Part 1 of 3 – God Prepares
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
Do you recall the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors? This historical account of Joseph’s life is one of heroic redemption, perseverance, and a true testament of forgiveness. But what I’m most drawn to is the power of his ordinary, day-to-day example of steadfast faith despite the cruelty and injustice he experienced. In this 3 part blog series we’re going to identify the fingerprints of God on Joseph’s life. Doing so will give us a glimpse of how God has the ability to put the extra in ordinary in all of our lives.
Family Dynamics
Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel. Jacob had a total of 12 sons with numbers 11 and 12 being full blood brothers, Joseph and Benjamin. But Joseph was Jacob’s favorite because it was the first son he and his beloved Rachael were able to have. Unlike Jacob’s other wife Leah (who was actually Rachel’s sister) and the handmaid servants, Rachel had been barren for many years, so the arrival of Joseph was greatly celebrated by his older parents.
Apparently, Father Jacob was unable to hide his favoritism from his other sons. So much so, it caused the brothers to resent Joseph. Father Jacob had given Joseph a bright coat of many colors and the brothers determined that it indicated Joseph would assume family leadership. They became jealous and angry and constantly plotted against him.
For those who have siblings and understand that dynamic, you can imagine what it would have been like to have ten older brothers who had it out for you. Every. Single. Day.
Joseph’s Gifting
God gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams. Some of the dreams and visions Joseph was personally experiencing revealed that his brothers would bow down to him. Despite the harsh conditions his siblings created, Joseph had an underlying feeling that things were going to turn around someday.
I feel sure Joseph was counting those days waiting for the turnaround to happen. Have you ever been waiting on God to deliver on something? It can seem like forever. I’ve often said that the hardest thing about walking with God is waiting on Him.
One of Joseph’s talents, dream interpretation, had been revealed at an early age, but wisdom would come later. I’m not sure if he shared his dreams with his brothers from a lack of maturity or if he wanted to “even the score.” Either way, it equates to a lack of wisdom. He would often share with his brothers how they would bow down to him. It did not endear him but rather rubbed salt in his brothers’ wounds.
Into Slavery
From the perspective of ten older brothers who felt slighted by their father and saw Joseph as an arrogant thorn in their side, the odds were not in Joseph’s favor. At their first chance, the brothers sold Joseph into slavery and told their father that a wild animal had killed him.
The caravan of Ishmaelites who had purchased Joseph took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard.
As a slave in Potiphar’s house, Joseph showed up every day and gave it his best. From his place of service, he found favor with Potiphar who escalated him to a place of power where Joseph freely moved about the house. He was very impressed with Joseph because everything Joseph touched prospered. Even Potiphar’s wife was impressed with him, but unfortunately for the wrong reason.
After making many attempts to seduce Joseph, she took advantage of one particular moment when no other men of the house were present. Calling him to her room, she asked him to lie with her. When he rejected her, she became angry and grabbed his coat. He ran right out of it and, leaving it behind, fled the room. Can you guess what this embarrassed woman did with his coat? She used it as proof that Joseph had been in her room and told her husband that Joseph had tried to have sex with her.
Imprisonment
With those false accusations, Joseph tumbled from a prominent place to the jail underneath the city.
True to his nature, Joseph served the warden wholeheartedly. His faithful service gained favor with the warden who, before long, put him in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no worries because he saw that Joseph had favor with God, and everything he did succeeded.
Joseph rode out the ever-changing conditions of his life with a steadfast faith. I’m not saying he did so without question or that he didn’t struggle to understand. It seemed that every time he experienced smooth sailing a storm would flip his boat. But Joseph trusted his God above the storm. He continued to show up wherever he was lead and did his best, believing that God would guide him through the rest.
To the natural eye, I think you would agree with me that the brothers had won. They had achieved exactly what they set out to do. Joseph would be a lowly slave or, worse yet, a prisoner the rest of his life. They didn’t care where he ended up, as long as he was not anywhere near them.
Real Life
Joseph’s story is a genuine reflection of real life. Highs and lows, just like us today, he experienced every facet of life. Sometimes the consequences were by his own hand, other times from influences out of his control. Each individual day was sculpting who he was and building one on top of the other leading to his best days ahead.
Are there days or situations you felt should look different? Maybe you’re doing the best you can, but what you envisioned as the response is not at all what you’re experiencing. Are you doing exactly what you heard God say, but the results are not at all what you expected.
Have you began to question God? Do you wonder if He sees you or even cares about you? I guarantee He sees you, He loves you, and He’s working from a perspective that is not our own.
With or without God, life will have it’s ups and downs. God is constantly calling to us to talk with Him, lean on Him and learn from His wisdom. He wants to help us through the tough times and He wants to celebrate with us in the good.
Sweet woman, I want to assure you that God sees you. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He’s in your corner working everything out in a way that will equip you to fulfill that which you have been created for. We need only put our feet on top His and learn to dance, at His pace, letting Him lead.
Now LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
Join me next week as we get to see that God has the power to turn our circumstances around and redeem our pain so that not one single moment of it is in vain.
These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.
This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take what you discover and hold it up to the Light to evaluate it against who God says you are.
- Has there been a time when someone made your life difficult…on purpose?
- What did it cost you?
- Do you still have any sensitive or hard feelings about that situation or that person?
- If so, what about it still digs at you? Why does it still get under your skin?
- Can you agree that God has the power to bring beauty from your ashes?
- Is this a situation that you would be able to lay at God’s feet and believe that He will have the last say so and it will be good?
Use God’s word to take control over traumas in your life. Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts, take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises found in His word.
Print, then cut and carry this Scripture with you and/or post it in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!
Here is what God’s word says to encourage you and to give you an example of His unfailing, relentless, unending love for you:
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
When you read God’s word say to yourself: As a believer in Jesus Christ I am called to a higher standard. One that reflects the heart of God for mankind. The type of standard that gives God room to bring beauty to my heartache.
Now LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
