“Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.” Genesis 42:5
God’s people were living in famine in the promised land, forcing them to go to Egypt to buy grain. They had no idea what, or who, was waiting for them there. Grain isn’t the only thing they found in Egypt. Joseph’s brothers found repentance and forgiveness for selling him as a slave, Jacob found the son he thought was dead, and his family found restoration.
Some things take a famine.
Famines force us up and out, in search of what we’re missing. Our famine today is not one of food, at least not in the U.S., and not yet. But there is another kind of famine – a spiritual famine, a scarcity of what we need to thrive spiritually.
Understanding. Wisdom. Joy. Patience. Peace. Power. Holiness. Contentment. The list goes on, but perhaps the overall famine that many of us experience is a famine of His presence. The sense of intimacy in His nearness.
So, what’s your famine? Whatever it may be, let it force you to get up and move. Let it drive you to seek Him, for those who seek Him, find Him. And those who find Him, find more than they knew they were missing.
“And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.” Genesis 42:6
Joseph was 17 when he had the dream of his brothers bowing down to him (Genesis 37). When that dream became reality, Joseph was at least 37, but quite possibly over 40, since we don’t know how long into the famine it was before the brothers came to Egypt. At a minimum it was a 20 year wait.
Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years between God’s promise of many descendents, to the birth of Isaac. Caleb and Joshua waited 40 years to enter the promised land, because an entire generation of unbelief had to die first. There was a 15 year wait between the time that David was anointed, and when he actually became king.
Time, more than circumstance, is the greatest tester of our faith.
Are you in the waiting time of testing? Take heart, you are in good company, and you have a good God. Don’t lose hope! There is always an end to the wait.
“They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” Genesis 42:21
They knew they were guilty, so naturally, they thought what was happening was punishment. They had no idea that God was actually using a famine to rescue them, and was about to bring a beautiful restoration.
When we do not know the heart of God, we will assume the worst.
But when we do know His heart, we know His mercy. We know forgiveness. We know grace. And we know discipline that is done out of love, not punishment done out of anger.
Think about it…
? Are you experiencing some kind of famine in your life right now?
? What do you think is God’s purpose for that famine?
? Do you know the heart of God, or do you assume the worst?
Karla Jo Wasion 