Scripture:
Genesis 50:15-26
Wed, 5 April 2023

History as the Theatre of Destiny

Observation:

What do you recall is the historical backdrop, the context behind Joseph’s
declaration in verse 20?

Deeper Reflection
Joseph could have held a grudge. His brothers certainly thought so (v.15). Sure, Joseph was partly at fault for his brothers’ jealousy. But it was not easy to forget the personal betrayal and rejection, the loneliness and pain of separation from family, the grief that his father had to go through, and the hard years spent in prison suffering the loss of freedom. Not even when Joseph became the second most powerful man in all of Egypt (Gen 41:41-44).Yet Joseph chose to forgive his brothers. However, Joseph’s remarkable response was not merely a matter of “Oh it’s all ok, look at where I am now!”, “Let’s just let bygones be bygones”, “We’re still family after all” or “I’ll be nice to you to honour the memory of our dead father”. Instead, Joseph realised that despite human sin and the messiness of all that had happened, God continued to remain in careful control not just over Joseph personally and over Jacob’s family, but over the “many lives” (including Egyptian) that have been saved by Joseph’s coming to Egypt.Joseph’s confidence in God’s sovereignty and promises led him to ask the Israelites to swear an oath that they would carry his bones from Egypt back to the promised land of Canaan. In God’s orchestration, Egypt would not be Joseph’s final resting place. Despite the splendour, power and generations that Joseph enjoyed in history, he knew that his destiny lay elsewhere, because “God will surely come to your aid” (vv.24, 25 NIV). History, according to Joseph and from the perspective of the sovereign God, remains the theatre of destiny.
Application:

Recalling my past and considering my present, what redemptive work do I
see God doing in my life?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Nations: That God will work through the tough and good times, through His people, to accomplish His mission of saving many lives
  • Pray for self
 

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 7:13-18, 25-27; 11:29-36
Sat, 2 December 2023

The Triumph

Observation:

What characterises the triumph of God’s people in tribulations under tyrants?

Deeper Reflection
God’s people living under tyrants and suffering tribulations under them can triumph – whether we are delivered from or destroyed in tribulation. The triumph rests on a threefold confidence.We know the conclusion of evil. It is repeated in manifold ways in Daniel that evil that comes through inhuman kings – no matter how great and how long – will definitely come to an end: “he will be broken” (Dan 8:25), “he will be found no more” (Dan 11:19), “yet he will come to his end” (Dan 11:45) and “all these events will be completed” (Dan 12:7).We know God’s calling for us: To be a suffering people – to be captured, plundered, burned or killed (Dan 11:33). But in our suffering, we can be strong as “people who know their God” (Dan 11:32), knowing that God is purging and purifying us to become a sanctified (Dan 11:35; 12:10) and shining people who “shine brightly” with heavenly brightness in the hostile world (Dan 12:3). And we will be a steadfast people who “keep waiting and attain to the 1,335 days” (Dan 12:12) – until we become a sovereign people who “receive and possess the kingdom forever” from “the Ancient of Days” (vv.13-14, 18, 27).We know who is in control. The tribulations under the tyrants in Daniel 7 to 12 are all subject to and subsumed under “that which is decreed will be done” (Dan 11:36; 9:26, 27) “at the appointed time” (Dan 11:27, 29, 35).We conclude Daniel with this theological-discipleship summary statement: We can triumph in tribulations under tyrants when we trust with tenacity in the One who is on the throne.
Application:

How can I triumph in tribulations?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To grow in the faith and perseverance of overcomers in Christ
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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