David promises to persistently praise his God. We see frequency of David’s praise in verse 1. He is committed himself to praise God at every opportunity and in the midst of various states of mind,spirit & body. Just as we are to pray without ceasing, pray consistently in all circumstances, David promises to praise without ceasing.

In verse 2, we see the focus of praise. David does not dwell on his experience, nor even on his deliverance, but on His Deliverer. The Lord is both the subject and object of David’s praise. Verse 3 reminds us of the fellowship of praise. Praise can not only be private, here David publicly praised God at worship, he did to promote worship on the part of the entire congregation. David urged his fellow worshippers to join with him in magnifying Lord, so that His name will CORPORATELY exalted. In verses 4-7, David describes his deliverance which is the basis for his praise and worship.

I would like to concentrate on verses 8-10 which brings God’s provision and protection in our life.
“O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him, O fear the Lord, you His saints for to those who fear Him, there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but those who seek the Lord shall not be in want of good thing.”

We understood from these verses that, the majority of David’s companions did not experience the fullest blessings of God. How many of us are still like David day friends, enough to worship but fail to experience the fullest blessings of God. I would like to encourage everyone in this fellowship to taste, to trust and to fear the Lord. Our personal relationship with our God will enable us to personally experience the provision and protection of God.

I read Malachi 3:16, today in my meditation and noticed that our loving Lord listens and hears to those who fear Him. Is it not wonderful that our Almighty God is not busy with other tasks but He is keen on you and me. I understood that the fear of the Lord is the prerequisite to receive the goodness of the Lord. God’s fullest blessings is only directed toward those who FEAR Him. Because, the fear of the Lord is dependent upon a relationship between God and man. David was not delivered from the hand of Achish because of his righteousness but only by his relationship with God.

Have you ever noticed that you have not received His goodness in your life yet? Have you failed to taste His fullest blessings in your family? Have you experienced failures through your human source? This is the time to restore our relationship with Christ.. Mary of Bethany had teacher in her life, David had Shepherd in his life, what is your role with our Almighty God? He is not too busy in this busiest world. He keenly hears and listens to those who fear Him.

Lets renew our reverence relationship once again.Lets take refuge in the Lord Jesus Christ who is the redeemer of mankind through His sacrificial death on the cross of calvary. Amen and Amen.

Pray without ceasing

Dear Friends,

Pray without Ceasing, I Thessalonians 5: 17, What did Paul mean by this?
A literal translation of this verse is , “Pray without interruption”. Did Paul really mean that we should give up all other activity and only give ourselves to prayer? To pray without ceasing is to pray whether we feel like it or NOT. The Apostle paul didn’t feel like praying when he was shipwrecked 3 times or when he was beaten with a rod or stoned. (II Cor 11:25). Too often we cease to pray when we fail to see the answers we want.

I personally feel that there are 2 things hidden in this verse, “pray without ceasing”. First, it is a privilege for every child of God to communicate with our creator. We worship and pray to a living Lord Jesus Christ who has resurrected from dead. Our Omnipresence God, King of kings, Eternal God, the Amen is prayer hearing and prayer answering God.
The dead of night is not too late for our God.
The breaking of the morning is not too early for the Most High
At midday, He is not too busy and
When evening gathers He is not too weary with His children’s prayer.

So pray without ceasing. Why should we pray? It is of divine authority, because our God always deserves to be worshipped, prayer is a method of worship. Let us send out at the dove of prayer, surely she will return to us with an Olive branch of peace in her mouth. So it is a privilege of every child of God to pray continually.


Secondly, it means, our prayer must be persistent. As we breathe without ceasing, so must we pray without ceasing? Never abandon prayer or never cease to pray. It is not that we must pray until we are saved and then may leave off. NO, continue in prayer until the last moment of our prayer. Being a watchful Christian, lets have our times of daily devotion fixed not by superstition but for our convenience and remembrance.

David prayed 3 times a day, so pray without ceasing. In luke 18, we see a story of the persistent widow. Persistent prayer brings victory; it is not to convince God to act but to keep active the lines of communication so that we know when He is prompting us into action. We have heard Elijah telling his servant to look 6 times, he says, go again seven times. When Peter was in prison, the church had prayed God to liberate him. Let us pray on, so that Peter will knock at our gate to bring the answers for our prayers in the coming days.

Before I conclude, I would like share my personal opinion about this verse. I go to the throne of grace to worship God and seek His blessings. I don’t go away till I have done this. So please don’t rise from your knees, till you find the blessings. Lets pray, weep, entreat, wrestle, agonize till you get that which you are praying for. Lets us avoid lethargy and indifference in prayer.

In Psalm 65:2, we see that, “You who hear prayer, To you all men will come” May the God of Amen help us go to HIS throne with prayer continually. Amen and Amen

My Lord and My God

Dear Friends,
Have you ever doubted about your faith or Are there times you want to sit down with our Lord Jesus and get His advice? Thomas, the one of the disciples wanted Jesus’ physical presence because he doubted the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He said in John 20: 25, “unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe”

Who is this Thomas? He was the one of the twelve (Mathew 10:3). Not knowing much about Thomas’ family background, his profession, educational levels, but we see Thomas was also present at the raising of Lazarus (John 11:16). He was a companion of Jesus Christ, he was loyal to Jesus, he also asked Jesus the way to the father’s house, John 14: 4-5. I think Thomas was very thoughtful. My imagination carried Thomas alone in the quiet place to meditate about Jesus death and filled with doubts to believe about His resurrection. May be Thomas was full of questions to accept Jesus death itself. We don’t know why Thomas was absent the first time Jesus appeared to the disciples after resurrection but he was reluctant to believe their witness to Christ resurrection. Not even 10 friends could change his mind. Some time we do doubt our God in our life, when our plans don’t succeed, or our hopes are shattered or in the time of difficult situation. It is better to doubt rather believing in silence, because doubt leads to questions, questions lead to answers and the answers are accepted.

In the bible we see many doubting people, for example, in Genesis 17: 17, Abraham and Sarah doubted when God told him he would be a father in old age. In Exodus, 3: 10-15, Moses doubted when God told him to return to Egypt to lead the people. In Luke 1:18, Zachariah doubted when told he would be a father in his old age. I think, it is a human nature to doubt about what we do not see, touch and whatever that is beyond our imagination and our ability to understand. When you and I experience doubt, take encouragement from Thomas. He didn’t stay in his doubt, but allowed Jesus brings him to belief. Our compassionate God was not hard on Thomas for his doubts instead showed himself to him. Jesus said, “Shalom”. Are you dwelling in doubts or confusions or distress or failures after failures, the unchanging Lord Jesus is telling you and me, the same promise Shalom, peace be with you. Amen. What is Thomas reply?, John 20: 28, Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God”

Let’s come out of our doubting circle and believe that God is in our midst and ready to place us on the firm ground. When I read the following verse, I am very much satisfied that I come in this scripture. John 20: 29, “ …..blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believe.” Yes, blessed are you and me who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. God’s plan is wiser; he wants to be present with you and me at all time. Even now, he is with us in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Now the question is, are you still confused to know that this a call is from our God? Let’s get up from our doubts and believe that he will never leave us alone in our doubts. His hands are stretched out towards us. Like doubting Thomas, lets confess once again, my lord and My God, I believe in you.

May the Lord Jesus Christ who has risen from the dead empower everyone with His everlasting peace in our life? Amen.