Fred rules! I think I like the sound of that. The reality is that I can’t even rule my own life! I don’t know what is best for me. I manage to get myself into all kinds of trouble. I haven’t even started to talk about the people and situations around me that can drag me down. Living in a sinful world, clothed in sinful flesh, plagued by the devil who truly hates me can be exhausting.
When I look at Joseph’s life, I have to admit that I have it pretty good. I have yet to be a slave to anyone. My two brothers may not have hugged me every night before bed, but they never sold me to gypsies and faked my death. I’ve never been the victim of a lustful woman who lost me my job. I have never been imprisoned. Ancient jails were terrible compared to the palaces we offer today for incarceration.
The title of this post shouldn’t be “Joseph Rules”. For the vast majority of his life he wasn’t in charge. In all of Joseph’s downs – there weren’t many ups – he trusted that God would work everything out. I am amazed at what the Holy Spirit accomplished in Joseph’s life. There was nothing that could shake his faith. If God can make Joseph’s life work out not just for his good, but to save the whole region from starvation, then he can work out my credit card debt, my physical weakness, my troubled relationships.
How can I be so sure? I have his word. First he took care of my sin and my eternity. I am clean in Jesus who died for me. He has a room in heaven with my name on it. With that big item settled God works on the details of my life and works them out not so my life will be easy, but so that I might stay close to him and have opportunity to give him glory. That changes my outlook on life! In Jesus, Fred rules!
This is the fourth Bible Class on our summer series – VIC: Very Important Chapters of the Bible.
Please click HERE to view the Bible Class slides.