PSALMS 105:16-17: “He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply. Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.” NLT
OBSERVATION: Have you ever wondered – “Where is God?” You find yourself facing an extremely difficult situation, it looks like everything is working against you, and it seems like God is silent. You pray, you pour over the Bible, and you feel like you are in a dense fog unable to see the next step you are about to take. In all of this, the truth is…
GOD IS ALWAYS GOING BEFORE YOU!
Whenever we face times of uncertainty, whenever it seems like we are alone, we have God’s Word to remind us that God is always going before us. God gave us His Word for this very reason.
- “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4 NKJV
Psalms 105 is one of these wonderful reminders. It gives us two examples of God’s faithfulness to go before us. The first is the example of Joseph. God always works on the long game. He had made a covenant with Abraham promising him that he would make of his descendants a mighty nation. The Lord knew exactly what it would take to make this happen. It would involve a famine and a relocation to a different land.
In all of this God was always one step ahead. He gave Joseph a vision of his future that would keep Joseph walking in faith, even through the most difficult of trials. And, He allowed Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery and be taken to Egypt.
Joseph’s life is a history of wonderful provision and setbacks. Yet, in all of them, God was always going before him. As Joseph persevered in faith God rescued and elevated him to the position of second in Egypt. When God gave Pharaoh a dream of the coming famine, He also gave Joseph the interpretation and a plan. This plan would prove to be the very provision to bring Jacob and his brothers to the next step of their covenant fulfillment.
As 400 years passed, God’s people multiplied mightily. From dozens, they were now thousands. And, when a new Pharaoh, who did not remember Joseph turned against them, God had already gone before His covenant people to bring them His provision.
- “He sent Moses His servant, And Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed His signs among them, And wonders in the land of Ham.” Psalms 105:26-27 NKJV
God’s plan to rescue Israel began when He sent Joseph. It continued when He moved the hearts of Moses’ mother to hide her child in a basket so her son would not be killed. And, His hand was upon Pharaoh’s daughter when she took him in as her own son and raised him in the courts of Egypt. This happened a full 80 years before God would send Moses and Aaron to lead His people to freedom.
GOD IS ALWAYS GOING BEFORE US!
As I look over my life I can see the hand of God always going before me. The problem I have is remembering His past faithfulness. It seems like the current struggle erases the former acts of His love from my memory. This is why I need to daily feed upon God’s Word. These words were written so that we would never forget and in our times of struggle, we could find hope.
Hope is trusting God for the things we cannot see. Hope is strengthened when we remember the things He has done. When we combine our faith with hope we can walk in confidence, even in the darkest of times. Paul learned this very well and this is why he could confidently say,
- “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.” II Corinthians 1:9-11 NKJV
Lord, as I walk through times of testing and discouragement, may I never forget that You are always going before me! The struggles I face are reminders that I must cast all my cares upon you. As I remember the times you have delivered me, as I walk in Your present grace and experience Your hand of provision, may I also walk in hope knowing that You will yet deliver me from all the challenges I have yet to face. Help me remember…
YOU ARE ALWAYS GOING BEFORE ME!
In Jesus Name!
