Spring is almost here! My guess is some of you are looking forward to warmer weather and a palette of colorful flowers. It is a wonderful thing to have hope and good memories.
Sometimes life can bring painful maladies but hope allows us to look forward to the future. Hope, knowing God has a plan and purpose for everything. Joseph is a great example of this. He is an Old Testament figure that was critical to the development of Israel. He seemingly did everything right yet he was despised by his brothers. So much so that they sold him into slavery to the Egyptians. He was later imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. How unfair, or was it part of a plan God was orchestrating in his life?
Gen. 37:4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.
Joseph faithfully served God. He was a man of integrity and worked hard for his masters. He did his very best when life was at its worst. He continued to worship his God and looked to God as a source of his hope.
Sure enough, God’s plan was revealed. His brothers had to come to him for help. They needed food and Joseph had become the Prime Minister of Egypt. His brothers didn’t recognize him, but he knew who they were. After revealing who he was, they were horrified! What would he do? His response was remarkable . . .
Genesis 50:19-21 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20 You 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. 21 No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
We need to learn from Joseph . . . The only person who knows the future is God. He has a plan and a purpose for our good 🙂
Blessings, Pastor Duffy