Background on this: Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. He was the one with the rainbow coat, and he was also the one the his brothers were jealous of. In fact, in the verses above, his brothers are plotting to kill him. Now God had given Joseph a dream that one day he would rule over his brothers, even though he wasn't the oldest. So, his brothers' plan for murder seems to go against God's plan for Joseph to lead them.
It seemed like God wasn't working actively to fulfill his promise to Joseph.
Sometimes it seems like God allows evil to happen but He is always with us working to fulfill His purpose.
At the end of this story, God puts Joseph into a position of authority so large that God's glory is magnified even more than anyone ever would have imagined possible at the beginning of the story. Joseph was over his brothers, but he was also over an entire country! God was there even in the hard times. He used everything for His good and for His glory!
Dave said this during our morning devotion: "God's plan is perfect. There is a purpose. The evil was not His intention, but He did allow it and His promises are still as true today as they were yesterday."
God can and does take what was intended for evil and uses it for good and amazing things! God doesn't waste anything; He uses all things for the good of those who love Him and to fulfill His purposes. As people, we want to know why things happen and resolve things by saying, "These things happened to me so that [insert random thing]." However, God does not always answer the "Why?" question or resolve the situation. What He promises and what He does is redeem the evil situations. So, the only answer we can ever give, is, "These things happened to me so that God could have more glory."
God is sovereign.
Now, why am I blogging about this in my Cambodia blog? Two things that are hard to see God in: 1. sex trafficking, especially that of minors 2. Toul Sleng (the torture camp we saw on Saturday)
Both of these are horrible, evil things. It is so easy (and I hear this a lot) for people to say, "Why do bad things happen if there is a good God?" I am not here to answer that question. That would take more than one blog, and honestly I don't have all the answers. All I want to say is that God is sovereign. Bad things happen, but God is bigger than that. He uses all of that for His glory and for His good!
So, I want to encourage you. Bad things are going to happen. They happen to everyone. Sometimes they seem endless. But there is hope in Jesus!
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
"And we know in all things that God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
When you are doing life with God, He will get you through whatever hardships come your way and He promises that He will use them for your good! So, when stormy waters come your way, trust Him.
"One day Jesus said to his disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side of the lake.' So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Master, Master, we’re going to drown!' He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm." Romans 8:22-24
No comments:
Post a Comment