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. His feet were hurt with fetters. His neck was put in a collar of iron. Until what He said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested Him. The king sent and released him. The ruler of the peoples set him free. He made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions, to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom. (Verses 16-22)
Though his father had twelve sons, Joseph was the favorite. Jacob's wife, Rachel, was barren until, when it was almost too late, Joseph filled her vacant womb. The boy was young when his brothers were old enough to go out into the fields to work. He was at home and spoiled, even, as the apple of his father's eye. Joseph pranced about in a brightly-colored tunic specially made for him by his dad. Prone to tattling, the young boy found himself in trouble with the older boys who already hated the fact he was so favored. Then there were the dreams.
"Hey, you guys, you know what I dreamed last night?" Joseph to his brothers.
"Here he goes again," said Reuben to the others. "What this time, Joseph?"
"We were all out in the fields binding wheat when my sheaf stood and rose upright. Then, I looked, and all of your sheaves bowed down to mine!" Joseph is smiling. Loves the dreams. "Isn't that wild?"
"You think you will rule and reign over us, boy?" It made the boys furious. Little pipsqueak.
At breakfast on a day not much later, Joseph tells the family another of his dreams. "The sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me."
This was even too much for Jacob! "What! You think your mother and I along with all your brothers are going to bow to you?" Wonder what that means. Pondered it because he kind of believed in those dreams his kid had.
When he was seventeen, his brothers had enough and threw him into an empty well. Thinking they might kill him. Instead packed him up in a caravan going to Egypt where he was sold to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh. Many of the years in Egypt, Joseph was in prison for the rape of Potiphar's wife. Innocent of the charges, he languished there. It was his ability to dream that ultimately got him released and placed in the house of the Pharaoh. So trusted and loved was Joseph that he was put in charge of everything except the throne. And the sheaf stood up.
I have often thought about what must have gone on in the mind of Joseph from the days of the pit to the time of the throne. Wasted years in prison for no reason. Thwarted attempts to be freed even though he interpreted dreams for those who then forgot him. He must have cried out to his God, "What am I doing here?" It was unfair. Though he could've accused God when he accused his brothers, he didn't. Joseph kept his integrity, even sexually. He ran from Potiphar's wife rather than sin against his God and her husband. How can we do all the right things and still find ourselves in such a mess?
It turns out God was in the middle of the mess all along. What looked like a dead end, failure to the max, losing family, dignity and purpose, was really God's highway to fame. The plan involved the testing of Joseph's metal, but it wasn't the point of it. The apex of the plan was God saving His nation, Israel, from famine. He sent Joseph on ahead. Wove his life through the pathways leading to his destiny. Ignoble at first, pride in a multi-colored robe left in Canaan. The gift given by the Holy Spirit was, however, irrevocable and necessary to Joseph's greater story. In fact, so prominent was his ability to interpret dreams, even the worldly Pharaoh said, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?" The very gifting that caused such jealousy in the ones who should've recognized it as God-given, was embraced by a heathen king. For God's purposes.
Famine brought the family of Jacob to Egypt looking for a hand-out. And the sheaves bowed down. The dream wasn't the fantasy of a little kid. It was the message of a prescient God. A foreshadowing that one day they'd need a savior. And He'd provide one. In fact, was thinking about their future long before their bellies ached with hunger and their mouths dried up with thirst. Ever wonder if God cares about what's happening to you right now? Ever think it's so unfair that life has taken such a turn? Trust. Like Joseph did, that finally there will be a day when your journey is more clear, your path more direct. And know your Father, Who loves you with a steadfast love, has worked out your destiny before you each step of the way.
Though his father had twelve sons, Joseph was the favorite. Jacob's wife, Rachel, was barren until, when it was almost too late, Joseph filled her vacant womb. The boy was young when his brothers were old enough to go out into the fields to work. He was at home and spoiled, even, as the apple of his father's eye. Joseph pranced about in a brightly-colored tunic specially made for him by his dad. Prone to tattling, the young boy found himself in trouble with the older boys who already hated the fact he was so favored. Then there were the dreams.
"Hey, you guys, you know what I dreamed last night?" Joseph to his brothers.
"Here he goes again," said Reuben to the others. "What this time, Joseph?"
"We were all out in the fields binding wheat when my sheaf stood and rose upright. Then, I looked, and all of your sheaves bowed down to mine!" Joseph is smiling. Loves the dreams. "Isn't that wild?"
"You think you will rule and reign over us, boy?" It made the boys furious. Little pipsqueak.
At breakfast on a day not much later, Joseph tells the family another of his dreams. "The sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me."
This was even too much for Jacob! "What! You think your mother and I along with all your brothers are going to bow to you?" Wonder what that means. Pondered it because he kind of believed in those dreams his kid had.
When he was seventeen, his brothers had enough and threw him into an empty well. Thinking they might kill him. Instead packed him up in a caravan going to Egypt where he was sold to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh. Many of the years in Egypt, Joseph was in prison for the rape of Potiphar's wife. Innocent of the charges, he languished there. It was his ability to dream that ultimately got him released and placed in the house of the Pharaoh. So trusted and loved was Joseph that he was put in charge of everything except the throne. And the sheaf stood up.
I have often thought about what must have gone on in the mind of Joseph from the days of the pit to the time of the throne. Wasted years in prison for no reason. Thwarted attempts to be freed even though he interpreted dreams for those who then forgot him. He must have cried out to his God, "What am I doing here?" It was unfair. Though he could've accused God when he accused his brothers, he didn't. Joseph kept his integrity, even sexually. He ran from Potiphar's wife rather than sin against his God and her husband. How can we do all the right things and still find ourselves in such a mess?
It turns out God was in the middle of the mess all along. What looked like a dead end, failure to the max, losing family, dignity and purpose, was really God's highway to fame. The plan involved the testing of Joseph's metal, but it wasn't the point of it. The apex of the plan was God saving His nation, Israel, from famine. He sent Joseph on ahead. Wove his life through the pathways leading to his destiny. Ignoble at first, pride in a multi-colored robe left in Canaan. The gift given by the Holy Spirit was, however, irrevocable and necessary to Joseph's greater story. In fact, so prominent was his ability to interpret dreams, even the worldly Pharaoh said, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?" The very gifting that caused such jealousy in the ones who should've recognized it as God-given, was embraced by a heathen king. For God's purposes.
Famine brought the family of Jacob to Egypt looking for a hand-out. And the sheaves bowed down. The dream wasn't the fantasy of a little kid. It was the message of a prescient God. A foreshadowing that one day they'd need a savior. And He'd provide one. In fact, was thinking about their future long before their bellies ached with hunger and their mouths dried up with thirst. Ever wonder if God cares about what's happening to you right now? Ever think it's so unfair that life has taken such a turn? Trust. Like Joseph did, that finally there will be a day when your journey is more clear, your path more direct. And know your Father, Who loves you with a steadfast love, has worked out your destiny before you each step of the way.
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