You Can Rely on God

Jacob eventually married two sisters, (being tricked on his wedding night into marrying the older one first, as was the custom at that time). Both competed against each other to try to give their husband the most children. When all was said and done, Jacob had 12 sons and 1 daughter. 

The second youngest son was Joseph, his father’s favorite. Joseph’s brothers hated him for that. Moreover, Joseph had two visions from God at the age of 17, showing him a prophecy, whereby he rules over his brothers. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Joseph’s brothers took his jacket that Jacob gave him, dipped it in blood, and told their father that his son was killed by a wild animal. In reality, they sold Joseph to slave traders, who carted him off to Egypt. There, Joseph is sold as a slave to Potiphar, an officer in Pharaoh’s army. As bad as it looks, God backs him up:

The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man… Gn. 39:2 ESV

Immediately, Potiphar observed that God placed His favor over everything Joseph did. So, he made him master over the house (Gn. 39:5). Potiphar could see that he could rely on God’s favor with His servant, Joseph, present in his dwelling.

Everything is looking good for Joseph, but then Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce him. Joseph rejects her, and in anger she claims that he was the seducer. Enraged, Potiphar has Joseph imprisoned. Things look really bad; but God steps in again:

But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Gn. 39:21 ESV 

As with Potiphar, the keeper of the prison recognizes God’s favor over Joseph as well, and he too relies on that favor, and positions him over all the other prisoners. In time, God grants Joseph the ability to interpret dreams, which he does for Pharaoh’s cupbearer, who had been imprisoned for some infraction while in his master’s employ. Joseph successfully prophesies that the cupbearer will be released from prison, and he asks him to tell Pharaoh of his innocence, so that he too might be freed.

The cupbearer forgot. Two more years pass. But then Pharaoh has a troubling dream that no one could interpret. Suddenly the cupbearer gets his memory back. Joseph is brought before Pharaoh and rightfully interprets his dream through the power of God, with a prophecy, that, because Pharaoh obeyed its meaning, and placed Joseph in charge of it’s instructions because he was relying on Joseph’s God), nations were saved from famine. 

Seven years pass, and Joseph is reunited with his family. And because Joseph saved them from famine, his lineage continued – saving all of God’s children. Joseph relied on God, trusted Him, to bring his family safely and give them a new place to set down roots.

His brothers were afraid because Joseph was a very powerful man in Egypt. They feared retribution; yet Joseph trusted in God, and because he did so, regardless of his circumstances, all his actions were laced with wisdom and love. He addresses them:

“And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” Gn. 45:5 ESV

“So now it was not you who sent me here, but God…” Gn. 45:8 ESV

“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. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Gn. 50:20, 21. ESV

Joseph’s many years of trials and tribulations were turned around – used by God to serve a grander purpose; and in that process, Jehovah made good come from bad. 

Whatever comes at you in life, God will step in to help you, if you call Him to your side, in faith. He will make a way even when it seems like there is none. His desire is only that you seek His will in all things and do your best to act on it. That’s why we can always put our trust in Jehovah God. We can rely on Him.

Can you relate to Joseph’s experience? Have you gone through a stage in your life that didn’t make sense? Are you having trouble seeing the hand of God in your life? These are tough questions; and most of us entertain them at times in our lives. He never said that life would be fair or easy. However, if you keep the faith, Jehovah will be front and center in all of your circumstances:

“Shall we accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” Job 2:10 NKJV

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made one as well as the other… Eccl. 7:14 ESV

Yes, good and bad days; but it’s up to us to keep focused on God’s big picture:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer. 29:11 NKJV

We can count on God; so, we can certainly keep our faith in His word:

“…not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you…” Jos. 23:14 NASB

So, we see then that God is truthful, faithful, and He wants to lovingly lead you into a great future. Why then, does He allow the bad times? 

It brings you closer to Him. I know for myself, it took 42 years of ‘worldly living’ and 2 broken marriages before I would even consider that there was a God. He lifted me out of my old ways through adversity. 

If you suffer in life, I believe, that God is trying to get you to change – to return to whom He created you to be, instead of being that person that the world has stepped upon. Jehovah wants all of His children to be with Him and receive His love, especially when they are not feeling it. He gently shakes us (some less gently than others), to get our attention, so that we can become conscious of our choices:

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity…” Dt. 30:15 NASB

God allows you to experience the consequences of your bad choices; and in the end, He considers that a good thing: 

Count it all joy…when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let the steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Jas. 1:2 – 4. ESV

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. Ps. 119:71 NASB

Blessed is the man whom you discipline O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble… Ps. 94:12, 13. ESV

Thus, many of our trials are God’s ways of nudging us onto the right path. 

We can always place our trust in Jehovah. He wants you to have a life where you are completely fulfilled and loved. Yet sometimes that life will have dark seasons. I believe that these are the times were God wants you to ask yourself, ‘What can I learn from this?’ It’s usually about a change that needs to be made – one that leads towards your greater good.

When you turn to God and rely on His answers, your dark season will come to an end:

For the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever. Ps. 9:18 NASB

Even to your old age, I will be the same. And even to your graying years I will bear you…and I will deliver you. Is. 46:4 NASB

You can rely on God…

Goodnight and God bless.