THE BIG IDEA: To review people in the Bible that God called and used in His service to make Him great among men.
BIBLE FACT: God uses His own sovereignty to process and to call whom He wills into His employment to represent and to serve Him.
How God Chooses His Servant
God takes the person (Divine invitation)
God breaks the person (Divine motivation)
God makes the person (Divine dedication)
God blesses the person (Divine inspiration)
God uses the person (Divine exaltation)
Joseph: God’s greatest trusted servant leader
(Discovering & Developing The Servant Leader In You)
Life Is Just A Minute
Life is just a minute—only sixty seconds in it. Forced upon you—can’t refuse it.
Didn’t seek it—didn’t choose it. But it’s up to you to use it. You must suffer if you lose it.
Give an account if you abuse it. Just a tiny, little minute, but eternity is in it! —By Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, Past President of Morehouse College
It was quite a few months before I realized that what I thought was a coincidental meeting had been good timing on my future husband’s part.
From the balcony of the church, he had seen me, deduced which exit I might be using, raced down two flights of stairs, and arrived seconds before I did. As he casually held the door and struck up a conversation, I was oblivious to the fact that his “impromptu” dinner invitation had been premeditated. It was perfect timing.
Perfect timing is rare—at least where humans are concerned. But God has specific purposes and plans for us, and His timing is always perfect.
We see that timing in the life of these Bible characters: Abraham’s servant prayed for a wife for Isaac. God answered his prayer by bringing the young woman to him (Gen. 24). Joseph was sold as a slave, falsely accused, and thrown into prison. But eventually God used him to preserve many people’s lives during a famine (45:5-8; 50:20). And we marvel at Esther’s courage as Mordecai reminded her, “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Est. 4:14).
Are you disappointed in the pace of God’s plans? “Trust in the Lord” (Ps. 37:3). God will open doors when the timing is perfect.
Have faith in God; the sun will shine.
Though dark the clouds may be today;
His heart has planned your path and mine,
Have faith in God, have faith always. —Agnew
God’s timing is perfect—every time!
—Our Daily Bread October 4, 2012
1. Joseph’s wisdom scheme #1: a setup for his brothers; Genesis 42:15-28
2. Joseph’s wisdom scheme #2: a setup for his father; vv.29-38
3. Jacob’s resistance to providential plans for fear; Genesis 43:1-10
4. Jacob’s miscalculation of the providential plan with his plan; vv.11-14
5. Joseph’s wisdom scheme #3: the bait arrives for lunch; vv.15-17
6. Joseph’s brothers attempt false modesty; vv.18-22