Changed in the Pit
This morning after my Tuesday prayer meeting time, I conducted a Bible Study at the new Morning Star Assisted Living. I shared about the story of Joseph. One elderly lady told me, “that’s the first time I have heard all of the story about of Joseph.” After a noon meeting, I finally got by the fitness center for a workout.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “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.…The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.” Genesis 37:26 -28; 39:2 HCSB
The story of Joseph is not only critical in the history and timeline of Israel, but it holds some important lessons.
Joseph was the favored son and he knew it. He knew it not just from his father’s famous and special gift but by the way he was treated. Joseph remained near Jacob while his brothers were out tending the flocks. When Joseph was with his brother he would bringing his father bad reports about his brothers and then to top it off were the famous dreams of Joseph as ruling over his family.
Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill their coddled brother but he ended up in a pit….alone. That is an experience that will get your attention. It gives time to think, ponder and consider how you are going to respond if given an opportunity to live. We don’t know how long Joseph was in the pit, but when he ended up in Potipher’s house in Egypt he proved himself as diligent and responsible. (Maybe being around dad’s tent, was good training.) But I believe we see a different Joseph coming out of the pit, than the one which went in.
A slave in Egypt, falsely accused by Potipher’s wife, put in prison, forgotten. In all of it, Joseph found he was not alone, but God was with him. Because God was with him, God honored him. Where ever he was he had favor and success. He could have given in to resentment and allowed his heart to become hard and bitter.
I believe in Joseph we see a reflection of the words of Peter, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you..” (1 Peter 5:6 ESV) The due time for Joseph came when the dreamer became the interpreter of dreams for others and that resulted in his dreams coming true.
Joseph was 30 years old when he entered into service for Pharaoh, and lived 110 years. Thirty years that included hardship and the school of hard knocks to be prepared for 80 years in the court of Pharaoh. He went from favored son, to favored servant, to favored prisoner to favored ruler. But I believe a critical part of that journey was the journey from the pit to the palace.
When we face dashed dreams, challenges and trials, we need to guard our hearts and minds. We need to remember that God is with us and will help us to excel, even in challenging situations and will fulfill His purpose in our life.