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“search the scriptures” John 5:39
A meditation on Psalm 105 verses 16 and 17
‘When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave’, ESV.
In 2015, shortly after being made redundant for the first time, I prayed that the Lord would speak to me through my daily Bible reading. That morning, He graciously drew my attention to Psalm 105 verses 16 and 17 - verses that capture key truths about God’s dealings with His people in times of trial. In moments of uncertainty and loss, such as redundancy, these verses offer deep encouragement. They remind us that God is not only present in our suffering but is also sovereign over it, working out His purposes through it.
Psalm 105, which begins with thankfulness and concludes with a note of praise, provides a sweeping historical review of Israel’s journey from God’s covenant with Abraham to its fulfilment as Israel enters the Promised Land. Nestled between these great events are two remarkable verses describing a devastating famine, vv. 16, 17. Just as famine was a time of acute hardship for Israel, redundancy can feel overwhelming in the present. Yet, with time, we may come to see it as part of a far greater plan God is unfolding for our good.
God summoning a famine, v. 16. Psalm 105 states plainly that God called for the famine. He was not merely responding to events - He was sovereign over them. Focusing on God’s sovereignty is one of the most effective ways for a believer to endure a trial such as redundancy. Redundancy often leaves the future feeling uncertain, but when we recognize that God allows such events for our good, we can experience the peace Paul describes, Phil. 4. 7. Some Bible teachers paraphrase this verse ‘The peace of God, is better than knowing the reason why’ or ‘which is better than understanding what the future holds’.
Job’s experience reminds us that God’s sovereignty can operate in a permissive way; Satan requested, and was granted permission to bring about Job’s severe material and financial losses. We may ask, as Jacob’s family perhaps did, ‘Why has this happened?’ For them, the famine brought about the fulfilment of Joseph’s prophetic dreams, Gen. 37. 5-9, when his brothers bowed before him in Egypt. Likewise, God may use redundancy to accomplish purposes we cannot yet see - perhaps even to cultivate humility in us. If so, we should not resist His hand.
In closing this section, we might note that Joseph himself endured great hardship, yet he was close enough to God to recognize His plans. He told the brothers, ‘you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good’, Gen. 50. 20 NKJV.
Breaking the supply of bread, v. 16. Just as famine meant that the supply of bread was broken for Israel, redundancy today often brings hardship to a home. Jacob was forced to send some of his family to a foreign country (Egypt) to look for bread. Following redundancy, families may be forced to relocate, and the ‘breadwinner’ may be separated for a time. All this causes financial insecurity and emotional strain.
Another reason why redundancy is so troubling for people is the uncertainty associated with it. How long will it take to find another job? For some, a new job may be found quickly, but others may face long periods of unemployment. For Jacob and his family, they faced seven years of famine.
Whatever the duration, Job again provides guidance, as he experienced far greater loss than most. When he declared, ‘the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away’, Job 1. 21 NKJV, he acknowledged both God’s sovereignty and grace - recognizing that all he had was God’s provision, and that God had the right to remove it. The lesson for us is clear: ultimately, God is our provider, not our employer.
The Lord Jesus reinforced this truth in His Sermon on the Mount, Matt. 6. 25-34. His words could easily have been spoken to someone facing redundancy. He exhorts His disciples not to respond like the Gentiles who anxiously ask, ‘what shall we eat?’ or ‘what shall we drink?’ or ‘what shall we wear?’ Instead, followers of Christ should take their lead from the birds who are fed by the heavenly Father. When the Lord said, ‘Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life’, v. 25 NKJV, He gave a command that for some is extremely difficult to follow. Those who suffer from anxiety may feel that these verses are specifically aimed at them. However, these verses are addressing the problem of materialism, which can affect all and not just the anxious. Paul refers to this problem in 1 Timothy chapter 6 verses 6 to 10, where he teaches the believer to be content with whatever material possessions they might have. Cultivating a spirit of contentment may well provide us with the ability to withstand the storm of redundancy.
The Chicago lawyer, Horatio Spafford, seems to have experienced this when, following immense personal and financial loss, he wrote the hymn It Is Well with My Soul. His losses included the tragic death of his children and the ruin of his business, yet he turned his grief into words of enduring faith.
Sending a man ahead, v. 17. In some translations, verse 16 begins with the word ‘when’, which links it to verse 17. When God caused the famine to come, He had already sent a man ahead to deliver them. We know this man to be Joseph who had been sent by God, in advance, in readiness for the famine. Long before we see the problem, God has prepared the solution. Redundancy does not catch God by surprise - His providential plan is already in motion.
The Psalm reminds us that God had arranged for Joseph to be in the right place and the right position to be able to help his family when the famine came. It is hugely reassuring for us to rest on the fact that God has it all planned out in advance. So many believers can testify to experiences of God’s providential goodness in times of material loss.
Another way in which God has richly prepared the solution for us is by providing a High Priest who is with us in the storms of life. The writer to the Hebrews points to this truth as a reason for not placing one’s faith in material things. Believers facing redundancy can rest on the assurance that ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee’, Heb. 13. 5, 6. It does appear that it is during the darkest hours that we appreciate His presence most.
This section is concluded with the thought that we should all be alert to the needs of others and be willing to help other believers who may be facing financial hardship. In Acts chapter 11 the Holy Spirit prompted Agabus to warn of a coming famine. As a result, ‘every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea’, v. 29.
Joseph, sold as a slave, v. 17. To human eyes, God’s chosen method of preserving Israel might seem perplexing. Why would God’s plans involve one of Jacob’s sons, Joseph, being sold into slavery? Joseph provided the answer when he said, ‘you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good’, Gen. 50. 20 NKJV. So, God might bring us through difficult periods in our lives to preserve us from a worse outcome. Equally, when a believer experiences redundancy, it may be that God has planned this to bring about some greater good. Our prayer should be that we might emulate Joseph.
It is not always easy for us to understand, or even see God’s providence in difficult circumstances, but some New Testament passages might help us. For instance, we learn that God uses trials to bring about spiritual maturity, Jas. 1. 2-4. It is a comfort to know that God is using redundancy to facilitate improvements to our spirituality. He also uses trials in our life to demonstrate the genuineness of our faith, 1 Pet. 1. 6, 7. The faith we show in times of difficulty, like redundancy, will be rewarded with praise when Christ returns.
Redundancy, like famine in Israel’s history, is never easy to endure. Yet Psalm 105 reminds us that such trials are neither random nor meaningless -they are woven into the fabric of God’s providential purposes. He is sovereign over both our plenty and our want. The same Lord who summoned a famine also sent a man ahead, showing that His plans include both the hardship and the provision. What appears to us as loss, delay, or perplexity is often preparation for something greater that we cannot yet see.
Joseph’s testimony - ‘you meant it for evil … but God meant it for good’ - captures this truth. Redundancy may seem bewildering at first, but it can be God’s means of redirecting us, deepening our trust, and refining our faith. Like Job, we are called to acknowledge both the Lord’s giving and His taking, resting in His goodness. Like Christ’s disciples, we are urged not to be anxious but to trust our heavenly Father who feeds the birds and clothes the flowers.
In the end, redundancy is not merely a conclusion but a pathway - a pathway toward greater humility, contentment, and confidence in God’s unfailing presence. He will never leave us nor forsake us, and His purposes always lead to praise.
As the poem written by Grant Colfax Tullar, but popularized by Corrie ten Boom, so eloquently puts it:
My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colours
He weaveth steadily.
Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow;
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.
Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver’s skilful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him
For a thoughtful and compassionate exploration of walking with God through seasons of trial, you may find comfort in Tim Keller’s book, Walking with God through Pain & Suffering, Hodder & Stoughton, 2013.
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