A GOD THAT HIDES HIMSELF Joseph is one of the great men of Scripture. No sin is recorded against him. His life is remarkably like that of the Lord Jesus. He was rejected by his brethren, and placed into confinement and restriction. He also was raised from the depths to the heights. -- Tomorrow:
"Truly, Thou art a God Who hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior" -- Isaiah 45:15
After being sold by his own brothers to heathen, he was wrongfully accused and thrown into prison. There he was forgotten, even though distinguishing himself as trustworthy. After some years, he was elevated to the number two position in the dominate land of Egypt. Joseph had received no word from God concerning the reason for this situation. He had no revelation explaining why he was in Egypt, or why he had been honored with such a high position. He lived before the time of the law and the prophets, so did not have Scriptures to muse upon, thereby deciphering something of the nature of his God. In a sense, God had hidden Himself from Joseph in this matter.
When finally confronting the very brothers that had sold him into slavery, Joseph saw the significance of his circumstance. "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life . . . And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 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" (Gen 45:5,7,8).
For approximately thirteen years, God hid His purpose from Joseph. During that time, things were not easy for the patriarch. He was in a country where he "heard a language" he did not understand (Psa 81:5). Falsely accused by his master's wife, he was thrown into prison (Gen 39;19- 20). This did not look like the leading of the Lord; but it was! God had hidden the matter from Joseph. That is God's manner. You will note, of course, that God worked everything together for Joseph's good. That is also His manner for those that love Him and are the called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus help me to believe You are not necessarily angry or displeased with me when You do not allow me to see what You are working wirthin me.