Despair Part II

Joseph.   

They (his brothers) saw him in the distance, and before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes that dreamer! Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them. He said, “Let’s not take his life.” Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him”—intending to rescue him from their hands and return him to his father. 

When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off his robe, the robe of many colors that he had on. Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. 
Then they sat down to eat a meal. 

They looked up, and there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt.
Then Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and they agreed. When Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt. -Genesis 37:18-28

Later he finds himself being treated unfairly once again. A high ranking Egyptian official named Potiphar bought Joseph as a slave, but because of his faithful service and God’s blessing, he was made ruler over Potiphar’s house. The Bible says Joseph was “well built and handsome” (v. 6), and Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. He fled but left his coat behind. She told her husband that he had come onto her and subsequently Potiphar had him thrown in prison. 

Does Joseph become angry and curse God? No! He continues to worship his God despite his circumstances. So why would God allow this man to suffer? I believe it was to humble him and mold him in preparation for what God had planned. 

Most of us know how the story ends, Joseph becomes Pharaoh’s top man in all the country, but Joseph had no idea what God was doing. Despite the injustices done to him, he never wavered in his devotion to God. 

We too should walk in faith. Joseph was 30 years old when he was released from prison and made ruler, second only to Pharaoh. Thirty years of highs and lows but he never gave up his faith. 

Many of us today have been richly blessed. Maybe things lately have rocked our lives and we are questioning God. Friend, the God of the good times is also God during the bad times. Walk in faith, no matter how bad or how long. Nothing happens to you that He isn’t aware of. He will see you through this.

May God give you peace and joy during this dark season of your life and the faith to sustain you.     
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