Joseph in Egypt: When God Turned Misfortune Into a Blessing
Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010
by Joel Kontinen
http://joelkontinen.blogspot.com/
The last chapter of Genesis gives an intriguing glimpse into God's hidden world. When Jacob was dead, his sons were afraid that Joseph would want to take revenge on his brothers who had caused him severe harm. However, Joseph displayed a rare attitude that might be called Suffering Without Bitterness (as in the name of the biography of Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya) .
We often assume that we know what is best for us. Joseph was no exception. As a teenager, he obviously had great expectations that had been fuelled by his dreams. He had yet to learn that life is often more complicated than what we think. God does not always lead us through the straightest way to the task He has called us to do for His kingdom.
Instead to guiding him to fame and glory, God allowed Joseph to be sold into slavery. And as if that was not enough, poor Joseph was thrown in jail for a crime he did not commit.
The jail turned out to be a great educational opportunity for Joseph, however. He learnt to put his trust in God instead of himself. Time and again Scripture says that the Lord was with Joseph.
He learnt the lesson that the prophet Isaiah was later to write down about the difference between our ideas and God's plans: " 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.' "
At just the right time, God brought Joseph out of the prison. His ordeal was not in vain; his wisdom sustained both Jacob's family and entire Egypt through a severe famine. Furthermore, the inspired writer of Hebrews included Joseph as one of the great heroes of faith.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Do you ever wonder if you would have had the grace to do the same? (I have pondered this and you just can't know unless you are in the same situation - only with the grace of God)
Probably not, but then God had to give him some private tuition - for 13 long years. The more I get to know about God, the more I understand about His grace that is truly amazing,God bless you, Marijo, and thanks for reading.
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