Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
Genesis 41:51-52 (NIV)
Lord, the life of Joseph is one that continues to amaze me. Though he may have been a little “brash” with his family when telling them about his dreams, he did not deserve what happened to him. And when he arrived in Egypt, he did not deserve the hardships he had to endure for his first 13 years there. And then in a moment his life was changed.
I was struck this morning by the fact that though it happened quickly, hastily as the Hebrew says, he took his time to prepare himself for the moment (Genesis 41:14). And then, as Your plan unfolded before his very eyes, he insisted upon giving You credit for it first, recognizing that it was not anything in him but You (Genesis 41:16). Yet, what struck me as I read these verses is that it was not until this point that he begins to deal with the feelings of betrayal and abandonment that he experienced from his brothers. The joy he received by the introduction of Manasseh in his life for the first time over shadowed the loss of his family. It was only then that he could have an Ephraim moment, seeing Your blessings in the midst of suffering.
Today, I pray for that insight and that resolve in my own circumstances. Whether I am justifiably going through what I am going through or whether I am being mistreated, give me the wherewithal to be prepared for the moment when You put me on center stage of the work You are doing in my life. Continue to remind me that it’s not me it’s You. But the most important thing is I need to let go of the hurt and pain of the past and cling joyfully to the abundance of blessings that You are bestowing upon me in my present, looking with anticipation on how You will build upon it in my future.
Lord, I want to have my Manasseh and Ephraim moments everyday. I want to forget about my troubles and see the joy that You are manifesting right now. And it all begins with seeing You and what You have done for me in Christ, immersing myself in the abundance of Your love, and glorying in Your handiwork in my life and the lives of those around me. It requires that I forgive and embrace those who have offended me (Genesis 45:14-15), loving as You have loved me. And it culminates in me giving You the praise and glory that You deserve. Thank You for never leaving to my own devices but instead steering me along the way. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.