Matt Redman sang a song years ago that I used to shout from the top of my lungs declaring blessed be your name and a line in the song was you give and take away, you give and take away, blessed be your name. This song came back to my remembrance this morning as I was reading in Genesis 30 about Jacob and Rachel’s son named Joseph.

Joseph is a significant figure in the book of Genesis and many sermons have been preached on him. His journey from being thrown in a pit by his own family to being placed as second in command by a wicked ruler in Egypt brought about great sermon material. It’s hard not to hear messages in my head as I read certain passages in my head.

Reading Genesis 30, the Lord has been highlighting the names of people in this rich chapter. The mother named the children and Rachel said about Joseph the following words…”God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!”

The name Joseph means God took away reproach and God added another. Joseph means God gives and God takes away. Which is why the song blessed be your name, you give and you take away came to my remembrance this morning. Knowing what God is giving or adding to us is very important and knowing what God is taking away from us is equally important.

God gives us people, and God takes away reproach, shame, ridicule, unforgiveness and brokenness. God gives us healing, prosperity, deliverance, and abundant life. I think it’s time to sing Matt Redman‘s old song blessed be your name and shout the words you give and take away. Thanks to Joseph a man who God used to give the land of Goshen in a famine to Israel and to take away the reproach of Egypt through a man named Joshua.

May we all declare today blessed be the name of the Lord! Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org