Topic: Saving Many Lives  [Church of God Mission International] Above Only Daily Devotional 13 May 2021

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Thursday May 13

Saving Many Lives

Exodus 1:1-7
Now these are… the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

In the portion of scripture in our text above, it is easy to surmise that it describes a pleasant experience of the children of Israel. However, behind what appears to be a pleasant and rosy experience was the very unpleasant and horrific experience that Joseph endured. The Bible confirms that the Israelites came into Egypt because God had sent Joseph ahead of them (Psa.105:17-23). Now, God did not come to Joseph and say, “My son, I am sending you to Egypt to prepare the way for your entire family to come to Egypt.” King Pharaoh also did not come down to Canaan with his entourage to ask for Joseph, nor did he send one of his officials to request that Joseph come over to Egypt and accept the position of Prime Minister. Not that this scenario was not possible; it simply was not how the story unfolded.

Do you recall how God sent Joseph to Egypt on behalf of the Israelites? God turned around every negative experience that Joseph endured and used it to prepare and position him in Egypt to be a blessing; not only to the children of Israel but to the entire world. When Joseph’s brothers were maltreating him, putting him in a pit and selling him off as a slave to complete strangers, God was using that very experience to send Joseph ahead to Egypt to fulfil purpose. Even when Potiphar’s wife tempted Joseph, then lied against him and he ended up in prison, God was divinely working it all out to prepare and position Joseph to fulfil purpose. Thank God that Joseph maintained the right perspective and attitude throughout the terrible experiences he went through. Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Gen.50:20, NLT). In the same vein, God is at work in your life too.

Prayer Focus:
Thank God that He is turning around everything you are going through and using it to prepare and position you to save many lives.

Bible in One Year Reading Plan
1 Samuel 14:1-52, John 7:31-53, Psalm 109:1-31, Proverbs 15:5-7