Title: Joseph, used by God to preserve a remnant
Aim: To recognize that God’s purposes exceed our plans.
Scripture: Genesis 45:1–15
 
Joseph’s disclosure, Genesis 45:1–7
 
Genesis 41:53-57 leaves the impression that life was busy and absorbing for Joseph, both personally and professionally. It became even more so as the seven years of drought and hunger began, for Pharaoh directed his starving population to go to Joseph for the food they needed to survive.
 

Today’s blog comes from Joan Floyd, a dear friend of mine who died of cancer 12 years ago this week. She was my mentor, my ministry shepherd, and my dear friend. Her impact on my life and on the lives of others around her is still being felt. The following words were written in a message she wrote for our Bible Study class covering Romans 8:31-39. 

Can anything ever separate us from God's love? What if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have problems? Can anything, then, ever separate us from His love? Does that include cancer? Really?

Paul answers those questions by emphatically stating that nothing or no one can ever separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). 

Most of us know the greatest stories ever told. Noah, his ark in the flood, and the promise of the rainbow. Moses parting the Red Sea as the Israelites escaped from Egypt. The baby Jesus lying in the manger with shepherds and wise men paying honor to the newborn King. The empty tomb on Sunday morning.

In August 2012, a construction crew in Munich, Germany discovered an unexploded bomb from WWII. Munitions experts weren't able to defuse it, so they evacuated 3000 residents and detonated the 550-pound bomb.

This was just one of tens of thousands of unexploded bombs that were dropped over Germany during the war and eventually buried, all of them posing a threat.

When construction crews start building, they need to identify buried bombs and deal with them before they explode and cause all kinds of chaos, havoc and pain.

The problem, you see, is that bombs don't go away. They go off.

(2)

"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud wailing, Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they were gone." (Matthew 2:18 NET)

"It’s normal to grieve a pregnancy loss, including the loss of a child by abortion. It can form a hole in one’s heart, a hole so deep that sometimes it seems nothing can fill the emptiness." (3)

Topical Index of Hal's Blogs

I’m delighted to see women using their gifts by serving in more prominent positions in public life. The UK, Denmark, Thailand, Trinidad, Iceland and Bangladesh all have female prime ministers. The 116^th U.S. Congress includes a record number of women. Women serve in more diverse ways within the Christian community as well.

The Revised edition of Window on the World came out the end of October and makes a great addition to your prayer library—particularly for families or young people who have a heart for missions.