'It was not you that sent
me hither, but God.'
Genesis Chapter 45 Verse 8
I never tire of reading the story of Joseph. Anyone who has had difficulties
or unfathomable trials in their life can take great comfort from these
glorious chapters in God's Word. Thank you Lord, for Joseph and his brothers!
I find that I have no sooner said to myself that things cannot get any worse
for me - that they do! Often it seems to me to be one heavy stroke after
another. I rise and seem to get my head above the water line for a little
while then bang, down I go again! Each time I go down, I wonder if I will ever
reach the surface and the light again.
It is at times like this that it is all too easy to look around and be envious
of others. Why do these things always seem to happen to me? Why are these
things against me? Why is God against me?
Yep! I am no sooner down than I am looking for someone to blame. It cannot be
me! What have I done now to deserve this? Or I say, "God is in control of
everything. It is His doing. God is to blame!" Is it just me, or have you had
these thoughts as well?
Then anger against God sets in. I say to myself, "No point in reading the
Bible as I cannot believe a word He tells me these days! No point in praying
because I've been praying for these things for years without an answer. He is
not listening to me. He is not interested in my prayers!"
Oh! Poor me! Who is like me? If I were truly a Christian then these thoughts
would not enter my head and these things would not be happening to me.
No?
Read the story of Joseph! Sold by his brothers, taken from his home and
family, taken to a different country, thrown into jail for a crime he did not
commit and forgotten by those whom he helped bail out!
The story does not make any sense if we only read an isolated chapter. We must
look at the big picture, the whole story. Only then will we marvel at God's
goodness, mercy and love.
God and I were not talking to each other earlier this week. Things had
plummeted badly for me and it seemed that no matter what I tried, it failed! I
could do nothing right, yet I did not know what I was doing wrong!
I had been praying earnestly for certain things to happen in my life, yet the
opposite seemed to be my portion. I found this so disheartening that my spirit
failed, and as it did, things got even worse! I was hurt and I was angry with
my God. I said, "Why did you let these things happen? It would have been just
as easy for You to bless as to withhold."
I dreaded getting up in the morning. I hated myself and my life, and I wasn't
very pleased with God either. So what changed, or what caused me to rethink
things?
The answer - A good night's sleep! Rest!
I had been attacked when I was physically weak and I was unable to fight
against the wiles of the Evil One. The more he took advantage of my weakness
the more defeated and deflated I became.
But God!
Only two little words, yet they mean so much to us! God stepped in and as He
did with Peter as he began to sink beneath the waves, he grabbed my hand and
lifted me up. He will not let us suffer beyond what we are able to bear. He
had mercy upon me, and, because He delighted in me, He delivered me.
He delivered me - not from my trials and difficulties - they still remain -
but He delivered me from myself! I had been viewing my life chapter by chapter
and sometimes even verse by verse.
I was not seeing the big picture, the whole story. Only God knows the way that
I take. He knows how to deliver His own. He knows how to bless and to set us
free.
Having enjoyed a good nights rest, I felt stronger and more refreshed in body
this morning. The first thing I wanted to do was to pray. Then I had a hunger
for His Word. I read the story of Joseph from start to finish - halting at the
words at the head of this post - and I marvelled at the love of God for His
people.
'It was not you that sent me hither, but God' My life is mid-chapter or even
mid-verse and I have an enthusiastic hope and confidence regarding the outcome
of things. My friend, do not make the same mistakes that I have made. Let God
finish what He has started and don't try to get in His way.
