Category: trials

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Genesis 48-50 Blessings, Death, Forgiveness

Forgiveness ..man's greatest need

As we close out Genesis, we come to these three chapters which might be called, God’s Diary for in it we find how God operates through human history. 

God blesses those who obey and honor Him. He brings “home” those of his servants to enjoy the afterlife. And lastly, maybe one of the most important lesson and take away for us is the trait of forgiveness.

As we have said, God never wastes a trial but uses it to show His faithfulness and his lovingkindness. We see that in the life of Joseph and even though it was years and years, God used them to grow Joseph to be the man of God He could use to bring about His plans for his people.  In the meantime, Jacob has to learn from his sins, which were many, to prepare his sons for the next stage in their lives. God opens the windows of heaven and pours out his blessings on Jacob after he has lived in the cauldron of affliction and sin. He is now humble and ready to see God’s plan unfold in steps in the restoration of his family in a very agonizing and challenging time. God restores Joseph to Jacob so that he and his children might be spared the death knell of famine. 

Jacob has a family time and pronounces “blessings” upon each boy  “what will happen to you in future days.” It seems strange to hear the words of Jacob because they don’t sound like blessings to us, but God will use each to show us Jacob may have had 12 sons but he knew the character of each. And after this time of reflection, Jacob blesses Joseph’s children, draws up his knees and dies. 

But, the last lesson is what we want to focus on: forgiveness. Joseph has had many a year to process his life and what has happened to him but has come to terms with “God’s ways are not our ways.” [Is 55:8-9] As he welcomes his brothers and provides for them,he is astounded and deeply hurt when they announce they will give their lives to be his slaves. They have not learned the lesson of forgiveness as seen by Joseph’s tears. They really didn’t get it! 

Which brings us to our own lives. Do we get it? Do we understand that verse in Isaiah? 

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We have walked with Joseph through many a year, beginning when he was a favored son of Jacob and hated by his brothers. In a moment of jealousy, they sold him to traders and then to Potiphar. From there, he was thrown into prison under false charges. Joseph triumphed over sin and temptations, and God blessed him with wisdom and understanding. God does not waste our trials but uses them to mature us and prepare us to be used for Him and His glory. Jesus gave the disciples a prayer, which we call the Lord’s Prayer. In it, He said for us to pray: lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. This was true in the life of Joseph and can be true for you.

Sometimes, God reveals his purposes in real time for two reasons: He alone gets the glory, and we become the instruments to proclaim His name and His work before unbelievers. Such was the case with Joseph; it is valid for each of us believers.

As you walk through the trials of life, ask God where He wants to use you in His kingdom work, but be prepared for trials to come your way just as they did in the life of Joseph. Behind every black cloud of trials is a line of pure light and God’s blessing. Claim it!

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Genesis 40 Joseph

The game of chess

There is much to be learned when we take time to analyze the biblical characters that we find in our daily reading. Joseph is always seen as the master of his fate and the beloved son of his aged father, but one author called him the “upstart” and one that used his position to garner his father’s love. So, with that on our minds, let’s really look at Joseph.

He was the son of his father’s love and the youngest son in this story but there is another son who will be the youngest, Benjamin. Joseph endeared himself to his father as the son of his old age, but his other brothers were jealous of him. These brothers, as we have seen, are not the best examples of purity and righteous for they schemed and plotted to destroy the Shechemites. It was after this, that Joseph is tasked to go and report on the brother’s work. Joseph innocently goes off to find them, but the brothers are once again scheming to remove Joseph. Through this we see Joseph as one who seems to lack discernment regarding these ten brothers It is into this saga we find innocent Joseph being sold into slavery where he rises in the ranks of Potiphar’s house and then is unjustly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. It is in these two places, Joseph’s skills as caretaker and interpreter of dreams are noted. God does not waste our positions but uses them for His purposes which brings us back to the words of Isaiah 55:8-9:

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

When we are in a quandary as to the “why’s” we need to turn back to Isaiah and trust God in all circumstances. Just as we read in Job, God is at work to bring about His plans for our good even though presently we are left in the dark.

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Job 38-39 God’s ways are unknowable to men

Praising God

After 37 chapters in which Job has sought to defend himself against all the cries of his friends that he is a sinner, Job finally has his audience with the Lord God Almighty. God challenges Job to rethink his assessment of his questions and instead, God presents the case for Him as creator of all that lives and moves about the earth. These chapters remind us of the words of Isaiah: “Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds,” says the Lord, “for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans.” [Is 55:8-9] 

When we think we want an audience with the Lord, it would be wise to consider that God is Creator, He is Master, He is LORD! He knows the ways of men and He alone is offering Himself to each one that they might consider who they are in the realm of all that is and will be. Look about the world as you see it and experience it through His eyes and stop and praise Him for He is great and greatly to be praised. 

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1.11.25. Now and Tomorrow…

You are chosen

Job 29-31 Recalling the Past

As I age, I find I am doing just as Job. I recall my earlier days when my body was strong and I could work all day with abundant energy but now I tire easily and my strength is lessening with each passing day. Oh how I can relate to Job! He recalls the prime of his life and the joy of being able to serve and work with great joy. These days I find myself just like Job and soon i will be saying just as he said: my words are ended. But, in the meantime, I find my memories are sweet and abundant. I recall the successes and the failures for each taught me lessons that God would use to add to His work. Aging tends to do that. With age comes both wisdom and failures of past times.Don’t linger there my friend. Job has suffered greatly but in that suffering he has found the true meaning of life which is to honor God and give Him praise. He raises up and puts down men according to His will and we must be grateful for each day. 

Another sweet sister has gone to heaven and so as I read Job I find myself wondering. Her absence leaves a hole that cannot be filled and my heart is heavy knowing her absence is felt by her sweet family. Yet, in all of that, my heart rejoices that she is seeing the Lord she loved and served. What about you dear friend? 

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How to win over temptation.

Matthew 4 Temptation and Repentance

Jesus faced the onslaught of temptation from the evil one. Satan is clever and begins his temptation of Christ when he is at his lowest point physically and spiritually. We too face this same temptation when we are at our lowest and are the most vulnerable. That is why we must stay close to the Lord 24/7, 365 days a year. Satan may not be omniscient but he has his demons who work for him and they can follow his orders. We must be on guard. Jesus knew that the only tool that works against Satan is the mighty word of the Lord and He utilized it. He knew scripture and could recall the exact words to be used as he sword of the Lord. Scripture memorization is key and we must use it as part of our weapons. In Ephesians we are given the weapons that will win: Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God) (Eph 6:11-16) 

Sometimes we are successful but other times we are not. When Jesus passed the test by Satan, He then picked up the message of John the Baptist: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” That is what we need to do when we fail: repent and do not rehearse the failure but claim the power of God and seek His face. Stand up! Stand firm! 

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Encouraging One Another

Colossians 2 How do we encourage others who we do not see face to face? That must have been on Paul’s mind as he pondered the flock at Colossae and Laodicea. His heart was there with them even though he could not be there in person. As with many of us, our hearts yearn to see others face to face so we can read their countenances and hear their thoughts. However, when that is not possible, it is with pen in hand that we write our thoughts just as Paul did. His first thought was that “their hearts be knit together in love and be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ,”

Paul knew that even in a Roman prison there were distractions that would cause one’s faith to be challenged. He knew that to also be true for these believers so far away.So he reminds them to consider their walk in Christ, that their life be rooted in Him. He also wants them to be discerning when others come with false teachings and philosophy. Truly even today we must be on guard. 

Today, don’t let the world tell you that you must have a list of do’s and don’ts, instead let Christ rule your heart and your life. Freedom is in Him, not the list. 

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Finally…

1 Peter 3 Peter has been stressing how the church should behave. First, he addresses the family unit, wives then husbands. But to be sure that no one is left out of this, he concludes with these words: “Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.” [1Peter3:8-9]

We are called to be a blessing to all men/women. Christ said to love one another  as He had loved them. Peter sums up how that should look. Each word in his mandate reflects the manner in which they were to behave in and out of church. As they live and move in the world, their lives should reflect the life of Christ. 

Where are we/I reflecting the life of Christ today? My mother had a hard life, and I can remember that one person she trusted did not keep a confidence. I am not sure what transpired but I do know this, as a Christian woman she lived both in church and out of church this life model. Even though her heart was hurt, she did not hold it against that person but she became discerning about what to share and what not to share but above all, she sought to live as Christ lived, not returning evil for evil. This is a challenge for me to do the same. 

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Hindsight

Acts 27 They say hindsight is 20-20 and it seems that this is true in this chapter. Paul had wisely told the centurion that they should not try to sail but his words were lost to the wind, (pun intended). As it happened, Paul’s words came to be and the ship and all of its cargo was lost, but the 276 persons were saved. 

How often has someone given us wise counsel and we have ignored it only to face the consequences of our choice that will turn out to be harmful and injurious, not just to ourselves but others around us. Take heed dear reader, listen to the counsel of others and test the words by prayer and the reading of the Word. 

God will not lead His children astray. Prov 3:5-6 comes back to tell us: trust in the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding but acknowledge him and he will lead us in the way we should go. This also brings to mind that verse in Isaiah: “You will hear a word spoken behind you, saying, This is the correct way, walk in it,” [Is 30:21] 

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Are you preparing for eternity?

Luke 6 How do you see and experience true wisdom and a life that produces rewards? Remember, what you have now is temporal, and if you have nothing but obedience, then that will be rewarded not here but in the afterlife. Jesus wanted the religious leaders to look around them. Did they see those who were poor, hungry, weeping, and hated by the establishment?  Jesus was the same; He left his heavenly home to live a life just as you. He had no place to lay his head, was hungry, and wept because of the inequities of this earthly life. Jesus was challenging the religious leaders to look and see and then do. He wanted them and us to love and trust Him, but they were more concerned about rules and traditions than obedience. He left them with this illustration.

Two men wanted to build a house. One chose the rocky high ground, and the task was tedious and lengthy. The other wanted his house done quickly, so he decided on the ground that was not firm. God sent storms into their lives to test them, but the one who had gathered promptly lost it when the storm of life came. The one who diligently worked at this task to build a sure foundation weathered that storm, and his house stood firm. 

Each should decide not to live life for the here and now but for the future. Each of the houses, land, and words of others will all pass into eternity, but the lasting things is obedience to His word. 

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