The Way God Works
We blame some things on people or on Satan that are really the work of God in our lives. We should be sensitive to God's plan being carried out by people, and give Him the credit, not the people. That is what Joseph told his brothers, when he revealed his identity to them.(Genesis 45:5,8) They were afraid of Joseph being angry with them, so he tried to calm their fears by explaining what God had shown him. I think we need to hear this, so we can have the proper perspective on how God works, too.
God sent Joseph down to Egypt to preserve the lives of his family members. All that happened was a part of God's plan. It was not Satan or just the brothers being hateful. Yes, God used the envy and hatred of the brothers to do His will, since He knew their hearts and what they would do. However, He could have delivered Joseph from his brothers or from slavery in Egypt, but He didn't. He knew that was the right way to bring Joseph to power and to save the Israelites from the terrible famine. He also knew that it would get them down to Egypt where they needed to be for 400 years, so He could bring them out at the right time and show Himself to the whole world. It was all in His plan.
Therefore, we need to realize that God works by allowing bad things into our lives. Yes, that is true. He is not concerned so much with keeping us from pain and problems. He is working His plan, and He is making us like Jesus in the process. If pain and problems contribute to those goals, then that is what He does. Let's see how God works and cooperate with Him like Joseph did. Let's be ready to be used by God when our character is solid and when the time comes, like Joseph did. All the while, remember the ultimate goal is eternity in heaven with Him for us and as many people as possible, not pleasure on this earth.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 47-49.
God sent Joseph down to Egypt to preserve the lives of his family members. All that happened was a part of God's plan. It was not Satan or just the brothers being hateful. Yes, God used the envy and hatred of the brothers to do His will, since He knew their hearts and what they would do. However, He could have delivered Joseph from his brothers or from slavery in Egypt, but He didn't. He knew that was the right way to bring Joseph to power and to save the Israelites from the terrible famine. He also knew that it would get them down to Egypt where they needed to be for 400 years, so He could bring them out at the right time and show Himself to the whole world. It was all in His plan.
Therefore, we need to realize that God works by allowing bad things into our lives. Yes, that is true. He is not concerned so much with keeping us from pain and problems. He is working His plan, and He is making us like Jesus in the process. If pain and problems contribute to those goals, then that is what He does. Let's see how God works and cooperate with Him like Joseph did. Let's be ready to be used by God when our character is solid and when the time comes, like Joseph did. All the while, remember the ultimate goal is eternity in heaven with Him for us and as many people as possible, not pleasure on this earth.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 47-49.