No, not me
Poor Joseph being throw in to the pit by his brothers. The ones that should be loving him are the ones plotting to kill him. This seems so crazy but this is true. We all have had a “pit experience” We may not have going into a physical pit but we have been throw away by family because the call on our life is so strong that they become jealous or worse envies and look to harm us.
When we look at Joseph testimony he would telling us how he went from the pit to the palace . Here is Joseph a 17 year old boy come to his father and brothers telling them that he would be a ruler of them someday. The relationships between the brothers was not good from the begin. Jacob’s love for Rachel has spilled over onto his kids . It was no secret how much he loved her and now not having her because she died during childbirth of Benjamin (Genesis 35-16-18).
Jacob had a love for Joseph that made him hated by his brothers. Now he was no prince. He know that he was favored and decide to hold this over his brothers head. He flaunt his coat of many colors and his dreams of him being a ruler over them.
They decided that they need to get rid of this chosen spoiled brat . They choice death but God choice life. When God has a plan for you no matter what others plan God plans will always be fulfilled (Jeremiah 29:11).
No pit was going to hold Joseph back but instead move him forward in God’s plan. Most of us when God calls us to begin to fulfill his plan we want it to be in around people we love. God’s plan will not be in your comfort zone. God has to become our constant source of strength and guidance ( 2 Samuel 22:33).
Not again
God takes Joseph to Egypt and his life is once again challenge. Potiphar’s wife had a thing for this young man and she was willing to do another to get him in her bed. The problem was Joseph was a man of God with integrity. He understood where he was and that sleeping with her would put him either in prison or dead. He was able to keep her off but only for a while. She caught him literally with his pants down and he ran leaving his underwear and her pride on the floor. She had no choice but to have him caught and harmed. Her husband placed him in prison and it just happened to be the king’s prison. When God’s favor is upon you being hidden away is never an opportunity. You will show up in done season and for a time such as this as .
Prison to Palace
God had to give Joseph some more training. He was going to be a ruler during a famine and he was learning to listen to God in order to hear the truth. He would need to know when God was working and when men were given lip service. Something in stressful situation we return back to flesh . We allow our feelings to take over the character of God. While in prison he finds favor with the prison keeper and he begin to help with the prisoner. His hurt of being discarded by his brother and disrespected by his boss’s wife didn’t make him hard but helped him to see men pride and taught him him to listen and seek God words. Joseph understood that it is not always your fault where you but you should always be what God called you to be. Joseph was respected by the prisoners and when they started having dreams they went to him. His interpretation were accurate. Then the King had a dream and no one could discern it The former prisoner told the King their is someone I know that came interpret your dream just like he did for me. The king request Joseph. Joseph was now in the Palace giving the word of God to the king as Joseph put it “And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.“
That answer of peace from God freed Joseph and place him as a ruler. His dream was coming to pass. Trust God he will never fail (Deut. 31;8)
Mission Accomplished
Joseph was exactly where God had sent him. Not being his fathers favored but been God’s anointed. He was not being his brothers punching bag but was being their helper . Joseph was a man who’s integrity came forth when his brothers came for food because of the famine. He feed them and love them. I am not going to go through everything he did but there is two sentences I would like to go to Genesis 45: 4-5
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
He has told his brothers who he was. He is the ruler of the famine (I call him that). He is the preserve of life. His dream was true and fair. He would be a ruler that they would be serving . Joseph could have had his brothers killed but instead he loved them.
Do not allow the hurt and pain from your past keep you from your future. Your future is alright predestined by God and no one not even you can stop it.
The Pit is not to stop you it is to grow you.