God Preserves a Remnant

January 15, 2012


Background Scripture: Genesis 42:1 – 46:7
Lesson Passage: Genesis 45:3 – 15

God is always executing His plan. God continuously works through people; those who are good as well as those who are evil. God is in control in spite of how things sometimes seem. What God has promised, He will deliver. It is easy for Christians to affirm the above statements because they echo the tenets of our faith. The difficulty is when we can’t see or imagine what God is doing when the future doesn’t look so rosy. God’s people will sometimes go through times that seem as though we’re not going to make it. God is faithful to His promises. When God promises to execute His plans through His people, He will always ensure that there is a remnant to follow through.

In our lesson today, Joseph refers to God’s miraculous deliverance of Israel from famine and sure death as God’s way of preserving a remnant. Over the course of thirteen years, Joseph had endured many hardships at the hands of many including his brothers, his boss (Potiphar), and even the butler who left prison and forgot about him for two years. In spite of all these setbacks, Joseph was elevated in position and made second in command throughout Egypt. He had served in this position for nine years at the time that God brought everything back full circle. Joseph’s brothers who had mistreated him were now on a mission to save Israel and all of his offspring except Joseph and his two sons from a sure death brought on by a devastating famine in Canaan and throughout the region. Their search for food brought them face to face with their brother Joseph who they had sought to destroy twenty two years prior. They did not recognize that it was Joseph who was standing before them as ruler over all Egypt. If their families were to survive, it would be at the discretion of Joseph. God had used Joseph to ensure that there was plenty of food in Egypt when others all around and as far away as Canaan were on the brink of starvation. Whereas Joseph’s brothers feared for their lives, Joseph praised God for a well-executed plan. In spite of the many hardships and setbacks, Joseph rejoiced because he saw that God had used all of it to preserve Israel’s family. This was the family of promise. This family of seventy souls was destined to become a great nation of innumerable citizens. No famine or any other disaster could prevent God from accomplishing His will. This is a great truth that often escapes us in times of crisis. As devastating as this famine was, it was going to get worse. This was only the second year of what would be a seven year famine. God had revealed these details to Joseph nine years earlier. What God had not revealed to Joseph earlier but it was clear to him now is that God had set His plan in motion twenty two years before this point in time. Joseph had to be in Egypt in a position of authority to be used by God to feed the nation of Israel in its infancy. In order to get there, Joseph had to go from the pit to slavery to prison and finally to the palace so that God could use him to preserve the remnant.

Robert C. Hudson
December 28, 2011

Joseph finds Favor

January 8, 2012


Background Scripture: Genesis 41
Lesson Passage: Genesis 41:37 – 46, 50 – 52

Favor speaks of acts of kindness provided graciously to another. It depicts a yielding or deference by one towards another that is inferior. Favor is not something that can be demanded because the one receiving it is in no position to make such a demand. Neither can favor be earned because then it would not be favor but rather wages. So when one receives graciously from another who is superior then the former has received favor of the latter. As we study the scriptures that teach us about the life of Joseph, it becomes quite apparent that God’s favor or grace rested upon Joseph. Note that this is apparent because of the many ordeals that Joseph endured in his life. A subplot to the whole storyline is that God showed favor to Joseph by causing his superiors to see Joseph through the eyes of grace. God was not causing things to magically appear in Joseph’s life. Instead, He was working in the hearts of men and causing them to show unusual kindness towards Joseph in some rather dire situations. Joseph benefited from the work that God was doing through others around him. Joseph’s contribution was that he maintained good character and as a result God took care of his reputation. This is the statement that my former pastor was fond of saying, If you take care of your character, God will take care of your reputation. Joseph represents living proof of that. No matter what situation Joseph found himself in, he seemed to have maintained a good disposition in spite of it. When he was sold into bondage, he responded by being an exceptional worker. When he was falsely accused and imprisoned, he responded by being a counselor for the other prisoners when they appeared to be emotionally down or sad. Only once is it recorded that Joseph asked a favor for himself in return for his own act of kindness. Two years went by and there was no response to Joseph’s request. When Joseph was summoned by Pharaoh after two years of unjust imprisonment, he did not act rashly. Joseph shaved himself, changed clothes, and went before Pharaoh. Whenever opportunity presents itself, we should respond with the kind of character that is worthy of it. Joseph did not pretend to be something or someone he was not. He stated clearly that God is the one who gives the interpretation of dreams. The interpretation of dreams did not come from within him but rather from God through him. Joseph was a vessel worthy of God’s use. He allowed himself to be used by God but he gave the credit or glory to God for the results. God worked on the heart of Pharaoh such that he put everything under Joseph’s command except his own throne. Not only did Pharaoh do this verbally, but he gave him his own ring to exercise authority, he gave him the garments that were indicative of his new leadership position, and he put a gold chain around his neck to show that Joseph was now at the top of the ladder in Egyptian society. Joseph, the man of impeccable character, had suffered many things unjustly but God had allowed him to have favor in the eyes of those who could rectify his situation.

Robert C. Hudson
December 28, 2011