Year of the Bible: Part Two of Twelve 预览

Joseph: From Prisoner to Ruler, to Savior.

Joseph's story is a rich testimony of the goodness of God and His sovereignty [He reigns over all.] He desires to work through the lives of people who are willing to submit to His plan. In an unlikely turn of events, Joseph ascended from the obscurity of a jail cell to the second-highest position of authority in the entire known world. The journey from prisoner to ruler took thirteen years, and another seven years passed before he met his brothers again.

By the grace of God, Joseph forgave and opened his heart to the brothers who betrayed him. The story culminates with him being in the position to save his entire family from starvation, and he says to his brothers, "What you meant for evil, God purposed for good, for the saving of many lives."

Joseph was forgotten and left in a jail cell for years, but he was never out of God's sight. We know this, even when we feel forgotten, God never forgets about us. Even when we suffer injustice, God is trustworthy and faithful to accomplish His desired outcome, even when His plan is hidden from our sight. That's the trust we can have in His character.

Additionally, Joseph's story foreshadows what Jesus did for us and how He accomplished His Father's will for all of us. Jesus, like Joseph, first descended into a place of shame and was then raised to the highest position of authority, seated at the right hand of God.

He went before us to save us from the spiritual famine raging in our world. Salvation is found in no one else. Neither Joseph nor Jesus looked particularly successful at first. However, if you measure success with the measuring stick of obedience, they were amazingly successful in accomplishing the Father's desired plans.

Have confidence today; no plan can succeed against the Lord's plan. He did miracles then, and He is doing them today! If you are Christ's, the same spirit that raised Jesus from the grave now lives in you!

Question: What's an area of pain you have or are experiencing that you would like to give entirely to God?

Prayer Focus: Talk to God about the areas of pain you have experienced and ask Him to redeem all of it, in His time, for His glory.