Recognizing God Behind Our Adversaries - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 45:8,

"So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt."

Joseph had experienced a difficult life. He had been admonished by his father and resented by his brothers for dreams God had given him. He had been sold to slave traders heading to Egypt because of the resentment his brothers harbored. He had been enslaved in Egypt and then falsely accused of attempted rape by his master's wife. He had been imprisoned for years and forgotten about when he had done a kindness for Pharaoh's chief baker.

All this had been done by the hand of God for the purpose of moving Israel to Egypt. Now that God had positioned Joseph to effect that outcome, a reconciliation needed to take place between the brothers to make that move possible.

As we see the amazing turn of events transpire, Joseph reached out to his brothers to bring about that reconciliation. Where he could have been embittered toward the brothers that sold him into slavery, Joseph acknowledge to his brothers that it was not them who brought Joseph his difficulties, but God - even though they were the culprits who who did the deed.

I suspect there have been those God has used in my life like Joseph's brothers. Not that I have experienced anything nearly as difficult as Joseph, but I think we can all point to people who may have played the part of Joseph's brothers in our lives to bring about those things God wants to build in us, to fashion us into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Like Joseph, we might want to recognize God's hand in such a situation and not hold it against those God may be using in our lives. They may be some of the most important people in our lives!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here:  http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/