31 Days of Hope Day 28

Thank you for joining us today for the conclusion of... Joesph's life

 Once Joseph became a slave for Potipher he was originally in a good place.  He was respected and treated well.  That is, until Potipher's wife decided she wanted a little "lovin" from Joseph.  Joesph was apparently a very good looking man and Mrs. Potipher had a major a case of lust and no boundaries. Joesph was a man of honor and integrity with boundaries. He continually rebuffed her advances, however, the last time she approached him she was able to grasp his garment and rip it as he fled from her.  She then became angry at his refusal and turned the tables on him and told her husband he  tried "to make sport" of her and showed him the ripped garment. Potipher chose to believe his wife and threw Joseph in jail, even though Joesph was well trusted and respected, even as a slave. Again, I have to wonder did he stick up for himself?  Did he even try to defend himself or did he simply cling to hope and know God had a purpose and a plan?

Once in jail we know that scripture tells us the Lord was with him, so I have believe that is the hope that he felt. He knew the Lord would continually take care of him, no matter what the outwards circumstances were. While he was in jail he found favor with the guards and chief jailer.  He ends up making friends with Pharaoh's chief cup bearer and chief baker (they had offended Pharaoh and were put into jail).  Joseph ends up interpreting  their dreams and tells them to please remember him when they are back in Pharaoh's graces.  It is the first time that Joseph explains his situation and defends himself.  And there does not seem to be bitterness or "entitlement" coming from his heart.  I only hear his hope!

Just as the chief cup bearer and chief baker promised they did not forget Joesph. However, it didn't happen quickly, it took two years. I am not sure that I would still cling to hope as Joseph was....two years is a long time! Well, the day finally came as Pharaoh was perplexed by his dreams and no one was able to interpret them or help him, so the chief cup bearer told him how Joesph had interpreted his dream while he was in jail after he offended Pharaoh.  Joseph was brought before Pharaoh and he told him of his dream. Joseph was able to interpret it and this allowed Pharaoh to make a plan with Josephs help, to prepare for the years of famine that were to come. He knew Joseph was a man of wisdom, integrity, and a that God had favor on him.

Pharaoh ends up making Joseph in charge of all of Egypt, saying no one will be higher than he, except Pharaoh himself.  Pharaoh gave Joseph his signet ring, clothed him and gave him jewelry.  He even gave him a Egyptian name and a wife!

Fast forward: the famine does come and low and behold Joesph's brothers come looking for food.  Joseph's dream finally comes true after spending thirteen years in slavery and the long purposeful road he was on  to become a high ruler, next to Pharaoh.  He ultimately  brings his entire family to live near him and he forgives his brothers. Pharaoh blesses his family with more than they could imagine. Joesph realizes God's will and purpose in everything he went through.  He tells his brothers   (45:5) And now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here: for God sent me before you to preserve your life.  Seeing that verse convicts my heart; I am not sure I would be willing to have the same attitude, oh, how I pray I do though!  Joesph never once doubted God. He never whined and complained. He trusted. He waited. He always clung to hope even when it seemed hopeless.  

My hearts desire is to have that kind of solid hope. I also want the patience that Joseph had! I do believe and I do have faith and hope, however, I know my flesh is sometimes weak, so I must fill my mind and heart with God's word and focus on my relationship with Him.  We must never lose hope!

One day at a time, one moment at a time, there is always hope!

31 Days of Hope Day 27

Did you know the average person can live without air for three minutes, without water for three days, and without food for three weeks.  How long do you think a person could live without hope?  There have been countless stories in the news of people in unthinkable horrific situations that miraculously held onto hope and survived. Some how their hope gave them the courage to stay alive, doing whatever they needed to do to survive. Even though their situation looked as hopeless as hopeless could be, they remained hopeful in spite of what their outward circumstances were.

There are many examples of those holding onto hope in the Bible. Think of Joseph, his story is found in Genesis chapter thirty-seven through chapter forty-eight.  Joseph was well loved by his father and hated by his brothers. The were jealous of him and made a plan to kill him. Then Reuben, the oldest brother, felt some sense of responsibility and conscious, so he encouraged his brothers that they should not take his life,  instead he suggests, they throw him into the pit.  So, they stripped him and put him in the pit. Then they sat down to eat a meal. When I think about this; to eat a meal would have entailed a lot of preparation and time. It wasn't like they brought sack lunches with them. So, as they are going about preparing and eating a meal, their brother is naked in a pit, they seem to carry on as if their brother isn't even there and this is just a normal day.

Sibling rivalry is nothing new, however, it seems rather evil to strip your brother and put him into a pit with no water, food, or hope of ever getting out. And then go and sit down to enjoy a meal together. They couldn't have been very far from the pit.  I wonder...was Joseph yelling or screaming, HELP ME! SOMEBODY GET ME OUT OF HERE, as he stood in the pit, while they were causally eating? Do you think Joseph fought them as they stripped his clothes off and put him in the pit? Did he ask them why they were doing this to him?  Did he try to run away?  Or was Joesph afraid and intimidated by his older brothers and simply succumbed to what his brothers did, maybe he felt if he fought back or tried to bring attention to the situation, he would be in worse shape. Or maybe he was simply holding onto hope. The hope that the Lord gave him in his dream. The dream that showed him someday he would be over his brothers, as well as his parents, and they would bow down to him. Was he simply going along with his brothers knowing and trusting that hope was on the way and all he had to do was cling to it?  (* later on in chapter 42:21-22 it does say Joseph pleaded with his brothers, yet they did not listen)

One of Joseph's brothers Judah, convinced the rest of the brothers it would be a better idea if they sold him to the Ishmaelites as a slave. The brothers agreed and along came some Ishmaelites and they pulled Joesph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels. I have to wonder if Joseph ever said anything or did he simply bow his head and go along with everything, courageously clinging to hope? 

Some how the oldest brother who convinced them not to kill Joesph and to put him in the pit (apparently with the motive to go back for him later), he left and returned to find his brother missing from the pit. When he realized what his brothers had done, they decide to come up with the plan to say that Joseph was killed and they slaughter a male goat and put the blood on Joseph tunic (that they had stripped off of him) and took it the their father. Joesph's father believed Joesph had in deed been eaten by a wild animal and he tore his clothes and put on  a sack cloth and mourned.  

In the meantime the Ishmeleites took Joesph to Egypt and sold him to Potipher, who was Pharaohs Captain of body guards.  Here again I have to wonder, did Joseph try to explain the situation to anyone?  or was he simply trusting God that there was a plan a purpose in all of this?  I will confess that even if I felt the Lord telling me a specific outcome for my future, if I were ambushed by my siblings, stripped and thrown in a pit then sold into slavery...I don't think I could do it quietly.  My flesh would want everyone to know the truth.  Especially since Josephs dream did not explain how he would get into the position of authority or that he would have to endure some serious trails before he got there. I guess that is why God choose Joseph.  God knew Joseph had enough faith and hope to get him through the dark tunnel as he led him to the other side. 

TO BE CONTINUED...Please tune in tomorrow to find out the conclusion of Joesph's life...how did Potipher treat Joesph as his slave?  What word does Mrs. Potipher not like?  and you wont believe what she does when she hears it!  Find out what a cup bearer, a baker, jail, and dreams have in common with Joesph.  You wont believe what Pharaoh does to Joesph!  Will Joesph lose the hope he started off so strongly with?  What becomes of the brothers who betrayed him?  Tune in tomorrow to find out!  

Until then remember....There is always HOPE!