Today’s Reading: Genesis 37: 1-38:30; 1 Chronicles 2:3-6, 8; Genesis 39: 1-23
Joseph is one of my favorite Bible heroes.
He became my best friend a few years ago when I was going through the hardest trial of my life. I had known about Joseph and his coat of many colors since I was in elementary school but thanks to a book someone recommended, God used Joseph to bring healing to my shattered dreams.
“God Meant it For Good” by R.T. Kendall is a book on the life of Joseph. Other than the Bible this has been the most impactful book of my life. It helped me to lose my bitter attitude and look to the future with joy and expectancy.
I pulled out my tattered and worn copy of “God Meant It For Good” today. I thought I’d share some of my underlined (starred, highlighted, etc) quotes that carried me through my difficult time.
- God gave Joseph a dream. Most likely he He should have kept quiet about it, but like most of us, Joseph probably thought he would see if fulfilled shortly. When God shows us that he is going to use us (and He does that), we usually tend to think that we are going to see this happen in the next week or two. It may be a good while indeed before God’s greater purpose in us will be realized. We may need to keep it to ourselves for a while.
- Joseph wanted more than anything to be admired by others, especially his brothers. This became an obsession with Joseph. When God shows us that He will use us, there is almost always a certain appeal to our own self-esteem. Though God speaks to us at our own level in order to motivate us, that very self-esteem to which He appeals needs radical surgery before He can use us.
- Even if God does something in an supernatural, undeniable way, it doesn’t make us exempt from Satan’s subtle temptation to suggest, “This was you. You did that. God wasn’t in that at all.”
- Even though we abuse the gift God gives us, he doesn’t take the gift away (Romans 11:29).
- There comes a time when self-interest must be swallowed up by God’s greater glory.
- When God is a work in your life, you can expect others to be jealous.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones used to say that the worst thing that can happen to a person is to be successful before he’s ready. Joseph wanted to be successful, but he wasn’t ready.
This is just one chapter of “nuggets.” I’m sure I’ll have to share a few more before we leave Genesis.
I’d like to encourage you to take today’s reading and these points from the book and make it personal. You may feel your dreams have been shattered. You may feel you’ve been betrayed by someone who was supposed to love you. You may feel as though you’re in the pit or the prison with Joseph. Look up—pray to your God; ask Him to restore your dreams and to make you the person He planned for you to be.
Genesis 39:21– But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love.
I pray that you rest in the faithful love of your Lord today!
©2013, Dianne Guthmuller
January 15′s Reading: Genesis 40: 1-23; Genesis 35: 28-29, Genesis 41: 1-57
Wow – I’m getting that book! God used that very statement in the story of Joseph a few years ago to reassure me as our family took a big step into the unknown. Thanks for sharing!