Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
It is written in Psalm 62:1-2: 1My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. 2He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
It is written in Psalm 121:1,4 1I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? 4indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Whoever looks up to God with faith will be helped by God and will be granted success. However, whoever looks only at circumstances and the problems will be overcome by the circumstances, fall deep into the problems, and ultimately fail. The Bible says that God’s knowledge is higher and deeper than ours. Therefore, Christians must depend on God and lean on God’s assistance. This is faith.
Joseph is a man of dreams. His life was deeply related to dreams. In Genesis 37:5, Joseph spoke of two of his dreams. His nickname was the dreamer. However, because of his dreams, Joseph was hated by his brothers-it was the start of his sufferings.
It is written in verses 12 and 13: 12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father's flocks near Shechem, 13 and Israel said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.” “Very well,” he replied.
Do you remember Shechem? It was the land where Jacob’s daughter Dinah was raped. Because of the accident, Jacob’s two sons tricked Hamor’s family and all the men in getting circumcised to kill them. Jacob who feared revenge met God as he fled. However, Jacob’s sons were grazing the flock near Shechem. They were grazing the flock in a dangerous region. For this reason, Jacob told Joseph to see how his brothers were doing. Some say Jacob’s favoritism is revealed here also; while Joseph’s brothers were tending sheep in a dangerous land, Joseph and his father was home. Anyway, Joseph obeyed. Obey whether you want to do the job or not. “I don’t have time”, “I don’t have the money”, “I am unhealthy” - do not make excuses. Take a look at Joseph. Through his short reply, his holy, obedient, honest, and pure character is revealed. God can easily use those who obey but it is difficult for God to use those who complain often. I pray that you would be among the people God can easily use. According to Isaiah 6:8, Isaiah replied to God’s calling, “Here am I. Send me!” Take a look at Acts 20:23-24. Saint Paul was in journey to death. Paul knew death was waiting for Paul in Jerusalem. However, Paul confessed, “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Paul was determined to not back down and turn back when it came to God’s work. Joseph also had this foundational characteristic of a person of faith.
It is written in verse 14: So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.
Through Joseph’s obedience, I want to share three different prayer topics with you: “Give me the honest spirit”, “help me live my life dreaming Your dream”, and “help me live in obedience towards you for the rest of my life”.
It is written in verses 15-17: 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?” 16 He replied, “I'm looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?” 17 “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan.
Joseph did not return home and tell his father, “I did not find them, but I heard they are headed to Dothan.” He looked for his brother. However, this message confuses us. Shouldn’t good things happen when one obeys? The end of Joseph’s obedience was not blessings. Joseph’s brothers did not welcome him. Instead, they plotted to kill him.
It is written in verses 18-20: 18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. 19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. 20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
The brothers were not concerned with the message Joseph could have brought. They plotted to kill him as soon as they saw him. We see the extent of the hatred of Joseph’s brothers. How did the anger get this far? First, Jacob’s favoritism led for the brothers to have Joseph. If the father does not take his part properly, tensions will rise between the children. Second, Joseph’s dreams led his brothers to hate him. The brothers said to each other, “let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams”. The brothers held a grudge against Joseph. Here we see the one with a dream colliding with trials. Christian who truly try to live by God’s will face these trials. Joseph’s brothers tried to kill him. They planned to throw him in the cistern and lie to their father. However, the brothers’ opinions conflicted.
It is written in verses 21 and 22: 21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. 22 “Don't shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the desert, but don't lay a hand on him.”
Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. The eldest brother held a different position. He agreed to punish Joseph but to not take his life. However, if Joseph’s life was spared, wouldn’t he tell on them to their father? For this reason, some argued that they should not spare his life. There was nothing else Reuben could do but agree. That is the characteristic of a large group of people. If the atmosphere is set, there is not much the minority can do. However, Reuben argued to spare Joseph’s life.
It is written in verses 23-24: 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the richly ornamented robe he was wearing- 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.
How shocked Joseph must have been! This is the shock an innocent person has in the dark world. However, it is strange that an evil person live a better and healthier life than a pure person. A psalmist sang concerning this matter. Wouldn’t the innocent be tempted by God when things do not work well on top of living a lonely life?
It is written in verses 25-28: 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.
As the brothers were eating, they met tradesmen. So Judah made a suggestion to sell Joseph to the tradesmen. The brothers agreed and Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver. When Reuben returned, Joseph was already sold.
It is written in verses 29-30: 29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”
Reuben lamented; he stopped eating and drinking.
It is written in verses 31-35: 31 Then they got Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They took the ornamented robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son's robe.” 33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “in mourning will I go down to the grave to my son.” So his father wept for him.
This was Joseph’s destiny and tragedy. Why did these things happen to someone with an honest dream? We believe in Christ, but there are many times when we are unable to clearly explain the reasons to a certain situation. Do not forcefully analyze the situation by forcing relation to the Bible. Leave the situation unexplained. Some go see a fortuneteller. This is wrong. Time will reveal. We cannot understand God’s will fully with our human knowledge. Do not make a disturbance to understand everything. Pass if you cannot understand. Verse 36 says, “Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard.” Those who do not know God and deny him say it is destiny. However, if God is with them, it is providence; there is a hidden secret in God’s eyes. It is surprising that Joseph was sold to Pharaoh’s officials. We must learn to look at God’s providence and God’s hands that appears in the midst of suffering. The suffering may be great and God’s movement seems small. However, the secret is there. When God’s moving hands are revealed, the sufferings are explained. Joseph was wiped away by the wave of suffering. Future was dark. He lost everything. He lost contact with his father. He did not know where he was being sent.
Pay attention to four things that occurred in these situations. First, why didn’t the brothers kill Joseph in the first place but instead throw him in the cistern? Second, why did the tradesmen pass the brothers at that time? Third, why was Joseph sold for 20 pieces of silver through Judah? Fourth, why was Joseph sold to Potiphar? While Joseph suffered from great sufferings, these events occurred by God’s will. This is God’s providence. Are you suffering? I hope you do not look at your sufferings but put your interest in God and how He may provide, bless, and solve the problem. When Joseph was thrown into the cistern, there was no escape for him. No one heard him cry for help. Have you ever been in a situation where no matter how loud you cried, no one would hear? Did no one really hear? No, people may not hear or help, but there was God who heard Joseph’s cry. Believe in the God who sent Midianites to save Joseph. However, the problem is, the process of God’s salvation is frustrating in Joseph’s perspective. Joseph could be killed soon, but God only sent Midianites, slave traders. However, faith is depending on God despite circumstances. One can be bold because of dependence on God. Midianites were prelude of grace to Joseph. He did not die. Christians do not die, you do not fail. Do not worry. God’s plan for Joseph was to make him the highest leader of Egypt. For this reason, he was sent to the house of pharaoh’s officials. For this reason, Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver. I hope you see how God intervenes to comfort, protect, and encourage us to bring us from the worst circumstance to the glorious seat through Joseph’s life. Praise the amazing God. Praise the God who lends us a hand in the midst of suffering-the God who does not let us fall, but lifts our weaknesses and renews us. I pray that you would experience God’s hands and grace and be victorious.
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