Acts 7:9-16
…but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. (vv. 9-10) I couldn’t help but notice increasing levels of grace given by God to Joseph: (1) with him; (2) rescued him; (3) gave him favor and wisdom; and (4) made him ruler. And I noticed the same level of grace in my life: (1) born again at age 26; (2) “fired” from Texas A&M at age 42; (3) hired as department chair at EKU at age 49; (4) named a Fulbright Scholar at age 55. What strikes me here are the gaps in time in my life – not unlike Joseph – especially the last three items. Our God is not a “god of the immediate”, He is a God of the faithful – in my life and in yours!! GLORY!!
Slava Bohu!
Indeed, God’s immeasurable grace at key points, leading us forward in His plan.
I was struck by how the patriarchs get to Egypt, as refugees from famine. We see so many famine refugees in the world today and probably don’t think of our spiritual roots, too. Jews, taking Jeremiah, run to Egypt for refuge from the war and violence of the Babylonians. Mary and Joseph fleeing to Egypt to protect themselves and Jesus from a tyrant who kills his own people. Early followers of Christ as refugees to other countries, fleeing religious persecution. How easily we forget our own refugee roots, despite God’s instruction to help the stranger “for you were a stranger in a strange land”.