I’ve been reading the story of Joseph and I couldn’t help be taken to tears.
How many of us have gone through hard times that we just didn’t understand? In our minds at the time we just can’t see how the situation is any good or be used for good, but maybe years later we can look back and see that God was working all the details out and in fact it was used for a good purpose.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (KJV)
Joseph was sold by his own brothers to the Egyptians. He went through many trials but God was with him in each one. He spiritually grew Joseph.
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (KJV)
Jacob told his sons when they returned back to Egypt to present them with a “little balm and a little honey”
The balm here can represent Christ…. while the honey represents applying it with love.
He was instructing his sons to go in the name of Christ and to demonstrate Christlike behavior and present their need with love.
It doesn’t matter who we are or where we are…. God knows our hearts.
Joseph had every “earthly or fleshly right” to harbor anger and bitterness, but he didn’t. He made it a choice not to. He trusted more in God and knew that He allowed him to go through these trials in order to grow him and allow him to be in a place that he would later be able to save his family from a famine. He basically said to his brothers “I am here because God sent me”
So many emotions came forth from Joseph as his brothers stood before him. He burst into tears many times and had to hide his face. Who knows… maybe those were tears of anger and disgust as equal they were tears of true sorrow at thinking of all the things he’s missed out on with his family and wondering how his brothers could betray him the way they did. The Bible doesn’t say those things but what it does say and demonstrate is that Joseph loved them deeply and he forgave them and he knew why it worked out the way it did.
So in your sorrow try and see things Gods way. Make your best attempt to see what God might be setting up in the future. Things that don’t make sense to us make perfect sense to God. We are simply called to trust and obey.
Through Joseph’s trials also remember….. seventy people went into Egypt and two million came out. With seventy people….. God made it a great nation. He’s that kind of God!! Praise Him today.
Never forgetting that God is always near to the broken hearted.
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