Hope for Life amid Death
They took Joseph's robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father.
GENESIS 37:31-32
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Hope for Life amid Death
God humbles those who are His to exalt them; He kills them to make them alive; He confounds them to glorify them; He makes them subject to raise them up. . .. For what is stated in Psalm 105:21 is true: "The Lord appointed Joseph king of Egypt and lord and savior of many." How? By having him sold, cast off, killed. These are works of God which are not understood unless they are fulfilled and completed. In the meantime, however, while they are being carried out, they cannot be grasped except by faith alone. For it is necessary simply to hold fast to this: "I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, etc." . . . These matters, then, have been written for our instruction (cf. Romans 15:4), that we may learn to understand and exercise this faith which can bear death and all evils and yet in the midst of these can hope for life and rescue, which endures the violence and wrongs of others, although for duty's sake it severely rebukes and reproves them; which for all that hates no one but pardons gladly, prays, hopes, wishes, and does good without desire of vengeance. We see this clearly in the example of Joseph, who does not remember the wrongs done to him and is not desirous of vengeance but does good to the basest of murderers who sold him.
GENESIS 37:31-32
+
Hope for Life amid Death
God humbles those who are His to exalt them; He kills them to make them alive; He confounds them to glorify them; He makes them subject to raise them up. . .. For what is stated in Psalm 105:21 is true: "The Lord appointed Joseph king of Egypt and lord and savior of many." How? By having him sold, cast off, killed. These are works of God which are not understood unless they are fulfilled and completed. In the meantime, however, while they are being carried out, they cannot be grasped except by faith alone. For it is necessary simply to hold fast to this: "I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, etc." . . . These matters, then, have been written for our instruction (cf. Romans 15:4), that we may learn to understand and exercise this faith which can bear death and all evils and yet in the midst of these can hope for life and rescue, which endures the violence and wrongs of others, although for duty's sake it severely rebukes and reproves them; which for all that hates no one but pardons gladly, prays, hopes, wishes, and does good without desire of vengeance. We see this clearly in the example of Joseph, who does not remember the wrongs done to him and is not desirous of vengeance but does good to the basest of murderers who sold him.
Posted in Daily Devotions
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