Who Is In Control?

Day eighty-eight

We had a really good Family Home Evening last night filled with great discussions.  It was my eldest son's turn to teach and he had very little time to prepare because of school, but he has this gift of taking something ordinary and making it into something amazing. A You Tube video about the pledge of allegiance turned into a discussion on morals, parenting, society and our part in it.  I was still thinking about it when I woke up this morning, the Spirit that was in my home last night was very filling.  That is what I thanked the Lord for this morning, having the Spirit in my home.  I am very blessed to have such great teachers living in my house, inviting the Spirit and helping me grow.  I feel very loved by my Father because of this!

Genesis 37 Part 3

Genesis 37:8-36
This part of Joseph's story used to bother me quite a bit.  I wondered how God could let Joseph's brothers be so mean to him.  There is a scripture that helped me to understand why Joseph had to go through this experience:

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."  (2 Timothy 3:12)

There is a pattern of righteous people suffering because of their desire to love Jesus Christ, it is just part of being a Christian.  The verse says all, not just a few, but all, that includes you and me.  What can we learn about enduring persecution from this chapter in Joseph's story?

As I started to examine the facts, it became clear that Joseph was being watched over by the Lord the entire time he is going through his trials, too many things just happened to fall into place for this to be coincidence.

I find it interesting that it is Joseph's father that sends him to check on his brothers, which leads to his persecution. Does this sound familiar?  Heavenly Father sending Jesus Christ among His brothers only to end in the ultimate persecution, death. It seems like something more than a coincidence, I was beginning to see that the Lord was in control of this situation from the beginning.

So why have Joseph thrown into the pit?  Well the alternative was death.  In verse 20 it states that his brothers wanted to slay him.  Where was the Lord in this situation?

*The intervention of Reuben (Gen 37:21-22). It is Reuben that comes up with the idea not to kill Joseph, but to throw him in the pit.  Reuben is not known as the most righteous of individuals, so why decide to be the good big brother now?

*The appearance of the Ishmeelite traders (Gen 37:25). This will inspire Judah to come up with another plan for Joseph that does not include death. 

*Judah's idea to sell Joseph as a slave (Gen 37:26-27). It would be this plan to sell Joseph that would deter the brother's from physically harming him.  Their weakness for money made this plan profitable. Who uses our weaknesses for good?

*The Midianite merchantmen find him in the well and pull him out and sell him to the Ishmeelites (Gen. 37:28).  The Lord not only uses the Midianites to get Joseph to where He needs him, but this situation also will teach Joseph's brothers a lesson.  Two birds with one stone!

*He was sold to Potiphar (Gen 37:36). Potiphar is in Egypt, it just so happens that this is exactly where Joseph needs to be for the Lord's plan to unfold.

This brings to mind another verse:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

While the events in Joseph's life appeared to be out of control, you can see how much control the Lord had by looking at the actions of the people involved in this account.  Everyone was in it for their own selfish needs, but in reality they unwittingly helped accomplish the purposes of the Lord.  I find it comforting that the Lord can use even those that don't believe in Him to accomplish His purposes.

This study session led to some reflection on the bad situations that I have found myself in over the years.  The trials that I have had to face in order to become who I am today.  I looked at these situations and the people involved and wondered where was the Lord in all of this? Who was in control? Through Joseph's story I have come to look at these situations differently, it is a blessing to know that all the events of our lives are part of God's plan for us and that He is always the one in control.  I cannot think of a better person to be in control.