Joseph

Follow good examples. Learn from bad ones. Genesis 37-46 His brothers threw Joseph, the son of Jacob, into a pit because they were mad that their father favored him over them. They sold him into Egypt as a slave and led Jacob to believe that wild animals had killed Joseph. Potiphar, an Egyptian leader, bought Joseph and eventually let him take care over his entire house. Joseph is faithful but is wrongfully accused by Potiphar’s wife of doing evil things. She has Joseph imprisoned. While in prison Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s Butler and Baker who are in prison. The prophecies of those dreams are fulfilled. Pharaoh has dreams that he tries to have interpreted by someone else but are unable to do so. He hears of Joseph and asks him to interpret his dreams. With the Lord’s help, Joseph does and together with Pharaoh, they act on the meaning of the dream and prepare for 7 years of famine. Through this experience, Joseph becomes the 2nd most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh. During the 7 years of famine, Joseph sells the grain to those who need it. Jacob’s sons go to Egypt to buy grain where they unknowingly, meet their long lost brother, Joseph. They don’t know anything about his life since they sold him into Egypt so many years before. Joseph recognizes them and inquires about his father without revealing who he is. Joseph eventually reveals himself to his brothers who tell their father that he is still alive. Jacob and his family move to Egypt to be reunited with Joseph.
There were many times in Joseph’s life when he could have turned his back on the Lord because of his trials. Instead, he kept his faith in the Lord and sought guidance. He was blessed tremendously for it and was eventually rewarded. And so it is with our lives. If we also continue to seek the Lord’s guidance through our trials, we too will be rewarded. Maybe not in this life, but definitely in the life to come. We must have patience with the Lord because He has his own timetable and knows what’s best for us.