We are going to take a brief look at how God used His people's enemies to get them exactly where He wanted them to be. Let's start with Joseph. Gen. 37:12-13, 18, 21-22 NKJV says: 12 Then his brothers went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them." 18 Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. 21 But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, "Let us not kill him." 22 And Rueben said to them, "Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him"-that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father. However, we know that Reuben didn't make it back in time to save his brother. Instead, his other siblings sold Joseph into slavery which resulted in a series of events that eventually placed Joseph in the position to save his family from starvation. Joseph was later quoted as saying to his brothers, "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." (Gen. 50:20) If it wasn't for the process that brought Joseph to Egypt, Israel's family would have starved to death and as a result, we wouldn't have a Saviour. Our next, example is Moses. Ex 1:22-2:1-3, 5-6, 9-10 NKJV says: 22 So Pharoah commanded all his people, saying, "Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive." 1 And a man of the house of Levi went and took a wife a daugher of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank. 5 Then the daugher of Pharoah came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds she sent her maid to get it. 6 And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, "This is one of the Hebrew's children." 9 Then Pharoah's daugher said to her [Moses' mother] "Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages." So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharoah's daugher, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, "Because I drew him out of the water." If it wasn't for the actions of Pharaoh's daughter, Israel would have never received her freedom. Nor, would we have such an awesome example of God's forgiveness and unconditional love that God showed us through His patience with Israel as a nation. Now, my last example, I am sure we can all relate to. That is you and me. Satan comes against us everyday through people and situations around us. However, what Satan doesn't realize is that by attacking us, he is helping us to grow closer to our Lord and Saviour. If we were never sick, we wouldn't know that God is a healer. If we never had financial struggles, we would never know God to be a provider. If things always worked out the way we planned them, we would never know that God is a way-maker. If everything was easy, we would never know that He who is in us is greater than he that is in the world (1 Jn 4:4), or that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Rom 8:37) So take the time right now and say Thank you Lord for Our Enemies. Because, if it weren't for them, we wouldn't know who God really is. I hope you enjoyed reading the word of God in a new light. Have a Happy Wednesday! God Bless, Min. Tommy & Sis. Shatika Gray |
| Thank God for Our Enemies May 12, 2004 |