A great famine came upon the whole earth as Pharaoh’s dreams had indicated and as Joseph interpreted for him, Genesis 41:15-36. This made his brothers come from the land of Canaan to Egypt to buy food without knowing Joseph their brother was the one in charge. They came and paid obeisance by bowing down before him and even called him “my lord” while they referred to themselves as “thy servants” as his dreams they had vehemently rejected and opposed years back revealed, Genesis 37:5-9; 44:26-28. He later revealed himself as Joseph that they had sold into slavery to them and they were astonished. At the invitation of Joseph, Jacob, their father, the brothers and all members of their family came down to Egypt and Joseph settled then in Goshen, the choicest of the lands in Egypt and nourished them all as he had promised, Genesis 47:11-12.

Thus, Joseph’s dreams were fulfilled despite all opposition! Most importantly, God’s plan to use Egypt as the place where the lives of his chosen people would be preserved and where the nation of Israel would be born was fulfilled, Genesis 45:5, 7. What a happy ending to a true-life story with a very sad beginning coupled with intricate life’s challenges and victories.

GOD’S PLANS FOR HIS CHILDREN CANNOT BE THWARTED

Joseph’s story affirms the fact that God truly has unique and wonderful plans and purposes for believers and unbelievers alike according to His words in Jeremiah 29:11. These plans preceded our births. God reveals His plans and purposes at times to individuals through dreams and other ways He chooses to do this. He also gives gifts – endowments, grace and the needed people that will help put one on track to the actualization of His plans and purposes.

In the course of fulfilling God’s plans for one’s life, one is bound to come across challenges as revealed in Joseph’s life. This implies challenges are inevitable. Among the challenges one would face in life is the one aimed at truncating or stopping us from fulfilling God’s plan and purpose for our lives. This happens to be the toughest of life’s challenges because it is caused by Satan the adversary – the power that opposes God’s plans for an individual. Although, it is a spiritual challenge yet Satan uses human agents and circumstances to cause serious oppositions against individuals to make them derail. Unfortunately, many have lost out at this point. This is because victory is not by power nor by might, but by the spirit of the Lord. The power of opposition tried all they could to derail Joseph but they failed because he lived his life in total surrender and dependence on God.

Everything God has spoken concerning each child of His like Joseph is bound to happen; no plan of His can be thwarted by any. This is to correct the erroneous belief some have that certain human with occultist powers, such as witches, wizards, have the power to change God’s plan, no one can (Isaiah 14:24). God’s eternal plans and purposes remain the same. God is Sovereign; therefore He is Lord over all powers and circumstances of life. It is not in their power to harm any child of God who lives a daily life of godliness and righteousness. If God is for us who can be against us (Numbers 23: 23a; Job 1:10). Satan and all the principalities have limitations they cannot exceed, they can only do that which is allowed of them by God as revealed in the trials of Job in Job 1: 8-12; 2: 2-7. Jesus is the head of all principalities (Colossians 2:10, 15; Ephesians1: 21-22). We are also above them since we are seated in heavenly places in Jesus far above all Principalities and powers (Ephesians 2: 6). “The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.” (Psalm 33:10-11). Therefore as a child of God, don’t be afraid of the adversities and oppositions when they come because God the giver of the dream would not allow them to triumph over you in victory, He will uphold you and the dreams to the end. King David beautifully described how God gave him victory over his enemies in Psalm 18:32-43.

GOD ALL THE WAY!

God played very important and vital roles in Joseph’s life. God remained the only constant being in Joseph’s story from the beginning of his life to the end, especially regarding his dreams. God was the one that gave him the dreams and made them came to pass despite fierce opposition to kill him and the dreams. The power of oppositions failed to overcome him because God’s counsel alone stands concerning individuals (Isaiah 40:. He watches over His words to perform them.

We could also see from Joseph’s life that God was in control of all situations and circumstances in spite of the apparent attempts of the enemy to truncate his plans. He was in control of events that seem to contradict or oppose His will for him. He was not just in control He was actually in everything he passed through with him and this was the secret of all his victories of which Joseph knew too well. This was what made Joseph unruffled by any negative happening. God performs all He has appointed for His children. Apostle Paul affirms this saying, “it is God who will and will do it.” He works in us both to will and do his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13). The Psalmist said, “the Lord will perform all that concerns me” (Psalms 57:2). By this, it means God personally sees to the actualization of his appointed plans for us (Job 23:14). This implies God does not abandon any of His children to their fate, but rather He stands will you to the end to finish the work He began in each individual (Phillipians1: 6). Therefore don’t be afraid to undergo any assignment given to you, He will help you achieve it.

Joseph’s life story started on a sad note, however, it ended beautifully. What an encouragement to know that every plan of God concerning each individual has been made to give a beautiful and expected end (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8: 28). Is it not wonderful to know that whatever the believer is going through, God would bring out something beautiful from the rubbles of a broken life and beauty from ashes? All he allowed Joseph to pass through in life was for his good. the end of his suffering has to be a source of endurance for a lot of people of all ages. God surely makes all things beautiful in its time, Ecclesiastes 3:11a. Praise God! Someone asserts “that there is a clock called providence, with which God keeps time and pace so that everything becomes beautiful in its own time. Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac at the appointed time. And what a source of encouragement to uncountable barren women the story has been.”

God alone has the power to make His plans fulfilled in one’s life and to cause the adversary’s evil plans to be for your good. God is aware of whatever we are going through and that He can overcome evil with good if we surrender our own will to the power of His supreme will and that is why Apostle Paul affirms in Romans 8:28. “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” The above quotation could be termed to be; we know, we are sure; we have done it and found it true that “in everything God works for…” and all things work out together for good in accordance to God’s purpose or plan so that all the glory and honor be given unto Him through Jesus Christ.

We know that all things are possible with God and that no purpose of His can be thwarted as long as we remain faithfully in love with Him, waiting and looking only upon Him and not looking and going after other gods for solutions.

Dear esteem reader, all that has been discussed so far in this series on Joseph’s life’s challenges and his victories over them all are written to let you know that all life’s challenges can be overcome! God has wonderful plans for your life and as a child of God, you too can be helped by God to triumph over all your life’s challenges.

No matter how difficult and tough life and situations had been with you; know that you have an expected end because everything will work out in your favor in the end by God’s grace. You don’t need to know how, just trust God and believe that He will make it work out for you. Don’t stop hoping and believing in the Lord Jesus and His ability to make things right for you.

If things are not working as fast as you think they should, please be patient, remember God’s time is different from your own time, persevere and wait for His time and everything will work out in the end. Don’t give up, keep striving and things will fall in shape someday. Always remember that winners never quit and quitters never win.

No matter how bad things are now, better days lie ahead if only you will allow God to hold the reins of your life as he did with Joseph’s.

If you are reading this and you are unsure of God’s plans for your life or you want to fulfill God’s plans for your life, you have to embrace God’s gracious salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Come to Jesus now and receive revelations of His that you do not know (Jeremiah 33: 2-3) by taking the steps written below;

Admit you are a sinner (Romans 3:23; 6:23).
Repent of all sins (Acts 3:19. 1 John 1:9)
Believe that God loves you and that Jesus His only Son died for you (Romans 5:8. Acts 10:40 & 43).
Invite Jesus into your heart (Revelations 3:20)
Forsake all sin (Isaiah 55:6-7)

WE HAVE COME TO THE C[b][/b][b][/b]ONCLUSION OF THE WONDERFUL ENCOURAGEMENT SERIES BASED ON JOSEPH’S VICTORIES OVER ALL THE ADVERSARY’S OPPOSITIONS IN HIS LIFE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF THIS. REMAIN BLESSED.

GOD LOVES YOU, AND SO DO I.
www.lovelasblog.com