Words of Encouragement

Do you know where this road will lead? Most times than not, we do not know the path our lives will take. We have to trust God and allow him to direct us which way to go, even through the difficulties. (picture by James S. Williams)


"Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams." - Genesis 37:20





How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father." - Genesis 44:34

Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! -Genesis 45:4

Come and Go. It's all in God's Plan. This is the story of Joseph. He was loved greatly by his father and this caused his other brothers to be jealous of him as well as because of the things he said. He told his family about a dream he had and they were not to happy about what he dreamed. We come now to the first scripture where the brothers have decided to "come" together and kill their own brother. The figured if they could get rid of him, they would get rid of his dreams.

It is a shame that brothers would allow the devil to tempt them to destroy one of their own. Jealousy of anothers gifts causes many to want to destroy their own brother. Yet, we find out that God will even use this plot that was set to destroy, to build up.

Joseph was not killed by his brothers, however he was sold into slavery. Many things happened to Joseph, but with each turn he made, it took him not away from God but to the completion of God's plan. Joseph was eventually made a great ruler in Egypt and was over the provisions being set aside for the people. In the second scripture Joseph did several things and his brothers did not know it was him. What he requested they go back and get his younger brother, Benjamin, they did. What happened is Joseph set a trap where Benjamin would have to be left behind. Yet his brother says, how can I go to my father without his son. They knew the pain this would cause they father and they did not want to inflict him any more.

The brothers seem to have learned a lesson. Maybe it was the years of seeing their father hurt for the lost of his son Joseph. Maybe they realized the sin of what they did, however we do not have record that they ever confessed it. So now they are instead trying to protect the youngest son. They do not want to go to the father and tell him something else has happened to one of his sons.

This is important for us to know. We should not be so quick to come together for evil so that we won't have to be unwilling to go and tell of the harm inflicted because of our disobedience.

Joseph eventually reveals himself to them. Joseph was willing to call his brothers closer even after the evil they had done in his life. Joseph was able to do this because he realized that all the evil done to him, was used by God to bring him to the place he now stood, a provider of provisions for many.

The lesson for us today is that when others come together for your destruction know that God will use it to call you to come to him. He uses it to call you to the plan and purpose he has for you. The enemy wants to destroy you, but God wants to fulfill your life plan. He calls us to come to him and go into the land and place that I have for you. And some of the very people you must provide for are the same ones that tried to take your life.

Lord, help us today to accept that all things work together for our good. You allow others to come together against us, but you use that planned destruction to build us up and create that in us which will help others to survive. Help us Lord this day.