(Gen 41:41-43) “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt... And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.” When Joseph was introduced to us in chp.37, he was a young inexperienced 17 year old boy, and yet 13 years later God raised him up to rule the nation of Egypt. So, what made him different? The Answer: “Time,” and his faith in God! You see time is a wonderful teacher; 1) Time strengthens endurance. Endurance and faith can only be strengthened over time. Like exercise, we start out not able to do much but over time we find that we can do more. You see, God allows us to go through the ups and downs of life, to help us gain not only spiritual maturity, but also spiritual abilities. Spiritual endurance therefore enables us to handle life’s trials better. 2) Time strengthens patience. Although Joseph, consistently did right, God allowed much discouragement and disappointment, but in every situation, he learned to wait on God. Joseph learned over time that God was in control even in the bad times, working all things out for good. 3) Time strengthens our trust in God. The only way for God to bring us to the place of usefulness, is through the furnace of adversity. Like forging steel, unless God heats up our lives a bit, He cannot adequately apply the blow of faith’s hammer that uniquely shapes our trust in Him. Joseph is no different than any other child of God, as He built trust in him, He will build it in you
(Luke 2:13-14) “ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Again, we read above about the great proclamation of Heaven’s Angels the night of Jesus’ birth, and how they began to sing “Glory to God in the highest.” So, what did the angels mean by this statement . 48 times in the Bible God uses the phrase, “The Most High,” to describe not just the dwelling place of God, but also the Glory that should be ascribed to Him and His Son Jesus 1) Jesus was the Glory that came down from the Highest Heaven . Jesus’s existence did not begin at birth, for the Bible tells us that he was, and is, and always will be the eternal Son of God , “the only begotten of the Father.” For He is, (Rev. 1:8) “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and ending,” (18) “he that liveth, and was dead...
Comments
Post a Comment