Genesis 49:24 – HIS HANDS WERE MADE STRONG
Genesis 49:24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
Jacob is about to die and he has called his sons to be with him. In this passage, we see Jacob prophesying over the life of Joseph. However, before Jacob tells what God is going to do in Joseph’s future, he first explains why God is going to bless Joseph.
Jacob tells Joseph that his life is like a vine that stayed planted by the wells of water. Because Joseph stayed planted by the well, he was able to climb up and over the wall even though his enemies did everything to discourage and distract him. Joseph was strong because God made him strong.
Joseph’s faith did not fail. God had shown him a vision and Joseph trusted that God would fulfill the promises that HE made unto him. Joseph did not allow the enemy to discourage him. Joseph did not allow the enemy to persuade him that God had abandoned him in Egypt. Because Joseph remained faithful to God, God was able to strengthen Joseph and bless him even though he was a prisoner and a slave.
When Jesus was a few hours away from HIS death on the cross, HE went to the garden to pray. Jesus knew that HE was soon going to be separated from God because HE was going to take upon HIMSELF the sins of the world. Jesus pleaded with God to take this cup away from HIM, however, HE recognized that it was not HIS will that needed to be done, but HIS Father’s will in heaven. Jesus allowed God to be HIS strength and God strengthened HIM to do HIS perfect will.
It does not matter who you are, you need God to strengthen you if you are going to remain faithful. Elijah had just saw God bring fire down from heaven at his request. Elijah prayed and he saw God bring a huge rainstorm from a cloud the size of a man’s fist. However, even though he had seen God do so much with so little, Elijah still was discouraged as he ran for his life. God sent Elijah on a long journey into the mountains where God revealed HIMSELF to Elijah and gave him a new purpose for his life.
Moses is a man who did great things in the power of God. One time the people were thirsty and they were complaining to Moses. Moses was overwhelmed by the people and he heard the Lord say that he was supposed to speak to the rock and it would bring forth water. Moses did not accept the direction from God and instead, he struck the rock as he had in the past. Water did come from the rock but God punished Moses’ refusal to accept the strength of the Lord by denying him the right to enter the promise land.
God desires to strengthen you and bless you in the way that you are to go. The question is, will you accept HIS help? God needs you to be faithful unto HIM. If you have your focus upon the distractions of this world, you will fail to see the hand of God in your life. The greater the trial that you face, the more important it is that you trust in HIM. By adding temperance to your life, you strengthen your ability to accept the direction God is taking you.
By demonstrating self-control, you realize that your life is not only about yourself. Jesus had to sacrifice what was best for HIM in order to receive the strength of God to fulfill HIS perfect will. Elijah needed to take his eyes off of his own problems so that HE could see God and do HIS perfect will. Moses failed to do the perfect will because his focus was in the wrong place.