Do you struggle with what seems like unanswered prayer? Maybe you’ve been deeply hurt, possibly by someone close to you. Or maybe it’s a financial trial, a serious illness, or a loss. Whatever it is, you feel like you’ve been crying out to God for help with no relief in sight. The psalmist in today’s reading expressed the same feelings. How can understanding his prayer help you and me?

Also, read about Joseph and how he is a “type of Christ.” A type is a picture (like the old “tintype,” pictures taken during the 1800s). In this case, a picture of Christ, a glimpse into God’s heart and the character of our Savior. What exactly does that mean and how should his example inspire us today?

Welcome to Soul Survival where I blog through the Bible in a Year along with Bible studies and other Christian living posts. This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each Bible in a Year post. And … this year I’m also reading through the Bible on YouTube. You can check out my channel here. The daily emails now have a link to both the Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. I hope you’ll sign up.

Today’s Readings:

Genesis 47 & 48
Psalm 13.1-6
Proverbs 4.18-19
Matthew 15.21-39

Struggling with Unanswered Prayer?

Psalm 13.1-6:

Unanswered Prayer: How Long?

The psalmist in chapter 13 prayed:

How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? (v. 1).

He was saying, in effect, Where are You, Lord? Why all this unanswered prayer? Ever felt that way? You’re praying, but your prayers just seem to hit the ceiling.

The psalmist said, “Will you forget me forever?” Time had passed and the answer and relief he wanted didn’t come. But in spite of not fully understanding, the psalmist kept praying in faith:

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken (vv. 3-4).

He goes on:

But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me (vv. 5-6).

“But … I have trusted in Your lovingkindness.” The psalmist made a conscious decision to trust God. He chose to focus on the faithfulness of God.

We, too, can choose to trust God in our trials and with our unanswered prayer!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Prov. 3.5).

Our prayers may start out, as the psalmist’s did, “How long, O Lord?” But if we stay faithful, God will not only faithfully answer according to His will and His timing, but we will be changed as we grow in our ability to trust Him.

Today’s Other Readings:

Genesis 47 & 48:

A Picture of Christ

After years of separation, Joseph and his family have been reunited. Here in chapter 47, we see Joseph’s care for his aging father, “Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh” (Gen. 47.7).

I imagine Joseph helping his elderly father into some kind of a chair so Jacob can show his respect to Pharaoh and pray for him. But he doesn’t just care for his father; he also cares for his brothers. In verse 11 Joseph “situated his father and his brothers” and in verse 12 he “provided” for his father and his brothers. Remember, these are the same brothers who sold him into slavery.

Joseph is a type of Christ. A type is a picture (like the old “tintypes,” pictures taken during the 1800s). In this case, a picture of Christ, a reflection of what was to come. We can look at those old photos and see that while they were not perfect images, they give us some idea of what the real person looked like. In the same way, when we look at the various “types of Christ,” each one shows us some of the attributes of God and points us to Christ.

So what can we learn about God and His character from Joseph’s story? And how can it encourage us?

Joseph’s Unanswered Prayer

I couldn’t help thinking about the psalmist we just read about in Psalm 13. I can’t imagine that Joseph didn’t feel the same way at times. The text doesn’t say, but he probably prayed while he was in that pit (Gen. 37.18-24), as the slave traders carried him off (Gen. 37.25-28), and when he was falsely accused (Gen. 39.11-20).

We know Jesus Himself prayed in the garden the night before He was betrayed and condemned to die (Matt. 26.39). Both of them were faced with unanswered prayer. But God had a purpose in each case. Just as He does in our lives.

Forgiveness & Grace

We can see God’s forgiveness and grace reflected in Joseph’s attitude toward his ten older brothers. He not only said that he forgave them and didn’t punish them for their sin and mistreatment, but he also provided for them. He did good to them and comforted them repeatedly (Gen. 45.5-8, 50.20).

Likewise, God has called us to forgive just as God has forgiven us (Eph. 4.32) and to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12.17-21).

Honor Your Father & Mother

Joseph was an important man. He had many responsibilities. He was second in command of the most powerful nation on the earth at that time. Yet, he honored his aging father. He showed him respect in front of Pharaoh, honored his request to be buried in his homeland, and allowed him to bless his sons.

One of Jesus’ last acts was to ask John to care for His mother (Jn. 19.26-27). And like Jesus and Joseph, we are to honor our parents.

Faithful Stewardship

I think we can also learn a great deal from Joseph about faithful stewardship in our jobs and how to live under authority. Remember, Joseph was in charge of all the food that had been stored up for the famine. 

Even when times got hard for the people, he didn’t just give the food away because it wasn’t his to give. He was only a steward. Instead, he wisely allowed the people to barter for goods (Gen 47.13-26).

Sometimes we criticize or resent our employers for making a profit or for not doing things the way we think they should. Employees may even be tempted to give things away, but if we are stewards and not owners that is wrong. Unless an employer asks us to sin, in which case we must respectfully refuse, we are to be faithful stewards. We must do so not just when they are watching, but at all times.

Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart (Eph. 6.5-6).

But there are many other ways that Joseph’s life paralleled that of Jesus.

How Did Joseph’s Life Parallel Jesus’?

Here is a list taken from The MacArthur Daily Bible*:

He was a shepherd of his father’s family (Jn. 10.11, 27–29; Gen. 37.2).

His father loved him dearly (Matt. 3.17 37.4; Gen. 37.3).

He was hated by his brothers (Jn. 7.4, 5; Gen. 37.13, 14).

He was sent by his father to his brothers (Heb. 2.11; Gen. 37.20).

Others plotted to harm them both (Jn. 11.53; Gen. 37.23).

Their robes were taken from them (Jn. 19.23, 24; Gen. 37.26).

Both were taken to Egypt (Matt. 2.14, 15; Gen. 37.28).

He was sold for the price of a slave (Matt. 26.15; Gen. 39.7).

Both were tempted (Matt. 4.1; Gen. 39.16–18).

Both were falsely accused (Matt. 26.59, 60; Gen. 38.20).

Each was bound in chains (Matt. 27.2; Gen. 40.2, 3).

Like Jesus, he was placed with two other prisoners, one who was saved and the other who was lost (Lk. 23.32; Gen. 41.41).

They were exalted after suffering (Phil. 2.9–11; Gen. 41.46).

Each was 30 years old at the beginning of their public recognition (Lk. 3.23; Gen. 42.24; 45.2, 14, 15; 46.29).

Both wept (Jn. 11.35; Gen. 45.1–15).

They forgave those who wronged them (Lk. 23.34; Gen. 45.7).

They saved their nation (Matt. 1.21; Gen. 50.20).

What men did to hurt them, God turned to good (1 Cor. 2.7, 8).

What an amazing picture! 

Proverbs 4.18-19:

Light & Darkness

18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.

Righteousness brings more light while wickedness only increases a person’s spiritual darkness.

Matthew 15.21-39:

Humility & Tested Faith

Jesus’ discussion with the Gentile woman, at first, may strike us as harsh and unloving. Look how she comes to Him:

Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed (v. 22).

…  and at first, He doesn’t even answer!

²³ But He answered her not a word.

And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

²⁴ But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

²⁵ Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

²⁶ But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

Yet, look at her humble response:

²⁷ And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Jesus was testing her heart attitude. Was her heart filled with pride or did she understand, as we all should, that we deserve nothing? Anything we receive from God is His grace!

Let’s walk in His grace today!

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we’ll talk about religious prejudice, parenting, sleeping with frogs, and what to do when you try trusting God and things get worse.

I hope you’ll join me and, if you haven’t already,  take the challenge to read through the Bible with me this year. Even though we may do it imperfectly or miss a day here and there, I find when we set it as a goal, we read far more of God’s Word than we would otherwise. I know we all get far too much email these days but having the daily devotion pop up in your inbox each day can serve as a general reminder to get into God’s Word. It goes out at 6 a.m. MST.

You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest, and now listen on YouTube. Just click on the social media icons or go to my YouTube channel. 

Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

*Nelson, Thomas. NKJV, The MacArthur Study Bible, eBook: Read through the Bible in one year, with notes from John MacArthur (Kindle Locations 69822-69850). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Do you ever struggle with prayer? Do you sometimes feel it’s just one more thing on your to-do list or that you don’t measure up in this area? Me, too, but these are some of the strategies that I’ve learned through the years that have helped me have a more consistent and meaningful prayer life.