June 23 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 105:16–22

Devotional

Life did not always go as Joseph expected or wanted. Joseph indeed was exalted but first he was humbled. And as it went with Joseph, so it goes with God’s people. God brings His children low in order to lift them up.

You know what happened. Joseph was thrown into a dried up water pit and eventually was sold as a slave and brought to the house of Potiphar. What a strange journey this was for him! All this happened to Joseph despite his revelations of blessing. We could expect that when someone fears the Lord that everything will be well for him in life. But because Joseph feared the Lord, he ended up in prison. If Joseph had given in to the temptations of Potiphar’s wife, he would have had an easy life. But because he feared God and was obedient to His commands, Joseph ended up in prison. It is possible to suffer loss when you fear God. It can seem that everything is against you.

The fear of the Lord is not a guarantee of an easy life on this side of the grave. But the fear of the Lord implies that God prunes and purifies His people. He prepares them for heaven. But at times life can be so dark that you wonder if God has forgotten His promises.

Sometimes if God lays just one straw in front of us, we trip over it. And we are quick to complain. However, the reality is that when God intends to exalt a person He will first humble him. We would understand if Joseph, in prison, had said, “I have trusted in God, but God has deceived me.” You know what happened in prison. Joseph was able to interpret the dreams of the butler and the baker, but he no longer could interpret his own dreams. His future was uncertain. Then Joseph says to the butler, “Remember me.” But what happens? Joseph is forgotten. We could ask Joseph, “The butler has forgotten you; has God forgotten you as well?” We would understand if Joseph had said, “Away with these sweet dreams.” Reality is often bitter and hard, but underneath Joseph were everlasting arms caring for him. God held on to Joseph and showed His faithfulness, because God is faithful. His Word is reliable. And Joseph knew it.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.