Day Eight: Joseph – Living Forward
Today’s Reading: Hebrews 11:22; Genesis 50:22-26
Introduction: The story of Joseph’s life appears at first to be a great tragedy in many ways. His own brothers despised him and sold him to slave traders to be rid of him. He ended up in Egypt as a slave servant, where he was unjustly accused and sent to prison. From prison, his fortunes turned, and he ended up second only to Pharaoh himself over all of Egypt. It is here that we understand God was working through all of this misfortune.
In time, a famine in the land of Canaan drove Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to seek food. Who do they find when they arrive in Egypt? None other than the brother they sold into slavery, Joseph. Joseph eventually invited his entire family to move to Egypt where he could provide for them. At the end of his life, he made one of the most profound statements in all of the Bible. He said to his brothers: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Genesis 50:20). Then he made the people of Israel swear they would take his body back to Canaan with them after he died and the people returned to the land God had promised them.
Application: Joseph learned a lesson that we must all learn. God is always at work and often preparing for a future no one else can see. If Joseph had not understood that everything that happened to him was part of God’s plan, he could have responded to his brothers in a much different way. God knew Joseph would do exactly as he did. He entrusted the future well-being of the people of Israel to Joseph’s protection. We all go through challenging times in life; some of us bear great injustices, too. For those who know Christ as Savior, we must take comfort in the knowledge that God is aware and He could prevent bad things from happening to us if He wanted to. The fact that He doesn’t means those bad things serve some purpose in His grand plan. Sometimes, it might be just to remind us that we live in a fallen world and God is working to redeem it. Other times, it may be to get us to a place where we need to be for some purpose only He knows. We must trust God in all things and believe that He is working out all things for our good (Romans 8:28).
Prayer: Dear Lord, You are the Sovereign Lord. I trust You with my life. Please help me to respond to adversity with trust and grace. While I do not always know what You are doing or why You are doing it, thank You for trusting me with part of Your plan. I commit to serving You faithfully and without resentment no matter what You call me to bear. Amen.