Day 22

Genesis 43:1-44:34; Matthew 15:10-39; Psalm 13:1-6

Over the last two days we have really seen the power of God to change people. Are these the same brothers who plotted to kill Joseph? The brothers who sold him into slavery? Is this the same Judah who was instrumental in everything that happened to Joseph who now offers himself instead of Benjamin. God has taken Joseph to a whole new place, he is now the top dog in the land of Egypt, because that is where God needed him to be. And God also brought the brothers to a whole new place, no longer the bitter and scheming band that we met at the outset. And of course, needless to say that we have seen Joseph’s dreams come true.

The Gospel also speaks to us about the power of change, this time in Christ. Verses 10-20 at the start of today’s passage lead on from yesterday and Jesus is saying that people need to change in their hearts. Why was he not worried about physical cleanliness yesterday, because he is far more concerned with our spiritual cleanliness. Then when he reels of the list of unclean things in the heart it doesn’t look to rosy. 

But the story of the Canaanite woman points us to the truth that we find in Christ. We can wash our hands with soap and water, but Christ can clean us within. This woman’s daughter had been possessed by a demon and so she had come for healing. No matter what is going on within us, demons, false testimony, slander, sexual immorality, evil thoughts, Jesus has the power to deal with all of these when we let him and have faith in him.

Just as we saw the huge change in the brothers, so we can see a massive change in ourselves when God is involved. You’ve probably had a shower at some point recently, possibly even this morning, so your hands are clean. Is it time to let Christ in to clean those parts of us that we can’t reach.