GOD WRITES A STORY OF LOVE AND REDEMPTION IN OUR LIVES
__________________________________________________
What story is God writing for your life? Is His story unfolding as He planned for you? Are you following His journey?
God is the Author of our life stories. He penned an amazing story for each of us before He even breathed life into us. He mapped out each journey with Him from beginning to end. Every story is one of love and redemption. Yet when unexpected plot twists… dramatic chapters…. surprise turns of events happen, we question God’s care and concern for us. Our stories appear to be diverging from His plan.
In the Book of Genesis, Joseph, son of Jacob the patriarch, experiences a life story that seems to be veering off course. It begins as a story of love… and appears destined for a happy ending. Yet there are a number of plot twists and turns along the way that must have tried Joseph’s faith. Throughout his journey, he remains steadfast, loyal, unshaken.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. – Genesis 50:20
Joseph, the hero of the story, is a man of great faith in Yahweh God. He is Jacob’s long-awaited son from his beloved wife Rachel. As the apple of his father’s eye, he can do no wrong. He is given a coat ornately woven of many colors as an expression of his father’s great love. This marks a turning point in Joseph’s seemingly ideal early life.
Joseph’s ten older brothers enter the scene. Jealousy arises in them because of their father’s favoritism toward this special son. Young Joseph cavalierly stirs the jealous embers by sharing with his brothers his prophetic dreams where they are bowing before him.
The plot thickens. Envy clouds the brothers’ thinking. While out shepherding, a caravan of Ishmaelites pass by. They sell Joseph to the traders who resell him into slavery in Egypt. The brothers hide their betrayal from their father. They instead tell him that his adored son has been killed by a ferocious animal.
The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered… the Lord gave him success in everything he did. – Genesis 39:2-3
The theme of love and redemption runs throughout this story. God has not forgotten Joseph… and he has not forgotten his God. This young Hebrew has courageous faith that Yahweh will always be with him. And the Lord blesses him in all he does.
Joseph becomes a slave in the home of Potiphar, captain of the guard for Pharaoh. Finding favor in the eyes of Potiphar, Joseph is put in charge of everything his master owns. The blessing of the Lord falls upon the master because of Joseph. Yet the plot twists. Potiphar’s wife enters the scene. When her seductive passes toward the young Hebrew slave are rebuffed, she betrays Joseph… causing him to be thrown into prison.
The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. – Genesis 39:23
A recurring theme appears again. The Lord is ever with Joseph, giving him success. He wins the favor of the prison warden and is placed in charge of all the prison’s affairs. By divine inspiration, Joseph interprets the prophetic dreams of his fellow prison mates, the king’s chief cupbearer and the king’s baker. He asks that they remember him with kindness in the future.
The story’s hope rises. The royal cupbearer is released from prison and reinstated. Will Joseph be remembered and set free? All hope is dashed when he is abandoned and forgotten. Two years pass and still his mighty faith in God never wavers.
A surprise turn of events occurs. Pharaoh has two prophetic dreams that no one in Egypt can interpret. Joseph is at last remembered in prison and is asked to interpret the dreams. Inspired by God, he explains the prophecies… Egypt will experience seven years of plenty and seven years of famine.
Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. – Genesis 41:39
Impressed by Joseph’s discernment, Pharaoh places him in charge of all of Egypt to prepare for the times of famine ahead. When the dire times arrive, all the surrounding countries come to Egypt to buy food.
Joseph’s ten older brothers enter the scene once again. Their father Jacob sends them on a journey to Egypt to buy food for the family. Upon meeting Joseph, they do not recognize him as their brother. They all respectfully bow down before him… a fulfillment of his earlier prophetic dreams. He does not initially reveal his identity since he wants to test his brothers. Joseph asks that they bring along Benjamin, his beloved younger brother, with them on their next journey to Egypt.
God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. – Genesis 45:7
When the ten brothers return with Benjamin, Joseph sees that they have had a change of heart. He tells them that he is their long-lost brother. The ten are terrified that Joseph will use his power to retaliate against them for their earlier betrayal. Yet he assures them of his complete forgiveness. He explains that it was God, not his brothers, who sent him to Egypt to prepare the way for their deliverance. Pharaoh invites Joseph’s family to come live in Egypt where the best of the land will be theirs.
In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28
Throughout God’s story, His love never changes for Joseph… and Joseph’s love for Yahweh never wavers. How many times in these chains of events might Joseph have been tempted to give up? How many times might he have felt forgotten and abandoned by the Lord? Yet this story has a happy ending. Joseph places his utmost faith in God for deliverance. His Lord works all the evil perpetrated against him for his own good and the good of God’s people.
Are you tempted to give up on God’s story because the plot twists and turns seem more than you can bear? Remember… His story for you, like Joseph’s, is one of love and redemption. As you keep your resolute faith in the divine Author, He will keep your life story on track and lead it to a glorious conclusion. He promises to forever love and redeem, working whatever evil comes against you for your eternal good.
† Eternal Takeaway – We place our absolute faith in the divine Author of our life stories †
