Author’s Notes: When Joseph’s brothers arrived in Egypt during the famine, they stood before a changed brother, and their own hearts were facing conviction[cite: 41]. Jeremiah 13:23 asks whether a leopard can change its spots[cite: 41]; humanly speaking it cannot, but when God changes a heart (2 Corinthians 5:17), we become entirely new creatures[cite: 41]!
Fill in the Blanks:[cite: 41]
- Joseph was ____________________ years old when he became governor over Egypt[cite: 41].
- As a mark of royal authority, Pharaoh gave Joseph his signet ____________________[cite: 41].
- Joseph married and was blessed with two ____________________[cite: 41].
- Joseph’s ____________________ traveled to Egypt to purchase grain[cite: 41].
- Joseph kept his brother ____________________ in Egypt while the others returned home[cite: 41].
True or False:[cite: 41]
- The famine was localized only to Egypt and did not impact surrounding nations[cite: 41].
- Joseph recognized his brothers immediately when they bowed before him[cite: 41].
- The brothers acknowledged among themselves their guilt over what they did to Joseph[cite: 41].
- Joseph secretly returned his brothers' money inside their grain sacks[cite: 41].
Devotional Poem: New Creatures[cite: 41]
God can make amazing changes in the darkest heart;[cite: 41]
Make of us new creatures; give us each a brand new start.[cite: 41]
We can thank Him for this truth; then take a look around,[cite: 41]
And see that God is changing hearts that once, in sin, were bound.[cite: 41]
— Lisa DeVinney[cite: 41]
