January 04, 2010
Two years later—two years!!! Joseph is stuck in jail with no end in sight. When the king has several dreams the wine bearer remembers Joseph and sends for him. Two years later and Joseph's faith in God and God's faithfulness to Joseph is just as strong.
Verse 16 - "I am not able ... God will do this"
Verse 32 - "... this shows God has firmly decided"
Verse 38 - "God's spirit is truly in him"
Verse 39 - "God has shown you..."
Scripture does not go into detail about how difficult this time was for Joseph. It instead focuses on Joseph's steadfastness and God's faithfulness—but it had to be difficult. VERY difficult. What Joseph chose to name his children clearly shows that.
Verse 51 - Manasseh: "God has made me forget all the troubles..."
Verse 52 - Ephraim: "God has given me children..." (blessings)
While we are stuck in circumstances beyond our control, we have to remember that God is in control, that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.
Sometimes there is "necessary turbulence" (quote from Max Lucado) in our lives in order to fulfill God's plans. God never promised to remove us, but He does promise to go with us. (Psalm 23) When you go through trials, your perspective changes IF you keep your eyes focused on the One who guides you on HIS footpath.
Psalm 150 - When you are praising the maker of heaven and earth, it becomes easier to trust and believe that He can and will deliver you.
Addendum: 9/5/13 ~ Joseph tells the king in verse 25, "God is telling you what he is about to do." Then in verse 32 he says, "This shows that God has firmly decided that this will happen, and he will make it happen soon." These verse just really jumped out at me this time through. We have experienced many times the voice of God clearly "telling" us what He is about to do. No, it isn't an audible booming voice coming down from the heavens, but it might as well be, because it is that clear. When you put yourself in a position to listen—God speaks. When God firmly decides something it is a done deal—it WILL be done.
Next Entry: Genesis 42:1 – 43:34
Two years later—two years!!! Joseph is stuck in jail with no end in sight. When the king has several dreams the wine bearer remembers Joseph and sends for him. Two years later and Joseph's faith in God and God's faithfulness to Joseph is just as strong.
Verse 16 - "I am not able ... God will do this"
Verse 32 - "... this shows God has firmly decided"
Verse 38 - "God's spirit is truly in him"
Verse 39 - "God has shown you..."
Scripture does not go into detail about how difficult this time was for Joseph. It instead focuses on Joseph's steadfastness and God's faithfulness—but it had to be difficult. VERY difficult. What Joseph chose to name his children clearly shows that.
Verse 51 - Manasseh: "God has made me forget all the troubles..."
Verse 52 - Ephraim: "God has given me children..." (blessings)
While we are stuck in circumstances beyond our control, we have to remember that God is in control, that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.
Sometimes there is "necessary turbulence" (quote from Max Lucado) in our lives in order to fulfill God's plans. God never promised to remove us, but He does promise to go with us. (Psalm 23) When you go through trials, your perspective changes IF you keep your eyes focused on the One who guides you on HIS footpath.
Psalm 150 - When you are praising the maker of heaven and earth, it becomes easier to trust and believe that He can and will deliver you.
Addendum: 9/5/13 ~ Joseph tells the king in verse 25, "God is telling you what he is about to do." Then in verse 32 he says, "This shows that God has firmly decided that this will happen, and he will make it happen soon." These verse just really jumped out at me this time through. We have experienced many times the voice of God clearly "telling" us what He is about to do. No, it isn't an audible booming voice coming down from the heavens, but it might as well be, because it is that clear. When you put yourself in a position to listen—God speaks. When God firmly decides something it is a done deal—it WILL be done.
Next Entry: Genesis 42:1 – 43:34
No comments:
Post a Comment