Wed., 2/12/14 Devotion (Gen. 45:5b)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 45:5b, where we find Joseph saying these great words:

" . . . for God sent me before you to preserve life."

Joseph is seeking to comfort his brothers, who had sold him into slavery in Egypt. He also teaches them that it was God, and not them, who was (ulti-mately) behind his (Joseph's) going there. Here (above), Joseph utters words that are universally true, in the history of the church (and of the whole world)--and that is that the Lord *always* sends His messengers (ministers) *ahead* of others, in order to make the way for life in Christ, and to stem the tide of death (in sin).

Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself was (and is) the greatest example of this. Be-cause He first experienced the cross, the tomb, and the resurrection, He has paved the way for His church to experience those same things as well.

[Puritan quote of the day: "What is the scope of all the Scriptures but
Christ . . . ?" --Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]