Joseph Part 1 - The Mystery and Misery of God's Will

S - Acts 7:9-10 (NIV): "“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace."

O - God was with him, rescued him and God gave him wisdom and enabled him to gain favor. This is how it must always be for those who follow him into the goodness he has planned. There is no person in Scripture who is presented as a friend of the Lord who does not live out this dynamic in one way or the other. The story of Joseph's life not only reveals God dynamics but how the Lord orchestrates the activities of others who are directly affecting the one he is with. The troubles came from Joseph's brothers and from Potiphar's wife. The opportunity to even be near Pharaoh came a few years "late" (from Joseph's perspective) and right on time from the Lord's. Joseph's great position and capacity to care for all of Israel came because Pharaoh so ordered. All of this exchange, interface, tragedy and triumph, injustice and fruitfulness, comes in the strange mixture of what God causes and what he allows. His ways are holy, brilliant and his own. He calls us to follow and trust his person not to figure out a plan. The most important question for any life is exclusively about presence and not about performance, resource or position. The real question is: Is the Lord with you rather than do you understand his plan?

A - I am fairly shocked at the level of troubles I have been in need of rescuing from. The volume and the sources are as shocking as the troubles themselves. Nevertheless, the issue is about my proximity to the Lord NOT the sad or painful or underserved or tragic circumstances I may be facing. I do believe the Lord is with me and therefore I must believe that he will rescue me from all my troubles and give me wisdom and enable me to gain goodwill. I am turning in not out. I am believing and going to honor him by the greatness of my requests in keeping with the greatness of his person. All the rest is up to him. I have decided to follow Jesus -- no turning back, no turning back.

P - Dear Lord,

Be with me, rescue me and enable me … give to me that I might accomplish your will on earth in my generation. I admit that you are working everything for good and that you are purposeful in everything you cause and in everything you allow.

Thank you for being near,

Steve