Psalm 105:17-21
He sent a man before them,Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They afflicted his feet with fetters, He himself was laid in irons; Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him. The king sent and released him, The ruler of peoples, and set him free. He made him lord of his house. And ruler over all his possessions.
The promise of God on our lives can bring to us tests and trials. Before God's appointed time for our lives, we may face ridicule and humiliation. Abram became Abraham, the father of many nations, at a time when he was very old and fatherless. I can imagine people laughing at his name change and thinking he was in denial, and could be getting depressed about his fatherless state. Joseph had his dream appear as a pie in the sky.
He was no where near the dream he had - from slavery to imprisonment. God tries us to know our level of faithfulness and commitment to Him. Joseph showed allegiance to God even as a slave. He would not succumb to fornication or be the cause of adultery. As a prisoner, Joseph ministered to others under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - he interpreted dreams! In essence, Joseph still had faith in God , even though he was tried through painful trials that cut at his soul.
Before God's appointed time, people may humiliate us and treat us like servants. The Psalmist put it this way - Psalm 66:10-12
For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. People may lie about us, our own friends and family may betray us. Like Joseph, the Word of the Lord; the promise of God over us will try us, and expose what we are made of, as well as to mould us into Godly characters. Before the appointed time of God , people may abandon you and forget about you, just like the cup bearer did to Joseph. When your appointed time has not yet come, your name will not matter in people's ears. You will not be 'a big deal.' But just like Joseph, when your appointed time comes, the Lord will bless your name, just like He blessed Abraham's, Joseph's and Job's.
Job was confident he would pass his test, so he said - But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10.
Can you confidently say same?
WHAT IS NEXT?
