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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 16 December 2024:
Genesis 39:23, Genesis 40:23 — The Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed…. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Genesis 39 and Genesis 40 end very differently and, together, intentionally describe the challenge of faith both Joseph and Christians today will go through – apparent victories and agonizing defeats. Genesis 39:23 points out that God was in control of Joseph’s life; yet Genesis 40:23 seems to imply that Joseph’s fate was at the mercy of other people, circumstances, or even his own failures. No doubt, at times Joseph struggled with the question: “Where is God now?” Despite all of Joseph’s efforts to obey God, it seemed like he was just a helpless victim. Perhaps, like so many of us do at times, Joseph felt like God was blessing him when there was obvious success and then ignoring him or punishing him when there was apparent failure and massive disappointment. Surely, it is hard to feel loved, blessed, and protected by God when you are wrongly accused, abused, and forgotten in prison. At times like that, you are tempted to doubt.
You may have even made a lot of personal mistakes that caused you to create your own private ‘prison’, but “nothing can separate us from the love of God,” not even our own buffoonery, though our sins can cause us to be blind and numb to His continuous love. (Romans 8:35-39) We will experience consequences of sin in a sinful world, but “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Throughout the Bible we have seen and will continue to see how God uses both good and bad circumstances, intentionally, to accomplish His purposes in both individual lives and in the world holistically. In Joseph’s case, the chief cupbearer’s forgetfulness was no surprise to God. God took Joseph through exactly what God wanted Joseph to go through as He prepared Joseph for a greater experience with God and developed in Joseph greater Christlike character. Of course, it would be impossible for Joseph to know exactly what God was doing; that takes FAITH. Also, it takes endurance and perseverance.
The Second Marine Regiment’s motto is “Keep moving,” derived from the WWII Battle of Tarawa where during the amphibious assault on the heavily defended island, Marines found themselves stuck on coral 500 yards from the shore, forcing them to wade/swim to the island under intense bombardment and machine-gun fire – hard to imagine a worse scenario. What do you do in times like that? Keep moving! Sometimes in life, that is what the Christian must do. Keep pressing forward in faith, even joy. Faith is trusting God right now at His word, and hope is trusting God with the future from your foundation of faith. The God who IS love, loves you always and continually. “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive bad?” (Job 2:10) “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Spoiler alert: After Joseph had gone through so much abuse by so many people, he understood that it was all simply part of God’s plan – “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20)
Just as Moses had to go through the Red Sea; just as Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego had to go through the fiery furnace; just as Daniel had to go through the lions’ den, Joseph had to go through his great test in order to become the leader God intended; and we must go through our trials too. Through trials or tests, God is doing at least five things: 1) Revealing Himself to you in a greater way; 2) revealing you to yourself in a greater way (He already knows everything about you, but you don’t); 3) revealing Himself to the world through your life; 4) using your life to effect change in the world; and 5) preparing you for greater things. See how God does these things in Joseph’s life. See how He does these things in your life. God is Good!
Genesis 40:15 – For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.
Once again, God was “with” Joseph, but God did not protect Joseph from terrible injustice and hardship. On the contrary, God allowed Joseph to go through seemingly hopeless situations so that God could prepare and position Joseph for greater things. Joseph accepted good and seemingly bad from God (which was really good). Do you?
Genesis 40:19 – In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you! — and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.
Joseph did not sugar coat the word revealed to him by God but rather told people the straight truth. We too are called to communicate the unadulterated truth of God’s word to others, in love, regardless of whether they want to hear it or not. We want people to be happy, but our goal is not just for people to be happy but rather to be holy, whole, and happy in the Good News of Salvation — “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” (Isaiah 52:7) Flattery is telling people what they want to hear rather than what is true, and flattery is unloving. Love speaks the truth in love, solely for the benefit of the recipient, truly desiring only the very best for them, which is Jesus. Love enough to be an honest witness. To tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, for God’s glory and their benefit.
Genesis 40:23 – …the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
How do you respond when people let you down? How do you respond when you never seem to get a break? These times expose what you really believe is true about God. When bad things happen, focus your attention on Him rather than the issue. Only see the issue through the perspective of God’s perfect Sovereignty and perfect love for you. Would the God who gave His One and Only Son for you and promised you His perfect love for eternity allow anything to happen to you that wasn’t for your very best? Again, read Romans 8:28-29.
- Romans 8:31-29 — What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 16 December 2024: Trust God with all your circumstances. Rejoice! Be thankful. Be at peace, and have hope! The LORD is at hand?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — …give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- Ephesians 5:17-20 — Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is…. but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ….
- Psalm 69:29-33 — But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.
- Philippians 4:4-8 — Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
- Romans 12:11-12 — Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
- 1 Peter 4:12-13 — Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
- Colossians 3:17 — And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
- Romans 5:3 — Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance.
- Psalm 118:24 — This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 