God Always Triumphs ~ Bible Study blog for June 5

Our Bible study took us through the second half of the saga of Joseph and his wild ride through life.  Joseph goes from being his father’s favorite son, to being sold into slavery by his brothers.  As a slave in Egypt, he rises to prominence in the household of one of Pharaoh’s officials, but is later imprisoned due to a false accusation.  But he rises again to become second in command over all of Egypt.  When a famine strikes, his brothers come to Egypt in search of food—which ultimately leads to a reconciliation of the family.  For generations, the Israelites prosper in the land of Egypt.  But as we see in the next chapter of our book, things will change once again. 

A new Pharaoh rises to power who does not know or care about Joseph.  Seeing the Hebrews’ vast numbers in the land, he begins to perceive them as a threat to his kingdom.  So they oppress and enslave the Hebrews.  But the more they are oppressed, the more they multiply and spread.  This culminates with the massacre of Hebrew boys—from which Moses is placed in a papyrus basket and floated down the Nile.

Isn’t it amazing how greatly evildoers have worked against God’s people and God’s purposes—but they have all failed!  The eleven brothers failed to destroy Joseph.  The famine failed to destroy the house of Jacob.  The Egyptians will fail to destroy the Hebrews.  Throughout Scripture, other great powers will attempt to thwart God’s purposes—the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Romans, and the corrupt religious leaders.  Turn the pages of history, and even more powers will thwart God’s people—both Christians and Jews alike.  Persecutions continue even into the present time.  What we see most in our context is the rapid spread of atheism, agnosticism, and the non-affiliation of persons to the Church.  But God’s people will remain a people.  God’s purposes will not be thwarted.

As we look ahead to the Plagues and the miraculous liberation of the Israelites from slavery, we will be encouraged by God’s faithfulness, justice, and love.  Moreover, we will be encouraged by God’s faithfulness, because it is not just our enemies who oppose us.  We, too oppose God’s purposes for our lives because we are sinners.  But our stubbornness, lukewarm-ness, and apathy to our Savior cannot thwart God’s plan.  How much more, then, can we be encouraged in the struggles of our own lives?  There is not one of us who doesn’t wish to be able to live out their Christian lives on the mountaintop, prospering in faith and never facing any doubts.  But that is not reality.  The Christian life brings highs and lows—but the Spirit forms us in faith and Christ-likeness through it all.  God’s deliverance is known and experienced in the face of the most dire of circumstances.  Whatever enemies may be oppressing us, we can have full confidence that God’s good purposes for us will always prevail.

Our next Bible study shall meet on Thursday, June 19.  In July, we will resume our normal schedule—meeting on the second and fourth Thursdays; July 10 and 24.