“There is a time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest” ( Ecclesiates 3:2).
When Pharaoh asked Joseph to bring up his famished family to Egypt they were a favored people. “Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you, and the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock” ( Gen 47:5-6). Favoured the Israelist prospered in a foreign land. “So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed” (vv 11).
Many years later after Joseph had long passed on along with his brothers, with a new generation, in place, things changed. “Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.” So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh” ( Exodus 1:8-11)
What a turn around! One day you are the favourite kid on the bloc, next time you are a song of the past! Perhaps you might think this fate befell only the Israrelites over an indefinate period of time, well, these changes can happen to any life. One day one has a boss who takes him as a darling. Next day a new boss comes in and you’re the scum! It happens all the time!
The turn around fate of the Istraelites must give us some dose of humility. When times are good and you’re the prince just know anything can change. Make the best of that time and be humble. Above all depend absolutely on God who put you wherever you are, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” ( Phillipians 2: 13).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, for all the favour upon me may I never take such for granted but remain faithful and humble, trusting in you through good and bad times, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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03/05/2024 - 04/05/2024 All day“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
Every now and then one could be gripped with fear because of certain events sweeping before one’s life journey. It could be the finances that are stretched and incomes are no longer certain. Perhaps it is one’s job under threat. Perhaps it is a dreaded health report card. There could be fear about outcome of a matter under judgment and what it might mean to one’s future.
Fear has been elsewhere described as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” Every life will experience fear at one point. Whenever we are faced with fear it is natural to look for something to grasp on. Sometimes we run for shelter wherever we can find. Perhaps we might seek out a friend for quiet confidence.
But there are those situations when there is no shelter in sight. There are also those cases where those we thought would understand our situation once we share our pain return only hurting and critical feedback. In such moments we might then turn and look within ourselves only to find the energy has all been sapped by this gnawing fear. We feel down and the urge to rise and move on all gone!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) the word of God through prophet Isaiah assures us. But why? It is because the Lord has been there. He himself was faced with fear before his crucifixion but He looked to God.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote when faced with fear always remember, “Nothing is too hard for Him. He can find a way where there is no way. He can give us the idea that will make all the difference.” Psalm 91:2, says, “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” So, when faced with fear, look to God to strengthen you. By looking to Him, the Lord will encourage and lift up your spirit, and make a way out of nowhere!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I surrender to you any fear that is in me for I know by looking up to you, you will always make a way out of nowhere, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
