Many times we face certain things in our lives that raise a question in our minds about it being the consequence of our sins or as per the plan of God. Joseph had only seen two dreams and shared that with his brothers, but they sold him into slavery in Egypt. People suffering under the burden of debt, keep thinking and looking forward to the time when they will be rescued from that state. But what does the Word of God say about all this?
Why does the loving God let us be stuck in problems/sufferings and pain? Lord Jesus has given us an absolute promise, ‘whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son’ (John 14:13). We must understand that the Father in heaven is glorified in obedience to His commands. The Son of God became Man, leaving aside His Divine glory to undergo all that any human being suffers. The Ten Commandments were given by the same loving God to the Israelites to show them and through them to all of humanity, the right way to live. This was done to help them overcome the false ways of Egypt and slavery and be transformed. The first two days and part of the third day were used by God to bring order and form in everything on earth. It was only then that the earth could be enabled to bring forth grass, herbs and fruit of various types with their seed in them to continue to produce further.
God’s ways are perfect in every sense and His revelation to Moses from the Burning Bush about Himself was ‘I Am who I Am’ (Exodus 3:14). This Name of God as Yahweh reveals His perfection and He causes all things, while nothing in any way affects Him. He causes things to happen but is not caused by anything or anyone. God is the Source, Provider and Sustainer of all life and brings order in chaos in the world. At the beginning of creation, He found the earth that He created to be without form, void and covered with darkness. Before it could become productive, God brought order by separating darkness and light, waters and the earth.
The Israelites could have been led by God into the Promised Land through the direct route but a longer path was taken. They had lived in Egypt for more than four hundred years and though kept isolated from the Egyptians, certain religious practices had become a part of their lives. God used Moses to teach them His ways, help them get Egypt out of them and thus make them a separate nation. Lest they get discouraged at their slow progress, God told them beforehand that the enemy occupants of Cannan will not be driven out in one year (Exodus 23:29-30). This was to prevent desolation of the land and to control the number of the beasts of the field from becoming ‘too numerous for you’. The Israelites would multiply and increase while the beasts would decrease to make occupation easier for them.
We get calls about large debts, continuous strife in the family or failure in every work. Three essential steps are necessary before God can pour out His blessings on us. First, bring order in our lives by self-evaluation to identify our preparedness for the blessings. Identify the causes, seek help from God and professionals where needed. Break the task into small daily tasks, assess every week and correct as needed while holding each other accountable.
Second, build capacity to receive the blessing. Joseph had his dreams about becoming great at 17 years of age, was sold into slavery by his brothers and was bought by Potiphar. Joseph did not keep crying over what had happened but worked diligently, learned administration and became the trusted head servant. He was accused falsely and placed into prison but there also his hard work was recognised while he cared for others. When Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and butler were imprisoned, Joseph cared for their sadness. When they told him their dreams, he could say, ‘Do not interpretations (of dreams) belong to God?’ (Exodus 40:8). As he had told, it happened as per their dreams. When he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and was made the head of his government, Joseph was ready for the task.
Third, build up character to use the increase. Moses conveyed God’s word to the people, ‘vengeance is Mine, and recompense’ (Deuteronomy 32:35). Joseph not only forgave and forgot about Potiphar and his wife but also his brothers. He could say to his brothers, ‘But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life’ (Genesis 45:5).
Once we start the process of change, not in a superficial manner but from deep within, God starts creating opportunities for us to get promoted to a higher level. Without this we may fast and pray or ask others to pray, things are not likely to change in our lives.
Steps to be ready for being blessed – The process of change is itself the preparation to receive but there are certain steps that we take to be ready. First, identify what you have for multiplication. The widow of the prophet was suffering due to the debt of her husband and her two sons were being taken into slavery. On being asked by Prophet Elisha, she identified a ‘jar of oil’ in her house and that was used by Elisha to bless her with abundance (2 Kings 4:1-7).
Second, create container vessels. She was told by the prophet to go and collect as many vessels as she could, close the door and start pouring oil into the vessels. The oil flow stopped only when there were no more empty vessels to receive. God’s provision is directly related to our capacity to receive.
Third, implement planned strategies. She was told by Prophet Elisha to ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest’. She could pay a part of the debt and live in comfort, for the temptation is always there. What the Holy Spirit has already revealed to you in the preparatory stage must never be ignored. Prophet Elisha was sick and about to die and he told King Joash, the king of Israel, to get a bow and some arrows (2 Kings 13:14-19). The prophet put his hands on the king’s hands as he was to shoot the arrow. As the king shot the arrow, the prophet declared, ‘The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them’. The command was clear, ‘shoot till you destroy’. But the king shot only three arrows and stopped making Prophet Elisha angry to say, ‘You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it’. We must clearly understand and then execute the plan with absolute diligence to achieve the desired results.
Fourth, check and stop leakages or wastage of resources and time. Showing compassion Lord Jesus first healed their sick and then wanted to feed them (Matthew 14:14-21). The disciples brought ‘five loaves of bread and two fish’ which were multiplied by the Lord to feed five thousand families, around 12 to 15 thousand people. In times of abundance, especially after lack, the tendency to show off and waste develops. The Lord ensured that the ‘fragments that remained’ were collected and there were twelve baskets filled.
Fifth, be compassionate and sow generously. The Israelites were commanded to give a tithe to the Temple, another for the widows and the poor and the normal offerings besides that. Every seven years the debts were written off. Many believers feel tithing is not for them since it is an Old Testament command. Sowing and reaping is a permanent fixture in creation. As per Apostle Paul, ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration by God (God-breathed)’ (2 Timothy 3:16). If we consider only the New Testament only as Scripture then we nullify the teaching of the Lord. The two disciples moving to Emaus from Jerusalem on the Day of Resurrection of the Lord, were taught by the Risen Lord Jesus all about His work from the Old Testament only (Luke 24:25-27). Finances must be managed with at least 10% as tithe and 20% as saving, while the rest is used with care. It is necessary to wait for 24 hours to buy something for only then one can understand the necessity. The advertisements counter this by projecting limited stock and quick order.
Sixth, set rules and follow with commitment. Every new year most people make great resolutions but forget them the next morning or by the week-end. Very few follow through and the same is with family rules and systems, where emotions start leading one astray. Be strict with yourself in following and ensure others’ compliance of all rules in the family.
Seventh, develop strong habits of follow through. Most people start with great enthusiasm but when the struggle starts, they falter. We must take responsibility for the failures while appreciating others’ contribution for successes In this manner we not only renew our own commitment regularly to improve but also build a strong support group.
Satan works like a dictator who feeds lies to the people and controls their memory to lead them away from faith, even leading them towards his failures and atrocities. The first words of the serpent to Eve were, ‘has God indeed said’ (Genesis 3:1). Also, to Lord Jesus in the wilderness, he said the same thing, ‘If You are the Son of God’ (Matthew 4:3). Lord Jesus knew His identity and did not consider it right to reply on this, while Eve did and suffered.
The woman suffering from the blood flow for twelve years, said to herself, ‘If only I may touch His garment, I will be made well’ (Matthew 9:21). This was continuously repeating to herself till she was filled with faith and moved forward despite her physical weakness, to touch and be healed. We all desire a miracle in our lives from the Lord but fail to recognise the same in us when we get up from sleep and are alive. The one who expects a miracle in his life daily rejoices in identifying the small things in his life, saving and leading him on, a step closer to success and to not give up or be slack.
Looking back in life to learn and move forward – Our understanding of a miracle depends on what we accept as one. If it is parting the Red Sea or stopping the flow of water in the flooded Jordan River or such things only as a miracle, then we miss many such things. The coming of the Saviour Lord as Man and His crucifixion is the greatest miracle and with that His choosing us to be His disciple is greater still. The budding of a flower or the joyous playing sounds of children are all miraculous deeds of God. God reveals about Himself, ‘I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things’ (Isaiah 45:7). God is in control and nothing happens without His permission.
To defeat the egoistic attitude of the devil and strengthen the faith of Job, God permitted the devil and said, ‘all that he (Job) has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person’ (Job 1:12). A boundary was set and though Job suffered, yet in the restoration, he received the double of what he had. The same is applicable today, for though the devil rules the earth and all that is in it but this is within the set bounds of the LORD God. Many people believe that the healing and miraculous works of the LORD God ceased with the disciples. After healing the woman with the blood flow, Lord Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter back to life (Matthew 9:32-34). Then he freed the ‘deaf and mute and demon possessed’ man and he spoke to the surprise of all present. It was presumed by the Jewish people that a smart demon controls the ears and tongue of the person to stop him from revealing his identity. Their understanding was that the demon could only be cast out by exercising control over him by using his name. The Pharisees refused to believe even what they witnessed by accusing Him of healing and salvation by using the ruler of the demons. They did not believe Lord Jesus’ authority over a demon but accepted it over the ‘ruler of the demons’ to force him to cooperate with Him.
No miraculous work can be carried out by anyone in his own power but of the Lord. Lord Jesus promised all believers, ‘I am with you always, even to the end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20). He is the Creator of everything and it all subsists in Him. God cannot be with any disciples, however, great he may be, to be a spectator in his life. We want to believe what we want but not everything that the Word says. We are commanded to praise God, ‘Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from destruction’ (Psalm 103:3-4). We readily accept by faith forgiveness of sins and salvation, by the same faith try and limit God within our own set up boundaries. If He forgives, heals and saves, why would He not do the other things now, for ‘He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow’?
The psalmist declared, ‘Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases’ (Psalm 115:3). He is pleased to choose sinners like us to join His family, His Spirit teaches us all things for His pleasure and He equips us to face all the opposition of the demonic forces. It is not a coincidence but the working of His plan in their lives. It was God who sent Joseph to Egypt as a slave and into the prison, so that he could be in place, get trained and be ready to be the number two man of Pharaoh. Had the Israelites stayed on in Canaan, they would have lost their identity by merging with them and following their customs. The Egyptians hated the shepherds and the Israelites could retain their individuality in the Goshen area of Egypt to be moved out to Canaan at the right time. God works in ways we cannot understand and when we bow down to His will, we are blessed in every manner. It is only when we look back that the real picture becomes visible, to let us thank Him for His love and mercy expressed through various miraculous deeds in our lives.
Nazareth was the place of Lord Jesus’ early life, yet the people there could not see Him more than a Carpenter and could not receive many blessings from Him nor was any miraculous work performed there. God’s very name Yehovah reveals His never changing nature and perfection. Most people will be surprised to learn of all the blessings they missed in their lives on earth for not seeking and expecting the same from God!
