To a Thousand Generations

Passage: Psalm 105

⁷He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land. ⁸He always stand by his covenant – the commitment he made to a thousand generations. ¹⁹Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character. ²⁰Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free…

God is God. No ifs, ands, or buts. He is God. He is sovereign. He is just. He is faithful – when He makes a covenant, He doesn’t go back on His word. It is in His character to keep His promises. An incredible illustration of the very character of God is seen in His interaction & covenant with the children of Israel. The children of Israel tested God at every turn. They rebelled continually. They complained constantly. They doubted daily despite His miraculous provision day after day. Still God remained faithful. He sustained them. He protected them. He provided for their every need. He performed miracle after miracle to ensure their survival. He very easily could have just left them to waste away in the desert and it would have been justified. After all, they abandoned their relationship with Him and faith in Him at the first indication of a struggle. However, God’s very character declares “I AM.” Faithful. Just. Constant. Unchanging. Unfailing. Love. Provider. Banner. The list goes on.

One thing God is not, however, is at our beck and call. He is not simply around to make our lives easier. He is not bound by our time limits. He is not controlled by our need or want for certainty. His intervention in our lives is fueled by our faith. Some receive audible words from the Lord, outlining a specific promise or dream that God will bring about. Others rely on the promises already declared in the word of God. Still others rely on the still, small voice of the Spirit whispering God dreams into our hearts. When God declares those dreams over our lives, we can trust that He is faithful. He will bring it to pass. He will make a way. He will provide for our destiny. At times, realization of those God dreams seems nearly impossible.

I imagine that Joseph had times of doubt as he rotted away in prison. He dreamed big dreams, yet he was stuck in chains. I imagine that he cried out in desperation for God’s hand to move…to make his dreams come true. This passage said that the Lord was testing Joseph’s character until the time was right to fulfill his dreams. Joseph was given dreams but was never told how long it would take for them to come true or what might happen between now and then. He simply had to trust that God keeps His promises.

Right now, I’m sitting in a prison of sorts…followed God’s voice and the answer still hasn’t come. I’m facing moments of doubt. Did I really hear God’s voice? Am I absolutely crazy? Should I go back to BBW? Is retail my only option? The reality of the situation is that God has to test my character before the dreams come true. Before my territory is enlarged, He has to increase my capacity. And let me tell you, the stretching is a bit uncomfortable. However, “He always stands by his covenant – the commitment he made to a thousand generations.”