Not You — But God

Genesis 45:8 – “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

The thrilling life story of Joseph is recorded for us in the last 14 chapters of Genesis. Over that section could be written Romans 8:28 which tells us “that all things work together for good to them that love God.”

Joseph had been the object of his brothers’ jealousy which had caused them to sell him into slavery. There had been periods of both favor and animosity toward him in the land of Egypt. When unjustly imprisoned through false accusation, he did not mope and complain about “nasty misfortune.” Nor when he was exalted to a position of trust and authority did he use the promotion to heap abuse upon those who had wronged him. Unlike many of us, Joseph did not fix his attention on secondary causes. He looked beyond them to God! Those scheming brothers of Joseph were afraid when he finally revealed himself to them. No doubt they thought, “We’ve had it now; he’ll get even with us. Instead what strange words they heard him speak, “it was not you that sent me here, but God.”

Absolutely nothing touches the believer unless the Heavenly Father orders or permits it. The problems and perplexities of life are not cruel twists of fate. They are the “all things” allowed by God as He leads us from the pit (Gen.37:24) to the throne (Gen. 45:8).

Do you see beyond secondary causes? Remember, “accident,” “fate,” and “luck” have no place in the Christian’s creed. The believer is not left to the mercy of the storm without the divine Pilot. It’ll be a day marked by undisturbed rest when we with Joseph are able to say “Not you – But God.”