Sunday, December 28, 2014
God Has His Hand In Life
When evil befalls us, especially at the hands of others, it is easy for us to become concerned, confused, saddened, or any of a number of pretty negative emotions. However, if we look at the end of the entire matter, we can see God’s hand in it for good. Sometimes the end of the matter can be a long way off, even years. This is what happened to Joseph when his brother’s sold him into slavery and God made him the number two man in all of Egypt. It was so that Joseph could save His family.
Genesis 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:
10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:
11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.
The challenge for me is when people suffer. It is difficult to see someone suffer and see it for good. Obviously we have many examples in the scriptures, including the death and resurrection of our Messiah, that show that suffering is meant to be, that it brings about a better ending. But it is still difficult for me, as a human, to see these things and not be distressed.
The good news is, like in the lives of Joseph and his family, we are not alone. Our God is on our side and He alone will deliver us from all our troubles.
Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You as our King. You alone are worthy to be praised. Mold us into Your servants according to Your will, that Your kingdom would shine in the earth. Send us today Your abundant provision. Forgive us when we do what we should not, or do not do what we should. Heal our hearts and minds. Deliver us from the temptations of this life. Help us to see what You see, to see what You are doing, and to do those things. In Yeshua’s (Jesus) name. Amen.