And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. (Gen 37:14, 18-21, 26-28, 31-33)
Israel sends his favorite son to check up on his brothers, who resent his arrogance and position with Israel. When he arrives they conspire to remove their 'problem'. After selling him into slavery, they cover up their misdeeds with a tale that Israel believes. This sequence, all foreseen and arranged or allowed by GOD, places Joseph in Egypt where he will be used by GOD to provide for His people, and sets up the brothers for the confrontation with GOD and with themselves because of their actions and character.
Actions have consequences. They sold Joseph, but they didn't kill him, and so he was now in slavery and humbled by GOD to learn about himself, and challenged to continue to believe during what seemed to him at the time as the 'worst' of circumstances. GOD can and does use what occurs to humble us when necessary, teach us always, and even chastise us as a good Father must. He also uses events He allows or directs for good and His glory and to accomplish His Will in and through us.
Tragedy, suffering, and 'evil' events exist in this world because of man and our sIn, but GOD is always faithful. He is never surprised by any of them, and will bring us through what He does not deliver us from. That is a message of hope we must tell to those of this world who do not know Jesus Christ and have no hope. We are commanded to go and tell the Good News of His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for sIn and redemption to those that believe. And as we go, we are to minister to the hurting, disciple one another, and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all we meet that they 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. You must turn away from your sIn and unrighteousness and trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He provided for 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, and is our Life. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Actions have consequences. They sold Joseph, but they didn't kill him, and so he was now in slavery and humbled by GOD to learn about himself, and challenged to continue to believe during what seemed to him at the time as the 'worst' of circumstances. GOD can and does use what occurs to humble us when necessary, teach us always, and even chastise us as a good Father must. He also uses events He allows or directs for good and His glory and to accomplish His Will in and through us.
Tragedy, suffering, and 'evil' events exist in this world because of man and our sIn, but GOD is always faithful. He is never surprised by any of them, and will bring us through what He does not deliver us from. That is a message of hope we must tell to those of this world who do not know Jesus Christ and have no hope. We are commanded to go and tell the Good News of His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for sIn and redemption to those that believe. And as we go, we are to minister to the hurting, disciple one another, and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all we meet that they 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. You must turn away from your sIn and unrighteousness and trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He provided for 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, and is our Life. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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