Already Ahead of You

“When he had summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he sent a man ahead of them, Joseph. . .” (Psalm 105:16-17).

I think you would agree that the story of Joseph is one of the most riveting stories in all of the Old Testament. He is one of the few people in the entire Bible about whom nothing negative is said.

Now I assume you know the basics of his life. As a young man, he was sold into slavery by his brothers. He lived in Egypt where he came to be a very powerful man. Many years later, a severe famine caused his father Jacob to send his brothers (the same brothers who sold him into slavery) to travel to Egypt to purchase grain. At a strategic moment, Joseph revealed himself to them. The result was that his father and brothers and their households moved to Egypt, ultimately becoming slaves to a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph.

As I have considered his life, the verse cited above really speaks to me. I am blessed and encouraged by the phrase, “he sent a man ahead of them.” There is so much for us to learn from that. Here is what I mean.

It appears that the Lord brought about the famine as noted in the first part of the verse; “When he had summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread.” But note as well that in the same verse we read, “He sent a man ahead of them.” The only way to interpret that is that at the same time God brought about the famine, he planted the seeds for their deliverance. There is a tremendous amount of comfort in that for us I believe.

Let me explain. I spend a significant amount of time talking with you one on one each week. As you describe the challenges you face, (the variety of issues that enter our lives is endless) is it not of great comfort to know that the sovereign God who brings about the challenges we face at the same time provides the deliverance we seek? Thus, he has the end in mind when he providentially allows the faith-stretching challenges we face.

Let’s make that observation very practical. Identify the biggest faith stretcher in your life today. As you identify it, how does it change your thinking to know that God’s deliverance is already “ahead of you” just as it was for Jacob and his sons? In a practical sense that means that when the need arises to exercise faith, the end product of our faith is already in place. The Apostle Paul put it this way; “God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape.”

When the famine arose, God had already planned their deliverance. When Joseph was a slave in prison, God had planned his deliverance. There will never be a time when God has not sent someone or something “ahead of you.” Is that awesome or what?!