#TuesdayTruth Genesis 45

Genesis 45:5b, 7, 8a, 50:20

“…because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God…

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish was is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

<Emphasis added by me>

When I read about this particular part of Joseph’s life (the part where he is basically in charge of the resources in Egypt), sometimes I can forget that the earlier parts of his life were actually quite difficult, and probably frightening. Think about what he lived through, and then think about how incredible it is that Joseph' says, “God sent me” and “but God.”

Early on, his brothers developed a hatred (Genesis 37:5) and jealousy (Genesis 37:11) for Joseph. This led them to betray Joseph- to his being sold as a slave, and them deceiving their father (causing him to believe that his beloved son had been killed).

After initially being sold into slavery, Joseph was then bought by the captain of the guard, Potiphar, in Egypt. He did well there and was entrusted with basically everything that Potiphar owned. However, Potiphar’s wife persistently pursued him (Genesis 39:10); and, even though he refused, she accused him, which led to his imprisonment.

Then, although imprisoned, Joseph had “favor in the eyes of the prison warden” (Genesis 39:21). While there, he was able to interpret dreams for two of the king of Egypt’s officials. One of those was released, but forgot about Joseph (Genesis 40:23) when that time came. Finally, he was remembered and released when he was able to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams.

So, to recap:

1- Enslaved

2- Accused

3- Imprisoned

4- Forgotten

“…BUT GOD.”

Joseph was released and put in charge of basically all the food in Egypt. This led to his being reconciled with his family before his father died.

How incredible is it that Joseph was able to look back on all that hurt and trouble and say, “It was not you. It was God who sent me?!” He was even able to look back, recognize and acknowledge that God was able to use these terrible things that he went through for the good of His people. It is a real perspective shift.

Personally, I would like to try to do my best to follow Joseph’s lead here and say, yes we have hard times and go through difficult and even sad times, “BUT GOD.”

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the things we can learn from the life of people like Joseph. Thank you that, even when we go through the roughest seasons of life, we know that you are with us. Thank you that we can often look back on those seasons and see how you used if for our good and your glory. You did not forsake Joseph and you will not forsake us. You are our good, GOOD, Father.

We love you,

Amen.