Scripture:
Genesis 45:4-8 ESV
[4] So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. [5] And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. [6] For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. [7] And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. [8] So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Observation:
Several years ago, Joseph’s brothers threw him in a pit and took his clothes, put blood on them, and showed them to their dad, claiming he was dead after selling him as a slave. I’m sure they thought they would never see him again. I love how Joseph acknowledged GOD for preparing the path of salvation for his family. If we look over the verses that were chosen this morning. We can see that it wasn’t just one time that the goodness of GOD was the focus rather than the evil that was intended. Joseph did all he could so that in this moment, his brothers would not focus on their guilt. Even to the point of saying look guys don’t feel bad….. GOD had a plan, and it’s a good plan, a plan of redemption, and not of harm. Honestly, the pit brought about the position. Had they killed him like they were thinking at first, all this would not be happening. Putting him in the pit gave them time to think…..or GOD time to work depending upon how you look at it.
Application:
How do you look at the things that have happened in your life? Do you remember them as horrible events, or do you look at them as GOD’S preparation for greater things? Do you hold guilt and shame against others, or do you show the same grace GOD gave you? Let’s look at the brothers for a second. Are you one that zeros in on your sin? Do you let it weigh you down? What I’m saying is maybe we could pay attention to what GOD is doing in and through any given situation, and stop focusing on ourselves. Listen, guys, GOD is good, and if it’s not good, then HE is not done. I love Jeremiah 29:10-13. I know everyone always looks at verse 11, but I like the fact that GOD tells us it’s going to be hard….we will see the pit ….. we may see the prison…. but when we seek HIS face, we will have hope in the pit and the captivity…… because HE has a plan. My question for us this morning is, can you see how GOD is using the hard parts of your life to make a way for others? Romans 8:28 comes to mind here…. all things work for good for those who love GOD and are called according to HIS purpose. Are you called? I know I am, and if you are reading this, odds are so, are you.
Prayer:
Father, you never stop catching my attention. It’s absolutely amazing how you take what the enemy tries to destroy in us and build it into a path for salvation. Today, I want to just thank you for the hard times because that is where my strength was formed. We know that you are a good GOD and Father, you know just what it’s going to take not only for us but for those around us to seek your face, and not so much your hand. We want to see you in everything because you are in everything. We thank you for all you are to us and pray that joy is found in the not-so-easy times as well as the good times. We love you, and now that you are working on our behalf. Thank you for doing so. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen