An Unlikely Messenger
The story of Joseph's brothers coming down to Egypt to buy grain during the severe famine is always a joy to read and to consider again how God works out His plans in such fantastic ways! Today, I want to focus in on Joseph's steward. Joseph had gone from being a prisoner to being the second in command in Egypt under Pharaoh. Now, we see that Joseph had a steward to work for him. During the second visit of Jacob's sons, when they brought Benjamin back, as Joseph commanded them to do, the steward spoke God's message to the men.(Genesis 43:23) This is an example of an Egyptian explaining to Israelites how God worked. What an unlikely messenger of God.
How did this happen? Well, it appears to me that there are two options. Either Joseph had witnessed to his steward, so that He had come to believe in God, or the steward was a pagan delivering God's message. Either way, this is pretty amazing. I can see Joseph explaining to his steward how God had brought him from slavery and from prison to rule under Pharaoh, and I can see how the steward would put his trust in such a great God. However, God is just as able to use an unbeliever to deliver His message, if that is what He wants to do. God always lets us know what He is doing, so we have the opportunity to believe in Him as Lord of our lives. He desires for all to hear the good news and trust Him.
God uses humans to deliver his message. That is why we need to be witnesses to those around us, and we need to tell them how God delivered us from the bondage of sin to salvation. Then, they can come to know Him and share the message with others. However, people may hear the truth from an unbeliever. It is still the truth and the good news, and if they will trust the Lord, He will save them. This steward was an unlikely messenger to Joseph's brothers, but they really needed to hear how God was working and put their trust in Him, not in people.. We need to do the same thing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 44-46.
How did this happen? Well, it appears to me that there are two options. Either Joseph had witnessed to his steward, so that He had come to believe in God, or the steward was a pagan delivering God's message. Either way, this is pretty amazing. I can see Joseph explaining to his steward how God had brought him from slavery and from prison to rule under Pharaoh, and I can see how the steward would put his trust in such a great God. However, God is just as able to use an unbeliever to deliver His message, if that is what He wants to do. God always lets us know what He is doing, so we have the opportunity to believe in Him as Lord of our lives. He desires for all to hear the good news and trust Him.
God uses humans to deliver his message. That is why we need to be witnesses to those around us, and we need to tell them how God delivered us from the bondage of sin to salvation. Then, they can come to know Him and share the message with others. However, people may hear the truth from an unbeliever. It is still the truth and the good news, and if they will trust the Lord, He will save them. This steward was an unlikely messenger to Joseph's brothers, but they really needed to hear how God was working and put their trust in Him, not in people.. We need to do the same thing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 44-46.