Economic Distress

Reading through Genesis (41-47) with the kids, I was given new insight while studying the 7-year famine that came upon the land during Joseph’s time with Pharaoh. With our economy having been in its own recession/depression these last few years, I can’t help but make a connection to the Egyptian government of the time.

While the people in the land continued to lose their money and their livestock (likely a source of income), Pharaoh continued to gain under the plans Joseph had set forth. The government continued to grow in power and authority until eventually the people had to sell themselves and their land to survive. From then on, the Egyptian government owned them (so to speak).

For fear of their lives (fear being a keyword here), the people had no choice but to turn to the government. The Lord delivered Joseph and his family, though, from the famine that swept the land. In the midst of total loss all around, Joseph rose to a position of great authority and Jacob and his sons were blessed with land, livestock and all they needed to grow their estates.

In a country with a similar economic downturn and a government increasing in ultimate power and authority, Do you know where your help comes from? Does it come from the Lord, on whom we can always depend, who is ever-Faithful, who will not suffer to see His seed begging bread (Ps 37:25)? Or does it come from the government, on an economy that is bound to fail and will never truly provide for its people?

2 Tim 2:13 says, "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." God’s very nature is to be faithful—whether we believe or not. Our actions, our thoughts, our beliefs do not change the character of God. His Word is truth—God is not a man that He should lie (Num 23:19). Our lives—our finances, our families, our jobs, our every care—can be committed to Him, knowing that He is Jehovah Jirah: the Lord Who Provides; for He is able to keep that which we commit unto him (2 Tim 1:12).

God used Joseph’s bondage in Egypt to fulfill His purpose and ultimate plan, while keeping His children through times of despair. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).

Don't Forget the Love

If there's one thing you don't ever forget in this life, let it be the truth that Jesus is the one who sets us free--not religion, not church itself, not even your work inside the church. It was through the love of God that Jesus hung on the cross to bear all of our iniquities, that we might be set free. Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and the truth shall make you free. Nothing else in this world holds that kind of power.

If you're bound--unable to experience real freedom in your soul, freedom in your emotions, if you need freedom from the obvious--drugs, alcohol, relationships, etc., or from the not so obvious--fear, depression, self-hatred, ask Jesus to show you His bond-breaking love. He can show you true freedom.

None of us is really worthy of what God offers, but He gives to us anyhow. His love runs that deep. He shed His blood knowing that we would despise Him at some point, knowing that we are weak and without His strength we cannot stand. He knows everything already, the deepest part of our hearts--good, bad or indifferent--and He's calling you anyway. He knows the true value of your soul and loves you as His precious creation.

If you have been bound and set free through the love of Jesus, you have every reason to shout Hallelujah, raise up holy hands, and sing His praises!

The Choice

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Josh 24:15)

Make the choice, God tells us.

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:15-16)

Don't ride the fence. Make a choice, God tells us.

“Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;” (Deut 11:16)

Serving our own desires has become our god. Bowing down and worshiping the things of this world has become our god.

As plain and simple as it can be…

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Ex 20:3)

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut 6:4-5)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

We can’t ever say our Creator, the One true God, our eternal Savior didn’t tell us what He wanted, didn’t show us the path to salvation, didn’t give us everything we need to stand strong. We just have to make the choice…