Watching large waves crash against the shore can be an impressive and grand thing to see. It is a different thing, though, if one is caught in those waves, and one is struggling to get out. Wave after wave comes pounding against you, knocking you back down every time you try to stand up and move. Sometimes life seems to be like that for some people. Problems and struggles keep coming, like endless waves. Problem after problem in a never-ending parade. One can barely get their head up to catch a breath before the next problem comes to knock them over. If we go through a period in our life where the waves of troubles keep coming, how do we react? Some people curse God and turn their back on Him. Others crumble, feeling that God has abandoned them, and their faith breaks and withers away. Joseph, Jacob’s beloved son, went through some rather horrific trials. Let’s see how he came through.
The Old Testament patriarch Jacob had twelve sons. Joseph, son number 11, was his favorite, as he was the first son that his beloved and favorite wife Rachel bore him. When Joseph was about 17 years old, Jacob sent him to check on his ten older brothers as they watched the flocks and herds in a distant pasture. We read what happens in Genesis 37:17-28. The brothers plotted to kill him, and be rid of their father’s favorite, as their jealousy and hatred against him was so strong. Jealousy can get so strong and out of control that it can lead to murder. The brothers threw Joseph into a pit, probably after beating him up quite a bit. As he lay, bleeding and bruised at the bottom of the pit, having had his robe torn off of him, he undoubtedly heard his brothers discussing how they would kill him and tell their father. Imagine the fear that coursed through him at this time, in a dark pit, hearing his life would end in some painful, brutal way! In the end, the brothers decided to make some money, and sold him to passing slave traders, and told their father he was killed by wild animals.
Our passage picks up after Joseph has been sold as a slave to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s army. After being beaten by his brothers, dropped into a pit, and then sold as a slave, after walking in the hot sun in shackles several hundred miles, one could understand if Joseph had lost all faith in God. Joseph was a slave, and there was no one to have pity on him. What do we read in verse 2? “The Lord was with Joseph.” God had not abandoned Joseph. Through the beatings, the humiliation, the long, hot journey, with the sting of the whip at his back, God was with Joseph. God honored his faithfulness, as well, by blessing him in the household of Potiphar so that he quickly rose to being chief steward in the household.
This position didn’t last too long, though, as we further read. Potiphar’s wife, angry that Joseph didn’t succumb to her advances, told some vicious lies about him, which landed him in prison. There was no trial, as he was a slave and his owner a high ranking political figure. Prisons in Biblical times were horrid places, but even there, Joseph made the best of things. As we read in verses 21 and 23, “The Lord was with Joseph”. He did not abandon him, even in the prison cell. Joseph’s faithfulness to the Lord was honored, even here, as the prison guard trusted him with the overseeing of the place.
Joseph never gave up his faith or trust in the Lord God, even though at this time, he did not have any of the Scriptures that we have to turn to, to bring him comfort and peace. We can learn several things from the adversities that Joseph went through, and his strong faithfulness to the Lord. Serving God faithfully can bring testing. Joseph was faithful, no matter what he went through, and God did not forget him and his obedience. At the right time He blessed Joseph by raising him to live in the palace and become second only to Pharaoh.
Difficulties will continue until God’s purpose is accomplished. God was preparing Joseph to rescue his family, and thus save the line of the Messiah. We often learn more during trials than we do during the easy times. Joseph learned to reject temptation and trust God’s faithfulness. Nor did he let the problems in his life make him a bitter or angry man, as unfortunately so many people do during trials. Joseph did not focus on himself. Adversity is painful, but the Lord uses it to further His purposes, and equip us for His plan.
As we saw, Joseph went from a pit, to a prison, to a palace. God is with us even when our circumstances scream that He has deserted us. Remember the verse repeated three times in our passage, “The Lord was with Joseph”, and He is with us in our trials, as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment