Heaven may be cheering and applauding when things look at their worst for us! Why? Heaven knows God’s plans and the good He intends to do us.
We saw yesterday how Joseph’s brothers stripped him of ‘his richly ornamented robe’. Genesis 37:23 His status as Favourite Son was gone in a moment. Then he lost his Freedom, they confined him in a cistern. But his brothers weren’t allowed to harm Joseph, (his name means ‘God will give’ and also ‘to increase’) much like God forbade Satan to harm Job in all his trials. Finally, Joseph was sold into Egypt, a strange land with different culture and customs where he was a slave. Joseph had no say in any of this, God ordained the course of his life from this time on.
29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, ‘The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?’ Genesis 37
Often when we’re facing problems we’re tempted to say if only so and so were here, they’d know what to do and help us get out of this. Reuben was the eldest and no doubt bore greater responsibility before his father for Joseph, but God didn’t allow Reuben to be there until Joseph was gone. Sometimes God’s will is that we face a particular problem on our own; He may be trying to develop/deal with something deep inside us. A battle that He wants us to overcome in our weakness and trusting in Him alone.
I know an experienced minister friend from America who has preached in many nations. They were on another trip to Africa and something unexpected happened. They were murmuring to the Lord about what they were going to do and heard Him say, ‘YES, YOU’VE ONLY GOT ME NOW.’ Like Joseph, sometimes it will just be us and the Lord; He’s arranged it that way!
34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted.
Jacob took the loss of Joseph, Rachel’s son, very hard, but God’s plan for Joseph’s life had begun.
36 MEANWHILE, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. Genesis 37
‘MEANWHILE’, such an important word. While mourning and grieving was going on in the earth, God’s plans were taking shape. All the events that have happened recently and many more still to come; MEANWHILE GOD’S PLANS FOR THE FUTURE ARE UNDERWAY. For a season Israel would live in Goshen and eat the best of the land during severe Famine.
May God bless and keep you today.