God has recently cemented Luke 22:31-32 in my mind.
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Here Jesus is telling Peter that the enemy had petitioned the Father to wage war on Peter at the time when he would be the most vulnerable. Peter was passionate about Jesus. He was the one who saw Jesus out on the water and wanted to get to him. He stepped out of the boat. He loved Jesus and had already shown that he hated the idea of Jesus sufferring so. Satan knew Peter too. Satan knew this would be the opportune time to attack. He does that, you know. He doesn't play fair. He doesn't see us struggle and suffer and think, "I really shouldn't kick the poor guy while he's down". Nope that just the moment he wants to start wailing on us. Fortunately, he must go through the Father to get to us and what's more, we have Jesus at the right hand of the throne of God who ever lives to make intercession for us! That is utterly amazing that our precious savior would descend to earth and suffer so and as Hebrews says 'for the joy set before Him endured the cross.' The joy set before him was fellowship with me, with you! Incredible! And here in this passage Jesus tells Peter that he has prayed for him. Wow. And this is when Jesus tells him that Peter would betray his master before the rooster crows 3 times! It's intresting too that Jesus doesn't say Peter, Peter. He says Simon, Simon. I guess the Father had decided to allow Satan to sift Peter because he knew that Peter still needed some Simon sifted out of him. God would go on to use Peter in incredible ways, Peter was crucial in the establishment of the church. Could God have done it without Peter? Of course! But he didn't. I love that Jesus offerred Peter the encouragement that he would return and the admonishment to strengthen his brothers. Jesus knew Peter would fail, he had already done so many times, and yet Jesus loved him so dearly and used him so mightily.
Oh how I identify with Peter. Sure I'd rather be like Paul or John or Mary but I am who I am and I am so grateful that though I fail, my Jesus loves me enough to refine me, pick me up, and use me for His glory. That's my hearts desire, to bring Him glory. I wish I never failed. But I am so thankful to have Jesus praying for me and knowing I will return when I stray, and that He will use me to strengthen others. May it be so!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Joseph
Joseph is absolutely one of my favorite heroes of Scripture, not because he was perfect, after all, he seemed to be a little bit of a spoiled brat in the beginning. But the lessons we can learn from him in listening to God, obeying Him, suffering well, honesty and integrity inspire me to be better. He went through such difficult and even unfair situations and yet remained faithful. Joseph was the first son Jacob had with Rachel. Jacob had two wives who were sisters. He had worked for 7 years to earn Rachel's hand, but her father, Laban, tricked him and gave him Leah instead. So Jacob worked for another 7 years to earn Rachel. That is beyond amazing to me! He ended up working for Laban for 14 years waiting to marry Rachel! Because Jacob loved Rachel God had mercy on Leah and she bore sons to Jacob but Rachel had not. Rachel envied her sister and decided to send her servant in to Jacob to bare a son for her. And she did. I don't know if this was much comfort to her or not. So Leah retalliates and sends her servant into Jacob. Think God could have given Jacob all those sons without the women's schemes? Of course. And perhaps there would have been less conflict. Finally God saw the anguish of Rachel's heart and gave her a son for Jacob. It is no wonder then that Jacob had a special relationship with that son, Joseph. The favoritism that Jacob showed Joseph didn't exactly make him the favorite brother. Jacob educated him and spent time with him while the other brother's labored. Jacob knew God had marked Joseph for something special. His brothers were jealous and actually plotted to kill him. The threw him into a pit and would deal with him later. But Rueben, the oldest of the brothers, changed their minds and they decided they would just sell him. When they went to get him they found they were too late. The Midianites had already taken him to sell him. Joseph was sold to a very wealthy man, Potiphar, and he quickly rose in favor. Joseph was handsome and wise. He was a great servant and even protected Potiphar from being scammed. Potiphar respected Joseph so much that he gave Joseph access to and rule of his entire household. Potiphars wife was also pretty fond of Joseph.
Genesis 39:7-20 (English Standard Version)But he refused and said to his master’s wife, "Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, he has put everything that he has in my charge.He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, "See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house." Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home,and she told him the same story, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house." As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
Potiphar was a very prominent man and you can bet his wife was no slouch! But maybe she was very lonely and starved for attention. We don't really know for sure. We do know she was the only thing Potiphar had withheld from Joseph. Sounds like they may have even had the discussion. Joseph was in a precarious position really. He was either going to offend his master's wife or offend his master. Ultimately Joseph chose to not sin against God and ended up at odds with both. Potiphar's wife propositioned him day after day and so Joseph started avoiding her. I sort of wish I could get into his head. I wonder what he was thinking. I wonder if he was tempted. If he was, he didn't let it be known. If he was self-seeking he may have thought of what he could gain by having an affair with her. Maybe the thought never crossed his mind. Anyway, the day comes when Potiphar's wife sees an opportunity, Joseph is there, no one else is around and she makes her move. I imagine Joseph already knew what he would do if that situation arose. It was in his character to avoid evil, it stands to reason that he would also flee from it. And then to be thrown in prison even though the absolute opposite was true. He hadn't attacked her but she had attacked him. In those days you were guilty until proven innocent and you had no right to a speedy trial. Joseph had brought God's favor with him into Potiphar's home and it followed him in to the prison. He spent 2 years in there before he was brought before Pharaoh and that was only because Pharaoh needed him to interpret his dream. Joseph correctly interpreted and the dream and wisely counselled Pharaoh on how to handle the coming famine. One of the things I love about Joseph's story here is how God restored to him so much more than he had ever lost. Joseph kept his eyes on the Lord and humbled himself. God lifted him up. Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over all of Egypt second only to himself, this middle son of a Hebrew Shepard. But God had a plan all along. God knew exactly where Joseph would end up. He knows where you will end up too. I believe we affect how long it takes to get there and how much trouble we experience along the way. But God has such great plans for each of us if we will take Him at His word and act by faith on it. We sacrifice our futures on the alter of the immediate. But if we will do what God says to do when He says to do it, even if it's hard and even if it costs us, God will bless that. He is loving and full of mercy. How many times are our hands be the ones that hold back God's blessing? Wherever Joseph went, he had God's favor. I want that! Don't you? When we are in the midst of temptation it is so easy to cave. So easy! Scripture doesn't tell us why God allowed all of this to happen. Why did it have to be so hard on Joseph. But the process was refining for Joseph. His suffering and humility produced godly character. His faithfulness to God brough him honor. Joseph is a major player on the field here. He's like the star receiver and though he faced a stellar defence, he ran the play and scored a winning touchdown. Oh Father, help us be faithful! Help us be like Joseph!
Genesis 39:7-20 (English Standard Version)But he refused and said to his master’s wife, "Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, he has put everything that he has in my charge.He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, "See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house." Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home,and she told him the same story, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house." As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
Potiphar was a very prominent man and you can bet his wife was no slouch! But maybe she was very lonely and starved for attention. We don't really know for sure. We do know she was the only thing Potiphar had withheld from Joseph. Sounds like they may have even had the discussion. Joseph was in a precarious position really. He was either going to offend his master's wife or offend his master. Ultimately Joseph chose to not sin against God and ended up at odds with both. Potiphar's wife propositioned him day after day and so Joseph started avoiding her. I sort of wish I could get into his head. I wonder what he was thinking. I wonder if he was tempted. If he was, he didn't let it be known. If he was self-seeking he may have thought of what he could gain by having an affair with her. Maybe the thought never crossed his mind. Anyway, the day comes when Potiphar's wife sees an opportunity, Joseph is there, no one else is around and she makes her move. I imagine Joseph already knew what he would do if that situation arose. It was in his character to avoid evil, it stands to reason that he would also flee from it. And then to be thrown in prison even though the absolute opposite was true. He hadn't attacked her but she had attacked him. In those days you were guilty until proven innocent and you had no right to a speedy trial. Joseph had brought God's favor with him into Potiphar's home and it followed him in to the prison. He spent 2 years in there before he was brought before Pharaoh and that was only because Pharaoh needed him to interpret his dream. Joseph correctly interpreted and the dream and wisely counselled Pharaoh on how to handle the coming famine. One of the things I love about Joseph's story here is how God restored to him so much more than he had ever lost. Joseph kept his eyes on the Lord and humbled himself. God lifted him up. Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over all of Egypt second only to himself, this middle son of a Hebrew Shepard. But God had a plan all along. God knew exactly where Joseph would end up. He knows where you will end up too. I believe we affect how long it takes to get there and how much trouble we experience along the way. But God has such great plans for each of us if we will take Him at His word and act by faith on it. We sacrifice our futures on the alter of the immediate. But if we will do what God says to do when He says to do it, even if it's hard and even if it costs us, God will bless that. He is loving and full of mercy. How many times are our hands be the ones that hold back God's blessing? Wherever Joseph went, he had God's favor. I want that! Don't you? When we are in the midst of temptation it is so easy to cave. So easy! Scripture doesn't tell us why God allowed all of this to happen. Why did it have to be so hard on Joseph. But the process was refining for Joseph. His suffering and humility produced godly character. His faithfulness to God brough him honor. Joseph is a major player on the field here. He's like the star receiver and though he faced a stellar defence, he ran the play and scored a winning touchdown. Oh Father, help us be faithful! Help us be like Joseph!
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