You never know what is up ahead or what is around the corner. Our life is something we may plan, but we really don't know how it is going to turn out. So is it a life of chance or do you think there is a purpose? How about when things are going bad? What is God's plan for our life?
Lets see what the Bible says:
RO 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
We have all been called to follow Jesus. So basically what the above verse is telling us, is that even in the bad things that are going on in our life, there is a purpose. God will use them for something positive. But do we remember this? Lets look at an example from the Bible.
The following is about Joseph who is the son of Israel, later named Jacob, who had 11 brothers.
GE 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
GE 37:5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it."
GE 37:8 His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
The fact that his father loved Joseph more then the others was not a good thing. Then when he had the dream, talked about above, telling his brothers wasn't the best thing either. How would you like it if your younger brother told you he was going to rule over you? To make it even worse he told them about a second dream he had also. This dream was real similar to the first dream.
All of this started a chain of events.
His brothers hated him. All but one wanted to kill him.
While they where herding the flocks his Dad sent him to check on them. This was the perfect opportunity to get rid of Joseph. First they were going to kill him and tell his Dad he got eaten by wild animals. He had one brother that was against killing him, so they sold him to some traders going to Egypt.
I am sure at this time Joseph really didn't feel like God was on his side. But lets see what happens:
GE 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.
That worked out Joseph probably figured, this isn't bad at all.
But his masters wife tried to seduce him and he ended up in jail falsely accused.
After two years the Pharaoh had a dream nobody could interpret and Joseph was able to.
There was going to be seven years of abundance and seven years of famine.
Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph, that he put him in charge of saving grain for the famine to come. Again Joseph ended up on top. He ended up the second most powerful man in Egypt.
Lets go back to his family, they where affected by the famine also:
GE 42:1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?" 2 He continued, "I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die."
His brothers, except one came to Egypt, Joseph recognized them, but they didn't him. He accused them of being spies and made them leave one brother till they brought the youngest still home. He also hid their payment in there sacks to mess with them. This scared them like you wouldn't believe. They thought he was trying to trap them. Remember they didn't recognize him. They went home and came back with there youngest brother that had been left behind. He eventually had them brought to his house and revealed himself to them.
When Joseph told the Pharaoh about his brothers and father, the Pharaoh had Joseph tell this to his Brothers:
GE 45:19 "You are also directed to tell them, `Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.' "
GE 47:11 So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed. 12 Joseph also provided his father and his brothers and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their children.
There is a lot to be learned in this passage, but the part that I am trying to point out is exactly what the first verse we read at the beginning said. I am sure that Joseph going thru what he had to couldn't see God's plan till the end. I am sure his brothers couldn't see God's plan till the end. But look at what the end result of all this ended up being. The whole family could have died of starvation if it wasn't for the way that God turned the bad into good. On top of that, God reunited the family.
We don't know what God's plan is for us. We have to trust him and know that he has our best in mind. Remember the verse from the beginning?
