Good morning, dear family,
We know how Joseph was hated by his brothers and in the first opportunity, they seized him and took away his coat, and wanted to kill him. But due to the intervention of his eldest brother, they threw him in a cistern. Later he was sold as a slave to the traders of Egypt
“Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime. Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!” And his brothers agreed. So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.”
Genesis 37:26-28 NLT
A few pointers :
1. Bitterness Impacts Deep down in the Character : Judah, Joseph’s brother’s counsel seems wise but that’s exactly how the evil one plays. Killing or selling Joseph as a slave, was an outcome of the bitterness which they allowed to grow in their hearts. Though they sold him, they reported back to Jacob, their father, that he was killed. For Jacob, his son Joseph was dead. Anger turns into hatred and hatred turns into bitterness – root of every sin. Let’s allow God to deal with it before Satan uses our anger and bitterness as a footstool to workout his evil schemes through us.
2. Blessings of God are Higher than Circumstances : Though it appears as the end of the story for Joseph in Gen 37, God was not done with him yet. As we get into Gen 39, we understand that God never left the side of our Dreamer boy. God blessed the work of his hands and granted him success in all that he did. Many of us may be thinking, this is an end of the road, but the Word of God assures us this morning, God is not finished with us as yet, He is working out a beautiful miracle to make us a Living Testimony of His Glory.
“The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.”
Genesis 39:2-3 NLT
My prayer for each one of us is this : Though the world may think that we are finished and we have nothing to offer, God would take charge of our lives and bring out His Marvellous plan to build us up as a Testimony of His Power and Purpose.
“If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!”
Psalms 91:9-13 NLT
Amen 🙏