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Preserve?

For 2021, I am reading through the Bible with the Bible Project-Biblical Storyline Reading Plan on the YouVersion App. This devotional will follow along with the daily reading.

The reading for January 15 is: Genesis 43-45

In Genesis 45:5 NASB, Joseph tells his brothers, "Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life." Joseph was aware of a mystery that his brothers had not yet come to understand. There is nothing more exciting than uncovering a mystery about God in your own life. 

Joseph's brothers thought that they took Joseph's life from him. How could they possibly fix what they had done to Joseph's life? Surely now that Joseph was in power, he would get revenge against them right? (Genesis 50:15-17)

Rather than keeping Joseph from the life he was meant to live, the actions of Joseph's brothers fit right into God's plan. God transformed Joseph's self-important attitude into the realization that only God is worthy of being worshipped. Joseph goes from being the favorite with a fancy coat and not working alongside his brothers to telling his brothers, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place?" (Gen 50:19)

Joseph lived year after year with no one to rely on but God. Joseph came to understand that a life lived with God is good solely because God teaches what is wonderful about who God is. Joseph understood that God had a plan for his life to love his brothers by suffering as a slave so that he would be at the right place to store food for them so that they would survive the famine. Joseph was not mad at his brothers, because Joseph looked at his life from a perspective of what God had done. Joseph knew that no matter what people do to you, God's purpose prevails.

When I get frustrated with people's actions there are two ways to look at. I can focus on how what they did hurt them and others, or I can pray for them. I can remind myself that "A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:9) God was working in that person's life long before I started to realize what their problem is. I will not be able to fix their heart no matter how much I think I know. God knows them and loves them better than I do. I can either remember my humble posture before God and trust His work to accomplish their deliverance, or I can I get mad. 

As Joseph said in Genesis 45:7, "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance." 

Who do you need to trust to God?                                                             

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