The God of Grace!

January 26, 2012

Ediotor’s Note: Our featured contributor, Glenn Wharton will conclude “Grace in Goshen” on Monday. We are soliciting reader responses to this message of Grace. Please submit your response for posting to Info@heartlife.com  Today we pause for a commercial break – reminding us of our eternal sponsor! read more...

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Grace in Goshen – Part V by Glenn Wharton

January 26, 2012

As we continue to examine the Grace in Goshen, I want to encourage you to believe every promise that Jesus has revealed to us through the life of Joseph and his brothers. But even more than that, it’s my desire for you to believe in the One who made the promises – Jesus Christ, the Son of God! read more...

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“Grace in Goshen” – Part IV By Glenn Wharton

January 24, 2012

As we continue to examine the promises of provision that Joseph made to his brothers, those of us who think that people get, or should get, what they deserve may be struggling with these promises because of the grace that he showed his brothers. After all, Joseph’s brothers did not deserve it! What they deserved was everything that Joseph himself had experienced  – years of slavery and imprisonment – because of their jealousy and betrayal! read more...

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“Grace in Goshen” – Part III by Glenn Wharton

January 24, 2012

As we discovered in Part 2 of our series on “Grace in Goshen”, Joseph made some very specific promises of provision to his brothers whom he had recently forgiven and with whom he was now reconciled. These promises and the grace He demonstrated by making these promises can be really easy for us to overlook if we don’t focus on them one by one. read more...

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“Grace in Goshen” – Part II by Glenn Wharton

January 23, 2012

As we continue exploring the depths of God’s abundant grace, His grace is what we constantly depend upon and receive by faith. We can depend upon God’s grace because His grace does not depend upon us. It’s a humbling thought, but if His grace depended upon our works, then it wouldn’t be grace, but debt (Romans 4:4; 11:6)!
As we recall from Part 1 of our series on “Grace in Goshen”, it was God, desiring to show His grace to the Israelites, who brought them to Goshen through a series of providential events. Some of these events – characterized by jealousy, betrayal, slavery, false accusation, wrongful imprisonment, and forgotten promises – did not appear good for Joseph. Other of these events – characterized by bereavement, famine, fear and hopelessness – did not appear good for Jacob and his sons (Genesis Chapters 37 and 39 through 44).
But all of these events were part of God’s gracious plan to fulfill the word that He had spoken to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-14). In addition, God, through Joseph, wanted Joseph’s brothers to know Him as their Provider, just as God, through Jesus Christ, wants us to know Him as our Provider.
Jesus IS our Provider! But sometimes we can think, speak and act as if we don’t believe it until He reveals Himself to be our Provider through circumstances where we must depend upon Him. Because of His grace, we can expect Jesus to provide for us, even during these current economic times where many are suffering from a financial “famine”.
Now, let’s read a few verses from Genesis so that we can begin to see the grace that Joseph showed his brothers. First, Joseph told his brothers, in Genesis 45:10-11 (NKJV):
10 “You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have.
11 There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.”
Then, Pharaoh told Joseph to tell his brothers, in Genesis 45:18-20 (NKJV):
18 “Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.
19 Now you are commanded––do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come.
20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.”
In the days ahead, we’ll focus on the promises of provision contained in these verses! As we continue to examine how God’s grace towards His people is evident in Goshen, and how His grace applies to us personally, I want to encourage you to receive His grace today in your own life because He loves you!
Glenn
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