Today’s reading: Job 23-29; Psalm 42

My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration! – Psalm 42:4

Everything Job had loved about life was gone and he was grieving. He liked the way things had been, but it was beyond his control to get it all back. The contrast of the joy of yesterday compared to the pain of today caused him to despair all of his tomorrows. If only things could go back to the way they had been.

WHY CAN’T THINGS GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY USED TO BE?

“I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,
when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness.
When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home.
The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me.
My steps were awash in cream, and the rocks gushed olive oil for me.

“Those were the days when I went to the city gate
and took my place among the honored leaders.
The young stepped aside when they saw me,
and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.
The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.
The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect.

“All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me.
For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help.
I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.
And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
Everything I did was honest.
Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban.
I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help.” – Job 29:2-16

When Job lost his family, his livestock, his servants, and his health, he lost his identity. He liked the way things used to be and he missed the opportunities life had afforded him. He was uncomfortable being in this place where others were taking pity on him; he longed for the days when he was the one who came to the rescue of others. His expectations of what the future would hold had been erased, and his confidence in the heart of God was fading. Can you relate?

DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF QUESTIONING THE HEART OF GOD?

“I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life.
For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew.
New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’” – Job 29:18-20

When everything in life is going well, we begin planning out our future. We have no doubt that life is good and our God is great! But when the people we love start making decisions beyond our control, we panic. When sickness and disease take away our family members and friends, we grieve. When others start looking at us differently, we feel unappreciated and devalued. Feelings of worthlessness crowd in and, like Job, we start spiraling into depression.

If this describes where you are at right now or what you are feeling, my prayer for you this morning is that you will allow the following verses to wash over you. There is no simple fix to our deepest sorrows and no quick remedy for depression, but we can allow the healing to begin when we regain our confidence in who God is and choose to believe that He is present.

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. – Psalm 34:17-19

WE CAN TRUST THE HEART OF THE GOD WHO LOVES US!

There is no guarantee that we will go through life without troubles or heartbreak, but God does promise to rescue us. In life, we will experience all of the emotions that everyone else experiences, but we can stand on the promise that we are never alone — that God is with us and that He will hold us up when we don’t have the strength to stand on our own. He wants us to bring all of our emotions to Him, trusting the heart of the God who loves us.

Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you. – Psalm 42:5-6a

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. – Isaiah 41:10

Today’s Reading: Job 17-22; Psalm 40

My days are over.
My hopes have disappeared.
My heart’s desires are broken. — Job 17:11

Have you ever experienced this level of disappointment in the wisdom of God? No matter how much you want to trust God, it is difficult when our heart is not in alignment with the heart of God. We beg for one thing but do not receive it; we pray for one outcome and get another. As our hope fades, we must decide whether or not to trust that our God is still good — that our God is still great.

QUESTIONING THE GREATNESS OF GOD

God has blocked my way so I cannot move.
He has plunged my path into darkness.
He has stripped me of my honor
and removed the crown from my head.
He has demolished me on every side, and I am finished.
He has uprooted my hope like a fallen tree. – Job 19:8-10

Feeling alone in his misery, Job questioned the presence of God. Thinking he knew better, Job questioned the wisdom of God. What good could possibly come from all that the Lord was allowing to happen in Job’s life? Although he had been a faithful servant of God for years, it seems Job was still unaware of just how great His God was. Perhaps he began to see God as too far away to notice his pain — too distant to know what was best for Job.

“God is so great—higher than the heavens,
higher than the farthest stars.
But you reply, ‘That’s why God can’t see what I am doing!
How can he judge through the thick darkness?
For thick clouds swirl about him, and he cannot see us.
He is way up there, walking on the vault of heaven.’” – Job 22:12-14

Are you currently questioning the wisdom of God regarding a situation in your life? Are you arguing with God? Are you angry with Him? Do your current circumstances seem bigger than even God can solve? Let’s look at some verses in Job to consider just how awesome and wise our God is — how worthy He is of our trust even in the most difficult times.

LET US CONSIDER THAT GOD IS GREATER THAN WE CAN UNDERSTAND.

“Can you solve the mysteries of God?
Can you discover everything about the Almighty?
Such knowledge is higher than the heavens – and who are you?
It is deeper than the underworld – what do you know?
It is broader than the earth and wider than the sea?” – Job 11:7-9

“God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.
He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds don’t burst with the weight.
He covers the face of the moon, shrouding it with clouds.
He created the horizon when he separated the waters; he set the boundary between day and night.
The foundations of heaven tremble; they shudder at his rebuke.
By his power the sea grew calm…
These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power.
Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?” – Job 26:7-12,14

“Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him?
No one can tell him what to do, or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’
Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise…
Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted.” – Job 36:22-24,26

GOD, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MORNING THAT YOU ARE GREATER THAN WE CAN COMPREHEND.

Lord, help us to simply rest in your wisdom, submitting to your greatness and to your authority in our lives. Give us the strength to let go of our need to understand and simply trust you. When the reality we are facing is as bitter as our morning coffee, Lord, we ask for the gift of faith and the ability to trust in order to sweeten up our perspective. Thank you for loving us patiently when we lack understanding. We love you back! Amen.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord
Oh the joys of those who trust the Lord… – Psalm 40:1-4a

I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. – Psalm 40:10-11

But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!” – Psalm 40:16

Today’s Reading: Job 9-16, Psalm 30

“How long will you go on like this? You sound like a blustering wind. Does God twist justice? Does the Almighty twist what is right? Your children must have sinned against him, so their punishment was well deserved. But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home. And though you started with little, you will end with much.” – Job 8:2-7

Perhaps Job’s friends were slightly enjoying the fact that Job was not perfect — that something was finally going wrong for him. Jealousy is a powerful thing, even among friends, and it is possible that the words of self-righteousness coming from Job’s friends are a result of past envy or attempts to measure up to Job. I do know this — to tell someone that their loved one deserved to die or that their death was the result of God’s punishment is never the right response.

“Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” – Job 2:10

Job’s friends seemed to have an understanding of Job’s suffering as if it was simply Job’s turn. He had been blessed for years and now it was his turn to suffer the realities of life. When they could have encouraged him, Job’s friends chose instead to mock him. Where is your faith, Job, and where are your confident words now that the shoe is on the other foot?

When we are going through a difficult time, the words of our friends are powerful. They can speak life and truth into our situation, or they can speak defeat and discouragement. It is sometimes difficult to decipher the truth from lies when our emotions are high and we are exhausted from our circumstances. The power of words can either encourage us to persevere or cause us to fall into despair. Job followed the lead of his friends and began to question where God was.

QUESTIONING THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Job developed an attitude of self-pity and defeat. After all, what good does it do to argue with God if He isn’t listening? Why cry out to a God who doesn’t bother to respond?

“So who am I that I should try to answer God or even reason with him? Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy. And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me. For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause. He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows. If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one. If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court?” – Job 9:14-19

Job’s grief took a dark turn when he accused God of creating him and showing him love, then watching carefully for Job to mess up. He began to picture God as eager to punish him as soon as he made a mistake. He went from seeing God as good to seeing God as cruel.

“‘Yet your real motive — your true intent — was to watch me, and if I sinned, you would not forgive my guilt. If I am guilty, too bad for me; and even if I’m innocent, I can’t hold my head high, because I am filled with shame and misery.” – Job 10:13-15

How often do we see God with his hands strategically placed to pull the rug out from under us? Some of us grew up with this identity that each of us is dangling from a spiritual string, and that our God is eagerly poised to cut us off as soon as we sin. But this is not who God is, and we must reject this kind of thinking. Our God is patient, not wanting anyone to be destroyed but wanting everyone to repent (2 Peter 3:9).

DEMANDING THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Job went from sorrowfully feeling like God was no longer paying attention to demanding the opportunity to defend himself in front of God. He accused God of turning his back on him. He described himself as a target with God’s archers surrounding him, unfairly piercing him with arrows (16:12-13).

“But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned.” — Job 35:13

I agree with Elihu’s response to Job. It may feel at times as if God isn’t paying attention. Job felt that. The psalmist David felt that. Perhaps you are feeling that right now. Please let me encourage you with the truth that God loves you and He is never uninvolved; He is never uncaring and He never leaves you alone. I am believing with you that He has plans to turn your mourning into joyful dancing.

Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
When I was prosperous, I said,
“Nothing can stop me now!”
Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
I cried out to you, O Lord.
I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
“What will you gain if I die, if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
Can it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.
Help me, O Lord.”
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! — Psalm 30:5b-12

Today’s Reading: Job 3-8; Psalm 38

When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. – Job 2:11-13

Job was having a difficult time despite his faith in God. He felt the pain and suffered from the loss just like anyone else would. He was surrounded by friends who loved him enough to travel from their homes to spend time with him. Not only did they watch him grieve, they grieved alongside him. Their friendship was strong enough to be willing to sit in the dirt with him for an entire week.

I WISH I HAD NEVER BEEN BORN.

After a week of sitting in silence, Job put words to the emotions he was feeling. It would have been better to never have been conceived than to experience this level of sorrow. “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true. I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes” (Job 3:25-26).

For a week, Job’s friends got it right. They did not try to solve his problems, but simply walked the journey of grief with him. The problems began when they opened their mouths and started talking. They got impatient with his sorrow and began rushing their friend through the grief process. Although Job’s friends were trying to give him advice through his time of suffering, their words were only adding to his pain. Take this statement by Eliphaz as an example:

“Your words have supported those who were failing; you encouraged those with shaky knees. But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you. Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope? Stop and think! Do the innocent die? When have the upright been destroyed? My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same.” – Job 4:4-8

Eliphaz accused his friend of being quick to support and encourage others who were going through a hard time, but then to respond in surprise that trouble could actually land on his own doorstep. Eliphaz told Job he should consider it a joy that God would correct him. He reasoned that although God was the one causing Job this pain, God would also be the one to bind Job’s wounds and save him from his sinful ways (5:17-18).

DON’T I HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN.

“One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty. My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook that overflows its banks in the spring when it is swollen with ice and melting snow…Stop assuming my guilt, for I have done no wrong.” – Job 6:14-16, 29

We have probably all been there — either we have been the one going through a hard time and had well-meaning friends say something that made the pain worse, or we have been the one who has sincerely tried to comfort a friend only to end up saying the last thing they needed to hear. Our well-meaning efforts to express sympathy or ease someone else’s pain often falls flat. We have no choice but to walk away hoping our friend sees the sincerity of our attempt rather than the imperfection of our words.

Perhaps where we go wrong is that we want the mystery of God to be easily solvable — If you do what is right, God will bless you and make life easy for you. If things are not going right, then it has to be your fault. Simply confess your sins and you can go back to living the perfectly blessed life of one who has faith in God. Job’s friends were doing what we often do — they were trying to use human understanding to solve the mystery of who God is and why He allows tragedy to come into our lives.

“But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home. And though you started with little, you will end with much.” – Job 8:5-6

Job’s friend, Bildad, assumed that earthly blessings come to the righteous and the wicked can never prosper here on earth. We have all heard this prosperity gospel, and probably believed it to some degree. But the fact remains that there are some godly Christians who live and die dirt-poor by earthly standards, and there are some very ungodly people who have everything they could possibly ask for in regard to their position and possessions. This is not always easy to understand, but our response to what seems unfair in life can be to simply trust God, even if we cannot find a reason for the pain we are going through. As Job did, we can look forward to our heavenly rewards instead of measuring our earthly possessions or comfort level.

Father God, we ask for wisdom in knowing how to respond to the pain and trouble life brings us. Thank you for the reminder this morning that you are a good God, and that you are present with us through the most difficult seasons of our life. Help us to rest in the knowledge that you are a faithful God, and that we can always trust your heart.

Lord, teach us how to authentically be available to those who are hurting. Give us the discernment to know when your Spirit has given us a word for someone else, and when we are supposed to simply be silently present. Give us patience as we allow our loved ones the season of grief that they need; remind us not to rush their sorrow. I pray this morning for those who are hurting and ask that you give them a new wave of peace today in the midst of their grief. May we all be conduits of your mercy to those around us. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Job 1-2, Psalm 3

ONCE UPON A TIME

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. – Job 1:1-3

Most of us know the story. Job was a righteous man who had been blessed abundantly by God. He had a large family, lots of servants and lots of animals. He was known to offer burnt offerings for each of his ten children, just in case they had sinned. This shows the heart of a man who desperately wanted God to be pleased with him, as well as with his family.

One day, after patrolling the earth to see everything that was going on, Satan entered into God’s presence. God asked him if he had seen the integrity of his servant, Job. Satan’s response sounds familiar to attitudes often found today.

Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” – Job 1:9-11

With God’s permission, everything in Job’s life changed in an instant. A messenger arrived to tell him that raiders had stolen all of his oxen and donkeys, and they had killed his farmhands. Before he had finished speaking, another messenger arrived to say fire had fallen from heaven killing all of his sheep and shepherds. A third messenger arrived to say raiders had stolen his camels, and all his servants were dead.

To lose all of your wealth in one day would be tragic, but at least he still had his family to bring him joy. Oh, but tragically he did not. A fourth messenger arrived to say that a strong wind had blown down the walls of his oldest son’s home. All of his children were feasting together when the house collapsed, and all ten of his children were now dead.

In his deep grief, Job refused to blame God for his troubles He responded, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21)

Satan, the Accuser, stepped into God’s presence once more to challenge the faith of Job. His accusation was that Job was still worshiping God because his pain had only been emotional and financial. So God allowed Satan to test Job physically, causing him excruciating pain through terrible boils from his head to foot.

Job sat in the ashes and scraped the boils with a piece of broken pottery. What a sad picture of a man who once had everything, but now had nothing. When his wife nagged him, encouraging him to curse God and die, Job’s response was powerful: “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (Job 2:10). Let’s ask ourselves that same question this morning:

SHOULD WE ACCEPT ONLY GOOD THINGS FROM THE HAND OF GOD AND NEVER ANYTHING BAD?

Job’s response shows the strength of his faith as he continued to praise God in the midst of his grief and pain. As many of us have experienced, there is a choice to make in difficult circumstances. We can push God away and decide that He is not the good God we have always believed Him to be, or we can pull closer to Him so that He can comfort us in our darkest hour.

I am so thankful to serve a God who welcomes my questions, who understands the pain I am going through, and who willingly comforts me when I am struggling to understand why He has allowed something in my life. I hang onto the belief that my God is good — all the time!

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy mountain. — Psalm 3:3-4

AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

Job’s story has a happy ending. God stepped in, healing Job physically and restoring him with earthly possessions even greater than what he once had. And the great news for us today is that our story has a happy ending also! No matter what our current circumstances are, no matter how much we are suffering today, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven where there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more loss.

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.
And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!
I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!” – Job 19:25-27

Today’s Reading: Genesis 44:18 – 50:26; Psalm 4

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. — Colossians 3:12-14

It took Joseph some time of battling between hurt and healing before he decided to let go of the past and expose his heart to those who had wounded him so deeply. I believe God did an amazing thing in the soul of this young leader when he let go of his right for restitution and clung instead to the hope of restoration.

“I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. – Genesis 45:3-4a

MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR EACH OTHER’S FAULTS, AND FORGIVE ANYONE WHO OFFENDS YOU.

Joseph longed to close the distance between him and his siblings. It was time to let go of the pain of yesterday in order to experience the brotherly intimacy his brothers clearly had with each other. Judah was even unselfishly volunteering to go to prison in exchange for the freedom of his brother, Benjamin. His brothers had changed and it was time to let go of the need for revenge.

When Joseph, overcome with emotion, chose to reveal his identity to his brothers, his focus was not on the pain of their betrayal. Instead of focusing on how his brothers had wounded him, Joseph was concerned about how they were dealing with the guilt of their sin. He went out of his way to help his brothers see the good that God had brought out of the bad they had done.

“I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives…God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an advisor to Pharoah…” – Genesis 45:4b-8

Joseph told his brothers to go and get their father, and he promised to provide land on which to raise their families. He desired to take care of them during the next five years of famine. It was time to put the past behind them; it was time to close the gap.

ABOVE ALL, CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH LOVE, WHICH BINDS US ALL TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY.

Then Joseph added, “Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph! Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly.” Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same. Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him. – Genesis 45:12-15

Can you hear the volume in the room increasing? Can you sense the strength of this brotherhood as they began to talk freely? I imagine they were asking questions while also filling Joseph in on how his father was doing. The weight of their betrayal was being lifted off of their shoulders and they were allowing themselves to feel the joy of relational restoration.

Because he was able to let go of his own need for justice, Joseph was soon reunited with his father and at peace with his brothers. He was able to enjoy 17 years with his father, and his sons were able to receive the blessing of their grandfather. After the death of Jacob, Joseph’s brothers threw themselves down before Joseph in repentance once more. He had to remind them that he had no intention of going back to how things used to be; they were forgiven.

But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them. – Genesis 50:19-21

I love how The Message parallels the NLT here: Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now – life for many people. – Genesis 50:19 (The Message)

DO I ACT FOR GOD?

When I am sinned against or suffer the consequences of someone else’s sin, is it for me to refuse to forgive them? Do I act for God? Would any good come from revenge or retaliation? Do I act for God? Is it my right to question God or to be angry that He did not intervene and prevent the hurt? Do I act for God? This I know with confidence — God never leaves us nor abandons us; He is never uninvolved. We can trust in the God of this promise:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

God takes all of our experiences in life and He executes a beautiful plan for how to use them for our good and for the good of others. God can take the deepest pain and the most tragic of stories and redeem it for the building of His kingdom. But first we need to stop acting for God and fully surrender our pain to Him. We need to stop seeing through the lens of our victimhood and allow the Lord to fully restore our hearts, bringing joy to the space we were reserving for self-pity, anger and hatred.

Lord, show me today when I am manipulating my circumstances or attempting to act for you. Get my attention when I begin to question your justice and your timing. Teach each of us to trust that you are the God who works for the good of those who love Him, and help us to see you clearly through our current circumstances and the wound of our past. Amen.

Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent.
Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,
and trust the Lord. – Psalm 4:4-5

Today’s Reading: Genesis 42:1 – 44:17; Psalm 68

When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another? I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.” – Genesis 42:1-2

The severe famine that Joseph had predicted when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream was affecting the whole world (41:57), including Jacob’s family. Staying and doing nothing was not going to save the family; a decision needed to be made. So Jacob took charge and sent his sons to Egypt to get grain, but he kept Benjamin at home.

JACOB MADE THE DECISION TO SEND HIS SONS TO EGYPT FOR FOOD.

Because Joseph was in charge of selling grain to all of the people who were traveling to Egypt for food, he was present when his brothers arrived. Perhaps Joseph saw his family approaching and had time to consider what might happen when they reached the front of the line. What he probably didn’t expect was for his brothers to not recognize him. As they bowed down in front of him, Joseph remembered the dream he had shared with them on a day that seemed a lifetime ago.

One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”
His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” — Genesis 37:5-8a

Now here they were, dependent on him for survival. Now they were the ones living in difficult circumstances, while Joseph was living in luxury. How would he respond to the brothers who had caused him such grief? I am not sure even Joseph knew how he was going to respond. Perhaps this was a moment he had spent years considering — What would he do if he ever had the opportunity to see his brothers again? What would he say to those who had ignored him when he had begged for his life?

JOSEPH HAD A DECISION TO MAKE BETWEEN FORGIVENESS AND REVENGE.

Whether this was a well thought out plan or a spontaneous moment, Joseph stood before his brothers and accused them of being spies. Despite their explanation, Joseph threw them into prison. For three short days they experienced what he had endured for 13 long years, and yet they still did not know him.

Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.” – Genesis 42:21

Joseph turned away from them so that they would not see his tears. Then he had his brother, Simeon, tied up in front of his brothers, perhaps wanting to remind them of the day when they watched him being led away in ropes and did nothing to save him. Joseph sent them home with grain, but told them they would never see Simeon again if they did not bring their youngest brother back to Joseph. He sent them away with supplies, and secretly had their money placed back inside their bags of grain.

Jacob’s sons returned to him and told him everything that had happened, but he refused to let his youngest son go to Egypt. Time passed and they were running out of food, but they could not go back for more without Benjamin, so Jacob reluctantly allowed them to take his precious son. He sent gifts and returned the money that he knew rightfully belonged to Pharaoh. Reuben, who had planned to rescue Joseph years ago, promised his own sons to Jacob if they did not return with Benjamin. Judah, whose idea it had been to sell Joseph into slavery, also spoke up and promised to be held responsible.

“May God Almighty give you mercy as you go before the man, so that he will release Simeon and let Benjamin return. But if I must lose my children, so be it.” – Genesis 43:14

When they arrived in Egypt, Joseph had his brothers brought into the palace and prepared a feast for them. Joseph was overcome with emotion when he found out his father was still alive and when he met his mother’s other son, Benjamin. He assigned each of his brothers a seat at the table, surprising them by placing them according to their birth order. He filled each of their plates with food from his own royal table; but when he came to Benjamin, he gave him five times more than anyone else.

When his brothers were ready to leave, Joseph gave these instructions to his palace manager: “Fill each of their sacks with as much grain as they can carry, and put each man’s money back into his sack. Then put my personal silver cup at the top of the youngest brother’s sack, along with the money for his grain.” So the manager did as Joseph instructed him. — Genesis 44:1-2

When the silver cup was later discovered in Benjamin’s sack, the brothers returned to Joseph, bowing before him to plead their innocence. Joseph’s response — What have you done? Don’t you know that a man like me can predict the future? (44:15) It seems as if Joseph is giving his brothers a clue — don’t you remember me, the dreamer, the one who predicted this day when you would bow before me?

JOSEPH HAD A CHOICE TO MAKE, AND HE WAS DANCING AROUND HIS DECISION.

Joseph was sitting between the pain of his brothers’ betrayal and the freedom of forgiveness. Would he reveal his identity or would he continue to manipulate and play games with those who had so easily discarded him? Would he forgive his brothers and give them the chance to clear their conscience, or would he punish them by keeping Benjamin with him and sending them home empty handed?

Perhaps this is where you are currently positioned. Perhaps you would describe yourself as being stuck between Genesis chapter 44 and Genesis chapter 45. My prayer for you this morning is that God will give you the strength to choose forgiveness. I pray the knowledge of God’s grace in your own life will give you the peace you need to extend grace to someone else today. I pray that this is the day when God lifts the weight you have been carrying as you let go of your right to be angry.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. — Ephesians 4:31-32

Today’s Reading: Genesis 39-41; Psalm 28

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. – Genesis 39:1-2

JOSEPH WAS A SLAVE IN POTIPHAR’S HOUSE, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.

Joseph was far from his home and the only life he had ever known. He was only seventeen years old and had lost his family, his home and his freedom. But the Lord gave him success in everything he did, and his master noticed. He quickly found favor with Potiphar, and everything the Egyptian official owned was placed in Joseph’s care.

Now Joseph was strong and handsome, which Potiphar’s wife quickly noticed. Every day she demanded that Joseph join her in her bed, but he refused out of loyalty to his earthly master. He also did not want to sin against God, who was so faithfully providing for him in the midst of difficult circumstances. Insulted by his rejection, Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph, and he was thrown into prison — the same confinement where the king cast his prisoners.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. – Genesis 39:20b-23

JOSEPH WAS IN PRISON, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.

One morning while in prison, Joseph noticed that both the king’s cupbearer and the king’s baker were upset. When he found out they were both struggling to understand their dreams from the night before, he offered to listen. He interpreted both of their dreams, asking the chief cupbearer to show him kindness by mentioning him to Pharoah when he was restored to his position in three days. The man forgot about Joseph, but the Lord did not. He continued to faithfully provide for Joseph in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Two years later, Pharoah had a dream that troubled him. He sent for all the magicians and wise men throughout Egypt, but no one could interpret his dream. Then the chief cupbearer remembered the young Hebrew man who had accurately interpreted his dream. He told the king about Joseph, and the king sent for him.

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” – Genesis 41:15-16

JOSEPH STOOD BEFORE PHARAOH, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.

With the Lord’s help, Joseph interpreted both of Pharaoh’s dreams — the dream of seven skinny cows eating seven fat cows and the dream of seven thin heads of grain swallowing up seven good heads of grain. He told the king of Egypt how there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Joseph went on to give Pharoah instructions from God on how to store up a fifth of the harvest during the years of plenty in order to be prepared for the years of famine. Pharaoh recognized that Joseph had the Spirit of God in him, and he appointed him to be second-in-command over all of Egypt.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” – Genesis 41:39-40

JOSEPH WAS PLACED IN LEADERSHIP, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.

Pharaoh placed a ring on Joseph’s finger, dressed him in robes of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck (41:42). He gave Joseph a wife, and he gave him the authority to carry out his assignment. Joseph was now 30 years old, which meant he had spent 13 years as a servant, slave and prisoner. He trusted in God and God faithfully provided for him, yet he did not experience earthly freedom for 13 long years.

Some of you have been waiting for God to answer your prayers for what seems like a lifetime. My prayer for you this morning is that you can recognize God’s presence in your life, even through season after season of what seems like unanswered prayer. I would like to encourage you this morning to overcome the human expectation that God’s presence is always evidenced by earthly blessings and physical healings. Just like Joseph, sometimes God’s provision comes in the midst of difficult circumstances.

THE LORD’S PRESENCE IS EVIDENT EVEN ON OUR DARKEST DAYS.

His wife gave birth to a son, and Joseph named him Manasseh, because God had made him forget all about his troubles and about how he had been sinned against by his brothers. His second son was named Ephraim, because God had made him fruitful in the land of his suffering (41:50-52). Joseph had experienced troubles, been sinned against, and was forced to live in a land that represented his suffering, yet the Lord was with him.

Praise the Lord!
For he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. – Psalm 28:6-7

May God make His presence known to you today, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 38 & 44; Psalm 86

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). – Matthew 1:1-3a

Jacob had 12 sons and God chose the lineage of Jacob’s fourth son, Judah, for the birth of the Messiah. Genesis helps us understand a little more about this far from perfect man, from whose descendants our source of salvation would be born.

When Joseph’s brothers were frustrated with his bragging and their father’s favoritism, it was Judah who came up with a plan to sell their little brother into slavery. Reuben planned to come back later and rescue Joseph from the cistern in which they had thrown him, but Judah planned to make some money at Joseph’s expense. He showed himself to be disloyal, greedy and unkind.

Around the time of this betrayal, Judah chose to leave home and start his own family. He married a Canaanite woman and had three sons — Er, Onan and Shelah. Eventually, Judah arranged for Er to marry a young woman named Tamar. Er was wicked and the Lord took his life, so Onan took Tamar to be his wife as the law required. Tradition commanded him to have a son with his dead brother’s wife in order to produce an heir for the deceased. Onan refused and the Lord took his life. Next it was Judah’s responsibility to give Tamar to his youngest son, once he was of age, but instead Judah sent her away with a promise to bring her back some day.

Once more Judah showed himself to be disloyal, greedy and unkind. When Shelah came of age, he chose not to bring Tamar back to their family. This meant Tamar would have to spend the rest of her life in shame as the barren widow who had been rejected by her husband’s family.

Genesis 38 reveals the ugly details of how Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and had sex with her father-in-law. When Judah found out she was pregnant, he demanded she be burned for her sexual sins. But Judah recognized the evil in his own heart when he saw his own seal, cord, and walking stick.

Judah recognized them immediately and said, “She is more righteous than I am, because I didn’t arrange for her to marry my son Shelah.” And Judah never slept with Tamar again. – Genesis 38:26

WE SERVE A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES.

But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. – Psalm 86:15

The circumstances around this conception were shameful, but we serve a God of grace. God took the mess Tamar and Judah had created, and He wove their story into His plan of redemption for all mankind. God redeemed Judah’s story and chose for the Messiah to be born in the lineage of Tamar’s son, Perez.

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
hear my urgent cry.
I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
and you will answer me. – Psalm 86:5-7

When we fast forward to Genesis 44, we see a changed man. When it became evident that Benjamin would have to stay in Egypt because he was being accused of theft, Judah stepped forward. When it became obvious that his father’s heart was about to be broken over the loss of one more son, Judah stepped up.

“My lord, I guaranteed to my father that I would take care of the boy. I told him, ‘If I don’t bring him back to you, I will bear the blame forever.’ So please, my lord, let me stay here as a slave instead of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!” – Genesis 44:32-34

WE SERVE A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES.

Lord, thank you so much for taking this selfish and greedy heart and making something worthy of your service. Thank you for seeing a heart in need of transformation and patiently making me into the person you have created me to be. Reveal in me any self-serving attitudes and unkind opinions. Teach me, guide me, mold me, break me. May your transforming power continue the work you have begun in my heart and life. Amen.

Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,
for your love for me is very great.
You have rescued me from the depths of death. – Psalm 86:11-13

Today’s Reading: Genesis 39; Isaiah 61

Meanwhile, the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain of the palace guard. – Genesis 37:36

IS THIS GOD’S WILL OR IS IT GOD’S PLAN?

Have you ever felt an overwhelming panic that what is happening around you is not the will of God? One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that God has a plan even when the choices of others are outside of God’s will. When I rest in His sovereignty, I learn how to trust Him despite everything that is going on around me.

Joseph’s life was affected time and time again by the sinful decisions of others, but God was NEVER uninvolved. Joseph’s brothers sinned against him out of jealousy when they sold him into captivity, but God did not abandon Joseph.

GOD’S PLAN WAS TO USE THIS JOSEPH’S PAIN FOR GOOD.

A lot of good came out of the rest of Joseph’s life, even though the trajectory of his life drastically changed when his brothers sold him into slavery. I believe it was not God’s perfect will for Joseph to be sinned against, separated from his family, and sold into slavery, yet God’s plan was to use it for good.

The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. – Genesis 39:2-4

It was not God’s perfect will for Potiphar’s wife to lust after Joseph and lie about his integrity, causing Joseph to spend years in prison, but God’s plan was to use it for good. Joseph was far from his family and the life he loved, but he was never alone.

THERE WAS NEVER A MOMENT WHEN GOD WAS UNAWARE OF JOSEPH’S SITUATION.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. – Genesis 39:20b-22

Joseph’s time in prison gave him the opportunity to interpret the dream of the chief cupbearer, who eventually (two years later) told Pharaoh of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams. As a result of Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams, the lives of many were saved from the devastating famine ahead.

GOD IS NEVER WITHOUT A PLAN

I do not believe it is God’s will that anyone should sin or be sinned against, yet God is NEVER without a plan. Because He loves us and He wants everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), GOD MAKES BEAUTIFUL THINGS come out of the sinful actions of man.

When we are wronged or sinned against or even suffer the consequences of our own sins, God has not abandoned us. Instead he works out a BEAUTIFUL PLAN OF REDEMPTION in the midst of this sinful world. God does not will for us to sin but neither is He surprised by it. He continues to plan HOPE for the hopeless and salvation for the lost.

Is it God’s will that an unmarried woman gets pregnant? No, scripture is clear that sexual relations should only occur within the marriage covenant relationship, but God has a plan for the unborn baby and for the parents. His love for them is deep, and God continues to draw them to Himself.

Is it God’s will when a drunk driver kills an innocent bystander? No, but God has a plan to provide healing for those who are left grieving and to use their healing to minister to others who have suffered loss. He comforts those who are brokenhearted and redeems their story in beautiful ways.

Is it God’s will that our culture should consider it a woman’s right to end the life of her unborn baby? No, but God has a plan to use the sin of abortion to bring many to repentance. God has a plan to use His followers to reach out to those affected by or considering abortion and show them the love of God. He redeems the stories of the post-abortive and gives them a crown of beauty for ashes.

Is it God’s will that anyone should be on the receiving end of prejudice, bullying, racism, sexism, ageism, discrimination, hatred, or injustice? Absolutely not! No, but God has a plan to use His children to speak out and to create change, so that the death of one man can mean salvation for all mankind.

Thank you, God, for taking all the details of my life and using them to accomplish something good. Lord, I trust you with the good and the bad, with the joys and the heartaches. I pray for a strong faith and daily reminders that you will never leave or abandon us. Even in the worst of situations, we can trust that you have a plan.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory. – Isaiah 61:1-3