“And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!””

Genesis 48:11 

Jacob is blessing Joseph’s 2 sons at the end of his life and he tells him how God had exceeded his wildest longing, to see him, after his sons lied had lied to him and told him he was dead

That is a classic of God, He loves to do more, give more and exceed our expectations, give us what we couldn’t even have the imagination to dream of

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”

Ephesians 3:20 

But obviously at the time when things are not making sense, it is difficult to stay composed, because we cannot anticipate God’s wildest dreams for us…but we can trust Him, and trust to understand later (here on Earth or in Heaven)

“Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.””

John 13:7 

And as we grow in our relationship with God, our trust grows and we can be steadfast in waiting for Him and His salvation

“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.”

Psalms 57:7-8 

Jacob summarises this with some of His final words to His sons, especially those about Joseph’s life - which was a true manifestation of how God works wonders beyond our imagination

“I have waited for your salvation, O Lord! 

“Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall. The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),”

Genesis 49:18, 22-24 

“Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.”

Genesis 1:16 

God invites us to take a step further looking at His marvellous creation, beyond the simple facts

“Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.”

Isaiah 40:26

God’s power evident in His creation and Him being in full control of all things gives us reassurance to know that as His children we are surrounded by His divine strength and power, more so than the stars in the sky

That brings true humility, that the Author of all creation, looks upon us with such love and care

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?”

Psalms 8:3-4 

“But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.”

Psalms 40:17 

God wants to tell you today that in your darkness and feeling lost, He brings light and hope

“For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.”

Psalms 18:28 

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” (Psalms 145:18)

“though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27)

“The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5)

“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.” (Psalms 34:7)

“But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.” (Psalms 73:28)

“You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.” (Psalms 139:3, 6)

“His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me.” (Song of Solomon 2:6)

This is a description of the Groom embracing his bride, a picture depicting God’s love for humans...

It can also describe God as a Father, and fathers know when they carried their children as babys they often looked like what's described here: one hand under the head and another embracing 

“As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.” (Psalms 103:13)

But God is promising to be Father to the fatherless, help to those who have none

“But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.” (Psalms 10:14)

In His love, He holds our hands, walking us through life’s hills and valleys, like a father holding his child’s hands

“I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms; But they did not know that I healed them.” (Hosea 11:3)

Not only is His love promised now, but to the very end...

Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you. (Isaiah 46:4)

“To him who overcomes … I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” (Revelation 2:17)

This is one of my favourite verses in the Bible, it gives hope in what’s to come, in God’s ability to transform our reality…I imagine that new name would be one that summarises our life, our relationship with God and how he’d made us walk through fire unscathed.

There is many stories in the Bible were God gave people new names, let’s take a couple of examples:

"And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah."

(Genesis 41:45)

There is various opinions about the meaning of this name including preserver of life, revealer of secrets and saviour of the world.

But regardless of which one is correct, it seals the transformation that God has brought about in Joseph’s life after years of suffering, lifting him to second man in the Egyptian kingdom.

Another person whose name got changed is Jacob.

And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Genesis 32:26)

God then gave him the name Israel which among the interpretations possible, means Prince of God or that who struggles with God.

Another apt description of this struggle is in Hosea 12:

'He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favour from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us—'

(Hosea 12:3-4)

So the struggle and prevailing does not only refer to the world, but also involves struggling and prevailing with God.

Of course not in the literal sense, what it means is being persistent, metaphorically struggling with God in prayer until we are slowly transformed.

When we struggle with God bringing all our difficulties and weaknesses, our eyes filled with tears and disappointment, then we prevail, our eyes overcome him.

"Turn your eyes away from me, For they have overcome me." (Song of Solomon 6:7)

All we need to do is let him in.

“These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”

Revelation 3:7-8

We sometimes describe God as the opener of closed doors. Doors that are shut in our face can all be flung wide open by His power.

“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt...Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt”

Genesis 41:44, 46

When Joseph’s brothers conspired to kill him, seemingly all the doors started to shut in his face. He was thrown in a pit, then sold as a slave, then falsely accused of attempting to assault his master's wife and was thrown into prison. This period lasted about 13 years. Yet, one night and two dreams turned all this upside down. And the highest door in the land, pharaoh’s door was flung wide open for Joseph to enter and be made second to pharaoh.

“But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”

1 Corinthians 16:8-9

St. Paul, despite facing opposition, had the door to preaching and serving Christ open up in front of him. How many times do we despair in the church from a certain ministry that is seemingly unsuccessful or certain people who would not respond to Christ or to sound advice. We need to know that Christ can open the door and let us in.

Finally, Christ can also shut the door and the most remarkable example is the gates of hades.

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Matthew 16:18

We call God our Father, but He is also God Almighty, who has all the keys and all authority in heaven and on earth. Let us rest in Him and be strong in our faith. Amen.

“But, O LORD of hosts, You who judge righteously, Testing the mind and the heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them, For to You I have revealed my cause.” Jeremiah 11:20

What happens when we are faced by challenges and problems? How do we react? And what is our first natural response?

Some people despair, others call for help, others run to God. Jeremiah was one who ran to God. He made his case known to Him and trusted in His justice.

Many of the righteous people ran to God for deliverance from their troubles.

“I cry out to the LORD with my voice; With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.” Psalms 142:1-2

David knew that God was the One to deliver, the just Judge and the Omniscient God.

“But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.” Psalms 10:14

Pope Kerolos the 6th lived a life of prayer and put everything on the altar, all his problems and difficulties. He liked the following verse from Jeremiah’s Lamentations:

“It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.” Lamentations 3:26

Together with Jeremiah, he knew he could sing the following:

“But the LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.” Jeremiah 20:11

What deep waters are you sinking in nowadays?...No matter what they are, God can pull you out!