Thursday, January 19, 2017

Joseph

It has been three years since I've read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. This year I decided it was time to do that again. I crave structure, and there is no better form of structure than to go in order. However, I decided I would take my journey through the Bible slowly. I'm certain I've grown as a believer over the past three years because the Lord is most assuredly faithful in that, so now is the time to take it all in again. No rush. No finish by 2018 resolution (It stings a little to go ahead and mention the next year like that.) Just taking my time. With that being said, I hope to occasionally post about some of what the Lord is teaching me - His Word does not return void. You should know, however, that occasionally is a vague term that takes on various meanings for me. And because this post is overdue - there will be several posts coming up. Here we have...

Joseph

Joseph isn't much different than you, or I.

He was a dreamer, literally. He had a family. He was a rule follower and did exactly what his father asked him to do and checked on his brothers. He was the prized child and had a beautiful coat to prove it. But that's not where we are alike.

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers because they were quite jealous of the special treatment he received by their father. Their own envy prompted them to "get rid" of Joseph for a small price. When I was reading this passage, I couldn't help but think of Judas who betrayed Jesus for a small price as well. Eventually, Joseph found himself in the land of Egypt working for the royal official, Potiphar. Just like any good soap opera, when a woman doesn't get her way she cries wolf. Because Joseph chose to honor the Lord by not having an affair with Potiphar's wife, the wife made false accusations against him, and thus Joseph was sent to jail. But. There's always a but. But in the midst of that prison cell - dark, dank, smelly, filthy- the Lord was with Joseph and showed him love and gave him favor in the sight of the guards. Joseph was allowed to be in charge of all the prisoners. The Lord gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams and used his gift to provide meaning to the dreams of key people in Pharaoh's court, who were also in prison at the time. Upon release, the cupbearer promised to tell the Pharaoh about Joseph, but he was forgotten. It wasn't until two years later when the Pharaoh had a few dreams that the cupbearer remembered Joseph.  Joseph was brought before the Pharaoh and interpreted his dreams, noting it was God who would give him the ability to find the meaning of the Pharaoh's dreams. Because the Pharaoh was pleased, he placed Joseph in charge of all operations needed to brace for the season of famine that was coming. Joseph found himself, as a Hebrew, in Egypt and in a place of power.

This is where you and I are like Joseph. Joseph sat in that prison cell for years, even an additional two years after he thought he would be released. This wasn't a condition he chose. I'm sure it wasn't ideal.  We, you and I, find ourselves in that place, don't we? How in the world did I end up in this place? I can't seem to find an end to all of this! Why is God doing this? For a faithful guy like Joseph, I think he might have asked the same questions. Yet Joseph continued to believe God had something for him. He just didn't know what. Eventually it would all come full circle to where Joseph was able to bring his family into Egypt, who were also effected by the famine, and save and protect that remnant of God's people.

Joseph needed to be hated by his brothers.
He needed to be sold into slavery.
He needed to work for Potiphar.
He needed to honor the Lord and avoid an affair.
He needed to be thrown into prison.
Grab this one! He needed to use the Lord's gifts to interpret those dreams.
He needed to be remembered two years later, at just the right time for Pharaoh's dreams.
He needed to be put in charge of storing and saving food.
He needed the favor of the Lord through Pharaoh to have his family live in Goshen and multiply.
Joseph had to be hated by his brothers in order to save his brothers and become the great nation God needed.

I'll be honest. I had a melt down last night. I'm tired of feeling yucky and moving slowly and now having a UTI. But I need the Lord to remind me that I needed to have this cyst. I needed to slow down and cling to Him. I needed to see God for God - every day, all day. I needed that dumb pain in my side to know that I'm not promised normal, but I am promised eternity.

God has a plan, and He works all things for good.
I am Joseph.
You are Joseph.

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20


2 comments:

  1. I read this passage this morning too, but I had a splitting headache and wasn't totally focused on it. I prayed that God would use what I had read and would bring it to mind throughout the day. I just wanted you to know that you were an answer to that prayer, that you would choose to write on this passage today!
    I'm doing this study guide and the other section was about when Judas betrayed Jesus, so that's neat that He also brought that to your mind today. http://www.bibleclassmaterial.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for telling me that! It's crazy because I've been meaning to sit down and write this since last Monday but today was the day! Neat to see how God works like that!!

      Delete