When we last came together over Genesis chapter 37 in our study of Joseph's
life, we saw that Joseph was searching diligently for his envious, hateful
brothers at his father's command. Certainly Joseph did not know how long
of a trip he was about to embark upon or where he would actually end up
as a result of acting upon this set of orders! Have you ever obeyed God
only to find that the circumstances you encountered didn't make a bit
of sense?? Have you ever followed God's plan for working family problems
out only to witness the situation get worse - even while your actions
and attitudes were right?? Have you ever had two or more family members
join together against you for an evil purpose simply because you were
secure in doing right? Ladies, when conditions like these arise in your
life, you may be tempted to give up or give in, perhaps even engage in
the same type of combat against your enemies, but one thing we must never
forget: God has all hearts in His hands at all times! That's what we learn
today as we continue our reading in verses 18-24 of Genesis chapter 37....
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they
conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold,
this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast
him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him:
and we shall see what will become of his dreams. And Reuben heard it,
and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that
is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him
out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. And it came to
pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph
out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; And they took
him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water
in it.
Of all the brothers, Reuben had most reason to be envious of Joseph, for
he was the first-born son of Jacob; yet he strives to protect the one
who receives more honor than he. In any case, Reuben attempted to spare
Joseph's life, although he employed wrong methods to do so. Have you ever
tried that, dear lady? You see, Reuben came up with an alternative plan
that would both satisfy his brother's fleshly desires and spare Joseph's
life at the same time. By creating a temporary, false sense of harmony,
Reuben intended to go back later and patch things up on his own and rescue
Joseph from the pit. However, in choosing the role of mediator or intercessor
in family problems, the true servant of the Lord must understand that
he cannot be double minded if he would see clearly the solution! All persons
involved in the problem may not have their way - it is God's way that
must reign supreme!
Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and
love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Reuben should have boldly stood up and stopped their wicked plan immediately,
amen? He should have had the courage to tell his brothers that they were
wrong for their attitudes and actions toward Joseph. Are you able to stand
up to ungodliness in your family, dear lady? Instead of applying God's
method of repair to their heart's decay, Reuben forms his own plan for
straightening things out. In just a bit you'll see that Reuben's plan
backfired - as man's plan always does… Whenever godly methods are forsaken,
the wrong results come about. Even so, because of His plan for Joseph's
life, God overruled the hateful hearts of his brothers and Joseph was
protected instead of eliminated.
I can't help but wonder what Joseph was thinking once he was stripped
of his luxurious robe and cast into the empty pit by those he loved. In
simply choosing to do the right thing, he had found himself in a treacherous
situation! What would you do if thrown into that pit and left there, stripped
of all the human comforts you had ever known? Would you sulk in silence
amid the hollow sounds of darkness and feel sorry for yourself? Would
you try somehow to climb out of the pit in your own strength? Certainly
one's first reaction would be to yell out, "Help!" At this point, Joseph's
life had literally become a type of hell, - a deep pit and without water
- the very place where our loving Savior Jesus Christ ended up for sinners
such as you and I! Ladies, it's troublesome times like these that create
an even deeper thirst for God, amen? But the question is, how long do
you wait before you cry out for help? Will you turn to the Lord or give
in to your circumstances…
Psalm 63:1
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for
thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water
is;
Psalm 143:6
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a
thirsty land. Selah.
Certainly Joseph had no way of knowing for sure what the outcome of his
situation would be, did he? He did not know that Reuben had determined
to return for him later and rescue him. He did not know what awaited him
at all - the only thing Joseph could do was to trust in the Lord! His
brothers may have stripped him of his coat of many colors, the picture
of the love and security he enjoyed in his relationship with his father,
but certainly they couldn't steal his confidence in the fact that his
loving father would search for him. Ladies, even though others might conspire
against us and try to strip us of our security in the Lord, such assurance
cannot be easily shaken or taken away, amen? If he can't destroy us with
worldly things, the devil often tries to make use of family problems to
cause us to feel that our heavenly Father has abandoned us, and to provoke
within us feelings of despair. Nevertheless, we must not be persuaded
to walk by sight! Don't give in to Satan's deception! Don't be so quick
to dispose of your confidence in God! As Christians, we must not focus
on the outward condition of things but on the inward condition of things
- the power of God that resides within us to overcome evil with good and
be victorious…
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater
is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Hebrews 10:35
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of
reward.
By our distressing circumstances the Lord would develop in His children
the ability to persevere even when the going gets tough. We must understand
that life on this earth is not always going to be free of problems; there
will be pits we'll each end up in at one time or another. But ladies,
our life doesn't have to end there - it can become the place of a new
beginning! So many people today - even God's people, hold the opinion
that "Life is just the pits", but it is our personal choice to remain
in such a negative frame of mind. There is a way out… God wants to establish
ALL our goings - not just some of them, and give us each a testimony before
the world of His strength and power in our seemingly overwhelming circumstances.
There are many blessings that await us outside of that particular pit
- don't you want to get out and see what they are?! The God of this universe
is quite capable of reaching down and rescuing us from whatever horrible
hole we find ourselves in - all we have to do is humble ourselves before
Him, cry out for His help, and then trust Him to save!
Psalm 40:2
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and
set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Yes, Joseph's brothers threw him into a pit, to perish there with hunger
and cold, so brutal were their hearts. At times, those closest to you
may appear impervious to your afflictions and afar off from your hurts,
but God can always be touched with the feeling of our infirmities! What
a comfort, amen? Ladies, don't let the cruelty of others discourage you
- there is heavenly help on the way for your troublesome situation! If
Joseph could counsel with you today he would tell you not to mistakenly
pursue after vengeance, not to seek to repay the evils that have been
done to you, for that business belongs to God alone. Instead, submit to
the Lord's workings no matter how unclear they may be and trust the power
of His loving hand. He saves those who trust… Wait on the Lord, be of
good courage and He shall strengthen your heart! Wait I say, on the Lord!
Proverbs 20:22
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall
save thee.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
