Friday, February 3, 2012

How God Shapes a Life

Read Genesis 36-37.

One of the things we learn from chapter 36 is that Esau's descendants became known as the Edomites.  They will be mentioned many times later in the unfolding story as the oppose the descendants of Jacob until God declares their end by the prophet Obadiah.

Rachel died in chapter 35 as she gave birth to Benjamin, the last of Jacob's 12 sons.  Jacob always loved Rachel, therefore the boys to whom she gave birth were treated with special care and concern above the other half-brothers.  Joseph was even given a special robe by his father to indicate this.  The robe's description translated "many colors" is understood elsewhere as having long sleeves.  The point is that everyone could see him coming.   It is no wonder that in this patriarchal culture that jealousy and even hatred developed among the siblings.

Joseph's own immaturity and misuse of what God gave him brought the hatred to a head.  God gave him a dreams of his future and even he probably did not understand its full implications, but his brothers and his father sure did.  This good thing was received as full of pride from the "fair haired boy".  The brothers had had enough.  As an alternative to killing their brother, Joseph is sold as a slave to Egypt. The rest of the story of Genesis begins to unfold and center on what happens to Joseph.

God is not going to change His mind, nor His plans for Joseph's life.  He is going to change Joseph.  It is through those times of brokenness and suffering that Joseph character will be shaped and he will learn humility.  Only then will he be ready as a usable vessel for what God has in mind to change and develop at least two nations and world history.

I am sure Joseph must have asked a thousand times, "Why did God give me those dreams?"  Why could not I have resolved my maturity and character issues where I was?"  "How long must I endure mistreatment and such injustice?"  "Where is God in all this?"

Isaiah, the prophet, describes God as a potter and we as His clay. 
1. The clay belongs to the potter.  He can do what he wants with his own property.
2. The shape, design, and purposed future use of the molded clay is the plan of the potter.
3. The timing of the work on the clay is the decision of the potter.
4. The place where the vessel will be and used is at the discretion of the potter.
5. The admiration for the finished product by others goes to the potter, never to the clay.

The take away is that we are in Good Hands as the Potter shapes us and uses us for His glory.  That is what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

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