How Does God’s Word Test Us?

Ps. 105:19:  Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him (Joseph).

 

Does Having to Stay Home Make You Feel Like You are in Prison?

You might feel imprisoned, for you can’t go about your normal everyday activities and have “in-person” interactions with others.  The Bible story about Joseph can help us during this pandemic.  He was unjustly put in prison.  At least our “prisons” are our own homes.

Maybe You Feel Like You Are Being Stretched to Your Limit.

Many people feel stressed and tested to their limits.  We have been stuck at home for over a month, and we don’t know when the shut-down from the Coronovirus will end.

We are feeling antsy – wanting to get out to do things with other people.  We can’t even visit our extended family members and church friends.  I really miss being with my grandkids.  And our church services are limited to being online.  As a teacher in children’s ministry, I’m wishing I could be with those little people again.  I know you are missing people too.

Parents are struggling, trying to help their children focus on their school work at home, often while trying to put in a full day’s work from home themselves.  Or they are juggling household duties while trying to support children who are going through loneliness and fear.  Dealing with loss of income adds emotional pressure also.

Reaching Your Limit Opens the Door for God to Accomplish His Purposes.

We may be reading the promises in God’s Word concerning His blessings and provision.  We are reaching out in faith for receiving those promises.  But there is a process in getting to the blessings.   God stretches us.  The process is hard.  We want to just get quickly to the blessings, don’t we?

Look at What Happened to Joseph.

Through dreams, God revealed promises of great blessings to Joseph when he was young  This was God’s personal revelation that he would become a great leader and that even his family members would bow down to him.

Now maybe Joseph thought all that would happen quickly.  He unwisely told his ten older brothers about what God had shown him.  His brothers were already jealous of him, for his father treated Joseph preferentially.  Now they were really angry.  They did not believe that his dreams were a “word from the Lord.”

This all led to Joseph being sold as a slave by his brothers.  He was taken far away to Egypt.  Because he was trustworthy and a diligent worker, he rose to leadership in his master Potiphar’s household and business.  He wasn’t treated as a slave.

Maybe he thought this was the fulfillment of the promise that the word of the Lord had revealed to him.

But that wasn’t to be.  His master’s wife trapped him, trying to get him to commit sexual sin with her.  He wouldn’t, so she became angry and lied about him, saying that he had attacked her.  Potiphar had him thrown into prison.

We don’t know how long Joseph stayed in prison, probably wondering if he had been mistaken about what the Lord had shown him in his youth.  Psalm 105:19 reveals that Joseph was being tested by the word of the Lord.   He knew what was promised, but he didn’t see how it could ever be fulfilled.

However, Joseph stayed faithful in his relationship with God, trusting that God was at work, even though he was stuck in a prison cell.  He even did his best to serve God and others while he was in that wretched place.

Are We Believing and Serving While in Our Prison?

We could just give up on seeing God answer our prayers for the end of COVID-19 and for a restoration of our ability to get back together with people who are important to us. We could become frustrated and angry.  God’s word is testing us.  Will we believe it?

On the other hand, we could use this time to spend more time with God, having daily devotions and prayer.  We can read Christian books and listen to Christian radio stations.  We can put on some praise music and worship.  God has given us this time aside from the normal rush of life to work on our spiritual growth.

And we can serve others in our household, and possibly our neighbors as well.  We can communicate with Zoom, social media, texts, phone calls, emails, and sending cards, in order to encourage one another.  If we have an income, we can give donations to help those who are suffering.

Some people are sewing masks to give to others.  Some are picking up groceries and prescriptions for those who are more at risk and should avoid stores.  Others have formed Facebook groups to encourage each other and share prayer requests.  Some have found ways to volunteer in their communities.

Many parents are bonding with their children,  They have more time together and need to help them with school work.  Families are playing board games, doing puzzles, and reading together.

Look for the good in this whole situation and count your blessings.

Joseph Eventually Got His Promised Blessings

I won’t recount the rest of Joseph’s story here.  You can read it in Genesis 41 – 50.  He became the second in command in the country of Egypt.  This happened because God gave him an interpretation of the Pharoah’s strange dream and received a word from the Lord for Pharoah – a word of wisdom that would save thousands of people from starvation.

During his prison time he was being tested through suffering in order that he would be prepared for that time when he would hear God’s message to Pharoah and deliver it.  Keeping his relationship with God strong enabled him to hear God’s revelation.

And yes, his family eventually did bow down to him.  That did not make him proud or vengeful.  But it did reveal that he had truly heard from God as a youth.

It took Joseph a long time to see the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Spiritual growth was necessary first. Just as it is necessary for us!

Maybe we should be thankful for the Coronavirus.

Please share your experience with us in the comments below.