God was completely aware of the hardships imposed upon the Israelites as they served Pharaoh in making bricks. He had a plan and a remedy. His plan was a complete Exodus of Egypt. All the Israelites could see was what they considered their normsl life. They were in bondage. God saw the freedom He wanted them to have.

Is there legitimate groaning in your life? If you are His child, He sees your challenge and hears your heart. He sees the freedom He wants to bring you into. The plagues are only evidence that His plan is in effect.

READ/HEAR: Ex. 5-7

God came to Moses with a specific plan to help the Israelites escape from Egypt. It was a detailed plan and God already knew how Pharaoh would respond to Moses’ request to let the people go. What’s more, God turned the heart of the Egyptians to bless the Israelites with silver and gold to pay for their journey.

as we spend time with God in prayer and bible study, He may come to us with an assignment. Be assured He has already worked out the details and even the provision. Although we may buckle at His request, He already knows that by His grace, we can accomplish it. God, fill us with faith to be obedient.

READ/HEAR: Ex 3,4

When Joseph was forgotten, the Egyptians feared the potential resistance the Hebrews represented. They imposed harsh slavery standards upon them, but the harsher they were, the more the Hebrews reproduced and flourished.

When a Christian goes through tough times, God can cause flourishing and growth that may not come any other way. We should not resist trials as enemies but welcome them as friends.

It’s spiritually beneficial when challenges drive us into God. We qualify for more of Him because His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

READ/HEAR: Gen 50, Exodus 1

To Joseph, Jacob’s blessing described favor way beyond The suffering he had endured. It was as if they were a different person. The rewards he was promised far exceeded the pain of his painful journey.

Regardless of the present hardship we experience, God has the last word on our Fate. In heaven, we will be more than rewarded for any suffering we have done undeserved.

READ/HEAR: Gen. 47-49

Although his journey was difficult and undeserved, Joseph paid a personal price to provide a public redemption for his people, just like Jesus. Joseph ultimately trusted God to work out the details and transform his peril into provision. Jesus also said, “Nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done.”

Joseph revealed himself to his brothers when they were anguished. Jesus likewise revealed Himself to the women at the tomb as they were despairing of His horrible death and departure.

In our trials, Christ also comes to us and reveals Himself as our path to salvation and healing.

There is power in the name of Jesus.

READ/HEAR: Gen. 44,45

Jacob had painfully endured the seeming loss of Joseph. Now, his sons were involved in an arrangement with the leader of Egypt’s resources to purchase precious grain needed for their survival. This purchase required the presence of the last remaining son of his beloved Rachel … Benjamin. He was death against sending Benjamin along. His heart was broken at the thought of losing him.

Father’s also carry a strong affinity to their children. They love and value each one. They don’t want to lose any to the devourer.

The Lord is … longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. [2 Peter 3:9]

READ/HEAR: Gen. 42,43

Joseph had suffered greatly. But, in God’s providence, his sufferings produced a great promotion to be second in the land of Egypt, only a little lower than the Pharaoh.

He could have failed the test at any time through bitterness and retribution. He held on to his integrity and persevered through his trials. God in His sovereignty sent Pharaoh’s butler and baker to him in prison to set in motion the plan of escape and promotion. The gift from God, the ability to interpret dreams, was the key to Joseph’s favor.

Our greatest effort while in trials should be to preserve our integrity through trusting God to redeem us in His time. He will pull us through … if we can stand the pull.

READ/HEAR: Gen. 40, 41

Misunderstood, falsely accused, held as a slave … Joseph endured extreme suffering and mis-characterization in his Egyptian plight. He was, in fact, a fore-runner to Christ’s own experience. Jesus would go on to experience very similar hardships in his journey to be the great Emancipator.

We often whine and complain about the hardships we suffer, usually minuscule  compared to those of both Joseph and Jesus. We should look at the rewards at the end of their journeys and nobly endure as they did.

READ/HEAR: Gen. 38,39

For me, it’s painful to read the story of Jacob hearing that his son Joseph was possibly killed by an animal. I can sense that same grief since I watched my father mourn the loss of my youngest brother to suicide. It’s a pain that no parent should go through.

Of course, we know that Joseph was indeed safe and that God had a plan to use his captivity and suffering from being sold as a slave into Egypt. This was the silver lining.

Resulting from my brother’s death, my sister went on to graduate school to become a counselor to help prevent others from taking their own lives. I, too, have gained a more understanding and empathetic attitude towards those who suffer in life and consider ending it.

We don’t want to see any other parent go through that grief and pain.

READ/HEAR: Gen. 35-37

As he was nearing his homeland destination, Jacob knew Esau was coming to meet him. He feared for his life because he had stolen the birthright and blessing from Esau. In his desperation, he awoke during the night and wrestled with God. It had to be the pre-incarnate Christ. He told Him he would not let Him go until He gave a blessing.

We need this same tenacity in prayer. ASK … ask, seek, knock. God promises He will answer.

READ/HEAR: Gen. 32-34