Today we continue our series entitled, “Faith and Patience Volume IV — The Wonder Twins.” I am using Joseph as an excellent example of our need for patience. We are seeking to learn from the different phases of Joseph’s life. Let’s get into it.
(James 1:2-4 TPT)
2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!
3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things.
4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1 ERV)
There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time.
(We will cover Gen 45:21-26 today)
Setting the stage:
This series is about perseverance. It is about adding patience to your faith, to the point where you can hold on long enough to see what God said come to pass. In the story of Joseph, we have looked at the pain he went through and the patience he developed along the way. We also looked at the 10 brothers who betrayed him and how Joseph chose to bless them instead of getting revenge towards them when he was clearly in the position to do so. We then looked at Benjamin. He had nothing to do with Joseph’s disappearance, and he lived for 22 years, thinking that his brother was dead. Today we will look at Jacob. He was the father of these 12 men, and when he heard that Joseph was still alive, it was almost too hard to believe. It seemed too good to be true. Let’s get into today’s passage.
By this point in the story, Joseph and Pharaoh had both promised Joseph’s family the best land in Egypt. All the boys had to do was to go home to get their father and their families. Although the brothers came to Egypt on donkeys, Joseph and Pharaoh sent them back on royal wagons and chariots. The brothers were given new clothes. Benjamin was given five new outfits and 300 pieces of silver (favor ain’t fair). Joseph also sent 10 donkeys loaded with the best gifts Egypt had to offer to his father and another 10 donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other food for the return trip.
When the men arrived in Canaan, they told their father that Joseph was still alive and that he was the ruler of Egypt. Their father was so surprised that he could not believe them (v.26). The Bible actually says that “he could not believe it.” His favorite son, the one that he thought was dead, the one that he had not seen in 22 years, the firstborn of the woman he loved the most, Joseph, was still alive!
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. When your breakthrough comes, it will seem almost too hard to believe.
When Jacob was told that his long lost son, the one he loved, the one he thought was dead, was actually still alive, it was too much for him to digest. It was almost too good to be true. To make a good story even more incredible, his sons told him that Joseph was not only alive but that he was now the ruler of Egypt.
This was too much for Jacob to process and too much for him to believe. Unfortunately, that is the way that many of us are today.
— When a pastor/preacher gets up and declares the Word of the Lord through a prophetic utterance, many Christians refuse to apply the Word to their lives because they simply do not believe.
— They cannot seem to grasp the reality that something so wonderful is God’s will for them.
— The sad part is that while they remain in unbelief, God is not free to do what He wants to do in their lives. God is only limited by your capacity to believe.
— If you can’t believe it, you will never receive it. I pray this series is helping you to expand your capacity to believe God.
2. There will come a day when God exceeds your greatest expectations.
After 22 years of being disconnected as a family, and after Joseph spent 13 of those 22 years in tremendous struggle and pain, the family reunion came. When it did, it was greater than any of them could imagine.
Paul said, “Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” (Eph 3:20 TPT).
When Jacob was told that Joseph was still alive, the Bible says that “he could not believe it.” It was not until he went outside and saw the wagons, chariots, animals, and food that Joseph had sent for him that he was able to expand his capacity to believe and OPEN his heart to God’s blessing. Looking at all the evidence, he said, “Now I can believe you! My son Joseph must really be alive, and I will get to see him before I die.” It was one of those, “Almost too good to be true” moments.
That day came for Jacob and his family. That day will also come for you. GREATER IS COMING! Keep believing!
3. Your work is to believe God.
In the New Testament, one day, the disciples asked Jesus this question, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28,29).
We are called believers for a reason. Our work is to believe.
Jacob had a hard time believing God’s blessing. He refused to believe until he saw, with his own eyes, all the stuff Joseph had sent for him from Egypt. Unfortunately, many Christians are like this today. They refuse to believe God until they SEE something. This is how Thomas was after Jesus’ resurrection. He refused to believe until he saw Jesus with his own eyes. When he did, he believed. Jesus said, “Thomas, you believe because you see. More blessed are those who believe without seeing.” Don’t be like Jacob and Thomas. Don’t require God to show you something before you believe. If you can see it, then you don’t need faith. Our job is to believe without seeing it!
— God does not think like you. His desire for your life will far exceed your imagination. If you are not OPEN to believe it, you may never receive God’s best.
— What’s seemingly impossible for you is easily doable for God.
— Open your heart to believe on God’s level!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I expand my capacity to believe You. I no longer make statements like, “I cannot believe that.” I know there is nothing impossible for You. I take every limit off of You, Lord. You are a limitless God. I know You can do far beyond anything I can imagine. So I keep my heart OPEN to whatever You want to do and however, You want to do it. No matter HOW HUGE IT SEEMS, I BELIEVE GOD! And I boldly declare that GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
