IS EVERYTHING AGAINST YOU?

Dear Beloved,

IS EVERYTHING AGAINST YOU?

"Their father Jacob said to them, 'You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!'" (Genesis 42:36, NIV).

Jacob had lost his dearest wife, Rachel, when she was giving birth to her second son, Benjamin (see Genesis 35:16-19; 48:7). The other half-brothers of her first son, Joseph, who had been very dear to Jacob, sold Joseph into slavery and deceived their father that a wild animal killed him (i.e. Joseph). They even came with a convincing evidence of bloodstained cloth of Joseph (see Genesis 37:31-35). Undoubtedly, Jacob was still mourning the demise of his dear son when another tragedy struck - Simeon was imprisoned in Egypt for no reason. To compound his distress, the other sons wanted to take Benjamin, the only source of joy for Jacob, as they were about to go back to Egypt, otherwise, they all would die of hunger because of famine. Jacob voiced out in agony: Everything is against me!

Indeed, one would agree with Jacob that everything was against him. However, was everything really against him? Absolutely no! God was working behind the scene to make everything works for him. Joseph confirmed this when his brothers came to beg him for the evil they had done him. Hear him: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20, NIV). As a matter of fact, Jacob realized later on the working of God in all these events. He alluded to this in his discussion with Joseph (see Genesis 48).

What has happened to you before, and what is happening to you presently that make it seems as if everything is against you? Have you allowed those events to weigh you down? Have you lost all hope because of all these events? Paul has this to say: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28, NIV).

God is at work in everything that happens to you. Everything is indeed working for you!

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB

This message was first sent on February 20, 2005.