Preserving Lives

Preserving Lives

The Essence of Your Chariot
God told Isaac not to go to Egypt, but to stay in the land of the Philistines where he was, irrespective of the famine in the land. And the Bible says in that same year of famine, Isaac reaped a hundred-fold (Genesis 26). When you discover that your office or the company where you work is having financial difficulties, pray for its prosperity, for in its prosperity, you will also prosper. This is the same thing God told the children of Israel when they were exiled in a strange land (Jeremiah 29:7).

Can God trust you to preserve the lives of those you come in contact with in your chariot of life? Look at the man Joseph; he had dreams as a kid, he saw the sun, the moon and eleven stars bow down before him and he told his family about it. The Bible says that Jacob his father thought about those things and kept them in his heart. Then one day, he asked Joseph, “Do you really mean that your mother, your eleven brothers and I will bow down before you?”

His brothers hated him because of his dreams and the preference their father had for him. Then one day, his father sent him to inquire of the welfare of his brothers in the field. When he found them, they seized him and wanted to kill him but later changed their minds and sold him to a band of travellers. These travellers then sold him to an Egyptian named Potiphar. Joseph became Potiphar’s slave, but God was with him (Genesis 37-39).

This is why you must not be anxious about what happens to you in this world. God is a master strategist and He is with you. After they sold Joseph, things went really bad for him. He was sold to Potiphar, who made him the governor of his own house. One day Potiphar’s wife attempted to sleep with Joseph but he fled for his life. Potiphar’s wife, being grieved, lied against Joseph, accusing him of attempted rape and this landed Joseph in prison. And though he spent thirteen long years in the dark, he held on to God.

Don’t worry if someone lies against you, God is still in charge and He will ensure that everything works out for your good. Joseph trusted in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And in that dark place God gave him a supernatural gift of understanding and interpretation of dreams. The king’s baker and butler were thrown in jail, and soon enough God knocked them out with dreams and gave the interpretation to Joseph, and he interpreted their dreams.

The events that followed confirmed his interpretations. Afterwards the butler was released and Joseph told the butler to remember him. Though the butler promised to, he promptly forgot about him when he got out. The same may apply to you today. But when you’re forgotten, count it all joy as you go through divers trials and tests. God is planning to do you good!

At the end of the second year after the butler’s release, God stepped into Pharaoh’s palace one night and gave him a dream. When all his magicians could not interpret it, the butler remembered Joseph that day. And because of the witness the butler gave about Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams, the king sent for Joseph from the prison house.

I believe when Joseph heard the sound of the padlocks, he knew he was coming out of the prison that day, because the Bible says he shaved himself. Shaving was a very wise step for Joseph, because by doing so he linked up with the culture, hence the top brass in Egypt —- the Hebrews shaved when mourning, while the Egyptians shaved for dressing.

When Joseph came out, he told Pharaoh his dream and the interpretation, and that very day he became the prime minister of Egypt; the next in command to Pharaoh!

Soon there was famine in Canaan and all the countries round about, but because of Joseph, Egypt was well prepared. Then came the sons of Jacob to Egypt to buy corn, but they did not recognize Joseph. They said to him, “Sir we have come to buy bread”, and they all bowed down and Joseph remembered his dream. He asked after their daddy, and they told him he was still alive. He then requested them to bring their youngest brother who was at home, as evidence that their words were true. When they brought Benjamin, he tricked them and seized him, refusing to let him go. Then they all fell to the ground, begging him and confessing the wrong they had done to their brother (Joseph) a long time ago. But all this while, Joseph’s heart was breaking.

“Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, come near to me I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:1-5).

Observe Joseph’s understanding. He knew the purpose of his coming to Egypt, so he told his brothers thus, “God sent me before you to preserve life, that’s why I was sold to that Egyptian. That’s why when I was sold to Potiphar’s house, I didn’t give up hope. From Potiphar’s house, I landed in prison; though things were bad, I still didn’t give up hope. From the prison, God restored my wasted years.”

With this at the back of his mind, he didn’t need to seek revenge. He recognized that he was in the hands of God. Do you see yourself in the hands of God or do you think your life is run by men? What do you think about yourself? Do you attribute your success today only to the help of men? Or do you realize it is the hand of God working for you? Have you entrusted your life to God so much that you can believe that He is the One leading you? How much did you mean it when you gave your life to Christ? Is He the Lord of your life? If He is the Lord of your life, then rest assured He will take care of you.