Daily Devotions - Entries tagged "Genesis 41"

WedWednesdaySepSeptember21st2011 Wednesday, September 21

Posted Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 5 AM byKim Miller Tagged Genesis 41 Suffering When the Bottom Drops Out 0 comments Add comment

On Sunday, Pastor Rob will continue his sermon series drawn from the content of his new book, When the Bottom Drops Out. During this series, he is sharing the lessons he and his family learned about God’s grace in the midst of profound disappointment. As we prepare our hearts for the next message in his series on God’s grace in the midst of disappointment, we will take a closer look this week at Joseph from the Old Testament, and how he models what living well in the light of adversity looks like.

We thank Kim Miller -- a senior editor at Tyndale House Publishers who worked with Pastor Rob on the editing of his book -- for preparing these devotional thoughts . Kim also attends Wheaton Bible Church, and leads a small group of sixth grade girls in Quest56.

Today we are reading and meditating Genesis 41:15-16 from the New Living Translation:

15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”

16 “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”

As a young man, Andy van der Bijl didn’t seem to have much going for him. His father was a deaf blacksmith; his mother was a semi-invalid. He didn’t finish high school, and even his stint as a commando in the Dutch army came to an abrupt end when he was shot in the ankle.

God began drawing Andy to himself through the kindness of the Fransciscan sisters who tended to his wound in the hospital. Eventually he gave his life to Christ and, during the height of the Cold War, felt God calling him to help Christians behind the Iron Curtain.

Not long after, he decided to smuggle Bibles into Romania. Driving to the checkpoint, he pulled up behind several waiting cars. As he watched the inspections, he began to worry. The soldiers were stopping each driver and carefully checking every inch of the cars for contraband.

Andy knew that they were sure to find the Bibles he’d hidden, so he began praying, “Lord, I know that no amount of cleverness on my part can get me through this border search. Dare I ask for a miracle?” So that he would know that God, not his own cleverness, had protected him, he took out a few of the Bibles and placed them in the front seat.

When he reached the front of the line, Andy handed the guard his documents and prepared to exit his VW. After a cursory glance at the papers, however, the guard waved him on. As Andy drove away, he saw the driver of the car behind him get out as the soldier opened his hood.

This Bible smuggler, known today as Brother Andrew, says, “My heart was racing. Not with the excitement of the crossing, but with the excitement of having caught such a spectacular glimpse of God at work!” [Open Doors, “Brother Andrew’s Story,” http://www.opendoorsusa.org/about-us/brother-andrew/.]

Thousands of years ago, Joseph got a similar glimpse of God’s power when he was asked to interpret the Pharaoh’s dream. Joseph’s first words to the Egyptian ruler were, “It is beyond my power to do this. . . . But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease” (Genesis 41:16).

What is your response when trouble comes? Do you fret and stew, or like Brother Andrew and Joseph, do you immediately acknowledge your weakness and then ask God to show His strength? Whenever you face a challenge today, why not make your first response a prayer that Christ would work His power through you for His glory?

Heavenly Father,
I ask for the privilege of seeing Your power at work around me today. I praise You because You are all-powerful -- my rock, my fortress, and my shield in times of trouble.
Amen.