Many times our souls may wince at what God has planned for our lives.
Joseph, the Favourite of his father Jacob is such a one.
The account of Joseph, the fourth generation from Abraham, begins in Genesis 37. God is now working with a family on the earth to bring about redemption for mankind.
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, THEY STRIPPED HIM OF HIS ROBE – the ornate robe he was wearing – 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. THE CISTERN WAS EMPTY; there was no water in it. Genesis 37
Joseph, the Favourite had the coloured robe, a special gift from his father that set him apart from his brothers. He stood out from them, but the first thing to go was his robe. (Speaks of his Old or Former Identity) We all come to the Lord as individuals (the world and the enemy DEMAND CONFORMITY) but God created each of us as unique individuals. However God had a different plan for Joseph and eventually he would be known as the ‘Prince among his brothers’, Genesis 49:26, but not for many years and after many trials. So in a moment Joseph was stripped of his dignity, all reason for pride as the Favourite was gone.
Next his freedom was taken from him when the brothers threw him into the cistern, reminiscent of Jeremiah, but this one was dry. They weren’t allowed to drown him, only to confine him. It may often appear to us as if things are out of control in our lives, but God actually controls the smallest details as we submit to His will. (Hannah Whitall Smith author of ‘The Christian’s secret of a Happy Life)
25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.
26 Judah said to his brothers, ‘What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.’ His brothers agreed.
28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and SOLD HIM FOR TWENTY SHEKELS OF SILVER to the Ishmaelites, WHO TOOK HIM TO EGYPT. (Represents the World)
THEY SOLD JOSEPH INTO EGYPT. Joseph was traded for money into a system he didn’t even know. The people of God have also been sold into the system of this world, but God is now working to set us free and bring us out of our slavery. The enemy has ensnared and enslaved us in many ways within his system of government, but just like Joseph God has His plan for deliverance. For many believers this has been the only life we’ve known and so anything else may seem strange and even threatening. I believe Joseph, an early type of Christ, is an encouragement for us.
May God bless and keep you today.