Thought for Today -Restoration

Psalm 105:19 "Until the time that his word came; the word of the Lord tried him"(KJV). Then another translation siad, "the Word of the Lord tested him"(NKJV).

We can look at the life of Joseph, God used him greatly. He tested hims first. Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren; and they hate him yet the more(Gensis 37:50 Joseph "dreamed yet another dreamed, and told it to his brethren and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me"(Gen 37:9).

As a teenager Joseph prophesised through the Spirit. He told his father and his brethren about his dreams. His father rebuked him. Also that one day his brothers and father would bow down to him. He question Joseph about the dream. We know how the life of Joseph went. He endured much hardship. Let's take a short journey:
(1)He was sold into slavery by his brothers due to jealously under Sesostris lll in the Middle Kingdom during the Twelfth Dynasty 1878-1843B.C. He arose to the position of Grand Vizier or Prime Minister to the Pharaoh(probably Sesostris ll and Sesostris lll).
(2) He was reconciled to his brothers. Forgiveness is shown here. Would we be able to forgive like Joseph? If not, then we need to understand what the Word of God says about forgiveness.
(3) He invited his entire family to move to Egypt to escape great famine. Agape love is at work in this situation.
(4) Preserved with a shield of protection. The Lord was with him throughout the entire time.
(5) Joseph received a double portion from his father (Genesis 48:8-22).
We can see how he went from slavery to receving a double portion. We have suffered hardships from just being a Christian. We too have shared many of the same experiences as Joseph. We can see deceit,hatred, betrayal, jealousy and disloyal. The key to Joseph's whole life can be expressed in the words the Lord was with him, ahd the Lord made his way prosper in his hands. What the devil meant for evil God got the glory out of it.

When faced trials and temptations we must keep the faith. I began to look over my life and I'm able to identify with Joseph. This is a powerful story found in Genesis of the Holy Bible. In closing look at the spiritual side of the coin. I can see agape love in action then, we see total forgiveness in action. The more I think about the story I can see similar families today. It is my prayer that you would be like Joseph. It's through God's grace and mercy that family can be restored.