Read Psalm 105:23-25. 23Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 24And the Lord made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes. 25He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.
Our saga continues as the Israelites come to Egypt, find prosperity there, but then are forced into slavery by the Pharaoh who didn’t know Joseph. The emphasis here is on the complete sovereign control of God. HE made his people fruitful. HE turned the hearts of the Egyptians. It was all part of the pre-ordained plan of God.
So was the life and death of his servant, Jesus. In the fullness of time Christ came, born under the law, to be condemned and crucified by those whose hearts were hardened.
Is our life in Christ any different? Has God suddenly let go of the reigns of history? Has he moved on to more important things than watching and guiding us? OR is God still in control? Is he still turning hearts this way and that to accomplish his redemptive purpose? Is he still making us stronger than our spiritual foe, the Enemy, by his merciful outpouring of fruitfulness?
The psalmist wants his readers to know that if they are IN Israel than they are IN God’s great big plan. I want you to know today that if you are IN Christ you too are IN God’s great big plan. Do you believe this? Are you living it out? To live is Christ requires both.
You: Can you see how your life is part of God’s much bigger plan?
You in Christ: Are you both trusting in and living from your union with Christ?
Christ in you: In what way is God making you fruitful in Christ?
Pray: Father, you are sovereign over my life, and yet my life is full of my choices to trust you or not. I choose trust today. Amen.
To Live is Christ 