I believe
everything happens for a reason, even-though we don’t have an understanding or an explanation until it becomes apparent to us in the assigned season. For example, let’s take a look at the life of Joseph. The birth of Joseph caused Jacob to want to return to Canaan. “And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.” Genesis 30:25-26 The birth of Joseph opened the door to Jacob being able to shake the yoke of Laban and face his brother Esau. During this season, Jacob wrestled with man and with God, and was renamed Israel. “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “ “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Genesis 32:24-26 Jacob adored Joseph more than all his other children. He made him an ornate coat - Joseph was his favorite. “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.” Genesis 37:3-4 The Lord gave Joseph dreams of everything and everyone bowing down to him. His whole family thought Joseph was pompous. “And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.” Genesis 37:8 Joseph’s brothers were filled with so much envy and bitterness that they threw him into a cistern, contemplated his murder then sold him to the Ishmaelites who sold him to Egyptians. And through all of this, the scripture says God was with him and blessed him. “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.” Genesis 39:2-5 Yet, because Potiphar’s wife wanted Joseph to have sex, and he would not touch her - she made up a lie against him. Joseph’s master was Potiphar and he was the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. He got angry at Joseph and threw him into prison. But - he continued to put Joseph in charge. Joseph oversaw all the prisoners beneath him. In prison, Joseph befriended Pharaoh’s servants, the baker and the butler. They had dreams that only Joseph could interpret, because God was with him. Joseph’s interpretations came true. Three days later, The butler was reinstated to service, and the baker was hung from a tree. One was chosen and one was set for destruction - this Joseph knew. Joseph had asked the butler to remember him, but he didn’t. The butler was so happy to live that he completely forgot about Joseph. But now, two years later - the butler remembered Joseph. Pharaoh had a dream and he needed someone to interpret it. “Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them.” Genesis 41:8 By the way - this is the same thing that happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 2:1-2 Then the chief butler spoke up, “I remember my faults this day.” And he told Pharaoh about Joseph. “And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.” Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” So Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” Joseph listened to Pharaoh tell him all about his dream. Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.” Genesis 41:25-36 God has established His seasons. He ALONE understands the time and the reason. The birth of Joseph started a new season, and from his birth to Jacob, Israel was born. From Israel came a favorite - a beloved son to whom the stars and the moon bowed down. A son who would be despised, enslaved - a suffering servant. A son who endure a lie. A son who would walk with God. A son who would be gifted with wisdom and vision. A son who would rise - all for the glory of God. Joseph - perfectly made to be the image of Christ in the assigned season of his time. What season are you in? Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
April 2022
|