All in God's Plan

January first I began to read the Once A-Day Bible. I've read these read-through-the-whole-Bibles before and decided to embark on it again.

I'm convinced because God has made His Word living and active, that is why I always get something more from reading it.

Currently, I'm reading about Joseph. What a story! This guy endured the scorn and jealousy of his brothers. They went so far as to hitch him up with a slave-trader. He's hauled off to Egypt. And, just when you think he's received justification, some rejected woman gets Joseph thrown into prison.

Now, I can confess here that I would have been bitter and probably sulked. But, what does Joseph do? He continues to do his best job and follow God. Then when it looks like he might have a way out, Pharoah's servant forgets to mention him.

A while later, it finally dawns on the servant that he forgot to mention good ol' Joseph who he met in prison. Joseph is brought out and after a good bath, interprets a dream for the ruler. Now he rises to an even higher rank in power than before.

When faced once again with those brothers who sold him, he rises above the norm. he doesn't make them pay for what they did to him. In his status, he could have thrown them in jail or had them killed. But, he ends up telling those brothers, who end up shaking in their boots at recognizing him finally, that what they meant for harm, God meant for good.

What a perspective! He could look back on the trials and struggles and recognize God's hand. It was all in God's plan.

So, when I feel like I'm spinning my wheels or being treated unfairly, I need to keep true to God's leading. Even though what I'm experiencing right now might be the pits, God brings people out of pits and uses them mightily.

How about you? Have you seen this "Joseph perspective" work in your life?