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It’s Just A Test

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved (in dread) because of the children of Israel – Exodus 1:12

The Egyptians tried to wear down the Hebrew people by forcing them into slavery and mistreating them. Instead the Hebrews multiplied and grew stronger. When we’re burden or mistreated, we may feel defeated, but our burdens will make us stronger if we’re willing to continue to pray, fast and be faithful to the Lord when we’re troubled.Joseph was a man who loved God and God’s people. Joseph was abandoned by his brothers to die in a pit. While in the pit Midianites merchants withdrew him from the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites sold him to Egypt, and Joseph became an officer in Potiphar’s house.

While in Potiphar’s house, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him and because he wouldn’t fall prey to her seduction, she lied and said Joseph tried to rape her, Joseph was cast in prison. While in prison, God gave him favor with the guards and he became keeper of the prison. While in prison a baker and cup-bearer had a dream, and Joseph interpreted the dream, and each man received the manifestation of the dream’s interpretation.  Pharaoh had a dream, and he needed someone to interpret the dream, that’s when the baker remembered Joseph. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, and Pharaoh made him ruler of his entire kingdom.

Joseph and his brothers and all that generation died. A new Pharaoh became king of Egypt and he wasn’t aware of the obligations that was given to Joseph. Joseph ministered to the people even while he was being persecuted and casted in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.  It’s one thing about when we work for men only our works will be forgotten, but when we work for God our works will follow us. The new Pharaoh feared the children of Israel because of their multiplication, and was afraid they would one day go to war with them and they would no longer have slaves. So to keep them in bondage, he set taskmasters over them to mistreat them and afflict them, but the more they afflicted them the more they multiplied.

Affliction, and suffering, brings strength. It may not seem like it while we’re going through it, but it will strengthen our faith and trust in God. It will make us pray when normally we wouldn’t pray. It will make us fast and seek the face of God. Test and trials cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit and it will stabilize our faith and our relationship with God. It’s only a test, allow God to work something out of you, and place more of His nature in you. In order to go from glory to glory as the Bible has instructed we would do, it comes with test and tribulations!

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