"Stop asking 'Why?' and believe!"

Day #65:  Daily Bible Reading Plan - March 3rd

Scripture Reading:  Genesis 36 - 39 ...

God's plan to save a remnant from the human race from His just wrath and judgment was made difficult by God's decision to use sinful man to accomplish His purposes.  Only the wisdom and power of God could use even the foolishness, wickedness and evil of mankind to lead to the coming of the Savior.  The separation of Esau and Jacob was another display of God's intention to keep His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ... His promises to be their God, to multiply their descendants, to give them the land of Canaan and to bless all nations through the promised "Seed"  ...  JESUS!

Meanwhile, God had told Abraham that his descendants would be strangers in a country not their own, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated there for four hundred years (Genesis 15:13).  But, God had also promised that He would deliver them and give them great possessions.  The events of Genesis 37-39 set the stage for God's plan to unfold.

God gave Joseph dreams ... dreams that would come true in God's timing.  Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt, but God blessed him in everything he did - first in the household of Potiphar and then in prison.  Nothing happened by accident. God was at work in Joseph's life.  But why have Jacob go through such heartbreak, and why the upcoming famine, and why would Israel have to go through 400 years of slavery in Egypt and why ... ...

We like to ask, "Why?", don't we?  In fact, we can hardly keep ourselves from asking "Why?" in the daily circumstances of our lives.  You see, WE want to be in control; it is in our very nature to want to determine how things will go and what will happen next.  But God calls HIS people to live by faith.  I know that's not a very good answer for a lot of people, but it's true.  The key to living life with God is in knowing His character and trusting Him.  It eliminates a lot of the "Why's." Living by faith moves you to live like Joseph (and all the others listed in Hebrews 11!!).

God blessed Joseph, as He blessed Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because He chose them to be His and showed them His love and favor - His amazing grace ... SO THAT they and those who came after them would live to bring Him glory and tell the world about the God who keeps His promises.  God promised a Savior and through these people God would bring His Son into the world.  This same God is at work in the world today, and in your life and mine.  As in Joseph's life, nothing happens by chance.

You and I are responsible for the sin in our lives ... all the wrong choices, the rebellion, the evil in this world is the responsibility of sinful people.  But our God reigns!  To those who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ there is forgiveness and new life - for today, tomorrow, forever!  KNOW that He is at work in the circumstances of YOUR life and that trusting in Him, placing your hope in Jesus brings peace of heart and mind that you will find nowhere else.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!

"Father, trusting You seems so hard sometimes, until we remember who You are and what You have done to save us from our sins.  Give us grace to trust Your wisdom and power, to ask fewer 'Why's' and to come to You as children, trusting You to work in all things for the good of those who love You and who are called according to YOUR purpose ... and for Your glory.  In Jesus' name, Amen"