A Plan And A Purpose

Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Today's Chapters: Genesis 37-39
Message Title: A Plan And A Purpose

Hello My Friend, 

The events that take place in our lives, good or bad, often play a great part in the successes or failures in not only our future, but others as well. God always has a plan and a purpose for everything that goes on in the world, He will use anyone for the sake of proving who He is, whether He uses a person to show His blessings in those who love Him or His wrath in those who hate Him. I always say that if God is going to use me as an example I might as well let Him use me as a godly one, but then again, it's His decision on how He wants to use me. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” - Romans 8:27-29.

Christians are not perfect, they mess up just as much as anyone else, but the difference is their willingness to be used of God, even if they do not understand that it is God who is directing them into what seems like a bad idea. Joseph was unlike the rest of his brothers, and for that reason they despised him, they even conspired a scheme to have him killed, but God had other plans, and used Judah to encourage them to sell him instead. “These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.” - Genesis 37:2-4,18,26-28.

Joseph did not know it, but God would use him to preserve the lives of countless people, we may never understand the purpose of God's plan in the beginning, but we will always find the hand of God once we get past that valley. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” - Psalms 23:4-6.

Interestingly, God does not need us to be good and godly for Him to use us, God had a plan forJudah as well, he separated himself from his brothers, dwelt in Canaan, and married a Canaanite woman, which was forbidden, he also unknowingly committed fornication with his own daughter-in-law. “And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her. And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er. And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar. And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him. Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house. And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep. When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.” - Genesis 38:1-3,6,7,11-13,15.

Judah did not know it, but God would use him to preserve his seed in not only bringing David, the apple of God's eye, into the world, but also His very own begotten Son. Even the most ungodly, and unthinkable acts can be used of God for something great. Never let you past determine Your future, God is already there, and knows exactly what will come of every situation that we get into, even if it is something that goes against everything He stands for. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” - Philippians 3:13-15.

Even though Joseph was sold as a slave, God would use that situation for good, he soon found favor from Potiphar, the captain of the guard. However, Potiphar's wife has been watching Joseph, probably for quite some time, she became infatuated with him and was determined to get him in bed with her. When he refused she had him put in jail. “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.” - Genesis 39:2,3,7-9,12,20.

God has big plans for us, we can choose to see our circumstances as opportunities to see those plans be revealed or we can choose to be depressed and do noting in hopes that something will get better. God is amazing, under the most unique circumstances He will make us prosper through them. Perhaps the most shocking news to people, especially family and friends, is that we will or will not do something because it goes against God. You will not get a good response, even Christians will tell you that you are crazy. Let me tell you, you will know who your true friends are when you refuse to do something because it is against what God believes, but God always knows the way that we take. “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” - Job 23:8-10. Praise God! 

Today's Prayer: God, While I know I have made some mistakes in my life, You still had a plan and a purpose for everything I went through. Probably the biggest plan You had for me was during my darkest hour, and when I finally chose Your Son to be a permanent figure in my life. I have had my ups and downs over the years, and I know I will have more, but all of them will work together for good and for Your glory. Lord, thank You for loving me, never forsaking me, and always seeing better things of me. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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