GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN!

 I've been mulling over the part of Joseph's story as recorded in Genesis 39.  If you need reminded and don't want to take the time to read it:

• Joseph's jealous brothers sold him to a passing caravan of traders.
• They took him to Egypt where he was sold as a slave.
• Pharaoh's captain of the guard bought him as a personal servant.
• Joseph proved himself to be quite helpful in the running of this home.
• Potiphar gave him complete authority having noticed that "the Eternal One was with Joseph and caused everything Joseph did to prosper." [v.3]
• Being a handsome and fit man, Potiphar's wife sought out a sexual relationship with Joseph. 
• Joseph explained his need to honor Potiphar and the role he had given Joseph in the household.
• However, one day she grabbled him by his coat and tried again to seduce him.
• He left his coat in her hand and ran from the house.
• She used the coat to her advantage and claimed that Joseph had tried to force himself upon her.
• When he heard her report, Potiphar was angry and placed Joseph in prison.

What a devastating set of circumstances!  Joseph does the right thing, but ends up being punished for it!  Life can seem so unfair at times!  What is a person to do in unjust situations like this?

Well, Joseph just kept on using the organizational gifts that God had given him!  He persevered in his hardship!

Lo and behold, the jailer soon saw the skill and loyalty of Joseph and put him in charge of all the king's prisoners.  "Whatever needed to be done, Joseph was the one to do it." [v.22]

"The chief jailer, like Potiphar, didn't need to worry about anything that was in Joseph's care because the Eternal One was with him.  And whatever Joseph did worked out well because the Eternal made it so."  [v.23]

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So many of us are wired similarly: when bad things happen we are easily discouraged and blame God for our situation.

The reality is that sometimes bad things just happen.  Corrupt people set traps for us and we get caught in them.  Potiphar's wife has lots of company in our world today!  There is a bounty of evil-minded people who think nothing of destroying others.  

How wrong we are to blame God for every bad thing that happens to us!  We make two primary mistakes:

FIRST,

We blame God when He is also grieving over the devastating circumstances we find ourselves in!

How must God feel when we shut Him out or turn against Him when He loves us so much?  He always sees the bigger picture and knows the real reasons for our unfortunate situation.  He mourns with us that things have gone badly and we're suffering!  

SECOND,

We are so distracted by anger and feelings of injustice that we fail to turn to Him for deliverance!

We MUST REMEMBER WHO WE SERVE!  This great God can do anything!  His resources and connections are unlimited, yet we block His ability to help by our anger and withdrawal.

Joseph didn't get angry with God!  He just kept on using the gifts that God had given him and trusted that the Eternal One would work on his behalf!

Why can't we take this posture?  Why do we so consistently take the anger route?  Why do we attempt to close God off from our lives instead of turning TO HIM?

We shoot ourselves in the foot, and many of us do this over and over again!  when will we ever learn?

God loves us and is always working on our behalf!  We need to trust Him and give Him time to work out His plan!

Maybe some of us need to print this page out, fold it up, and carry it in our wallet or pocketbook?  Let's change our way of thinking!  Let's trust the One who is in all, above all, and over all!  Praise His Name forever!  Amen!  

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If you have 4 1/2 minutes to be blessed, listen to this song by Don Moen: 

WHEN GOD SAYS 'NO'

This message was delivered at the Celebration of Life for Sarah Lyke of The Foundery Free Methodist Church in Wellsburg, West Virginia, on September 7, 2024, after a two-year struggle with cancer!  Perhaps - as you read this [about 15 minute read] - you'd like to lift a prayer for her husband, Gene, and their twelve-year-old-son, Gage.  This blog is posted with Gene's permission.

COMING IN SECOND

We've seen it over and over again in the last week;  someone is devasted because they came in second place.  They're broken.  They weep.  They cover their face.  They're devasted and their dreams are dashed.

Some are missing first place by one one-hundredth of a second!  One one-hundredth of a second!!!  And they have to settle for a silver medal instead of a gold!  That's tough! 

They've been taught to win!  Gold is all that matters!  No one remembers who came in second.  The person on the top riser is the only one that matters!  They only play his/her national anthem.  No one goes through all the pain of training in order to win a silver medal! 

However, there are other scenarios.  Occasionally we've seen a swimmer that may not have been expected to medal.  But, circumstances were such that they had an amazing performance and came in second.  They're elated!  All smiles!  Can't seem to believe that they achieved a silver medal. 

I feel for those who just missed the mark of best!  I think I can undersand their high expectations.  That's a good thing!

At the same time, I'm happy for those who did surprisingly well and ended up with medals they truly didn't expect.  I feel their joy!

Competition is a good thing.  It brings out the best in us. 

I won two trophies in my life;  they're both long gone now.

The first was a trophy for winning a basketball tournament when I was in junior high school.  'Chugger Lowry' was our coach;  he played on the varsity team.  He was patient with us and taught us the basic skills.  Somehow, to his surprise and ours, we won!  None of us were outstanding - all average.  The wind blew in our direction, and I got my first trophy!

The second trophy came much later - on our honeymoon!  We were at THE SUMMIT in the Poconos.  At the evening meal we were called up front and presented a trophy for being "The Best In the Sack At the Summit".  We were embarrassed in the crowd of other newlyweds.  Together that afternoon, we had won the 'sack races'.  That was 1973 - thirty-nine years ago. 

Trophies and medals are nice.  But eventually, they gather dust or get lost in attics. 

I Peter 1:3-6 (TLB)

All honor to God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; for it is his boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family. Now we live in the hope of eternal life because Christ rose again from the dead.  And God has reserved for his children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  And God, in his mighty power, will make sure that you get there safely to receive it because you are trusting him. It will be yours in that coming last day for all to see.  So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here.