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9 “The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions and enabled him to win favor and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan and great suffering, and our ancestors could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit. 13 On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five in all; 15 so Jacob went down to Egypt. He himself died there as well as our ancestors, 16 and their bodies were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

 

Most of us have experienced a time that didn't make much sense while we were living through it. Joseph certainly did. Betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, he could have believed that God's plans for his life had come to an end. Yet Stephen tells Joseph's story with four simple words: "But God was with him." Those words remind me that God's presence doesn't always remove my pain, but it always changes how I walk through it. Looking back (in my rear-view mirror), I can recognize moments when God was quietly working long before I understood what He was doing. That gives me hope today, trusting that even when I cannot yet see the outcome, God is faithfully weaving His purposes into my story.

Faithful God, help us trust Your presence today, believing that You are always at work for Your good purposes. Amen.

Deborah Schroeder-Saulnier

deborah@excelleadershipsolutions.com

 

Prayer Concern: For each of us to periodically look into that rear view mirror and see how God is working our lives!