Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

26 January 2024

Reading From Genesis 41-42

“Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’

‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’”

–Genesis 41:15-16

     Joseph knew the Source of true knowledge and wisdom.[1]  He was a man of faith and integrity with a clear line of communication with the Almighty.[2]  When God speaks through His servants, it is His voice coming through their lips.[3]  When God heals, it is His power flowing through the hands of willing humans.[4]  When God provides, it is His marvelous hand bringing resources together and His strength enabling men and women to work.[5]  Joseph recognized that as he remained humble and surrendered before the Lord, God would use Him and the Spirit would flow through Him into the lives of those around him.  Pharoah saw this about him and said, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”[6]

     We see this attitude of humble surrender in the Old Covenant-New Testament prophet, John the Baptist.  He would not claim to be the Christ, but rather lived and spoke in such a way that pointed people to the Messiah.  He said, “He must become greater; I must become less.”[7]  Every follower of Jesus has the Spirit of God living inside of them; a never-ending source of strength, power, joy, and wisdom.[8]  As we yield our will to Him and allow the Spirit to have His perfect way in our lives, He is able to accomplish miracles through willing vessels.[9]  Paul the Apostle said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”[10] God provides for His eternal family through us.

     The result of the ability of Jospeh to hear from and be used by God is remarkable.  Pharaoh made him the prime minister of all Egypt, giving Joseph authority second only to himself.  Power itself is not good or evil, it is what one chooses to do with it that makes it so.  Joseph had proven himself faithful by resisting temptation and used him to provide abundance amid catastrophe.  Through Joseph, God was able to rescue not only the people of that land from the ravages of famine, but also Joseph’s family and other hungry migrants from all over the ancient world.[11]  The wisdom and stewardship of God was on full display. May we, as humble servants of the King of Kings, walk with humility, our hearts softened and willing to hear from the Lord and our bodies strengthened and ready to do His will. 

     “Lord, I surrender my will to Yours.  Spirit of the Living God, flow through me as Your willing vessel and into the lives of my family, friends and community around me.  Speak to me, for I am listening.  Give me the strength and power I need to do Your will on Earth as it is in Heaven.  In You I live and move and have my being.  May I find true identity, community and destiny in Your eternal family.  Amen.”

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

–I Peter 4:10-11

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

–Hebrews 13:20-21

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[1] Proverbs 2:6

[2] I Thessalonians 5:17

[3] I Samuel 3:1-10, II Peter 1:21

[4] Acts 3:6

[5] Deuteronomy 8:18, Psalm 90:17, Proverbs 3:9-10, 14:23, I Thessalonians 4:11, II Thessalonians 3:10

[6] Genesis 41:38

[7] John 3:30

[8] John 7:38-39

[9] John 14:12-14

[10] Galatians 2:20

[11] Genesis 41:57