Can God Use Me?
Joseph’s brothers betrayed him because of jealousy and threw him into a pit to die. Then they decided to sell him as a slave.
That wasn’t fair.
As a slave, Joseph obeyed God and trusted Him. He did not become bitter. He refused to be a victim.
As a slave, in the very act of honor, Joseph’s master wrongly accused him, did not give him a chance to explain himself, and threw him into a dungeon.
For two years.
That wasn’t fair.
As a prisoner, Joseph obeyed God and trusted Him. He did not become bitter. He refused to be a victim.
Joseph was released from the dungeon ONLY when his master needed something from him (a dream interpretation) and received no apology.
That wasn’t fair.
As a servant, Joseph obeyed God and trusted Him. He did not become bitter. He refused to be a victim.
We know, because we have the benefit of reading the whole story, that God was working out an incredible purpose through Joseph.
But Joseph didn’t know.
God’s plan–his redemptive purposes for an entire nation–was only possible because…
As a man, Joseph obeyed God and trusted Him. He did not become bitter. He refused to be a victim.
Can God use me for His purposes?
When life is hard?
When life isn’t fair?
When others mistreat me?
When I can’t see what He’s doing?
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June 12, 2010 4:23 pm
Amen! No complaining just obedient submitting!
Hey, I’m in agreement.
I like this. The Lord has been working on me in this area lately. You and I may not see eye to eye on everything, but it’s the articles like these that make me come back.
Very convicting!
I have lied. I have stolen. I have lusted (which God equates w/ adultery). I have coveted. But God sent His son to die for me while I was still loving my sin.
That wasn’t fair.
All glory to God.
Kelly,
This post really speaks to me about what the world considers “fair”. We equate “fairness” with what WE consider to be “equality” in treatment….but that is not at all what God considers.
His purpose demands that we believe in His “fairness” whether or not we see it ourselves – and this is the lesson of Joseph.
His vision is far above what we can see – as it was far above what Joseph could see. But Joseph was obedient – he submitted to God’s will, even when it was not what we would think “in his own best interest”. We benefit from knowing “the rest” of the story – but he did not.
He obeyed, simply because that was what one did.
Hopefully, we will all one day obey this way – without knowing, but with faith.
God is just, very Just.
God is always just, but because we live in a fallen world, life is not always fair (in the sense of being “consonant with merit or performance”). Because we only see a part of the picture, we’re not able to sense how God’s justice works over the world’s “unfairness” to produce an outcome that is for our good. But it does.
I love the story of Joseph! Perhaps I need to read this story to my children again. I’ve been hearing a lot of “It’s not fair!” around here lately.
Our teaching this morning was by a man who had menengitis 14 years ago. He lost all his memory because of it and now has cluster migraines & is legally blind yet through all this trouble he still praises God and thanks God for the privilege of all these trials which have only served to make him closer to Our Lord. His Jesus as he called HIM!
One thing he said really resonates with this post:
God is always good and God is always right! No matter what comes our way. This man has suffered tremendously, he could have chosen to hate God and serve Him no longer. But he has used this pain to get closer to the LORD – Praise God for such awesome servants.
Exactly, Lori H.
Kelly,
I love this story from the Bible.
Kelly,
Thank you for posting this story about Joseph. I really needed this reminder today, as I am currently undergoing spiritual challenges in my own life.
~Mrs. Lady Sofia~
I am printing this to read to my kids. Great lesson!
It is interesting to me how, when I think if “fair”, I generally only am focused on human interaction.
He was mean to me when I was being nice to him—not fair. I did that to her and got away with it–not fair.
But, when I consider David’s words in Psalm 51:4
Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done evil in Your sight; that You might be justified when You speak, and be clear when You judge.
It takes things to a whole different level. David certainly wasn’t being fair to Bathsheba, Uriah, Joab or the baby he fathered. But he said that against God only he had sinned!!??!!
The tit-for-tat daily unfairnesses of life tend to fade into the background as I realize that if God was simply “fair”, Adam would have gotten exactly what he deserved and none of us would be here.
But, although God’s righteous justice demands satisfaction, He is also amazingly merciful.
As I increasingly realize the measure of forgiveness I have enjoyed, it becomes less of a struggle to leave judgment to God. Not that I can claim to have already “arrived”…
Ginger,
amazing words!!