But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Exodus 4:13

This was not the best moment for Moses. God reveals Himself to Moses in a burning bush, demonstrates His power with three miracles, explains His plan of deliverance for the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt, and calls Moses to be His point man. Moses responded with rejection.

Wow. I can’t believe he said that to God.

What else would God have to do to make Himself, His power, and His plan known? Maybe God could come down Himself, perform several miracles, and, when He is killed, rise from the dead. Surely everyone would follow God if He did all of that.

Certainly I would never reject God’s invitation to obedience. My own self-doubts and failures from the past would never prevent me living a bold Christian life. Is there any way I would resist and say, “I’m not willing.” Or, “I’m not good enough.” Perhaps, “Get someone else.” Maybe, “It’s too hard.”

Wow. I’ve said all of these things to God.

God, You didn’t give up on Moses.  Thank you for not giving up on me.

But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. Exodus 1:17

These brave women directly opposed the instructions of the king in order to live in obedience to God. Their courageous actions spared the lives of numerous babies and God blessed these women with their own families. Fear of the Lord resulted in obedience in spite of earthly consequences.

Sometimes it seems easier to acquiesce to the requests of others than to stand firm in obedience to God and His unwavering truth. Standing firm may have a negative result for us, such as rejection from friends, shunning by our family, or a loss of income. In the short term, fudging a bit in order to get along with others may be less painful and seems to be the easier path to take.

But when I fear the Lord above all else, then nothing else matters. This does not mean I can be arrogant or flippant with others if they have a different view of life. It means my allegiance to God will be reflected in my words, actions, and attitudes. I will be loyal to Him.

May I live courageously as a result of my fear of the Lord.

But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?” Genesis 50:19

Joseph’s brothers had good reason to fear. As young men, they treated Joseph with contempt and eventually sold him into slavery. He spent years in servitude and in prison before God miraculously brought him into power. Now Joseph served Pharaoh as second in command of the entire kingdom. With their father now gone, it would be expected for Joseph to have the motive and means of exacting great revenge.

They should be afraid – except for one thing. It’s the one thing they never understood about Joseph.

Joseph wanted his life to be used for God’s purposes and for God’s glory.

It was God Who gave Joseph the dreams. It was obedience to God that caused Joseph to resist temptation. It was God Who gave interpretation of dreams. It was God who granted Joseph favor with both the jailer and Pharaoh. If God ruled his life, then Joseph had no right to act as God in seeking revenge.

If I can get this right, then the so-called injustices in my life won’t matter much. If my life is surrendered to God for Him to use for His purposes and for His glory, then I can trust God to work out the details however He desires. God will be at work in the hardships, the difficulties, the disappointments as well as the blessings, the benefits, and the celebrations. I don’t need to pretend to be in charge; God rules and reigns.

And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here am I.” Genesis 46:2

This is a good response when God calls us: “Here am I.” It reminds me of when parents call out to a child and the child comes running to their side, “Did you call me? Here I am!” Respect and obedience from the child bring the right response to the calling from the parents.

God had much in store for Jacob: a move to Egypt with his entire family, reunion with Joseph and meeting his family, and even his eventual death. But there was an assurance of God provision and the fulfillment of His promise. It began with Jacob answering the call from God.

When God calls out to me, I want to have the same quick response of obedience and surrender.

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.