Thursday in Epiphany

16Verse 16. When Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they shall dine with me at noon.” 17Verse 17. The man did as Joseph had commanded and took the brothers to Joseph’s house. 18Verse 18. But the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.” 19Verse 19. So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20Verse 20. “Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food. 21Verse 21. But when we came to the place we lodged for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us. 22Verse 22. We have brought additional silver with us to buy food. We do not know who put our silver in our sacks.” 23Verse 23. “It is fine,” said the steward. “Do not be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, gave you the treasure that was in your sacks. I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24Verse 24. And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys. 25Verse 25. Since the brothers had been told that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph’s arrival at noon. 26Verse 26. When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him. 27Verse 27. He asked if they were well, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father you told me about? Is he still alive?” 28Verse 28. “Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him. 29Verse 29. When Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Then he declared, “May God be gracious to you, my son.” 30Verse 30. Joseph hurried out because he was moved to tears for his brother, and he went to a private room to weep. 31Verse 31. Then he washed his face and came back out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.” 32Verse 32. They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them. 33Verse 33. They were seated before Joseph in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men looked at one another in astonishment. 34Verse 34. When the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph.

1Verse 1. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2Verse 2. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. 3Verse 3. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4Verse 4. so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5Verse 5. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6Verse 6. The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, 7Verse 7. because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Verse 8. Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. 9Verse 9. You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10Verse 10. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11Verse 11. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.