Title: The Reason Why Perspective Is So Important
Text:
Genesis 45:3-8 (ESV)
3 And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.
4 So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.
8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Observation:
This passage is one I read yesterday in my Daily Bible Reading of reading through the Bible in one year.
As I read this passage I felt the anguish that the brothers much have felt in their heart. They must have been terrified thinking what Joseph might do to them because of the wrong that they had done to him.
But, Joseph had another attitude about them. Joseph had taken the upward look, and He saw the hand of God in what they had done. This is what Joseph said to his brothers.
Genesis 45:5 (ESV)
5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Joseph was able to take the upward look, and he was able to see the purpose of God. He was able to take his eyes off of the circumstances, and place his faith in his heavenly Father.
Genesis 45:6-8 (ESV)
6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.
8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Prayer:
Father, I thank You that I can trust You with my whole heart, and that whatever difficulties and problems I face in life, I have the confidence that You know what I'm going through, and there is a purpose in what You permit to happen to Your children.
Father, my plea and my prayer is that You would give Your believing children a faith that will not falter or fail when we face adversity in life. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:
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