Written by Kathy Thompson, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas
What challenges you? What seriously tests the limits of your patience?
Maybe it’s a job environment that is often in conflict, or a strained or even broken relationship with someone you love. Maybe it’s a physical disability or an extreme financial situation. Maybe you’re mourning the loss of a loved one, or heartbroken for a loved one who has turned away from God.
Joseph was no stranger to challenges. It started early in life for him, at age 17. We read in Genesis 37 how he was his father’s favorite son, among 12 sons. His father openly showed his favoritism for Joseph by giving him lavish gifts, like a coat made with beautiful colors and ornaments. Then came the first serious challenge in Joseph’s life: his brothers turned against him and sold him to some passing traders! My guess is he had to grow up really quickly then, being suddenly torn from his family and even his culture, and carried off to a foreign land as a slave! No more favored status for him but now he was degraded down to someone’s property. Imagine the depth of betrayal he felt! Betrayed by his own brothers!
But he didn’t turn away from God. The Scripture doesn’t tell us, but I imagine that he grew closer to God through this ordeal. Because the next thing we see is God blessing Joseph in his new role as slave. “The Lord was with Joseph and made him successful…the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake…” (Gen. 39:2-5)
And then there is another hard challenge. Since “Joseph was well built and handsome” (Gen. 39:6), he drew the eye of his master’s wife. I’d like you to notice what he says to her after her repeated advances. “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9) It was his Creator he did not want to sin against—that was his first concern. Then, his second concern was his master’s reaction.
So now he finds himself in prison. Not a good place to be. He must have been screaming on the inside “This is so unfair! I’ve done nothing wrong!” He may have even succumbed to self-pity for a period of time. He went from a darling son to being a slave, sold by his own brothers! Then it got even worse than that; from a slave to a prisoner! But through it all Joseph trusted God. And even in prison, God blessed him. “But the Lord was with Joseph...and gave him favor in the sight of the warden…” (Gen. 39:21).
But the hard challenges aren’t done yet for Joseph. God allows him to interpret dreams, during his time in prison, and he does just that for two men from Pharaoh’s court. Knowing the cupbearer would be returned to duty, he asked him to remember him and his wrongful imprisonment. Imagine the hopefulness Joseph had in his heart to think he might be able to get out of this dungeon that he’d been in for 11 years now! For something he didn’t even do! But his hopes are deflated, as he slowly begins to realize that nothing is going to happen to release him from prison. As each day passes and nothing happens, Joseph begins to lose hope. Two full years go by and still nothing. He may have been disappointed, but you know Joseph just clung more tightly to God than ever.
And we know the rest of the story, how it was God’s design to bring the Israelites down to Egypt and He’d been using Joseph all along to accomplish that. How Joseph was raised to great power and had a happy reunion with his father and brothers.
My question is: How do we react to hard challenges in our lives? How do we react to the gut-punch of betrayal from a loved one? To the hot outrage of a false accusation? To the heartbreak of being forgotten?
The Scripture has a lot to say about suffering:
It is for our testing: 1 Peter 4:12-16 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. But to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”
It is for our spiritual maturity: 1 Peter 5:9-10 “But resist him [the devil], firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace. who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
It produces endurance: James 1:2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
It teaches us obedience: Hebrews 5:8 “Although He was a Son, he learned obedience from the things which He suffered.”
It has eternal results: James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Joseph persevered and was abundantly blessed in the end. Sisters, I’d like to encourage each of us to do the same. Persevere in whatever difficult situation you are in, holding tight to our Father; watching, waiting, and even expecting to see God’s resolution. The blessings will multiply and before we know it, we’ll be with Him where trials are no more.
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