I Know the Plans

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

I touched on on this yesterday. It reminds me of the story of Joseph. I love this story. Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel, Jacob's favorite wife. Joseph at the time was the youngest son. His brothers were jealous of him because he was favored and because he had interpreted two similar dreams where he would in time rule over his own family. Offended, the brothers devised a scheme to do away with him. But God had other plans.

The brothers, in a nutshell, sold him to Midian merchants who then sold Joseph to Pharaoh's official guard, where oddly enough he was made head over the household. Joseph's ability to interpret dreams eventually secured him the great honor of ruling over all of Egypt under Pharaoh, in charge of selling food to the people. A famine took place in Israel and ten of Jacob's sons were sent to Egypt to buy food. This brought about the realization of Joseph's dream. When Joseph realized who these men were he did not divulge who he was at first but tested them. Eventually he made himself known and I believe the brothers were put into a humbling situation.

Joseph was a type of Jesus in that he became their savior. He was disliked (by his brothers), but loved and favored by his father (Father God). Even the coat which Joseph was stripped of is symbolic of the coat that was stripped off Jesus before His death. Joseph was taken out of a well to survive and put in a place of honor where he saved his own family from famine and death. Jesus was resurrected to save all mankind from eternal destruction. Both were reunited with their Fathers. This is also God's plan for Israel today, and also for all people--to come back to God. Just as Joseph's brothers eventually served him, we also now serve Jesus, and in time all Israel will know their Messiah. God has so intricately woven all events, people and lives together, from past to present and on to the future. It ceases to amaze me.

When I look at all that is happening in the world today I don't doubt for a minute we are seeing the birth pains the Bible tells us we will experience before Christ's return. But anything which we encounter in our lives today are part of God's plan. And it's not a plan to trip us up, but to encounter HIM. Joseph said to his brothers: As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20

Those words are for us as well. If we experience difficulties, look up to God, not to man, and look for the good. And be certain that we cannot always know when difficulty or doubt or even evil in our lives isn't part of God's plan to draw us closer to Him.

Lord God, You are the Author and Finisher of our faith. It is through you that we have our hope and future. Keep us on the path that leads us to You. When frustrations and difficulties face us, let us be thankful for the promises You have for us, to give us a future and hope, life everlasting. Thank You, Lord. In Your name I pray, Amen.