Episode 298: Hang on There (God’s Presence Series)

Hang on There Could this be your story too? Ben has applied for several job interviews (not real name) He gets refused times without number He feels even more upset that those who are less qualified than him are offered the jobs he also interviewed for. All friends he supports with their CVs and interview preparations all got their desired job roles He loves God with all his heart and he strives to be pleasing to Him Ben is now fed up of his life situations and the rejections he is is facing He cried out to God… Fast forward - Years later, Ben is enjoying his current part-time role and business. He getting a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment in both areas. As Ben described- he is thankful to God for all the refusals. He now realises that God allowed all the previous employers to turn him down because those jobs would have been distractions to what God has planned for him. Do you currently feel rejected or unwanted? Remember Joseph - He had dreams of greatness. Yet it seemed all circumstances he was faced with were against God’s plans for him. -His brothers’ jealousy, hatred and rejection of him Gen 37 -Potipher’s wife’s allegation leading to his imprisonment Gen 39 -Cupbearer’s forgetfulness in standing as a Reference for his Dream interpretation job in Gen 40 God never left Joseph in all his predicament. The Bible says Gen 39:2; 20-21 “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬ “And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬ God’s presence was with Joseph. God was building Joseph’s character. Thank God he did not succumb to Potipher’s wife’s adultery proposal. Thank God he did not succumb to revenge-giving in to paying his brothers back in their own coin. Joseph understood the process. Gen 45:4-5 Of course he felt rejected. He felt unwanted. He felt betrayed. However, he was conscious of God’s presence. He revered God. When Potipher’s wife tempted him, he said “…how then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Gen 39:9) When he had opportunity to interprete the king’s cupbearer and baker’s dreams, he said “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams. (Gen. 40:8) God’s presence was with Joseph. Not only that, Joseph have an awareness of God’s presence. He recognised it and flaunted it. Hang on their Friends.