A leading news magazine poses the question, "Apocalypse Now?" A recent series of natural disasters and political upheavals have many people pondering the biblical message concerning end-times events. And, amidst it all, followers of Christ wonder about future security and safety. This much is certain: God has a record of providing for His people amidst perilous times. Take, for example, Joseph. Betrayed and sold into slavery by his own brothers, his imminent demise proved instead to be God's provision for his family and God's chosen people. And the day came when God's plan and provision was abundantly clear.
"Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?' But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'Please come closer to me.' And they came closer. And he said, 'I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 'Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.'" (Genesis 45:3-8)
It is presumptuous to believe that God will always protect individual believers from harm; Hebrews eleven and the multitude of martyrs down through the ages testify otherwise. But, the collective group of God's people have always been preserved. Holocaust was averted in the times of Queen Esther, and every other genocide that has been plotted against the people of God. And the precedent for the preservation of the people of God began with Joseph and the divinely-inspired plan to survive a seven-year famine.
Acts eleven indicates that God raised up prophets to warn His people of a world-wide famine, much as He provided during similar times through Joseph. These examples should encourage us to know that God will forewarn and prepare His people for any future major cataclysm that would threaten his people.
We live in times of upheaval and change that threaten security and safety. But there is a ring of prophetic significance in them for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. While others are gripped with fear and anxiety, we instead are resolute in faith and hope as we await ultimate deliverance.
Steve
© 2011, Steve Taylor
"Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?' But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'Please come closer to me.' And they came closer. And he said, 'I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 'Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.'" (Genesis 45:3-8)
It is presumptuous to believe that God will always protect individual believers from harm; Hebrews eleven and the multitude of martyrs down through the ages testify otherwise. But, the collective group of God's people have always been preserved. Holocaust was averted in the times of Queen Esther, and every other genocide that has been plotted against the people of God. And the precedent for the preservation of the people of God began with Joseph and the divinely-inspired plan to survive a seven-year famine.
Acts eleven indicates that God raised up prophets to warn His people of a world-wide famine, much as He provided during similar times through Joseph. These examples should encourage us to know that God will forewarn and prepare His people for any future major cataclysm that would threaten his people.
We live in times of upheaval and change that threaten security and safety. But there is a ring of prophetic significance in them for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. While others are gripped with fear and anxiety, we instead are resolute in faith and hope as we await ultimate deliverance.
Steve
© 2011, Steve Taylor
posted by steve @ 9:20 AM
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