DAY 6
Scripture: So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. (Genesis 37:28 NIV)
One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. (Genesis 39:11, 12 NIV)
Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. (Genesis 39:20-22 NIV)
I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.” (Genesis 40:15 NIV)
Observation: So today, we read the story of Joseph- the dreamer. As we can see, his dreams did not make him very popular with his brothers and he ends up being sold into slavery. Very unjust we could say. He ends up in Potiphar's house as a slave and yet God blesses him in those difficult circumstances. But then, trouble. The master's wife makes his life difficult and he ends up in jail for doing the honorable and right thing. Once again, very unjust and his circumstances go from bad to worse. Yet, God still blesses him and lifts him up. We see however that Joseph is aware of the unfairness of all that has happened to him and where he has ended up. (Gen 40:15) He stays the course however, and keeps doing the right thing no matter how tough things get.
Application: Being a bit of a dreamer and a sensitive soul myself- as Ilani keeps reminding me :-) - I often let my emotions get the better of me. Especially when things get tough. I start thinking with the heart instead of the head and more often than not, I start contemplating the unfairness of it all. And then I usually end up doing stupid things that land me in even more difficult circumstances. In contrast to this, we have Joseph's example: treated very unfairly in so many ways and yet, he stays the course. He keeps doing what is right before God and God blesses him even in those tough circumstances.
For me there are two lessons here. One, that we should keep doing what is right and follow God's instructions, no matter how tough things get. Secondly, the realization that no matter how bad our circumstances are, God is always there and more than capable of blessing us, and leading us towards His reward. Even when we feel that life is terrible and the whole world is against us, God is there, working at His plan for our lives and blessing us.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for always being there and for being in control of everything. Thank you for your blessing, which is always abundantly there, even when we feel that life is unfair and that you are not close. Help us to stay the course and do what is right, no matter how tough things get. In you name we ask this. Amen
Next reading
Genesis 44-50
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