I read the familiar but amazing story of Joseph again this morning. It never fails to interest me. I marvel at what Joseph enjoyed and endured. In short form here is my quick overview.
God blessed him: with his father's doting care; with prophetic dreams; with success in Potiphar's estate management; with success running the jail; the fascinating ability to interpret dreams; sudden promotion to the number 2 power position in all of Egypt at age 30; vindication and sweet, short lived revenge on his brothers; and finally the opportunity to provide for his aged father and the entire extended family, as well as all of Egypt during the severe famine. A story of marvellous success and blessing.
But God also allowed him to endure: hatred and rejection by 10 of his eleven brothers; almost being killed by them; sold by his brothers into slavery; false accusation and imprisonment; sudden hope dashed by a two year wait for the cup bearer to remember Joseph; all of this endured over a total of 13 long years in a foreign country with no hope of ever seeing his family again. Long years when he must have wondered what God was doing.
Take your pick of these descriptions of Joseph: spoiled favorite son, flaunting the best wardrobe, who is apparently happy to let his brothers know about his dreams that elevate him above the whole family OR devastated young sibling who suffers under the hatred, anger and rejection of his brothers OR highly successful, gifted young man who keeps rising to the top, first under Potiphar, then under the jailor and finally under Pharaoh.
Or perhaps we all prefer the wonderful forgiving, God trusting man who assures his brothers that in spite of what they did out of hatred, he sees the sovereign hand of God using evil for good. Repeatedly he affirms, "God sent me here."
May you echo those words, whatever your blessings or difficulties, wherever you are today.
God blessed him: with his father's doting care; with prophetic dreams; with success in Potiphar's estate management; with success running the jail; the fascinating ability to interpret dreams; sudden promotion to the number 2 power position in all of Egypt at age 30; vindication and sweet, short lived revenge on his brothers; and finally the opportunity to provide for his aged father and the entire extended family, as well as all of Egypt during the severe famine. A story of marvellous success and blessing.
But God also allowed him to endure: hatred and rejection by 10 of his eleven brothers; almost being killed by them; sold by his brothers into slavery; false accusation and imprisonment; sudden hope dashed by a two year wait for the cup bearer to remember Joseph; all of this endured over a total of 13 long years in a foreign country with no hope of ever seeing his family again. Long years when he must have wondered what God was doing.
Take your pick of these descriptions of Joseph: spoiled favorite son, flaunting the best wardrobe, who is apparently happy to let his brothers know about his dreams that elevate him above the whole family OR devastated young sibling who suffers under the hatred, anger and rejection of his brothers OR highly successful, gifted young man who keeps rising to the top, first under Potiphar, then under the jailor and finally under Pharaoh.
Or perhaps we all prefer the wonderful forgiving, God trusting man who assures his brothers that in spite of what they did out of hatred, he sees the sovereign hand of God using evil for good. Repeatedly he affirms, "God sent me here."
May you echo those words, whatever your blessings or difficulties, wherever you are today.
No comments:
Post a Comment