神の計画 God's Plan

ある青年は結婚したがっていました。しかし、自分はそれほどハンサムではないのに「美人でなければだめだ。」と強情を張り、理想が高すぎて、結婚相手が見つかりませんでした。ところがある時に交通事故に巻き込まれ、目を負傷して、視力が極端に衰えてしまいました。彼はとても失望しました。でも、目が悪くなったので、結婚相手が美人であるか、無いかは問題ではなくなりました。それで、美人じゃないが、気立ての良い女性と結婚できて、幸せな結婚生活が持てるようになりました。

私たち人間は、耐えきれないような苦境に立たされると、なぜ自分は今これほどの、困難、試練に立たされているのか。なぜ自分はこれほど苦しまなければならないのかと考えます。

しかし、神様はそれらの試練を通して、信じる者を高く引き上げ、さらにより素晴らしい祝福された人生に導こうとされているのです。

「神を愛する人々、すなわち、神のご計画に従って召された人々のためには、神がすべてのことを働かせて益としてくださることを、私たちは知っています。」ローマ 8:28

ヨセフの試練は神の計画だったのです。

神様はヨセフの受けた試練を通してヨセフの家族を救うようにあらかじめ計画されていたのです。

神様は先を見通して、最善の道を備えてくださるお方です。

ヨセフの身に及んだ試練の数々は、ヨセフがエジプトの総理大臣になることと関連しています。

1．彼が兄弟たちから憎まれ、エジプトに奴隷として売られなければ、エジプトの総理大臣にはならなかったでしょう。

2．ヨセフが、ポテパロの妻に誘惑され、それを拒んだため牢屋に入れられる結果になりました。

3．しかし、王の監獄に入れられなければ、王の前に出て、王に次ぐ地位を得ることはできなかったでしょう。

牢屋に入れられたため、王の検酌官長と調理官長に出会うことになります。

そして、彼らを通して、エジプト王パロに出会う結果になります。

4．そのパロ王の夢を解釈することで、一躍、王に次ぐ地位の高いエジプトの総理大臣になります。

5．そして、その地位を通して、7年間の豊作でできた作物を貯蔵して飢饉に備えます。

エジプトの民とその周辺の国々民を7年間の飢饉から救う結果になります。

そればかりではありません、イスラエルに住むヨセフの家族も飢饉で食べ物がなくなり、食糧を得るためにエジプトへ来るのです。

こうして、ヨセフは自分の家族を救うことになります。

神様はこれらの試練を通してヨセフを総理大臣に昇進させ、エジプトの民、ヨセフの家族を救うように計画されたのです。

ヨセフは食糧を求めに来た兄弟たちに言いました。

それで神は私をあなたがたより先にお遣わしになりました。

それは、…‥　大いなる救いによってあなたがたを生きながらえさせるためだったのです。

だから、今、私をここに遣わしたのは、あなたがたではなく、実に、神なのです。

神は私をパロには父とし、その全家の主とし、またエジプト全土の統治者とされたのです。創世記45:4-8

私はニュージーランドに移住した当初、1年間仕事が見つかりませんでした。

その間、詐欺師にだまされ、お金をとられたり、息子の病気になったり、試練の連続でした。

しかし、息子の病気を通して息子の学校の校長先生と知り合いに成れ、その校長の推薦があって有名高校教師の仕事を手にすることができました。

ですから、試練が来たら、落ち込まないで、神様は試練を通してさらに良い道へ導かれることを信じましょう。

神様は全てのことを働かせて、試練の状況を用いて、信じる者に益になるように導いてくださいます。

さらに試練を通し、鍛えられ、磨かれ、練られた品性を持つ人格へと、イエス様のみ姿に似るように成長させてくださるのです。

A young man was wanting to get married. However, despite not being particularly handsome himself and yet wanting to marry a great beauty and because he would not make his ideals more realistic he was unable to find a suitable woman. He was involved in a car accident in which his eyes were injured and his eyesight was consequently diminished. He became extremely discouraged. Because his eyesight was no longer very good it was less important whether his wife was beautiful or not. He then married a woman who was not so beautiful but who had a good disposition and they had a happy life together.

We, human beings, when we face trials that are hard to bear often ask why it is that we have to face such trials and hardships. We wonder why we have to suffer so much. However, for those of us who believe, God uses the trials He allows and brings us through to a place of blessing. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.

Joseph`s trials were actually part of God`s plan. God planned that through the trials Joseph encountered his family would be saved. God can foresee the future and plans the best for us.

The trials that Joseph went through lead to his becoming prime Minister of Egypt:

1. If he had not been hated by his brothers and sold as a slave in Egypt he would not have become Prime Minister.

2. Joseph was tempted by Potiphar`s wife and because he refused her advances was thrown into prison.

3. If he had not been put into Pharaoh`s prison he probably would not have had the opportunity to go before Pharaoh and become second to him in the land. Because he was thrown into that prison he met Pharaoh`s cupbearer and baker. It was through that meeting that he was brought before Pharaoh.

4. Because he was able to interpret Pharaoh`s dream he was chosen to be second-in-command in Egypt.

5. Due to his position, Joseph was able to prepare for the coming famine during the seven years of plenty. The result was that the people of Egypt and the surrounding countries were saved during the years of famine. Not only that, but Joseph`s family who lived in Israel came to Egypt in search of food when there was none in their own country. In this way, Joseph was able to save his own family as well.

God had planned that through the trials he faced Joseph would be promoted to Prime Minister and be instrumental in saving the people of Egypt and also his own family. Joseph told his brothers when they came for food, “It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you….He sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant and to save your lives by a great deliverance. It was not you who sent me here but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.” Genesis 45:4-8.

When I moved to New Zealand I was unable to secure work for the first year. During that time I lost some money to a con man, my son got sick and it felt like there were trials one after the other. However, because of our son`s illness I got to know the Principal of his school and through him was able to get employed at one of the most prestigious schools in New Zealand.

If we face trials let us not become discouraged but believe that God will lead us through those hard times to something good. God works in all situations and somehow uses the hard times for our benefit. He uses the trials to discipline, polish and refine us in order that we might become more like Jesus.

奥平 Okudaira