Joseph

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Genesis 50:19 Don’t Take God’s Place

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?” Genesis 50:19

People who are in very high positions of authority will often feel they have more power and control than they really have. God is ignored and the leading is completely from the human point of view.

Everything is done in ways that benefits the individual in the immediate here and now, not from an eternal viewpoint. Some will go to the point of claiming that they are God and in complete control. Others will act the same way without the claim of being God.

After Abraham had died, Joseph’s brothers were worried that Joseph would get revenge on them. Joseph told them that he is not in the place of God to do that.

Every person will have times that they will be betrayed and harmed by someone else. It is difficult enough when it is by someone who is not family, but it is even more difficult when it is family who has done the betrayal. Many families are divided and separated due to betrayal and vengeance.

The true believer will not look at only the immediate circumstance, but at what God is doing in the bigger eternal picture. Having this view will give the believer the perspective of what God is doing and why difficulties are allowed to occur in his life.

Looking back on his life, Joseph realized that God used his brother’s betrayal to save them in the end and chose not to get revenge.

As a believer steps back and sees what God has done and is doing, he will be able to accept what has occurred and use it for God’s glory. He will not place himself in God’s position of authority and judge, but trust God’s work and be led by God for each step of his life.

You have probably been betrayed by a family member or a close friend. It was something that was painful and difficult to get through.

Rather than seeking revenge, bring it to God. Allow God to open your eyes to what He is doing in and through that situation in your life. Keep in mind all the times you have betrayed Jesus and yet He still loves and cares for you and is willing to forgive you and move on.

Allow God to be God and you to be His servant.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s work in your life; that you will see how God is using situations in your life to build you and His kingdom; and that you will allow God to judge and deal with those who betrayed you.

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Genesis 45:8 Don’t Be Upset With Circumstances

“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.” Genesis 45:18

Blaming is something that many people love to do. People, things, circumstances and God are blamed for what is occurring or has occurred in a person’s life. As this occurs, most people are doing it out of anger or being upset.

Very rarely does a person see the purpose or good in what is occurring or has occurred. All they are looking at is the circumstance and what went ‘wrong’.

After revealing himself to his brothers, Joseph tells them that it was God who put him in Egypt in order to help rule Egypt and save many people, despite his brothers having sold him into slavery.

Unless a person knows all the details ahead of time, most people do not like to go through change or a move. This is even more true if in the process of the change it will be painful or being falsely accused and abused.

Looking at Joseph’s life, he had to be sold into slavery, so that he could be put into prison, so that he could help Pharaoh, so that he could save his family from the famine. God saw that ahead of time and put him in place.

God will move a person out of his comfort zone in order to be used in a greater way further down the road. Instead of being angry at people, things and God, the believer, who is following God, will trust God’s hand in the situations, knowing that God knows what is best for all.

Through what appears to be negative situations, God can raise a person up to save a nation and change the world.

God will allow things to occur in your life that do not appear to be good. You may be falsely accused and abused in bad ways.

As these things occur, you will have two choices. You can either be very angry and vengeful, or you can choose to lean on God and trust that He knows what He is doing and allowing.

In and through every situation in your life, God can use you to be His witness and hand of provision and life to others. He may have to move you to use you.

Are you willing to be used by God through any circumstance?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will see God’s hand at work in your life; that you will trust God’s work in your life; that you will see God’s purpose in the circumstances of your life; and that God will use you to reach many people for Jesus.

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Genesis 43:16 Treat Your Enemies With Love

When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they are to eat with me at noon.” Genesis 43:16

Every person has someone who is an enemy to them, someone who is out to harm them in some way or another, whether physically, emotionally or socially. Usually people are quick to want to strike back and harm their enemies in some way to stop their attacks.

At a minimum, most people do not want anything kind to do with their enemies.

When Joseph’s brothers came back for more food with Benjamin, Joseph had a special meal prepared for them in his personal house. They were to eat a meal with him.

Joseph had been mistreated and sold into slavery by his brothers. He had every right to be angry with them and harm them. He also had the power to harm them now that he was second in power in all of Egypt, yet he did not.

The world tells people that they have a right to strike and harm their enemies or at least have nothing to do with them. Satan wants to bring division, strife and death, not reconciliation.

Jesus said that believers are to forgive and love their enemies. Being angry and vengeful will never show love, but only hatred and death.

God had every right to destroy His enemies–humans who have sinned against Him. Instead of destroying them, He chose to love them and provide a way to reconcile with them. Instead of striking back, Jesus went to the cross and paid for the sins of all, and then chose to forgive those same sins.

In the same way, believers are to forgive and love their enemies, rather than harm them.

You most likely have some enemies in your life that tend to make life very difficult for you. It could be family members or outside the family. If you choose to follow the ways of this world, you will hate them and have nothing to do with them.

Allow God’s great love and mercy to fill your heart for each one of your enemies. Realize that each one is a lost person who needs Jesus in his life. Instead of showing hatred, show God’s love and mercy. Point them to God, not the world.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s love for you and your enemies; that God will fill you with His love for your enemies; and that you will be a witness of God’s great love to this world.

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Genesis 42:22 There Will Be An Accounting

Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” Genesis 42:22

Believing that one has the freedom to do whatever he wants and get away with it is common among most people. This belief increases when something is done in secret, and it is as though no one could possibly know about it.

Everyday people all over the world are doing things that should not be done. At the same time, people all over the world are being convicted daily of things that they have done in secret.

As Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt to get food, they were treated harshly in Egypt. Reuben recognizes that this harsh treatment must be for how they sold Joseph into slavery.

Everything that is said or done has consequences that a person must be willing to give an account for, a reason for doing. This accounting may occur quickly, or it may take years before it occurs. It may occur with other people on this earth, but it will occur some day when one stands before God in heaven.

While some things have good consequences, there are other things that have negative consequences. God will reward every good deed that a person does in this life. At the same time, He will also punish every sin that has been done and not repented of in this life.

The first choice every believer should make is to choose God’s way of acting and speaking. He must be willing to do the right thing.

In times of making the wrong choice, the believer must be quick to repent of it and turn from that sin. As soon as one repents, God is willing to forgive, no longer requiring an accounting for the sin.

Most likely you have made choices in your past that you will have to give an accounting for someday. The world may or may not ever know about what you have done, but God does.

Go to God in repentance of anything that you have done that was sinful and repent. Allow Jesus to remove that sin and give you a clean slate for the accounting.

Do not allow that sin to remain ‘hidden’ until the day you must account for it and find yourself guilty of sin with a judgement of death.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will strive to live by God’s commands; that you will let God guide your every choice of action; that you will repent of all sins before God; and that God will not have to draw you into a day for accounting for sin.

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Genesis 41:16 I Cannot, But God Can

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” Genesis 41:16

Thinking that one can do anything on his own is a common view of many people. Very few people like the feeling of needing help to get something accomplished.

Unless someone does not want to do some task, most people will never say that they cannot do it when asked to do a task. They will push forward and do it without a care about the real outcome. It will appear as though they know what they are doing.

Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. He was told Joseph could interpret it. Joseph says that he cannot interpret the dream, but God can.

When speaking words, it is easy for someone to say anything and everything without really speaking what is correct. It is common to hear people talk about things that they have no real idea or expertise in what they are discussing.

This is often done out of pride. No one wants to be seen is incapable of something, whether it is speaking or physically doing something. To admit that one cannot do something, is to admit a fault or weakness.

True believers in God have come to realize the true weakness of their own abilities and what God is actually able to do. They are quick to point people to God, rather to themselves. They are clothed with the humility that Christ portrayed and are unwilling to take credit for something that God is doing.

God has the amazing ability to do anything and everything Himself or through people who lean on Him for strength and ability. Without God giving breath of life and strength, no man can do anything at all. With God, nothing is impossible.

God is at work in your life. He is there to give you abilities to do things that would otherwise be impossible. He is also there to give you wisdom in the spiritual realm that the world cannot see nor understand.

As the world is trying to tell you that you can do anything on your own, point the world back towards God. Do not let the ways of the world corrupt your mind and filling you with selfish and false pride.

Lean on God for all of your abilities and understanding. Let God do what you cannot.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will trust God’s abilities over your own; that you will point the world towards God; that God will strengthen you to remove all pride in your life; and that you will be humble before man and God.