CELEBRATING AUGUST 2018 30 Yeaɾs I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. Isaiah 46:13 JOSEPH AND GOD’S PLAN A devotional from TODAY WITH GREG THORNTON Interim President of Moody Global Ministries The Best-Laid Plans Most of us like to Joseph’s brothers were jealous of their plan ahead. At the younger brother and plotted against him. office, I schedule They threatened to kill him (Gen. 37:20) meetings weeks and then sold him into servitude for or even months in twenty shekels of silver (v. 28). advance. At home, my wife and I sort out Years later, when Joseph looked back what we should do next weekend, and at the terrible things that had happened sometimes compare calendars with our in his life, he said, “You intended to children, trying to set vacation plans for harm me, but God intended it for good the year ahead. to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen. 50:20). But I’ve learned to hold plans loosely. I Would Joseph have chosen this plan? have discovered that often my life does Certainly not! But God worked through not proceed in the way I expected. Our all of the events in Joseph’s life to bring so-called perfect plan may take detours good for His people. with an unexpected health diagnosis, job change, or family concern. What a comfort to realize that God’s perspective is clearer than our own. As believers, how should we react Isaiah 55:8–9 explains, “‘For my when our best-laid plans go awry? In thoughts are not your thoughts, neither Christian circles, I often hear people are your ways my ways,’ declares the pray using the phrase, “If God so LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than wills . ” It is not that we don’t have the earth, so are my ways higher than confidence that God can heal or that He your ways and my thoughts than your can secure us a new job. It is because thoughts.’” we, as believers, are aware that we have a limited perspective. We don’t We try to be responsible with our plans, have the Lord’s divine omniscience. but we also hold those plans loosely: Even more than the requests we offer, “If God so wills.” We have a God who we want His will to be done in our lives. not only knows us intimately, but who orders our lives. What a comfort to Joseph is an extraordinary example know that He goes before us. In of this truth. Here was a young man Him, we have both a purpose and whose life did not go according to plan. the best plan. n 800 356¢6639 THEOLOGY MATTERS by Dr. John Koessler God Meant It for Good ne of the most astonishing This intersection of God’s control and statements recorded is human interaction in redemption is O Genesis 50:20: “You intended reflected in the church’s prayer in to harm me, but God intended it for Acts 4. After describing how Gentile good to accomplish what is now and Jewish leaders and the people being done, the saving of many lives.” had opposed Jesus, the disciples This was Joseph’s answer to his affirmed that Christ’s enemies had only brothers when they feared he would done what God’s “power and will had take revenge on them. How could decided beforehand should happen” he escape bitterness after abusive (v. 28). This does not make God treatment at their hands? The answer responsible for evil—those who sin do is that Joseph understood the role so of their own volition. Yet even their of God’s sovereignty in his life. rebellious actions are drawn into the overarching plan of God. This is why To describe God as sovereign is to Romans 8:28 assures us that “in all say that He rules over all creation things God works for the good of those and exercises ultimate control over who love him, who have been called everything that takes place within it. according to his purpose.” We too have This sovereignty is especially evident been drawn into God’s great plan. in three of His most important works: creation, providence, and redemption. We do not need to understand all the workings of God’s great drama of In creation, God established His redemption to take comfort from these superiority to and authority over all words. While we may not be called, He has made. Creation depends as Joseph was, to save a nation from upon God, not the other way around starvation, we are no less significant to (Acts 17:25). Providence is His work God. No matter what is happening in upholding and directing the work of our lives today, God is in control. n creation according to His plan. He provides for His creatures and has ordered the universe (Job 38:1—41:34). FOR FURTHER STUDY In redemption, God exercises His To learn more, read Suffering and the sovereignty over creation graciously to Sovereignty of God, edited by John provide salvation for those who are His Piper and Justin Taylor (Crossway). through Jesus Christ. TODAYINTHEWORD.COM FROM THE EDITORS by Jamie Janosz Learning More about the Bible If you’ve considered pursuing further me be a better leader at my church? education focused on the Bible or A – Moody offers an online degree, ministry, Moody Bible Institute Distance the Bachelor of Science in Ministry Learning might be right for you. Dr. Bryan Leadership, as well as a certificate O’Neal, vice president of MDL, shares program in Biblical Leadership. Any of more about online education programs our programs centered in Scripture and available through Moody. ministry skills will enhance your ministry. Q – I can’t go back to school full time. Q – Are Moody’s classes expensive? Can I still enroll in a Moody course? A – Moody’s current tuition rates are A – Sure! Moody offers courses and $340 per credit hour, which compare undergraduate and graduate degree very favorably with private institutions. programs online with a flexible schedule. Q – Will I be able to handle the Q – What if I want to take one class? workload if it has been years since A – You can enroll as a nondegree I sat in an actual classroom? student. If you decide to go further in A – Our faculty work hard to help your studies, up to 18 credit hours can you with this transition, and the class later be applied to a Moody degree Foundations of Learning is designed to program. The courses you take through help students succeed. Most students Moody Bible Institute Distance Learning tell us that their normal work and home are fully accredited, which means they responsibilities have equipped them to are generally transferable to similarly manage their time and focus to do well accredited institutions. in the structure of online classes. Q – What is one class you would Q – Will I need special equipment? recommend for someone just starting A – You need reliable access to a to get serious about Bible study? computer with online access and A – Courses such as Interpreting reasonably up-to-date software. Scripture or The Story and Structure of the Bible would be beneficial to Q – What’s the next step of Bible everyone who wants to go deeper education with Moody? in their study of God’s Word. A – Go to our website and read more: moody.edu/moody-bible-institute- Q – What class or program will help distance-learning. n 800 3566639 VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 8 MANAGING EDITOR Heather Mott SENIOR EDITOR Elena Mafter CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jamie Janosz Joseph and God’s Plan John Koessler WRITER Ryan Cook In her poem “Clarify,” 20th-century English poet ART DIRECTOR Elizabeth Jennings prayed: Clarify me, please, / Lynn Gabalec God of the galaxies, / Make me a meteor, / Or else GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Larry Bohlin, Rachel Hutcheson a metaphor . MARKETING & PRODUCTION Paul B. Currie This month in Today in the Word, as we study the life MOODY GLOBAL MINISTRIES of Joseph in the book of Genesis, we’ll see how God INTERIM PRESIDENT has been “clarifying” Joseph over the years. We’ll Greg Thornton trace his life from immature teenager who boasted to INTERIM PROVOST John Jelinek his brothers of his multicolored coat and his unusual INTERIM CHIEF OPERATING dreams, to a high-ranking official at Pharaoh’s court, OFFICER Mark Wagner to an inmate in the Egyptian prison, and finally to the CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER wise savior of his family. We’ll look at the trials Joseph Ken Heulitt encountered—injustice, betrayal, disappointment, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Samuel Choy slander, loneliness—and we’ll notice God’s hand and God’s plan for Joseph’s life. The words, “The Lord VICE PRESIDENTS Tim Arens was with Joseph,” are a refrain of Genesis 37—50. Larry Davidhizar Jim Elliott Bruce Everhart Thank you for supporting Today in the Word and Doug Hastings studying the Bible together as a community of Frank W. Leber Jr. Bryan O’Neal friends! We pray this month’s Scripture will help you Paul Santhouse Janet Stiven understand better God’s work in your life over the Anthony Turner years. Our prayer for you is that no matter what Debbie Zelinski you’ve been going through, you’ll remind yourself, TRUSTEES “The Lord was with _________ [insert your name].” Christopher Denison Orbelina Eguizabal We hope that Joseph’s journey will also reveal to T.