Anyway, here you go.
Joseph. Genesis 37,39-47.
Joseph is loved by his father. He receives a coat. He has a strange dream, one where it appears as if he is being worshipped by folks who would otherwise have no reason to worship him. He tells his family about the dream. It throws his father. It enrages the brothers. They plot to kill him. In the end, they decided to throw him in a pit and let nature kill him. They tear off his coat and cover it in goat blood. Joseph survives because a caravan stops by. They take him. Sell him to Potiphar. Joseph thrives as a servant until he is accused of adultery. He goes to jail. He thrives in jail, as much as you can thrive in jail. He starts interpreting dreams again. Other peoples. He wonders if this might be his ticket out of here. It is. But it takes three years. The Pharaoh had a dream. Joseph is told it. He interprets it. And rises to become second of command in Egypt. Pharaoh puts the royal robe on Joseph. A famine comes. His brothers as well. They are searching for food. Joseph manages to teach them a lesson. He coaxes his father to come to Egypt and saves his family from starvation.
Great story. We could point many things out in it...Today, I want to point out these two things. Joseph's story is characterized by struggle and suffering...some of this suffering is justified...after all, he should have known that his brothers would not have reacted well to their younger brother who was already favored that they were going to bow before him...much of his suffering was unjustified. All of it was used by God to achieve a purpose.
He uses struggles and suffering in the same way in our lives. Pay attention to what you are struggling with or suffering under. God is there. He is weaving a story - a story for your good and his glory.
Second thing. There are two major themes in Joseph's story. Dreams and Coats. God uses themes in your life, too. What might they be?
No comments:
Post a Comment