Today’s Reading: Genesis 39; Isaiah 61

Meanwhile, the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain of the palace guard. – Genesis 37:36

IS THIS GOD’S WILL OR IS IT GOD’S PLAN?

Have you ever felt an overwhelming panic that what is happening around you is not the will of God? One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that God has a plan even when the choices of others are outside of God’s will. When I rest in His sovereignty, I learn how to trust Him despite everything that is going on around me.

Joseph’s life was affected time and time again by the sinful decisions of others, but God was NEVER uninvolved. Joseph’s brothers sinned against him out of jealousy when they sold him into captivity, but God did not abandon Joseph.

GOD’S PLAN WAS TO USE THIS JOSEPH’S PAIN FOR GOOD.

A lot of good came out of the rest of Joseph’s life, even though the trajectory of his life drastically changed when his brothers sold him into slavery. I believe it was not God’s perfect will for Joseph to be sinned against, separated from his family, and sold into slavery, yet God’s plan was to use it for good.

The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. – Genesis 39:2-4

It was not God’s perfect will for Potiphar’s wife to lust after Joseph and lie about his integrity, causing Joseph to spend years in prison, but God’s plan was to use it for good. Joseph was far from his family and the life he loved, but he was never alone.

THERE WAS NEVER A MOMENT WHEN GOD WAS UNAWARE OF JOSEPH’S SITUATION.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. – Genesis 39:20b-22

Joseph’s time in prison gave him the opportunity to interpret the dream of the chief cupbearer, who eventually (two years later) told Pharaoh of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams. As a result of Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams, the lives of many were saved from the devastating famine ahead.

GOD IS NEVER WITHOUT A PLAN

I do not believe it is God’s will that anyone should sin or be sinned against, yet God is NEVER without a plan. Because He loves us and He wants everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), GOD MAKES BEAUTIFUL THINGS come out of the sinful actions of man.

When we are wronged or sinned against or even suffer the consequences of our own sins, God has not abandoned us. Instead he works out a BEAUTIFUL PLAN OF REDEMPTION in the midst of this sinful world. God does not will for us to sin but neither is He surprised by it. He continues to plan HOPE for the hopeless and salvation for the lost.

Is it God’s will that an unmarried woman gets pregnant? No, scripture is clear that sexual relations should only occur within the marriage covenant relationship, but God has a plan for the unborn baby and for the parents. His love for them is deep, and God continues to draw them to Himself.

Is it God’s will when a drunk driver kills an innocent bystander? No, but God has a plan to provide healing for those who are left grieving and to use their healing to minister to others who have suffered loss. He comforts those who are brokenhearted and redeems their story in beautiful ways.

Is it God’s will that our culture should consider it a woman’s right to end the life of her unborn baby? No, but God has a plan to use the sin of abortion to bring many to repentance. God has a plan to use His followers to reach out to those affected by or considering abortion and show them the love of God. He redeems the stories of the post-abortive and gives them a crown of beauty for ashes.

Is it God’s will that anyone should be on the receiving end of prejudice, bullying, racism, sexism, ageism, discrimination, hatred, or injustice? Absolutely not! No, but God has a plan to use His children to speak out and to create change, so that the death of one man can mean salvation for all mankind.

Thank you, God, for taking all the details of my life and using them to accomplish something good. Lord, I trust you with the good and the bad, with the joys and the heartaches. I pray for a strong faith and daily reminders that you will never leave or abandon us. Even in the worst of situations, we can trust that you have a plan.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory. – Isaiah 61:1-3