God does not always prevent pain and suffering in our lives, but He does promise to protect and sustain us.
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Today we search for God’s great rescue plan in Joseph’s story of injustice, indenturement, and incarceration. Joseph had to endure great pain before he experienced the fulfillment of God’s promises. Despite the frailty and failures of others, Joseph remained faithful to God and eventually saved the people who sold him into slavery. Although God does not always prevent pain and suffering in our lives, He does promise to protect and sustain us.
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Today’s Name of God: El Shaddai - God Almighty, the All-Sufficient One
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The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

God is able to triumph over every obstacle and all opposition—because He is El Shaddai (Ĕl Shăʹ·dī).

The very best definition of El Shaddai I could find is, "one mighty and all-powerful who nourishes, supplies, satisfies (like a mother’s milk) and sustains us through life’s trials."
 
El Shaddai is the one we run to when we are at the end of our resources.

The more we are emptied by the injustices of life, the more room we have to be filled by El Shaddai.
Day 4: God Rescues Joseph from Injustice
Today’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 37:23-28 ESV {Read Online}
I wish this was an easier story to tell.

Sadly, there were years of unexplainable suffering sandwiched in between Joseph’s time in the pit and his reign as second in command over all of Egypt.

Here is a brief background and overview of Joseph’s life:

▪ Joseph was the grandson of Abraham’s son Isaac (Matt. 1:2).
▪ He was Jacob (Israel) and Rachel's firstborn son (Gen. 35:24).
▪ A beloved and favored son of his father (Gen. 37:3)
▪ Endured jealousy and hatred of his siblings (Gen. 37:4).
▪ Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt (Gen. 37:28).
▪ He found favor in his master’s household (Gen. 39:4).
▪ Was falsely accused by his master’s lustful wife (Gen. 39:19-20).
▪ Unjustly imprisoned, yet kind to his fellow inmates (Gen. 40:14).
▪ Forgotten in prison for two years (Gen. 41:9).
▪ Joseph is restored and enters into service of Pharaoh (Gen. 41:39-40).
▪ He saves his whole family/nation from certain death (Gen. 47: 25).

God rescued a whole nation by sending one man into slavery. To fulfill His promise to His people, God allowed Joseph to suffer injustice after injustice.
Through it all, Joseph remained a committed servant of the Lord, and his life testifies to God’s faithfulness in the midst of unspeakable pain.

Why did God allow such terrible things to happen to Joseph?

Although I cannot know for certain, I do see evidence of God’s great work of preparation in Joseph’s heart.

Enabling him to walk humbly.
Teaching him to serve.
Equipping him to forgive.
With God’s help, Joseph rejected the bitterness that threatened to swallow him whole and embraced the beauty of forgiveness and restoration.

Joseph’s life is a powerful demonstration of El Shaddai’s ability to use injustice to shape His servants into usable vessels for His glory. {Click to Tweet}
Our Response to Joseph's Story

What is the source of your satisfaction?

Your circumstances?
Your loved ones?
Your achievements?

What if, like Joseph, all of those things were unjustly removed from your life?

God fulfilled His purpose for Joseph because He is the all-sufficient One. Everything meant for harm was used by God for good (Gen. 50:19-21).

El Shaddai’s power is perfected in human weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-10) and when all else is taken from us, we still have God.

He is sufficient.
He is enough.

He will sustain us and work in us for our good and His glory.

Your Bible Study Partner,
Sarah Koontz
LivingbyDesign.org

Yesterday's E-mail: God Rescues Abraham
Tomorrow's Text: Exodus 3:7-14
Going Deeper Guide: Download Week 1

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When my mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I fell apart emotionally and spiritually. My spiritual pulse flatlined. I lost all desire to pray or read my Bible. I fell into a pit of spiritual lethargy and apathy. And yet, as is often the case with the work of God, tiny green shoots sprung up from the dark soil of hardship. There’s a surprising benefit to losing hope. {Read the Article}
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