Genesis 45:5 – “Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life!”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, the thought of ‘Complete Trust’ filled my mind.  That means different things to different people, but what does it mean to God?  What does God’s view of ‘Complete Trust’ look like?  How is it demonstrated?  How does it affect attitude and outlook?  Do we have any examples other than Jesus?

In Genesis 41:16, Pharaoh had a second dream and called Joseph to interpret it.  In the previous verse, he said, “I hear of you that you can interpret.”  He had already done so years earlier.  Joseph’s response speaks to his recognition of God’s sovereignty and his dependence on God.  He said, “Not without God, I can’t.”

When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt, and he revealed his identity, he said, (Genesis 45:5) – “Now don’t be grieved, nor displeased with yourselves, that you sold me here; for it was to provide for you that God sent me before you.”

That reveals ‘Complete Trust’ in God and a transformed heart free of every ounce of bitterness, with total forgiveness as a cornerstone.

Joseph’s ‘Complete Trust’ enabled him to fully forgive because he saw life through the lens of God’s purpose rather than as an individual event.  It wasn’t about Joseph but the Kingdom of God.  The events of life were classroom sessions of becoming.  The people involved were just tools or vehicles.  The real was the unseen in the spirit.  Joseph’s ‘Complete Trust’ transformed his heart and shaped his outlook and worldview.  Without it, he would have been retaliatory.

Joseph is a type of Christ, our provider!  Jesus looks for ‘Complete Trust’ in all, and from all.   Mark 12:28-31 is powerfully revelatory.  The commandments obeyed and practiced reveal the heart and exhibit ‘Complete Trust.’

We will not give God ALL until we reach a state of ‘Complete Trust.‘  How can I value another person to that degree unless I see God’s purpose, promise, and provision?

Complete Trust eliminates all doubt and produces fruit.  The parable of the fruitless fig tree in Mark 11, in the context of ‘Complete Trust’ and the commandments of Mark 12:28-31, reveals why Jesus was upset with a tree that looked fruitful but had only show and no produce.  The life of ‘Complete Trust’ produces because in Trust it obeys, and out of that obedience and transformation of heart, fruit is natural.

Our goal is‘Complete Trust.’

LORD, help us to set our hearts to completely trust You in all things, and at all times!

Mark 9:25-29 – “Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” ²⁶ It shrieked, threw him into terrible convulsions, and came out.  The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He is dead!” ²⁷ But Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.  ²⁸ Then, after he went into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” ²⁹ He told them, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

As I prayed, read, and contemplated the Word of God today, trust was my heart’s focus—the simplicity and immensity of trust.  Before trust in God is solidified, enabling us to live in trusting obedience in all things, there is a time (like Jacob) when we wrestle with God.  In that time of inner struggle, a character change transpires.  That change brings everything into the proper perspective.  Then we live a life to trust!

Joseph’s success was the outflow of trust.  The disciples were trained in trust.  In Mark 9, we have the story of the demon-possessed boy.  The disciples could not cast out the demon.  Why?  Jesus explained in verses 28-29.  It was trust!  He said only by fasting and prayer.

Trust reduces self and elevates God.  It solidifies trust.  It is a portal, not a purchase.  It decreases self and increases God.  Mark 10:15 reveals a needed truth.  The simplicity of trust is the portal to the kingdom.  If we trust God with our all, we see Him as He is and live in eager expectation!

All things are possible if we trust Him (believe)!   Go forth today expecting God’s fullness to follow you everywhere!  Have a fantastic day in Jesus!

Genesis 22:1-2 – “Some time after these things, God tested Abraham.  He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” Abraham replied.  ² God said, “Take your son—your only son, whom you love, Isaac—and go to the land of Moriah!  Offer him up there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will indicate to you.”

Our God reigns!   As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, the thought of tests and trials filled my mind.  We have all had them, and almost nobody likes them.  We prefer ease, calm seas, and everything working perfectly.  We enjoy having plenty!

Abram, who became Abraham by promise, was 100 when his promise came.  As he grew accustomed to the presence of the promise and the relative ease of life, he probably thought, “I have arrived!”

Genesis 22:1-2 reveals a truth hard to grasp for most –“The greater the Promise, the greater the Test.”  The greater the mission and promise, the greater the need for total trust.  Total trust is demonstrated in the heat of the battle.

God said, “Take your promise and kill it on the altar of sacrifice to Me.” Let your promise, dream, vision, and hope die!  Most would have said, “Get behind me, Satan.” Abraham believed God!   He understood Covenant!  He believed in God’s integrity.  He believed in God’s power.  His words to the servants and to Isaac revealed his trust.  Imagine explaining to Sarah if God did not come through!

Later, having been through that demonstration of complete obedience and miraculous provision, Isaac learned to trust completely.  In Genesis 26, God gave Isaac instructions.   Stay in the place of difficulty, and I will provide.  Genesis 26:12 – Wait!  A hundredfold return sounds like a blessing, but the addendum tells us that the blessings far exceeded the hundredfold.  Great promises bring great trials from which flow great blessings.

But we have to trust and obey!  It’s more than verbal or mental assent; it is actually doing what we are told.  It requires sacrifice and faith.  If God doesn’t, we fail.  It may seem like the abandonment of reason.  God is either totally trustworthy, or He is not.

Genesis 26:20-22 reveals this truth.  Isaac dug wells that were named in a way to reveal the process.  (Aska) – difficulty.  (Satana) – adversary (Rehoboth) – enlarge.  First is need, followed by difficulty; then comes opposition, and persistence brings enlargement.  We reap IF we don’t quit!  We win IF we don’t stop.  We harvest IF we don’t quit.  So, don’t even think about quitting!  Total obedience brings total blessing!

LORD, help us to embrace our tests and trials and press forward into the fullness of Your reward!

Genesis 11:5-9 – “But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the people had started building.  ⁶ And the Lord said, “If as one people all sharing a common language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be beyond them.  ⁷ Come, let’s go down and confuse their language so they won’t be able to understand each other.”  ⁸ So the Lord scattered them from there across the face of the entire earth, and they stopped building the city.  ⁹ That is why its name was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the entire world, and from there the Lord scattered them across the face of the entire earth.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was reminded of how detailed God is in dealing with mankind.  He who knows everything intricately plans everything.  He dots every “I” and crosses every “T.” Nothing is left to chance.

God laces His accounts of history with powerful revelation.   In Genesis 11, in the story of the Tower of Babel, we immediately see the power of communication.  “The whole earth spoke one language and had one manner of speech.”  Even in the church today, we may speak the same language but do not have the same manner of speaking.  We say the same thing and use the exact words, but mean different things.  There is no unity because there is no common understanding.  In verse 6, God said, “They are one people, and they have one language, and they have reasoned to do this thing…”

Communication grounded in commonality enables reasoned plans to become anchors for the community.  God said that because of this, they can do whatever is in their hearts.

Alone, we may dream but are unable to implement the dream or vision.  But unified, nothing is impossible!  We can achieve to the extent we can dream.

The New Testament principle:  In unity, we are undefeatable.  Through communication, we overcome the limits of individualism.  Threefold cords are strong, but an entire community unified is undefeatable.

That’s why we need others.  That’s why the family unit is so important.  That’s why husband-and-wife teams (unified) are so formidable.  It is communication and unity.  When we are unified in Christ, operating in the power of the Holy Spirit, NOTHING is impossible!

We have a commission, a mission, and as a unit (if we die to self), we can bring the kingdom to earth.  Paul instructed the church to “say” the same thing.  We need to learn the language of the Spirit of God!  Access to the Unlimited is before us!

Observe and implement the revelations God gives daily and walk in His planned victory!

Matthew 25:35-40 –   ^“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Although my text is not a traditional Christmas text, I believe it embodies the true Spirit of Christmas.  As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word, I was reminded of more than a brief text allows to disclose.  There were multiple reminders that relate to life and this season (Christmas). 

God gave Israel a life principle that the church has forgotten – Handfuls on Purpose.   What am I talking about?  They were never to glean the corners of their fields and not go back to pick up what was missed in the first reaping. 

Why?  It was an act of benevolence to provide food for the poor, needy, and hungry.  It allowed people to receive help while maintaining a sense of dignity.  This was not begging. It was a benevolent provision.  God is concerned with people’s dignity and yet wants people to be productive.   Remember what Paul told the Thessalonians?  If anyone refuses to work, don’t feed them. 

Here at Christmas, we should remember the needy.  I know of people and businesses who employ the poor and needy to do odd jobs rather than just giving them a handout.  Some of those were inspired to continue the climb out of poverty with a sense of pride and dignity.   I’ve also known of those who just gave handouts, and many of the recipients became perpetual beggars.   Willing to be idle and provided for with no sense of pride. 

God trained Israel to help the needy.  The Psalms tell us that if we care for and give to the poor, God considers it a loan to Him, and He always repays.  He even said that doing that would cause us to be raised up from our sick beds.

They cared for others out of gratitude for God’s goodness and provision.  They also gave knowing that, in God’s Covenant, there was no lack.  They lived with no sense of lack.    They considered that Everything they had was God’s and was to be shared. 

The Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6 was their foundation. They believed that coventally, they could expect God to bless, protect, and keep them.

The face of God shining on them assured them of provision and reflected God’s approval. His countenance lifted up, bringing Shalom (more than peace but divine enablement to do and be), giving assurance of His person, power, and presence.

God’s name was put on them, a mark of ownership!  They belonged to The Living God!   The Owner, Creator, and Possessor of All Things.   With that mindset, they could live in total peace with absolute assurance that He was their sun and shield.  They were Kept!

In European castles, there is a place at the entrance with an open area and a balcony or platform where a few soldiers could hold off large forces around the walls.   That place was called The Keeps.    God is our Keeps, and for the enemy to reach us, he has to go through God.  Sounds pretty secure to me.

For the devil to touch us, he must go through God.  Unless God lifts His hand, NO weapon can prevail.  We abide in the inner sanctuary of God just inside the Keeps!  He is our Keeper!

To tie it all together, when we remember the needy, we open the door to God’s blessings and move into the Pavilion tent of protection and provision.   Remembering them might be more than monetary. It is sometimes compassion and encouragement.

I encourage everyone to purposefully leave handfuls on purpose for those in need, whatever they need.   Christmas is all about Giving.   It is not about receiving or exchanging gift for gift.  It is a selfless sacrifice.

Merry Christmas, and may the Aaronic blessing be fully realized in you!