Tag Archives: God’s provision

January 15
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“‘Here comes that dreamer!’, they said to each other.  ‘Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him.  Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.’”  (Genesis 37:19-20, NIV)

The maltreatment of Joseph began with the evil plans of his brothers.

Joseph’s brothers resented Joseph on many levels: He was their father’s favorite son (and Joseph made no secret that he knew that his father’s favor rested on him); and Joseph made much of his dreams, in which he seemed always to be the hero.

The good news here is that God works on many levels, too.  Joseph’s circumstances were used by God to fit Joseph for God’s work; he used the brothers’ guilt to provoke confession and true repentance; and throughout, God was glorified for His love and His mercy.

Like Joseph, we do not know where life will take us; but we should never doubt that God is at work in our circumstances — however hopeless from our perspective — to transform us into the image of Christ; to bless others; and to glorify God.  If we are convinced of this, though we may fall down, we shall not stay down!  – Luther

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December 28
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“So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.  He remained there until the death of Herod.  This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son.’”  (Matthew 2:14-15a, NASB)

Egypt.  Time and again in the Bible, Egypt becomes the place of exile and pain.  Joseph (of many-colored coat fame; please see Genesis 37 for details) found himself in Egypt after being sold by his brothers.  The Children of Israel were delivered from slavery in Egypt in what is known as the Exodus.  And now, the Christ child is taken to Egypt by His parents to escape Herod’s slaughter of children.

Exile may have its purposes, but it, nevertheless, also had its own proximate difficulties: Loneliness, unfamiliarity, suffering.

Have you ever been exiled to your own “Egypt”?  Are you there today?

If you are, be resolute in the knowledge that God is in “Egypt” with you; that God will never forsake you; and that God will, in the fullness of time, deliver you.  – Luther

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December 5
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“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  (Hebrews 4:15-16, NASB)

There are times when it seems as if trouble and adversity are predators and we are stalked like prey.

At such times, God’s word reminds us that we are far from alone in our condition: Prone to anxiety and bent toward fear.  There is One who has been where we are.  There is One who has faced what we are facing, and that One has emerged from the crucible completely victorious and untouched by sin.  His name is Jesus.

The solution to our dilemma is not to seek the counsel of some and the comfort of others.  Instead, immediately “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace,” that is, seek God as your first Resource — not as your last resort.

Those who seek God continuously will always receive mercy equal to any sin; find grace abounding in abundance; and receive help that is always on-time.  – Luther

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