Morning Devotion 11/24/2025

Psalm 105:17-19 "He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him."

Psalm 105 was written to remind us of all the wonderful works of God, to the end that we might glorify Him and thank Him. Our verses above remind us how God sent a man before the children of Israel—Joseph.

Joseph did not find himself sold into slavery by a stroke of bad luck, nor necessarily by the hatred of his brothers, but by the providence of God. Our verse makes it clear that God sent him. He sent him there by means we would not associate with God: slavery, treachery, falsehoods. The one who was to be a king was first a servant.

He who would heal his family would first be hurt by them. He who would set them free was first "laid in iron" on their behalf. He was mistreated, lied about, forgotten, and hurt...until.

Until the Word Came

Our verse says, "Until the time that his word came." He had been given a word from God in his childhood—that the sun and moon would bow down to him, that his family would bow down to him, in essence that he would be a king. He had heard and believed what God had said about him, but he was tried by this word until it came. He proved himself faithful while he waited on the word of the Lord.

I hope by now your mind has looked beyond Joseph and thought of the Servant who was sent before us, sold as a servant whose feet were hurt with iron spikes, and was tried and proven faithful until the word of the Lord came, raising Him from the grave to save His people!

Christ was sent before us. The one who was to be our King was first our servant. The one who would heal us was first bruised for us. He who would give us life first laid down His life for us! God's providential hand was at work in every betrayal, every hardship, and in every temptation. He proved Himself faithful to the word of God, to every jot and tittle, until the glorious day when He rose from the grave and ascended on high.

Oh, remember His works! As our psalm instructs us: "O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD" (Psalm 105:1-3).