Scripture:
“So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him… So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.” Genesis 33:18, 23-24 (MSG)
Perspective:
Remember a time when you experienced a “series of unfortunate events.” Your car won’t start, followed by being late to work, your shoe breaks, you spill your lunch on your clothes, and you find out about a work deadline after it passes. Before long, your day can start sounding more like the lyrics to a sad country song. In moments that are less than ideal, it is easy to see the circumstances instead of blessings.
When Joseph went to find his brothers, he had no idea of the challenge before him. His ideal life was about to be turned upside down. Joseph had many ups and downs on his way to God’s plan for his life. When Joseph faced the pit, it was not the end. However, as he was down in the hole, he probably had many questions while developing a strategy of how to get out of the pit. He probably offered up a prayer, and that prayer was answered. Yet, it did not turn his situation around. He went from the pit to being sold into slavery. Yet, Joseph never surrendered to the “series of unfortunate events.” He held on to hope even when his situation went from bad to worse. He had a dream from his childhood that he never gave up. God used the pit and the rest of the events in Joseph’s life to shape, define, and refine his character. Although he would have liked to have been second in command in Egypt when he was in the pit, God was using each and every experience, good or bad, to prepare him for the future. As you look around at your situation, it might seem that bad has gotten worse. Just remember that God is not finished writing your story. He can use the good and the bad. The pit is not fun, but we tend to come out on the other side of it…different.
Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.