Joseph, Dead but Still Speaking (1)

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11

Key Verse:.. I am about to die.. (Genesis 50:24)

Meditation:Important lessons from Joseph's life include: (1) Every movement started by God will continue until His divine purpose has been realized. Human leaders may fail and people will die, but there is a goal in God's planning that will be reached.  *Pharaoh discovered this at a great personal and national lost to Egypt. Each time we pray the Lord's prayer, we are affirming the truth that ultimately God's plan will be done on earth as it is on heaven. All of history is moving towards God's per-ordained goal. In spite of human appearance. God is in control. As Christians, our prime responsibility is to identify with God's work and become "workers together with Him."  

   God's timing of important events and our human calculations do not always harmonize. Joseph never tried to squeeze God into his human calendar. As Joseph was about to die he did not despair that Israel was still in Egypt. Neither did he feel that his life had been a failure because the exodus did not happen in his lifetime. Without a word of regret he simply announced, "I am about to die." Joseph was resting in the assurance that God, not man, was the primary actor in Israel's history.

Thought for the Day: While we may not always be able to discern clearly the purposeful movement of God  in human history, in respect, we will see surely God was in control and followed His preordained schedule. 

* This Pharaoh was not the same one that had promoted Joseph to Prime Minister. The Pharaoh that held the Israelis as slaves was Ramses II. He had them building a great city. (more about that later)