February 25, 2014 Release

Release

Genesis 45

Gen 45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.

FOR too many years Joseph had lived under the heavy burden of the sins against him. But maybe the heaviest burden was to wonder, “Why, God?”

      Joseph would have heard from the generations before him the accounts of Creation, the Flood and the calling of his great-grandfather Abraham. His father would have told him of how God rescued Isaac from the knife. Joseph would also have heard the account of his father Jacob wrestling with God and receiving the new name Israel. In short, Joseph would have heard of the personal God’s power to create, to save and to make new.

      As Joseph then revealed himself to his brothers, he cried out in great and deep emotion. He was reconciled with his brothers. And even more, he is now fully reconciled to his God.

      Faithfully, joyfully Joseph could say, “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. (Gen 45:5)

      Oh, the release. “Now I get it, God. I see the big picture!”

      I hope you get it. That is, I hope you, too, know God is the creator and sustainer of life. I hope you joyfully humble yourself to know, “You have used me to save and serve others!”

      That’s what God did with Joseph’s suffering. He did it, too, with Jesus’ suffering—for you.  

      Does “life” cause you to ask, “Why, God?” Faithfully seek God, and he’ll answer you.

LIFE Link: God moves all events to his eternal reign.