Song: Trust And Obey
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey. [Refrain]
Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
Scripture Memory for the week:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above.”
(James 1:17)
Suggested Catechism Question:
What do we believe by true faith?
We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.[1]
Devotional 1 – The Truth Comes to Light
Read: Genesis 45:1-15
For Adults: Have you ever been reunited with estranged family?
Older Children: Is Joseph really Pharoah’s father (v.8)?
Younger Children: Why does Joseph forgive his brothers?
Family Application: “1. Christ’s humiliation and exaltation served the purpose of saving many people. Praise God’s wisdom, for the very sins of mankind against Christ serve for our salvation. Even when His purposes seemed defeated by the murder of His Son, God was performing the plans He made in eternity to rescue wicked sinners. 2. When Joseph’s brothers first heard Joseph identify himself, they were afraid, but when he added that he was their brother, they drew near. Today when sinners are converted, Christ’s heart overflows with love and joy toward them. How does He bring them near to Him as their elder brother and welcome them with the embraces and kisses of His Spirit? Can you draw more parallels between Joseph’s encounters with his brothers and a sinner’s encounter with Jesus Christ?”[2]
Pray: Thank You for humiliating Yourself on our behalf, even by death on a wretched cross.
Meditate: Write this week's memory verses on a whiteboard in your home and/or on index cards that each family member can carry with them during the week.
Devotional 2 – Pharoah Approves
Read: Genesis 45:16-23
For Adults: What cause Pharoah to accept the Israelites?
Older Children: How do Egyptians typically treat the Israelites?
Younger Children: Who does Pharoah bless the most?
Family Application: “The delight of Pharaoh’s house when they learned that a large new Hebrew family was coming to live in Egypt is in contrast to their segregation of the family at the meal in Joseph’s home. Perhaps they rejoiced in the prosperity of the Hebrews as long as they did not have to associate intimately with them. It is more likely that the Pharaoh himself was not a native Egyptian, but a Hyksos king from a people kin to the Hebrews, and his views were different from those of the Egyptians who served under him in Joseph’s home.”[3] Either way the Lord causes Pharoah and the Egyptians not to turn the family of Joseph away, but to accept them. When has God changed someone in your life? Who are you praying for Him to change?
Pray: God change the heart of _______ that they may live for You.
Meditate: See if anyone in the family can quote this week's memory verse. Make new note cards of any of the cards from Day 1 that may have been lost.
Devotional 3 – An Old Man Rejoices
Read: Genesis 45:24-28
For Adults: Can you sympathize with Jacob? How would you react?
Older Children: What final command does Joseph give? Why?
Younger Children: Does Jacob want to see Joseph? Why?
Family Application: “To hear that Joseph is alive, is too good news to be true; Jacob faints, for he believes it not. We faint, because we do not believe. At length, Jacob is convinced of the truth. Jacob was old, and did not expect to live long. He says, Let my eyes be refreshed with this sight before they are closed, and then I need no more to make me happy in this world. Behold Jesus manifesting himself as a Brother and a Friend to those who once were his despisers, his enemies. He assures them of his love and the riches of his grace. He commands them to lay aside envy, anger, malice, and strife, and to live in peace with each other. He teaches them to give up the world for him and his fulness. He supplies all that is needful to bring them home to himself, that where he is they may be also. And though, when he at last sends for his people, they may for a time feel some doubts and fears, yet the thought of seeing his glory and of being with him, will enable them to say, It is enough, I am willing to die; and I go to see, and to be with the Beloved of my soul.”[4]
Pray: Revive our souls once again that we may delight in You.
Meditate: See again if anyone in the family can quote this week's memory verse. Talk about any ways that this verse has encouraged or taught you this week.
[1] New City Catechism, Question 31.
[2] The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible, 75.
[3] The Teacher’s Bible Commentary, 48–49.
[4] Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, Ge 45:25.
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey. [Refrain]
Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
Scripture Memory for the week:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above.”
(James 1:17)
Suggested Catechism Question:
What do we believe by true faith?
We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.[1]
Devotional 1 – The Truth Comes to Light
Read: Genesis 45:1-15
For Adults: Have you ever been reunited with estranged family?
Older Children: Is Joseph really Pharoah’s father (v.8)?
Younger Children: Why does Joseph forgive his brothers?
Family Application: “1. Christ’s humiliation and exaltation served the purpose of saving many people. Praise God’s wisdom, for the very sins of mankind against Christ serve for our salvation. Even when His purposes seemed defeated by the murder of His Son, God was performing the plans He made in eternity to rescue wicked sinners. 2. When Joseph’s brothers first heard Joseph identify himself, they were afraid, but when he added that he was their brother, they drew near. Today when sinners are converted, Christ’s heart overflows with love and joy toward them. How does He bring them near to Him as their elder brother and welcome them with the embraces and kisses of His Spirit? Can you draw more parallels between Joseph’s encounters with his brothers and a sinner’s encounter with Jesus Christ?”[2]
Pray: Thank You for humiliating Yourself on our behalf, even by death on a wretched cross.
Meditate: Write this week's memory verses on a whiteboard in your home and/or on index cards that each family member can carry with them during the week.
Devotional 2 – Pharoah Approves
Read: Genesis 45:16-23
For Adults: What cause Pharoah to accept the Israelites?
Older Children: How do Egyptians typically treat the Israelites?
Younger Children: Who does Pharoah bless the most?
Family Application: “The delight of Pharaoh’s house when they learned that a large new Hebrew family was coming to live in Egypt is in contrast to their segregation of the family at the meal in Joseph’s home. Perhaps they rejoiced in the prosperity of the Hebrews as long as they did not have to associate intimately with them. It is more likely that the Pharaoh himself was not a native Egyptian, but a Hyksos king from a people kin to the Hebrews, and his views were different from those of the Egyptians who served under him in Joseph’s home.”[3] Either way the Lord causes Pharoah and the Egyptians not to turn the family of Joseph away, but to accept them. When has God changed someone in your life? Who are you praying for Him to change?
Pray: God change the heart of _______ that they may live for You.
Meditate: See if anyone in the family can quote this week's memory verse. Make new note cards of any of the cards from Day 1 that may have been lost.
Devotional 3 – An Old Man Rejoices
Read: Genesis 45:24-28
For Adults: Can you sympathize with Jacob? How would you react?
Older Children: What final command does Joseph give? Why?
Younger Children: Does Jacob want to see Joseph? Why?
Family Application: “To hear that Joseph is alive, is too good news to be true; Jacob faints, for he believes it not. We faint, because we do not believe. At length, Jacob is convinced of the truth. Jacob was old, and did not expect to live long. He says, Let my eyes be refreshed with this sight before they are closed, and then I need no more to make me happy in this world. Behold Jesus manifesting himself as a Brother and a Friend to those who once were his despisers, his enemies. He assures them of his love and the riches of his grace. He commands them to lay aside envy, anger, malice, and strife, and to live in peace with each other. He teaches them to give up the world for him and his fulness. He supplies all that is needful to bring them home to himself, that where he is they may be also. And though, when he at last sends for his people, they may for a time feel some doubts and fears, yet the thought of seeing his glory and of being with him, will enable them to say, It is enough, I am willing to die; and I go to see, and to be with the Beloved of my soul.”[4]
Pray: Revive our souls once again that we may delight in You.
Meditate: See again if anyone in the family can quote this week's memory verse. Talk about any ways that this verse has encouraged or taught you this week.
[1] New City Catechism, Question 31.
[2] The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible, 75.
[3] The Teacher’s Bible Commentary, 48–49.
[4] Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, Ge 45:25.