I was encouraged today as I read the story of Joseph. With all that is going on with the pandemic, it’s easy to get discouraged but I was reminded that God is working in our lives in the midst of intense darkness.
So let’s get into it.
We all know the time Pharaoh had dreams and when no one could interpret the dreams someone remembered Joseph and he was summoned to interpret them. He told Pharaoh seven years of plenty would come followed by seven years of famine.
The seven years of plenty came and Joseph who had been promoted to second in charge stored away grain. He stored away so much that it became impossible to keep track of how much they were storing.
Then the seven years of famine arrived and this is what I want to focus on. The famine didn’t just affect Egypt but the whole world.
“And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.”
Genesis 41:57
It was a difficult time for the world but in that dark time God had a plan. There were some very important and key things that God was doing in that seven year famine period. I want to highlight two things.
- Israel reunited with Joseph, who he presumed had died.
Since the famine affected the whole world, Israel was affected too and had to send his sons to buy grain which in turn led to the discovery of Joseph. That is important because it leads us to the next key thing that happened.
2. Israel’s entire family relocated to Egypt because of Joseph.
Joseph made plans for his whole family to move to Egypt so they would be provided for during the famine. And that is also important because it was a fulfillment of what God told Abraham,
“Then the Lord said to him, know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.
But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.”
Genesis 15:13, 14
We know God was talking about Moses and the deliverance of Israel from Egypt.
So do you see?
In the seven year famine period, God was working and setting some big things up. And the famine had a part to play in the grand scheme of things.
God was setting pieces in place for Israel’s next chapter and that encouraged me because in this season of Covid-19, God has a plan too.
You may not see it or understand but He is working. You don’t need to stay discouraged or hopeless because He is in total control.
His plans and purposes for your life are working out in the midst of the darkness.
And that’s my encouragement to you. He will fulfill what He has promised you and this season will end.
Bless you friends
Rolain
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