God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to safe you alive by a great deliverance. So now it wasn’t you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Genesis 45:7-8
Spending time in nature
This can be done inside or outside. The goal of this game is to become a better messenger by practicing your listening skills. To start the game, blindfolded the first listener. The rest of the family will surround the blindfolded person in a medium to a large circle. The goal for everyone else is to keep the listener from identifying them. The person blindfolded approaches someone and asks them a series of general questions in hopes of identifying them. (how many toes do you have, what sound does a duck make, what color is the sky). The person being questioned will “disguise” their voice. Once the questioner correctly identifies the questionee, they switch places. After the blindfolded person is back in the center, everyone should switch places. The game can continue for however long the family would like. Being a messenger for God requires us to stop and listen to those around us. I don’t think it will take the blindfolded person long to recognize the person they are questioning. People generally know the voice of their immediate family members because they spend so much time together. As we grow and become closer with God, the goal is to know His voice so well we can identify it in a crowded room. Joseph was able to hear God’s voice so well, he did not hesitate to interpret God for another..
Tip
I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him (Deuteronomy 18:18).
Do Something Creative
letter about how God has blessed you; younger children can draw pictures. Older individuals can add how they would like to bless someone else as well. If you would like someone other than the author to read the letter out loud later, have them write how the person older than them has been a blessing and address the letter to them. Try to use unique paper if you can. If you have a wax seal, inclose the letter in an envelope. Decorate the letter and envelope, add a stamp, and place them in the “mailbox.” Everyone can share their letter with the family during worship. When counting your blessings: Remember (Philippians 4:19), Refocus (Philippians 4:6-7), Move Forward (Jeremiah 17:7-8), Trust God (Luke 6:38), and Hope (John 1:16).
What you will need:
- A “mailbox”
- 1 Envelope per person
- 1 Paper per person
- 1 Stamp per person
- Markers or crayons
- Scrapbooking paper (Optional)
Family worship idea
For Family worship, read Genesis 45 & 46; you can skip Gen 46: 8-27 if you like. Everyone should practice another great tool in communication, eye contact. As the story is being read out loud, try to keep your eyes on the reader. While maintaining eye contact, try molding something out of a small ball of clay if you need additional “entertainment value.” This can be an easy task for some and a difficult task for others. Never the less maintaining eye contact helps make you a better listener, so you can respond appropriately. Once you are done reading the chapters, feel free to share the letters created during craft time. Talk about how Joseph was sent before his family to be a messenger in a strange land. What strengths did Joseph have that made him a strong witness for God? Which ones did he need to develop before he went before Pharaoh? How can we be messengers today?
Personal thoughts
There are believers today because there has always been a remnant. Noah and his sons did not depart from God, and so they entered the ark. Daniel and his friends stood for God’s laws in the face of death. Prophet after prophet rose to remind the people of God’s word. Jesus’ disciples were able to break away from man’s traditions and spread the news of salvation as far as they could. William Tyndale would not remain in the dark about what the bible said. Martin Luther reminded an entire governing entity that the word of God is unchanging. Others in the early Seventh Day Adventist church searched for a better understanding of the scriptures. Today, Bibles are in abundant supply in the United States and are becoming more available in 74% of counties. The word of God is reaching new nations every year. The Bible is the only book with the ability to cut deep as a two-edged sword; its message moves across the world, and because of this, new believers are born each year. The Holy Spirit guides and blesses the work believers put out into the world (Isaiah 37:31-32, 2 Chronicles 16:9). “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us a small remnant, we would have been as Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah (Isaiah 1:9).” Being laborers for God comes with more than an eternal brightness (Daniel 12:3). Being a messenger for God is going to be cause for celebration in heaven (Luke 15:7). Joseph as a messenger did not only save his family; Joseph saved entire nations. God molds us and shapes us through life’s trials so that when it is our time to speak about our God, the testimony will bubble out like a well-fed spring. Joseph’s moments of despair gave him patience, trust, humility, and hope. When he rose to power, these traits remained with him as he continued to trust in God’s plan. Each day we add oil to our lanterns and let them shine out. Studying and meditating on God’s word is not just for us and our salvation. Perhaps one day, our wealth of knowledge can impact someone else.
Hiding His word in your ❤
‘As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters. ‘
Proverbs 25:13
Sabbath Catalyst 