Jesus revealed a profound truth about God’s ways: “many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Matthew 19:30). He further illustrated through the parable about the workers in the vineyard God’s heart of grace; that He sees fit to pay the last first; and equal as those who work more. He gave substance to the truth revealed inIsaiah 55:8-9.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
RELEVANCE
The Bible records a story about how Joseph was scorned by his older brothers, thrown in a pit to die then sold off as a slave. In Egyptthe LORD was with him and made all he did to prosper. In maintaining integrity he suffered there but later experienced God’s grace. He advanced and ultimately was made ruler by Pharaoh in Egypt. Years later God further honored him through his father, Jacob, who gave him a double portion of blessing. Of all the twelve tribes of Israel Joseph’s was distinguished. The families of his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, would be blessed with a special heritage inIsrael.
Shedding more light on God’s nature to have grace and bestow great blessing, it must be noted that Joseph’s mother, Rachel, also suffered in the shadow of her older sister, Leah, who bore four sons while the barren womb of Rachel caused her much pain and sorrow. From that barren womb, however, God would see to it that her offspring would ultimately become the most blessed and fruitful tribe of Jacob’s twelve sons.
Truly, God works for good what takes us through difficult paths, pain and suffering. It’s how God uses bad things to strengthen us and position us for His greater purposes and blessings. In His grace, sometimes we have to “take root downward” before we will “bear fruit upward” (Isaiah 37:31).
REFLECT AND RELATE
How can you see God bringing you through paths of grace to reveal His greater glory?
REFERENCES
Genesis 37-50