GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN!

This is a good thing to remember – especially when things aren’t going so well.  All of us need to be reminded of this from time to time.

I just finished reading some of the chapters from Genesis that give Joseph’s story. Let’s review some facts to bring you up to speed:

·         Joseph [although the eleventh-born of four wives] is one of two sons born to Jacob from his true love – Rachel.

·         Genesis 37:3-4 [All quotes from TM unless otherwise noted]

Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph more than any of his other sons [twelve sons from four women] because he was the child of his old age. And he made him an elaborately embroidered coat. When his brothers realized that their father loved him more than them, they grew to hate him...

·         Israel used Joseph to check up on his brothers as they grazed their father’s flocks. According to 37:2,4, Joseph brought his father bad reports on them…they wouldn’t even speak to him.

·         On one of his visits to them in the fields, they threw him into a pit and then later sold him as a slave to a group of travelling Ishmaelites heading for Egypt. They stained his coat with blood and reported that he had been eaten by a wild animal. Of course this caused Israel to go into prolonged mourning over the loss of his precious son.

·         Upon arriving in Egypt, Joseph was purchased by Potifar – the captain of the Pharaoh’s bodyguards.  Because God was with him, Potiphar’s house prospered greatly!

Now this is a good point to remember a teaching that Jesus gave in Romans 8:28-29 

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,

to those who are called according to His purpose.  [NASB}

·         Potiphar’s wife takes a liking to Joseph and invites him to respond to her sexually. He refuses to do so and ultimately runs from her – leaving his coat in her hands. She entrapped him and Potiphar believed her lie and sent Joseph into prison.

·         39:21,22 reports:

But there in jail GOD was still with Joseph…The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners – he ended up managing the whole operation. 

·         Two prisoners have dreams that only Joseph can interpret. Joseph tells the Pharoah’s cupbearer that the meaning of his dream means that he will return to his former position. However, he interprets the head baker’s dream to mean that he will be beheaded. Within a few days both dreams are fulfilled just as Joseph had predicted. But the cupbearer never mentioned Joseph’s role to the Pharaoh.

·         Two years later the Pharaoh had a dream and his advisors couldn’t interpret it for him. The cupbearer remembered and mentioned Joseph! He was immediately brought before Pharaoh to hear and interpret his dreams. The meaning was clear to Joseph: Egypt would enjoy seven years of great prosperity followed by seven very lean years. He counseled Pharaoh to:

Look for a wise and experienced man and put him in charge of the country. Then Pharaoh needs to appoint managers throughout the country of Egypt to organize it during the years of plenty.  [41:33-34]

·         Pharaoh gives Joseph his signet ring and makes him a ruler in Egypt – second only to Pharaoh himself! Joseph organizes the country to prepare for the seven bountiful years – followed by the seven years of famine!

·         Eight years later, the famine begins to be felt in neighboring lands as well as Egypt! Jacob [Israel] sends ten of his sons to Egypt to purchase grain [he keeps his beloved, youngest – Benjamin – at home with him.]

·         When the ten sons of Israel [Jacob] arrive in Egypt, they are greeted by Joseph – who immediately recognizes them. Joseph puts Simeon in prison and sends the brothers home with instructions to come back bringing their youngest brother with them next time. Meanwhile, Joseph fills their sacks with grain and secretly puts the money back into the sacks with the grain.

·         The brothers are shocked when they find the money in the sacks of feed. They report to their father – Israel [Jacob] – all the details of their journey; including the fact that Simeon is in an Egyptian prison. Israel is crushed to think of sending Benjamin to Egypt; he fears that he will lose another son by doing so.

·         Eventually, the brothers are forced to return to Egypt to purchase more grain. Judah argues persuasively and convinces Israel to allow them to take Benjamin with them. Israel sends a double payment, balm and honey, spices and perfumes, pistachios and almonds with them as a gift from their area to this ruler in Egypt [not knowing that this ruler is Joseph – who Isaac thinks is dead]! He also prays over them before they head for Egypt!

·         When they arrive and Joseph sees that they have indeed brought Benjamin, he orders his servants to prepare a feast for all of them.  The brothers were terrified to be ushered into Joseph’s home; they are confident that they’re going to be turned into slaves. Simeon was brought from jail to join them! Joseph welcomed them and inquired as to the health of their father. As Joseph greeted Benjamin he was overwhelmed and ran from the room weeping! They feasted with Joseph facing all of them.

·         The next day they were sent on their way. Joseph instructed his servants to put their money back into their bags again. He also had them place his personal chalice in Benjamin’s bag. After they had left, Joseph had them pursued and accused them of stealing his chalice. It was found in Benjamin’s bag! They were forced to go back to the city. Arriving, they bowed down before Joseph! Judah spoke of their innocence and pleaded for Benjamin to return to his father! He volunteered to stay in Benjamin’s place out of mercy for their father.

·         Finally, Joseph breaks down and reveals himself to his brothers!

They were speechless – they couldn’t believe what they were hearing and seeing. [45:3]

·         After explaining his story to his brothers, he sent them to get their father and bring him to Egypt where Joseph could care for the entire family!

If you’ve read this far then you have shown patience and endurance. It is a long story with many twists and turns. 

Joseph has endured:

o   mistreatment by his older brothers

o   being the subject of envy

o   being misunderstood as a dreamer

o   being betrayed by ten of his brothers and sold into slavery

o   being carried far away to a foreign country

o   being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife

o   being abruptly and unjustly thrown into jail

o   being forgotten by the cupbearer who could have helped him

o   being cut off from his beloved father and brother – Benjamin – for many hopeless years

But he had personally come to learn that GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN! And no human action can thwart God’s plan. It may take years to unfold, but if you remain faithful to God, He will work out His plan and restore your peace!

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How about you?

Do you believe that God always has a plan?

Are you staying faithful to God even though things are going poorly?

- even though you’ve been betrayed by family or friends?

- even though you’ve lost your job?

- even though you’ve been separated from your family?

- even though you’ve been completely isolated and cut off?

- even though you've lost everything/everyone who meant anything to you? 

Could it be that God has a bigger purpose for your life that simply takes time for Him to orchestrate?

Do you believe that God always has a plan?

Are you willing to endure hardship and delays in order to see His glorious ending?

We ALL pass through deep waters and desperate, hopeless times!

Are you determined to stay faithful to God through your tough times?

Joseph persisted  -  and God honored him immeasurably!

God doesn’t love Joseph any more than He loves you!