Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

John 19:11

In my words, “God’s plan supersedes any plan for evil but does not justify the evil doer’s self serving motives or judgements.”

During the Israelites 40 year jaunt in the desert God commanded Moses to divide up the land and appoint tribal leaders. He told Moses to pick respected and wise men who would hear and settle disputes fairly.

And I charged your judges at that time: Hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly, whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them and an alien. Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God.

A fact is that the Israelites weren’t always slaves to Egypt. Remember Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and he was taken back to Egypt. After many years of being enslaved, imprisoned, and working hard He was promoted to be second in command next to Pharaoh. He was given Pharaoh’s signet ring and he ruled with great authority and power.

God used Joseph to become a world leader and to rule Egypt with God’s wisdom. He saw a famine coming on the land and was able to help Egypt survive, and also rescue his father, his brother and their families. Through it all God received the glory.

Joseph and the Famine: The Story’s Origins in Egyptian History  (1917 B.C.) During the reign of Pharaoh Siptah, Egypt had a powerful vizier from the Levant named Baya, who dominated even the Pharaoh. Archaeological records and climatological studies show that this was right in the middle of a lengthy famine that effected the entire Mediterranean.

Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.  

Genesis 50:15-26

When Jacob his father died his brothers were afraid that Joseph would execute revenge on them, but he didn’t. He took care of his family and was kind to them. His family and his brothers were blessed, even after Joseph died.

Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees.

 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” 

Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

Moses leads the children of Israel out of Egypt and they are in the promised land they have been traveling and going around the hill country of Seir. They had already been chased by hornets and run out of a territory, because they didn’t listen to what God had told them.

As they are moving around the hill country God tells them they are getting ready to pass through Seir (modern day Syria) and the inhabitants will be afraid of them. This is also the land that was given to Esau, Jacob’s brother, who was Joseph’s uncle. His descendants were still there. The Lord said,

Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own. You are to pay them in sliver for the food you eat and the water you drink.

Deuteronomy 2:5

God has specific reasons and purposes for placing us in the lands, the jobs, the situations we find ourselves in.

No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and evil will not deliver those who practice it.

Ecclesiastes 8:8

If anyone thinks God is out of control of our world, country, state, city or individual I would ask you how to dispute the words of Jesus Himself.

No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

John 10:18

We are certainly living in times where authorities are being challenged, questioned, and morality is relevant to own personal interpretation.

As a disciple of Jesus is your faith is being tried? Are you truly being persecuted in your circumstances? Is someone beating you and trying to get you to deny that Jesus is who He says that He is?

Whose sins are greater? Let us pursue our first love, the author and finisher of our faith and remain steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let our authority be of God, and in that let our relationship be one with Him, in that we know and can rest knowing that His authority is the one that will be final and eternal.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians

For the glory of the Father,

Marlene
Cinderella Released Ministries
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