A Frowning Providence
Gen 42:7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
Why does God frown when He is overwhelmed with joy? The mission of our Lord Jesus is only truly accomplished when sinners come home. Have you ever felt a sense of a job well done? Has it ever become clear to you why certain things had to be the way they were? This feeling comes with a sense of joy. Yet, Joseph spoke roughly and strangely to His brothers.
There are times when the voice of God is harsh and cold, when it does not seem like we have anything to do with Jesus. There are times when we feel Jesus cannot want us and prefers to be distant for us. We sometimes imagine there is some sin that Jesus must know about and he cannot want us anymore. These are not just all untrue but very far from what is really occurring.
There is nothing we can do that Christ has not paid for in full. Joseph missed his brothers and in a strange land yearned for the company of His blood relatives. He missed his father, he missed Benjamin and could barely resist the temptation to fully reveal himself. There must be tests in our Christian walk. There is a process of growing, chastening and getting us perfect. Some of these come at early stages of growth , some come in our latter years. Could mankind do more to God than kill His own only begotten son sent to seek and save them? If mankind could be forgiven for crucifying Jesus, could they not be forgiven anything by God. In similar fashion the brothers “killed” the favorite son of their father. Could they still do more or worse. God forgives sin if we confess them to Him. There is nothing that God cannot give us, if He gave us His only son. When we see that the value of the painful death of Christ is only realized when the prodigal son returns home, then we can understand that behind God’s hard chastening is a great joy that the sinner is returning home.
It is often true when we come to Christ in our initial experiences that we do not really know Him, and Christ has to send His Holy Spirit to do the work of transformation and help our perfection … as we are changed from glory to glory. Rejoice. The chastening you are going through is a good sign. Joseph did not speak roughly to any other person but his brothers. Also note that Joseph wanted all his family with him and needed an approach that would not incur the wrath of the Egyptians or even bring hurt to them. He was still uncertain of the reactions of his brothers or even of the Egyptians to them. Would his brothers go back and tell another lie to their father, never to return, Joseph works a plan that will – in the end – bring the entire family to safety. Do not be sad when God seems rough, He is working out His great plans so that you come to the beautiful end that is expected.
Song.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face
Prayer: O Lord, you are chastening me so that I can be perfected and partake in a greater glory. Help me to see and know this. Amen
The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa
