…God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives--Genesis 50:20 (New International Version)
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Have you ever wondered why God allowed certain circumstances in your life? Have you ever wondered how anything good can come of negative circumstances? Joseph (Genesis 37-50) learned, and we can too, how God can use it all to benefit us and others, and in the process honor and glorify Him.
Lesson 2: Don’t look back…
“But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”—Genesis 19:26
When negative circumstances happen it is very tempting to keep thinking about them, especially when they are due to things beyond our control. We often think about the situation we find ourselves in, the things that have been done to us, the things we should have done, and/or things we shouldn’t have done. The list is endless. We ask ourselves questions such as: Why did this happen? We worry about such things as: Will it happen again? We end up dwelling on the past. We replay the events over and over in our minds, but by focusing on the past we can miss what God is doing. Like Lot’s wife we can become like pillars of salt frozen in our past. In Isaiah 43:18-19 the Bible tells us: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Thus we have to keep looking to Him because He is doing something…a new thing and if we keep focusing on the past we will not see. In the midst of our own personal desert God is providing us a way and in our wasteland He is providing for us what we need.
God uses our circumstances to help us grow. While Joseph was in Egypt the Lord was with him (see Genesis 39:2-3, v.20-21) and He is with you too. During this time Joseph was learning who he was and his character was being developed. For example, he learned to run from sin (see Genesis 39: 6-11) and he learned patience when he had to wait two years before the cupbearer remembered to tell Pharaoh about him (see Genesis 40:9-14, and Genesis 41:1-14). What is God trying to do for and in you? What can you learn about yourself in this time? What areas do you need to grow in? Faith? Perseverance? Forgiveness? Compassion? Dying to self? Is He teaching us how to find true joy and peace in the midst of our storms by seeking and relying on Him? During times of trial remember not to focus on the circumstances, but focus on the Lord who has overcome the world (John 16:33).
Lesson 1: Faith
“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).”
It is often hard to keep faith when the things around you seem to provide evidence to the contrary. It is difficult to “walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7 New King James Version),” but it is in adversity where faith is tested. It is in our struggles that we learn to lean completely on Him the supplier of all of our needs. It is in the tough times that we may come to realize that of all our needs, our greatest need is Him and He will use our trials, struggles, and sufferings to draw us closer to Him. So no matter what is going on around you, always try to find out what God is trying to teach you or create in you. It is also important to know that sometimes the lessons learned are not only for you, but for you to share with others. That is one of the reasons for this blog. In the Bible, God has given us many examples of how He has used adversity to accomplish great things in and through often very ordinary people.
The story of Joseph is one such example. Joseph in Genesis 37-50 learned, and we can too, how God can use all our trials, struggles, and sufferings to benefit ourselves and others, and in the process honor and glorify Him. Joseph was given a vision of what would be his future in Genesis 37. We too are often given a vision for what we believe is God’s plan for our lives or the lives of those we love, but we must learn as Joseph did that sometimes the“vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming” that we should “wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed (Habakkuk 2:3 New Living Translation).” It must have been difficult for Joseph to have kept his faith when he faced the betrayal of his siblings first throwing him into a pit and then selling him to the Midianites, then being sold as a slave in Egypt, being falsely accused, and being thrown into prison. Ultimately, however, all of these circumstances ultimately led to the fulfillment of the vision he was given and he rose to be the second in command under the Pharaoh. It was because of this position that he was able to save the lives of his family and many others.
It is hard to keep faith when hear that the tests show the cancer is not responding to the treatment, our child is still struggling with drugs, our spouse has contacted a divorce attorney, or any number of situations where things seem hopeless, but it is often here that our faith is being tested. If we continue in faith at times like this, then like Joseph, we too can learn what the enemy intended for our harm that “God meant it for good (Genesis 50:20 New King James Version).” It is in holding to this promise that no matter what happens that God intends it to be used for our good and the many other promises in the Word of God that our faith can be increased.--from Diligently Seeking...Devotional Blog
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But I am tired of waiting,..
There are times when we grow weary in waiting. But we must always remember not to get ahead of God. His timing is perfect. Joseph tried to take things into his own hands by telling the cupbearer and the baker to remember him, but since it wasn’t God’s time, they forgot him (Genesis 40:1-23). It was not until Pharaoh needed his dreams interpreted that the cup bearer remembered Joseph (Genesis 41:9) This was God’s time--It was at this time that he wanted Joseph to be in a position to save his people from the impending famine. Abraham and Sarah also learned the importance of waiting on the Lord and not taking things into their own hands (see Genesis 16 and 21).
Lesson 3: Don’t give up
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV)