God’s Timetable

January 15 – Today’s Readings – Genesis 43-45 and Psalms 15

It’s a marvel to me that “God’s timetable” is constantly at work in our lives. In these chapters we see Joseph’s boyhood dreams coming to pass many years down the road when his brothers came and bowed down to him. These chapters also give a great “birds eye view” of how God allowed circumstances to unfold in order to bring these brothers to a place of repentance and accountability. It’s almost as though God “conspired” to get their attention.

Chapter 45: 7-8 reads; “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then it was not you who sent me here, but God”

Amazing isn’t it? – That Joseph could have such a Godly perspective as to perceive God’s sovereign hand in all the difficulties he had faced – and to see all his days of suffering as having a “higher purpose”. We could all use more of this kind of perspective. All of us need to see the sovereignty of God in our difficult places in life. We won’t always understand what’s going on during times of trouble, Joseph certainly didn’t, but we can be assured that our Father does know what’s happening and has His hand upon us through it all. This is what keeps our attitudes and faith strong in the middle of a storm – this is how Job was able to say, “though He slay me yet will I trust Him”. [Job 13:15]

Let’s have a quick look at one more theme today. Chapter 45: 27 reads; “But when they told him (Jacob) everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.” I personally believe that our mindset determines whether our “spirit man” does well or whether we begin to drift into “dying mode”. What does it mean that Jacob’s spirit “revived”? Simply this – he determined to live a bit longer – 17 more years to be exact. When our spirit is alive and revived, we live! When we say “Father into your hands I commit my spirit”, we breath our last breath and die. (Luke 23:46) God so designed us that if we are encouraged in our outlook and we “see” the things we have to live for, our bodies will respond and shift into health mode. Have you ever heard of a person “hanging on” till all the visitors have left before dying? This has everything to do with the incredible power of the human spirit and God’s Spirit working together.

Walking with Jesus means you will always have many positive things to think about. Good health follows this kind of outlook. If you want to walk in health then walk with Jesus – you will have a personal “attitude instructor” resident within you!

Questions:

1. Is there something that God has given you to “dream” about but it seems a long time coming? Name it and let this dream motivate you to become all God wants you to be.

2. Can you think of an example where a person’s “spirit revived” and they lived on beyond all expectation?