3 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
Genesis 41:37-42:38
Matthew 13:18-35
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Genesis 42:28 (CSB): “He said to his brothers, ‘My silver has been returned! It’s here in my bag.’ Their hearts sank. Trembling, they turned to one another and said, ‘What has God done to us?’”
Reflecting on God’s Word
We made it a point to give all three of our sons first or middle names of Bible characters that they could look up to. Our third son got Joseph’s name. The Old Testament hero went to a foreign country and was mistreated, but thrived under God’s care and ended up being a blessing to so many. (Our son, Joseph, is training to be a missionary pilot, and we can see some of the correlation to the biblical story of Joseph.)
But when we come to Genesis 42:28, we hear that Joseph’s brothers were terrified when they went to Egypt for food and stood, unknowingly, before their brother. When they were on their way back home to Canaan, they realized that their money was back in their sack. They knew that Joseph (who they didn’t yet recognize as their brother) insisted that they were spies. He would certainly not believe them when it was found out that they took their provision of food without paying for it.
Who did they ultimately blame for their calamitous predicament?
Genesis 42:28 (CSB): “He said to his brothers, ‘My silver has been returned! It’s here in my bag.’ Their hearts sank. Trembling, they turned to one another and said, ‘What has God done to us?’”
They were right to place the responsibility of their current circumstances upon the Lord. He is sovereign and reigns supremely over His creation. But they were wrong when they concluded that God was merely making their lives miserable, with no reason or purpose for doing so.
We, the readers, know more than they did in the moment. We realize that God was working through Joseph to write an incredible story that has been worth telling over and over for the past 3,500 to 4,000 years. Their present calamity was only superficial and would be a distant memory in a very short period of time.
Friend, sometimes life gets hard. And if we aren’t careful, we will jump to a conclusion and think that God has forgotten us or maybe that He doesn’t like us. That’s why, we conclude, He has allowed trouble into our lives.
But we would be completely wrong!
Inform yourself of who the God of the Bible is. Read about what He loves and what He despises. Learn about what causes Him to bless some people and to bring discipline or judgment upon others. As you have a growing knowledge of the Lord and His ways, you will probably come to more accurate conclusion when life gets hard.
In fact, as a New Testament believer, you might grieve during the difficulty. But you will also rest in the truth of Romans 8:28, that God is going to use what you are going through to make you a little more like Jesus (your ultimate good).
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, I know all too well how difficult life can get. Sometimes, I feel as if You are a million miles away. But help me to remember that those are only feelings. I’m to live not in emotions but in truth. And Your Word makes it abundantly clear that even the bad things that happen to me are ultimately intended for my good. Thank You so much! It’s in Your Name that I pray this, Amen.
Going Deeper
If you want to go deeper, check out this article by Got Questions: “What does it mean that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)?”
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com).
Matt’s Musings 