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Text: Genesis 45:1-8
“Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” — Genesis 45:5
Though he came from a dysfunctional family of constant infighting, emotional manipulation, and conniving undercurrents, Joseph was destined to become a great leader. In Genesis 37, his story begins with a lofty dream at the age of seventeen—a dream his older brothers despised. They had already deeply resented Joseph because he was clearly their father’s favorite child, but after Joseph revealed to his brothers a dream in which they would bow down to him, it was endgame for the young visionary.
One day, while out in the fields, they saw Joseph coming and conspired against him. “Here comes this dreamer,” they said to one another. “Let us kill him and we will see what will become of his dreams.” But instead they seized him and sold him into slavery. Betrayed by his family, he was taken away by a caravan of slave traders who took him to Egypt where he served in the house of a powerful leader named Potiphar. Seemingly overnight, Joseph’s ambitious dream had turned into a horrible nightmare.
Though his life situation had taken a drastic turn for the worse, and he found himself a slave in a distant foreign land, Joseph learns that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39). No unfavorable shift in circumstances, geography, or social status could thwart God’s favorable purposes in Joseph’s life. The Bible says that the Lord was with Joseph, and he became successful and prosperous in everything he touched. The young Hebrew slave remained faithful to the Lord in every situation and maintained his integrity at all times.
When Potiphar’s wife made sexual advances toward him, Joseph resisted her shameless attempt at seduction. This angered her to the tune of falsely accusing him of violating her. Joseph goes from the penthouse to the prison house overnight. He would later describe this dungeon with a word that literally means “the pit,” which infers a lightless and hopeless place (Genesis 40:15). Joseph remained in prison for some time, but not without the presence of God, even in such a dark place.
Scripture says,
“But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.” (Genesis 39:21-23 ESV)
From the Pit to the Palace
Some time later, through a divinely appointed sequence of events, Joseph was given the opportunity of a lifetime. Thirteen years after his brothers betrayed him, Joseph was brought before the head of Egypt and asked to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. After successfully interpreting the dream, Joseph was appointed as second in command over all of Egypt. His God-given insight was instrumental in saving multitudes of lives from starvation during a time of severe famine.
In the course of that famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt in search of food. They find themselves at the mercy of the one whose death they had plotted, but who was now a powerful ruler in Egypt. They were terrified, but fortunately for them, Joseph was not in the business of revenge. He forgave them. He interpreted their betrayal and his subsequent hardships as part of God’s sovereign plan to save many lives. Joseph could look back and see how every difficulty in his life had prepared him for an influential position of servant-leadership. He didn’t feel cheated or victimized, just part of God’s overarching redemption story.
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to control our circumstances in life. But when we remember that it’s not our story that we are living, but God’s story through us, we can wake up every morning with peace. We can submit ourselves to the will of God knowing that everything’s going to be all right. We can forgive those who’ve hurt us mindful that God is using our pain for His glory. We can walk into the future without worry and anxiety. We can face our hardships without getting overwhelmed because we are part of a much bigger story—one that God is in control of every minute of every day. Think about that beloved, as you seek to abide in Him this week.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for inviting us to be a part of your bigger story in the world today. Help us to keep the big picture in mind as we face various trials and setbacks. Help us to rightly interpret our hardships as part of your good and gracious plan to bring about redemptive purposes through our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“Pain is no evil unless it conquers us.” George Eliot Tweet this
Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:
- What were some of your earliest childhood dreams? How have your dreams changed over the years?
- What can Joseph’s story teach us about faithfulness and perseverance?
- How has God shaped your character through seasons of hardship in your life?
- Have painful experiences in your life ever given you a platform to share the gospel with others?
- What are some areas you need to submit to God’s control? How can an eternal perspective change the way you face difficulty today?
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