Upon discovering Joseph’s identity, his brothers feared for their lives because they had sold him into slavery years before. Joseph’s assuring response to them: God is sovereign! “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, FOR GOD SENT ME BEFORE YOU TO PRESERVE LIFE” (Genesis 45:4-5). And at the close of Genesis, when his brothers fear again because their father has died, Joseph reiterates, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:19-20).
Psalm 19 Do I believe this about the Scriptures? Do you? “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold” (Psalm 19:10).
Psalm 22 The end-goal of gospel missions— pray and labor for this! “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:27-28).
Matthew 9 Psalm 22:27-28 connects here. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). Lord, grant to us at Rocky that such praying prevails and such laborers are raised up from among us!
Acts God’s choice on us does not preclude suffering. “[Saul] is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:15-16).
Acts Church Growth in 9:31-- “And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, [the church] multiplied.”
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