Jola Speaks

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42 : 25 - 27 NKJV Joseph had a significant part to play in God’s plans for the Israelites. His purpose for being in Egypt was to be a forerunner for his people, to open the doors of Egypt to them.  Although, he did pass through a rough road with the people he was called to forerun - his brothers first tried to kill him and then sold him off at a 67% discount of the price o...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42 : 25 - 27 NKJV We see in this story in the Bible how Joseph showed love to his brothers, even with all they had done against him. He filled their sacks with food and returned their money to them. The actions of Joseph showed how we should act towards people, even those who wrong us. We are called to show love, as an action like 1 Corinthians 13 clearly articulates. We a...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42: 29-34, 42:35-38 Like Joseph’s father, sometimes we blame and beat ourselves up for things that happen that are beyond our control. Yes, it is good to be accountable and responsible, but not to the point of condemnation (it can be a very slippery slope) Condemnation is a robber of the joys of blessings. Come out of that well of condemnation and shine the light of Christ...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42: 29-38 Responsibility should not include condemnation when situations do not go well. Joseph’s father was weighed down by guilt and condemnation because he felt responsible for Joseph’s death (or so he thought). This thought made him close his eyes to the opportunity and breakthrough that God was placing in front of him – allowing Benjamin to go to Egypt (in the first i...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42: 25-28, 42:35  NKJV When the brothers of Joseph were leaving Egypt, Joseph sent them off with filled sacks and returned their money to them. But when they found out, their hearts failed them, and they said, “What is this that God has done to us?" Condemnation is a thief! It’s a steamer of the joys of blessings! Just as we read and discussed in the podcast today. In...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42: 13-23, 42:31  NLT We will continue our discussion on guilt, condemnation, and shame. We discuss the difference between conviction and condemnation and what to do when one is condemned.  Like the brothers of Joseph, there are so many people who are stuck and pin down by condemnation, not knowing that condemnation is the devil’s strategy against us. Conviction on its own...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42: 13-23, 42:31  NLT The brothers of Joseph were caught up in guilt and condemnation as a result of what they had done to Joseph in the past. It was so bad to the point that they related instances of trouble as a consequence of what they had done to Joseph. Even 12 years after the first incident.  This is how guilt, condemnation, and shame can be a huge weight in someone’...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42: 7-20 NIV As Joseph tested his brothers to see their credibility, he did not do so out of justice. He showed clearly that he feared God by his actions – letting most of them go to provide food for their families.  It is easier to show love to those who deserve it. But here, the brothers were logically undeserving of Joseph’s love. But because God is a God of love, Josep...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42: 7-20 NLT The seasons we go through in life teach us different lessons. One peculiar lesson is to love and forgive those who may have hurt us in the process, and love them. Like Joseph, our minds are transformed to see and show the love of God.  Reiterating or paying back is not God's plan. We are to love and show forth God’s love to the world.  𝙅𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙨 is a sho...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42: 7-17 NLT Seasons are about us—you and me—not about anyone else—e.g., the people that may have wronged us in the winter season—as an example–Potiphar throwing Joseph in prison or Joseph’s brothers selling him to the Midianites. In many cases we say things like - when my seasons change I will [feel in the blanks] to show them… God is not about “showing" them. God is...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41: 56-57 NIV Preparation and obedience are the emphasis of today. Egypt was well prepared for the famine season that was about to sweep through the world because Joseph had saved grain for that season. They were rightly positioned for this season People from far and near came to Egypt - to Joseph to buy food. This even gave Egypt relevance in the world at that time. Becau...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42:1 -9 NIV God is so merciful not to show us the full purpose before time. In the case of Joseph, if God had shown him the full picture when he was 19, imagine what would have happened.  First - the bragging! The pride! 😂. He was already bragging when he just knew the tiny part of his brothers bowing to him. So imagine! how high his “shoulder pad” will have been. But the...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 42:6-17 NIV When the brothers of Joseph appeared to buy food in Egypt, they did not recognise him. But Joseph recognised them, and tested them to see if they had changed their old ways, when envy and hatred led them to sell Joseph to the Midianites. The brothers indeed have changed -  they were all on personal processes with God as well. Yes at one point they had let fear...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41:46-49, vs 53-56 NIV Life is in seasons and for each season we need to position ourselves and prepare ahead for the next season.  In Egypt, there came the season of abundance where there was affluence. But while there was abundance in the land, Joseph was gathering and storing up for the next season till he lost count. As such when the famine season came, but then, Egypt...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41:45, vs 50-52 NIV In addition to being the governor of Egypt.  I found it interesting that Pharaoh also gave Joseph Asenath, the daughter of the priest of On as a wife.   The priest of On at that time led the worship of the Egyptian sun god as such was a sacred position for Egyptians at the time. I wondered why pharaoh will give Joseph a wife from the family that led ido...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41:44–46 NIV To go through the tough times and finally come into the fruitful season is great!. But let’s discuss  God’s aim and purpose of us through seasons.  The bible says in Mark 16:15 (NIV) “Go into the world and preach the gospel to all creation” This is our mandate to preach the gospel to the world, to evangelise and tell people about Christ. There are so many ways...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41:45–46 NIV As we shine our light, we should always remember that - all the glory must be to the Lord. This is two fold - we should give glory to the Lord and when others see our good work they should glorify our Father in heaven. Just like Matthew 5:16 says “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven....

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41:37–40 NIV God’s timing is perfect! All the series of events that played out in Joseph’s life were master-planned by God. They were predestined to happen at the perfect time. If Joseph had tried to push or fast-track the prison season, would Pharaoh have had the dream about the abundance and the farming season? That God-ordained opportunity had its timing. It couldn’t ha...

Send us Fan Mail Joseph: Visibility! Genesis 41:41–45 NIV Visibility is the state of being seen. After all the years Joseph spent in prison, where he was hidden from the public…. where he was not seen. Then suddenly, seasons changed and he stepped not only into freedom but into V-I-S-I-B-I-L-I-T-Y!.  It says in the Bible that Pharoah had him ride in a chariot as his second in command, and people s...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41:41-44 NIV This week we will be discussing learnings from Joseph’s glory season. - Monday: Joseph: The Appointment  - Tuesday: Joseph: Visibility - Wednesday: Joseph: Timing - Thursday: Joseph: All the Glory must be to the Lord - Friday: Joseph: God’s Mandate We start this week by discussing the appointment! When Joseph became the first prime minister of Egypt. It is so...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41:17-40 NIV Appearing before the king, it was clear to Pharaoh that the Spirit of God was on Joseph. Joseph served Pharaoh with some key characters which He so admired - Value and Character  Value- Wisdom, understanding and Clarity - Interpreted the dream  - Provided the solution  - Provided the blue print, the “How” to get to solution that Pharaoh so desired Character: a...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41:12-16 NIV The shift from the prison season to the shinning season is a game changer for us. But we need to remember that the way we appeared in the prison is different from the way we should appear before kings.  Like Joseph, he didn’t go before pharaoh with his prison clothes and appearance - he ensured he shaved and changed his garments to be befitting to address and...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41:9-14 NIV When we look at the story of Joseph, what brought him into the palace was not just the opportunities, but the good testimonies that went ahead of him—the cupbearer had a great testimony about him, and that led to Pharaoh calling him out of prison and to the palace. This just shows that it is so important to treat and serve everyone with love. In many cases, des...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41:12 NIV Joseph experienced highs and lows - promotions and demotions , his titles changed from - favoured of his father to slave in Egypt to head of Potiphar’s house to servant of the captain in prison to becoming the prime minister in Egypt. Even though there were highs and lows, each position was the right title and position for him at each time. For example as the ser...

Send us Fan Mail Genesis 41:1-14 NIV This is an important and interesting question we all need to answer... The world is constantly changing, with each round of change bringing its own questions that require solutions that experts can no longer seem to provide. We are already seeing world leaders look to unusual places for these solutions, similar to Pharaoh, who looked to Joseph in prison for a s...