Mentoring Manna:  The Word of the Lord tested him

© 2003 Pastor Keith Hassell

MM00009

The word of the Lord tested him: Psalm 105:17-19  “He sent a man before them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons.  Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.”  Joseph was a man who had two dreams that confirmed the Lord’s will for his life to rule over his family.  However, from the time he voiced these dreams, everything seemed to go in the opposite direction.  Have you ever received a promise from God only to see what seems to be the opposite take place?  I know I have.  Before you begin to believe that the promises of God are not true or that God really doesn’t care, consider the life of Joseph.  Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. He was falsely accused of trying to commit adultery with his master’s wife.  He was thrown into prison.  He interpreted the butlers’ dream and asked him not to forget him when he got out.  He was forgotten again.  Two years later Pharaoh had a dream which caused the butler to mention Joseph.  Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and gave him a plan to save the people in a time of drought.  Joseph was promoted to second in command over the land of Egypt.  Later during the famine his brothers came and, as the dream prophesied, they bowed down before him to request food for their household in Canaan.  Still hurt by the betrayal of his brothers, he sought to find out if things had really changed.  Eventually Joseph was convinced and revealed himself to them.  He and his family were reunited. The promise came true but Joseph was a different man than when he first received the dream.  God tested Joseph in order to prepare him to inherit the promise.  “Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.”  Although I am sure that Joseph had many unanswered questions, times of discouragement, fears, anxieties, temptations with doubts, and struggles with hurt, disappointment and unforgiveness, yet he remained true to the Lord and passed every test---even though there was no evidence at the time that it would ever matter. Does it seem that everything contrary to the promise is taking place in your life?  It may be that until the word of the Lord comes to pass in your life, the very word or promise you received will take you through a season of testing.  God is preparing us to inherit the promise.  Like Joseph, don’t be surprised if that season lasts several years. We must keep our eyes on Jesus who also endured great suffering lest we “become weary and discouraged in our souls” (Hebrews 12:3)  In high school or college the promise of a diploma may be years away with many tests in between.  But the diploma is sure if we will not quit, pass the tests, and meet the requirements.  Determine in your heart to endure.  Don’t judge God unfair based on the classes He requires you to take.  Joseph didn’t.  Whatever classes and tests you are given are part of the preparation needed to fulfill your unique role in the kingdom of God.  Don’t drop out!  Determine to pass every test that comes your way.  God’s promise is ON THE WAY!!!  “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:35-36)

Application:  Learn from the life of Joseph.  God is faithful to keep His promises.  But God is after more than giving His children promises, He wants mature sons and daughters who can handle those promises.  God is a good Father who knows how to raise His children.  Trust Him even when your question of “Why, Lord?” is only given the answer, “Because I said so,” or “You will understand later.”  Sometimes we cannot understand the reason.  But God our Father knows what we need.   One day we will say, “Thank You, Father! Now I understand!”

Prayer:  “Father, I ask You to give Your children endurance so that they might do the will of God in every test they face.  May they count You faithful to keep your promises and trust You through the process of testing.  In the end may they receive both the promise and the maturity to walk in it.  This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

We love you!

Pastors Keith & Sheila

Grace Fellowship

P.O. Box 260

Rusk, Texas 75785

(903) 683-6550