Genesis 45, Mark 8

Monday, Jan 28, 2008 - Brandon Hatmaker (Genesis 45, Mark 8)

(Genesis 45)

God has a divine plan. In Genesis 45, after Joseph revealed to his brothers who he was, they were stunned. Scripture tells us they were speechless. Can you imagine what was going through their minds? All that they had done was flashing before their eyes and their obvious guilt was written all over their faces.

Here is when the faith and Joseph shows brighter than ever. After all his brothers had done to him, after the years he endured in prison, he still trusted in God’s plan and realized that even through those tough times, God was in control. In verse 8 he said to them, "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.”

Thank you, father for your divine plan. I pray that in the low times of life, we seek you. Your word promises that when we seek you, we will find you. Give us strength to endure that we might grow into the men and women of faith you desire. Let us not place the blame of circumstances on others, God, if we trust in you and your plan, then we’ll see they are merely a part of the greater plan.

(Mark 8)

Verse 2 captures the beginning of each action of Jesus when he said, “I have compassion for these people.” Compassion is the key. Compassion is feeling sympathy or sorrow for someone who is suffering or stricken by misfortune. It comes also with a deep desire to help alleviate the suffering. When Jesus looked around, he saw the suffering. We need to learn to do the same.

Everyone has a story. Everyone has pain. Everyone has needs. Each of us, outside of Christ, are completely impoverished spiritually. We see people everyday searching to fill the void, that only God can fill, with unhealthy relationships, chasing after money and fame, seeking the approval of man, the list goes on and on. We know it, because we’ve all fell prey to it at one point or another in our own lives.

God, give us compassion for this hurting world. Give us a supernatural ability to see the loneliness and pain that is masked so easily in our community. Give us compassion and the desire that comes with it to make a difference.