Saturday 25 June 2005

God will give an answer of peace

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace” – Genesis 41v16


Things seemingly had gone from bad to worse for Joseph. Not only was he in prison unhustly for attacking Potiphar’s wife, now he had been given the job of being a servant to other prisoners. It doesn’t get much worse than that. Yet, in spite of his circumstances from all appearances Joseph was happy enough to go on serving. It seems that he did so with an excellent spirit, even though he did not hide the fact that he was there unjustly.


One day he interpreted two dreams. Both came true and he asked the royal butler, for whom he had interpreted one of the dreams, to remember him to Pharaoh. The Bible says even this man forgot about him.


Finally, after Pharaoh dreamed Joseph was remembered and brought before him to interpret the dream. Pharaoh told Joseph, “I have heard that you can interpret dream.” The next words out of Joseph’s mouth reveal something of the measure of the man – “It is not in me…” Joseph immediately stood up for His God and let it be known that anything he could do was from God, not himself. Even after all the circumstances he had been through Joseph still had a firm reliance on his God.


Then he revealed something else. His God is a God of peace. How could Joseph say this? It is very simple – Joseph knew the God of Peace as his God of Peace. In all of his troubles he could give testimony that God gives peace in the time of trouble.

What a testimony! Falsely accused, unfairly imprisoned, forsaken and forgotten, Joseph still glorified the God of Peace. May we bear that same testimony in our lives!

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