Faith through Famine and Storms

 Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22,45; Matthew 14:22-33

Our psalmist in Psalms 105 is praising the Lord as he remembers the wonderful works God has done, God’s miracles, and God’s judgements. As an example, he brings up the story of Joseph. When famine was upon the land God had sent ahead Joseph to teach his elders the wisdom of preparing ahead for the famine by gathering and saving extra grain.

Joseph didn’t become famous overnight. He went through a life deprived of freedom sold as a slave with all its trappings of fetters and an iron collar. He even served time in prison until the king finally released him. Joseph interprets the king’s dream foretelling the famine to come and how to prepare for it. Due to his wisdom the king appointed him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions. Little did Joseph realize during the bleak slave and prison years that God would use him to save people’s lives by keeping extra food to help the country survive the years of famine.

In Matthew the disciples have left Jesus to pray while they return in their boat and end up facing a windy storm. Coming to their rescue, however, is Jesus walking on the water. Peter decides to test him by saying, “If you are the Lord, command me to walk on the water.” When the Lord says, “Come,” Peter does fine at first, but noticing the strong wind he becomes frightened and begins to sink. He cries out to the Lord to save him, and the Lord reaches out and saves him. Peter is rebuked, however, when Jesus says, “Oh you of little faith. Why did you doubt?”

I wonder if the psalmist might say something similar like, “Remember how God provided Joseph to keep us from going hungry during the famine. Have faith then that Jesus can help you walk on water – even with a strong wind.”

How strong is your faith? Are you assured that God will provide during the dry drought days of your life? Are you like Joseph facing adversity not knowing how God will use you because of it? Are you like Peter going through the storms of life reaching out for God to pull you through yet doubting? God can calm the storms of your life and cause you to rise above them – helping you to spiritually walk on water as you keep your eyes on Christ, remembering how God has pulled you and others through in the past and will continue to do so.

Let us join the psalmist in saying. “Praise the Lord!”

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