The place of God

DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE PLACE OF GOD

Gen 50:18-21

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

NIV

There is something to be said about being humble, but the actions of the brothers does not appear to be motivated by humility but rather fear and/or self-preservation. Nevertheless the result is the same in their bowing before Joseph declaring their servitude. Although we might be able to take our lesson from this, it is the words and heart of Joseph which offer our lesson. He told them he was in the place of God. Although his brothers surely intended to do him harm, God intended it for good. There may be times in our lives when it seems things are not going as well as we had planned them. We might even have experienced some truly rough patches. Joseph thought he had life by the tail as a youth. He was his father’s favorite. He was the only one who had a coat of many colors, he was getting visions from God and things were simply going so well. Then thrown in a cistern and sold into slavery. So much for the good life. But then he lands in the best of places, in charge of a rich man’s holdings. But because of false accusations he ends up in prison. Once again he lands on his feet and is given charge of the prison. He helps people know their dreams and gets forgotten for years, but then the final lifting up to the second in command of all Egypt. Isn’t that just like our lives? We think we’re getting ahead and then the bottom falls out. Then somehow we make it back, we might make a few changes in our plans and things start looking up again. Then another setback. Another adjustment. What we have to come to grips with is that we are in the place of God.

Prov 16:9

9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

NIV

When we realize we are exactly where God desires us to be, we can live at peace with our situation, whether that be in good times or bad. He has a purpose for our lives, and he brings about that purpose according to his will. The good work that he started in us, he will finish as well. Our lives are a series of events, experiences which teach us about our relationship with him. We learn to depend on him more and more through each situation. We learn to trust his plans for us more than ours. We learn to be content in whatever circumstance we are in, for we know God has us in the palm of his hand. Our whole life is for the purpose to bring honor and praise to God. He works in each person, but some close off their hearts and minds. Some refuse to even acknowledge his existence. They have buried any knowledge they ever had of him with evil thoughts and deeds. But we are not one of those. We have heard his voice calling us to himself. Therefore we live as one of his, submitting to his authority in our lives.  So we live with peace, with joy, with contentment, with thanksgiving in our heart and mind, because we are in the place of God.