But Joseph said to them [his brothers], “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done,
the saving of many lives.”
Genesis 50:19-20
There are a number of stories within God’s Word where I would’ve loved to be the proverbial mouse in the corner soaking in an eyewitness account. On my list includes the story of when Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers.
Think about what Joseph experienced. He was sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37), thrown into jail because of the lies of Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39), and lingered in prison because of the forgetfulness of the king’s cupbearer (Genesis 40).
In all these things did Joseph cry out to God like the Psalmist? Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion? (Psalm 77:7-9).
It does not offend God when His distressed people ask these questions, and Joseph may have, we don’t know how he processed it all, but we know where he landed. Scripture tells us that Joseph noticed God in the storms of his story and credited the Author of his life for using the hard times to accomplish good (Genesis 50:19-20).
There’s a stark difference between the ways Joseph responded to heartaches in comparison to his father Jacob.
When Jacob learned that a repeat trip back to Egypt for grain couldn’t happen unless his son Benjamin went along he didn’t see God’s sovereign hand at work. He responded by saying, “Everything is against me!” “Why did you bring this trouble on me?” (Genesis 42:36, 43:6).
When the darkness settles in and we can’t see the hand in front of our face, much less God’s hand in our story, are we more like Joseph or Jacob? Do we say with Joseph, “God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done” or do we miss God’s providential care and say with Jacob, “Everything is against me”?
When we can’t see God in our present, like the writer of Psalm 77 we need to look to our past. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph” (Psalm 77:11, 13, 15).
PASSION Step: Where do you struggle to see God today? Review how God has helped you in the past and choose to trust that He’ll do the same in the days to come.
Every day we may see some new thing in Christ. His love hath neither brim nor bottom.
Samuel Rutherford
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