Daily Archives: October 4, 2026

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – An Agricultural Planner

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Read Genesis 47:13–26

Master gardener Gregory Bratton has helped start nearly 100 urban farms across Chicago. For decades, he has worked to bring fresh vegetables to urban neighborhoods. Local volunteers are very willing to invest time in these gardens, especially when they and their communities benefit directly.

We might not think of Joseph as an agricultural planner, but he was! In Genesis 41, Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams about seven years of plenty and seven of famine, and as a reward was made second-in-command over the entire land of Egypt. What did he do with that power? Followed his own recommendation to collect grain during the good years in preparation for the lean years.

Joseph’s wise plans of setting aside a fifth of the harvest per year enabled him to collect all the money in Egypt for Pharaoh (v. 15); to collect all the livestock in Egypt for Pharaoh (v. 18); and to buy all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh, except for that belonging to the priests (vv. 20–22). Talk about successful investing! There was no injustice or exploitation involved. His actions kept people alive not only in Egypt but throughout the ancient Near East (Gen. 50:20). The “servitude” (v. 21) was more than fair in that time and culture. In fact, Joseph seems to have been rather gracious, asking for only a fifth of the harvest-to-come when he distributed seeds, when he could have, since he had a monopoly, demanded it all (vv. 23–26).

Joseph combined wise agricultural planning with wise rulership. If he had actually attempted harsher measures, he would likely have sparked bitterness and rebellion (see Prov. 18:23). Although Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery (Gen. 37), God’s plan for saving their lives ironically involved Joseph buying the entire Egyptian population as “debt-slaves.”

Go Deeper

We learn in this story that God has larger purposes for suffering. What are His purposes in suffering or bad times in general? How about in your life specifically?

Pray with Us

Holy God, it is easy to look at Joseph’s story and see Your hand at work. Remind us to trust Your plan when our own lives become hard. We know that You are always good.

“You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord.”Genesis 47:25

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – In the Stillness

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I think of you through the watches of the night . . . because you are my help. Psalm 63:6-7

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 63:1-8

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

When I was a kid and got up in the middle of the night, I often found Mom sitting in her chair in the living room. The glow of the table lamp revealed a book on her lap—her Bible. My mom had trouble sleeping because of her insomnia and chronic pain, but she made good use of her time. We rarely spoke those nights. I was too sleepy to do anything but nod and shuffle down the hall. But I know Mom connected with God in those quiet early morning hours, and God spoke to her.

How can we find moments to know God more fully? We don’t have to wait for a sleepless night, of course. Jesus left His companions to spend time talking alone with His Father (Mark 1:35).

The Scriptures say, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And David’s poetry often reveals how he sought out an intimate relationship with God to praise Him for who He is (63:1-8).

The world is loud, and we’re often distracted by the noise. It claims our attention and demands our participation. That’s why we need to actively seek out the quiet moments rarely found in the chaos of family life or the busyness of work. We find God in the stillness.

He’s awake. He’s listening. And He’s always ready to spend time with those who seek Him.

Reflect & Pray

What distractions keep you from finding time for conversation with God? What’s a good way to prepare your heart to “be still” before Him?

Dear Jesus, please teach me to seek You out and rest in Your presence. Help me to put aside the distractions and to praise You for who You are.

Today’s Insights

Psalm 63 portrays someone who actively pursues God. David declares, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you” (v. 1). He praises Him because His “love is better than life” (v. 3). The psalmist discovers that satisfaction isn’t found in what can be held in our hands, but in who can be known. He valued time with God even more than the satisfaction received from eating the finest of foods: “I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you” (v. 5). The language of thirst, longing, and clinging reveals a relationship pursued with intensity and love. Psalm 63 reminds us that intimacy with God grows as we seek God in stillness.

For further study, listen to the following podcast: Be Still

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Dispensation of Grace

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward.” (Ephesians 3:2)

So-called dispensationalism has had both its advocates and opponents among Bible-believing Christians. The Greek word translated “dispensation” (oikonomia), from which we derive our English word “economy,” actually means an “economy,” or also a “stewardship.”

The number and nature of the various “dispensations” or “economies” through which the Creator has dealt with His human creation during the course of history has been the subject of considerable discussion and variation among commentators. Possible distinct dispensations might include the economy instituted after sin and God’s curse came into the world, the economy established by Noah after the Flood, and the economy begun by Abraham when God began to work especially with the nation of Israel. However, none of these are actually called dispensations in the Scriptures, so any such listing is bound to be somewhat arbitrary.

There are two dispensations, however, specifically called such in Scripture. One is the “dispensation of the fulness of times,” when God will “gather together in one all things in Christ” (Ephesians 1:10). This will be the eternal economy of the new heavens and new Earth (Revelation 21–22).

Then there is this present “dispensation of the grace of God.” We, like Paul, have been called as “stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). So, like Paul, each of us could say that “a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me” (1 Corinthians 9:17) and that “I am made a minister [or ‘servant’], according to the dispensation of God which is given to me” (Colossians 1:25). Thus, the dispensation of grace is a real stewardship responsibility committed to each believer. HMM

 

 

 

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Praise the Lord

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Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Psalm 117:1-2 (NIV)

Psalm 117 consists of only two verses, and we read similar words throughout Psalms. I have come to believe that any time God’s Word says certain things repeatedly, they are important, and we need to pay close attention to them.

We enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and come into His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4), so I believe thanksgiving and praise should always precede our requests. I can’t ask God for something if I am not even in His presence, so I begin my morning prayer times with praise and thanksgiving. I pray in other ways throughout the day without doing that because I am not making a law out of it, but I do believe that our day should be filled with thanksgiving and praise, as well as prayers for ourselves and others.

Scripture says many times that God loves us and that His love is great and endures forever, and I believe we should also tell Him that we love Him throughout the day. I don’t think we can say this too often. I never tire of hearing my husband tell me that he loves me, and I never tire of hearing God tell me that He loves me. I seriously doubt that He gets tired of hearing us tell Him we love Him.

Tell God today that He is good, that you appreciate all He does for you, that you love Him, and that you are relying on Him to help you in all you do.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I am thankful for You, and I praise You for all Your mighty works. I love You and I need You. You are good and You are faithful. I put my trust in You, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org