Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":
Two men nearly 700 years apart, both were officially highly honored of heaven. Yet both “officially” were dishonored by their fellow men, yes, virtually “cursed.”
As a child, Joseph was honored with heaven’s gift of prophecy; yet even his own father Jacob would not recognize the gift. Joseph’s lot—to endure the most horrible violent rejection a boy could experience—sold by big brothers as a lifelong slave into darkest Egypt.
As a child, by God’s appointment David was anointed king of Israel; yet he had to suffer the most bitter hatred of the “officially” “anointed” King Saul, who reigned 40 years.
There was a third Child who at the age of 12 surrendered Himself to be the “Lamb of God,” yet suffered the most horrible rejection that God’s people could think to inflict upon Him—a Cross.
What can we learn from these stories?
(1) The more highly Heaven honors a person, the more bitter is the “official” hatred he is called to endure from people—even the ones who say they are God’s people. In Joseph’s case, it was the ten sons of Jacob, Israel, sons of the true “Israel,” who “cursed” him with slavery in Egypt. (But the Lord delivered him from their curse!)
(2) In the case of David, Samuel the prophet anointed him; yet he had to endure decades of hatred from the officially “anointed” king of Israel.
(3) The Lord does not choose to exempt us from suffering; rather, He chooses to sustain us in it. He blessed Joseph in Potiphar’s house, then He blessed Him in Egypt’s royal jail, then at last He exalted him to be prime minister of the world.
(4) “Trust in the Lord, and do good: so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed” (Psalm 37:4, KJV). The Lord will watch you closely every day; and it’s your job to let your soul be reconciled to God: “Delight thyself in the Lord,” the text says next; when it seems on the surface that God has abandoned you to be despised and rejected, grasp the truth of the atonement of Christ and believe it; “and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
(5) When the Lord had caused Joseph to “forget” his losses and sufferings, then blessed relief came in the form of love and marriage to the right woman (cf. Gen. 41:50, 51).
Neither Joseph nor David can’t save any of us—but Jesus saves. You have something to do in your salvation: surrender your heart to believe in Him.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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