Have you ever asked yourself this question - What is God up to? You may not necessarily ask with the same wordings, but have you wondered what God's intention is in a particular matter, or what He intends to achieve?
The ways of God are not our ways. In simple terms, God does things differently from the way we do them. Thereby appearing strange and unfamiliar to us. God tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9 that : “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Let us take a look at the journey of Joseph. God allowed him to go through the cruelest of trials before elevating him, but in retrospect, it all made sense. Joseph had to be taken to Egypt for the common good of God's chosen nation - Israel. He had to be placed in a position of influence to help preserve the children of God in a period of great famine. We may ask, was there no other way than the tribulation Joseph had to endure?
Joseph's character is admirable, but it is a character shaped through adversity. The end product was beautiful - forgiving and humble, with no bitter trait. However, like gold, Joseph was made through fire. Like a diamond, his end product was a polished gem. Prior to his ordeal, Joseph would tell on his brothers. He always put them in trouble. But he grew in wisdom through trials and adversity, and learnt to keep quiet even when Potipher's wife came on to him. Surprisingly, Joseph did not tell on her to her husband. He did not want to be the author of confusion. Even with his good heart, he was still falsely accused and imprisoned.
God was all along doing a work in Joseph's life, he was creating a Godly character in him. God so broke him apart, and at the same time showed him favour at each turn - how confusing it must have been to him. But after God was done with him, he could piece the pieces together and see good in all his pain. Now let us have a look at Jesus. He suffered for our transgressions. Could God not have chosen any other way?
We cannot understand the ways of God in the flesh. In the Old Testament, "God made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel" (Psa.103:7).
God under the New Covenant has made available to all, the possibility of knowing His ways. This is by living in the Spirit, and by being led by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches the things of God. I Corinthians 2: 10-16 further clarifies this :The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”
When we live in the Spirit, God is able to instruct us in His ways. In the flesh, Peter saw the unclean animals as unclean. However in the Spirit, God was able to interpret His New Covenant to Peter. The New Covenant embraced the unclean - the gentiles. We must stay in the Spirit to understand the ways of God. Life in the Spirit enables us to bear the fruit of the Spirit - the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
God is calling us to a deeper walk with Him - A walk in the Spirit. It's a Heavenly experience in the realm of God. It's a regal encounter, and a ticket to Heaven. Welcome aboard, and those already on board - Bon Voyage!
WHAT IS NEXT?
