Promise 109 Gen. 50:1-20

Gen. 50:19-20 - "But Joseph said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant it for good in order to bring this present result, to preserve many people alive." Joseph's brothers were living in the fear of an orphan, where Joseph was living in the security of His Heavenly Father as a son. When we live in the midst of the Father with a kingdom mentality, we live out of its peace. God gives us the ability to see a larger picture of what He is doing even in the most difficult situations. We can know that God wants the very best for us and even though it seems like He has turned His care away from our situation, we can be assured that He would never do that. He will bring peace and comfort after the pain.

Promise 108 Gen. 49:25-26a

Gen. 49: 25-26a - "From the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you with blessings of heaven above. Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors." Jacob is continuing his blessing on Joseph. What he is actually doing is revealing the character of the Almighty to him. The Almighty God desires to pour out His blessings on us. Blessings from on high, blessings that He has made available to us through things on earth and people for whom He puts in our path. Because of His unique love for us individually, His blessings are unique for us as well. His blessings surpass those that we've seen before. We are a new generation who God is giving us greater blessing than what the generations prior have received as we press into Him more. His blessing are given in uniqueness as we see and understand and grasp His heart that is poured out to us.

Promise 108 Gen. 49:23-24

Gen. 49: 23-24 - "The archers bitterly attacked him, and shot at him and harassed him; But his bow remained firm, from the hand of the mighty one of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel)." Jacob is blessing Joseph, how many times have we found ourselves in the same place as Joseph; looking straight in the the heads of arrows coming right toward us. Arrows shot at us by those who don't understand us or who just plainly don't care. Arrows of circumstances gone wrong, arrows of hurt and pain? Yet Joseph's bow stood strong and his arms agile. The Mighty One of Jacob put Joseph on Him like a glove, and it was His hands that gave Joseph the strength to dodge the arrows and to stand firm. When we have Jesus in us and we in Him, its as though He wears us like a glove, He gives us the strength we need to stand firm and to become victors over life's hurts. Let Him try you on for size today!

Promise 107 Gen. 49:18

Gen. 49:18 - "For Your salvation I wait, O Lord." I just thought that this was so random that in the middle of prophecying his son's futures and blessing those deserving of it, and while on his death bed, Jacob says, "for your salvation I wait, O Lord." It was after telling Dan that he would judge his people, after the 7th son. Was this the same as "Oh Lord, have mercry!" as he reflects on the character of his boys, or is he declaring what will come, but he knows its not in the time of his son's lives, nor those of his grandchildren? The wait for salvation, that will surely come one day?Maybe he was waiting in anticipation that within his last days he would see a turn around in his sons and they would turn their eyes toward Jacob's God, there would be salvation for their family in their hearts. The promise for us is; we can wait in anticipation for the salvation of the Lord in whatever circumstance we are in, in whatever way it is needed. Salvation is on its way!

Promise 106 Gen. 48:21

Gen. 48:21 - "Then Israel said to Joseph, 'Behold I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers.'" Before Jacob died he told Joseph that God will bless him and he will return him back to the land of the fathers. He said this with full confidence and assurance, but we will find that, yes, Joseph does get blessed by God, but he himself stays in Egypt. Jacob is passing on the promise to Joseph so that Joseph can pass it on to his sons. It wont be till many years later that they actually arrive back to the land of their fathers. Sometimes when we hear very confident and assured blessings, promises or prophesies about the future, we don't know if we will be the one's who actually will receive the promise or if we will be the one's to pave the way for others after us to receive it. Either way, God will bless us and we will be able to reap the promise regardless if we receive it or not, as we walk faithfully toward it.