DCLM Daily Manna 9 March 2021 Devotional By Pastor W. F Kumuyi – Growing In Adversity
TOPIC: Growing In Adversity
TEXT: Exodus 1:1-14 (KJV)
1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.
6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
KEY VERSE: “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel” (Exodus 1:12).
MESSAGE:
Different climatic conditions play their vital roles in the growth of plants in the forest. Winter and summer with the sun and moon were created by our God to fulfil different purposes in life. Life is full of times of sorrow and trouble. Sometimes, it takes storms, trials and temptations to prove the strength of our trust in God. The reality of problems, persecution, pain and perplexity of life cannot be denied. Howbeit, they must never inhibit our growth in life.
Joseph brought his family to Egypt to care for them during the global famine. After their passing, their children grew and multiplied. Many years later, another Pharaoh arose in Egypt who had no respect for the descendants of Joseph and Jacob. He forced them into slavery by engaging them in hard labour. The children of Israel were made to serve in rigour by their Egyptian taskmasters. In the midst of it all, they grew and multiplied. What a paradox of life!
God’s invisible eyes are always watching over His chosen people. He controls the rage of the wicked as He does the rage of the sea. As the children of Israel endured the travails of that time so that God’s covenant with Abraham might come to pass, so must the believer of today do. He never acts in error. Whatever God permits, be it persecution, opposition or even oppression in our communities and places of work, He does so to build us up and separate us from the ungodly ways of the world.
Always remember that God’s desire during adversity is to make us better Christians. Trials and troubles should not be regarded as something that will ruin us. To kick against trials is to miss whatever good it may have for us. We should accept them as part of God’s discipline and programme to bring out the finest and best possibilities of our character when they come.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Difficulties are inevitable for spiritual growth.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 5-7
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.