Surviving The Famine

March 27, 2013

Surviving the Famine

Genesis 43:1-18

Read But the famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan. (Genesis 43:1)

Reflect Jacob and his sons had no relief from the famine. God's overall plan included sending them to Egypt, reuniting them with Joseph, and feeding them from Egypt's storehouses. But this bigger picture wasn't apparent to them. Suffering and hardship never end quickly enough. Waiting for God to intervene can test us to the breaking point. But remaining faithful to God is an opportunity to learn greater trust and dependence. In other words, we build a deeper, closer relationship with God. Suffering may cause us to question God's goodness; faithfulness is the path we must travel to uncover that goodness. This was what Jacob and his sons discovered. God had been working for good throughout the famine.

Respond If you are facing suffering or hardship and God is not bringing relief as quickly as you would like, remember that he is working for good in the meantime. Echo the words of Psalm 119:81, and ask God for the strength to remain faithful.