Joseph is in prison.

We all know the stories from the Bible about the "great Bible heroes". Men and women like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Deborah, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Ruth, Esther, Isaiah, David, Jonathan, and so many more are a part of the "hall of fame".

Why do we love the stories so much?

What is it that makes them so.....cool?

Recently, in my devotions, I have been reading through some of these familiar stories about the great men and women in the Old Testament. I wasn't surprised by some of the things that I have learned, but they are encouraging nonetheless!

Joseph.

the second youngest son of Rachel (who was Jacob's favorite wife)

favorite son of Jacob

hated by his brothers

dreamed odd things

loved God.

When he was just a young man, his father told him to go and check up on his brothers who were shepherding sheep in a distant pasture. Joseph, being the obedient, favorite son, did as his father told him. But when his brothers saw him coming from afar off, they began to plot about what they could do to him. Death was the decision. Yet, by God's providence, one of Joseph's brothers stood up for him and persuaded his brothers to just throw their little brother into the pit. When Joseph arrived, they overpowered him and cast him into a pit to die. Then, eyeing the Midianite traders that were passing by, they immediately saw the potential for profit that could be made off their little brother. So they brought him up from the pit and sold him to the traders who were on their way to Egypt.

Thinking that they had been clever in getting rid of the nuisance, they also thought of a way to fool their father. Dipping Joseph's robe in animal blood, they told their father that his beloved son was dead.

Cruel. Heartless. Unthinkable. How could anyone do that to their own brother?

Well, we know the story. Joseph is sold to a prominent Egyptian ruler and soon made the head servant in his house. Because of the rulers lying wife, Joseph is accused and sent to prison. In prison, however, he is made the head servant of the prison guard. Finally, after many years, he is released and made the 2nd in command of the whole land of Egypt!

How does this all happen?

What was God doing in all of this?

Why did God allow this to happen to a man who loved Him?

What was the purpose?

1. God is sovereign.

2. God uses hard times to teach us to trust Him.

3. God loves us and wants our best.

First of all, God is sovereign! This means that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING happens outside of the all-powerful, all-knowing hands of God. What an amazing truth to bring to mind over and over again!

I have been reminded a lot lately about the sovereignty of God. I can trust Him because He is in control of everything that happens!

Secondly, God uses hard times in our lives to teach us to trust Him. For Joseph, God wanted him to be abandoned by his family so that he would trust God. He allowed him to be sold into slavery so that he would trust God. He allowed him to be the head servant in Potiphar's house so that he would trust God. He allowed him to be thrown into prison for something he didn't do so that he would trust God. He allowed the butler to forget him in prison so that he would trust God. He allowed him to be released from prison and made second in command to Pharaoh so that he would trust God.

In my own life, I know that God is teaching me to trust Him more by not allowing me to have what I think I want or need. Because I am not at the place that I want/need, then I am forced to a place of trusting God. (which is a good place to be!)

Finally, God's love for us is un-bounding and He truly desires our best. During those times when things are not going so well, we would be wise to remember God's great love for His children. He is not like some evil puppeteer, moving us around so that we are hurt, but a gracious Father who cherishes His children.

So why do we love these "stories" so much? What makes them so cool?

I love them because they are real-life accounts of real people who have hard times too. These Bible "heroes" are just like you and me. Sometimes, the same things that God taught them, He is teaching me. And through it all, God's character is revealed more fully!

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, the apostle Paul is pleading with the Lord concerning a trial that had come into his life. After requesting three times, the Lord simply told him that His grace was enough! It says,

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."