More than two decades had now passed since Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt. Jacob still thought that Joseph was dead, and much had happened in the life of this family, as well as in the life of Joseph (see Genesis 39-41). But now, a great famine had come over the land, and only Egypt had the resources to help keep people alive. So Jacob was ­focused on food, and he had no idea of the great family drama that would play out when he sent his sons to buy grain.

But God knew. All through the twists and turns of this drama, God was working to restore Jacob’s fractured family life.

Joseph, who was now a major ruler in Egypt, would test the character of his brothers, and God would help their father, Jacob, learn more about his helplessness in the face of life’s circumstances. Jacob would also learn more about God’s life-giving faithfulness.

Where might God be teaching you to watch for his work in unexpected places? The divine drama of redemption sometimes plays out in circumstances we can hardly imagine. In grace, God teaches us that we cannot maneuver around our own sins and shortcomings. But God has provided the Savior to restore us so that by following Jesus we too may “live and not die.”