There’s no better way to start the week than by filling up with God’s Word. So each Monday morning join me here to take a brief, but reflective look into a passage of Scripture.
About a year ago, my oldest daughter and her husband began looking to purchase their first home. After weeks of traipsing around unsuitable houses they found it! It met their needs and fit their budget.
While Kelley and Jeremy took photos of the house they knew was perfect their realtor called the listing agent. After a short conversation she shared the discouraging news. The owner had received a contract just the night before. Extremely disappointment, they decided to wait a bit. They had looked at everything available in their price range.
Two weeks later their realtor called with good news. The deal on “their” house had not worked out. They put in an offer that day and by the next it was accepted. They moved in last May. This situation reminded our family that God has plans we don’t always see. He’s always working, even when we aren’t aware of His activity. Let’s see this truth in Scripture today:
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime. 27 Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!” And his brothers agreed. 28 So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty piecesof silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.
29 Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief. 30 Then he went back to his brothers and lamented, “The boy is gone! What will I do now?” 31 Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. 32 They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?”
33 Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. 35 His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep. 36 Meanwhile, the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain of the palace guard.
Joseph’s brothers, jealous of their father’s favoritism and affection, sold him into slavery. Jacob believed his beloved son was dead. However, “Meanwhile…” God was working in Egypt. His plan was drastically different than it appeared. Joseph would rise to power in Egypt and Jacob would see his son again.
What circumstances of your life appear to be hopeless right now?
Ask God to impact you with the truth that He is indeed working. Ask for Him to fill you with the knowledge that He has a plan and the power to carry it out!
