The Pilgrim Path---Genesis 45: 5 – 8 

“And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”

“AND GOD SENT ME…”

Joseph had been separated from his family for a long time. God favored him in hard places (prison). The only way Joseph could deal with it all was to realize that God had him and all his circumstances under HIS control. Joseph chose freely in every part of his life’s drama. His brothers functioned as free moral agents in each episode in which they were involved. All that each one did--- was to ultimately bring about God’s perfect plan. Amazing. We stand in awe of how Jehovah-Jesus works! The Sovereign Shepherd of Souls writes the best story. We do well to submit to HIM daily. We cannot direct our own lives. We follow HIS righteous paths---even when we are uncertain of the consequences. Thank You Living Christ for guiding Your Sheep so wonderfully (John 10: 1 – 5).

From Donald Grey Barnhouse: “To see God in all things, both good and evil, enables us to forgive easily those who injure us. It does not incline us to condone their fault as if they were unconscious instruments impelled by him who made use of them, for they act as freely as if God had no part at all. But we can pity, forgive, and pray for them, as slaves to their passions, enemies to their own welfare, and real, though unwitting, benefactors to our souls. This is strongly exemplified in Joseph, for he saw the hand of God over-ruling the designs of his brothers; and from that consideration he not only readily forgave them but entreated them ‘not to be grieved or angry with themselves,’ since whatever had been their intentions, God had used their misdeeds to accomplish his own gracious purposes…”

From John Duncan: His moral government has a vaster aim than our puny minds can fathom.

Grace & Peace in Jesus, The Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason