+DEV+ God's Hand in Events

Date: July 17, 2011 10:57 PM
Topic: +DEV+ God's Hand in Events

God's Hand in Events

"God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt." (ACTS 7:9B-10)
Scripture Focus: Genesis 41:41-57

For 13 very detailed chapters in Genesis, we read of the sometimes favored, often thorny life of Joseph. The account reads like a novel, its main character stirring up a wide range of emotions. We shake our heads at young Joseph's tactless way with his brothers, feel sorry for him in his rocky relationship with them, and ache when he's wrongly imprisoned. We cheer when he's elevated by Pharaoh and are moved deeply when he reveals himself to and forgives his brothers. To the close his 110 years, we identify with Joseph.

While there is much for us to learn from his life, the greater theme is how our sovereign God reigns, shaping His salvation plan through any means. Nothing happened to Joseph that was not ordained by the righteous hand of the Lord. No evil befell him or grandeur surrounded him that was not God's design. What Joseph's brothers meant for evil, God intended for good (Genesis 50:19-21). His life which saved many points us to a far greater Redeemer, Jesus, who has saved the world.

Insight: Quiet your heart through hardships and let it well up with gratitude through good times. the Lord is the designer of both!