The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten – the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm – my great army that I sent among you.” Joel 2:24-25 NIV
Joseph experienced God’s healing and deliverance after 13 years of misery. After years of abuse, Joseph calls his slavery in Egypt “the fruitful land of my suffering.” God’s blessings made him forget all his oppression. The message of the gospel is that this world of oppression can become the fruitful land of our affliction. God always makes up for everything we had coming to us in this life. We are not talking about health, wealth and prosperity. He did it for Joseph; he will do it for us.
More important than Joseph being made fruitful in his land of affliction was that Egypt realized the hand of God was upon Joseph’s life. It may seem as though God is asleep in the difficult years, but it is during those years that God desires to build our integrity and character through our perseverance. Our lives may be laid bare, but a season of healing comes when we discover and experience God’s purpose for our lives. The prophet Joel proclaims such a day for Israel shortly after Isaiah’s prophecy. It was after God sent the locust to destroy their crops to bring them to repentance. God created a perfect environment for their lives so that He could accomplish His purpose in their lives. Salvation is about God’s mercy and grace and it is definitely good news. Remember this, “. . . your life – exactly as it is today – is God’s perfect environment for shaping you into the person He wants you to be?”
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord Jesus, shape my life into what You want it to be.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, we know that You desire to build our integrity and character through our perseverance. We know that our lives may be laid bare, but a season of healing comes when we discover and experience Your purpose for our lives. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
Mark 14:27-31
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