Based on “Living from Bad to Worse” by Pastor Dave Folkerts;
8/21-22/10, Message #DF150; Daily Devotional #1 - “Steps for Our Good”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Growing up, I loved the books where I got to pick the plot along the way. If I wanted a certain thing to happen, then at the bottom of the page I picked the page number and turned to that page. Then when I finished that section, I got to pick the next. I kind of wish life was that way. Unfortunately, life isn’t like that. Even when we do think we are making the right choice in life, the steps to get to the destination often don’t seem to match what we expect. In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Joseph truly had planned his course. Joseph had a vision from God that showed him that one day he would be in a high position and all his family would bow to him (Genesis 37:5-7). Now I don’t know if Joseph was just naive or just bragging when he shared his dream with his brothers. Joseph must have had some knowledge of how his brothers would feel. Regardless, Joseph let his brothers in on his plans for the future, but it just didn’t sit well with them. And so Joseph was sold into slavery (Genesis 39:1). Now, I know the career path that Joseph had envisioned didn’t include:
Step 1: Be sold into slavery.
Step 2: Go to prison.
Step 3: Interpret a dream for the king.
Step 4: Go back to prison for 2 years and be forgotten.
Step 5: Interpret another dream for the king.
Step 6: Be ranked in high standing at the palace to save the land from a famine.
If this was a resume, I am not sure of how many callbacks on a job offer he would have gotten, but remember, the Lord determined Joseph’s steps. "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. (Isaiah 55:8-9) You may be stuck in a similar situation that has gone from bad to worse. God has shown you a vision of your future that seems and looks amazing, yet the steps don’t seem to be going in the direction you thought; His ways are not your ways, nor are our thoughts His thoughts. He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4) God is faithful, and He does no wrong. In the midst of a step, we have to trust God. At each step in Joseph’s journey he had to trust that God was in control, using the situation he was in for God’s glory. And, God was using each step for Joseph’s good. If Joseph didn’t believe that, then I am sure the outcome would have been very different. In the end, the vision that God gave Joseph did come to fruition and not only was Joseph blessed, but also his family, the land, and all the people.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): I don’t know what step you might be taking today. But rest assured God does: He is determining our steps, steps for our good. You know when I think about it, what I liked best about those children’s books I used to read was that the plot was never predictable. It was full of adventure and excitement. And with God, that is exactly what life is like.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Genesis 37-43
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All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.