And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. Genesis 45:7

Joseph understood the truth of what Paul stated over a thousand years later: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Yes, it was the actions of his brothers that cruelly sold him into slavery. But God used the result of those actions to accomplish His purposes.

What is going on in my life that makes me want to blame and complain? Am I able (or willing) to take a step back in order to see this as something God will use? It is not that the circumstance will now be easy; it is that I no longer need to wallow in the hopelessness of it. God is in charge and He will work through this if I love Him more than myself.

Father, thanking you for using all the circumstances – the good, the bad, and the ugly – of my life for your glory.

Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Genesis 41:16

Finally Joseph was getting his break from hard circumstances. The ruler of Egypt invited him into his presence to interpret a dream. Pharaoh was prepared to give Joseph all of the credit for the interpretation.

Joseph, though willing to explain the meaning of the dreams and provide service to Pharaoh, insisted on giving the rightful credit to God. “I don’t interpret dreams; God does.” His focus stayed on God and his actions gave glory to God.

When “success” comes my way and good things result from my service, gift, or talent, am I anxious to take credit or am I careful to give glory to God? And it is not enough to give lip service and feign humility. The attitude of my heart is what really matters.

Father, thank you for allowing me to be useful for Your Kingdom work. May Your name be glorified.

Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. Genesis 40:23

A friend sent me this quote today (thanks, Britt): “Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian.” – Dennis Wholey

Joseph certainly did not receive fair treatment. His brothers cruelly sold him into slavery and he served loyally in Potiphar’s house. Falsely accused of trying to take advantage of his master’s wife, Joseph was thrown into prison. While in prison, Joseph gained the trust of those around him and in leadership. But after assisting another man in prison who was later granted freedom, this man forgot Joseph. No one seemed to care for Joseph or to seek his best. All of his good deeds came to nothing or even brought trouble.

But God never forgot him. And God never forgets me.

I may not act nobly like Joseph. My attitudes and actions may become self-serving and downright sinful. But when I trust in God and surrender my will to His, He reminds me of His faithfulness. And when I follow God with joy and gladness but only gain heartache and trouble, He reminds me of His faithfulness.

Thank you, God, for caring for me.

They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” Genesis 37:19-20

These chapters begin the story of Joseph’s troubles with his brothers and how it led to his journey from Egyptian servitude, to prison, then, remarkably, to second in command over all of Egypt. This tale begins with the dreams of Joseph and how his entire family discarded them.

Dreamers often face a similar fate. Those who are closest do not believe the dreams can ever come to reality. Others, however, are threatened by the possibility that the dreams may come true and will do anything to stop the dreamer.

If your dreams are from God, keep your eyes of Jesus no matter what anyone else says or does. There will be naysayers, maybe even opposition. But always follow God with complete obedience and loyalty.

I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Genesis 32:10

Years earlier, Jacob fled from his house to escape the wrath of Esau. Now he finds himself on the move again, but this time back home where Esau awaits. Jacob’s family has grown and so have his possessions. But faced with the possibility that his brother might want to kill him, Jacob comes to God with humility.

It is a good place to be. Jacob knows his only source of help is with the Lord. No more trickery. No more running away from problems. Honesty and humility as he bows before God.

When I quit playing games with God, when I quit trying to be smarter and better than everyone else, when I bow before God and with honesty and humility declare, “I’m not worthy of the love and faithfulness You have shown me,” then I’m on the right path. Only then will I trust in God to care for me.

Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun. Genesis 30:20

Leah felt like an extra. Unloved. Unappreciated. If only she could give Jacob sons, then he would love her. One son born but still no love. Two sons, then three. Unloved. Finally Leah gives birth to her sixth son, Zebulun. Now, after all of these sons, surely Leah will receive the love of Jacob.

How often do people try to earn God’s love by doing good things? “If I can be good enough,” we reason, “surely God will love me.” Sometimes we try it with great religious fervor. Sometimes we think God can be bought by giving a bigger check. “Perhaps if I do more good things than other people, God will love me.”

Sometimes it is the reverse that we say is true. “Because I have not been good, God will not love me.” We picture God more like Santa Claus, keeping a list and checking it twice, than the gracious and merciful God described in the Bible.

Let’s be clear: God loves you with such a great love that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for your sins. Now God invites you to trust in that love and find forgiveness and a restored relationship with Him.

You have to decide to keep trying (without satisfaction) to earn that love and forgiveness with your own good works or trust the love proven by God in Jesus. Try (in vain) to earn love; receive the love already freely provided by Jesus. Come (with no success) on your terms or come on His terms through Jesus.

It’s your choice.

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. Genesis 29:20

A reading through these chapters reveals deep family problems: favoritism by the parents, deceitfulness between the brothers, trickery by a new brother-in-law, and more. The issues are deep, causing problems for generations.

Yet, this verse of Jacob’s love for Rachel must be the most romantic verse in the Bible. His love for her overlooked the years of labor that would be required for him to marry her. Even though he did not enjoy how the circumstances were concluded (because of the deep family problems), Jacob’s love for Rachel was not tempered by the work, the time, or the trickery. His love persisted.

Our love will overcome all obstacles. Love is more than infatuation, more than pleasure, more than lust. Real love cares for the other person more than self. Personal needs become less important than demonstrating selfless, generous love for someone else. Love overcomes all obstacles.

Father, help me to love, really love.

And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. Genesis 26:12-13

Isaac labored and became wealthy, but the Bible makes it clear that the Lord was the source of his wealth. God blessed Isaac abundantly. And while it was necessary for Isaac to sow and reap, the gain came from the Lord.

When I work hard and things go well, I need to remember the blessing, the abundance, comes from the Lord. Having already finished reading Job, I know that hard circumstances and rich blessings are both under the wise providence of God. He knows what I need and, even more, He knows what brings Him glory.

In times of blessing, give thanks to God. In times of struggle, give thanks to God.

Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” Genesis 22:5

Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. Genesis 22:8

Abraham again demonstrated his great faith in God. He assured his servants that both he and Isaac would return from worshiping God. He assured Isaac that God would provide the sacrifice.

Yet this story, while revealing the depth of Abraham’s faith, is about the great God who provides the sacrifice for His people. Abraham’s faith points us to the God Who is worthy to be worshiped, Who cares for His people, Who demands a sacrifice to atone for sin then provides the sacrifice that His people might be restored to Him.

God provided for Abraham and Isaac the sacrifice of the ram, a temporary atonement for sin. God provided for all people the sacrifice of His Son, the permanent atonement for sin. Abraham trusted God to provide the ram; we are invited to trust in the provision of Jesus.

For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it. Genesis 19:13

These are hard passages to read, not because I can’t understand what they mean but because I understand all too clearly what God says. God hates sin. He dealt justly with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. In the next chapter God announced to Abimelech the consequences if he continued in his sin.

God hates sin. He hates my sin. My sin brings consequences.

I need someone to intercede for me like Abraham interceded for Lot that he might be spared and like Abraham prayed for Abimelech that he might live. That Someone is Jesus. He paid the consequences of my sin upon the cross and intercedes for me.

Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:34

Jesus, thank You for taking my consequences on the cross and for interceding for me. Help me understand the price of my sin as I turn from it and lean into Your holiness.

Doug