Inside Out Living

The devotionals for this week are all about the sovereignty of God. The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology defines the Sovereignty of God as “The biblical teaching that God is king, supreme ruler, and lawgiver of the entire universe.”

It was a courageous choice full of integrity that landed Joseph in jail, but it was the sovereign hand of God that brought him out. Joseph had no ability to change his position. Through the series of events you read today, God brought about restoration for Joseph. However, it is not as though Joseph didn’t do anything. I see three key things Joseph did:

1) Joseph worked hard for the chief jailer,

2) Joseph exercised wisdom and the gift of interpreting dreams,

3) Joseph exercised patience, spending over two years in jail.

Indeed Joseph did his part and so did God. God orchestrated different meetings, gave dreams to people, and gave Joseph the wisdom and ability to interpret those dreams. Thus we see an important principle: God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility work hand in hand in our lives.