Allowing Room For God

Genesis 41-46

God warns us in His word not to seek our own vengeance, but to leave room for God to repay those who have wronged us.  

God makes all things well in His timing.  God rights wrongs committed against us if we seek not our own vengeance. 

Joseph's life was a perfect example of this truth playing out.

According to scripture Joseph never sought vengeance against his brothers.  He went about his life, serving God and doing what was right and good.

After many years of what seemed liked silence on God’s part, a famine struck the land.  

This famine drove the ten brothers right to Joseph's doorstep.

Joseph’s response to his brothers moves me each time I read it. 

He was gracious when he could have been harsh.  He offered mercy when he could have repaid evil with evil.  Joseph's behavior was a depiction of God’s dealings with us.

                                                                        

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The years of famine drove Joseph’s brothers to make the 250 mile trek to Egypt, not realizing who or what they were headed for.  Scripture says that when they arrived Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.  Joseph wanting to find out about his father and younger brother accused the men of being spies.  He demanded that they go home and return with their younger brother to prove their innocence. 

And then Joseph put them in jail.  

Joseph could have kept his brothers indefinitely in that place.  He could have "taught them a lesson" and showed them what prison life felt like (something he knew all too well).  He could have made his brothers pay for what they had done to him so many years ago.

However, it seems that Joseph got no pleasure from keeping his brothers imprisoned, because three days later Joseph released 9 of them and kept only Simeon as a ransom for Benjamin's delivery.

Instead of producing bitterness and malicious behavior; the years away had matured Joseph into even more of a God fearing man, and one who was full of mercy and forgiveness.

Joseph’s story of reconciliation with his brothers is a poetic example of mercy and undeserved grace.  I cannot help but see a parallel picture of God’s dealings with us.

We deserve severe punishment for our sinful actions and yet God is merciful and forgiving.  Often we receive grace when really we should receive punishment.

Joseph’s story serves as an example to those who have been wounded by others.

It reminds us that although God may be silent for a time, His silence does not mean He has forgotten.  Eventually, God will right all wrongs.

Our role in life is not to be our own defender, but to be obedient to God and to keep entrusting ourselves to the one who judges righteously.

“…He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”  1 Peter 2:23

Strength for the Weary

Genesis 40

God cares for us in ways that we cannot fathom and His plans usually unfold in ways we never could have imagined.

Joseph was stuck in prison for something he did not do. 

I’m sure he must have been desperate to somehow be free of that place. 

I bet he thought his moment had arrived after he interpreted the baker’s dream of impending freedom and restoration to service in the Pharaoh’s courts.

  

If I were in Joseph’s place, I would have been packing my bags in anticipation of my certain release.

The baker however, did not make good on his word and Joseph remained in prison for 2 more years! 

How demoralizing that must have been.  My heart sinks thinking of the sorrow Joseph must have experienced in that hopeless situation.  I wonder if Joseph questioned whether he would ever be freed from that place or if life would ever take a turn for the better. 

It is clear from scripture that Joseph’s faith in God remained strong, but I wonder if Joseph ever had a day where he despaired of the life and the situation that remained the same-day after day and prayer after prayer.   

I wonder if he questioned whether things would ever change.

Joseph was not saved from his situation in the way he would have imagined, but he was saved.  In an instant Joseph’s life completely and drastically changed. 

This salvation did not come from Joseph’s carefully crafted plan, but from God’s mighty and unfailing plan.

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      God gave Pharaoh a dream that no one in the entire kingdom, but Joseph could interpret. 

-          God caused the baker to remember the “young Hebrew” who had a knack for interpreting dreams. 

-          God gave Joseph wisdom to give Pharaoh the true meaning of his dream.

-          God moved and Joseph’s head was lifted.  His sorrow was forgotten in an instant.

Joseph went from a ragged and dirty prisoner to someone second in command to Pharaoh himself.  He was stripped of his filthy clothes and clothed in garments of fine linen and a gold chain was placed around his neck.   

Joseph was given a wife and within 7 years Joseph had two sons. 

Joseph’s story fills me with hope and reminds me that hard times and trials can change in an instant.  God has resources and plans that I cannot imagine or even conceive. 

It also reminds me that God does not need my plans or ideas.  I need only to be patient and faithful, waiting on God; remembering that when He moves there is no one who can hinder his plan.

Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" - Isaiah 43:13

God is Faithful

Genesis 39

Good and bad decisions alike can cause hard consequences after the choice has been made.  The difference though, is that godly decisions may have initial hard consequences, but when followed through, God always redeems those decisions and His good, perfect and pleasing plan always prevails. 

Joseph was a perfect example of this truth playing out. 

Just like us, I’m sure Joseph’s life was full of decisions. 

One decision Joseph made cost him dearly. 

Joseph had been sold by his brothers into slavery but scripture tells us that Joseph found favor in the eyes of his new master, Potiphar, who was one of Pharaoh’s officials. 

When Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph in all that he did, he put Joseph in charge of his household, and entrusted him with all that he owned.

It was while serving Potiphar faithfully that Joseph was faced with a decision to obey God or not.

Potiphar's wife had set her sights on Joseph and demanded that he sleep with her.

 Joseph again and again refused.

One would think that Joseph would have been immediately blessed for his godliness and faithful decision making.  However, instead of blessings, Joseph faced the wrath of his master and found himself sitting in a jail cell falsely accused.

But scripture tells us that “The Lord was with Joseph”. 

We too, may make godly decisions and be faced with consequences that seem hard and unfair. 
 But, The Lord is with us too.  He is working His plan out and all we must do is remain faithful to Him. 
Trusting and relying on His name and His goodness; obeying, even when it is hard or painful.

Joseph clung to the Lord, despite it all, and in time God blessed him abundantly and unfathomably. 

Joseph went from prisoner to second in command of all Egypt.

God blessed him with sons and a restored relationship with his brothers.

God was not mocked, and what Joseph sowed he eventually reaped.  Probably much more so than he ever could have imagined or conceived. 

We serve the same God today.  Hold on and be faithful through the days that seem dark.  God is working and He is faithful.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts   than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:9

Holding onto the Promises of God

Genesis 37

Joseph was set apart by God for special things.  God gave Joseph dreams that were veiled and mysterious.  Joseph knew God had a great task for him, but he didn’t know the specifics.  

What he did know was that his brothers bowed down to him in his dream.  

I wonder how he felt as he sat in the pit his brothers threw him in to.  I wonder if he despaired or believed all was lost and everything was now hopeless.  Maybe he even believed the dream was meaningless nonsense.

Or maybe the dream gave Joseph hope.  Maybe it was something he clung to in faith in his darkest hours.  

I have seen God work in this way in my life over and over again.  He whispers a promise, and yet it is never immediately fulfilled.  The road to a promise fulfilled is usually a long one with lots of twists and turns and many difficult and dark places.   

God was planning on using Joseph in a huge way.  Not only that, but Joseph would eventually reap many blessings.  God used the hard and dark places to shape and form Joseph’s character.  He wanted to get Joseph to a place where he could receive the blessings in a way that would be pleasing to God.

God promises and nothing can hinder or halt that promise from being fulfilled.  All may seem lost, but God is greater than the hard times and the times of despair.  He is using the pits and prisons of life to conform us into His image, so that we can be more pleasing and more useful to Him.

How abundant are the good things, that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,   on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.  -Psalm 31:24