http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2038-40&version=NIV
Has God Forgotten Me?
As a young man, Joseph had the calling of God upon his life yet he is rejected by his brothers, stripped of his garment and thrown into a pit. They were going to kill him but instead they sell him into slavery. While in Egypt , he stands up for righteousness and is falsely accused. Jospeh is sent to prison!
Could it get any worse for him? After all, this has come upon him because God had given him a dream and he stood up for righteousness. Has God forgotten about Joseph? What happened to God’s plan? It wasn’t supposed to work out this way or was it?
The Lord is still with Joseph, but this doesn’t mean he doesn’t get discouraged in the circumstance he finds himself in. As we read through chapter 40, there are two prison inmates with him. God gives Joseph the interpretation of their dreams. The baker will be executed and the butler will be restored back to Pharaoh’s palace. At last, this is Joseph’s chance to get out of prison so he gives this message to the butler:
"But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. Gen 40:14
Gen 40:23
Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Oh no, Joseph was forgotten again!
Are you waiting on God to do something in your life? Does it seem God has forgotten about your blessing? You see others enjoying the blessings of God but what about me? Do things seem hopeless? Are you growing weary? While in this place we might think, “Is there any profit on waiting on God?”
This is the time we must rely upon God’s strength. He is working a plan, and He is refining our faith. Remember, NO, NO, NO God has not forgotten you!
Gal 6:9 says And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. At the end of our physical strength when we are about to give up hope, this is the time to appropriate by faith the power of God in our life through the Holy Spirit. Mere human will power isn’t enough. We need God's strength.
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isa 40:29-31
One day after dropping off my son in the front of his school, I just stopped my car and cried for about an hour. My son is the sweetest kid, he always gives me hugs, kissing on my face and says “I love you mom, you are the greatest mom ever “….yeah! He is the love of my life. Everything that I have is his and I would do anything possible for him even laying down my life but why did I cry for a hour?
When I have to punish my son, it just makes me feel awful and I feel a slicing in my heart. But I have to be firm and keep my words so he can learn to do better on his behavior. If I don’t discipline him, I know he will never change his behavior. Of course punishment isn’t the only tool of parenting. Last week my son woke up early and got ready for school without me asking him to get up. This was very unusual. What motivated him to get up without me pushing him out of bed? Before this he had seen me crying so he convinced himself to do better. He wanted to please me and make me feel better. As a parent, I enjoy rewarding my son for good behavior. Last week, I surprised him with a reward. My son responded by saying, “Thank you mom, I have been working so hard to push myself and it took lots of patience.” Then he said, “Will you give me a reward next week also? “ This is a picture of us and God.Sometimes as we wait patiently on God, we think He isn’t moving to help us. When we pray for certain things or for our circumstances, we have to ask God and try to find out what he wants us to learn from what we are going through. We are so used to asking God but don’t spend much time listening to His voice. Everything we go through has a reason. We must remember our heavenly Father as the perfect parent has an unending love for us. He is always patient with us and He might even be crying over us
KW and Abrianna
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Wow! To have the faith and patience of Joseph!
ReplyDeleteHe waited and served the Lord for years in horrible circumstances before the fulfillment of the dream!
I find myself getting discouraged if my prayers are not answered in weeks or months and I am not even sitting in prison.
As we know the full story of Joseph, we know that God was preparing Joseph to be a great leader during these years.
I pray to have the faith, obediance and attitude of Joseph. Even when I do not see immediate answers to prayers to wait on the Lord and know that He is working His plan for the good! Praise God!
God did not forget Joseph nor will He forget us.
ReplyDeleteThis scripture reminds me of a song by Israel and New Breed...
I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
God knows my name.
He knows my name.
Light over darkness
Strength over weakness
Joy over sadness
He knows my name
(Isaiah 61:3)
Father to the Fatherless
Friend to the friendless
Hope for the hopeless
He knows my name
I will praise You
I will praise You
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
(Psalm 139:13-14)
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Our name is precious to our heavenly father. What does He have planned for our future? What does He plan to write next to our name for our status update? We must have faith in Him that our status will change! It will be updated as long as we draw closer to Him.
At the beginning of the school year I am given a list of names. As I read over the list of unknown students I pray over them and have no idea who they are or where they're coming from. Oh the joy that comes from getting to know them and have a personal relationship with each of them. It's exciting for me to see them reach their goals both academically and socially. Each of them are fearfully and wonderfully made! How excited must our heavenly father feel when we reach our goals and accomplishments he has planned for us! What are the surprises he has for us just around the corner if we would only choose to wait! To wait upon the Lord. It's the most used verb in the Bible and the most difficult verb to do in our culture today. We don't like waiting!
As the KJV tells us "And it came to pass..." It will come to pass for us too when we use the Wondertwins; Faith and Patience!