Verse of the Day 3/24

Through the Bible - Proverbs 3-5, 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

 

Good morning,

Have you ever heard it said of someone "they think the whole world revolves around them"?  Its easy to see examples in some of the celebrity's that make the news, but most of us would have to admit that we have at some point or in some area of our lives acted or thought in this way.

 

I've been going through a commentary on Genesis and have moved into the chapters that deal with Joseph.  Quite an amazing person who came to realize that it didn't revolve around him, but rather what God  and what He had planned to do through him.

 

For today's verse we'll go to the end of the story so to speak, where Joseph confirms this to his brothers that had sold him into slavery many years before.

 

Gen 50:19 Joseph said to them,"Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.   NKJV

Joseph hadn't learned this in a class, he hadn't learned if from one experience of life.  It was in the course of his life, a life of trusting in God in the most difficult and challenging situations imaginable.

 

Philip Yancey writes, "in the pages of the Old Testament we hear the consistent message that this world revolves around God, not us.  In our secularized, industrialized environment, we can go through an entire week, not just a day, without bumping into a reminder."

 

It's easy for us to get all "wrapped up in ourselves", God often brings things in focus through change in our lives.  Joseph's life changed when his coat of many colors was taken away, he was unwrapped, if you will.  His brothers went on living their lives still wrapped up in themselves.  Joseph held on to God held on to his faith.  In the end hopefully his brothers also realized that the world revolved around God.  His purposes had been accomplished through their little brother, the dreamer.

 

Are you ready to bump into a reminder?  If you do, call on Him.  Journal it.  Yancey's quote came from a journal entry from several years ago that followed one of those "bumps in the road'.

 

Ps 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.   NKJV

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Gen 50:15-22

 

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

 

15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him." 16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you."' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

 

18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants."

 

19 Joseph said to them,"Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.    NKJV