The Bible is replete (filled) with a number of examples of how God walked (and worked) and made people great in life. One thing that was common with all of these people is that they never at any point look like where God was taking them. At a point, they were at the back side of life; some other time, in the wilderness. Some of them even ended up in prison at some point. But in all of these trials and discouragements, God’s plans and purpose for their lives came to fruition.
This is why I believe that it does not matter the way you look now, God is taking you somewhere. Take time to think through the Bible for a moment; all the great men that walked and had relationships with God and were used and blessed by Him, usually didn’t have clue about where they were going ; neither did they have glimpse of it. For a long time their lives did not mirror that great place God promised them.
Joseph, when he was but a little lad, had a fantastic dream. When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” And as a result of this, his brothers were jealous of him; but his father kept the matter in mind. The animosity towards Joseph peaks when his brothers plot to kill him in the wilderness. Reuben, the eldest, objects to outright murder; so instead, the brothers sold Joseph as a slave and deceived their father into thinking his favorite son had been slain by wild beasts. Right there and then, Joseph’s many travails began. He ended up in the house of a high-ranking Egyptian named Potiphar and eventually became the supervisor of Potiphar’s household. From Potiphar’s house, ended up in prison for a crime he did not commit, and from prison, he became the Prime Minister of Egypt and ultimately, the deliverer of Israel during famine. Notice that there was nothing presidential about Joseph while he was growing up. Nobody would have been able to place it then that a little lad like him would save an entire nation from perishing. Just think about that for a moment.
David, the first king of Israel is another example. The first time the young man David came on board in the Bible was when God told Prophet Samuel to proceed to Jesse’s house and anoint the next king of Israel amongst his sons. David was Jesse’s son and the youngest of eight brothers. Samuel looked over the other brothers and would have out of sentiment, anointed one of them as the supposed King. But God quickly cautioned him not to be fooled by their appearances. Samuel asked Jesse if there were more sons to consider. Jesse told him of David, who as at that moment was in the forest taking care of the family sheep. Samuel said that he would eagerly wait until David came from the pasture where he was tending the sheep. After a little while,David returned from the forest, and Samuel anointed David as king even though he was still a young man. Although David’s age was not known when this took place, but it is commonly believed that he was just a boy between the ages of 8 and 12. The point here is this. You and I could have looked at David back then as a Shepherd boy, in the backside of the wilderness and not see anything ‘Kingly’ about him.
Abraham today is referred to as the Father of faith. But his journey towards attaining this status was not on a bed of roses. He was barren for so many years, God led him out of his kindred unto a land Abraham was not even sure existed. But in all of this, he still trusted God.Abraham’s journey with God started when God made the following promises to him: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”. (Genesis 12:2-3). There is something profound about this promise God made to Abraham. The blessing was not only for Abraham because it also says that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” i.e. through Abraham. Irrespective of our ethnic background, religion, where we live, the language we speak, our social status, the scope of this promise for a blessing includes everybody alive today.
This is what I have been trying to put across to you through this short piece. There is a great destiny of God upon your life. There is a place God is taking you to in life. You may not look like that great destiny at the moment. People may even look at you right now and not give you the respect that you deserve. David was at the back side of the wilderness, Joseph was despised and abused. Abraham didn’t even look like someone who will be the source of other peoples blessing on earth, but at the end of the day, they got to their destination. Let me end with this scripture. 1John 3:2a “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be…….” But we sure know that His plans and purposes for our lives shall come to fruition, for eyes have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
Thank you for reading
2 Comments
I used this article to encourage someone this evening….Good work! Gboyega Adedeji
This is just a confirmation.I can now celebrate how it will end!. Praise God