Part 1 – Flexibility Training – Reading
What must that have been like for the brothers? All these years living with the reality of having sold their brother into slavery, seeing the dreadful impact it had on their father, seeing also the youngest brother treasured all the more than Joseph had been. Now, with the survival of the family resting on that one brother showing up with them the next time they applied for food, not to mention getting poor Simeon out of the Egyptian prison, yet father still refuses to let baby bro go, how heavy everything must have sat upon them.
Read Genesis 43 and 44:
It seemed that Jacob was going to continue to refuse permission for Benjamin to go with the brothers to Egypt. But with the famine continuing with no relief in sight, Jacob was finally convinced that he must let Benjamin go.
As Joseph knew they must, his brothers finally showed up with Benjamin. He made it seem as if everything was okay before springing the true test of his brothers: would they allow evil to befall Benjamin just as they had intentionally let evil happen to Joseph? Here is where Judah truly shines as the leader of the brothers. He is the one who had guaranteed Benjamin’s safe return. He was the one who took responsibility for the horrible fix in which they inexplicably found themselves. What’s more, Judah seemed to take the whole situation as God’s payment for their treatment of Joseph. And Joseph finally knew the answer he had been wondering about all those years.
PART 2 – Strength Training – Memory & Thinking
With this verse, we reach the end of the fourth week. Today’s verse is a good one no matter what is going on in your life. Keep working on memorizing the Word of God. However much you can set in your mind, God will use it.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalms 50:15 …call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
Psalms 66:17-20 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
2 Timothy 2:22 (NASB) Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
James 2:8-9 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
Psalm 34:17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Part 3 – Cardio Training – Prayer
There are times in our lives we must be shrewd and test the motivations of those around us. When we have been wronged or abused, we cannot assume an apology means they will never abuse again. Sometimes people change, and sometimes they don’t. As hard as it is to admit, sometimes we are the ones who must repent and change. In all seasons, God can give us wisdom to speak and to act just as He gave wisdom to Joseph. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Just ask.
Father, as we look back over the events of our lives, help us take the actions that must be taken to bring reconciliation to our relationships, as much as it counts on us. In those places we have done bad things to others, help us to change our actions and ask for forgiveness. In those places in which bad things have been done to us, help us to forgive those who wronged us and give us wisdom with whether or not we should trust them again.
Part 4 – Endurance Training
Keep going. You are almost to the end of the 31-day work out. Only a few more days left, a few more times with Joseph and his family. Enjoy them and keep asking God for wisdom and courage.
An Extra Lap
Faith Gym 