I know that everything that happens in life has a reason, but it's up to us in how we respond. There are things in life that happen that are very hard to get past. I think of Joseph who went through a number of things that would be very hard to get over easily. It must of been very hard being rejected by his brothers, who had shown no mercy at his cries when he cried from a pit in which they had thrown him. Worst of all they took him and sold him into slavery and had not one drop of mercy as he looked back in tears.
I know it must of been very hard for Joseph to get past being accused of something he didn't do. Especially because the accusation against him would harm his testimony as a Godly man. Then to be thrown into prison for years and seemingly forgotten. How he must of been tempted to become bitter at his situation. He must of spent many hours praying and wondering in his heart why. Still he trusted and stayed faithful to God.
Then came the day he became the "savior of the known world." God had blessed him with the unusual ability to know things through the interpretation of dreams. He was blessed with the gift
even as a child. The gift was one of the reasons his brothers hated him. His family did not believe him but the talent that God had given him would be used to save many people from starvation. God had a greater purpose.
Now this story I'm about to tell you may not seem to be as hard a thing to go through as what Joseph did, but I know it is something kids can learn from today. When I was around seven or eight years old. I was an A student in my music class. The school was having a Christmas program and I was in the bell choir. I was all excited about it and ready to give it my all. We stood up to perform our song and it was perfect as far as I can remember, but to my surprise, not a good surprise at all, The boy behind me decided he wanted to move my chair from behind me. The teacher motioned for us to all be seated and what happened? I fell flat on my behind and bells were ringing everywhere. Kids were angry at me for messing up the whole thing. They stood there laughing and some were mad. The teacher pulled me aside and guess what, She informed me my grade would be lowered by one letter because of what someone else did to me. Now I don't remember what happened afterwards, I'm sure I was very heart broken, but I do know this. When you get punished for something that someone else does to you it's not something that you get over easily.
Through life we go through things sometimes so that later on we can help others who may be going through tough times. We may have even been unjustly treated just as Joseph. God has given us the story of Joseph as an example how to react to life's problems. In the story of Joseph, He becomes a very powerful man over all of Egypt. He even had the power to put people into prison, but Joseph also knew to show mercy as he was lead by God. Joseph was a powerful man but He also was a very humble man because of everything God allowed him to go through. He was able to react to those who treated him unjustly with love and forgiveness, but he also used caution in his choices. He was prepared by His problems for a greater purpose.
Thanksgiving is a time set aside each year to remind us to be thankful and to give thanks to God for His provision, health, and the blessings of our loved ones and friends.
In the biblical story of Joseph as a Egyptian prisoner, had foretold through the interpretation of the Kings dreams that there would be a great famine that would bring hunger to many peoples. Through this interpretation they knew that there would be a season of plenty, seven years of plenty and also then, seven years of famine. Joseph gave the suggestion to gather and to store for the seven years of plenty to be able to provide food for the hungry, during the famine years. Joseph became an Egyptian leader and planned for the provision of the hungry. Genensis 41:56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians;
The hungry heard that Egypt had stored food in order to feed thousands including those who traveled from their homes to feed their families. God had used Joseph to feed thousands of hungry Egyptian families. In Joseph's youth his brothers thought little of him, thought he was prideful and favored,( his father's pet.) In their jealousy they sought to destroy their own brother. They sold him into slavery and lied to their father. Joseph's father grieved Joseph's death until it made him old. He believed a lie for many years.
God had a plan to use Joseph to save thousands of families from hunger. He became a great leader even after many accusations against him. He was accused of sexual misconduct against Pharaoh's wife.
She was offended by his rejection of her advances towards him and used his own clothing as her evidence. Joseph was convicted of a crime he did not commit. After years in prison for something He did not do, God continued to use him and prepared him for leadership.
The biblical account of Joseph is a perfect example of undeserved rejection and hardship. Joseph was being prepared for something greater. He continued to trust God through his greatest testing's of faith. He remained faithful and God used him in a mighty way.
The reason I've written of this biblical account is because of God's provision. One of the greatest parts of the account of Joseph was when He and His brothers were reunited through forgiveness. God brought him and his family back together after many years of grief and sorrow. Joseph's father rejoiced in the Lord to know that his son Joseph was alive.
Joseph had realized that God had a purpose for everything that had happened to him. His brothers were able to forgive themselves for what they had done as youths and made peace with God.
When problems com along in your life, remember Joseph and learn from his choices. God has a purpose for you and if you stay faithful he will bring you to that purpose and your eyes will be opened to the why, just as Joseph learned why.
Genesis 50:20
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Genesis 45:6-8
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Children's Devotion:
Susan Y Nikitenko November 17th, 2013
