The Wondrous Works of God in the Life of Joseph

Psalm 105, similar to the song of thanks that David gives in 1 Chronicles 16:8–22, is a lengthy psalm of praise to God for His covenant faithfulness to His people. The first six verses are a call to give praise to God ("Oh give thanks...call upon his name...make known his deeds...sing to him...tell of all his wondrous works...glory in his holy name...rejoice...seek the LORD and his strength...seek his presence...remember the wondrous works..."). The psalmist labors to exhort the people of God to recount and to rejoice in the wondrous works of the Lord.

The rest of the psalm traces God's mercy and faithfulness to Israel as a nation from the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12:1–3) to the acquisition of the Promised Land in Canaan. In verses 16–22, the psalmist reflects briefly on the wondrous works of God in the life of Joseph:

Psalms 105:16    When he  summoned a famine on the land

and  broke all supply  of bread, 

17 he had  sent a man ahead of them,

Joseph, who was  sold as a slave. 

18 His  feet were hurt with fetters;

his neck was put in a collar of iron; 

19 until  what he had said came to pass,

the word of the LORD  tested him.

So famine had come upon the Land of Promise. All supply of bread had been broken. Joseph had been separated from his family and sold into slavery. His feet were strapped in fetters or metal braces shackled together by chains. His neck had a collar of iron around it.

What was to be made of all of this? It sure is hard to see why this is a reason to praise God. In fact, it would seem fitting to blame God! BUT two penetrating truths of divine providence are found throughout these verses. Consider...

1. God is always at work, even when it seems that He is not (vv. 16–19). He is the One who sealed the clouds from dropping rain on the dry earth. He is the One responsible for breaking the supply of bread. He is the One who sent Joseph ahead of Israel as a slave taken into the heart of Egypt (note: Joseph was "sent" showing that God prepared a remedy for His people before the land was ever afflicted by famine!). God is proactive even in the darkest and most despairing seasons of our life! And He does not just react to our circumstances and choices so as to be caught off guard.

We often think of God as somehow indirectly involved in the trials that come upon us. We view Him as the parent sitting on the back porch watching the big brother in the sandbox pour sand over the helpless little brother's head. But God is no more than a foot away in times of trouble. He is not this distant; He is near. He is not capable of accidents on His watch. He is intimately involved in every affair of our life. We can take comfort in this knowing that no famine, or bucket of sand, can fall without His intimate involvement, care, and greater purposes in mind.

Psalm 105:20   The king sent and  released him;

the ruler of the peoples set him free; 

21  he  made him lord of his house

and ruler of all his possessions, 

22  to bind  his princes at his pleasure

and to teach his elders wisdom.  

2. God turns every situation into good, even when it all seems bad (vv. 20–24). Though harm, mistreatment, abandonment, and abuse befell Joseph by the hands of his jealous brothers and greedy slave traders, God had other plans and greater purposes for Joseph. God sees to it that Joseph is released, made lord of Pharaoh's house and ruler of all his possessions, and given the authority to bind princes and teach the Pharaoh's elders wisdom! From the pit to the palace! From being bound by fetters to binding princes at his pleasure! And it was from and through this strategic, exalted position in Egypt that God saw fit to provide for Israel in their season of famine.

We too can rest assured that the "trial of our faith" is intended to draw us nearer to Himself and to deepen our trust in our Sovereign God. I am not saying that everything hard that comes your way will disappear and be immediately replaced by that which is easy or plentiful. But no matter what evil is meant against us from any of the enemies of Christ, we have assurance in the promise of God that He means it for our good and to serve His greater purposes.

In Joseph's life, it was "to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" (Gen 50:20b). In your life, it may be to bring many people to see that God can be trusted in trials. It may be to bring many people to hear a testimony mixed with suffering and sufficient grace to inspire hope. It may be to bring many people to conviction over their complaining. It may be to bring many people to comfort in God's providence and steadfast love.

God's providence is the silver lining on every dark cloud on the horizon of your life. It is His secret purpose in all things hidden from our eyes until He sees fit to show us. It is what we can depend on as creatures trusting our Creator. Nothing happens merely by chance; rather, all things work out "according to the counsel of his will" (Eph 1:11). What a comfort. What rest. What a great God who is worthy of our praise!