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Posted: 8/8/03

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Aug. 17

God uses those who perservere through the test

Genesis 41:15-16, 25-28, 33-40

By Tim Owens

First Baptist Church, Bryan

Joseph's years waiting in prison must have been one of the most perplexing seasons of his life. Bitterness and despair could have taken over. Through his steadfast faith in God, Joseph experienced intense preparation for his future responsibility and exaltation.

God knew when that day would come, but Joseph did not. God did not reveal all of his plan to Joseph because that would have destroyed his process of transformation in bringing Joseph to an explicit faith and trust under every circumstance of life.

Joseph's test had a maturing and steadying effect upon his character. God was teaching Joseph that daily faithfulness in ordinary duties is the best preparation for future service. In many respects, those years in prison were without doubt the most vital and critical years of Joseph's life. It had already been more than 10 years since he had been sold as a slave, and it would have been easy for him to have doubted the validity of the dreams God had given him. Just when there seemed to be hope of getting out of prison, the butler forgot about him.

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Moses' experience is similar. Moses spent 40 years on the backside of the desert while God was working with him–preparing him to be an effective instrument.

How long does God have to work with his servants until they are ready to follow him with unreserved loyalty and obedience? God's people in every generation need to accept a timeless, spiritual principle: Those whom God greatly blesses and uses will persevere through times of intense testing. It is impossible to be used significantly by God without persevering through seasons of testing.

When God's people are going through seasons of testing, there are three things they should remember. First, in the long term, God's way is always the best way. Believers have to learn to take the long look in life. As God trains his people for his ultimate plan, they have to be willing to accept some form of hardship, knowing that God's process is always working for their ultimate good and usefulness.

Second, God's time is always the best time. God was working out his purpose through Joseph. It was impossible for Joseph to realize it at the time, but later he could look back and see God's time had been exactly right– everything had worked out. God does not act too early or too late. He is never in a hurry but accomplishes things in his own time.

Third, God's grace is sufficient. He will give his people the grace they need to be patient. James teaches that when patience has its full work, the product is maturity. God is seeking to teach his people valuable lessons so they will be mature believers.

Preparation is a major season of life for those whom God uses. It is usually a longer period of time than God's people expect. The person whom God is preparing must appropriate God's promise: “I will never forget you. I will always be faithful to you.” God will take longer than most people are prepared to take in building a deep, wide and strong foundation of Christian effectiveness. The Lord never gets ahead of schedule. He never gets behind schedule. God's timing is always perfect. Part of God's timing always includes a season of preparation, during which he builds the foundation strong. The servant of God must allow God to take as long as he sees fit. God prepared Jesus 30 years for a three-year ministry. God majors on preparation. His counsel is, “Wherever you are, be faithful and obedient.”

Joseph's willingness to let God prepare him in God's way and God's time paid off. Pharaoh had two dreams. He called in all of the wise men of his kingdom and asked them, “Tell me what these dreams mean” (paraphrase of Genesis 41:8). None of the wise men of Egypt could interpret his dreams. At this point, the cupbearer remembered Joseph and how in the past he accurately interpreted dreams. When Joseph came before Pharaoh, he said: “I don't interpret dreams. If you are looking for a human dream interpreter, you have come to the wrong person. But, Pharaoh, God interprets the meaning of life” (paraphrase of Genesis 41:16).

One has to note the absence of pride in Joseph's life. Here was his chance to say, “Pharaoh, I will interpret your dream if you will let me go.” But rather, Joseph says: “I don't have anything to do with interpreting dreams. Everything I have is God's. He does everything. It is not me; it is God.”

During the season of long, intense preparation, God had removed the selfish pride in Joseph. It left Joseph totally dependent upon the Lord.

After Joseph's godly counsel to Pharaoh, Pharaoh responded by promoting Joseph. He put a royal signet ring on his finger, dressed him in royal linen and placed a gold chain around his neck. Second in line, right behind Pharaoh, was Joseph. In God's perfect timing, he exalted his servant.

All of this took place because God planned it, but all of this took place because Joseph sought to please God and resisted the temptation to sin. Rather than gratifying the flesh, Joseph sought to glorify God. Joseph found that godliness paid enormous dividends. He experienced the truth of what Jesus stated in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things will be yours as well.”

Question for discussion

bluebull How can you see God's hand at work and not just the trial?

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