Thursday, May 27, 2010

"The Will Of God"

"And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison." Genesis 39:20

When we think about being in God's will, we usually think about being some place "good". We think that being in God's will means we are in a place of prosperity, acclaim, ministry, position, etc. When we look at the life of Joseph, most think that the place of God's will for him was the palace in Egypt. It was. The palace was the place where God was taking Joseph so that he could fulfill his destiny as the deliverer and protector of God's people. But the palace was not the only place of God's will in Joseph's life.

When Joseph was in Potiphar's house, he was in God's will. When he was in the prison, he was in God's will. I am sure that Joseph never thought that he was in the middle of God's will while he was sitting in prison. That isn't what our idea of God's will is. We define God's will, like we said, as always meaning something good. The prison and slavery to Potiphar was not "good".

God's will doesn't always mean warm, sunny days. It doesn't always mean we will have abundance. It doesn't always mean being in places that are like heaven on earth. It often means suffering, pain, affliction, periods of darkness, conflicts, valleys, deserts and uncomfortable places. When Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by the devil, He was right in the middle of God's will- it was the Spirit of God who led Him there. When He hung on the cross, He certainly was in the will of God. When David faced Goliath on the battlefield, he was in the will of God. When Joshua marched around Jericho, he was in the will of God. When Moses had to climb the mountain, that was also the will of God. When Paul sat in prison, he was in the will of God.

The will of God is not always the "palace places" like we think. You may being going through a difficult time right now. You may be struggling to get out of it. You may be "rebuking the darkness" but nothing is happening- it isn't changing. Sometimes the difficulties we face are an attack of the enemy. But not always. Sometimes the fire is God' will- so that we might be refined and purified. Sometimes the chastening rod is God's will- so that we might experience His loving correction. Sometimes the battle is God's will- so that we might become strong and courageous. Sometimes the solitude is God's will- so that we might learn His voice. Sometimes the affliction is God's will- so that we might learn to praise Him. Sometimes the trial is God's will- so that our faith will grow and we will learn to trust Him. Sometimes the valley is God's will- so that we might learn how to rest in Him.

Have a great day. The will of God is not always the "palace place" like we think it is, it might be just the opposite.

For further reading:
Psalm 119:71
Psalm 23
Hebrews 11:36-39; 12:5-7; 5:8
Matthew 4:1; 26:39

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