Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
No one on earth, in the heavens, in the waters, beneath
the waters or anywhere can stop the plans and purposes of God for and in the
life of a child of God destined to fulfill divine purpose. In a general sense,
every child of God is divinely chosen and destined for to fulfill divine
purpose. However, some children of God derail the process by their actions. Some
biblical examples include the priesthood of Eli, the royalty of Saul’s lineage,
Samson’s indiscipline which cut short his life.
On the other hand, people like the biblical Joseph,
Daniel, Esther, Mordecai, Nehemiah, Ezra, the prophet Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah
and a number of other prophets and prophetesses fulfilled divine purposes despite the supposedly roadblocks,
obstruction and loopholes which the enemy and his cohorts put in their
pathways. Joseph’s older brothers for instance first attempted to kill him but
when Reuben intervened, they shelved the idea but as soon as Reuben was out of
earshot and eyesight, they sold Joseph to a caravan of Midianite traders who passed
by their way. Beloved, it is significant to note that the brothers of Joseph
did this so that they could stop the actualization of Joseph’s dreams. Please take
note of verses 18 to 21 of Genesis Chapter 37. God working through Reuben
stopped them from killing Joseph and God
also working through Judah made them sell Joseph to the traders who in turn
sold him off to at Egypt; and significantly to Potiphar.
The critical question then is why did the Midianite
traders sell him off at Egypt and to Potiphar and not anywhere else or anyone
else? The answer is simple – they were helping to serve divine purpose thinking
that they were doing regular business.
God is awesome. He had all these arranged before the
foundation of the world. Judah simply made the suggestion to sell while the
Midianite traders conveyed Joseph to Egypt and Potiphar; while Potiphar’s wife
played another key role. She lusted after Joseph and when Joseph refused to
play her sinful games, she lied against Joseph and Joseph was thrown into
prison; significantly, the same prison where Pharaoh also imprisoned his
personal staff.
Talk about divine arrangement. Joseph had neither
family nor friends in Egypt but God raised people for him. Potiphar; the keeper
of the prison, and later the butler of Pharaoh for whom Joseph interpreted his
dream were connecting dots to Joseph’s greatness. The stage was set for Joseph
to meet with Pharaoh so that his dreams which his brothers tried to frustrate
by selling him off would come to pass. God is great. It was not long that the divine
encounter between Joseph and Pharaoh took place. Pharaoh was in great need of an
answer of peace which God had prepared in the heart of Joseph and was only
awaiting expression at the right time, the right place and the right people who
would reward Joseph handsomely and place him where God had ordained for him
from the foundation of the world.
God’s plans and purpose cannot be changed. Right in
Egypt, where it was assumed that Joseph would end up his life in prison, Joseph
emerged the global citizen and leader God had ordained him to be. Is God not
wonderful? Will He always do the miraculous; the seemingly impossible where it is
always assumed that nothing will work out?
Beloved, God loves you, cares about you and has your
highest good in His mind at all times. Therefore, do not give up because God
will help you to succeed and fulfill divine purpose not by might nor by power
but by His Spirit. Shalom.
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