What circumstances lead us to places in life. Decisions made, prayers prayed, words stated, even attitudes during life changing times. God leads us where He wants us to go...it is our choice, however, whether we go that route. If you look at Josephs life before he was in the picture. Jacob had to work several years longer in order to take Rachel, his true love, as wife. Then Rachel was barren. Whereas her sister Leah bare 6 boys, Rachel had none. Rachel had to struggle through many torturous years and watch her sister and her handmaids produce children. Oh but look what would become of her son Joseph later down the road. How many times do we want to give up as we sit at the wayside and watch others be so productive. We watch others do great things for God. We think what are we doing so wrong? Why are we barren? Why can't we produce anything for God? But we do not know the future.
Gen 30:22
And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
I love that: God remembered Rachel. God thought of Rachel and decided it was now her time. See before it was not the right timing for her to bare. Maybe a test of patience. But now God remembered her. He opened her womb...so it was God who had it shut for so long, but now it was opened to bare Joseph.
Joseph had to endure the teasing of his brothers. He was special and his parents knew that. He had to endure being different. It can become weary being a child among several brothers not only the youngest but special too. Can you imagine?? Then for his brothers to become so sick of seeing how special he was to trade him as a slave. So now onward to Egypt as a slave. Could Joseph possibly have been so much in despair to just give up. But something beyond his control drove him onward. Look where he ended up...Pharaoh's house! No one but God could possible chain these events together. He is a slave yes, but not just a slave...a slave in Pharaoh's house! How many times do we look at our small world...the slave part...and not fix our eyes on the entire circumstance. We may be a slave but I guarantee you that God has huge plans for our lives. We may be in the Pharaoh's home and not even realize the events taking place. Hang in there.
Gen 39:2
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
So Joseph finds grace in their sight and moves up in chain of command. He has everything under his hands. He has great responsibility. Things are looking up...But then look at what happens.
Gen 39:7
And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
Who comes on the scene none other but temptation. Of course Joseph resists the temptation but still is punished for it.
Gen 39:20
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners [were] bound: and he was there in the prison.
Then Joseph finds favour in the eyes of the prison guard. No matter what Joseph did God blessed him and the Lord was with him through it all. He was now in prison but God still used him. He interpreted dreams and the butler was free but yet forgot about Joseph. 2 years later sitting in prison for a crime he did not commit, after being placed into slavery because his own brothers did not like him...Pharaoh has a dream that needs interpretation. What do you think went through Josephs mind? Despair, discouragement, frustration, anger, resentment, and any other unpleasant thought that may have tried to seep in to those prison walls.
Gen 39:21
But the LORD was with Joseph
The Lord encouraged him, gave him hope when Joseph saw none. Joseph could have had a bad attitude through it all. How many prayers do you think he prayed to be released from this prison? Do you think he may have plotted a way of escape? An early way out of this trial he was in? Don't we all do that. Look for our way of escape? But we need to wait on the Lord. He will bring us through. Do what His commandments say. Pray and Fast. God will bring us out of our trials but maybe not as quickly as we would like. Imagine what would of happened had Joseph escaped from prison. He may have not heard the dreams of the butler. He would not of been brought forth to the Pharaoh to interpret his dream. Who would have stocked the food for the 7 years of famine? I am sure God would of found someone else to do it but it would not of been Joseph.
If we want to do something huge for God...Just live your life doing what you are supposed to do. Be obedient to God's will. Your time will come but it's the small decisions we make in difficult times that have large impact.(Pastor Sullivan's sermon Sunday 8/24 :) ) So hang in there, stay in the "prison" for as long as God needs you there. Stay barren until God opens your womb. Stay a slave until God sets you free. But watch your attitude and decisions you make. Keep our eyes focused on God and all will fall into place...eventually! God bless you.
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