Here am I

These weekly devotionals I will be posting come from and are copyright to Pam Iannello, my pastor's late wife who went home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2008.


Learning how to face our family problems through an in-depth study of the troubled home of Joseph.




This devotion is part of the "Family Problems" series.


Genesis 37:12-17
And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I. And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

Only a short time ago, we saw in verse 11 that Jacob had just finished rebuking Joseph about his dream of supremacy he had shared with the family. Likewise, his brothers also reacted strongly over this dream and hated Joseph all the more because of it. If there was ever a time for tension to be in the air in the family, it was certainly now, amen? At this time, Joseph finds himself in the position of being commanded by his father to go seek after his brethren. Tell me ladies, how would you feel about being put in that position after your family openly rejected you? How willing would you be to submit to a father that reprimanded you for something you had no control over?? How willing would you be to seek after siblings that you knew without a shadow of a doubt hated you??

Joseph's dream was one where his entire family paid him obeisance and he could have reacted to his father's request in a very prideful way, but he did not! As some of us might have, Joseph could have held a grudge against his Dad for unduly rebuking him. He could have turned arrogant after his dream and declined to obey his father's present command based on the promise of his future status. Focused on the deepened hatred of his brothers, Joseph could have refused the job of checking up on them and having to report back. Praise the Lord this young man's response to his father was righteous! You see, Joseph didn't let his family determine the kind of a Christian he was going to be - he let the character of God determine his behavior. How readily we find that Joseph waits his father's orders! As a matter of fact, Joseph's response as a son was parallel to Christ's response to His heavenly Father - "...come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I."

Ladies, this ought to be our reaction in every sticky situation the Lord has determined for us to be in! Certainly God's children ought to be the most ready to obey, amen? We must prepare our hearts for whatever or however the Lord might decide to use us. God may send us straight into the presence of those who do not care for us at all and who are purposely against us. God may send us straight into the presence of those who rebuke us unfairly though we are blameless. Will you be willing and obedient to enter a situation like that for the Lord and honor His wishes? Will you be willing to look after those who won't return your love; even those who won't appreciate you for faithfully caring for them? Or have you decided ahead of time that you will not put up with that kind of treatment from people?? Just how far are you willing to go today in obeying the Lord's commands?

Luke 22:33
And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

In our main text today, the Bible says that Joseph wandered in the field looking everywhere for his brothers… He even had to go so far as Dothan to find them, which was not just around the corner, especially when you are traveling on foot! Some may think the task too much trouble and a waste of time knowing full well his brothers wouldn't be grateful for his concern, but nevertheless, Joseph obeyed his father and finished the work he gave him to do, in spite of the state of affairs. Now that is faithfulness in action, amen ladies? Are we as faithful when our vocation grows to be equally challenging?? Can you cheerfully endeavor to serve others at all cost? Your initial mindset will make the difference every step of the way…

1 Peter 5:2
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Joseph was a type of Christ; for though he was the beloved Son of his Father, and hated by a wicked world, yet the Father sent Jesus to visit us. In great humility and sacrificial love Christ came from heaven to earth to seek and save us. Even still malicious plots were laid against God's Son. His own not only rejected Jesus, but crucified Him! This calling Jesus submitted to as a part of God's design to redeem and save us. So too, God's plan was to make Joseph an instrument to save much people alive. Certainly that is God's design for all of His children, amen? Who has the Lord sent you to as an instrument of salvation? Have you submitted to His plan?? Perhaps it is someone in your immediate family, someone close to you who does not love you; someone who fails to appreciate your sincere concern for their soul; someone who schemes against you and seeks to destroy you… Will you be faithful to the Lord and let Him send you straight into a challenging person's life, or will you run the other way?? Even in the midst of family strife and tension, Joseph maintained his example of obedience before his father and brothers. Though he was not guilty of any wrong doing, Joseph still humbled himself in the presence of man and obeyed his father's command…

1 Peter 5:3
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

By Joseph's example we learn that it's our responsibility as a Christian, placed as a particular member in our family, to see to it that all is well with our brethren at home AND with the flock of God. Yes, even church family must be closely looked after! Are you available to be called upon for such a challenging mission? HOW we carry this responsibility out is just as important as doing it, amen? The Lord always assigns the humble to this kind of work, for He knows they can be trusted to give an accurate report of others because they have first given an accurate report of themselves! In the same way, Jacob trusted Joseph to bring word back to him about the situation with his brothers, for he knew Joseph wouldn't distort the truth. Likewise, must we watch over every family member and bring word back to the Lord on our knees - pouring out the truth before God with humble hearts. Are things well with your brethren today, dear lady? If not, I hope you are faithfully praying for your family situation and humbly pursuing loved ones whenever you see that things are not right! This is the product of a "Here am I" attitude.

God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003 Meet Ms. Pam

Other Rise and Shine Devotionals
New Beginnings Baptist Church Website