am I? I am not
January 25th, 2007
Leslie
Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21
Joseph has such a strong testimony of God’s provision in his life. Joseph is being used here as an instrument to reveal who God is to his brothers. The behavior that Joseph shows toward his brothers is nothing short of a miracle, and preparing for that response did not happen overnight.
God had Joseph in Egypt. God takes us to the desert to reveal who he is in our lives. As Joseph was faithful day to day, God gave Joseph a heart for him. The version that I read today of this passage was the New Kings James. In verse 19 Joseph asked his brothers, “for am I in the place of God?” Joseph was ready to face his brothers because of the I AM, not the am I.
I want to be ready in my mind and heart with a testimony of what God has done in my life. I have seen a miracle of restoration in my own family recently. I know personally the pain of rejection of a sibling. I can see in the scripture this morning that I did not prepare myself to meet up with my sister. We need to be faithful in the daily tasks before us. God has a plan to use me right now in this time of history. I need to give the desires of my heart to God, and go about his business. What a blessing to have my family restored, but more importantly, I have seen the Lord in the land of the living…In the land of my heart. He has healed me, and placed in my heart, love and grace toward my sister. When the time came to be with her after many years, I am so glad that love and grace is what I found in my heart. God put those things there. He has restored the years that the locusts have eaten. Joel 2:25
God is God, and I am not. Joseph was able to be used by God in a mighty way because while he was in the desert he did not dwell in revenge, hatred, bitterness, sadness, (the list could go on and on). No, Joseph went about God’s work day to day, and in the meantime God did the work in Joseph’s heart. That is revealed when he meets with his brothers. That is the power of the I AM! (and your not!)
Lord, I have seen the miracle of your healing in my own family. Lord thank you that you turn what is meant for evil into good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Lord I desire to be faithful to you, and help me to remember that it is not what I do, but what you do.