Understanding the Will of God

Understanding the Will of God

Genesis 45:5 “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.”

We are well aware about Joseph’s life and the various incidents through which God took him through. Joseph could understand that it was the Will of God through it all. In our lives we may go through hardships or uncertain situations but we need to realize and know that it is the Will of God. God gave dreams and visions to Joseph about thrones and his future but he even ended up in a pit which was quite opposite to the reality. Questions might have risen in his mind if it was really God who gave him those visions but he could understand God’s plan. Similarly, our lives will have challenges and struggles which will put us in doubt and fear over what is happening. When we have faith, we can clearly see that it is the Lord’s doing in our lives. When we understand this, our God is able to fulfill what he has planned for us. So today, let us meditate on how to know or understand the Will of God.

Our God – He preserves

Genesis 45:5 “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.”

In the above verse, it is clear that Joseph understood the Will of God in his life towards the end but his brothers could not. They were angry with themselves and grieved because of what they did to their brother Joseph. But God allowed this in order for their lives to be preserved. We may have a troubled past, be grieved and angry with ourselves because of our actions. We need to realize it is the Lord’s doing and that God works out all things for our good in the end. God can turn around even bad consequences into goodness in our lives. Genesis 45:6 “For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.” We know from this verse that God was preparing Joseph to preserve his family in the famine days. When they were in the center of God’s will, they did not perish in the famine. Genesis 37:4 “And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” In this verse, we see that Joseph’s father loved him more than his other sons. This led to anger and hatred towards Joseph. What his brothers had done to him out of anger and hate, God turned it around for his good as he committed his life to God. God changed those who carried hate and offense.  When we commit our lives, God will preserve us and our family as well. God will turn others hate and anger into a blessing for our good. As the verse II Corinthians 1:10 says “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;” amidst all situations we need to confess He has delivered us, He still delivers us and He will deliver us.

Our God – He sends ahead

Genesis 45:7 “And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”

Here we see how God sent Joseph ahead to Egypt with a plan to preserve and deliver his family from famine later and provide good for them. God did not reveal this plan before to his father Jacob or him but had a grand plan. He was sent ahead to preserve his generations and to be a help for his children. When Joseph was sold, he did not know that he was going to be a blessing to multitudes. Likewise, God does not reveal his plans to us but prepares us beforehand for a blessing. He has called us to preserve the souls that are perishing. Acts 8:26 “ And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.” In this verse, we see Philip obeying God’s word and starting his journey not knowing where or why he is going without questioning God. In Acts 8:38,39 “38. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” “39. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” we see Philip fulfilling the plan of God by saving the Eunuch from desturdction and went on his way rejoicing. Similarly, we are called to fulfill the plan of God by saving the souls which are perishing. We need to experience the joy in God’s word and spread it to others just as Philip did. He sends us ahead in  order to do good, to preserve and save others’ lives and to comfort the perishing souls.

Our God – He is All knowing

Genesis 45:8 “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

In the above verse, we read Joseph acknowledging that it was God who led him through various paths in the end. As humans, we know about a situation only after it has happened but our God is All knowing – He knows everything. Many times we will not have answers to the question “Why”. But even if God leads us in ways we do not understand, we ought to trust Him and walk boldly through it just like Joseph. He was lead through the unknown to receive the throne. Also, in our lives, many times we are confused about the way God works in our lives and have no understanding about his plans. But as said in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Everything will work for our good to us who are called according to His purpose. He will be with us and hold our hands and guide us through paths we do not understand.

Genesis 45:10 “And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:” Goshen means a higher place. God had already prepared this place for the descendants of Jacob but chose Joseph’s life to bring this to pass. Joseph understood this Will of God clearly. As Children of God, we need to realize that the rough paths in our life are for us to reach a higher place. This is possible only when we know the Will of God and are at the center of His Will.