January 19, 2022: God's Ways Are Not Our Ways. How Can We Change Our Perspective to How God Sees It?

Isaiah 55: 8 (NKJV)

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

In reading the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis over the last couple of days, I was reminded of how God works in mysterious ways in our lives. God allows certain circumstances to come into our lives that we may see as bad, but God means them for our good.

Joseph's story is the ultimate of "of bad circumstances" that could happen to a person. Joseph was hated by his older brothers and wanted to kill him, but instead he was sold to Midianite traders for twenty shekels of silver on their way to Egypt. (Gen. 37: 28) Now the Midianites had sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. Joseph prospered while working for Potiphar. Potiphar put Joseph in charge of everything he owned. But then Potiphar's wife wanted Joseph, but he refused to sleep with Potiphar's wife. Then Potiphar's wife falsely accused Joseph and then he was thrown into prison. (Gen. 39: 1-20)

Joseph found favor from the keeper of the prison. After many years had passed, God gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams and was able to interpret the dream the Pharaoh of Egypt. Pharaoh was so impressed by the power God gave Joseph, that Pharaoh put Joseph as second in command of the whole land.

Now picture this: At the early age of seventeen God gave Joseph the dream that someday his brothers and father would bow down to him. Joseph had no idea of how and when God would make this happen. Joseph trusted and honored God with his life in spite of all that was happening around him.

Finally, at the age of thirty, God placed Joseph as second of command of all of Egypt. Joseph could have become bitter and angry with God throughout the years, but he didn't. He fully trusted God in all his circumstances.

How do we respond to the circumstances that God brings into our lives? Do we question God? Do we become bitter and angry with ourselves and with others? Let us not look outward to our circumstances around us. Let us look upward and bow down to our God and trust that He is in "total control". Let us “absolutely surrender” all of who we are to Him.

PERSONNAL COMMENT:

Let us not forget what the Apostle Paul says in the Book of Romans: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose". Romans 8: 28 (NKJV) Let us fully serve God with our whole heart. Let our ways be God's ways.