And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: (Gen 45:4-10)
Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, much to their surprise and chagrin. Joseph assures them, that though what they did was wrong and had consequences, GOD is using it for the greater good. Then he, with Pharaoh's permission and authority moves Jacob and the whole family into Goshen, the best land in Egypt. Though there are still things to work out, and several years of famine to endure, because GOD has blessed Joseph and prepared him for this time, the family is safe and secure.
GOD will work things out and accomplish His will. Whether through our actions, or despite them, GOD has a purpose and a plan for His people. Most of all He wants them to be obedient to His Word that they might glorify Him and that people will see Jesus Christ in us, the hope of Glory.
We glorify GOD best when in obedience, we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Salvation through faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to all we meet. As we go, we are to minister to the hurting and in need as GOD gives the increase. We are to disciple one another in love and the Word of GOD that we might grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord. We are also to share the Good News and His message of mercy and grace that those who hear might believe and believing have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD took your place, and you must trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He provided for Israel through Joseph, He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new heart in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet