Who Has Made Man's Mouth?

Ex. 4:10

"But Moses said to the Lord, Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue."

God called Moses to a specific task, but he was afraid because he was slow of speech and of tongue. God certainly could have changed Moses' speech. He could have made him an eloquent speaker, but he didn't. God's answer was, "I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."  Even that was not enough for Moses. He asked God to send someone else. Talk about unwilling! Even though God was displeased, He said that Aaron could go with him and speak for him. The conclusion was, "I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and teach you both what to say."

Moses's calling demonstrated that God's callings are His enablings. If He wants me to serve Him, He will prepare me and equip me to do His will. He is not looking for super humans who have much to offer Him because man has nothing that God can use except a willing heart. What grace that God can empower and use a weak human for His will and glory! Even though Moses was unwilling, he still had to obey. When God calls, obedience is the only viable course! Yet, Moses' fear was so great that God in His mercy allowed Aaron to speak and to help. Such mercy and such grace! This same God is my God. Am I listening carefully for His call and His words? Am I obeying all that He says to me? Do I throw excuses in the face of God?

Father,

I confess my lack of obedience. Teach my heart to obey willingly and completely. Train my ears to hear Your plan and Your purposes.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Eternal Perspective

Gen. 50:20-21

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are to day. So do not fear, I will provide for you and your little ones."

After Joseph's father had died and was buried, the brothers were afraid that Joseph would enact revenge upon them for their wicked deed so they crafted yet another lie to protect themselves. But Joseph saw through the lie, and gave them a promise. Not only would He provide for them and their families, but they had no reason to fear. Joseph's life demonstrated practically what he believed, that is whatever man did for evil would really be God's good for him. This belief took him out of the realm of petty fleshly struggles and left him free to be used by God.

His life is a visual of Rom. 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."  Believing that all things done to me in life are used by God for my good would take me out of the realm of bitterness, grudges, revenge, jealousy, envy, etc. , and replace those attitudes and actions with contentment, submission, and a joy in being used by God for His glory. It would change my vision from being short-sighted, focusing on the flesh, to being eternal-sighted, focusing on God. I would be remembering that He has ordered all my days, even the days when men and women dish dirt, malign, and influence others against me. This is truly the eternal focus.

Father,

Keep me ever aware of You in the midst of this life and its struggle. Help me see all as Your good for me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

God's Plan

Gen. 48-49

As Jacob was giving his blessing to Joseph and his sons, the natural order was disrupted again. Joseph wanted Manasseh to get the blessing since he was the oldest, but Joseph didn't comply since the younger brother would be greater than the older. Instead, Ephraim would be the one whose offspring would become a multitude. However, this was not the only surprise in the family. Reuben's blessing was not that of the firstborn either because of the sin which he could not rectify that is sleeping with his father's concubine. Also, Simeon and Levi did not get a portion because of their violent acts toward the men of Shechem. They were divided and scattered in Israel. Joseph received the longest blessing of all. He had survived by the "hands of the Mighty One of Jacob." Jacob prayed for his family to be blessed abundantly. Although Judah's blessing wasn't as long as Joseph, it was important. From his family, the scepter would not depart.

Even though for years many incidents were brutal and hard to understand, God's purpose was reflected in this blessing. Just as justice was meted out, so blessings were given where they should have been. It is a reminder to me not to judge a situation before its conclusion; and if I never see a conclusion, to trust God that His plan will always come to pass.

Father,

Grow my faith and trust in Your purposes. Help me to rest in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The End of the Story

Gen. 46-48

Joseph was reunited with his brothers and his father; not only that but he was able to provide for them during the years of the famine in Goshen where Jacob lived 17 more years. Joseph's life reflected God's care of him as he then in turn cared for others, his family, the Pharaoh, and the entire land of Egypt. God had special things for Joseph to do, and obviously, the years of hardship were part of his training. What I love about this account is that Joseph harbored no ill will toward those who had been cruel to him. His joy at being reunited with his family was not tainted with secret feelings of regret, revenge, or even bitterness.

For him to have this attitude, he had to live realizing that all his circumstances were ordered by God, the good and the bad. He looked beyond the earthly relationships to the one most important eternal relationship.

Father,

Give me that same eternal focus so that I can live free of the enslaving emotions of the flesh. Help me see all life as coming from you.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Tears of Joy

Gen. 43:30

"Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there."

What great joy when Joseph finally saw his younger brother! I can only imagine how many emotions flooded Joseph after being deprived of family for so many years. Even though the tables were turned and Joseph had his brothers at a disadvantage, his heart was warmed with compassion for Benjamin not consumed with hatred and revenge for the other brothers. Because his heart was right with God, his emotions were honoring to God also. When I am tempted to be angry, revengeful, jealous, etc., I need to pray that my heart will be warmed with compassion. Even though Joseph could have been justified in feeling harshly toward his brothers, that is from a human standpoint, he did not indulge in those feelings. He rested in God's sovereign plan and purpose. He had seen that what his brothers meant for evil, God meant for good. When the heart is right before God, it can be warmed with compassion toward others.

Father,

As negative thoughts intrude in my heart, reveal them to me, and replace them with your great love and compassion. Warm my heart with compassion toward all those that you bring into my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Fixed by God

Gen. 41:32

"...the thing is fixed by God and God will shortly bring it about."

The next chapter of Joseph's story continues to illustrate God's sovereign hand. Joseph is finally brought out of prison to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, and out of this situation, he was given power over all the land of Egypt. As if this is not enough, he supervised the plan for food preservation thus preserving the life of the nation. When his family was starving, they came to Egypt to buy food. As God would have it, they bought it from Joseph thus fulfilling Joseph's original dream. What God had fixed did come about!

Joseph's life was blessed with children, and in their naming, he proclaimed God's sovereignty as well. His firstborn was named Manasseh for "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house."  Because his life was in tune with God, he realized that God was responsible for all that had happened to him. He named his second born Ephraim, "For God has made me fruitful in the land of affliction." God's hand was not stayed by deceptive brothers, by a conniving wife, or by a forgetful butler. What man meant for evil, God meant for good.

To live in constant awareness of God's sovereign hand requires a new way of thinking, one which doesn't allow human intervention, revenge, or self-pity. Like Joseph, I would trust Him through the bad and the good not wondering why, but instead waiting patiently. "And we know that all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."  When I live like all things in my life are for my good, then I can rest in God's purposes,but when my pride and self-sufficiency are in control, then my attitude and heart will be questioning and my actions will be trying to find a way out of the situation. My decision must be to rest in God's sovereign plan and purposes because what He has fixed will come about!

Father,

Teach me this attitude of submissively accepting what You bring into my life. Keep me open and aware, never forgetting that what You fix will come to pass.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Success in the Midst of Injustice

Gen. 39:2

"But the Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man..."

Even though Joseph had been sold by his own brothers into the land of Egypt, the Lord was with him. While there, he became successful and trusted by his master. However, before long, another problem loomed into his life, the wife of his master. After she made advances toward Joseph, she framed him by accusing him of the very thing that she had tried to do. It seemed as if his integrity and character were for naught when his master threw him into prison. Once again, it says, "But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the eyes of the keeper of the prison."  Then in prison, he interpreted the dreams of the butler and baker asking the butler to remember him, but the butler did not. It was another two years before Joseph was summoned by Pharaoh. Joseph could have bemoaned this unjust treatment. If anyone deserved a pity party, he did. But he did not because the Lord was with him.

Joseph's life definitely demonstrates the sovereign hand of God at work in the life through the good and the bad. His will and purpose are not thwarted by evil men and by unjust circumstances. In fact, the Lord becomes very real when injustice comes into play. Joseph knew God was with him, and instead of bemoaning his treatment, he waited for God to work. Do I trust God through the good and the bad circumstances? Am I willing to wait patiently for His timing? Do I rejoice because He is with me? What a wonderful phrase, The Lord was with him. That is all that I need to remember, that Lord is with me.

Today, I am having finger surgery because of a silly accident. Instead of feeling stupid and wanting to kick myself, I need to rest in the fact that the Lord is with me. Instead of thinking of the cost of surgery, I need to rest in the fact that the Lord is with me. My accident did not catch Him by surprise because all my days were formed before I existed. He knows the way that I will take, and His final purpose is to bring me forth as gold.

Father,

Keep me focused on Your sovereign hand. Help me not to get overwhelmed by the circumstances of life.

In Jesus name,

Amen