Suffering: Injustice, Like Joseph

The Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.

Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Romans 12:19 (ESV)

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

Psalm 82:3 (ESV)

All of God's heroes suffered injustice. Big destinies evoke big reactions. Because uplifting the world for the good requires stars pushing through everything bad.

Because Satan WILL fight rising leaders… hurling dart after dart of injustice. Sobering note: God allows these attacks. Why?

  • To test and temper His children's courage.

  • To grow strength, fortitude, and character.

  • To develop and season His heroes.

Surviving 'The furnace of affliction' (Isaiah 48:10), Daniel’s three friends walked through flames into fame!

Before them, consider Joseph’s trials: Trapped and sold at the age of seventeen, he became a slave for thirteen l-o-n-g years.

But he did understand WHY he suffered– and shared it with his repentant brothers:

'You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives' (Genesis 50:20).

Actors, models, and talent for Christ,
Consider 3 thoughts about injustice:

  1. God’s stars experienced man’s injustice, but they didn’t complain or seek vengeance. They waited on Him to fix everything– because He promises justice WILL come. The years, pace, and place of Joseph's trials were preordained for a glorious end. His faith, patience, and talents changed the world.

  2. Many Americans complain nonstop… about everything we think isn’t fair. We’re not into waiting on anything, including our Father’s perfect timing. Many of us see ourselves as victims. We rant like defendants without counsel. But Jesus Himself is our Advocate! For every good reason, let’s wait on Him. However…

  3. The defense OF OTHERS is an order. As appointed ambassadors for Christ, we’re called to speak out against injustice and do our best to help those who’ve been harmed. As rising stars in Entertainment skies… you have a platform to plead for their cause. However, pray to God before you speak and make certain your words are said in love.

Suffering: Injustice, Like Joseph (Part 29)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God–  to multiply them in the world for His glory.

P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.

WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!

Carey Arban