viewoutsidethepew

If you work and live for Jesus opposition will likely arise. Indeed, my counsel to the faithful I have met whose mission for God ended with religion’s brakes or agents of the devil’s shattering blows is simply that only when your faithfulness reaps a harvest does a target appear on your back. When a successful mission gets ripped away from you the message for you to hold close reads, “You had it right”.

If life throws a vicious curve at you, and temptation pulls hard at you to give up, plan revenge or live angry, take a lesson from Joseph.

His call became clear through dreams. So did the family rejoice at the plan God had? No.

The hate that grew flourished until the brothers plotted the annihilation of Joseph, intending to put an end to God’s intentions. They betrayed Joseph, lied to Jacob and let hate and greed and arrogance rule their decisions.

Joseph spent years suffering because of their betrayal, from false accusations by a powerful woman that smeared him and his reputation without a fair hearing and neglect by someone who shared jail with him who benefited from Joseph’s gift from God.

Joseph made ruler in Egypt, early 1900s Bible illustration (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Eventually, unlike some who never see a turnaround in the world of flesh, Joseph gained rewards and saved the lives of the very ones who plotted to take his.

When Joseph finished teasing and testing those who sold him into slavery, his own flesh and blood, “Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid! I can’t take God’s place. Even though you planned evil against me, God planned good to come out of it’ “ (Genesis 50:19-20a God’s Word).

So, whatever evil the world or the devil throw at you, remember Joseph. God can turn hate and abuse and betrayal and worse into something good.

What it looks like for you I cannot say, but Paul re-affirmed this fact. “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan” (Romans 8:28 God’s Word).

When all is said and done about opposition, “What can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us? God didn’t spare his own Son but handed him over {to death} for all of us. So he will also give us everything along with him. Who will accuse those whom God has chosen? God has approved of them. Who will condemn them? Christ has died, and more importantly, he was brought back to life. Christ has the highest position in heaven. Christ also intercedes for us” (Romans 8:31-34 God’s Word).

In the darkest hour of suffering the poet declares:

“Blessed are those who receive help from the God of Jacob.

Their hope rests on the Lord their God,

who made heaven, earth,

the sea, and everything in them.

The Lord remains faithful forever.

He brings about justice for those who are oppressed.

He gives food to those who are hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free.

The Lord gives sight to blind people.

The Lord straightens {the backs} of those who are bent over.

The Lord loves righteous” (Psalm 146:5-8 God’s Word).

“Hallelujah! What a Saviour!”