This one little phrase occurs 47 times in the New King James Bible. Eight of those in Genesis. Yet, it can be the most transforming pair of words you will ever know. Those two words can energize your life with joy overflowing, if only you grasp their depth and meaning. Even before this phrase was used, it had been somewhat obvious who had presented to Adam and Eve. God provided a way of salvation from the sin Adam plunged the human race into. Again, God preserved the way for Noah and his family to be saved from the flood. God called Abraham to create a nation through whom the Savior would come. And He held firmly true to His covenant in spite of mankind’s foolishness at times.
Abraham was applauded for his faith which was counted to him for righteousness. Yet, his wasn’t a perfect faith. Indeed the first two times the words “But God” are used in the Bible are when God had to intervene because of Abraham’s sin stemming from a lack of faith. The first incident was when Abraham had told Sarah to say she was his sister for the second time. This time King Abimelech had taken her to his home. Yet, before anything could happen, we read.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” Genesis 20:3
Then, due to his lack of faith once more, Abraham had a child by Hagar. Then Sarah who had arranged it all became jealous once Isaac was born. She commanded Abraham to send Ishmael away. He was very upset because he loved his son Ishmael as well.
But God had a Plan for Ishmael
11 And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called 13 Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.” Genesis 21.
You might say, unfair. But was it? God did make a great nation out of Ishmael and although, they chose to reject Christ as a nation. Yet, the fastest growing Christian ministries are in the middle east today. Operation world reported Iran as having the fastest growing evangelical movement in the world in 1921.[1]
Genesis 21: 14-21
14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and [f]a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. 15 And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. 16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”
19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. 20 So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. 21 He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Although sometimes everything appeared dark, there was never a moment but God had a plan for good to all who trusted Him.
Jacob’s But God moment
Although, his life was more of an up and down faith; yet, Jacob had moments of great highs. He saw angels climbing stares into heaven and knew God was in that place. So, you might say he had many but God moments. Yet, the Bibles recorded these two with that phrase. Both were revealing that God’s hand had protected him, even with his sometimes wayward faith.
First was when he decided to return to his land and leave Laban. We hear his words.
2 And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. 3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, 5 and said to them, “I see your father’s [a]countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 6 And you know that with all my might I have served your father. 7 Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.
God Intervened by Speaking To Laban Though Not A Believer
Jacob left with all he had, his wives and his children. Laban pursued him.
22 And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. 24 But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”
Laban worshipped idols. We know this because he accused them of stealing his gods. (Actually Rachel had, but no one found out at that time). But God spoke to Laban anyway and protected them.
Jacob’s true faith did not mature until much later when he wrestled with God and then remained lame for the rest of his life. Humbled, then he bowed before God.
Meanwhile, Joseph was just a child when all this happened and was most likely watching all of the events, good and bad.
Each Patriarch Presented Different Kinds of Faith
“Abel, who offered a more excellent sacrifice, represents redemption through faith. Enoch, who was taken to heaven represented the walk of faith for he “walked with God.” (Gen 5:22). Noah, who built the ark and sought to persuade others to enter, represents the confession of faith. Abraham, who trusted God in the face of insurmountable obstacles, represents the obedience of faith. Isaac submitted to his earthly father and unresistingly yielded to his Heavenly Father, represents the patience of faith. Jacob who experienced extreme heights and depths in his life, represents the training of faith.
In the life of Joseph there is a twofold emphasis-the testing and the triumph of faith. In his life we see in action the principle stated in I Peter 1:7: That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”[2]
Then There was Joseph
Joseph lived a very righteous life. Indeed, no sin was recorded against him, though his life was filled with sorrows, disappointments, temptations, false accusation, and trials. Despite his mother’s death, his brothers hatred, his sale into slavery, and wrongful jail sentence; Joseph remained faithful to God and did not lose his way. Are we to think he was sinless? No for he was human, but much like Daniel God chose not to record anything.
After his rise to Prince in Egypt, he forgave his brothers because he saw the bigger picture of God’s plan for him. God had even told Abraham a long time ago that the nation would be taken captive, but most likely Joseph did not know that fact. His life played out as it was supposed to in order to complete God’s plan to grow the nation, to march always forward to the day of Christ’s birth.
Genesis 45:4-8
4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 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.
Whatever Happens, But God
Jacob, now named Israel, did come with all his family. All was well. Before he died, he said.
And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Genesis 48:21.
God did, in his own time. Yet, one of the most profound statements of faith that encourages me every day was when Joseph said to his brothers.
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Genesis 50:20.
Another Story Hidden in This Weeks Reading
You may have wondered about the story of Judah and his daughter in law, Tamar. Why would God have allowed it in the Bible. Judah had forgotten her after her first two husbands (Judah 1st and 2nd sons had died because of their sin). She pretended to be a prostitute when Judah was mourning his wife, and he slept with her. She gave birth to a son. Well, why put the story in?
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah….
So, there she is in the lineage of Christ, along with Rahab the harlot, and Ruth, and “her who had been the wife of Uriah”. Christ came to earth to save sinners.
Ephesians 2: 1-10
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
But God
Surrounded by evil forces that seem to grow larger each day until life is filled with anxiety. But God will wound the head of His enemies, The hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses. Psalm 68:21
Sometimes life seems to hard to bear and the sorrow overflows within my heart. I do not know where or how to respond, feeling as though drowning in the bitterness of my own heart. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
Illness calls upon us and we are frightened by its call, fearing its effects.
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah Psalm 49:15
The nations clamor for war, while proclaiming the need for a one world order. The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters; But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, Like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. Isaiah 17:13
When I stand up for the truth of God, all turn against me. But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
And when temptations come and we think we will never be able to overcome, Remember 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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[1] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/meet-the-worlds-fastest-growing-evangelical-movement/ 2/2/2021, visited 1/21/2023.
[2] Theodore H. Epp, Joseph “God planned it for Good”;Back to the Bible Broadcast, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1971 page 7