Today’s Reading: Job 30-34

“God is not a mortal like me,
so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.
If only there were a mediator between us,
someone who could bring us together.
The mediator could make God stop beating me,
and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.
Then I could speak to him without fear,
but I cannot do that in my own strength.” — Job 9:32-35

How often do we blame God for everything that is going wrong in our life? We blame the Author of Life for the death of a loved one. We blame the Great Physician for the cancer diagnosis of a friend. We blame our holy and righteous God for the sin of this world that causes us pain. Every good and perfect gift comes from God our Father, and yet He is the first one we get angry with when things are not going our way.

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. — James 1:17

Once our family attended an outdoor event on a hot summer day. We found a place in the shade and set up our chairs and blanket. We had arrived early to make sure we could find a comfortable place under the shelter of a tree. But before the opening song had even begun, we noticed the shade was moving. We had not taken into account that the earth was rotating and the angle of the sun was changing — the shadow we were sitting under was shifting.

This often describes our circumstances in life. We set ourselves up to live comfortably and enjoy all the blessings God has provided, but life does not sit still. Try as we may, we cannot freeze time. Our children grow up, our bodies grow old, and our loved ones pass on. We look around and no longer recognize our surroundings. Where did the time go? We cry out to God and question whether He is still listening.

“O earth, do not conceal my blood.
Let it cry out on my behalf.
Even now my witness is in heaven.
My advocate is there on high.
My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God.
I need someone to mediate between God and me,
as a person mediates between friends.
For soon I must go down that road
from which I will never return.” — Job 16:18-22

Job accused God of being distant. He was suffering and crying out to a God who was not answering him. He assumed God had turned his back; he was convinced that God no longer cared. If only God would come close to see what a good person he was, Job would receive justice for all the unfair suffering he was enduring. His friend, Eliphaz, spoke up to remind Job of the greatness of God.

“God is so great—higher than the heavens, higher than the farthest stars.
But you reply, ‘That’s why God can’t see what I am doing!
How can he judge through the thick darkness?
For thick clouds swirl about him, and he cannot see us.
He is way up there, walking on the vault of heaven.’” — Job 22:12-14

“My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud.
If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court.
I would lay out my case and present my arguments.
Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me.” – Job 23:2-5

We live in an imperfect world and declare it unfair. The sins of generations before us have scarred God’s perfect plan for His creation. We have inherited the viruses, diseases, conflicts, and perversions of those who came before us, and darkness continues to try its best to snuff out the light. Job recognized the distance that sin had placed between the Creator and His creation, and he cried out for a mediator — someone to bridge the distance between God and mankind. He was begging for a Savior.

There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. – 1 Timothy 2:5-6a

For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. — Hebrews 9:15

Because Jesus is our Mediator and our Savior, we can stand in confidence with Job and make this our personal testimony, even in the midst of our struggles and the presence of our pain:

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
and he will stand upon the earth at last.
And after my body has decayed,
yet in my body I will see God!
I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!” — Job 19:25-27

Today’s reading: Job 23-29; Psalm 42

Everything Job had loved about life was gone and he was grieving. He liked the way things had been, but it was beyond his control to get it all back. The contrast of the joy of yesterday compared to the pain of today caused him to despair all of his tomorrows. If only things could go back to the way they had been.

“I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,
when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness.
When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home.
The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me.
My steps were awash in cream, and the rocks gushed olive oil for me.

“Those were the days when I went to the city gate
and took my place among the honored leaders.
The young stepped aside when they saw me,
and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.
The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.
The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect.

“All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me.
For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help.
I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.
And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
Everything I did was honest.
Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban.
I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help.” — Job 29:2-16

When Job lost his family, his livestock, his servants, and his health, he lost his identity. He liked the way things used to be and he missed the opportunities life had afforded him. He was uncomfortable being in this place where others were taking pity on him; he longed for the days when he was the one who came to the rescue of others. His expectations of what the future would hold had been erased, and his confidence in the heart of God was fading. Can you relate?

QUESTIONING THE HEART OF GOD

“I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life.
For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew.
New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’” — Job 29:18-20

When everything in life is going well, we begin planning out our future. We have no doubt that life is good and our God is great! But when the people we love start making decisions beyond our control, we panic. When sickness and disease take away our family members and friends, we grieve. When others start looking at us differently, we feel unappreciated and devalued. Feelings of worthlessness crowd in and, like Job, we start spiraling into depression.

If this describes where you are at or what you are feeling, my prayer for you this morning is that you will allow the following verses to wash over you. There is no simple fix to our deepest sorrows and no quick remedy for depression, but we can allow the healing to begin when we regain our confidence in who God is and choose to believe that He is present.

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. — Psalm 34:17-19

There is no guarantee that we will go through life without troubles or heartbreak, but God does promise to rescue us. In life, we will experience all of the emotions that everyone else experiences, but we can stand on the promise that we are never alone — that God is with us and that He will hold us up when we don’t have the strength to stand on our own. He wants us to bring all of our emotions to Him, trusting the heart of the God who loves us.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. — Isaiah 41:10

Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you — Psalm 42:5-6a

Today’s Reading: Job 17-22; Psalm 40

My days are over.
My hopes have disappeared.
My heart’s desires are broken. — Job 17:11

God has blocked my way so I cannot move.
He has plunged my path into darkness.
He has stripped me of my honor
and removed the crown from my head.
He has demolished me on every side, and I am finished.
He has uprooted my hope like a fallen tree. — Job 19:8-10

Feeling alone in his misery, Job questioned the presence of God. Thinking he knew better, Job questioned the wisdom of God. Although he had been a faithful servant of God for years, Job was still unaware of just how great His God was.

QUESTIONING THE GREATNESS OF GOD

Are you currently questioning the wisdom of God regarding a situation in your life? Are you arguing with God? Are you angry with Him? Do your current circumstances seem bigger than even God can solve? Let’s look at some verses in Job to consider just how awesome and wise our God is — how worthy He is of our trust even in the most difficult times. Let us consider that God is greater than we can understand.

“Can you solve the mysteries of God?
Can you discover everything about the Almighty?
Such knowledge is higher than the heavens – and who are you?
It is deeper than the underworld – what do you know?
It is broader than the earth and wider than the sea?” – Job 11:7-9

“God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.
He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds don’t burst with the weight.
He covers the face of the moon, shrouding it with clouds.
He created the horizon when he separated the waters; he set the boundary between day and night.
The foundations of heaven tremble; they shudder at his rebuke.
By his power the sea grew calm…
These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power.
Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?” – Job 26:7-12,14

“Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him?
No one can tell him what to do, or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’
Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise…
Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted.” – Job 36:22-24,26

God, you are greater than we can comprehend. Help us to simply rest in your wisdom, submitting to your greatness and to your authority in our lives. Lord, give us the strength to let go of our need to understand and simply trust you. So when the reality we are facing is as bitter as our morning coffee, Lord, we ask for the gift of faith and the ability to trust in order to sweeten up our perspective. Thank you for loving us patiently when we lack understanding. We love you back! Amen.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord. — Psalm 40:1-3

Today’s Reading: Job 9-16, Psalm 30

“How long will you go on like this? You sound like a blustering wind. Does God twist justice? Does the Almighty twist what is right? Your children must have sinned against him, so their punishment was well deserved. But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home. And though you started with little, you will end with much.” — Job 8:2-7

Perhaps Job’s friends were slightly enjoying the fact that Job was not perfect – that something was finally going wrong for him. Jealousy is a powerful thing, even among friends, and it is possible that the words of self-righteousness coming from Job’s friends are a result of past envy or attempts to measure up to Job. I do know this — to tell someone that their loved one deserved to die or that their death was God’s punishment is never the right response.

“Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” Job 2:10

Job’s friends seemed to have an understanding of Job’s suffering as if it was simply Job’s turn. He had been blessed for years and now it was his turn to suffer the realities of life. When they could have encouraged him, Job’s friends chose instead to mock him. Where is your faith, Job, and where are your confident words now that the shoe is on the other foot?

When we are going through a difficult time, the words of our friends are powerful. They can speak life and truth into our situation, or they can speak defeat and discouragement. It is sometimes difficult to decipher the truth from lies when our emotions are high and we are exhausted from our circumstances. The power of words can either encourage us to persevere or cause us to fall into despair. Job followed the lead of his friends and began to question where God was.

QUESTIONING THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Job developed an attitude of self-pity and defeat. After all, what good does it do to argue with God if He isn’t listening? Why cry out to a God who doesn’t bother to respond?

“So who am I that I should try to answer God or even reason with him? Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy. And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me. For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause. He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows. If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one. If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court?” – Job 9:14-19

Job’s grief took a dark turn when he accused God of creating him and showing him love, then watching carefully for Job to mess up. He began to picture God as eager to punish him as soon as he made a mistake. He went from seeing God as good to seeing God as cruel.

“‘Yet your real motive — your true intent — was to watch me, and if I sinned, you would not forgive my guilt. If I am guilty, too bad for me; and even if I’m innocent, I can’t hold my head high, because I am filled with shame and misery.” — Job 10:13-15

How often do we see God with his hands strategically placed to pull the rug out from under us? Some of us grew up with this identity that each of us is dangling from a spiritual string, and that our God is eagerly poised to cut us off as soon as we sin. But this is not who God is, and we must reject this kind of thinking. Our God is patient, not wanting anyone to be destroyed but wanting everyone to repent (2 Peter 3:9).

DEMANDING THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Job went from sorrowfully feeling like God was no longer paying attention to demanding the opportunity to defend himself in front of God. He accused God of turning his back on him. He described himself as a target with God’s archers surrounding him, unfairly piercing him with arrows (16:12-13).

“But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned.” — Job 35:13

I agree with Elihu’s response to Job. It may feel at times as if God isn’t paying attention. Job felt that. The psalmist David felt that. Perhaps you are feeling that right now. Please let me encourage you with the truth that God loves you and He is never uninvolved; He is never uncaring and He never leaves you alone. I am believing with you that He has plans to turn your mourning into joyful dancing.

Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
When I was prosperous, I said,
“Nothing can stop me now!”
Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
I cried out to you, O Lord.
I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
“What will you gain if I die, if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
Can it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.
Help me, O Lord.”
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! — Psalm 30:5b-12

Today’s Reading: Job 3-8

When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. — Job 2:11-13

Job was having a difficult time despite his faith in God. He felt the pain and suffered from the loss just like anyone else would. He was surrounded by friends who loved him enough to travel from their homes to spend time with him. Not only did they watch him grieve, they grieved alongside him. Their friendship was strong enough to be willing to sit in the dirt with him for an entire week.

I WISH I HAD NEVER BEEN BORN.

After a week of sitting in silence, Job put words to the emotions he was feeling. It would have been better to never have been conceived than to experience this level of sorrow. “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true. I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes” (Job 3:25-26).

For a week, Job’s friends got it right. They did not try to solve his problems, but simply walked the journey of grief with him. The problems began when they opened their mouths and started talking. Although Job’s friends were trying to give him advice through his time of suffering, their words were only adding to his pain. Take this statement by Eliphaz as an example:

“Your words have supported those who were failing; you encouraged those with shaky knees. But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you. Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope? Stop and think! Do the innocent die? When have the upright been destroyed? My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same.” – Job 4:4-8

Eliphaz accused his friend of being quick to support and encourage others who were going through a hard time, and then respond in surprise that trouble could actually land on his own doorstep. Eliphaz told Job he should consider it a joy that God would correct him. He reasoned that although God was the one causing Job this pain, God would also be the one to bind Job’s wounds and save him from his sinful ways (5:17-18).

DON’T I HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN.

“One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty. My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook that overflows its banks in the spring when it is swollen with ice and melting snow…Stop assuming my guilt, for I have done no wrong.” — Job 6:14-16, 29

We have probably all been there — either we have been the one going through a hard time and had well-meaning friends say something that makes the pain worse, or we have been the one who has sincerely tried to comfort a friend only to end up saying the last thing they wanted to hear. Our well-meaning efforts to express sympathy or ease someone else’s pain often falls flat. We have no choice but to walk away hoping our friend sees the sincerity of our attempt rather than the imperfection of our words.

Perhaps where we go wrong is that we want the mystery of God to be easily solvable — If you do what is right, God will bless you and make life easy for you. If things are not going right, then it has to be your fault. Simply confess your sins and you can go back to living the perfectly blessed life of one who has faith in God. Job’s friends were doing what we often do — they were trying to use human understanding to solve the mystery of who God is and why He allows tragedy to come into our lives.

“But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home. And though you started with little, you will end with much.” — Job 8:5-6

Job’s friend, Bildad, assumed that earthly blessings come to the righteous and the wicked can never prosper here on earth. We have all heard this prosperity gospel, and probably believed it to some degree. But the fact remains that there are some godly Christians who live and die dirt-poor by earthly standards, and there are some very ungodly people who have everything they could possibly ask for in regard to their position and possessions. This is not always easy to understand, but our response to what seems unfair in life can be to simply trust God, even if we cannot find a reason for the pain we are going through. As Job did, we can look forward to our heavenly rewards instead of measuring our earthly possessions or comfort level.

Father God, we ask for wisdom in knowing how to respond to the pain and trouble life brings us. Teach us how to authentically be available to those who are hurting. Give us the discernment to know when your Spirit has given us a word for someone else, and when we are supposed to simply be present. Help us to rest in the knowledge that you are a good God, and that we can always trust your heart. I pray this morning for those who are hurting and ask that you give them a new wave of peace in the midst of their grief. May we all be conduits of your mercy to those around us. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Job 1-2, Psalm 3

ONCE UPON A TIME

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. — Job 1:1-3

Most of us know the story. Job was a righteous man who had been blessed abundantly by God. He had a large family, lots of servants and lots of animals. He was known to offer burnt offerings for each of his ten children, just in case they had sinned. This shows the heart of a man who desperately wanted God to be pleased with him, as well as with his family.

One day, after patrolling the earth to see everything that was going on, Satan entered into God’s presence. God asked him if he had seen the integrity of his servant, Job. Satan’s response sounds familiar to attitudes often found today.

Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” — Job 1:9-11

With God’s permission, everything in Job’s life changed in an instant. A messenger arrived to tell him that raiders had stolen all of his oxen and donkeys, and they had killed his farmhands. Before he had finished speaking, another messenger arrived to say fire had fallen from heaven killing all of his sheep and shepherds. A third messenger arrived to say raiders had stolen his camels, and all his servants were dead.

To lose all of your wealth in one day would be tragic, but at least he still had his family to bring him joy. But he didn’t. A fourth messenger arrived to say that a strong wind had blown down the walls of his oldest son’s home. All of his children were feasting together when the house collapsed, and all ten of his children were now dead.

In his deep grief, Job refused to blame God for his troubles He responded, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21).

Satan, the Accuser, stepped into God’s presence once more to challenge the faith of Job. His accusation was that Job was still worshiping God because his pain had only been emotional and financial. So God allowed Satan to test Job physically, causing him excruciating pain through terrible boils from his head to foot.

Job sat in the ashes and scraped the boils with a piece of broken pottery. What a sad picture of a man who once had everything, but now had nothing. When his wife nagged him, encouraging him to curse God and die, Job’s response was powerful: “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (Job 2:10).

Job’s response shows the strength of his faith as he continued to praise God in the midst of his grief and pain. As many of us have experienced, there is a choice to make in difficult circumstances. We can push God away and decide that He is not the good God we have always believed Him to be, or we can pull closer to Him so that He can comfort us in our darkest hour. I am so thankful to serve a God who welcomes my questions, who understands the pain I am going through, and who willingly comforts me when I am struggling to understand why He has allowed something in my life. I hang onto the belief that my God is good — all the time!

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy mountain. — Psalm 3:3-4

AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

Job’s story has a happy ending. God stepped in, healing Job physically and restoring him with earthly possessions even greater than what he once had. And the great news for us today is that our story has a happy ending also! No matter what our current circumstances are, no matter how much we are suffering today, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven where there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more loss.

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.
And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!
I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!” – Job 19:25-27

Today’s Reading: Genesis 45-50

It seems as if Joseph struggled with the decision to forgive his brothers. It took him some time of battling between hurt and healing before he decided to let go of the past and expose his heart to those who had wounded him so deeply. I believe God did an amazing thing in the soul of this young leader when he let go of his right for restitution and clung to the hope of restoration.

“I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. — Genesis 45:3-4a

Joseph longed to close the distance between him and his brothers. It was time to let go of the pain of yesterday in order to experience the brotherly intimacy they had with each other. Judah was even unselfishly volunteering to go to prison in exchange for the freedom of his brother, Benjamin. His brothers had changed and it was time to let go of the need for revenge.

When Joseph, overcome with emotion, chose to reveal his identity to his brothers, his focus was not on the pain of their betrayal. Instead of focusing on how his brothers had wounded him, Joseph was concerned about how they were dealing with the guilt of their sin. He went out of his way to help his brothers see the good that God had brought out of the bad they had done.

“I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives…God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an advisor to Pharoah…” — Genesis 45:4b-8

Joseph told his brothers to go and get their father, and he promised to provide land for them to raise their families. He desired to take care of them during the next five years of famine. It was time to put the past behind them; it was time to close the gap.

Then Joseph added, “Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph! Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly.” Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same. Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him. — Genesis 45:12-15

Because he was able to let go of his own need for justice, Joseph was reunited with his father and his brothers. He was able to enjoy 17 years with his father, and his sons were able to receive the blessing of their grandfather. After the death of Jacob, Joseph’s brothers threw themselves down before Joseph in repentance. He had to show them once more that he had forgiven them.

But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them. – Genesis 50:19-21

I love how The Message parallels the NLT here: Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now – life for many people. — Genesis 50:19 (The Message)

DO I ACT FOR GOD?

When I am sinned against or suffer the consequences of someone else’s sin, is it for me to refuse to forgive them? Do I act for God? Is it my right to question or be angry with God that He did not intervene and prevent the hurt? Do I act for God? God never leaves us nor abandons us; He is never uninvolved. We can trust in the God of this promise:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

God takes all of our experiences in life and He plans for how to use them for our good and for the good of others. God can take the deepest pain and the most tragic of stories and redeem it for the building of His kingdom.

Lord, show me today when I am manipulating my circumstances or attempting to act for you. Get my attention when I begin to question your justice and timing. Teach each of us to trust that you are the God who works for the good of those who love Him, and help us to see you clearly through our circumstances. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 42-44

During the famine, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to get grain, but he kept Benjamin at home. When his sons arrived in Egypt, they found themselves bowing before Joseph, but they did not recognize him. The dream that had caused his brothers to hate him now came back to Joseph.

One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”
His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” — Genesis 37:5-8a

And here they were, dependent on him for the survival of their families. Now they were the ones living in difficult circumstances, while Joseph was living in luxury. How would Joseph respond to the brothers who had caused him such grief? I am not sure even Joseph knew how he was going to respond. Joseph accused his brothers of being spies, and he threw them into prison. For three short days, they experienced what he had endured for 13 long years. And still they did not recognize him.

Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.”
“Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?” Reuben asked. “But you wouldn’t listen. And now we have to answer for his blood!” — Genesis 42:21-22

Joseph understood everything they said, and he turned away from them so that they would not see his tears. Then he had his brother, Simeon, tied up in front of his other brothers. He sent them home with grain, but told them they would never see Simeon again if they did not bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, back to Joseph. He sent them away with supplies, and secretly had their money placed back inside their bags of grain.

Jacob’s sons returned to him and told him everything that had happened, but he refused to let his youngest son go to Egypt. Time passed and they were running out of food, but they could not go back for more without Benjamin, so Jacob reluctantly allowed them to take his precious son with them. He also sent gifts and returned the money that he knew rightfully belonged to Pharoah. Reuben, who had planned to rescue Joseph years ago, promised his own sons to Jacob if they did not return to Benjamin. Judah, who had come up with the idea to sell their brother into slavery, also spoke up and promised to be held responsible.

“May God Almighty give you mercy as you go before the man, so that he will release Simeon and let Benjamin return. But if I must lose my children, so be it.” – Genesis 43:14

When they arrived in Egypt, Joseph had his brothers brought into the palace and prepared a feast for them. Joseph was overcome with emotion when he found out his father was still alive, and when he met his mother’s other son, Benjamin. After spending some time alone, he returned to the feast. He assigned each of his brothers a seat at the table, surprising them by placing them according to their birth order. He filled each of their plates with food from his own royal table; but when he came to Benjamin, he gave him five times more than anyone else.

When his brothers were ready to leave, Joseph gave these instructions to his palace manager: “Fill each of their sacks with as much grain as they can carry, and put each man’s money back into his sack. Then put my personal silver cup at the top of the youngest brother’s sack, along with the money for his grain.” So the manager did as Joseph instructed him. — Genesis 44:1-2

When the silver cup was later discovered in Benjamin’s sack, the brothers returned to Joseph, bowing before him to plead their innocence. Joseph’s response — What have you done? Don’t you know that a man like me can predict the future? (44:15) It seems as if Joseph is giving his brothers a clue — don’t you remember me, the dreamer, the one who predicted this day when you would bow before me?

Joseph was sitting between the pain of his brothers’ betrayal and the freedom of forgiveness. He had a choice to make, and he was dancing around his decision. Would he reveal his identity or would he continue to manipulate and play games with those who had so easily discarded him? Would he forgive his brothers and give them the chance to clear their conscience, or would he punish them by keeping Benjamin with him and sending them home empty handed?

Perhaps this is where you are currently positioned. Perhaps you would describe yourself as being stuck between Genesis chapter 44 and Genesis chapter 45. My prayer for you this morning is that God will give you the strength to choose forgiveness. I pray the knowledge of God’s grace in your own life will give you the peace you need to extend grace to someone else today. I pray that this is the day when God lifts the weight you have been carrying as you let go of your right to be angry.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. — Ephesians 4:31-32

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. — Colossians 3:12-14