Scripture
20You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. 21No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them. Genesis 50:20-21
Observation
At the death of their father Jacob the brothers of Joseph thought for sure he would now take his retribution on them for throwing him in the pit as a boy and leaving him for dead. Joseph was the second most powerful person in Egypt and was certainly justified in making his brothers pay for their violence against him. The sons of Israel were afraid for their lives and family seeing Joseph as foe rather than friend. This grieved Joseph, “When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept.” (Gen. 50:17). After 17 years under his care and they still didn’t know his heart. He had forgiven his brothers and therefore had the fresh perspective that his brothers needed. Forgiveness paves the way for faith’s perspective. It helps us see the higher purpose in hard times. Fear clouds our vision, causes us to misread the situation, to isolate and isolate from the very source of help. Joseph assured them that God’s will was in this. That He turned their desire to hurt Joseph into a means to help them. There was no way they could have ever conceived that the boy they threw into the pit, the man sentenced to prison, would wind up in the palace as a Prince of Egypt. Joseph was the comeback kid! Joseph knew he had to go through hell to be the help God’s people needed for such a time as this. That this position he held wasn’t about him, but was purposed by God’s divine design.
Application
What if where we wake, work and worship isn’t merely by happenstance or circumstance but by God’s divine design? What if, like Joseph, God has placed us right where He wants us to care for those around us? What if we looked at our current situation in our lives, our church, our country and saw it through the lens of faith rather than fear? There are many who shout in fear that our economy can never comeback from this shutdown, that our churches can never comeback from the shutdown, that our country can never comeback from this shutdown. The truth is we can only comeback from all of that when we first come back to Jesus. God’s heart isn’t in this pandemic but His hand is using it to call His people to come back to an authentic deeper faith. If the person you voted isn’t being inaugurated today it would be easy to be fearful of your future. What if, like Joseph, we looked at our current circle of influence and realized we can effect positive change right here and right now? Our positions are purposed by the Lord! That, as a father and husband I must determine that regardless of who is in the White House that God reigns over my house. That, as a friend and a bother, I must determine that my words and actions will build up rather than tear down. That, as a pastor and a leader, I must determine that as Christians we won’t choose sides, but love all sides Jesus died for. What if this setback is a setup for a comeback of true faith being lived out, not just on Sunday, but every day of the week? What if our future isn’t doom and gloom as so many professional media moguls have been pontificating? What if, like Joseph, we look at our positions of influence and say boldly, “God brought me here to save lives.”!
Prayer
Lord, on this day, You have filled me with hope. I’m kicking fear to the curb and I’m walking forward by faith. You call us to pray for all those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-3), so I pray that Biden and Harris would hear Your voice and turn their hearts toward You as they lead this country. I also pray that I would walk in the authority You’ve given me through the positions of influence entrusted to me to point people towards You. Let me have the heart of Joseph which is the heart of Jesus. That instead of looking for retribution and revenge against those who have hurt me I would walk in forgiveness and seek healing. I don’t want to wake up in dread of what’s to come but rather wake up with an expectation that You are up to something good even if I can’t see it. Turn this thing around Lord as only You can do! We, Your people, set our hearts to come back to You!
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