Remember Me?

Favoritism, jealousy, sibling rivalry, rejection, abandonment, false accusation and imprisonment were all the experiences of the Prince of Egypt. While the extremes of Joseph’s trials pale in comparison to most of our experiences, all of us have been mistreated. Most of Joseph’s unfair circumstances were linked to other’s decisions. The decisions of others do impact us in ways we wish did not. If you have ever been misunderstood or mistreated there is something in the life of Joseph for you.

Like Joseph, things happen to us that are beyond our control. When everything is stripped away from someone other than God and they face their harsh reality we see the kind of person they are or who they will become. How true this was of Joseph?

If you look closely at Joseph’s family history you’ll see that it was one of the most dysfunctional families on the planet. Much like how Rebekah spoiled her son Jacob, Jacob pampered his favorite son Joseph from his favorite wife Rachel. Joseph was used to getting his way. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons. Gen.37:3  Oh, how much we can learn about how not to repeat the follies of our own families.

While there are differing opinions about the coat Jacob gave to Joseph most scholars agree that the coat’s appearance declared he was exempt from hard labor and his brothers resented it and became intensely envious and jealous.
When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Gen. 37:4

Most teenagers’ dreams don’t come true, but when Joseph shared (perhaps arrogantly?) his prophetic dreams that his dad and brothers would bow down to him they resented him even more. So, when the opportunity came his brothers sought to kill him, but instead they sold him to some traveling Ishmaelites who later sold him to Potiphar, the Pharaoh’s captain of the guard.

They smeared animal blood on the very coat that aroused so much angst and told their father he had been killed by a wild animal. Liars!

Now rejected, abandoned and sold like livestock Joseph is in a strange land with a new culture and language. Perhaps Joseph thought his arrogance and pride got him there or he blamed his brothers, but either way God was in this.

In the midst of his despair the Bible says, God was with Joseph. The Lord was working things out despite how Joseph felt. Joseph faithfully served Potiphar and God blessed  his hard work.

Even though Joseph proved his integrity by not caving into the demands of Potiphar’s desperate housewife, Potiphar believed his wife’s false accusation of rape and he was promptly convicted and imprisoned. While in prison Joseph had plenty of time to think about his life, how it all went wrong and how messed up his family was. Have you ever thought, will my situation ever change, will I ever see deliverance? Can God change it or should I?

Now seemingly forgotten in prison Joseph successfully interprets the dreams of fellow inmates who providentially were the Pharaoh’s former cup bearer and baker. Joseph pleads with them, “when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.”

Unfortunately, upon their release the baker and the cup bearer forgot about Joseph. But the God who sees and cares did not forget him. Despite all that Joseph had been through God had an ultimate purpose for him, the saving of many lives including his entire family. Two years later Joseph’s ability to accurately interpret dreams was finally recognized and he was released.

There are some truths that we can apply from Joseph’s life. The first truth is that God works all things for His glory and your good.

Five times we read that the Lord was with Joseph in the midst if it all. It’s true for you too. God has not forgotten YOU! Please don’t’ forget that.

“Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of biblical stories like Joseph is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ." John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence

Later Joseph told his brothers, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” Genesis 50:20

You and I have a real choice to make, we can throw in the towel and resign ourselves to despair, cynicism and blaming others OR we can choose to believe that God is working on your behalf despite what it may look like. Now, move forward and make the right choice, you’ll be glad you did.

Join us as we explore more life changing truths from Joseph's life in the next blog.

With Hope,

Mark