Vol. 16.11.23
 |
| source: Google |
Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested
Joseph's character. Psalm 105:19 NLT
As
we look critically on various tools God employs in dealing with a life to get
them ready and fit for HIS ultimate purpose, may God bless our soul in Jesus
name.
Firstly,
it's important we know that God has designed different molds of various shapes
and sizes for every life that comes under him, depending on what purpose He has
desired to make them for. So, there may be similar molds, but they are actually
different from one another, and so, as ordinary element in the maker's hands,
we are not choosy nor selective on what materials to be used or how we are to
be shaped otherwise one may be forcing himself out and aborting the formation
process, thereby having only a shadow of the master's intended fashion.
God
chose to use the unfriendly wilderness experience to prepare David against
Goliath, and the cruelty of King Saul to prepare him for the throne.
Just
2 years after Saul's reign, God became through with him, but God retained him for
another 38 years because there was a need for David's character to be proven.
At this point, I like us to see godly
character as a significant key to reaching God's desired destination for our
life.
The
boy Joseph was only a teenager, 17years (Genesis 37:2) when God delivered to him in similitude of what
future was hanging on his head. There was a promise over him but before the
fulfilment, came series of molds he must be shaped with.
However,
I was thinking for God to have revealed it, it was enough to make it a reality,
why test him again? And there I knew, every word God said is only a revelation
of God's plan and it’s not guaranteed until our life becomes pleasing. Yes, God
said He was bringing 2million Israelites to a promised land, that was His plan,
taking them through d wilderness, Red sea, Jericho, Jordan, and so on, but only
two people from that generation got there. But God is not a liar, what He
says/reveals, He will do, how come? They provoked him with their lifestyle (Psalms78:40-72).
Let God be true and man a liar. "But the prophecy was that I was going to be so and so, but my life reflects the opposite", check, you must have defaulted in some areas.
Let God be true and man a liar. "But the prophecy was that I was going to be so and so, but my life reflects the opposite", check, you must have defaulted in some areas.
The
dream of Joseph which he had at age 17 came to pass 13 years later after series
of character test, after the word of God had proven/tried/test/refined him(Other
translations).
Three
stages of predicaments, only to see what his response would be.
1. Molding test in the pit.
Yes we understand that they could over power him if he managed to resist them, but like an helpless lamb, he yielded himself, not fighting back. He must have believed in the LORD to rescue him rather than fight his brothers.
Yes we understand that they could over power him if he managed to resist them, but like an helpless lamb, he yielded himself, not fighting back. He must have believed in the LORD to rescue him rather than fight his brothers.
The
same attribute (the act of surrender), was
seen in Isaac, who would not argue with his father, even when he saw knife,
wood, sacrifice ingredients without a lamb, knowing fully well that his father
knows better, his choice is not as important as his father's.
David
as well did not fight back at the king even when he was at advantage over him.
Like a sheep, they laid down their lives.
And
this was found in Jesus, who had power to resist Himself from dying, yet he
surrendered. Isaiah 53:7(NIV), He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open
his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its
shearers is
silent, so he did not open his mouth.
silent, so he did not open his mouth.
He
was sold, but he could shout... NOOOOO I AM NOT FOR SALE! Still he opened not
his mouth. Proverbs 13:3, The one who guards his mouth protects his life;
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin. (Paraphrased)
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin. (Paraphrased)
2. Molding in Potiphar's house
I see something strange in that passage, Joseph's boss trusted him that he committed to him all his house, how come he lost his trust at once to his wife's claim that he did not bother to ask Joseph's part of the story. It suggests to me that, God was at work, He wanted him in prison. If Joseph was granted permission to talk, he could have convinced his master thereby aborting the on-going process. But this was prison sentence before Joseph, over a matter he was innocent about, yet he kept the pain of been denied to express one's innocence over a matter, he was punished for an offence he never committed (that should remind us of Jesus) but still, he acknowledged that God was aware of his predicament and as an all knowing God, he said to himself, "I am not choosy, if that was the condition, let’s go there".
I see something strange in that passage, Joseph's boss trusted him that he committed to him all his house, how come he lost his trust at once to his wife's claim that he did not bother to ask Joseph's part of the story. It suggests to me that, God was at work, He wanted him in prison. If Joseph was granted permission to talk, he could have convinced his master thereby aborting the on-going process. But this was prison sentence before Joseph, over a matter he was innocent about, yet he kept the pain of been denied to express one's innocence over a matter, he was punished for an offence he never committed (that should remind us of Jesus) but still, he acknowledged that God was aware of his predicament and as an all knowing God, he said to himself, "I am not choosy, if that was the condition, let’s go there".
3. Molding/character check in the prison:
For
many years, he was bound with fetters (whose feet they hurt with fetters, he
was laid in iron...Psalm 105:18KJV). His movement was barred, bound in iron, yet he
maintained his walk, he never stopped being good, he ministered to their needs,
interpreted other's dreams while his was not, he helped others but without a
help.
At
a time, he tried to resist God's process, he said, "Please, remember me
when the King restores you back to office". But God caused him to forget,
how do I know it was God? A man who was restored just 3 days after Joseph's
word and saw the other, beheaded, should have said, "Oh, that man said it,
he said so", that should not be displaced by his joy, but there was a
process that had not been completed, there was a time, UNTIL his time came, the
word of the Lord tried him (Psalm 105:19 paraphrased). Until that time, God prevented him
from being remembered and at the fullness of that time, God caused an
occurrence that would provoke his remembrance. It is my prayer today that we
will not hurry out of God's dealings. The most he would have gotten if the
young man remembered him before the king was, a freedom order from Pharaoh that
would restore him back to his servant job with his former master or guided back
to his country Israel with a jar of water and a loaf of bread. That was the
highest his brain could imagine, but God had better plan for him.
Conclusively, here was a man whose future was shown clearly, yet he was tried, God took him through life challenges otherwise known as mold of formation which prepared him to actualizing his dream. God is still in the business, he does not commit any thing tangible to a man that has not been bent in the furnace of affliction, yes that is God's tool of formation. I see many fail God today just over few things which is only a test to qualify them for greater things.
Please stay put and stay through. The only help you can offer God is surrender.
Conclusively, here was a man whose future was shown clearly, yet he was tried, God took him through life challenges otherwise known as mold of formation which prepared him to actualizing his dream. God is still in the business, he does not commit any thing tangible to a man that has not been bent in the furnace of affliction, yes that is God's tool of formation. I see many fail God today just over few things which is only a test to qualify them for greater things.
Please stay put and stay through. The only help you can offer God is surrender.
GOD
BLESS YOU
Author
Harrison Nejo
harrisonnejo@gmail.com
If you are inspired by the Holy Spirit to reach out and affect many souls through writing, send your articles to thequiver4changeoftaste@gmail.com and we will help you spread it across the world audience. God bless you as you choose to impact lives.
The Quiver is the Official Bulletin of The Change of Taste Group (a non-denominational mission intercessory and support group ©2016.
