Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 105:16-22
Ps 105:16-22
16 He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; 17 and he sent a man before them--Joseph, sold as a slave. 18 They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, 19 till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true. 20 The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. 21 He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, 22 to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.
Phil 2:8-11
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As a young boy, Joseph was the favorite of his father. He was treated special and his brothers came to hate him because of it. When Joseph had a dream that he and his brothers were working in the fields and their stalks of grain bowed down to his stalk of grain, it just made matters worse. Would his older brothers indeed bow down to him as their lord? They felt he was insolent and arrogant.
The time came when his brothers were keeping the sheep away from home and his father told him to go and check on them. They saw him coming, wearing the special coat his father had made for him and plotted to kill him. Reuben, who was the oldest of them, suggested that they put him in a dry well and not kill him. He was planning to come later and release him without harm.
While Reuben was gone, a band of traders came by and the brothers sold Joseph as a slave. He ended up in Egypt and was later put in prison on false accusations. But God had plans and exalted him to ruler over Egypt, second only to Pharaoh in power. A famine came and his brothers came to buy grain. They all bowed before Joseph, not knowing it was their brother. The dream God gave Joseph came true.
Lord God keep me from ever doubting you and your word. Through the story of Joseph I see that against all human odds, you can act and carry out your will. In fact I see that you actually allow what I see as evil to be used for your purpose and for my own good. What a glorious and wonderful God you are indeed! Use me in your service in whatever way you want me to be used. Open my heart to see your wisdom and to do your bidding. Use the ones in government to carry out your purpose for our nation. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord and King.
Robert
