Psalms 105:13

Psalms 105:13 says, When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;  The people of Israel at times found themselves in another land.. Verse fourteen adds, He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;  Even if they were in another land, whether by choice as Egypt or in defeat militarily as by the Philistines, God was still their protector.  No matter where we find ourselves today, even if we are in a land where we are persecuted, God will not allow us to come to any harm spiritually.  Verse fifteen continues, Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.  God warned those in power over the people of Israel not to harm them, and He gives the same warning to everyaone today.  Though we may not live to see it, those who harm Christians will one day be held accountable by God when His final judgment comes.  Verse sixteen declares, Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.  God caused a famine to come on the world, even the land of Canaan.  Those who are supposed to be God's people are not exempt from His judgment if they stray away from Him in this lifetime.  Verse seventeen adds, He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:  Still, even during the famine God had provided a away for the people of Israel to be fed by Joseph's work in Egypt.  God will always provide a way for His people.  Verse eighteen continues,Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:  At one time it would not have looked as though Joseph would have been in a position to save the people of Isreal, since he was imprisoned himself.  We cannot allow our situation to keep us from serving God, even when we may feel that there is no hope.  Verse nineteen states, Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.  When God's timing was right, His word came to Joseph.  We need to be ready when God's timing is right to do whatever He leads us to do as followers of Christ, no matter our circumstances at the time.  Joseph could have simply given up on God when he was imprisoned, but he didn't.  Verse twenty adds, The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.  After Joseph had almost given up hope, the king of Egypt sent for him, and after Joseph interpreted his dreams by the power of God, he was set free and made a ruler over the people of Egypt.  We may never be a ruler over people today as Christians, but God has set us free from the power of sin.  Verse twenty-one continues, He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:  Joseph became the second most powerful man in Egypt. When God sets us free by accepting salvation provided by Jesus Christ, He alone is the authority in our life.  Verse twenty-two concludes, To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.  Joseph not only had authority over the princes, but he was to teach them wisdom, which can only come from God.  Verse twenty-three says, Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.  The people of Israel, upon learning who Joseph was, came to Egypt.  Likewise, if we are to find salvation today we must come to Jesus Christ by faith upon learning Who He is.  Otherwise, we will remain in a spiritual famine, doomed to one day go away  to everlasting punishment.   Verse twenty-four adds, And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their  enemies. Though we could read this as Joseph increasing the people of Israel, it was God working through Joseph Who did it.  We as followers of Christ do not increase the kingdom of God, but God working through us does.