v.36 Everything is against me!
Back in the 1980's James Dobson wrote a book entitled, Emotions: Can You Trust Them? His conclusion was, "No." A recent book written by another author, chronicles the way people think in the 21st Century. He tells us how court cases are won, not on the basis of factual evidence, but rather on which attorney can present the most emotional appeal to the jury. This is probably the reason Judge Judy is so popular today- she represents the old way of thinking.
Sometimes the appraisal of a situation we find ourselves in can lead to some incorrect conclusions. Jacob was in the midst of a huge misconception when he uttered those words, "Everything is against me!" He was very down. He didn't realize that wonderful things were about to happen in his life.
Several examples of this are in God's Word. One stands out:
II Kings 6.8-17 v.15 "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" The servant of Elisha misconceived the predicament. As we Jacob it was quite opposite of what his mind and heart were telling him.
1. Things looked bleak for Joseph's brothers. vs.1-25
vs.21-23
They were conscious of their guilt. They may have sat down and ate lunch afterwards (when they threw him into the pit v37.25) but they never forgot now over 20 years later how their brother pleaded with them.
They thought they were going to get rid of him, instead the memory of him and that day haunted them. They couldn't get away from it. No doubt probably every time their father Jacob would say something about Joseph's "death", their eyes would meet and the guilt would piled up.
v.22 Reuben wasn't helping their guilt.
v.23 There were many things they didn't realize:
*That this was Joseph standing there before them
*That he understood their words and their thinking
*That he wasn't going to harm them, rather he was going to help them
*That he forgave them.
Guilt has a way of casting a shadow on everything but Jesus came to deliver us from it.
2. Things "looked" worse for Jacob. -v.36
He certainly wasn't using the language of faith, but grief and pain can sometimes make us feel like this.
The outlook was very dark. Many times we are not able to detect God's Sovereign Hand. We search for it. Remember Spurgeon's words: "When we cannot trace His Hand we can trust His Heart." Jacob wasn't doing that. He was very down.
This can and does happen to God's people:
Elijah I Kings 19.4 I have had enough, LORD. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.
Paul, the apostle II Corinthians 1.9 "... in our hearts we felt the sentence of death..."
By the way Neither one of these men died at that point! Their feelings were one thing but God has the final word.
Jacob, Paul, you and I...
3. All Things were not against him; rather all things work together for good for those who love the LORD. Romans 8.28
"In all things God works for the good of those who love Him."
Therefore:
*It is not wise to measure the facts of any hour by the limit of our own vision.
*Even what seems to be a nightmare, God can bring good out for us.
*A whole family can be in dire straits and in distress and the LORD can do things- amazing things for them 45.25-28 Joseph is still alive!
*God's workings in this family were astounding. They thought the worst, God had the best waiting for them.
*God was in the process of using Joseph to save the world from starvation. Jacob thought his son was dead. He was being used by the LORD to give life to the world.
God is working in you today! He is working through your influence, through your prayers, through seeds you planted years ago. You may not be able to see it but His Word supersedes our perceptions. Trust in Him with all your heart!
No comments:
Post a Comment