EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
SUNDAY JANUARY 24, 2021.
SUBJECT: GOD’S PURPOSE IS IN THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE!
Memory verse: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called to His purpose." (Romans 8 vs 28.)
READ: Genesis 45 vs 5; 7 - 8; 50 vs 20:
45:5: But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
45:7: And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and save your lives by a great deliverance.
45:8: So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and Lord of all his house, and ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
50:20: But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
INTIMATION:
God customizes some of our problems so that we can fulfill the purpose for which we are created. They are stepping stones, and ordained platform en route to our divine destiny. The vicissitudes of life we encounter are part of His plans for our journey in life to achieve His purpose. The cross you carry was tailor-made by the carpenter's Son. Therefore, when you encounter them, as a child of God, do not be dismayed, for He is still with you. If you are obedient, even to the end, you will eat the fruit of the land, and you will obtain the crown of life—eternal life with Him.
Perhaps no other account in all of Scriptures illustrates the strange vicissitudes of life more vividly than the biography of Joseph (The Dreamer). Joseph was was the eleventh, and the favorite son of Jacob, one of the patriarchs of Israelite history. Though Joseph was loved by his father, he was hated by his brothers because of his favored status. In Egypt he became
a favorite servant in Potiphar's house, a favorite prisoner to the warden and other prisoners, a favorite interpreter of dreams, and a favorite lieutenant to King Pharaoh. And after many years, he became the favorite even to his ten brothers who were envious of him.
Joseph stoked his brothers' hatred by telling them of dreams he had—dreams in which his brothers bowed down to him. One day the brothers could contain their rage no longer. They seized Joseph and threw him into a pit. Their first thought was to kill him, but they changed their minds when they saw a caravan heading for Egypt. Instead of murdering him, his brothers sold him as a slave to members of the caravan. They returned home and told their father that Joseph had been killed by a wild beast.
In Egypt, Joseph became the trusted servant of Potiphar, an official in the king's court. Unfortunately, The trust was shattered by one false accusation against Joseph by his master’s wife. Without so much as a court hearing, Joseph was thrown into prison.
In prison, Joseph met the king's cup bearer and the king's baker. Both men were troubled by strange and mysterious dreams. When they told Joseph their dreams, he interpreted the strange visions for them. Days later his words came to pass in precisely the way he had announced. Joseph merely attributed his ability to the God.
Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream. His advisors could not even begin to interpret it. Joseph was summoned from the prison to decipher the strange, troubling images. After a moment of silence, Joseph declared the visions meant that Egypt would be blessed with seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine.
In grateful response, Pharaoh appointed Joseph second-in-command in Egypt (a Prime Minister in a foreign land). Joseph's appointment remains an astonishing moment in ancient history. How do we explain his rise from an impoverished foreigner to an imperial leader? However, God was with him in his journey of life, and empowered him to overcome all temptations.
God predetermined the fame of Joseph, and even showed him in a vision of the night what He has planned and purposed for him. God packaged all the encounters in the life of Joseph to achieve His purpose.
He was pre-ordained by God to be the savior of his people, and God was with him in all his travails. So many problems were lined up en route to his destined purpose; he was betrayed and deserted by his brothers; he was exposed to sexual temptation; suffered false accusation, and punished for doing the right thing; he endured a long imprisonment and was forgotten by those he helped.
Joseph didn't plan to be in the bottom of a pit after he recounted his God-given dream to his loved ones, but he was. He did not foresee his brothers selling him into slavery, but they did. God had destined him for great things, but people and problems got in the way, apparently fashioned to get him his destiny.
Joseph was faithful in the problems. He maintained his character and integrity while enduring the problem; he was patient all through, and didn’t complain while facing ridicule, rejection, envy,
jealousy, false
accusations, and imprisonment.
Through it all, God showed favor to him.
Are you a child of God? Do you place your absolute trust in Him, and is obedient and serving Him? Is God first in your life?
Are you engulfed in the vicissitudes of life?
Have you gone through your spiritual checklist to make sure that you are not the cause of the problem?
Do you find it difficult to find the purpose of the predicament you are in?
If your answers are 'yes,' then, rest assured of your great visitation from Him. What you are passing through are all en-route to your glorious destiny.
PRAISE THE LORD!
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