Day 3: From Discarded to Delivered

These famous words (in Genesis 50:20), were spoken by Joseph, whose brothers had cast him into a pit and sold him to slave traders, but these sentiments could have easily been expressed by many people through the ages. Moses could have spoken these words to Pharaoh. Jacob could have uttered a similar speech to Laban, who tricked him into labor and a marriage under false pretenses. Job could have spoken these words to Satan. Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar and his minions, after the Holy Spirit helped him overcome the mouths of lions. Jesus could have spoken this to the Pharisees and Roman soldiers and to the demons who promoted their betrayal of our Messiah.

Each story in the Bible overflows with redemption, and the Lord inspired the writers to capture their struggles with despair for such a time as this - to encourage us in our times of trial. If you are feeling unseen or unloved, then take heart in knowing that we serve the same God who preserved Joseph to save countless lives from famine. The very same who saved a discarded baby boy to be raised in the house of the King of Egypt, and to free his people from slavery. Yes, this is the same God who changed the name of Jacob, a man known to have a trick up his sleeve, into Israel. The One who highlighted a man’s faith against all odds and showed us through Job that we can meet suffering with determination to persevere. The One who can give us an excellent spirit like Daniel, and can help us shut the mouths of those who speak evil against us or our God. And the very same One who laid His life down so that we never have to feel discarded. He is a game changer and a name changer, so let Your Deliverer deliver you from all the worthless lies that the enemy tries to tell you. And all God’s people should say Amen!

Questions:

• Can you think of another Bible icon OR someone in your life who appeared discarded but was delivered?
• Will you share with a close friend a time in your life that YOU were delivered by your Deliverer?