Part 3 of 3 – God Redeems
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”—Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
The final culmination of the historical recount of Joseph’s life is my most favorite part of all. When my heart needs encouragement, Joseph’s restoration is one of the best places to go. I need to be reminded that no matter what it looks like and no matter what it feels like, God is working on my behalf, and He has the power to transform my situation into something beautiful.
Every time God shows me His faithfulness, be it in the small details or the big issues of my life, I get another tangible example of who He is and what I mean to Him. This builds my faith.
Experiencing His goodness creates a lifeline to hang onto in the seasons when life does not make any sense.
Catch Up
Joseph had been on a rollercoaster of a ride. From being the favored son and gifted dream interpreter to being sold into slavery and moved to a foreign land, a slave who was falsely accused and thrown into jail, to being imprisoned for 19 years and then being promoted to second in command over all of Egypt. All those years of running the everyday operations of the jail and overseeing all the responsibilities that came with the prisoners was about to pay off.
Let’s take a look at the reward for one who keeps the faith even when circumstances are, at best, discouraging.
Joseph’s Reward
In Genesis 41:41-45, we read all that Joseph was given, the level of respect he received, as well as the wife and sons he was blessed with:
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt. (NIV—emphases mine)
I have a habit of getting ahead of God, you know, “helping Him out.” So when I see how Joseph trusted God to vindicate him rather than taking matters into his own hands, it reminds me to wait. To be patient. Combine his attitude of patience and seeing that he purposely pursued the heart of God no matter what, and you get a man who lived to glorify God in all his ways. Joseph’s relentless faith in God gave him public victory, and it also gave him personal victory.
God used every evil deed against Joseph to fulfill his greatest legacy.
Seven Years of Prosperity
Just as Joseph had predicted, the seven years of bumper crops filled the storehouses to the point that he was unable to continue keeping record. Before the first years of the drought, Joseph and his wife Asenath had two sons. Their names revealed the heart of Joseph as he reflected on his life’s journey thus far.
Joseph named his first son Manasseh meaning, “God has made me forget all my troubles and all my father’s household.” In this phase of Joseph’s life, he made peace with his past heartaches. The beautiful part is that even without the ability to “work it out” with his brothers, he makes the conscious choice to forgive them.
Naming his son Manasseh meant every time he looked at him or called his name joy would stir up in his heart. When your past no longer holds the power over you that it once did, you’ve made peace. Forgiveness is the doorway to being an overcomer.
He named his second son Ephraim—”God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.” Joseph acknowledges God’s hand in the details of his life. He was in a very prosperous phase. He received great acclaim for his wisdom. Nothing was withheld from him, and, even though the drought was headed his way, he now had countless examples of God’s faithfulness.
Joseph paid his dues and then some. Being sold into slavery by his own brothers was completely out of his control. Being thrown into jail because of a false accusation by Potiphar’s* wife was completely out of his control. Would I be able to remain faithful in similar circumstances? Would you?
Seven Years of Famine
Continuing to fulfill what God had revealed to Joseph, seven years of drought followed on the heels of that prosperity. It was severe, affecting everyone, and all the world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain.
One day Joseph looked out at the men requesting to purchase food. Ten men bowed before him, and he realized those men were his brothers. Joseph was then 39 years old. He had waited well over 20 years to see the fulfillment of some of the first dreams he interpreted as a young boy.
He recognized his brothers, but they didn’t realize Joseph. They only knew this man was the governor of Egypt.
The one brother he does not see with them is his little brother Benjamin. Perhaps he worried about what they may have done to him. Had they treated Benjamin the same way they had treated Joseph? After all, Benjamin was Joseph’s only other full-blood brother. Did they feel the same way about him as they had Joseph?
Joseph accused them of being spies in the land. He ordered them to verify their claim of only needing food by leaving one brother in jail and going back to get their younger brother. With food provided by Joseph, they headed back to their father, Jacob, and little brother, Benjamin.
Something of a cat-and-mouse game ensued with Joseph trying to get to the bottom of what they’d admit to regarding their family. Would they take responsibility for what they did to him? Were they telling the truth about Benjamin and if his father was still alive?
When he could take it no more, he revealed who he was and, of course, that terrified his brothers! However, Joseph’s forgiveness was what they received. He provided more grain and gifts than they could carry for their households.
When Pharaoh heard that Joseph’s family had come, he invited them to move every single one of their family members and possessions to Egypt and gives them the best land in the whole kingdom.
God’s Vision for Us
Many times, when God is leading us somewhere, He doesn’t give us the big picture—just the step by step. He knows us all too well. If He showed us the amazing things we were going to accomplish through His power and influence, we’d be too terrified to move.
It would seem impossible. We wouldn’t think we deserved it. Certainly, we’re not qualified for something of that magnitude. But yet, step by step, we walk it out and most times it’s not until we look in the rearview mirror that we understand just how far we’ve come.
There is sooo much to learn in Joseph’s story! I love that he chose forgiveness with an even more beautiful result: restoration of relationship with his family. Forgiveness does not automatically equate to reconciliation. I love that Joseph’s choice to do it God’s way brought him great reward with both forgiveness (peace in his soul) and reconciliation (peace in his heart). When we let God work out our circumstances, the end result is powerful enough to go down in history!
God not only used the circumstances in Joseph’s life to make him wiser and stronger, He also prepared the way for all the people in the surrounding areas of Egypt. But, most importantly, God took the circumstances in Joseph’s life to place him strategically in a position of authority to feed his family. God set this plan in motion years in advance. Why would God do this? Because Joseph and his brothers are the twelve sons of Father Jacob who became the twelve tribes of Israel.
Over the last 3 blog posts we seen how God can use every circumstance to prepare us in a way that we will come back stronger. We’ve also seen His faithfulness as we walk through our darkest valleys and we’ve read of his extravagant restoration. Our God is in the business of redemption and restoration.
Sweet woman, you can believe that even this very moment God is putting things in place that you don’t even know to ask for yet. He’s working on your behalf for things you’re not even aware of. He’s creating connections and conversations that will provide solutions and resources.
He loves you, He cares for you, and He’ll never leave you.
Now LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.
This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take what you discover and hold it up to the Light to evaluate it against who God says you are.
- When you’re in a season where everything is in your favor, what is your response? ( ie prayerful, thankful, waiting for the other foot to drop, nervous or skeptical etc.)
- What are some of the things you’ve learned in tough times.
- Which has been the better teacher, tough times or easy time?
- Do you agree that forgiveness does not automatically equate to restoration? Explain your thoughts.
- Have you had an experience where God provided something that you didn’t even realize you’d need?
- Has there been a time when someone meant to harm you but God used it for a purpose?
Use God’s word to take control over traumas in your life. Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts, take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises found in His word.
Print, then cut and carry this Scripture with you and/or post it in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!
Here is what God’s word says to encourage you and to give you an example of His unfailing, relentless, unending love for you:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
Read this and say to yourself: God is always working things out for good because I love Him and He loves me. He’s got my back, front and is on every side of me! He’s putting things in place today that I will need in my future.
Now LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
